Technology and technique for left ventricular assist device optimization: A Bi-Tech solution.

Background: We investigated the synergistic effect of the new cone-bearing design of Jarvik 2000 (Jarvik Heart Inc., NY) together with a minimally-invasive approach to outcomes of LVAD patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients from 5 institutions involved in the Jarvik 2000 Italian Registry, from October 2008 to October 2016.

Transit time flow measurement of coronary bypass grafts before and after protamine administration.

Background: Intraoperative graft assessment with tools like Transit Time Flow Measurement (TTFM) is imperative for quality control in coronary surgery. We investigated the variation of TTFM parameters before and after protamine administration to identify new benchmark parameters for graft quality assessment.

Methods: The database of the REQUEST ("REgistry for QUality AssESsmenT with Ultrasound Imaging and TTFM in Cardiac Bypass Surgery") study was retrospectively reviewed.

Aortic valve exposure through a combined right atrial-ascending aortic approach in redo cases.

The expanded use of tissue valves in the aortic position lead to an increased number of reoperations in cases o valve failure. The approach to an aortic prosthesis can be difficult because of heavy adhesions, especially if biological glue was used in the first procedure and the interval between the first and second operation is short.