Intra-atrial Neomitral Ring Creation in the Presence of Severe Mitral Annulus Calcification.

Severe mitral annulus calcifications significantly hinder surgical repair and replacement of the dysfunctional mitral valve. Herein, we present a novel surgical technique where we created an intra-atrial neomitral ring using a vascular Dacron graft in which a prosthetic valve was implanted. This approach is a simple alternative technique that can be used when anatomic prosthetic valve implantation is not feasible.

Long-term patency of cephalic vein in coronary bypass surgery.

In the situation where the saphenous veins were unavailable, cephalic vein was the second choice in the beginning of 1980s. The routine use of saphenous vein and recent enthusiasm for arterial surgical myocardial revascularization lead to less attention on this conduit. We reported a patient undergoing redo coronary bypass surgery after 18 years of having cephalic vein grafts.

Risk factor analysis in pediatric heart transplantation.

Background: Steady assessment of risk factors will enable identification of patients at higher risk for post-transplant death, and may thus improve organ utilization and outcomes. In this study we aimed to identify the risk factors of mortality in pediatric heart transplantation.

Methods: Between November 1989 and February 2004, there were 116 orthotopic heart transplantations performed in patients <18 years of age at our institution.

Pediatric heart transplantation: current clinical review.

Heart failure has been recognized as a major public health problem. Its incidence and prevalence is increasing and imposes substantial burden on the health care system. Despite much progress in development of many new drugs and innovations in palliative surgical strategy, nontransplant cardiac surgical procedures and the use of mechanical assist devices, pediatric heart transplantation remains the best treatment option for patients with end-stage heart failure.

Heart transplantation in children: clinical outcomes in a single center.

Background: Despite being accepted as the best treatment for end-stage heart diseases, the long-term benefit of heart transplantation in children remains a matter of controversial debate. This study aimed to evaluate our clinical experience with heart transplantation in children.

Methods: From March 1989 to December 1999, 93 consecutive orthotopic heart transplantations in children (less than 18 years of age) were performed at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart and Diabetes Center NRW in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.

Long-term experiences on cardiac retransplantation in adults.

Background: It remains disputed whether cardiac retransplantation should be performed. This study aimed to evaluate our long-term experiences on cardiac retransplantation in adults.

Patients And Methods: Between March 1989 and December 2004, 2% (28/1290) of cardiac retransplantations were performed.