Apical aneurysm and myocardial bridging in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: association or consequence of the myocardial bridging?

The identification of high-risk patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a challenging issue, since major risk factors sometimes lack specificity. We report the case of a patient with HC and association of apical aneurysm and myocardial bridging who had been initially not implanted because she had only one major risk factor. She subsequently experienced a sustained ventricular tachycardia that finally motivated the implantation.

Determination of the threshold of cardiac troponin I associated with an adverse postoperative outcome after cardiac surgery: a comparative study between coronary artery bypass graft, valve surgery, and combined cardiac surgery.

Introduction: The objective of the present study was to compare postoperative cardiac troponin I (cTnI) release and the thresholds of cTnI that predict adverse outcome after elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), after valve surgery, and after combined cardiac surgery.

Methods: Six hundred and seventy-five adult patients undergoing conventional cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were retrospectively analyzed. Patients in the CABG (n = 225) and valve surgery groups (n = 225) were selected after matching (age, sex) with those in the combined surgery group (n = 225).

[Idiopathic left ventricular aneurysm presenting with ventricular tachycardia. A case report].

Left ventricular aneurysm presenting with ventricular tachycardia was observed in a 48 year old man. Aetiological investigation was negative. The differences between aneurysm and diverticulum and the aetiologies of aneurysms are discussed.

[Initial primary sarcoma of the pulmonary valve and trunk of the pulmonary artery].

Primary sarcomas arising from the trunk or branches of the pulmonary artery are exceedingly rare and usually diagnosed at autopsy. The authors report the case of a 31 year old man referred for investigation of recurrent syncope. Echocardiography, right ventriculography and the thoracic computed tomography led to early diagnosis of a pulmonary artery tumour and surgical resection.

[Dissection of aorta after aortic valve replacement].

The authors report 4 cases of aortic dissection after aortic valve replacement. The aorta was dilated in all four cases before surgery. Two patients died within hours of the dissection, illustrating the poor prognosis of this complication and the difficulties of surgical management.