Asymmetric ring annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation: early and mid-term outcomes.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The Carpentier-McCarthy-Adams IMR ETlogix annuloplasty ring was specifically designed to treat ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) associated with asymmetric mitral annular dilation and leaflet tethering. The study aim was to review, retrospectively, the results of mitral annuloplasty with this asymmetric ring in a representative number of patients.

Methods: Between January 2005 and July 2012, the IMR ETlogix ring was implanted in 190 consecutive patients (mean age 69.

Aortoaxillary bypass during cardiac operation.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to analyze our experience in the use of the aortoaxillary bypass during cardiac operation in a limited series of patients with proximal atherosclerotic lesion of the subclavian artery combined with cardiac disease amenable to surgical treatment.

Methods: Of 1953 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac operation at our unit between April 2009 and July 2012, nine (0.5%; four women and five men; mean age 69.

Protecting the crossover right internal thoracic artery bypass graft with a pedicled thymus flap.

The right internal thoracic artery graft is placed in jeopardy during repeat sternotomy as it crosses the aorta anteriorly to reach its left-sided coronary targets. We have devised a way of protecting it by means of a pedicled flap taken from the thymic remnants. The flap is easily developed without unduly increasing operative time and morbidity, and it is expected to prevent inadvertent injuries to the graft in the case of mediastinal reentry.