Robotically Assisted Mitral Valve Repair as the Treatment of Choice for Patients with Difficult Anatomies.

Robotically assisted mitral valve repair has proven its efficacy during the last decade. The most suitable approach for patients with difficult anatomies, such as morbid obesity, sternal deformities, cardiac rotation, or vascular anomalies, represents a current challenge in cardiac surgery. Herein, we present the case of a 71-year-old patient affected by severe degenerative mitral valve regurgitation with pectus excavatum and a right aortic arch with an anomalous course of the left subclavian artery who was successfully treated using a Da Vinci-assisted approach.

Disparity in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Practices and Outcomes in Arabian Gulf Countries (Gulf COAST Registry).

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe contemporary management and 1-year outcomes of patients hospitalized with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Arabian Gulf countries.

Methods: Data of patients admitted to 29 hospitals in four Gulf countries [Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE)] with the diagnosis of STEMI were analyzed from Gulf locals with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events (Gulf COAST) registry. This was a longitudinal, observational registry of consecutive citizens, admitted with ACS from January 2012 to January 2013.

Design and Rationale of Gulf locals with Acute Coronary Syndrome Events (Gulf Coast) Registry.

Objectives: To describe the risk profile, management and one-year outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Gulf region of the Middle East.

Subjects And Methods: The Gulf locals with acute coronary syndrome events (Gulf COAST) registry is a prospective, multinational, longitudinal, observational, cohort-based registry of consecutive citizens, from the Gulf region of the Middle East, admitted from January 2012 to January 2013 to 29 hospitals with a diagnosis of ACS. Data entered online included patient demographics, cardiovascular risk profiles, past medical history, physical findings on admission, in-hospital diagnostic tests and therapeutic management, as well as one year outcomes.

'Mechanical thrombectomy alone' as a definite therapy for rescue angioplasty.

Coronary reperfusion strategies for acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) include primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), intravenous thrombolytic agents and recently mechanical thrombectomy alone during PCI, the latter reserved for those without significant residual disease post-thrombectomy. We describe the success of 'mechanical thrombectomy alone' in two young patients undergoing rescue angioplasty at our institution. Both patients were thrombolysed for inferior STEMI.