Exercise Hemodynamics and Quality of Life after Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis in the Elderly Using the Hancock II Bioprosthesis.

Background and Aim. While aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis can be performed safely in elderly patients, there is a need for hemodynamic and quality of life evaluation to determine the value of aortic valve replacement in older patients who may have age-related activity limitation. Materials and Methods.

Prediction of malignancy in cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) are being detected with increased frequency. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of malignancy and develop an imaging-based system for prediction of malignancy in PCN.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients ≥18 years of age with confirmed PCN from January 2005 to December 2010 in a community-based integrated care setting in Southern California.

Is transthoracic minimally invasive aortic valve replacement too time-consuming for the busy cardiac surgeon?

Objective: : Transthoracic minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (TMI-AVR) is gaining popularity despite criticism that time from incision to the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass (exposure time, ET), cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPBT), and cross-clamp time (XCT) is excessive. Database analysis was used to characterize these parameters and their associated learning curves.

Methods: : From 2004 to 2008, 101 patients underwent TMI-AVR at a single institution.