Impact of Newly Diagnosed Cancer on Bleeding Events in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

Background: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the association between cancer and cardioembolic or bleeding risk during oral anticoagulant therapy still remains unclear.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the impact of cancer present at baseline (CB) or diagnosed during follow-up (CFU) on bleeding events in patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for non-valvular AF (NVAF) compared with patients without CB or CFU, respectively.

Methods: All consecutive patients with NVAF treated with DOACs for stroke prevention were enrolled between January 2017 and March 2019.

Echocardiographic Markers in the Diagnosis of Cardiac Masses.

Background: The echocardiographic parameters required for a comprehensive assessment of cardiac masses (CMs) are still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify and integrate the echocardiographic features of CMs that can accurately predict malignancy.

Methods: An observational cohort study was conducted among 286 consecutive patients who underwent standard echocardiographic assessment for suspected CM at Bologna University Hospital between 2004 and 2022.

Bypass grafting with coronary endarterectomy: immediate and long-term results.

Background: Increased morbidity and mortality have been associated with coronary artery bypass grafting when an adjunctive coronary endarterectomy is performed. In this study we retrospectively reviewed our experience with coronary bypass and endarterectomy to evaluate the early and late outcome and to determine the independent predictors of early mortality and morbidity of this procedure.

Methods: Between May 1989 and December 2000, 107 patients underwent myocardial revascularization with coronary endarterectomy to achieve a complete revascularization.

Clinical evaluation of St Jude Medical Hemodynamic Plus versus standard aortic valve prostheses: The Italian multicenter, prospective, randomized study.

Objective: Hemodynamic and clinical performances of 21-mm and 23-mm St Jude Medical Hemodynamic Plus aortic valves (St Jude Medical, Inc, St Paul, Minn) were compared with those of 21-mm and 23-mm St Jude Medical standard cuff aortic valves in the first such multicenter, prospective, randomized study. Hemodynamic Plus valves are mechanical, bileaflet prostheses suitable for the small aortic anulus.

Methods: Patients with 21-mm and 23-mm anulus diameters were randomized to receive either a Hemodynamic Plus or a standard cuff valve.

Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring to improve the outcome of stent-graft treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

The stent-graft procedure is becoming an alternative to surgery for treatment of many diseases of the descending thoracic aorta. This study evaluated the role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), used in combination with fluoroscopy and angiography, in monitoring the outcome of stent-graft placement. Twenty-two consecutive patients were submitted to stent-graft positioning in the descending aorta for various pathologies (7 patients had type B aortic dissections, 6 had thoracic aneurysms, 2 had thoraco-abdominal aneurysms, and 7 had post-traumatic aortic aneurysms).