Aortic valve re-implantation technique with Gelweave Valsalva prosthesis: safety, reproducibility and pitfalls of a geometric reconstruction.

Background: To evaluate the safety, reproducibility and pitfalls of an aortic valve re-implantation (AVRei) technique.

Methods: From June 2005 to December 2008, 30 patients underwent aortic valve-sparing re-implantation with Gelweave Valsalva prosthesis. Mean age was 66 +/- 7 years (range 47-81).

[Mitral regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction: pathophysiology and surgical therapy].

Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is a distinctive valve disease in which the left ventricle is the "culprit" and the mitral valve is the "victim". It differentiates from organic regurgitation because the structure of the valve and subvalvar apparatus are not affected, hence abnormalities of the left ventricle are not the consequence but the cause of valve disease. It is at present well known that FMR conveys adverse prognosis in patients with left ventricular dysfunction, with a graded relationship between severity and reduced survival.

Importance of surgical timing on postoperative outcome in patients with native valve acute endocarditis.

Background: The present study was undertaken to establish whether surgical outcome could be influenced by surgical timing in patients affected by native valve endocarditis (NVE).

Methods: From March 2002 to December 2004, 19 patients underwent surgical operation for NVE. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed in ten patients (53%), mitral valve repair (MVRep) was performed in five patients (26%) and multivalvular procedures were performed in the remaining four patients (21%).