Concomitant Valve Replacement and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: Lessons from the Past, Guidance for the Future? A Mortality Analysis in 294 Patients.

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze parameters influencing early and late mortality after concomitant valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, using early and long-term information from an institutionally available data registry, and to discuss the results in relation to the current treatment strategies and perspectives.

Methods: The study population consisted of 294 patients after combined valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis and CABG surgery.

Results: There were 201 men (68.

Quality of internal thoracic artery grafts after mediastinal irradiation.

Background: With the increase of patients of advanced age requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the number of those with previous mastectomy and irradiation of the chest increases proportionally. The question of whether mediastinal irradiation leads to relevant internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft damage remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to proof the quality of ITAs and to evaluate the early clinical outcome after using one or both ITAs in this specific population.

Does bilateral ITA grafting increase perioperative complications? Outcome of 4462 patients with bilateral versus 4204 patients with single ITA bypass.

Objective: Superior patency of internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafting to saphenous veins is conclusive. The aim of the present study was to compare the early outcome of patients receiving either bilateral ITA (BITA) or single ITA (SITA) grafts and to identify risk factors for perioperative complications, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, or advanced age.

Methods: All 8666 patients with isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, including emergent cases or redos) operated between January 1994 and June 2004 receiving either BITA (n=4462) or SITA (n=4204) grafting were analyzed retrospectively.

The Mosaic bioprosthesis in the aortic position: seven years' results.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The Mosaic bioprosthesis is a stented porcine aortic valve, which combines glutaraldehyde fixation with zero-pressure and root-pressure techniques and anti-mineralization treatment with amino-oleic acid for improved hemodynamics and tissue durability. The study aim was to collect intermediate-term data of the Mosaic bioprosthesis in the aortic position, the first device having been implanted in February 1994 at the authors' institution.

Methods: A total of 100 patients (49 females, 51 males) underwent aortic valve replacement with the Mosaic bioprosthesis between February 1994 and May 1999.