Can predilatation in transcatheter aortic valve implantation be omitted? - a prospective randomized study.

Background: The use of a balloon expandable stent valve includes balloon predilatation of the aortic stenosis before valve deployment. The aim of the study was to see whether or not balloon predilatation is necessary in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI).

Methods: Sixty consecutive TAVI patients were randomized to the standard procedure or to a protocol where balloon predilatation was omitted.

Transvenous Implantation of a Stent Valve in Patients With Degenerated Mitral Prostheses and Native Mitral Stenosis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the use of a transvenous transseptal approach using a stent valve in patients with degenerated biological mitral valve prostheses, regurgitation after mitral repair, and native mitral stenosis.

Methods: Ten patients (median age, 74 years; range, 20-89 years; 5 men and 5 women) with degenerated mitral bioprosthetic valves (n = 7), failed mitral repair (n = 1), or calcified native stenotic valves (n = 2) underwent transvenous implantation of a stent valve.

Results: The procedure was initially successful in all patients.

Transvenous Implantation of a Stent Valve for Calcified Native Mitral Stenosis.

We used a modified combination of the transseptal and transapical methods to facilitate the controlled delivery and use of a stent valve in a patient with calcified native mitral stenosis. A loop from the right femoral vein passing transseptally and then through the apex of the left ventricle was created, enabling highly controlled positioning and deployment of the stent valve.

Intramyocardial oxygen transport by quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in calves.

Intramyocardial oxygen transport was assessed during open-chest surgery in calves by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy using a small intramuscular fiber-optic probe. The sum of hemo- and myoglobin tissue fraction and oxygen saturation, the tissue fraction and oxidation of cytochrome aa3, and the tissue fraction of methemoglobin were estimated using a calibrated empirical light transport model. Increasing the oxygen content in the inhaled gas, 21%-50%-100%, in five calves (group A) gave an increasing oxygen saturation of 19+/-4%, 24+/-5%, and 28+/-8% (p<0.

Myocardial tissue oxygenation estimated with calibrated diffuse reflectance spectroscopy during coronary artery bypass grafting.

We present a study using a method able to assess tissue oxygenation, taking into account the absorption and the level of scattering in myocardial tissue using a calibrated fiber optic probe. With this method, interindividual comparisons of oxygenation can be made despite varying tissue optical properties during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During CABG, there are needs for methods allowing continuous monitoring and prediction of the metabolism in the myocardial tissue.

Report generation and data mining in the domain of thoracic surgery.

As a part of AssistMe system, the reporting system has been developed for the thoracic surgery domain. Reporting System is defined as software for dynamic report generation purpose and based on the data-mining techniques. The target users of the future reporting system-physicians, administrative staff, and patients-have been identified.

A Web-based patient information system--identification of patients' information needs.

Research described here was carried out to explore possibilities of creating a web-based patient information system within the areas of thoracic surgery. Data were collected to distinguish and assess the actual information needs of patients (1) prior to surgical treatment, (2) before discharge, and (3) 8 months after the hospitalization using a follow-up questionnaire. Interviews were performed with patients undergoing heart surgery.

Long-term follow-up of patients treated with an implantable left ventricular assist device as an extended bridge to heart transplantation.

Four patients were given the TCI implantable left ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplantation. The median treatment time was 541 days (range 462 to 873 days), with a total of 2,417 treatment days. The patients were followed with exercise tests and echocardiography 3 to 18 months after implantation.