Perceval-S over time. Clinical outcomes after ten years of usage.

Background: Perceval-S has become a reliable and commonly used option in surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) since its first implantation in humans 15 years ago. Despite the fact that this aortic valve has been proven efficient enough in the short and mid-term period, there is still lack of evidence for the long-term outcomes.

Materials And Methods: This is an observational retrospective study in a high-volume cardiovascular center.

Delayed simultaneous aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistulae post thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistulae after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are rare and life-threatening conditions. No clear guidance exists in the literature for the optimal therapeutic management of such cases. This case demonstrates a delayed simultaneous aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistulae treated conservatively with culture-guided antibiotic therapy and combined endovascular management.

Ascending Aorta Dissection Before 5.5 cm Diameter; "It Wasn't Raining When Noah Built the Ark".

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare mean maximum ascending aortic diameter at the time of acute aortic dissection with the current surgical threshold for elective ascending aortic operations on non-syndromic thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Material And Methods: All consecutive non-syndromic adult patients admitted for acute type A aortic dissection in a single tertiary centre were prospectively enrolled from April 2020 to March 2021. The primary endpoint was the difference between mean maximum aortic diameter at the time of dissection and the 5.

Intraoperative accurate assessment of septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).

Surgical restoration of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) is necessary for patients suffering from hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), when symptoms are present despite the administration of medical treatment. One point of great significance during the procedure is the evaluation of the LVOT gradient after completion of septal myectomy. Most physicians choose to measure this value by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in combination with the direct measurement with the use of needles inserted into the aorta and left ventricle.

Current issues on simultaneous TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) and EVAR (Endovascular Aneurysm Repair).

Simultaneous EVAR and TAVR is technically feasible and is a reliable option in high-risk patients.

Arc of Buhler: A lifesaving anatomic variation. A case report.

The presence of malperfusion syndrome in cases of complicated acute type B aortic dissection is a negative predictive factor and urgent intervention is indicated. Anatomic variations, such as the Arc of Buhler, contribute anastomotic channels and can preserve the visceral blood supply. In this case report, we describe the overall management of a 54-year-old man who presented with a type B aortic dissection.

Epicardial cardioverter defibrillator implantation due to post-fontan ventricular tachycardia.

Long-term survival of patients submitted to a Fontan procedure is reduced because of arrhythmias. Late post-Fontan ventricular tachycardia is extremely rare, but it can be fatal. Consequently, the implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may be required.

A Case of a Large Cephalic Vein Aneurysm.

Vein aneurysms represent a rare clinical entity with a wide range of clinical symptoms. We present a case of a 67-year-old male who presented with a large, bluish, easily compressible, soft tissue mass in the lateral side of his forearm, which was mildly tender and it had been worsening during the last year. A color duplex ultrasound revealed local venous dilatation of the cephalic vein, measuring 6.

Radiopaque preventive landmarks' placement during stentless bioprosthesis implantation.

Background: In patients with aortic stenosis, bioprosthetic valves are increasingly used. Although their benefits, they are also presenting limitations, as their time-related degeneration. Reoperation which was, until a few years ago, the only treatment for this condition, carries a significant surgical risk, especially in patients with multiple comorbidities, so the benefit of less invasive technique enabling the implantation of aortic valve prosthesis [transcatheter aortic valve-in-surgical aortic valve (TAV-in-SAV)] by a percutaneous access is remarkably important.

Factors associated with early cardiac complications following transcatheter aortic valve implantation with transapical approach.

Purpose: To estimate the incidence of postprocedural early cardiac complications among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation, through transapical approach (TA-TAVI), and to identify factors independently associated with the occurrence of them.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 90 patients, who had undergone TA-TAVI in a tertiary hospital of Liverpool, UK, during a 5-year period (September 2008-October 2013), was conducted. Data on patient demographics, periprocedural characteristics and cardiac complications presented within 30-day post TA-TAVI were collected, retrospectively, using the hospital's electronic database.

Endovascular stent grafting for ascending aorta diseases.

Objective: Conventional open surgery encompassing cardiopulmonary bypass has been traditionally used for the treatment of ascending aorta diseases. However, more than one in five of these patients will be finally considered unfit for open repair. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the role of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for aortic diseases limited to the ascending aorta.

Predictors of length of stay and duration of tracheal intubation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: While short-term outcomes for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have long been studied, there is very little data on their predictors. We aimed to identify the predictors of outcomes, such as intensive care unit (ICU) and in-hospital length of stay (LOS), duration of postoperative intubation and in-hospital mortality, after TAVI procedures.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 162 consecutive patients with aortic valve disease, who were admitted to a tertiary hospital of Liverpool for TAVI, during a five-year period.

Perioperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of poor cardiac surgery patient outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between the perioperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and cardiac surgery patient outcomes.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 145 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in a tertiary hospital of Athens, Greece, from January to March 2015, was conducted. By using a structured short questionnaire, this study reviewed the electronic hospital database and the medical and nursing patient records for data collection purposes.

Is axillary superior to femoral artery cannulation for acute type A aortic dissection surgery?

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether axillary artery cannulation (AXC) is superior to femoral artery cannulation (FAC) in patients undergoing surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection. A total of 90 studies were identified using the reported search, of which 10 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.

Perioperative prostate specific antigen levels among coronary artery bypass grafting patients: Does extracorporeal circulation and body temperature induce prostate specific antigen levels alterations?

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the perioperative total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) levels among coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients with and without extracorporeal circulation (ECC), to investigate the changes overtime of tPSA in each group separately and to determine the effect of body core temperature on tPSA levels.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study was conducted. Our sample was allocated to: (a) Seven patients who underwent off pump CABG (Group I) and (b) 16 CABG patients with ECC (Group II).

Pyrexia in patients with uncontrolled systemic hypertension: could they have an aortic dissection?

Aortic dissection can present in a variety of ways and one of the most documented risk factors includes systemic hypertension. Occasionally aortic dissection can be diagnosed late due to an insidious presentation. Fever has been described in people with aortic dissection but rarely as the main presenting feature.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis with multifocal septic emboli: can prompt diagnosis help avoid surgery?

Patient: Male, 23.

Final Diagnosis: Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis.

Symptoms: Abdominal pain • cachexia • diarrhea • fever • vomiting.