Benefits and medium-term outcome of the Sorin Pericarbon Freedom stentless aortic prosthesis in cases of acute bacterial endocarditis.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the ease of use and the advantages of Sorin Pericarbon Freedom (SPF) stentless valve in cases of acute bacterial endocarditis and to check the intermediate-term results after the implant of SPF with respect to resistance to infection, valve deterioration and durability.

Methods: Between June 2003 and February 2015, 26 patients with active aortic valve bacterial endocarditis underwent aortic valve replacement with SPF pericardial stentless aortic prosthesis. The mean age was 57 ± 18 years; 73% of the patients were in preoperative NYHA class III and VI.

Inflammatory profile in subcutaneous and epicardial adipose tissue in men with and without diabetes.

In recent years, evidence has emerged indicating that insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus type 2 are associated with inflammation of adipose tissue (AT). Interest has been focused on epicardial AT (EAT) because of its possible involvement with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to characterize adipocyte size and inflammatory profile in subcutaneous (SAT) and EAT among subjects with or without diabetes.

Renal cell carcinoma with invasion of the tricuspid valve apparatus.

A right atrial in-growth of renal carcinoma occurs in 1% of cases. A traditional approach to removal of the tumor using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep-hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) has been challenged in favor of techniques that allow tumor removal without CPB and DHCA. To the best of the present authors' knowledge, no report has yet been made of an invasion by the tumor of the tricuspid valve leaflets and subvalvular apparatus.

Selective pulmonary pulsatile perfusion with oxygenated blood during cardiopulmonary bypass attenuates lung tissue inflammation but does not affect circulating cytokine levels.

Objective: Improved respiratory outcome has been shown after selective pulsatile pulmonary perfusion (sPPP) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). No contemporary study has analysed the impact of sPPP on alveolar and systemic inflammatory response in humans.

Methods: Sixty-four patients undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) were randomized to sPPP or standard CPB (32 patients each).

Preliminary experience with a new device for delayed sternal closure strategy in cardiac surgery.

Purpose: Open chest management with delayed sternal closure (DSC) is a valuable strategy in the management of patients with postcardiotomy hemodynamic instability or severe coagulopathy. The conventional extemporized material available for off-label sternal stenting however may limit its efficacy. We evaluated outcomes of patients with refractory severe postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (SPCCS) treated with DSC using a novel temporary sternal spreader (NTSS) which allows myocardial recovery by progressive controlled approximation of the sternal edges.

Pulsatile pulmonary perfusion with oxygenated blood ameliorates pulmonary hemodynamic and respiratory indices in low-risk coronary artery bypass patients.

Objective: Acute lung injury still accounts for postoperative mortality after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The safety and the efficacy of pulsatile pulmonary perfusion (PPP) during CPB were analyzed. Preliminary results of the first PPP trial in human beings are reported.

Spontaneous rupture of the right sinus of valsalva mimicking an ascending aortic intramural hematoma.

Spontaneous ruptures of the ascending aorta are extremely rare and require emergent surgical intervention. We report a case of a delayed diagnosis of a spontaneous, localized periostial rupture of a nondilated right sinus of Valsalva, which mimicked an intramural hematoma of the ascending aorta. The diagnosis and surgical management of this unusual pathology is the subject of this case report.

Adiponectin gene expression and adipocyte diameter: a comparison between epicardial and subcutaneous adipose tissue in men.

Introduction: Interest has recently focused on epicardial fat, but little is known about epicardial adipocyte size and its relation with insulin resistance and adipokines.

Methods: Biopsies were collected from subcutaneous, epicardial-, and peritoneal fat from 21 males undergoing elective cardiac surgery either for coronary artery bypass grafting (n=11) or for valve replacement (n=10). We assessed epicardial adipocyte size, comparing it with that from subcutaneous fat and peritoneal fat.