Publications by authors named "H Siniawski"

Background: We introduce a technique of posterior annulus shortening to augment leaflet coaptation which addresses the restrictive mitral leaflet mobility in ischemic mitral incompetence (IMI), and report its long-term outcome.

Methods: Between 1992 and 2012, 75 patients (mean age, 64.6±10.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The role of intracardiac blood flow behavior within the context of manifestation and interventional success in patients with mitral regurgitation is unknown to date. The present study aims to assess left ventricular blood flow behavior characterized by kinetic energy (KE) in patients with mitral regurgitation before and after mitral valve surgery.

Methods: Patients with mitral regurgitation (mean age 56 ± 9 years) and the necessity for mitral valve repair (n = 6) or biological valve replacement (n = 4) received cardiac magnetic resonance before and after surgery and were compared with a group of healthy volunteers (n = 7; mean age 27 ± 7 years).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: We investigated early, midterm, and long-term results following valve replacement with the "No-React" bioprosthesis in patients with active infective endocarditis (AIE).Patients and Methods Between February 2000 and February 2011, a total of 402 patients (median 61 years, 17 to 91 years) received "No-React" bioprostheses due to single valve AIE in 315 (aortic valve replacement n = 158, aortic conduit n = 30, mitral valve replacement n = 116, tricuspid valve replacement n = 11) and double valve AIE in 87 cases. Prosthetic AIE was found in 105 patients (26.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Early planned institution of temporary right ventricular assist device (RVAD) support with the CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA, USA) in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients was compared with permanent biventricular assist device (BVAD) or total artificial heart (TAH) support. Between 2007 and 2011, 77 patients (age range: 25-70 years) with preoperative evidence of biventricular dysfunction (University of Pennsylvania score >50; University of Michigan score >5) were included. Forty-six patients (38 men; median age 54.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The main cause of early death after heart transplantation (HTx) is so-called early primary or secondary graft failure (GF). The risk of profound GF has not declined in the past decade, as the consequence of the liberalisation of donor acceptance criteria because of the scarcity of donors. It is therefore important to try to diagnose graft failure and recognise the mechanisms of early graft dysfunction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF