Novel Transcatheter Mitral Prosthesis Designed to Preserve Physiological Ventricular Flow Dynamics.

Background: Current mitral bioprostheses are akin to the aortic valve and therefore abolish the left ventricular (LV) physiological vortex. We evaluated the hemodynamic performance and the effects on intraventricular flow dynamics (IFD) of a novel mitral bioprosthesis that presents an innovative design mimicking the native valve.

Methods: A D-shaped self-expandable stent-bovine pericardium monoleaflet valve was designed to provide physiological asymmetric intraventricular flow.

Features of degenerative mitral valve prolapse in the North East of China: repair characteristics, and short-term follow-up results.

Background: We aimed to assess the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of patients who underwent surgery for degenerative mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in our center, and its relation to outcomes.

Methods: We enrolled 117 consecutive patients from North-East China with an echocardiographic diagnosis of MVP related mitral regurgitation (MR) between April 2018 and November 2019. A complexity scoring system was used for valve anatomy, and patients were re-evaluated at 3-6 months after surgery.

Efficacy of esmolol as a myocardial protective agent during continuous retrograde blood cardioplegia.

Objective: Esmolol, an ultra-short-acting beta-blocker, is known to attenuate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of esmolol and potassium on myocardial metabolism during continuous normothermic retrograde blood cardioplegia.

Methods: Forty-one patients operated on for isolated aortic valve stenosis were randomly assigned to continuous coronary infusion with either potassium or esmolol during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation for severe postinfarction left ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: This phase I trial was designed to assess the feasibility and safety of autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation in patients with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Experimentally, myoblast grafting into postinfarction myocardial scars improves left ventricular function.

Methods: Ten patients were included on the basis of the following criteria: 1) severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < or = 35%); 2) the presence of a postinfarction akinetic and nonviable scar, as assessed by dobutamine echocardiography and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography; and 3) an indication of coronary bypass in remote areas.

Total replacement of the ascending aorta without circulatory arrest.

Objective: If the aortic arch is clamped between the brachiocephalic trunk and the left common carotid artery and the brachiocephalic trunk is also clamped, the total ascending aorta can be replaced without circulatory arrest. Candidates for this technique need to have the following characteristics: preoperative demonstration of Willis polygon patency by means of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, preoperative computed tomographic scan that shows no calcification in the arch or in the brachiocephalic trunk, and preoperative or intraoperative evidence of separate origins of the brachiocephalic trunk and the left common carotid artery.

Methods: In three different institutions (with different time frames in each) from December 2000 to December 2001, the possibility of replacing the total ascending aorta without circulatory arrest was evaluated in 14 cases.