Identification of Human Pathological Mitral Chordae Tendineae Using Polarization-sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography.

Defects of the mitral valve complex imply heart malfunction. The chordae tendineae (CTs) are tendinous strands connecting the mitral and tricuspid valve leaflets to the papillary muscles. These CTs are composed of organized, wavy collagen bundles, making them a strongly birefringent material.

Aspergillus endocarditis in lung transplant recipient: successful surgical treatment.

Solid organ transplantation can be followed by Aspergillus infection, implying high mortality rates. The highest infection rates are registered among lung transplant recipients. We present a recent case of an Aspergillus endocarditis in a young lung transplant recipient.

Clinical course and predictors of death in prosthetic valve endocarditis over a 20-year period.

Objective: To compare early and late outcome of patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis treated medically versus surgically and to determine predictors of in-hospital death. We retrospectively reviewed patient's clinical records, including laboratory findings, surgery, and pathologic files, in an acute-care, 1200-bed teaching hospital.

Methods: One hundred thirty-three episodes of definite prosthetic valve endocarditis as defined by the Duke University diagnostic criteria occurred in 122 patients from January 1986 to December 2005.

[Functional ischemic mitral regurgitation: an open debate].

Functional ischemic mitral regurgitation is a complex disorder with a poor prognosis. Although the underlying anatomical and pathophysiological mechanisms are not entirely clear, it is known that postinfarction left ventricular remodeling is the most significant factor in the development of this mitral valve lesion. Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging have made significant contributions to clarifying the many mechanisms that progressively worsen mitral regurgitation.