Inverted left atrial appendage mimicking potential left atrial thrombus in an infant following cardiac surgery: a case report.

Background: Inverted left atrial appendage (iLAA) is an infrequent complication following cardiac surgery, seen both in children and adults. Following a recent encounter, this review article is aimed to remind the reader about its occurrence, clinical manifestations, differential diagnoses, and management options.

Case Summary: A 3-month-old baby underwent successful surgical repair of a large ventricular septal defect.

Outcomes of surgery for extensive infective endocarditis.

Objective: Extensive infective endocarditis (EIE) involving the valve annulus or the intervalvular fibrous body (IFB) is a treatment challenge. We sought to clarify the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for EIE.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all 197 consecutive patients who underwent an operation for infective endocarditis (IE) between 2005 and 2016 in the Helsinki University Hospital.

Epitranscriptomics of Ischemic Heart Disease-The IHD-EPITRAN Study Design and Objectives.

Epitranscriptomic modifications in RNA can dramatically alter the way our genetic code is deciphered. Cells utilize these modifications not only to maintain physiological processes, but also to respond to extracellular cues and various stressors. Most often, adenosine residues in RNA are targeted, and result in modifications including methylation and deamination.

Outcome of valve sparing root replacement for diverse indications.

We report the mid-term outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSRR) in a cohort including patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), connective tissue disorder (CTD), aortic dissection (AD), and congenital heart disease (CHD). . From 2005 to 2017, 174 patients underwent VSRR with the reimplantation technique.

Right atrial and SVC infiltrating mass-the entity of infiltrating lipoma.

Background: Cardiac lipomas are rare benign primary cardiac tumours primarily composed of mature adipocytes. They are usually well defined, encapsulated masses, but rarely demonstrate malignant characteristics by infiltrating the myocardium. This causes diagnostic uncertainty as it becomes a priority to rule out primary malignant cardiac tumours such as sarcoma which often carry a poor prognosis.

Echocardiographic predictors of reoperation for subaortic stenosis in children and adults.

Objectives: Subaortic stenosis (SAS) can present as various types of obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) below the level of the aortic valve. Even though corrective surgery has been identified as the most effective treatment, SAS more frequently reoccurs requiring reoperation in a significant proportion of the patients. Previous studies have focused on predictors of recurrence in various subgroups of patients with SAS, but rarely in the overall population of patients with SAS.

Hybrid transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve placement of an Edwards Sapien XT valve in palliated hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Tricuspid regurgitation in the context of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) carries a significant burden of both mortality and morbidity. We report successful hybrid trans-atrial implantation of an Edwards Sapien XT valve into a dysfunctional bioprosthetic valve in the tricuspid position of a 9-year-old patient with HLHS. There was an immediate fall in the Fontan pressures combined with significant clinical improvement and the valve continues to function well nearly 3 years post implant.

Primary surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot at under three months of age.

Background Classical management of small infants with tetralogy of Fallot has involved placement of a Blalock-Taussig shunt followed later by complete repair, rather than primary complete repair which is the strategy adopted in larger infants. Some advantages of early complete repair compared to a staged strategy have been shown. We sought to review our institutional outcomes.

Open and closed distal anastomosis for acute type A aortic dissection repair.

Objectives: The current consensus favours an open distal anastomosis for aortic dissection repair. A small number of experiences have compared early and long-term outcomes between closed and open distal anastomosis in the setting of acute aortic dissection.

Methods: We reviewed our experience in 204 patients who underwent repair of spontaneous acute type A aortic dissection between January 2000 and December 2013.

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement in adult patients previously operated for congenital heart defects: an initial experience.

Objectives: To review our experience with valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) in adult patients after the previous surgery for congenital heart disease.

Methods: From August 2008 to February 2014, 11 patients (mean age: 30.5 ± 7.

Acute type A aortic dissection repair in elderly patients.

Objectives: We evaluated our experience in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) repair in elderly patients. The role of clinical presentation and surgical strategies in determining patients' outcome was further assessed.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients over 75 years who underwent emergency repair of ATAAD at our institution during 2000-13 was performed.

Hemodynamic performance of Trifecta: single-center experience of 400 patients.

Objective: To evaluate postoperative hemodynamic gradients and early outcomes of aortic valve replacement with the Trifecta bioprosthesis.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2013, 400 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with a Trifecta bioprosthesis. Gradients were calculated by transthoracic echocardiography before discharge.

Expanding indications for valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction: early and midterm results.

Background: Valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction (VSRR) is an accepted method to treat patients with aortic root dilation. The role of the VSRR is less well defined for patients with bicuspid aortic valve, severe aortic valve insufficiency, congenital heart defects, and type A aortic dissection. We studied the clinical outcome of patients who underwent VSRR for expanded indications.

Long-term outcomes in octogenarians following aortic valve replacement.

Background: The aging of the population has resulted in an increasing number of elderly patients undergoing cardiac operations. We reviewed our experience in patients over the age of 80 undergoing primary aortic valve replacement (AVR) with or without CABG.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2008, 345 patients (226 male) ≥80 years underwent primary AVR in our unit.

An unusual complication from hemostatic packing to control bleeding during cervical mediastinoscopy and an off-pump approach for the later exploration of the superior vena caval injury.

Cervical mediastinoscopy has been widely used and is considered a safe method for the histologic diagnosis and staging of many conditions. Hemorrhage still remains one of the main possible complications, and hemostasis is usually achieved without any further surgical intervention. We present a previously unreported complication of absorbable hemostatic gauze packing, which led to superior vena caval injury and multiple pulmonary emboli, necessitating further surgical repair with the use of a veno-venous shunt.

Long-term outcome following repair of acute type A aortic dissection after previous cardiac surgery.

We evaluated the outcome after repair for acute spontaneous type A aortic dissection in patients with previous cardiac surgery. From January 2000 to December 2009, 114 patients underwent emergency repair for acute spontaneous type A dissection at Southampton University Hospital. Eleven (median age 64 years; range 36-83 years; two females) patients (9.

Ostial left coronary stenosis following aortic root reconstruction with BioGlue.

Haemorrhage is a major concern during repair of acute aortic dissection. In such circumstances, glue is often used for tissue reconstruction and also to fortify vascular anastomoses. In this report, we describe a rare case of ostial left main coronary artery stenosis potentially related to previous use of BioGlue.

Delayed surgical retrieval of retained guidewire following percutaneous coronary intervention.

An uncommon complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is entrapment and/or fracture of the catheter guidewire. This report describes "delayed" surgical removal of retained guidewire from the ascending aorta following a PCI. The potential complications and the management options are further discussed.

Surgical approaches to the blalock shunt: does the approach matter?

Objective: The Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt is an excellent palliative procedure for cyanotic congenital heart defects. We reviewed two techniques of performing the BT shunt, median sternotomy and thoracotomy, in relation to morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Forty-five modified BT shunts in 41 patients, mean age 93 days (1-1045 days), were performed between January 2002 and October 2004.

Giant aneurysms associated with aortic coarctation: management challenges and options.

The management of giant aneurysms associated with aortic coarctation is challenging. The location, the size of the aneurysm, whether it has ruptured, previous coarctation repair, the presence of stenosis, and the ascending and distal aortic pathology will all influence the treatment approach. With more patients surviving to adulthood after early coarctation repair, a better understanding of the anatomy, pathophysiology, and radiological findings of coarctation-related aneurysms is imperative to providing sound care.