Publications by authors named "Lama Niki"

Purpose: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a congenital heart disease, and patients undergo surgical repair early in their lives. The evaluation of TOF patients is continuous through their adulthood. The use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is vital for the evaluation of TOF patients.

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Patients with cardiac light chain amyloidosis and Mayo stage 3b disease define a high-risk population with very poor prognosis. Here, we report treatment outcomes of 80 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AL and Mayo 3b who received novel regimens. Early mortality (<1 month) rate was 12.

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of morbidity/mortality worldwide. Early diagnosis is the key to improve CVD prognosis, and cardiovascular imaging plays a crucial role in this direction. Echocardiography is the most commonly used imaging modality.

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Early diagnosis is crucial for the improvement of outcomes of patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Emerging non-late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) based cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters may facilitate early identification of CA. We sought to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of T1, T2 mapping and extracellular volume (ECV) in CA.

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Ligation of the left innominate vein (LIV) expands the surgeon's surgical field for ascending aorta and aortic arch procedures. Although it is considered a safe technique by most surgeons in that it is associated with only minor drawbacks, conflicting views exist regarding this method. We herein describe a 70-year-old woman who underwent ascending aorta replacement due to an aneurysm with subsequent cerebral dysfunction caused by extended brain edema, possibly related to LIV ligation, leading to her death.

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Objectives: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a key test in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Extracardiac involvement is common in light chain (AL) amyloidosis and MRI findings may assist in its diagnosis. We sought to investigate the utility of splenic CMR parameters for the diagnosis of CA.

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Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are considered to be the second leading cause of death during infancy and childhood. However, due to advanced imaging techniques, more than 90% of children with complex CHD survive into adulthood, increasing the prevalence of CHD in the population. Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is considered to be the most common, complex, cyanotic CHD.

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Aim: To evaluate the distribution of circulating immune cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with sarcoidosis and investigate if there is an association with an underlying cardiac involvement.

Methods And Results: Eighty-five newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients with sarcoidosis (50 women) were included in the study. All patients underwent a thorough cardiac investigation, including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

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The presence of malperfusion syndrome in cases of complicated acute type B aortic dissection is a negative predictive factor and urgent intervention is indicated. Anatomic variations, such as the Arc of Buhler, contribute anastomotic channels and can preserve the visceral blood supply. In this case report, we describe the overall management of a 54-year-old man who presented with a type B aortic dissection.

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Article Synopsis
  • Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) is a rare complication following aortic aneurysm repairs, specifically after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).
  • The case study focuses on a 70-year-old male who developed DIC due to a type 1A endoleak after the procedure, requiring initial treatment with blood products.
  • When the patient's condition did not improve, he underwent a hybrid arch replacement, highlighting the need for better understanding and management of DIC following TEVAR procedures.
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Background: In patients with aortic stenosis, bioprosthetic valves are increasingly used. Although their benefits, they are also presenting limitations, as their time-related degeneration. Reoperation which was, until a few years ago, the only treatment for this condition, carries a significant surgical risk, especially in patients with multiple comorbidities, so the benefit of less invasive technique enabling the implantation of aortic valve prosthesis [transcatheter aortic valve-in-surgical aortic valve (TAV-in-SAV)] by a percutaneous access is remarkably important.

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Article Synopsis
  • - A 79-year-old man was hospitalized due to a cutaneous infection related to defibrillator leads and coughing up blood (hemoptysis).
  • - Medical investigation revealed a rare bronchocutaneous fistula connecting his skin infection site to both the heart's outer layer (epicardium) and the left main bronchus.
  • - The patient opted against surgery for removing the defibrillator, highlighting potential risks associated with prolonged presence of foreign objects in the body.
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Aortic dissection can present in a variety of ways and one of the most documented risk factors includes systemic hypertension. Occasionally aortic dissection can be diagnosed late due to an insidious presentation. Fever has been described in people with aortic dissection but rarely as the main presenting feature.

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Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) rupture with mediastinitis, is a very rare but extremely dangerous (even fatal) complication, following CABG surgery.

Presentation Of Case: In this paper, we present the case of a post-trauma (after fall) RV rupture (without mediastinitis) in a patient who had undergone cardiac surgery several days ago. The cause of the rupture proved to be a broken bone piece from the lower sternal edge.

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Patient: Male, 23.

Final Diagnosis: Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis.

Symptoms: Abdominal pain • cachexia • diarrhea • fever • vomiting.

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Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterised by a weakness of the skeletal muscles, with remissions and exacerbations due to antibodies acting on the acetylcholine receptors. This leads to the characteristic defect transmission in the neuromuscular junction. Treatment includes anticholinesterase agents, thymectomy, and immunosuppression.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Treatment options include anticholinesterase agents, thymectomy, and immunosuppression, with thymectomy potentially allowing for reduced reliance on other treatments.
  • * A case of an 84-year-old woman with myasthenia gravis and heart conditions is detailed, highlighting complications from mitral valve replacement that led to a deadly rupture during surgery.
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Cardiac lipomas are extremely rare benign neoplasms of the heart. We report the case of a 64-year-old female complaining of rapidly worsening dyspnea and lower limb edema. Echocardiograms showed a large hyperechoic mass which occupied the left ventricle.

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Introduction: Left ventricular (LV) rupture is a not as frequent, but potentially lethal complication of mitral valve replacement or repair.

Presentation Of Case: We report a case of a 67-year-old man who underwent mitral valve replacement and Cox Maze IV procedure. A massive bleed from the LV rupture was noted postoperatively while the patient was extubated.

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