Use of Impella CP Device in Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) may be performed on patients with high surgical risk who are poor candidates for traditional mechanical circulatory support. Hemodynamic support with micro-axial mechanical circulatory devices has been performed with limited but promising results.We report a case of a 66-year-old male with multiple comorbidities and low cardiac output undergoing OPCABG.

Dilation of tricuspid valve annulus immediately after rupture of chordae tendineae in ex-vivo porcine hearts.

Purpose: Chordae rupture is one of the main lesions observed in traumatic heart events that might lead to severe tricuspid valve (TV) regurgitation. TV regurgitation following chordae rupture is often well tolerated with few or no symptoms for most patients. However, early repair of the TV is of great importance, as it might prevent further exacerbation of the regurgitation due to remodeling responses.

Concomitant Left Atrial Appendage Clipping During Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery: Technically Feasible and Safe.

Background: It is believed that most of thrombi form in the left atrial appendage (LAA)before they emboli. Different surgical and percutaneouse approaches were suggested to manage the LAA. In this study we are evaluating the safety of clipping the LAA via minithoractotomy approach.

Surface Strains of Porcine Tricuspid Valve Septal Leaflets Measured in Ex Vivo Beating Hearts.

Quantification of the tricuspid valve (TV) leaflets mechanical strain is important in order to understand valve pathophysiology and to develop effective treatment strategies. Many of the traditional methods used to dynamically open and close the cardiac valves in vitro via flow simulators require valve dissection. Recent studies, however, have shown that restriction of the atrioventricular valve annuli could significantly change their in vivo deformation.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Pseudoaneurysm after Aortic Valve Replacement.

Left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon complication following aortic valve replacement (AVR), occurring most frequently secondary to endocarditis. We present a case of a 47-year-old female with a history of intravenous drug abuse and a past surgical history of two AVRs (2001 and 2009 with aortic root replacement for endocarditis) who presented with symptoms of lower extremity weakness. Subsequent radiologic imaging revealed the presence of a left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm, which was surgically managed with a homologous conduit.

Hyperplastic cardiac sarcoma recurrence.

Primary cardiac sarcomas are rare tumors with a median survival of 6-12 months. Data suggest that an aggressive multidisciplinary approach may improve patient outcome. We present the case of a male who underwent resection of cardiac sarcoma three times from the age of 32 to 34.

CASE REPORT Anomalies Associated With Congenitally Corrected Transposition of Great Arteries: Expect the Unexpected.

Objective: Congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries (CCTGA) is characterized by atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial discordance. Characterizations of these anomalies are important because they may influence surgical approach and management.

Methods: We present a case of newly diagnosed CCTGA at the age of 50.

CASE REPORT Papillary Fibroelastomas and the Conundrum of the Benign Intracardiac Mass.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are a rare form of benign, primary cardiac tumor. They tend to develop from the valvular endocardium, with nonvalvular locations being uncommon. They are primarily found on either the mitral or aortic valve.

An unusual case of giant cardiac fibroelastoma mimicking left atrial myxoma in a patient presenting with syncope.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are the most common primary valvular tumors. Generally benign, they account only for about 10% of all primary cardiac neoplasms, can occur in normal or diseased hearts, and are associated strongly with open heart surgery and radiotherapy. They are, in most cases, incidental findings, but can be discovered after syncope.

Resolution of recurrent chest pain with resection of papillary fibroelastoma.

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a benign primary tumor of the heart usually originating from the heart valves. Nonvalvular fibroelastomas are rare, and reported cases have presented either incidentally or with cerebral embolic phenomena; none have reported recurrent anginal symptoms. We are reporting a case of a 53-year-old female with history of significant radiation exposure to the chest in the past, who presented with recurrent chest pain and was found to have left atrial nonvalvular PFE managed with surgical excision.

Left atrial appendage lipoma: an unusual location of cardiac lipomas.

Cardiac lipomas are benign neoplasms of the heart and accounts for 8.4% of all primary tumors. They can occur sporadically at any age with no sex preference.