[Aberrometry in the diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus].

Keratoconus (KC) is a bilateral progressive disease that often begins in young adulthood. Advanced KC significantly impairs patients' quality of life, making early detection of the condition a critical goal for specialists. Early identification of KC greatly influences both the treatment strategy and the outcomes.

Right anterior thoracotomy vs. upper hemisternotomy for aortic valve replacement with Perceval S: is there a difference?

Background: Our study aimed to evaluate the early outcomes of aortic valve replacement with Perceval S sutureless valve through the right anterior thoracotomy and upper hemisternotomy approaches, and to determine if there are any differences between these two approaches.

Methods: We carried out a study using data from 174 patients who underwent minimally invasive Perceval S valve implantation for aortic valve stenosis between January 2018 and August 2023. This was a retrospective, single-center observational study.

Calcified amorphous tumor of the posterior mitral annulus.

Unlabelled: A 73-year-old male with a history of hypertension, congenital kidney aplasia, status post-myocardial infarction, stroke, and chronic renal insufficiency was admitted to our institute due to coronary artery bypass grafting. Preoperative echocardiogram revealed a 15 × 7 mm mass arising near the posterior mitral annulus. Following the coronary artery bypass grafting, the left atrial cavity was explored using a 30° endoscope.

Fatal hyperacute left main thrombosis after aortic root surgery.

Acute aortic root thrombosis is a potentially lethal condition due to the possibility of thrombosis into the ascending aorta branches, resulting in various clinical manifestations. A 29-year-old male patient was admitted to our center with hyperacute left main thrombosis after elective Bentall procedure. Due to massive left ventricular infarction, the patient was supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, but without success to recovery.

Early outcomes of aortic valve replacement with Perceval PLUS sutureless valve: results of the prospective multicentric MANTRA study.

Background: The aim of this study is to report the preliminary real-word clinical and hemodynamic performance from the MANTRA study in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with Perceval PLUS sutureless valve.

Methods: MANTRA is an ongoing "umbrella" prospective, multi-center, international post-market study to collect real-life safety and performance data on Corcym devices (Corcym S.r.

Case Report: Giant cholesterol granuloma in the anterior mediastinum.

Cholesterol granuloma is a rare entity, which can develop in many regions of the body, accounting at most 1% of all mediastinal tumors. Etiology of this granuloma is still not clearly understood. The gold standard choice of treatment for cholesterol granuloma is total surgical resection.

Surgical treatment of a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm with an extracellular matrix patch.

Unlabelled: Left ventricle pseudoaneurysm is a rare and life-threatening complication of myocardial infarction that is formed as a result of left ventricle free wall rupture contained by the overlying pericardium. Urgent surgical repair is crucial, and in most reports, left ventricle was reconstructed with a Dacron or bovine pericardial patch. We present a case of a 66-year-old female with left ventricle pseudoaneurysm which was successfully repaired with an extracellular matrix patch.

An Analysis of Early Results after Valve Replacement in Isolated Aortic Valve Stenosis by Using Sutureless vs. Stented Bioprostheses: A Single-Center Middle-Income Country Experience.

: There is a lack of data about the survival of patients after the implantation of sutureless relative to stented bioprostheses in middle-income settings. The objective of this study was to compare the survival of people with isolated severe aortic stenosis after the implantation of sutureless and stented bioprostheses in a tertiary referral center in Serbia. : This retrospective cohort study included all people treated for isolated severe aortic stenosis with sutureless and stented bioprostheses from 1 January 2018 to 1 July 2021 at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases "Dedinje".

First-in-Human µCAB Coronary Revascularization Surgery.

Less invasive coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is underused despite more than 25 years of interest from surgeons and growing patient demands for less pain and rapid full recovery. New approaches may offer surgeons additional options to provide enhanced clinical results through reliable subxiphoid bilateral internal thoracic artery harvesting and the creation of durable anastomoses through very small thoracotomy incisions. This first-in-human case report describes 2 patients who received surgical coronary revascularization using the µCAB technology and techniques.

Influence of Three Different Surgical Techniques on Microscopic Damage of Saphenous Vein Grafts-A Randomized Study.

The saphenous vein is one of the most common used grafts (SVG) for surgical revascularization. The mechanism of the SVGs occlusion is still unknown. Surgical preparation techniques have an important role in the early and late graft occlusion.

Same-Day Carotid Artery Stenting and Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Background: The optimal treatment strategy for patients with severe carotid artery disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is still problematic. The important question is whether it is necessary to treat significant carotid disease in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting. This study analyzed short- and midterm results after same-day carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting.

Surgical Reconstruction of the Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery.

The anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital disease. Early surgical reconstruction is mandatory to prevent adverse cardiac events. Direct coronary button transfer, vein graft interposition, ligation, and coronary artery bypass construction are the most commonly used techniques.

Long-term results after simultaneous carotid and coronary revascularisation.

Background: The revascularisation strategy for concomitant carotid and coronary disease is unknown. Simultaneous or stage coronary artery stenting and carotid endarterectomy are the most common revascularisation approach in the CABG population. This study aimed to evaluate long-term results after simultaneous carotid artery stenting or carotid endarterectomy in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery.

Successful surgical aortic valve replacement in a patient with progeria.

The progeroid syndrome includes a group of rare, severe genetic disorders clinically characterized by premature physical ageing. Severe aortic stenosis has been described in progeria patients, but no previous surgical aortic valve replacement was reported. We describe a successful surgical aortic valve replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting in a progeria patient with severe aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus.

Predictors of Early Deterioration of Renal Function in Patients Older Than 70 Years Undergoing Valvular Surgery.

Background: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is the most common clinically important complication in adult patients undergoing open-heart surgery, with an incidence between 8.9% and 39%. Studies have shown that even a slight increase in serum creatinine levels after cardiac surgery significantly affects the mortality and morbidity of these patients.

Low-Risk Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in the Era of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Open surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is a viable alternative to transcatheter implantation in low-risk patients. In this light, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of SAVR performed through conventional and less invasive surgical approaches in a high-volume center. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 395 consecutive patients who underwent open SAVR from January 2019 through December 2019 in our center.

On-line risk prediction models for acute type A aortic dissection surgery: validation of the German Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection Type A score and the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II.

Objectives: The German Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection Type A (GERAADA) on-line score calculator to predict 30-day mortality in patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) was recently launched. Using the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II (EuroSCORE II), it is also possible to predict operative mortality for the same type of surgery. The goal of our study was to validate the prediction accuracy of these 2 on-line risk prediction models.

Modification of an Old Technique to Correct Kinking of Tubular Graft Interposed to Reconstruct Ascending Aorta.

Cardiac surgeons are occasionally faced with ascending aorta graft kinking following ascending aorta replacement. Although it may be difficult to precisely assess the correct length of the graft during aortic clamping, while performing proximal and distal graft anastomoses on an empty heart, the major reason for graft kinking is its excessive length. Haemolytic anaemia, graft thrombosis or even heart failure have been reported as a consequence of unrecognised and uncorrected kinking of the ascending aortic graft.

Novel autologous, high concentrated fibrin as advanced hemostatic agent for coronary surgery.

Background: Variability in transfusion outcomes and excessive postoperative bleeding represents a significant problem in cardiac surgery. The effort to reduce bleeding complications and transfusion outcomes is desirable. Our study investigated the feasibility of reducing bleeding complications and transfusion requirements by applying perioperatively prepared autologous bio-regenerative fibrin sealant.

Surgical reconstruction of the dissected innominate artery using extra-anatomic aorto-axillar bypass.

The innominate artery is the most commonly affected supra-aortic vessel in the acute ascending aorta dissection. The brachiocephalic vessels, separated from the true lumen, need reimplantation. The fragile vessel tissue might be challenging to reconstruct.

Unusual Presentation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Elderly Patient.

We presented a case of a 56-year-old man with giant pulmonary artery aneurysm caused by a misdiagnosed patent ductus arteriosus, severe multivalvular disease and active aortic valve endocarditis successfully treated by surgery. The correct diagnosis was missed despite preoperative diagnostics because the small patent ductus arteriosus was located at the distal part of common pulmonary trunk and a huge regurgitant signal overlapped its Doppler signal. Thorough evaluation of every patient, regardless of age, is necessary to recognize and treat this congenital anomaly.

Initial experience with the Perceval S sutureless aortic valve.

Introduction: Surgical treatment of the aortic valve represents the gold standard, and thus aortic valve replacement (AVR) is one of the most commonly performed cardiac operations.

Aim: To evaluate the early outcome of aortic valve replacement with the Perceval S sutureless aortic bioprosthesis.

Material And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 24 patients (mean age: 71 ±5 years), who underwent aortic valve replacement with a Perceval S valve.

Midterm Results After Simultaneous Carotid Artery Stenting and Cardiac Surgery.

Background: The presence of carotid artery disease is known risk factor for perioperative stroke in cardiac surgery. The optimal management of patients with concomitant heart and carotid artery disease is not known. Simultaneous or staged carotid endarterectomy has been proposed to prevent stroke.

Challenging surgery of giant right coronary aneurysm associated with coronary sinus fistula.

Coronary artery fistula is a rare congenital or acquired anomaly. It involves an abnormal connection between the coronary artery and the cardiac chambers or the large thoracic vessels. In some cases, the feeding coronary artery can become extremely dilated.