Ex vivo heart perfusion: an updated systematic review.

Due to the discrepancy between patients awaiting a heart transplant and the availability of donor hearts, strategies to expand the donor pool and improve the transplant's success are crucial. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the ex vivo heart preservation (EVHP) experience as an alternative to standard cold static storage (CSS). EVHP techniques can improve the preservation of the donor's heart before transplantation and allow for pre-transplant organ evaluation.

A Comprehensive Excursus of the Roles of Echocardiography in Heart Transplantation Follow-Up.

Current guidelines for the care of heart transplantation recipients recommend routine endomyocardial biopsy and invasive coronary angiography as the cornerstones in the surveillance for acute rejection (AR) and coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Non-invasive tools, including coronary computed tomography angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance, have been introduced into guidelines without roles of their own as gold standards. These techniques also carry the risk of contrast-related kidney injury.

Left ventricular assist device exchange: a review of indications, operative procedure, and outcomes.

The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is intended to treat patients with end-stage heart failure. Owing to technological advances, these devices are becoming more durable. However, LVADs may need to be exchanged when complications arise and heart transplantation is not possible.

An innovative climate adaptation planning process: iDEAL project.

Climate change triggers increasing stresses on urban settlements and coastal areas. The intensification of climate-connected impacts requires municipalities and communities to undertake adaptation measures and plans. These interventions should be capable of reducing negative climatic effects on human habitat and regional bioregions.

Biological Valves Impervious to Calcification: Is this Holy Grail a Cup Ready to Drink?

An indefinitely lasting bioprosthesis that does not require anticoagulation treatment is the holy grail of substitutive heart surgery. However, this goal is not yet in sight with the present state of technology. Over the past few years, tremendous advances have been achieved regarding tissue anticalcification processes, hemodynamic performance and future-proofing by ensuring compatibility with transcatheter valve-in-valve procedures.

Early and long-term outcomes after open or endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms in high-risk patients.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the earlier and long term survival as well the postoperative complications in high-risk patients who received endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) as first choice, or open repair when anatomical requirements for EVAR were not met.

Methods: Between January 2005 and January 2010, 593 patients underwent procedures for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair; 172 of these were considered at high risk according to the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score (ASA III and IV): 150 high-risk patients were males (mean age 72.7, range 53-93 years) and 22 females (mean age 72.

Treatment of penetrating aortic ulcer by endoprosthesis: a single center experience.

Aim: This is a retrospective study of a single center experience in the endovascular treatment of penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU).

Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients aged 69.1±9.

Treatment of penetrating aortic ulcer by endoprosthesis: a single center experience.

AIM: This is a retrospective study of a single center experience in the endovascular treatment of penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU). METHODS:Sixteen consecutive patients aged 69.1±9.

District-based abdominal aortic aneurysm screening in population aged 65 years and older.

Aim: Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has been carried out in an area of Genoa (Italy) for subjects aged 65 years or more to evaluate prevalence of this disease.

Methods: Between March 2007 and September 2009 8234 subjects were screened. Ultrasound examination of the abdominal aorta and the iliac arterial segments was carried out on each subject and all data related to risk factors were collected.

Endovascular treatment for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Review of literature.

Unlabelled: Endovascular repair (EVAR) has produced increasing interest in the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs). Experiences to support EVAR as first approach for patients with rAAA is drawn from three sources: results of single-centre series, systematic reviews, and population-based studies. In order to validate EVAR, this technique was compared to open repair (OR), considered as the conventional treatment.

Carotid endarterectomy: results of the Italian Vascular Registry.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) carried out in centers dedicated to vascular surgery.

Methods: The study was supported by the Italian Registry for Vascular Activity, which collected the data of 89 centers of vascular surgery (almost all of the existing centers in Italy) during 2007. Data were collected for 5962 CEAs.

Subtle cerebral damage after shunting vs non shunting during carotid endarterectomy.

Objective: To compare the extent of subtle cerebral damage (SCD) in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy with or without shunt placement.

Design: Prospective, randomised study.

Patients And Methods: We assessed a consecutive series of 96 patients undergoing endarterectomy for severe unilateral left carotid stenosis who had been randomly assigned to receive a shunt (48) or not (48).

Type I aneurysmosis: complementary index for diagnosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the diameters of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and the popliteal artery (PA) in patients with type I aneurysmosis (diffuse aneurysm in the aortoiliac-common femoral segments combined with arteriomegaly of the femoropopliteal segments). The ratio between these diameters (SFA/PA index) was calculated. A retrospective study was carried out on 76 limbs of 38 patients with type I aneurysmosis.

Cardiac risk assessment of asymptomatic patients by stress echocardiography before infrarenal aortic aneurysm surgery.

Aim: Aggressive cardiac assessment before aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) surgery is indicated for patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). Assessment of intermediate and moderate risk patients is still under debate. The purpose of the study was to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of stress echocardiography (SE) in the detection of CAD in patients undergoing AAA surgery who have no symptoms and/or signs of CAD, but who have risk factors for it.

Cerebral vasoreactivity does not predict cerebral ischaemia during carotid endarterectomy.

Aim: Assessment of cerebrovasoreactivity (CVR), obtained by transcranial Doppler (TCD) and the acetazolamide test to predict cases requiring selective carotid shunting on the basis of neurologic monitoring.

Methods: A consecutive series of 87 carotid endarterectomy (CEA) cases was studied. Before surgery CVR was evaluated by measuring the mean velocity of the middle cerebral artery (mvMCA) using TCD at the basal condition and at 30 min after intravenous administration of acetazolamide (1 g).

Stump pressure and transcranial Doppler for predicting shunting in carotid endarterectomy.

Objectives: to compare stump pressure (SP) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) with neurologic monitoring during carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Materials: one hundred and forty-seven CEAs performed under local anaesthesia.

Methods: neurologic monitoring and SP were performed in all cases, while mean velocity of the middle cerebral artery (mvMCA) by TCD was done in 140/147 (95%) cases.

Cerebral haemodynamic aspects of severe carotid stenosis: asymptomatic vs symptomatic.

Objectives: to compare cerebral haemodynamics in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic severe (> or =70%) internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods: we assessed 195 consecutive patients, 116 with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) and 79 with symptomatic carotid stenosis (SCS). Using transcranial Doppler we assessed cerebral vasoreactivity (CVR) following acetazolamide test, the middle cerebral artery flow velocity ratio after/before carotid clamping (mv-MCA ratio), and the carotid back pressure (CBP) during crossclamping.

Can cerebral vasoreactivity predict cerebral tolerance to carotid clamping during carotid endarterectomy?

Cerebral vasoreactivity (CVR) was evaluated as a preoperative test in predicting cerebral tolerance to carotid clamping.A consecutive series of 115 carotid endarterectomy (CEA) cases were studied. Before surgical operation CVR was evaluated, by measuring the mean velocity of the middle cerebral artery (mv-MCA) using transcranial Doppler (TCD) at the basal condition and 20 min after intravenous administration of acetazolamide (1 g).

External carotid artery shunting during carotid endarterectomy: an alternative for cerebral protection?

Objectives: to assess the application of external carotid artery (ECA) shunting in cerebral protection during carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Design: prospective study.

Materials And Methods: the study comprised 137 consecutive patients who underwent CEA under locoregional anaesthesia.