Traumatic partial avulsion of a single right subclavian artery from the aortic arch and definitive repair.

Blunt injury to the right subclavian artery is a rare complication of severe deceleration trauma often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We describe an atypical presentation in a patient who sustained a traumatic avulsion of his right subclavian artery arising off the aortic arch. An interposition graft was used to restore the continuity of the artery to the ascending thoracic aorta.

Prospective study of mitral valve repair with the CarboMedics AnnuloFlex annuloplasty system: effectiveness and safety after one year.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The CarboMedics AnnuloFlex annuloplasty system includes a flexible ring that may be implanted as a complete or partial ring to correct mitral annular dilatation by reinforcement of the entire annulus, or only the posterior portion of the annulus. The study aim was to evaluate clinical and functional results during the first year in patients receiving this flexible annuloplasty system.

Methods: Between February 2001 and August 2002, 69 patients (mean age 55 years; range: 27-81 years) underwent mitral valve repair that included implant of the AnnuloFlex annuloplasty ring.