Prognostic value of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Coronary and chronic lung diseases have become a common association. This comorbidity has been generically considered by most of the operative risk scores, but its functional severity has seldom been addressed by these models. Our objective was to analyze its prognostic relevance considering preoperative pulmonary function parameters.

Patient-prosthesis mismatch in aortic valve replacement: really tolerable?

Objective: Several studies have demonstrated favorable results despite patient-prosthesis mismatch after aortic valve replacement with the use of third generation prostheses. Our aim was to determine whether this mismatch is always tolerable.

Methods: A clinical-echocardiographic study has been performed in 339 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement because of aortic stenosis.

Left ventricular mass index in aortic valve surgery: a new index for early valve replacement?

Objective: Increased left ventricular mass index has been associated with higher mortality. We analyze the effect of increased left ventricular mass index on outcomes in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Methods: Echocardiographic left ventricular dimensions were used to calculate left ventricular mass index in 614 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement between June 1993 and November 2001.