Prospective assessment of the CryoMaze procedure with continuous outpatient telemetry in 136 patients.

Background: Only 40% of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardiac surgery are treated with surgical AF correction. We prospectively studied endocardial cryoablation of the Cox-maze III lesion set following prespecified rhythm assessment with outpatient telemetry.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2011, 136 patients underwent surgical AF correction using an argon-powered cryoablation device.

Pulmonary hypertension adversely affects short- and long-term survival after mitral valve operation for mitral regurgitation: implications for timing of surgery.

Objective: We investigated the impact of preoperative pulmonary hypertension (PH) on early and late outcomes after mitral valve operation for mitral regurgitation.

Methods: Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was measured before operation in 873 consecutive patients who underwent mitral valve surgery for mitral regurgitation between January 2002 and January 2010. PH was classified as none (sPAP < 40 mm Hg), mild (40 ≤ sPAP < 50 mm Hg), moderate (50 ≤ sPAP < 60 mm Hg), or severe (sPAP ≥ 60 mm Hg).

Magnetic resonance investigation of blood flow after aortic valve bypass (apicoaortic conduit).

Background: Aortic valve bypass (AVB, apicoaortic conduit) is an alternative to aortic valve replacement (AVR) for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The redistribution of blood flow after AVB has been poorly characterized. In order to understand cardiovascular physiology after AVB, we performed cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging of AVB recipients.

Undersized tricuspid annuloplasty rings optimally treat functional tricuspid regurgitation.

Background: In contrast to mitral valve repair, residual and recurrent regurgitation after tricuspid valve (TV) repair for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common. We have systematically used undersized, rigid 3-dimensional annuloplasty rings to treat functional TR.

Methods: From March 2006 to October 2009, 101 consecutive patients with moderate or greater functional TR underwent TV repair with an undersized rigid 3-dimensional annuloplasty ring.

Early and midterm hemodynamics after aortic valve bypass (apicoaortic conduit) surgery.

Background: Aortic valve bypass (AVB [apicoaortic conduit]) relieves aortic stenosis (AS) by connecting the apex of the left ventricle to the descending thoracic aorta with a valved conduit. AVB is performed through a small left thoracotomy, without cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping, cardiac arrest, or debridement of the native aortic valve. Little is known about hemodynamics, including ventricular performance, relative conduit blood flow, and progression of native AS after AVB.

Intermediate-term outcomes of surgical atrial fibrillation correction with the CryoMaze procedure.

Background: Few studies have reported long-term outcomes of surgical atrial fibrillation (AF) correction. We perform the Cox-Maze III lesion set with argon-powered cryoenergy (CryoMaze procedure) on all patients with AF presenting for cardiac operations. This study reports long-term clinical results and heart rhythm status.

Aortic valve bypass surgery: midterm clinical outcomes in a high-risk aortic stenosis population.

Background: Aortic valve bypass (AVB; apicoaortic conduit) surgery relieves aortic stenosis (AS) by shunting blood from the apex of the left ventricle to the descending thoracic aorta through a valved conduit. We have performed AVB surgery as an alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement for high-risk AS patients.

Methods And Results: Between 2003 and 2007, 31 high-risk AS patients were treated with AVB surgery.

Late calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal as a strategy to prevent graft loss in patients with suboptimal kidney transplant function.

Unlabelled: Chronic allograft nephropathy is a major cause of progressive renal failure in renal transplant recipients. Its etiology is multifactorial and may include both immunologic and nonimmunologic causes. In this observational cohort study we set out to see if calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal would reduce the likelihood of graft loss.