Superior vena cava obstruction by tumour thrombus in invasive thymoma: diagnosis and surgical management.

Thymomas are common mediastinal tumours. We report a rare case of thymoma invasion into the superior vena cava with resultant venous obstruction. The tumour was resected.

Acute massive pulmonary embolism with cardiopulmonary resuscitation: management and results.

Patients who experience hemodynamic collapse after acute massive pulmonary embolism have a poor prognosis. Herein, we report our results with 8 patients and discuss a surgical strategy that can improve perioperative survival. From August 1994 through May 2005, 8 consecutive patients (6 women, 2 men; age range, 27-68 yr) were urgently referred to our unit after experiencing hemodynamic collapse.

Prosthesis replacement in a calcified mitral annulus with reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrous body: the value of an alternative repair.

A patient with healed prosthetic endocarditis, severe calcification of the mitral annulus, and multiple mitral periprosthetic leaks underwent double-valve replacement, with reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrous body. Placing sutures through healthy autologous tissues from outside the heart enabled secure replacement of the mitral prosthesis. This technique avoids extensive circumferential reconstruction of the mitral annulus.