Cardiac Surgery in Nonagenarians Following the TAVI/TMVI Era: A Multicenter 23-Year Comparative Analysis.

Background: Studies reporting on the outcome of 90-year-old patients undergoing cardiac surgery are scant in literature; and currently, those regarding the implementation of trans-catheter techniques number even fewer.

Methods: We compared patients aged >89 years operated on between 1998 and 2008 at 8 Italian cardiac surgery centers, with patients of the same age operated on between 2009 and 2021. All of the patients were operated on with "open" surgery, with the exclusion of percutaneous valve repair/implantation procedures.

Sutureless versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A multicenter analysis of "real-world" data.

Background: Recent data suggested that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be indicated also for low-risk patients. However, robust evidence is still lacking, particularly regarding valve performance at follow-up that confers a limitation to its use in young patients. Moreover, a literature gap exists in terms of 'real-world' data analysis.

Minimally invasive reoperative aortic valve replacement.

The operative mortality associated with repeat heart valve surgery is supposedly higher than the mortality associated with the primary operation. However, controversy still surrounds the risk factors and optimal surgical approach for patients requiring repeat cardiac surgery, particularly for those requiring aortic valve replacements (AVR). While the standard approach generally utilizes full sternotomy and peripheral cannulation, alternative approaches such as minimally invasive sternotomy may play an increasingly important role in this field.

Sternal wrapping: developments and results.

Background: Postoperative sternal wound complications are infrequent events that negatively affect recovery and may have serious consequences. Sternal wrapping, a technique of sternal care, has hemostatic properties without bone wax, and offers mechanical and microbiologic protection.

Methods: From February 1998 to December 2011, 258 patients in 2 Italian institutions underwent various cardiac surgery procedures with sternal wrapping in place, and were followed up for no less then 6 months.

Upper 'J' ministernotomy versus full sternotomy: an easier approach for aortic valve reoperation.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) after previous cardiac surgery is usually associated with an increased risk profile. The study aim was to compare the outcome after AVR through an upper 'J' ministernotomy compared to a standard full sternotomy approach in a redo operation.

Methods: A total of 90 patients who underwent reoperative AVR at the authors' institution between October 2007 and January 2012 was retrospectively reviewed.

Plasma phospholipid omega-3 fatty acids and incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in the OPERA trial.

Background: Long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) demonstrated antiarrhythmic potential in experimental studies. In a large multinational randomized trial (OPERA), perioperative fish oil supplementation did not reduce the risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) in cardiac surgery patients. However, whether presupplementation habitual plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFA, or achieved or change in n-3 PUFA level postsupplementation are associated with lower risk of PoAF is unknown.

Twenty years experience in oncologic surgery for primary cardiac tumors.

Introduction: Primary cardiac tumors are uncommon in cardiac surgery. To investigate the clinical presentation, surgical results and long-term follow-up we retrospectively analyzed our experience in the treatment of primary cardiac tumors.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-one patients with primary cardiac tumors underwent surgery in our department in the last 20 years.

CentriMag venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support as treatment for patients with refractory postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock.

We report our experience with the Levitronix CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) in the setting of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system support as treatment for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock. Between January 2007 and August 2011, 14 consecutive adult patients received CentriMag ECMO support after cardiac surgery procedures at our institution. There were nine males (64.

Ab initio quartic force field of stannane and rotational analysis of the ν1 infrared band of H(120)SnD3.

Stannane, SnH(4), has been studied both theoretically, using high-level ab initio methods, and experimentally, using high-resolution spectroscopy to analyze the Sn-H stretching fundamental band of the H(120)SnD(3) isotopologue. The geometry and the anharmonic force field of the molecule have been calculated ab initio, using the coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations level of theory. H(120)SnD(3), present as minor isotopologue in (120)SnD(4), has been studied by Fourier transform spectroscopy at an effective resolution of ca.

Increased plasma homocysteine predicts arrhythmia recurrence after minimally invasive epicardial ablation for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Minimally invasive epicardial ablation via right minithoracotomy is an emerging option for patients with drug-refractory nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. To guide the development of rational treatment algorithms, factors predisposing to recurrence of arrhythmia need to be quantified and eventually treated. We addressed the association of the plasma levels of homocysteine and the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after minimally invasive ablation.

Impact of arterial revascularization in patients undergoing coronary bypass.

Background And Aim: A debate over alternative therapeutic strategies for multivessel coronary disease is currently ongoing. We aimed at analyzing the results of myocardial revascularization with arterial conduits.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 10,752 patients undergoing isolated coronary bypass surgery within our hospital's group.

Temperature dependence of charge mobility in model discotic liquid crystals.

We address the calculation of charge carrier mobility of liquid-crystalline columnar semiconductors, a very promising class of materials in the field of organic electronics. We employ a simple coarse-grained theoretical approach and study in particular the temperature dependence of the mobility of the well-known triphenylene family of compounds, combining a molecular-level simulation for reproducing the structural changes and the Miller-Abrahams model for the evaluation of the transfer rates within the hopping regime. The effects of electric field, positional and energetic disorder are also considered.

Aortic valve replacement with and without combined coronary bypass grafts in very elderly patients: early and long-term results.

Objective: The number of older patients being referred for aortic valve replacement with or without combined coronary bypass grafting (CABG) is increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate operative risk factors, early and long-term results of isolated aortic valve and aortic valve replacement combined with CABG in octogenarians and nonagenarians.

Methods: In the last 10 years, 285 very elderly patients who underwent aortic valve replacement either alone or in combination with coronary artery bypass grafts were retrospectively studied.

Contemporary outcomes of conventional aortic valve replacement in 638 octogenarians: insights from an Italian Regional Cardiac Surgery Registry (RERIC).

Objectives: Few data exist on contemporary outcomes after conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) in the elderly. Accordingly, we evaluated contemporary outcomes and identified predictors of reduced survival in a large series of octogenarians undergoing AVR.

Methods: The Regione Emilia Romagna Cardiac Surgery registry (RERIC) database (n = 2 6938) was queried for clinical features, hospital and mid-term outcomes of octogenarians undergoing AVR between 2003 and 2009.

Hamartoma of mature cardiac myocytes: case report and review of the literature.

Cardiac hamartoma is an extremely rare type of benign cardiac tumour. A 35 year-old female presented with exertional dyspnea, palpitation, dry-cough and chest-tightness. A mass was discovered in the posterior-inferior wall of the left ventricle.

Efficacy of a new oxygenator-integrated fat and leukocyte removal device.

We evaluated the effectiveness of a new oxygenator-integrated device for removing lipid particles and leukocytes from shed mediastinal blood in 20 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. Another 20 patients undergoing cardiac surgery without the device served as controls. After filtration with the RemoveLL device, lipid particles, leukocytes, and fats were significantly reduced compared to preoperative levels.

Aortic valve replacement: results and predictors of mortality from a contemporary series of 2256 patients.

Objective: The study's objectives were to evaluate results and identify predictors of hospital and mid-term mortality after primary isolated aortic valve replacement; compare early and mid-term survival of patients aged more than 80 years or less than 80 years; and assess the effectiveness of the logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation in predicting the risk for hospital mortality in octogenarians with a logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation greater than 15% who are undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Methods: Data from 2256 patients undergoing primary isolated aortic valve replacement between January 2003 and December 2007 were prospectively collected in a Regional Registry (Regione Emilia Romagna Interventi Cardiochirurgia) and analyzed to estimate hospital and mid-term results.

Results: Overall hospital mortality was 2.

Operative and middle-term results of cardiac surgery in nonagenarians: a bridge toward routine practice.

Background: Age >90 years represents in many centers an absolute contraindication to cardiac surgery. Nonagenarians are a rapidly growing subset of the population posing an expanding clinical problem. To provide helpful information in regard to this complex decision, we analyzed the operative and 5-year results of coronary and valvular surgical procedures in these patients.

Mini re-sternotomy for aortic valve replacement in patients with patent coronary bypass grafts.

As the population ages, an increasing number of patients with patent coronary grafts will require subsequent aortic valve replacement. Major operative problems include those associated with re-entry and, in particular, damage of the patent grafts. Between January 2007 and October 2008, 10 patients who had previous coronary bypass surgery underwent aortic valve replacement through upper j-shaped mini re-sternotomy.

Ab initio anharmonic force field and rotational analyses of infrared bands of perchloryl fluoride.

Perchloryl fluoride, FClO(3), has been studied both experimentally and theoretically, using high-resolution Fourier transform spectroscopy and high-level ab initio methods. The geometry, dipole moment, and anharmonic force field of the molecule have been calculated ab initio, using the coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] level of theory. The infrared spectra of monoisotopic species have been recorded.

Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting using the inferior J-shaped ministernotomy in high-risk patients.

In the last years the population of patients referred for coronary surgery has changed toward a high-risk profile. In selected cases minimally invasive approach could be a good option to reduce mortality and morbidity. Between September 2005 and September 2007, twenty-one consecutive patients underwent minimally invasive bypass surgery using the J-shaped inferior mini-sternotomy approach.

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left lung base without sequestration.

Systemic arterial supply from the descending thoracic aorta to the basal segment of the left lower lobe without a pulmonary arterial supply is a rare congenital anomaly within the spectrum of the sequestration lung disease. We report a case of a young man with anomalous systemic arterial supply to a normal left lower lobe referred to our department because of recurrent haemoptysis who underwent a successful left lower lobectomy.

Acute coronary syndrome in a patient with a single coronary artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva: a case report.

Coronary anomalies can involve origin or distribution of the artery. Most of these anomalies are not clinically important. A single coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva is an extremely rare anatomic anomaly.

Modified Bentall operation: the double sewing ring technique.

The Bentall-DeBono operation is the technique of choice for aortic root replacement. As more patients do not accept or have contraindications to lifelong anticoagulation, the biological Bentall operation is a good option for these patients, even though complex reoperations would then be required for bioprosthesis degeneration. We studied a modified technique to simplify the reoperations in patients undergoing biological Bentall procedure.