Posterior Nutcracker Phenomenon in a Patient with Left Atrial Isomerism.

 Nutcracker phenomenon (NCP) can occur due to various anatomical anomalies. Anterior and posterior NCP are defined in the literature. Posterior NCP combined with left atrial isomerism is a rare condition.

4D flow streamline characteristics of the great arteries twenty years after Lecompte and direct spiral arterial switch operation (DSASO) in simple TGA.

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is caused by discordance between the great arteries and the ventricles. If left untreated, this anomaly has a disastrous perspective. More recent surgical approach for correction includes the Lecompte technique in which the pulmonary bifurcation is transposed anterior to the aorta, which may be less physiologic.

A randomized, parallel group, double-blind study of ticagrelor compared with aspirin for prevention of vascular events in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft operation: Rationale and design of the Ticagrelor in CABG (TiCAB) trial: An Investigator-Initiated trial.

Background: For patients with coronary artery disease undergoing coronary bypass surgery, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) currently represents the gold standard of antiplatelet treatment. However, adverse cardiovascular event rates in the first year after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) still exceed 10%. Graft failure, which is predominantly mediated by platelet aggregation, has been identified as a major contributing factor in this context.

Proposing a novel technique to exclude the left ventricle with an assist device: insights from 4-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has become an effective treatment for end-stage heart failure patients. However, LVAD support disrupts the natural intracavitary blood flow path through the heart, introducing flow patterns potentially associated with thrombosis especially around the inflow cannula. We present initial insights into in vitro 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based analysis of flow patterns and an enzyme-activated milk test in a porcine left ventricular (LV) model during LVAD support, in a standard implant technique and in combination with a novel cone-shaped LV sparing prosthesis.

Is the Lecompte technique the last word on transposition of the great arteries repair for all patients? A magnetic resonance imaging study including a spiral technique two decades postoperatively.

Objectives: To compare the Lecompte technique and the spiral anastomosis (complete anatomic correction) two decades after arterial switch operation (ASO).

Methods: Nine patients after primary ASO with Lecompte and 6 selected patients after spiral anastomosis were evaluated 20.8 ± 2.

In vitro evaluation of physiological spiral anastomoses for the arterial switch operation in simple transposition of the great arteries: a first step towards a surgical alternative?

Objectives: The currently most frequently used technique for the arterial switch operation (ASO) in simple transposition of the great arteries (TGA) includes the transposition of the pulmonary artery anterior to the ascending aorta. This arterial arrangement is less anatomical, and although the initial results are excellent, some long-term data are indicating a certain risk of morbidity, encouraging the search for more physiological techniques. As a first step, we studied the feasibility of anatomical spiral anastomoses of the great vessels in vitro.

Risk stratification for adult congenital heart surgery.

Objective: At this moment, no risk stratification models are available for adult congenital cardiac surgery. This study aims to identify a suitable stratification tool for the adult congenital heart surgery population. Pediatric congenital cardiac surgery score models were therefore tested in an adult congenital population.