Exploiting the anti-fibrotic effects of statins on thoracic aortic aneurysm progression: results from a meta-analysis and experimental data.

Aims: Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) that progress to acute aortic dissection is often fatal and there is no pharmacological treatment that can reduce TAA progression. We aim to evaluate statins' effects on TAA growth rate and outcomes using a meta-analysis approach.

Methods And Results: A detailed search related to the effects of statins on TAA was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines.

Multi-omics in thoracic aortic aneurysm: the complex road to the simplification.

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a serious condition that affects the aorta, characterized by the dilation of its first segment. The causes of TAA (e.g.

Isolated tricuspid regurgitation: a new entity to face. Prevalence, prognosis and treatment of isolated tricuspid regurgitation.

In recent years the tricuspid is no longer considered the "forgotten valve," but nowadays, specialists focused the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) especially at the time of left heart valve (LHV) surgery, overlooking the emerging entity of isolated TR. Its incidence appears to be rising along with the higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), intracardiac devices and intravenous drug users. Hence, the aim of the present review is to summarize the available evidences in terms of natural history, clinical presentation and treatment of isolated TR.

[A case of aortic stenosis in a young patient with familiar hypercholesterolemia, bicuspid aortic valve and heavy calcification of the ascending aorta].

We report the case of a 28-year-old Caucasian patient symptomatic for low-threshold angina. Coronary angiography ruled out significant coronary stenosis. He was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia and severe aortic stenosis in a setting of bicuspid valve disease.

Looking Back to Look Forward: What to Expect in a Redo Surgery for a Bioprosthesis Replacement.

Redo surgeries are becoming more common because of an increased rate of bioprosthesis implantation. We performed a retrospective study on patients who underwent redo replacement of an aortic and/or mitral bioprosthesis between 2005 and 2018 to evaluate intra-hospital mortality and morbidity. Univariate analysis was performed on the propensity score variables to determine predictors of mortality.

Mitral valve repair with artificial chords: Tips and tricks.

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is a common valvular disorder occurring in up to 10% of the general population. Mitral valve reconstructive strategies may address any of the components, annulus, leaflets, and chords, involved in the valvular competence. The classical repair technique involves the resection of the prolapsing tissue.

[Sex-related differences in the treatment of coronary artery disease].

Differential outcomes between men and women following the treatment of coronary artery disease are currently under investigation. An increasing amount of evidence supports the concept that the differential anatomical features, functional characteristics, and risk factors between the two sexes should be considered in decision making for the therapeutic strategy to adopt in patients with coronary artery disease. Most risk scores have been developed based on predominantly male populations and might not work well for predicting cardiovascular risk in women.

Reply to Chen et al. Improvements in Outcomes and Expanding Indications for the Commando Procedure. Comment on "Giambuzzi et al. Surgical Aortic Mitral Curtain Replacement: Systematic Review and Metanalysis of Early and Long-Term Results. 2021, , 3163".

We would like to thank Lin Chen et al. [..

Valve endocarditis, to repair or not to repair, is that really the question?

The meta-analysis by He et al. has the worth to cover, as much as possible, a gap of scientific evidence were conducting a randomized trial appears very complex for ethical and logistical reasons. The authors concluded that mitral valve repair (MVP) provides better-pooled results, both early and late, with respect to mitral valve replacement.

The day after tomorrow: cardiac surgery and coronavirus disease-2019.

The impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced the governments worldwide to deal with an unprecedented health crisis. The aim of this review is to summarize what happened to cardiac surgery worldwide during the first wave of this pandemic. A literature search was performed to extrapolate key concepts regarding guidelines and reorganization of cardiac surgery wards during COVID-19.

Surgical Aortic Mitral Curtain Replacement: Systematic Review and Metanalysis of Early and Long-Term Results.

The Commando procedure is challenging, and aims to replace the mitral valve, the aortic valve and the aortic mitral curtain, when the latter is severely affected by pathological processes (such as infective endocarditis or massive calcification). Given the high complexity, it is seldomly performed. We aim to review the literature on early (hospitalization and up to 30 days) and long-term (at least 3 years of follow-up) results.

Whatever happens, two mammary is better than one.

It is well known that the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) should be the first conduit of choice. Similarly, especially in patients younger than 70 years, other conduits should be search among arterial grafts, such as right internal mammary artery (RIMA) or radial artery (RA). If the RA can be harvested in the meanwhile of LIMA harvesting without time consuming, it is well established that former one has to be grafted only on presence of a good run-off.

Rheumatic mitral regurgitation: is repair justified by the long-term results?

Objectives: The best treatment for rheumatic mitral regurgitation is still under debate. Our goal was to assess the long-term results of mitral repair for rheumatic mitral regurgitation performed in 2 referral centres for mitral repair.

Methods: Patients who underwent mitral valve repair between 1999 and 2009 were selected.

The best approach for functional tricuspid regurgitation: A network meta-analysis.

Objective: For many years, functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) was considered negligible after treatment of left-sided heart valve surgery. The aim of the present network meta-analysis is to summarize the results of four approaches to establish the possible gold standard.

Methods: A systematic search was performed to identify all publications reporting the outcomes of four approaches for FTR, not tricuspid annuloplasty (no TA), suture annuloplasty (SA), flexible (FRA), rigid rings (RRA).

How to build a multi-arterial coronary artery bypass programme: a stepwise approach.

Observational evidence shows that the use of multiple arterial grafts (MAG) is associated with longer postoperative survival and improved clinical outcomes. The current European Society of Cardiology/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Guidelines on myocardial revascularization recommend the use of MAG in appropriate patients. However, a significant volume-to-outcome relationship exists for MAG, and lack of sufficient experience is associated with increased operative risk.

T1 mapping and cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking in mitral valve prolapse.

Objectives: T1 mapping (T1-map) and cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) techniques have been introduced for the early detection of interstitial myocardial fibrosis and deformation abnormalities. We sought to demonstrate that T1-map and CMR-FT may identify the presence of subclinical myocardial structural changes in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

Methods: Consecutive MVP patients with moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation and comparative matched healthy subjects were prospectively enrolled and underwent CMR-FT analysis to calculate 2D global and segmental circumferential (CS) and radial strain (RS) and T1-map to determine global and segmental native T1 (nT1) values.