Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.

Discrepancy between stress electrocardiographic changes and nuclear myocardial perfusion defects in the prognostic assessment of patients with chest pain.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term prognostic value provided by the exercise electrocardiographic (ECG) response to nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in the evaluation of patients with chest pain, focusing on patients with a discrepancy between the two tests.

Methods: A total of 1460 consecutive patients (777 female; 62.6 ± 11.

Myxoma of the aortic valve.

Myxomatous tumours can arise from different cardiac structures. They have a special predilection for the left atrium and are an exceedingly uncommon finding in cardiac valves. We report the case of a 28-year old man who presented with a stroke and was found to have a mass arising from his aortic valve.

Early calcification of the aortic Mitroflow pericardial bioprosthesis in the elderly.

Background: We report our experience in the elderly with aortic valve replacement using the Mitroflow A12 pericardial bioprosthesis.

Methods: From January 1993 to January 2006, 491 patients over the age of 70 years received an aortic Mitroflow A12 bioprosthesis implantation. Concomitant procedures included coronary artery bypass grafting in 20% of patients.

Left ventricular mass regression after aortic valve replacement with the new Mitroflow 12A pericardial bioprosthesis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to evaluate the durability of the new Mitroflow 12A pericardial bioprosthesis and to assess ventricular mass regression after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with small valves.

Methods: A total of 326 Mitroflow 12A pericardial bioprostheses was implanted without any other associated valve procedure. The mean patient age was 73.

Minimally invasive surgical implantation of left ventricular epicardial leads for ventricular resynchronization using video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Background And Objectives: Cardiac resynchronization via left ventricular or biventricular pacing is an option for selected patients with ventricular systolic dysfunction and widened QRS complex. Stimulation through a coronary vein is the technique of choice for left ventricular pacing, but this approach results in a failure rate of approximately 8%. We describe our initial experience with minimally invasive surgical implantation of left ventricular epicardial leads using video-assisted thoracoscopy.