Barlow disease: effect of mitral valve repair on ventricular arrhythmias in 82 patients in a retrospective long-term study.

Background: Patients (pt) with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) due to Barlow disase (BD) have an increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA; including ventricular tachycardias VT) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Data on the effect of MV repair on VA are scarce.

Methods: Pre- and postoperative VA in severe mitral regurgitation (MR) with MVP due to BD undergoing surgical mitral valve repair were analyzed.

The very low risk of myocarditis and pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination should not discourage vaccination.

The benefits of vaccination - regarding COVID-19 infection and transmission, as well as COVID-associated complications - clearly outweigh the potential risk of vaccine-associated inflammation of the heart and other adverse events. Given the current state of knowledge, the outcome of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination is generally good. This review aims to guide physicians in the early diagnosis and management of suspected myocarditis following mRNA COVID vaccination.

Cardiovascular surgery in Turner syndrome - early outcome and long-term follow-up.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with Turner syndrome (TS), and cardiovascular surgery is frequently required for management of these patients. TS is associated with medical comorbidities than can complicate the care of this patient population.

Aim: To describe the cardiovascular surgical outcomes of patients with TS.

Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders in the current era in Switzerland in 103 patients: medical and surgical management and impact of genetic testing.

Introduction: Marfan syndrome (MFS) and related connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are increasingly recognised. Genetic testing has greatly improved the diagnostic outcome/power over the last two decades. In this study we describe a multicentre cohort of adults with MFS and related CTDs, with a particular focus on results from genetic testing.

Cerebrovascular accidents in Ebstein's anomaly.

Introduction: Mechanisms and risk factors for cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) in Ebstein's anomaly (EA) are not well understood; hence, we aimed to clarify these in a large cohort of EA patients.

Methods: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of EA were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics were compared between patients with and without a prior history of CVA using logistic regression modeling.

Sudden death in patients with Ebstein anomaly.

Aims: Ventricular dysfunction or structural alteration of either ventricle is a well-established risk factor for sudden death (SD). Ebstein anomaly (EA) can present with both right and left heart abnormalities; however, predictors of SD have not been described. We therefore sought to characterize the incidence and risk factors of SD among a large cohort of patients with EA.

Aortic Root Surgery in Marfan Syndrome: Medium-Term Outcome in a Single-Center Experience.

Background: The study aim was to analyze the authors' experience with aortic root surgery in Marfan syndrome (MFS), and to expand the surgical outcome data of patients meeting the Ghent criteria (Marfan registry).

Methods: Analyses were performed of data acquired from MFS patients (who met the Ghent criteria), including an aortic root surgery and Kaplan-Meier survival.

Results: Between April 2004 and February 2012, a total of 59 MFS patients (mean age at surgery 36 ± 13 years) underwent 67 operations for aortic root aneurysm (n = 52), aortic valve (AV) regurgitation (n = 15), acute aortic dissection (n = 2), and/or mitral valve (MV) regurgitation resulting from MV prolapse (n = 7).

Dilatation and Dysfunction of the Neo-aortic Root and in 76 Patients After the Ross Procedure.

Pulmonary autograft replacement (Ross procedure) is used as an alternative to prosthetic aortic valve replacement patients with aortic valve disease. There are limited data on incidence and risk factors for dilatation and dysfunction of the neo-aortic after the Ross procedure. Ross procedure was performed in 100 patients at our institution between 1993 and 2011.

Safety and efficacy of the nMARQ catheter for paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Circular irrigated radiofrequency ablation using the nMARQ catheter has recently been introduced for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study is to report the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation using this technology in patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF.

Methods And Results: The data of a prospective registry describing the experience of a single operator using this technology on 327 consecutive patients were analysed.

Left Ventricular Noncompaction Diagnosis and Management Relevant to Pre-participation Screening of Athletes.

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) has been extensively studied over the last years, and an increasing number of cases have been reported worldwide, with a large proportion comprising young and asymptomatic subjects, including athletes. The current epidemic of LVNC is likely the consequence of several causes, that is, the increased awareness of the disease and the refined cardiovascular imaging techniques. The current diagnostic methods, based uniquely on definition of morphologic findings, do not always resolve the overlap of a physiological myocardial architecture comprising a prominent trabecular pattern from a mild phenotypic expression of the real disease.

Medical treatment of aortic aneurysms in Marfan syndrome and other heritable conditions.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms can be triggered by genetic disorders such as Marfan syndrome (MFS) and related aortic diseases as well as by inflammatory disorders such as giant cell arteritis or atherosclerosis. In all these conditions, cardiovascular risk factors, such as systemic arterial hypertension, may contribute to faster rate of aneurysm progression. Optimal medical management to prevent progressive aortic dilatation and aortic dissection is unknown.

Increased risk of possible paradoxical embolic events in adults with ebstein anomaly and severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Objective: Determine incidence and risk factors for possible paradoxical embolic events in patients who have Ebstein anomaly with severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Design: Retrospective study of clinical and imaging data.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Heart transplantation in congenital heart disease: in whom to consider and when?

Due to impressive improvements in surgical repair options, even patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) may survive into adulthood and have a high risk of end-stage heart failure. Thus, the number of patients with CHD needing heart transplantation (HTx) has been increasing in the last decades. This paper summarizes the changing etiology of causes of death in heart failure in CHD.

Risk of death in long-term follow-up of patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) has been considered a "benign" form of HC, with limited data on long-term outcome. We compared apical HC patients with a non-HC, age- and gender-matched Minnesota white population to identify outcomes and prognostic factors. Between 1976 and 2006, 193 patients (62% men) with apical HC were seen at our clinic.

Right ventricle best predicts the race performance in amateur ironman athletes.

Purpose: The ironman (IM) triathlon is a popular ultraendurance competition, consisting of 3.8 km of swimming, 180.2 km of cycling, and 42.

Left ventricular non-compaction: prevalence in congenital heart disease.

Introduction: Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a rare cardiomyopathy, originally described as an isolated disease without other structural cardiac abnormalities. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of LVNC among adults with different types of congenital heart disease.

Methods: From our databases we identified adults with congenital heart disease who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for LVNC.

Outcome of cardiac surgery in patients 50 years of age or older with Ebstein anomaly: survival and functional improvement.

Objectives: This study sought to analyze the presentation, surgical procedures, and outcomes in patients ≥ 50 years of age with Ebstein anomaly (EA).

Background: Data on management and surgical outcomes in older patients with EA are limited.

Methods: Operative and clinical data from patients with EA ≥ 50 years of age undergoing cardiac surgery at our center between October 1980 and January 2010 were analyzed.

Management and outcome of Ebstein's anomaly in children.

Objectives: To assess clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of children with Ebstein's anomaly.

Background: Data on long-term outcome of children with Ebstein's anomaly are scarce.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all children with Ebstein's anomaly treated between February, 1979 and January, 2009 in a single tertiary institution.

Predictors of adverse outcome in adolescents and adults with isolated left ventricular noncompaction.

Isolated left ventricular noncompaction is a rare form of primary cardiomyopathy. Although increasingly diagnosed, data on the outcomes are limited. To define the predictors of adverse outcomes, we performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively defined cohort of consecutive patients (age >14 years) diagnosed with left ventricular noncompaction at a single center.

Prospective comparison of echocardiography versus cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Ebstein's anomaly.

Ebstein's anomaly (EA) is primarily diagnosed by echocardiography. The purpose of this study was to compare echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in EA. Data from cardiac MRI and echocardiography were prospectively collected from 16 patients with EA.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: prevalence and correlates of apical outpouching.

Background: Apical outpouching, including wall motion abnormalities and aneurysms, has been described in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM).

Methods: Between 1976 and 2006, 193 patients with ApHCM (120 men; overall mean age, 61 ± 17 years) were evaluated.

Results: Apical outpouching was found in 29 patients (15%) and in 22 of the 78 patients (28%) imaged with contrast echocardiography.

Tetralogy of fallot repair in patients 40 years or older.

Objective: To report the outcomes of patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) undergoing surgical repair at age 40 years or older.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed records of patients (age, ≥40 years) who underwent TOF repair from January 1, 1970, through December 31, 2007. Symptoms, palliative procedures, surgical reports, and long-term outcomes were analyzed.