Atrioesophageal fistula after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation: A case report.

Rationale: Atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but serious complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation with associated high mortality rates.

Patient Concerns: A 42-year-old male patient who underwent catheter ablation in local hospital 20 days ago because of persistent AF was admitted to our Emergency Room with unconsciousness and high axillary temperature and white blood cell count. Craniocerebral CT scan found multiple infarct lesions in both frontal and occipital lobes.

Treatment experience of thoracic aortic aneurysm recurrence after multiple surgeries for Marfan syndrome: A case report.

Rationale: Marfan syndrome (MFS), an autosomal dominant hereditary disease, often results in structural and functional abnormalities of the aortic wall. Because of residual aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection, patients with MFS usually need repeat operations after the first operation.

Patient Concerns: A patient diagnosed with MFS who had undergone 2 surgeries because of abdominal aortic dissection aneurysm and Stanford A type aortic dissection at different times.

Comparison of Totally Thoracoscopic and Traditional Sternotomy Approaches for Mitral Valve Replacement.

Background: We aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of mitral valve replacement using a totally thoracoscopic approach in comparison with traditional median sternotomy.

Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2017, 94 consecutive patients who underwent mitral valve replacement were divided into two groups: A thoracoscopic group (43 cases) and a traditional group (51 cases). For the thoracoscopic group, all patients underwent total thoracoscopic procedures with femoral arterial and venous cannulation to cardiopulmonary bypass, transthoracic aortic cross-clamp, and antegrade cardioplegia.