Concomitant Mitral Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis: A Systematic Review.

Background: Concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) is frequently seen in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS). When the severity of MR is moderate or less, the decision to undertake simultaneous mitral valve intervention can be challenging.

Methods: A systematic search of Medline, PubMed (NCBI), Embase and Cochrane Library was conducted to qualitatively assess the current evidence for concomitant mitral valve intervention for MR in patients with AS undergoing AVR.

Right-Sided Infective Endocarditis: The Importance of Vegetation Size.

Background: Right-sided infective endocarditis (IE) carries favourable prognosis compared to left-sided IE. However, the prognostic significance of vegetation size in right-sided IE is less well defined. This study reports the clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic findings associated with right-sided IE and examines the predictors of adverse outcomes.

Predicting adverse outcomes in elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery using pre-operative troponin I levels.

Background: Cardiac troponins are frequently measured as part of the pre-operative work-up of patients prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The utility of measuring these levels in elective patients, and the clinical implication of an abnormal result are unclear. The following study investigates the relationship between cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measured as part of a routine pre-operative work-up and outcomes following CABG.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis with intracardiac extension - a review of diagnosis and management with an illustrative case.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis with intracardiac extension is an uncommon pathologic progression of uterine leiomyomata. It is a histologically benign condition, however due to interfence with right sided cardiac function patients may present with marked cardiovascular compromise and present a diagnostic dilemma to clinicians who are unfamiliar with this condition. Given the rarity of this condition, experience in individual institutions is usually limited to a few cases.

Preoperative atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for mid-term mortality after concomitant aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objectives: Preoperative atrial fibrillation (PAF) has been associated with poorer early and mid-term outcomes after isolated valvular or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Few studies, however, have evaluated the impact of PAF on early and mid-term outcomes after concomitant aortic valve replacement and coronary aortic bypass graft (AVR-CABG) surgery.

Methods: Data obtained prospectively between June 2001 and December 2009 by the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Surgery Database Program was retrospectively analysed.

Surgical ventricular restoration procedure: single-center comparison of Surgical Treatment of Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) versus non-STICH patients.

Background: Surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) was conceived to improve hemodynamic and clinical outcomes in ischemic cardiomyopathy. The Surgical Treatment of Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial has conclusively shown no additional benefits of SVR when routinely combined with coronary artery bypass surgery. However, the STICH study did not include a registry arm for SVR-eligible patients who were not randomized.