Microcalcification and Thoracic Aortopathy: A Window Into Disease Severity.

Background: Patients with thoracic aortopathy are at increased risk of catastrophic aortic dissection, carrying with it substantial mortality and morbidity. Although granular medial calcinosis (medial microcalcification) has been associated with thoracic aortopathy, its relationship to disease severity has yet to be established.

Methods: One hundred one thoracic aortic specimens were collected from 57 patients with thoracic aortopathy and 18 control subjects.

Propofol is cardioprotective in a clinically relevant model of normothermic blood cardioplegic arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass.

The general anesthetic propofol has been shown to be cardioprotective. However, its benefits when used in cardioplegia during cardiac surgery have not been demonstrated. In this study, we investigated the effects of propofol on metabolic stress, cardiac function, and injury in a clinically relevant model of normothermic cardioplegic arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass.

Early and midterm clinical outcome in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery surgery.

Background: Patients presenting with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction undergoing coronary artery surgery are at increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. The present study investigated early and midterm outcomes in a consecutive series of patients with severe LV dysfunction undergoing coronary surgery at our institution.

Methods: Data on 5,195 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) alone (in-hospital mortality 1.

Early and late results of partial left ventriculectomy: single center experience and review of the literature.

Aim: To evaluate early and late outcome of partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) in a single center and to conduct a review of the literature.

Methods: From February 1996 to August 2001, 24 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (12 idiopathic, 12 ischemic) underwent PLV. Perioperative and follow-up data were prospectively entered into a database and analyzed.

Ischaemic preconditioning inhibits opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores in the reperfused rat heart.

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is thought to be a critical event in mediating the damage to hearts that accompanies their reperfusion following prolonged ischaemia. Protection from reperfusion injury occurs if the prolonged ischaemic period is preceded by short ischaemic periods followed by recovery. Here we investigate whether such ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) is accompanied by inhibition of MPTP opening.

The effects of ischaemic preconditioning, diazoxide and 5-hydroxydecanoate on rat heart mitochondrial volume and respiration.

Studies with different ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channel openers and blockers have implicated opening of mitochondrial K(ATP) (mitoK(ATP)) channels in ischaemic preconditioning (IPC). It would be predicted that this should increase mitochondrial matrix volume and hence respiratory chain activity. Here we confirm this directly using mitochondria rapidly isolated from Langendorff-perfused hearts.

Predictors of stroke in the modern era of coronary artery bypass grafting: a case control study.

Background: Stroke is a rare but devastating complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and its prevention remains elusive. We used a case control design to investigate the extent to which preoperative and perioperative factors were associated with occurrence of stroke in a cohort of consecutive patients undergoing myocardial revascularization.

Methods: From April 1996 to March 2001, data from 4,077 patients undergoing CABG were prospectively entered into a database.

Prospective randomized comparison of CarboMedics and St Jude Medical bileaflet mechanical heart valve prostheses: an interim report.

Objective: This is a midterm report of a study comparing the clinical performance of CarboMedics and St Jude Medical heart valve prostheses through a projected 10-year period.

Methods: Between 1992 and 1996, a total of 485 patients undergoing mechanical valve replacement were prospectively randomly assigned to receive either CarboMedics (n = 234) or St Jude Medical (n = 251) prostheses for aortic (n = 288), mitral (n = 160), or double (n = 37) valve replacements and were followed up annually.

Results: Baseline and operative characteristics were similar between the two groups with respect to major demographic characteristics, preoperative clinical status, and operative data.