A rare case of non-traumatic acute intraabdominal hemorrhage: ruptured superior mesenteric artery aneurysm.

Introduction: Rupture of superior mesenteric artery aneurysm (SMAA) is a very rare and life-threatening condition, presenting with acute intraabdominal hemorrhage.

Case: The patient was hospitalized upon complaint of nonspecific severe abdominal pain. Diagnosis of SMAA was established by abdominal Doppler ultrasound that showed a pseudo-aneurysmal lesion with size of 76 × 47 mm at the superior mesenteric main branch.

Cardiac Echinococcosis: A Single-Centre Study with 25 Patients.

Background: In this study, we aimed to analyse patients who underwent surgery for cardiac echinococcosis in our department.

Methods: Between June 2005 and June 2013, 25 patients (15 male, 10 female) underwent cardiac hydatid cyst operation. The mean patient age was 33.

Interventions Involving the Use of Covered Coronary Artery Stents for Pseudoaneurysms of Blalock-Taussig Shunts.

One of the most rare and dangerous complications of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt involves the formation of a pseudoaneurysm. A pseudoaneurysm may rupture or may result in other adverse events including compression of mediastinal structures or collapse of the underlying lung parenchyma. Shunt-related pseudoaneurysm may be associated with shunt occlusion, bacteremia, or pulmonary hemorrhage.

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in under 6 kg and premature infants.

Background: Transcatheter closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has always been considered risky for infants weighing <6 kg and preterms. We present our findings regarding transcatheter closures of PDA.

Methods: The inclusion criteria were a weight of <6 kg and the presence of PDA symptoms.

Interesting case of a sewing needle inside the heart: report of a case.

Despite being rarely seen, penetrating cardiac injuries are clinically significant, as they are highly lethal. We herein present the case of a 3-year-old male who unintentionally injured himself by pricking his own chest with a sewing needle and introducing it through the left-lower margin of his sternum into his right ventricle. The needle was located anterior-posteriorly over the right ventricle.

Recurrent Prosthetic Mitral Valve Dehiscence due to Infective Endocarditis: Discussion of Possible Causes.

Prosthetic valves are being widely used in the treatment of heart valve disease. Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is one of the most catastrophic complications seen in these patients. In particular, prosthetic valve dehiscence can lead to acute decompensation, pulmonary edema, and cardiogenic shock.

Short-term and mid-term results with the Sorin Freedom Solo aortic valve.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to present the short- and mid-term results for patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with the Sorin Freedom Solo third-generation stentless prosthetic valve.

Methods: AVR with a Sorin Freedom Solo valve was performed in 14 patients between March 2006 and March 2011. Patients aged > or = 60 years (male:female ratio 6:8; mean age 73.

Isolated ruptured inter-atrial septal cystic echinococcosis during pregnancy.

Herein, we present a case of asymptomatic isolated cardiac cystic echinococcosis localized entirely to the inter-atrial septum in a pregnant woman. The patient underwent successful surgery. Cardiac cystic echinococcosis is rarely seen in pregnancy.

Lateral cavoatriotomy for partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the superior vena cava.

Purpose: Surgical correction of the partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) draining into the superior vena cava (SVC) has been associated with sinus node dysfunction and venous return obstruction, postoperatively. We present the results of our lateral cavoatriotomy approach with little modifications to avoid injury to the sinus node and its artery.

Methods: 32 patients who underwent surgical repair of PAPVC to SVC with modified lateral cavoatriotomy in our clinic between January 2003 and January 2009 were evaluated retrospectively.

"V-PLASTY": a novel technique to reconstruct pulmonary valvular and annular stenosis in patients with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Background: The goal of repair of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction with or without Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is to eliminate valvular and/or subvalvular obstruction. However, this operation has a high risk of late complication of pulmonary insufficiency. In this study, we aimed to present early period results of our new technique that we call "V-Plasty" developed to prevent pulmonary insufficiency after pulmonary valve reconstruction in selected patients.

Contribution of giant aneurysm of a membranous ventricular septal defect to right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Perimembranous defects are the most common types of ventricular septal defects (VSDs). In many cases, an aneurysm accompanies this defect. The aneurysm can have advantageous consequences on defect hemodynamics.

Urgent surgical management for embolized occluder devices in childhood: single center experience.

Background: In this study, we sought to analyze our experience in urgent surgical management for embolized cardiac septal and ductal occluder devices resulting from trans-catheter closure of atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus in childhood patient group.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 9 patients (aged 2-15 years) who underwent urgent surgery due to cardiac septal and ductal occluder embolization between January 2007 and December 2010. Congenital defects were atrial septal defect (n = 6), ventricular septal defect (n = 1), and patent ductus arteriosus (n = 2).

Treatment outcomes of postoperative mediastinitis in cardiac surgery; negative pressure wound therapy versus conventional treatment.

Background: The aim of the present study is to compare negative pressure wound therapy versus conventional treatment outcomes at postoperative mediastinitis after cardiac surgery.

Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2011, after 9972 sternotomies, postoperative mediastinitis was diagnosed in 90 patients. The treatment modalities divided the patients into two groups: group 1 patients (n = 47) were initially treated with the negative pressure wound therapy and group 2 patients (n = 43) were underwent conventional treatment protocols.

Pericardial monocusp reconstruction for pulmonary valve vegetation secondary to patent ductus arteriosus.

A case of pulmonary valve endocarditis in a patient with a ductus arteriosus (PDA) is reported. The PDA was ligated, the septal leaflet of the pulmonary valve was excised, and a pericardial monocusp reconstruction was performed.

Off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in acute coronary syndrome: a clinical analysis.

Background: Although off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery has many beneficial effects compared with on-pump surgery, switch to on-pump surgery has significantly higher risks of operative mortality. Benefits of OPCAB over on-pump surgery strategies concerning myocardial revascularization are still debatable. We have aimed to develop an "algorithm of off-pump surgical strategy" on preventing conversion to on-pump.

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma: a case report.

Primary tumors of the heart are rarely seen. Cardiac angiosarcomas are malignant tumors that almost always have a poor prognosis. We describe a 29-year-old man with primary cardiac angiosarcoma with multiple site metastases.

Ectopic thyroid gland on the ascending aorta with a partial pericardial defect: report of a case.

Intrathoracic ectopic goiters are rare. To our knowledge, only two reports of thyroid tissue on the aorta have been reported in the English literature. A 42-year-old woman was found to have a right paracardiac mass.