Standardizing Postoperative Complications-Validating the Clavien-Dindo Complications Classification in Cardiac Surgery.

Cardiac surgery lacks a method for quantifying postoperative morbidities. The Clavien-Dindo Complications Classification (CDCC) and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) were successfully implemented as outcome reporting methods in other surgical specialties. This study aims to validate these complication scales in cardiac surgery.

Late retrograde perfusion of donor lungs does not decrease the severity of primary graft dysfunction.

Background: The ideal preservation strategy has yet to be established in lung transplantation. This clinical study compares primary graft dysfunction using antegrade and retrograde perfusion of donor lungs.

Methods: Over a 6-year period, 153 consecutive patients underwent lung transplantation in our institution.

A three-dimensional ring annuloplasty for the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation.

Purpose: Significant functional tricuspid regurgitation should be corrected in patients undergoing surgery for left-sided valvular diseases. Several clinical studies have shown the superiority of the remodeling annuloplasty over other repair techniques. Herein we report our early experience with a new three-dimensional remodeling prosthetic ring (Edwards MC3 annuloplasty system [Edwards LifeSciences, Irvine, CA]).

Cardiac transplantation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a valid therapeutic option.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare indication for cardiac transplantation, with only anecdotal reports in the literature. Transplantation has been proposed to patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who remained symptomatic despite optimal medical treatment or who progressed to congestive heart failure, and when conventional surgical correction was not or was no longer possible. In this report, we analyze the clinical results of cardiac transplantation in these patients.

Late myocardial revascularization in patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

Since surgical correction of congenital heart diseases began in the early 1950s, a growing number of patients are reaching older age and becoming a risk for developing coronary artery disease. This study presents the clinical experience of myocardial revascularization in 4 symptomatic coronary artery disease patients with unrepaired or corrected tetralogy of Fallot. Three patients had surgery and 1 patient had percutaneous angioplasty.

Alternative technique to classic aortic arch repair.

Aortic arch reconstruction remains a major challenge in modern cardiac surgery even for the contemporary surgeon due to the magnitude of the procedure and its rareness. This case report presents an alternative technique to standard reconstruction that allows full replacement of the arch, ascending and proximal descending thoracic aorta, with a short period of circulatory arrest.

Multiple mycotic aortic aneurysms due to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Primary pneumococcal aortic mycotic aneurysms are rare clinical entities. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Extremely rare presentation is the occurrence of three simultaneous aneurysms.