Single-center outcome analysis of 1,161 patients with St. Jude medical and ATS open pivot mechanical heart valves.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The clinical performance of mechanical heart valves and valve-related complications are important safety endpoints in patients after heart valve replacement. In this retrospective analysis, the mid- to long-term clinical outcomes of two similar bileaflet heart valves, routinely implanted at the authors' institution over an 11-year period, were compared.

Methods: Between January 1993 and December 2003, a total of 1,161 patients (758 males, 403 females) received either a St.

Feasibility of intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy in off-pump myocardial revascularization.

Objectives: : The intravascular application of near-infrared spectroscopy was previously evaluated in acute ischemia-reperfusion studies in animal experiments. The objective of our study was to assess the technical feasibility and clinical reliability of an online myocardial ischemia monitoring by using intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy during off-pump coronary bypass surgery.

Methods: : Intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy of coronary sinus blood was performed in 10 elective patients selected for off-pump coronary bypass surgery.

Ischemia monitoring in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery using intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy.

Background: In off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, manipulations on the beating heart can lead to transient interruptions of myocardial oxygen supply, which can generate an accumulation of oxygen-dependent metabolites in coronary venous blood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy as a monitoring method to detect possible ischemic events in off-pump coronary artery bypass procedures.

Methods: In 15 elective patients undergoing off-pump myocardial revascularization, intravascular near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of coronary venous blood was performed.

OPCAB surgery after right pneumonectomy.

Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in a 58-year-old patient 3 years after right pneumonectomy for nonsmall cell lung cancer stage IIIa. The CT scan demonstrated a marked shift of the mediastinum into the right chest, but revealed a feasible access to the left coronary artery by median sternotomy. Pulmonary function was impaired.