Mitral valve myxomas: an unusual entity.

Primary tumours of the heart are uncommon entities, cardiac myxomas being the most frequent. However, mitral valve myxomas are exceptionally rare. In the last 12 years, there have been 25 myxomas diagnosed at our institution, with only two of them originating from the mitral valve.

[Comparative study of Toronto SPV prosthesis and bileaflet mechanical aortic prosthesis with 2D-Doppler echocardiography].

Aim: The aim of this study was to make a noninvasive comparison, by means of Doppler echocardiography, of the hemodynamic performance of biological stentless xenografts and mechanical bileaflet (MB) prostheses (P) in aortic position.

Methods: We studied 20 patients (pts) with normofunctional (nf) aortic Toronto (T) Stentless Porcine valves (SPV)--Group I--8 males, aged 69 +/- 12 years, 32 +/- 9 months after surgery, and 30 pts with nf MB aortic P (Carbomedics or St. Jude Medical)--Group II--17 males (p = NS vs G I), aged 61 +/- 12 years (p < 0.

[Experience of the exclusive use of arteries in myocardial revascularization].

Objectives: To present the initial experience of a surgical team from Santa Marta Hospital using exclusive arterial grafts on coronary bypass surgery.

Setting: Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Departments.

Population And Methods: From November 1987 to May 1994, 176 consecutive patients were submitted to surgical myocardial revascularization with the exclusive use of arterial grafts.