Case report: angiosarcoma of the pulmonary artery diagnosed as pulmonary artery emboli.

Background: Angiosarcomas are the most common malignant tumors of the heart and great vessels. Late onset and unspecific symptoms are reasons why a diagnosis is made rather late at a time when most tumors have already metastasized. We report a rare case of an angiosarcoma presenting as pulmonary artery emboli.

Preventive Impella Support in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Patients with severely reduced LV-EF ≤ 30% undergoing CABG have a high risk for postoperative cardiogenic shock. The optimal timing of an adequate hemodynamic support has an impact on short- and midterm mortality after CABG. This study aimed to assess the prophylactic use of the Impella pump in high-risk patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.

Enzymatically Modified Low-Density Lipoprotein Is Present in All Stages of Aortic Valve Sclerosis: Implications for Pathogenesis of the Disease.

Background: We have demonstrated previously that enzymatically degraded low-density lipoprotein (eLDL) is an essential causative component for the initiation of atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the different stages of human aortic valve sclerosis for the presence of eLDL and effectors of the innate immune system, as well as the interaction of eLDL with isolated valvular interstitial cells/myofibroblasts to discover possible pathways leading to aortic valve sclerosis.

Methods And Results: Human aortic valvular tissue was obtained from 68 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Minimally invasive versus conventional extracorporeal circulation in minimally invasive cardiac valve surgery.

Background: Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation (MECC) technology was applied predominantly in coronary surgery. Data regarding the application of MECC in minimally invasive valve surgery are missing largely.

Patients And Methods: Patients undergoing isolated minimally invasive mitral or aortic valve procedures were allocated either to conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC) group (n = 63) or MECC group (n = 105), and their prospectively generated data were analyzed.