Late subclinical hemolysis and long-term outcomes after aortic valve replacement with On-X mechanical prostheses - a preliminary single-center report.

Introduction: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a mechanical prosthesis is not free from late complications.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of subclinical hemolysis after AVR with On-X prostheses and assess its impact on long-term outcomes.

Material And Methods: The prospective study included 84 consecutive patients aged 58.

Cardiac tamponade - unusual clinical manifestation of undiagnosed malignant neoplasm.

Cardiac tamponade may be the first or predominant symptom of some pathologies but its etiology is not uncommonly unknown on admission to hospital. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predominant causes of cardiac tamponade in previously healthy patients treated emergently in a single cardiac surgical center. The study involved 81 patients with the mean age of 58.

Routine transfusion of platelet concentrates effectively reduces reoperation rate for bleeding and pericardial effusion after elective operations for ascending aortic aneurysm.

Patients with ascending aortic aneurysm undergoing complex surgical procedures are at increased risk of early postoperative excessive blood loss. The aim of this study was to analyze safety and efficacy of routine transfusions of platelet (PLT) concentrates in reduction of hemorrhagic postoperative complications. The study involved 396 consecutive patients (289 males and 107 females) with the mean age of 55.

Early and long-term results of cardiosurgical treatment of coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis in patients over 80 years old.

Background: In recent years, patients over 80 years of age have been a growing group of individuals referred to cardiac surgeons. They pose a serious challenge and usually require a multidisciplinary approach.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and late outcomes of cardiosurgical treatment of patients over 80 years of age suffering from coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic acute heart rejection: a case report.

Background: Diagnosis of rejection is a major objective in the management of heart transplant recipients. It has been reported that one-third of protocol biopsies in asymptomatic, biochemically stable organ transplant recipients in the first 6 months show unsuspected subclinical graft rejection.

Case Report: We present the case of a 43-year-old man suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy who underwent orthotropic heart transplantation.

Closure of ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva using a native aortic valve leaflet.

We present a case of the native valve used to complete closure of a ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva. Aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is rare and a non-coronary artery is affected in only 20% of cases. To close the rupture, we decided to use a non-coronary leaflet in a young patient with moderate aortic stenosis and fibrosis of the leaflets.

Sustained improvement of clinical status and pulmonary hypertension in patients with severe heart failure treated with sildenafil.

Background: Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, has been shown to decrease pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in patients with heart failure. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of sildenafil on clinical status and pulmonary vascular reactivity in patients with congestive heart failure.

Material And Methods: We enrolled 20 patients (18 men and 2 women, mean age 51 ± 12 years, diagnosed with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension.

Computer tomography guided transthoracic periaortic abscess needle biopsy in late mediastinitis after heart surgery.

Mediastinitis is a well-known complication of open heart surgery. Abscess as late complication, presenting years after heart surgery, is adegnotical. Transthoracic needle biopsies of lung parenchyma guided by computer tomography are widely accepted.