Right ventricular remodelling and long-term survival after pulmonary endarterectomy versus balloon pulmonary angioplasty in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), while balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an alternative for inoperable patients. We aimed to compare right ventricular (RV) remodelling and late survival after PEA and BPA.

Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, we performed echocardiography at baseline and follow-up in patients with CTEPH treated with PEA (n=54) or BPA (n=44) between 2011 and 2022.

Hyperglycemia-simulating environment attenuated experimentally induced calcification in cultured human aortic valve interstitial cells.

The role of diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for the development of calcific aortic valve disease has not been fully clarified. Aortic valve interstitial cells (VICs) have been suggested to be crucial for calcification of the valve. Induced calcification in cultured VICs is a good model for aortic valve calcification.

Non-invasive myocardial work in aortic stenosis: validation and improvement in left ventricular pressure estimation.

Aims: The non-invasive myocardial work index (MWI) has been validated in patients without aortic stenosis (AS). A thorough assessment of methodological limitations is warranted before this index can be applied to patients with AS.

Methods And Results: We simultaneously measured left ventricular pressure (LVP) by using a micromanometer-tipped catheter and obtained echocardiograms in 20 patients with severe AS.

Platelet Function is Preserved After Moderate Cardiopulmonary Bypass Times But Transiently Impaired After Protamine.

Objectives: Previous studies have described impaired platelet function after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Whether this is still valid in contemporary cardiac surgery is unclear. This study aimed to quantify changes in function and number of platelets during CPB in a present-day cardiac surgery cohort.

Markers of extracellular matrix remodeling and systemic inflammation in patients with heritable thoracic aortic diseases.

Background: In approximately 20% of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms or dissections a heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD) is suspected. Several monogenic connective tissue diseases imply high risk of aortic disease, including both non-syndromic and syndromic forms. There are some studies assessing inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling in patients with non-hereditary aortic disease, but such studies in patients with hereditary diseases are scarce.

Multi-omics of aortic valve calcification.

Heart valve calcification is an active cellular and molecular process that partly remains unknown. Osteogenic differentiation of valve interstitial cells (VIC) is a central mechanism in calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Studying mechanisms in CAVD progression is clearly needed.

Thrombus formation in the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva following primary graft dysfunction.

We hereby present a case of thrombus formation in the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva following primary graft dysfunction. The case highlights that stagnant and nonpulsatile flow can form thrombi in the noncoronary sinus since this sinus does not have a natural distal runoff.

Quantification of platelet function - a comparative study of venous and arterial blood using a novel flow cytometry protocol.

Studies of platelet function in surgical patients often involve both arterial and venous sampling. Possible effects of different sampling sites could be important, but have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to compare platelet function in arterial and venous blood samples using a novel flow cytometry protocol and impedance aggregometry.

Early results after aortic annuloplasty with a complete external Dacron band.

Objective: This study evaluates the early results of our initial experience with aortic annuloplasty using a complete external Dacron band in the setting of type Ic or type II aortic regurgitation (AR).

Methods: From May 2017 to August 2019, 16 patients (88% bicuspid aortic valves, no patients with connective tissue disorders) underwent aortic annuloplasty with an external complete Dacron band. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was 100% complete.

Total aortic arch replacement using the thoraflex hybrid prosthesis: early- and medium-term results from a Scandinavian center.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess our early experience with the Thoraflex hybrid prosthesis. . This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study.

Lung autotransplantation and extra-anatomic bypass to treat an aortobronchial fistula after previous surgery for aortic coarctation.

Lung autotransplantation can be a surgical alternative to gain access to the posterior mediastinum and the thoracic portion of the descending aorta through a sternotomy. We present a case of hemoptysis and bronchial obstruction due to a presumed infected aortobronchial fistula, secondary to stent graft placement in a patient with multiple previous surgeries for aortic coarctation, treated with lung autotransplantation and an extra-anatomic bypass.

Protamine stimulates platelet aggregation with activation of the fibrinogen receptor and alpha-granule release, but impairs secondary activation via ADP and thrombin receptors.

Heparin and protamine are fundamental in the management of anticoagulation during cardiac surgery. Excess protamine has been associated with increased bleeding. Interaction between protamine and platelet function has been demonstrated but the mechanism remains unclear.

Correction to: Resection of a plasma cell granuloma combining a conventional posterolateral left-sided thoracotomy with a minimally invasive valve approach.

The corresponding author name should read as "Kvitting JP" in PubMed and other indexing websites.

Interstitial cells in calcified aortic valves have reduced differentiation potential and stem cell-like properties.

Valve interstitial cells (VICs) are crucial in the development of calcific aortic valve disease. The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the phenotype, differentiation potential and stem cell-like properties of cells from calcified and healthy aortic valves. VICs were isolated from human healthy and calcified aortic valves.

Do annuloplasty rings designed to treat ischemic/functional mitral regurgitation alter left-ventricular dimensions in the acutely ischemic ovine heart?

Objective: To quantify the effects of annuloplasty rings designed to treat ischemic/functional mitral regurgitation on left ventricular septal-lateral (S-L) and commissure-commissure (C-C) dimensions.

Methods: Radiopaque markers were placed as opposing pairs on the S-L and C-C aspects of the mitral annulus and the basal, equatorial, and apical level of the left ventricle (LV) in 30 sheep. Ten true-sized Carpentier-Edwards Physio (PHY), Edwards IMR ETlogix (ETL), and GeoForm (GEO; all from Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Calif) annuloplasty rings were inserted in a releasable fashion.

Validation of a Holographic Display for Quantification of Mitral Annular Dynamics by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) is used clinically to quantify the mitral annulus. MPR images are, however, presented on a two-dimensional screen, calling into question their accuracy. An alternative to MPR is an autostereoscopic holographic display that enables in-depth visualization of 3D echocardiographic data without the need for special glasses.

Resection of a plasma cell granuloma combining a conventional posterolateral left-sided thoracotomy with a minimally invasive valve approach.

Plasma cell granuloma (PCG) is a rare benign tumor that is difficult to differentiate from malignancy. Depending on the location of the PCG, surgical management can be challenging. We describe a patient with a PCG involving the left lower lobe extending into the left atrium, that was resected en bloc using a conventional posterolateral thoracotomy combined with a surgical approach predominantly used for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Karl Viktor Hall: From In Situ Vein Bypass to the Tilting Disc Heart Valve Prosthesis.

In 1977, Karl Viktor Hall implanted a novel tilting disc heart valve prosthesis at Rikshospitalet in Oslo, Norway. The Medtronic-Hall valve was known for its excellent durability and low thrombogenicity. Hall popularized the use of the great saphenous vein in situ as an arterial shunt in the 1960s, made a metal stripper to lyse vein valves, and introduced electromagnetic flowmeters in vascular surgery.

Inhibition of Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthase Does Not Influence Ventilation-Perfusion Matching in Normal Prone Adult Sheep With Mechanical Ventilation.

Background: Local formation of nitric oxide in the lung induces vasodilation in proportion to ventilation and is a putative mechanism behind ventilation-perfusion matching. We hypothesized that regional ventilation-perfusion matching occurs in part due to local constitutive nitric oxide formation.

Methods: Ventilation and perfusion were analyzed in lung regions (≈1.

Changes in serum cystatin C, creatinine, and C-reactive protein after cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with normal preoperative kidney function.

Aim: The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can cause changes in serum creatinine and cystatin C independent of glomerular filtration rate. We aimed to quantify the temporal changes of these biomarkers and C-reactive protein (CRP) after CPB.

Methods: This was a prospective study at an academic medical centre between April and October 2013.