Frequency of severe valvular disease caused by mediastinal radiation among patients undergoing valve surgery in a community-based, regional academic medical center.

Background: Our goal was to define the prevalence of radiation-induced valvular heart (RIVD) disease among patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery in a community-based, regional academic medical center. Mediastinal radiation is a treatment modality for various hematologic and solid malignancies; however, long-term cardiac complications, including radiation-induced valvular heart disease, can occur years after the radiation treatments.

Hypothesis: Mediastinal radiation exposure is an independent risk factor for valvular heart disease often necessitating valve replacement in patients without other risk factors for valve disease.

Long-term follow-up of polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents implanted during percutaneous coronary intervention for management of acute coronary perforation.

Objective: To determine the long-term outcomes for patients receiving polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stents as definitive therapy, in our institution, for the management of acute coronary perforation.

Background: Coronary perforation as a complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Management options included observation only or a combination of several or all of these approaches: reversal of anticoagulation, prolonged balloon inflation, deployment of a standard stent, emergent cardiac surgery, or insertion of a PTFE-covered stent.