Partial replacement of the tricuspid valve using cryopreserved tricuspid homograft: 20-year outcomes.

Objectives: There is limited consensus on the optimal strategy for surgical treatment of severe tricuspid valve pathology. At our institution, we have implemented a unique technique of using a tricuspid homograft with its supporting apparatus for partial replacement of the native tricuspid valve. We now present the long-term outcomes of these patients.

Comparison of homografts and bovine jugular vein conduits in the pulmonary position in patients <20 years of age.

Objective: To compare the performance of homografts and bovine jugular vein (BJV) conduits in the pulmonary position.

Methods: All patients with congenital heart disease up to age 20 years who underwent pulmonary valve replacement with homografts or BJV at 3 centers in Australia were evaluated. There were 674 conduits, with 305 (45%) pulmonary homografts (PHs), 303 (45%) BJV conduits, and 66 (10%) aortic homografts (AHs).

Propensity-matched comparison of the long-term outcome of the Nunn and two-patch techniques for the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects.

Objectives: To compare the long-term performance of the Nunn and 2-patch techniques for the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects.

Methods: Between January 1995 and December 2015, a total of 188 patients (Nunn n = 41; 2-patch n = 147) were identified from hospital databases. Univariable Cox regression was performed to calculate the risk of reintervention in each group.

Homografts versus stentless bioprosthetic valves in the pulmonary position: a multicentre propensity-matched comparison in patients younger than 20 years.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the performance of pulmonary homografts with stentless bioprosthetic valves [Medtronic Freestyle™ (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA)] in the pulmonary position in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) younger than 20 years.

Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2017, 215 patients were retrospectively identified from hospital databases in 3 congenital heart centres in Australia. Valve performance was evaluated using standard criteria.

Long-term performance of homografts versus stented bioprosthetic valves in the pulmonary position in patients aged 10-20 years.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the long-term performance of pulmonary homografts and stented bioprosthetic valves in the pulmonary position in patients aged 10-20 years.

Methods: Between January 1995 and December 2015, 188 patients aged 10-20 years undergoing pulmonary valve replacement were identified retrospectively from hospital databases in both congenital cardiac centres in Brisbane. Valve performance was evaluated using previously described standard criteria.

Unique presentation of a primary pleomorphic sarcoma of the left atrium.

This report describes an extremely rare cause of a common presentation. A 59-year-old man who presented with symptoms of progressive cardiac failure, was demonstrated to have a large left intraatrial mass on computed tomography pulmonary angiography and an echocardiogram. He proceeded to urgent surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Long-term clinical outcomes after aortic valve replacement using cryopreserved aortic allograft.

Background: Although the frequency of biological valve use in treating aortic valve disease is increasing, the critical limiting factor, "structural deterioration," remains unresolved. Analysis of long-term outcomes after implantation of cryopreserved aortic allografts will yield further information related to the durability of the aortic allograft, possibly suggesting mechanisms underlying or strategies to prevent or treat the structural deterioration of biological valve substitutes.

Methods: A total of 840 cryopreserved aortic allografts implanted in the last 35 years were reviewed with clinical follow-up completed in 99% of the consecutive series.

Partial replacement of tricuspid valve using cryopreserved homograft.

Background: The optimal choice of prosthesis for tricuspid valve (TV) replacement is yet to be determined. Partial replacement of the TV using a homograft atrioventricular valve might offer resistance to infection, good durability, and excellent functionality, in addition to avoiding prosthesis-related morbidity.

Methods: We present 14 patients who underwent replacement of the TV using a homograft between 1997 and 2008.

Determinants of in-hospital and long-term surgical outcomes after repair of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture.

Objectives: Surgical repair of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture is challenging with reported early mortality being substantial. In addition, congestive cardiac failure and ventricular tachyarrhythmia frequently occur long term after the operation, although frequency and predictive factors of these events have been poorly identified.

Methods: A consecutive series of 68 patients who underwent repair of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture by 14 surgeons between 1988 and 2007 was studied.

Early and late cardiac perforation by Amplatzer atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale devices.

Cardiac perforation and device erosion are infrequent but potentially lethal complications of percutaneous occluder device insertion. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and gated cardiac computed tomography are useful in detecting this complication. In particular, TEE can detect characteristic features to confirm the diagnosis before rapid surgical correction.

Mitral valve replacement in calcified annulus following ring annuloplasty.

We present a patient with persistent severe hemolysis following mitral valve repair which resolved after valve replacement with bioprosthesis. The posterior portion of the annuloplasty ring was retained due to severe calcifications of the posterior mitral valve annulus. All chordae were preserved to avoid disruption of the mitral annulus.

Total chordal augmentation in a child with Marfan syndrome and severe mitral insufficiency.

Mitral valve repair has become an established treatment in adults, but there is limited experience with the procedure in children, in whom the avoidance of a valve prosthesis is particularly advantageous. Repair of the mitral valve in children who have Marfan syndrome is especially difficult due to the presence of generalized connective tissue disorder, which may lead to future elongation and rupture of chordae tendineae that were unaffected at the time of mitral valve repair. We performed a total augmentation of all segments of the mitral valve, using artificial chordae tendineae.

Hydrodynamic evaluation of kangaroo aortic valve matrices for tissue valve engineering.

We evaluated the hydrodynamic performance of kangaroo aortic valve matrices (KMs) (19, 21, and 23 mm), as potential scaffolds in tissue valve engineering using a pulsatile left heart model at low and high cardiac outputs (COs) and heart rates (HRs) of 60 and 90 beats/min. Data were measured in two samples of each type, pooled in two CO levels (2.1 +/- 0.

Anomalous origin of the left anterior descending artery from the pulmonary artery associated with bicuspid aortic valve and aortic coarctation.

A 15-year-old boy presented with exertional palpitations and chest pain. Investigation revealed anomalous origin of his left anterior descending coronary artery from his pulmonary trunk causing myocardial ischaemia. He previously had aortic coarctation repair with known aortic root dilation and a bicuspid aortic valve.

CryoLife-O'Brien stentless valve: 10-year results of 402 implants.

Background: This truly stentless porcine valve is composite, without Dacron, and implanted supra-annularly. Ten-year analysis with magnetic resonance imaging is presented.

Methods: From 1992 to 2002, 402 patients (mean 73.

BioGlue Surgical Adhesive--an appraisal of its indications in cardiac surgery.

Background: The recent emergence of BioGlue Surgical Adhesive has widened the field of surgical adhesives for the cardiac surgeon. We believe the present series, in a wider spectrum of cardiac conditions, is the first larger scale evaluation of the use of this new adhesive.

Methods: BioGlue was used in 115 consecutive patients (90 male and 25 female, age range 5 days to 87 years) from September 9, 1998 to March 12, 2001.