Transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the left transcarotid approach in patients with previous ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility and safety of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) through a left transcarotid approach in patients previously operated on for ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Background: The healthcare impact of extracranial carotid artery disease is essential as stroke is the third-leading cause of death in industrialized nations and CEA is often present in the history of patients awaiting TAVI.

Methods: The primary endpoint was to evaluate 30-day mortality and freedom from major TAVI-related complications in an observational analysis.

Total percutaneous femoral vessels cannulation for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Background: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) has experienced several technological changes in the last two decades. Our aim was to describe one of the most recent improvements, the utilization of a total percutaneous femoral vessels cannulation technique during MIMVS.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational analysis of this technique among 300 consecutive MIMVS patients, with particular focus on cannulation aspects of MIMVS, its success rate and potential complications.

Blood pressure and heart rate variability changes during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

This study investigated patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery to evaluate the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on the spontaneous variability of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). Forty-one adult patients receiving different cardiovascular system drugs were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups: no preoperative pharmacological cardiovascular treatment (n = 12), beta-blocker (BB) (n = 13), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEI) (n = 16).

Instant centre frequency at anaesthetic induction--a new way to analyse sympathovagal balance.

The instant centre frequency (ICF) of RR interval has been proposed as a global index to analyse the sympathovagal interaction in the heart. The aim of this study was to assess the ICF during anaesthesia to test if it can reliably capture the neural control of the cardiovascular system. Twenty-four ASA II or III patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were included in the study.