Native Aortic Valve Resection Using a Novel Blade-Based Device.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the use of a new resection device in patient candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement. We evaluated the efficacy of this new circular blade to resect the aortic valve and the efficacy to collect the debris during the resection.

Methods: For this study, a single size instrument was used, with an external diameter of 22 mm, and patients were selected on the basis of the preoperative assessment of the aortic diameters.

Aortic Coarctation Stenting in Adolescents and Adults: A Single-Center Experience.

Purpose/background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short and midterm results of aortic coarctation (AoCo) stenting in an adolescent and adult population.

Methods: All patients with a AoCo older than 14 years treated by stent placement between December 2000 and November 2016 were included in this study. Twenty-eight patients with an invasive peak systolic pressure gradient >20 mmHg were identified.

Complete Aortic Replacement in a Patient With Loeys-Dietz Syndrome.

: LDS is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disease. It is a rare multi-systemic disorder with serious vascular impact. : We report a case of a 38-year-old male with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) suffering from major aortic complications.

Comparison of Interwoven Nitinol and Drug-Eluting Stents for Endovascular Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery Disease.

Background: Interwoven nitinol stents (INS) and drug-eluting stents (DES) were designed to improve the mid- and long-term results of femoropopliteal (F-P) angioplasty. The aim of this study was to systematically compare these stents.

Methods: Between 2015 and 2017, 62 patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease of the F-P segment treated by INS or DES were identified from a prospectively maintained institutional database.

A rare case of spontaneous superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in a young patient: case report and review of literature.

Spontaneous femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (PSA) is a rare disease and there are few reported cases. We report a case of a 17-year-old male with increasing left leg pain associated with swelling at the site of the pain. We observed a voluminous pulsatile mass.

Comparison of different inflation times on the angiographic image after balloon angioplasty in the femoropopliteal segment: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Background: Endovascular balloon angioplasty is a common practice to treat femoropopliteal arterial lesions. The precise balloon inflation duration to obtain the best lesion dilatation is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess angiographic images after 3- and 5-minute balloon inflation in femoropopliteal de-novo atherosclerotic lesions.

Long-term durability of bicuspid aortic valve repair: a comparison of 2 annuloplasty techniques.

Objectives: To compare long-term outcomes after bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) repair utilizing the Cabrol annuloplasty versus valve sparing Reimplantation technique.

Methods: From 1996 to 2018, 340 consecutive patients underwent BAV repair. Eighty underwent Cabrol annuloplasty and 189 underwent Reimplantation.

Two decades of valve-sparing root reimplantation in tricuspid aortic valve: impact of aortic regurgitation and cusp repair.

Objectives: Our goal was to analyse the influence of preoperative aortic regurgitation (AR) on the necessity of cusp repair during valve-sparing reimplantation (VSR). We focused on patients with tricuspid aortic valves (TAV) and evaluated the impact of AR and cusp repair on long-term outcomes.

Methods: From March 1998 to December 2018, a total of 512 consecutive patients underwent VSR at our institution; of these, 303 had a TAV.

Aortic valve repair in endocarditis: scope and results.

Purpose: Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a prevalent and life-threatening disease. The choice to repair or replace the infected valve still remains a matter of debate, especially in aortic valve (AV) infections. We retrospectively analyze our two decades of experience in aortic valve repair (AVr) in IE.

Long-term experience with valve-sparing root reimplantation surgery in tricuspid aortic valve.

Objective: To analyze our long-term experience with valve-sparing reimplantation technique in treating aortic root aneurysm, aortic regurgitation, and aortic dissection in patients with tricuspid aortic valve.

Methods: Between March 1998 and October 2018, 303 consecutive patients underwent valve-sparing reimplantation in our institution. The mean age of this cohort was 52.

Endovascular Repair of a Ruptured Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm With the Sandwich Technique: A Case Report.

Introduction: aortic aneurysms involving the renal and visceral arteries are endovascular challenges, especially for emergencies. We report a case of ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) in a morbidly obese 71-year-old man. The patient was admitted with a stable hemodynamic state.

Free margin length and geometric height in aortic root dilatation and leaflet prolapse: implications for aortic valve repair surgery.

Objectives: Our goal was to assess the aortic leaflet free margin length (FML) and geometric height (gH) in a normal aortic valve (AV), aorta dilatation and aortic leaflet prolapse.

Methods: We measured the FML and gH intraoperatively in 132 patients operated on for aortic insufficiency, aortic dilatation, endocarditis or fibroelastoma. Patients were divided into 3 groups: normal tricuspid AV (group 1, n = 12), aortic dilatation (group 2, tricuspid = 43, bicuspid = 18) and leaflet prolapse (group 3, tricuspid = 32, bicuspid = 27).

Balloon Angioplasty Versus Bailout Stenting for Isolated Chronic Total Occlusions in the Popliteal Artery.

Aims:: Stenting of the popliteal artery (PA) is generally considered inappropriate due to the high mechanical stress and bending of the artery during knee flexion. Nevertheless, vessel recoil remains problematic following angioplasty procedure for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) and adjunctive stenting may be required. The purpose of this study is to compare balloon angioplasty alone versus bailout stenting for isolated CTO of the PA.

Visceral Fibromuscular Dysplasia: From asymptomatic disorder to emergency.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an idiopathic, segmental, non-atherosclerotic and non-inflammatory disease of the musculature of arterial walls, leading to stenosis of small and medium-sized arteries, mostly involving renal and cervical arteries. As a result of better and more systematic screening, it appears that involvement of the splanchnic vascular bed is more frequent than originally assumed. We review epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture as well as diagnosis and treatment of visceral artery (VA) FMD.

Active infective mitral valve endocarditis: is a repair-oriented surgery safe and durable?

Objectives: We retrospectively analysed our 20-year experience on surgical treatment of native mitral valve (MV) endocarditis in a single institution using an early and repair-oriented surgical approach.

Methods: From August 1991 to December 2015, 192 consecutive patients underwent MV surgery for active endocarditis. Of these, 81% (n = 155) had MV repair while 19% had MV replacement.

Re-repair of the failed mitral valve: insights into aetiology and surgical management.

Objectives: Mitral valve (MV) repair is the gold standard for treatment of degenerative mitral regurgitation. A variety of surgical techniques allow surgeons to achieve a high rate of MV repair even with MV diseases of other aetiologies. However, a certain number of repairs fail over time.

Management and Outcome of Prosthetic Vascular Graft Infections: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) remains a severe and challenging complication in vascular surgery with high morbidity and mortality rates. Incidence has been reported between 1% and 6%. The aim of this study was to report our experience in terms of general and surgical management as well as outcome, over 15 years.

Free margin length and coaptation surface area in normal tricuspid aortic valve: an anatomical study.

Objectives: Aortic cusp free margins are a central target in most aortic valve repair operations to optimize valve coaptation. The objective of this anatomical study was to analyse the normal dimensions of free margin length (FML) and coaptation surface and to analyse their relationship with other valve and root dimensions in normal tricuspid aortic valves.

Methods: We analysed 25 aortic root homografts.

Short-Term Results of Eluvia™ Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent in External Iliac and Femoropopliteal Lesions.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to independently evaluate the real-world performances of Eluvia™ paclitaxel drug-eluting stents (DES) (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts) for the treatment of external iliac and femoropopliteal artery lesions.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively collected, and retrospectively reviewed, data for all patients who underwent an endovascular treatment with an Eluvia™ DES for the treatment of an external iliac or femoropopliteal lesion. Patient demographics, concomitant procedures, arterial lesions characteristics, procedural details, and follow-up were reviewed.

Head-to-Head Comparison of Inflammation and Neovascularization in Human Carotid Plaques: Implications for the Imaging of Vulnerable Plaques.

Background: Inflammation and intraplaque neovascularization are acknowledged to be 2 features of plaque vulnerability, although their temporal expression and their respective value in predicting clinical events are poorly understood. To determine their respective temporal associations, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of inflammation and intraplaque neovascularization in the carotid plaque of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Methods And Results: Thirty patients with severe carotid stenosis underwent F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomographic imaging.

Staphylococcal versus Streptococcal infective endocarditis in a tertiary hospital in Belgium: epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcome.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare but serious illness associated with a high mortality. Staphylococcus spp and Streptococcus spp are the most frequent causative pathogens. In this study, we compared the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with Staphylococcal and Streptococcal IE in a tertiary hospital.

Unusual Management of Thoracic Aortic Injury After Spinal Instrumentation: Just Glue It!

We report the cases of two patients who presented with screw misplacement following spinal surgery. Both benefited from unusual vascular surgical management with removal of the material and injection of biological glue facing the injury, with uneventful postoperative courses.