Impact of age over 70 years in the new allocation system on the outcomes of heart transplantation in the US.

Background: United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) allocation criteria changed in 2018 to accommodate the increased prevalence of patients on a ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplant and prioritize sicker people in anticipation of a heart graft. We aimed to assess the impact of patient age in the new allocation policy on mortality following heart transplantation. Secondary outcomes included the effect of age ≥70 on post-transplant events, including stroke, dialysis, pacemaker, and rejection requiring treatment.

Techniques and Technologies to Improve Vein Graft Patency in Coronary Surgery.

Vein grafts are the most used conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), even though many studies have suggested their lower patency compared to arterial alternatives. We have reviewed the techniques and technologies that have been investigated over the years with the aim of improving the quality of these conduits. We found that preoperative and postoperative optimal medical therapy and no-touch harvesting techniques have the strongest evidence for optimizing vein graft patency.

Surgical Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation During Mitral Valve Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Although surgical ablation has been shown to produce excellent outcomes at follow-up for patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent mitral valve replacement/repair (MVR), this procedure is not commonly performed. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the outcomes of concomitant surgical ablation during MVR. Three databases were systematically reviewed for randomized clinical trials published by August 2022.

Venous External Support in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Neointimal hyperplasia and lumen irregularities are major contributors to vein graft failure and the use of VEST should prevent this. In this review, we aim to evaluate the angiographic outcomes of externally supported vein grafts. Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library were systematically reviewed for randomized clinical trials published by August 2022.

A rare case of papillary fibroelastoma involving the tricuspid valve. A single center experience over a period of 22 years (1999-2021).

Background And Aim: Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) represents only 16% of the benign cardiac tumor and approximately 15% of these are located on the tricuspid valve.

Materials And Methods: Over a period of 22 years (1999-2021) we observed 75 pts with cardiac tumors at our Center over 9650 pts operated on but only one case of a tricuspid valve PFE in a 69-year-old patient. Trans-thoracic echocardiography demonstrated a mobile mass (20 × 10 mm), adhering to the atrial side of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve of unknown origin.