Internal mammary artery to pulmonary vasculature fistula--case series.

Internal mammary artery to pulmonary vasculature fistula is a rare condition that can be congenital or associated with coronary bypass surgery, trauma, inflammation, or neoplasia. We report six cases of symptomatic internal mammary artery to pulmonary vasculature fistula diagnosed after coronary bypass surgery using left internal mammary artery graft.

Ruptured aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of valsalva.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare disorder. It is usually congenital, but other origins have been described. It may be asymptomatic, or it may present as angina or with symptoms of valvular insufficiency or outflow obstruction.

Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia increases circulating levels of endothelial cell microparticles.

Background: This study evaluated a possible relationship between levels of endothelial microparticles (EMPs), known to be a sensitive indicator of endothelial disturbance, and changes in postprandial lipid levels in healthy volunteers after a low- or high-fat meal.

Methods And Results: Eighteen healthy subjects without known cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated. Lipid and EMP levels were measured before and 1 and 3 hours after a single low- or high-fat isocaloric meal.

Severe volume depletion leading to mitral insufficiency.

We report a patient with profound hypovolemia who developed dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and severe mitral regurgitation. Both the outflow tract obstruction and mitral regurgitation resolved with volume replacement. Unlike previous reports of dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction and mitral regurgitation, the degree of mitral regurgitation was severe.

Clinical impact of drug-eluting stents in changing referral practices for coronary surgical revascularization in a tertiary care center.

Background: The long-term benefits of angioplasty are limited by the occurrence of restenosis. Drug-eluting stents with a projected restenosis rate of close to 0% are soon to become available. The short- and long-term consequences of this advance to the cardiac surgical volume remain unclear.