Bone cement implantation syndrome during spinal surgery requiring cardiac surgery.

During a posterior segmental spinal fusion procedure, a 71-year-old woman developed cardiac and pulmonary embolism characterized by nonsustained ventricular tachycardia during cement injection, rapid and severe hypoxemia, and hemodynamic instability. Management included exploratory cardiotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass and removal of the emboli from the pulmonary vessels. Postoperative recovery was successful, and the patient was discharged without sequelae.

Hemodynamic performance of the Medtronic Mosaic and Perimount Magna aortic bioprostheses: five-year results of a prospectively randomized study.

Objective: Clinical outcomes of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement may be influenced by the presence of residual gradients and patient-prosthesis mismatch. The aim of this study was to compare hemodynamic performance and clinical outcomes at 5 years after prospectively randomized porcine versus bovine aortic valve replacement. We also aimed to determine the effects of valve hemodynamics on left ventricular (LV) mass regression.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy after elective mitral valve replacement.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a syndrome characterized by transient acute left ventricular dysfunction, electrocardiographic changes that can mimic acute myocardial infarction and minimal release of myocardial enzymes in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Reports of Takotsubo syndrome after cardiac surgery are exceptional. We describe a case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a 68-year-old woman after elective mitral valve replacement.

The Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna aortic xenograft: a new design with an improved hemodynamic performance.

This study compares the implantation characteristics and the hemodynamic performance of the new Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna (CEPM) xenograft with those of the standard Perimount (CEPS) valve in the aortic position. Eighty consecutive patients surviving an aortic valve replacement with either the CEPS valve (n=40) or the CEPM prosthesis (n=40) in the supra-annular position were retrospectively reviewed. One year follow-up was complete and hemodynamic performance assessed by Doppler echocardiography.

One year hemodynamic performance of the Perimount Magna pericardial xenograft and the Medtronic Mosaic bioprosthesis in the aortic position: a prospective randomized study.

We compared the hemodynamic performance of the Edwards Perimount Magna (EPM) and the Medtronic Mosaic (MM) bioprostheses according to the patient aortic annulus diameter (AAD). Eighty-six patients undergoing aortic valve replacement were prospectively assigned to receive either an EPM-valve (n=43) or an MM-bioprosthesis (n=43). Randomization was performed after measuring the AAD and patients were grouped according to their AAD: <22 mm (n=12), 22-23 mm (n=31) and >23 mm (n=43).

Surgical ablation of permanent atrial fibrillation by means of maze radiofrequency: mid-term results.

Background: The maze procedure can be performed surgically with radiofrequency, generating transmural ablation lines. We report our experience with a biatrial pattern of lesions based on the use of epicardial and endocardial radiofrequency ablation in an effort to minimize maze procedure.

Method: In 85 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for established permanent atrial fibrillation (>3 months), a biauricular pattern of epicardic-endocardic maze lesions was performed.

Atrial remodeling after mitral valve surgery in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Mitral valve pathology is frequently associated with auricular dilatation and atrial fibrillation. Mitral surgery allows an immediate surgical auricular remodeling and besides in those cases in which sinus rhythm is reached, it is followed by a late remodeling. The aim of this study is to investigate the process of postoperative auricular remodeling in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation undergoing mitral surgery.

Midterm clinical and echocardiographic results with patch glue repair of left ventricular free wall rupture.

Background: Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is a dramatic complication after myocardial infarction. We present our mid-term clinical and echocardiographic results of LVFWR with an epicardial patch without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: From February 1993 to May 2001, 17 patients underwent surgery for LVFWR.

[Aortic valve replacement in patients over 70 years old: determinants of early death].

Introduction And Objectives: There is controversy regarding the risk factors associated with early death in geriatric patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. We analyzed the risks in these patients and established an accurate model for predicting in-hospital mortality.

Patients And Method: Univariate and multivariate analyses were made of the risk factors associated with early death in a group of 129 patients older than 70 years who underwent aortic valve replacement (May 1994-June 2001).

[Advantages of off-pump coronary bypass surgery in high-risk patients].

Introduction And Objectives: Myocardial revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass has been shown to reduce operative morbi-mortality. We report our recent experience with this novel technique in order to evaluate its theoretical advantages in comparison with conventional surgery.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective analysis included 547 consecutive patients undergoing isolated myocardial revascularization from December 1997 through November 2000.