Mid-term outcomes of right subaxillary approach versus median sternotomy incision for ventricular septal defect with patent ductus arteriosus.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate and compare two surgical approaches to repair ventricular septal defect (VSD) with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and to explore the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients who had surgical repair of VSD and PDA between 2013 and 2015 using the right subaxillary approach (group A) or the median sternotomy incision (group B). The outcomes of both techniques were compared.

Impact of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery on sexual dysfunction in male patients.

Background: Sexual dysfunction after cardiac surgery can seriously affect patients' quality of life, but the impact of cardiac surgery on sexual function has long been neglected. Compared with conventional cardiac surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery has the advantages of aesthetic appearance and no disruption of the sternal structure, which can greatly improve the patient's quality of life. However, studies focusing on the effects of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) on sexual function have not been reported.

Quality of life: modified triple-branched stent graft implantation versus frozen elephant trunk technique.

Objective: To compare the effects of modified triple-branched stent implantation and frozen elephant trunk technique on the quality of life (QoL) of acute Stanford Type A aortic dissection (AAAD) patients at different follow-up times.

Methods: Data from 175 AAAD survivors was collected which were divided into two groups according to different surgical techniques: (group A): modified triple-branched stent graft implantation; (group B): frozen elephant trunk. The SF-36 were used to assess the QoL at discharge (AD), the third postoperative month (POM3), and the twelfth postoperative month (POM12).

A Modified Approach with Caval Transection for Supracardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection: Comparison Between Conventional and Sutureless Surgery in 173 Patients.

The efficacy of primary sutureless repair for supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) needs to be confirmed. This study aimed to compare the long-term outcomes between the conventional surgery and the sutureless technique with a modified approach in superior TAPVC. Between January 2008 and December 2018, 173 patients with supracardiac TAPVC underwent surgery either with the conventional procedure (n = 130) or the sutureless repair (n = 43).

Telmisartan reduces atrial arrhythmia susceptibility through the regulation of RAS-ERK and PI3K-Akt-eNOS pathways in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Telmisartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker that displays unique PPAR-γ modulating activity. PPAR-γ agonists have been shown to decrease susceptibility to atrial fibrillation through their antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether telmisartan would have a greater effect on susceptibility to atrial arrhythmia in a hypertensive rat model than valsartan, which is a traditional angiotensin II receptor blocker.