[Which Management of Burn Sequelae to the Limbs in a Peculiar Context?].

Burns are frequent lesions, often leading to serious functional or even life-threatening sequelae. Their care poses a problem in the countries of the South due to the lack of specialized centres. Through this study, we would like to share our experience.

Normal pulmonary veins anatomy is associated with better AF-free survival after cryoablation as compared to atypical anatomy with common left pulmonary vein.

Background: Pulmonary vein cryoablation (PVC) is a new approach in the treatment of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF). Computed tomography (CT) can be used to evaluate the left atrium anatomy and PVs dimensions to facilitate the procedure. In radiofrequency procedures, some anatomic variants such as common left (CLPV) or right (CRPV) PV were reported as factors associated with technical procedure difficulties and potential long-term complications.

Dual balloon size strategy for cryoisolation of the pulmonary veins in patients with atrial fibrillation: comparison of 23 and 28mm diameter cryoballoons.

Background: Systematic use of a 28mm balloon has been proposed for pulmonary vein cryoisolation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To assess the results of a dual balloon size strategy using a 23 or 28mm cryoballoon catheter for pulmonary vein isolation.

Methods: A total of 118 patients (mean age 56 ± 10 years) with paroxysmal (n=85) or persistent atrial fibrillation (n=33) were enrolled.

Heart failure in left-sided native valve infective endocarditis: characteristics, prognosis, and results of surgical treatment.

Aims: Although congestive heart failure (CHF) represents the most common cause of death in native valve infective endocarditis (IE), recent data on the outcome of IE complicated by CHF are lacking. We aimed to analyse the characteristics and prognosis of patients with left-sided native valve IE complicated by CHF and to evaluate the impact of early surgery on 1 year outcome.

Methods And Results: Two hundred and fifty-nine consecutive patients with definite left-sided native valve IE according to the Duke criteria were included in this analysis.

Infective endocarditis in elderly patients: clinical characteristics and outcome.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe a single unit experience for the treatment of acute infective endocarditis, for patients older than 75 years and to analyse the results of early surgery.

Patients And Methods: From January 1991 to June 2006 348 consecutive patients with definite acute infective endocarditis, according to Duke criteria, were prospectively enrolled in our database. Among these, 75 patients older than 75 years (mean age 79.