Influence of stentless versus stented valves on ventricular remodeling assessed at 6 months by magnetic resonance imaging and long-term follow-up.

Background: To compare the effect of stented versus stentless bioprostheses on left ventricular remodeling and assess their impact on long-term survival.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2009, 62 severe aortic stenosis patients without coronary artery disease were randomized for bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement. After randomization, a cross-over was possible based on intraoperative data.

Remote ischemic preconditioning in aortic valve surgery: Results of a randomized controlled study.

Background: Although remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has emerged as an attractive strategy to reduce cardiac injury in patients undergoing diverse cardiac surgical procedures, it is unclear whether RIPC has protective effects in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery without coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Hence, 100 adult patients undergoing elective aortic valve replacement for aortic valve stenosis, without combined surgery with CABG, were prospectively randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the RIPC group or the control group. The RIPC group underwent three cycles of 5-min inflation to 200mmHg and 5-min deflation of an automated upper-arm cuff inflator after induction of anesthesia.