Structural valve deterioration of bioprosthesis in the aortic position: A single-center experience.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is one of the most common open-heart surgical procedures. The durability of the tissue valve in the aortic position is crucial in AVR and transcatheter AVR. We reviewed structural valve deterioration using echocardiographic follow-up in three types of surgical aortic tissue valves.

Treating the right patient at the right time: Access to echocardiography in Canada.

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society is the national professional society for cardiovascular specialists and researchers in Canada. In the spring of 2004, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Council formed the Access to Care Working Group ('Working Group') to use the best science and information available to establish reasonable triage categories and safe wait times for access to common cardiovascular procedures. The Working Group decided to publish a series of commentaries to initiate a structured national discussion on this important issue, and the present commentary proposes recommended wait times for access to echocardiography.

Surgical management of infective endocarditis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Although retrospective reviews evaluating the surgical management of infective endocarditis (IE) have been conducted in Europe and in the USA, few data exist regarding management of the condition in Canada. The study aim was to evaluate the surgical management of individuals with culture-positive active IE at a Canadian tertiary care university hospital.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of 74 patients (53 males, 21 females; mean age 56 +/- 14 years) with a preoperative diagnosis of acute IE between 1995 and 2003 at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Guidelines for the provision of echocardiography in Canada: recommendations of a joint Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Society of Echocardiography Consensus Panel.

Recognizing the central role of echocardiographic examinations in the assessment of most cardiac disorders and the need to ensure the provision of these services in a highly reliable, timely, economical and safe manner, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and Canadian Society of Echocardiography undertook a comprehensive review of all aspects influencing the provision of echocardiographic services in Canada. Five regional panels were established to develop preliminary recommendations in the five component areas, which included the echocardiographic examination, the echocardiographic laboratory and report, the physician, the sonographer and indications for examinations. Membership in the panels was structured to recognize the regional professional diversity of individuals involved in the provision of echocardiography.