Prognostic value of SARS-CoV-2 on patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objective: To analyze Italian Cardiac Surgery experience during the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) identifying risk factors for overall mortality according to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) status.

Methods: From February 20 to May 31, 2020, 1354 consecutive adult patients underwent cardiac surgery at 22 Italian Centers; 589 (43.5%), patients came from the red zone.

Cardiac surgery practice during the COVID-19 outbreak: a multicentre national survey.

Objectives: Healthcare systems worldwide have been overburdened by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Accordingly, hospitals had to implement strategies to profoundly reshape both non-COVID-19 medical care and surgical activities. Knowledge about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac surgery practice is pivotal.

Unexpected Radiation-Induced Aortic Wall Thickening Requiring Composite Graft Technique during Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Mediastinal radiation is commonly used to treat Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, lung and breast cancer. Cardiac complications after radiation therapy are well described, although rare. A large spectrum of injuries can occur, causing long term morbidity among survivors.

Hemodynamic comparison between Trifecta and Freestyle valves implanted in small aortic roots. One-year echocardiographic results from a prospective randomized study.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Aortic valve replacement in patients with a small aortic root may be associated to high residual gradients. In such patients, both stentless valves and aortic annulus enlargement can reduce these residual gradients. Several studies have reported that Trifecta valves yield very good hemodynamic results.

Early hemodynamic evaluation of Trifecta and Freestyle bioprostheses in patients with a small aortic root: preliminary results from a prospective randomized study.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with a small aortic root is often associated with some degree of obstruction and residual gradients. Stentless valves display better hemodynamic performance than stented valves, and might be ideal in patients with a small aortic annulus. A new stented bioprosthesis, the Trifecta valve, has recently become available and has yielded interesting early results.

Early and medium term results of the sleeve valve-sparing procedure for aortic root ectasia.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate our experience of using a simplified aortic valve sleeve procedure to treat aortic root ectasia and aneurysms with or without aortic regurgitation. In experienced hands, 2 aortic valve-sparing procedures, ie, Yacoub and David, have yielded excellent long-term results in the treatment of aortic root aneurysms, with or without aortic regurgitation. However, these techniques are demanding and not widely used.

Treatment of mediastinitis by ventrofil plates without sternal rewiring.

Mediastinitis is a serious complication of cardiac surgical procedures, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We describe a new simple surgical technique to treat deep sternal infection based on the removal of all wires and deep sutures, and reapproximation of the sternum with four external plates without rewiring. Fourteen patients were treated with this technique.

Usefulness of transcranial color Doppler ultrasonography in aortic arch surgery.

Background: Hypothermia in combination with selective cerebral perfusion is a well-documented technique for cerebral protection during aortic arch surgery. However, such complex surgery is still accompanied by a considerable incidence of neurological events.

Aim: This study describes the advantages of transcranial color Doppler ultrasound (TCDU) as a noninvasive real-time method for intraoperative monitoring of cerebral blood flow.

[Present and future options for the surgical treatment of patients with advanced heart failure].

Despite considerable improvement in the medical treatment of heart failure, cardiac transplantation remains the gold standard for the treatment of end-stage patients. However, organ shortage forces to look for alternative therapies. A number of innovative approaches are being investigated in terms of improved survival and quality of life in patients refractory to medical therapy.

Implantation of an elastic ring at equator of the left ventricle influences cardiac mechanics in experimental acute ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: We hypothesize that the implantation of an endoventricular elastic ring at the left ventricle (LV) equatorial site will positively affect the cardiac mechanics in an experimental model of acute LV dysfunction.

Background: Changes in the elastic properties of LV occur in the dilated and failing heart, contributing to overall cardiac mechanical dysfunction. No interventions are as yet specifically designed to improve LV elasticity in failing hearts.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma presenting with acute coronary syndrome and syncope.

A 70-year-old female was admitted for syncope preceded by chest pain. On admission ECG showed signs of myocardial ischaemia and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was mildly elevated. Acute coronary syndrome without ST elevation was diagnosed.