Midterm Survival, Clinical, and Hemodynamic Outcomes of a Novel Mechanical Mitral Valve Prosthesis.

Objectives: To evaluate the midterm survival, clinical, and hemodynamic outcomes of the On-X mechanical mitral valve, based on the 5-year results of the Prospective Randomized On-X Anticoagulation Clinical Trial (PROACT).

Methods: PROACT Mitral was a multicenter study evaluating 401 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) with either Standard or Conform-X On-X mitral valves, comparing low-dose and standard-dose warfarin. Here, we report pre-specified, secondary outcomes of survival, New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification, and valve hemodynamics as assessed by core-lab-adjudicated echocardiography at 1, 3, and 5 years within the pooled population.

Caught in the Act: A Recurrent Tamponade After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting With Culprit Lesion Identified on Computed Tomography Angiogram.

Delayed cardiac tamponade after cardiac surgery is a rare complication with significant diagnostic challenges. The recurrence of cardiac tamponade physiology after initial intervention creates another degree of difficulty in the management of already medically complex patients. We present the case of a 65-year-old male who underwent four-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting that was complicated by the delayed presentation of cardiac tamponade requiring mediastinal exploration.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of amustaline/glutathione pathogen-reduced RBCs in complex cardiac surgery: the Red Cell Pathogen Inactivation (ReCePI) study-protocol for a phase 3, randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a critical supportive therapy in cardiovascular surgery (CVS). Donor selection and testing have reduced the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections; however, risks remain from bacteria, emerging viruses, pathogens for which testing is not performed and from residual donor leukocytes. Amustaline (S-303)/glutathione (GSH) treatment pathogen reduction technology is designed to inactivate a broad spectrum of infectious agents and leukocytes in RBC concentrates.

Autologous CD133 + Cells and Laser Revascularization in patients with severe Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that targeted TMLR combined with intramyocardial injection of autologous CD 133 progenitor cells is safe and feasible in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and no revascularization options.

Methods: Eight male patients (age 62 ± 2.4 years) with multivessel severe ischemic heart disease and no revascularization options were enrolled.

WITHDRAWN: Low-Dose Versus Standard Warfarin After Mechanical Mitral Valve Replacement: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.

Comparison of Bivalirudin Versus Unfractionated Heparin for Anticoagulation in Adult Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) contributes to coagulopathy, necessitating systemic anticoagulation to prevent thrombosis. Traditionally, unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been the anticoagulant of choice, however, due to many inadequacies new evidence suggests benefit with the use of direct thrombin inhibitors. This retrospective cohort sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin compared to UFH in ECMO patients.

Cardiac surgeons' concerns, perceptions, and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on health care and cardiac surgery. We report cardiac surgeons' concerns, perceptions, and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A detailed survey was sent to recruit participating adult cardiac surgery centers in North America.

Cardioplastic Approach to Omental Flap Coverage for Severe Aortic Root Infections in the Opioid Era.

Aortic root abscesses are severe sequelae of endocarditis that clinically manifest as life-threatening infection. As the opioid epidemic continues to yield a national crisis, the incidence and severity of this disease process have increased. Reconstruction of the aortic root is a challenging undertaking and carries the risk of recurrent infection.

Increasing Heart Transplant Volume by Expansion of Donor Heart Selection Criteria: A Single-Center Analysis.

Background: Our transplant center recently expanded the acceptance criteria for cardiac donors to increase heart transplant volume. Our purpose was to assess the success of this strategy while maintaining acceptable 1-year survival.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent heart transplantation at our institution from January 2011 through December 2017.

Hemoadsorption to Reduce Plasma-Free Hemoglobin During Cardiac Surgery: Results of REFRESH I Pilot Study.

Generation of plasma-free hemoglobin (pfHb) and activated complement during complex cardiac surgery contributes to end-organ dysfunction. This prospective, multicenter REFRESH I (REduction in FREe Hemoglobin) randomized controlled trial evaluated the safety and feasibility of CytoSorb hemoadsorption therapy to reduce these factors during prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Eligible patients underwent elective, nonemergent complex cardiac surgery with expected CPB duration ≥3 hours.

Missing the forest for the trees: The world around us and surgical treatment of endocarditis.

There has been a dramatic increase in intravenous drug abuse (IVDA)-related deaths in midlife Americans. Nowhere is this more profound than in rural Appalachia, with Kentucky in the midst of the epidemic. The causes of this finding are multifactorial and likely related to social, economic, legal, and population factors.