Pharmacokinetics of fusidic acid and cefepime in heart tissues: implications for a role in surgical prophylaxis.

The pharmacokinetic profiles of fusidic acid and cefepime in heart tissues were assessed in 30 patients undergoing elective valve replacement and cardiopulmonary bypass. Single doses of 1 g of fusidic acid and 2 g of cefepime were administered intravenously to two groups of 15 and 15 patients respectively upon initiation of anesthesia. Samples of serum, heart valves, myocardium, pericardium, mediastinal fat and sternum were collected within <1 hour, 1-2 h and 2-4 h after the end of drug infusion.

Physicochemical and microscopical study of calcific deposits from natural and bioprosthetic heart valves. Comparison and implications for mineralization mechanism.

Natural and bioprosthetic heart valves suffer from calcification, despite their differences in etiology and tissue material. The mechanism of developing calcific deposits in valve tissue is still not elucidated. The calcific deposits developed on human natural and bioprosthetic heart valves have been investigated and compared by physicochemical studies and microscopy investigations and the results were correlated with possible mechanisms of mineral crystal growth.

Surgical treatment for aneurysm at the origin of an aberrant right subclavian artery.

Atherosclerotic aneurysms at the origin of an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) are extremely rare entities of congenital origin. We report a case of a 62-year-old man who presented with dyspnea and upper chest pain. The CT scan and digital subtraction angiography revealed a 7-cm aneurysm of an ARSA arising from Kommerell's diverticulum.

Surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect: 10-year experience.

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect (PIVSD) remains a surgical challenge resulting in devastating mortality rates. We present our 10-year experience in surgical management of this catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction. During a decade (1987-1996) 14 patients with PIVSD were treated surgically in our department.

Total occlusion of the left main coronary artery with preserved left ventricular function.

Two patients with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery and well preserved left ventricular function are reported. Twenty one similar cases have been reported in the world literature. All the patients had angina pectoris.