Pushing the hybrid approach to the edges, three stories in one: a case report.

Background: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is common in the elderly. Extensive calcification has been historically challenging for the cardiac surgeons, with traditional surgical approaches carrying significant risks. Less invasive approaches have recently been explored in an attempt to reduce this risk.

Percutaneous repair of moderate-to-severe or severe functional mitral regurgitation in patients with symptomatic heart failure: Baseline characteristics of patients in the RESHAPE-HF2 trial and comparison to COAPT and MITRA-FR trials.

Aim: The RESHAPE-HF2 trial is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the MitraClip device system for the treatment of clinically important functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) in patients with heart failure (HF). This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the RESHAPE-HF2 trial compared to those enrolled in the COAPT and MITRA-FR trials.

Methods And Results: The RESHAPE-HF2 study is an investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized, multicentre trial including patients with symptomatic HF, a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between 20% and 50% with moderate-to-severe or severe FMR, for whom isolated mitral valve surgery was not recommended.

Clinical Outcomes of Left Main Coronary Artery PCI With Rotational Atherectomy.

Data regarding rotational atherectomy percutaneous coronary intervention (RA PCI) angioplasty in the left main (LM) coronary artery are scarce, and mostly outdated. We aimed to describe clinical outcomes of RA PCI in LM. Patients requiring RA in 8 European countries and 19 centers were prospectively and consecutively included in the European registry of Cardiac Care of Calcified and Complex patients registry.

P-Wave Beat-to-Beat Analysis to Predict Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Catheter Ablation.

The identification of patients prone to atrial fibrillation (AF) relapse after catheter ablation is essential for better patient selection and risk stratification. The current prospective cohort study aims to validate a novel P-wave index based on beat-to-beat (B2B) P-wave morphological and wavelet analysis designed to detect patients with low burden AF as a predictor of AF recurrence within a year after successful catheter ablation. From a total of 138 consecutive patients scheduled for AF ablation, 12-lead ECG and 10 min vectorcardiogram (VCG) recordings were obtained.

Effect of Sex on Outcomes of Coronary Rotational Atherectomy Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (From the European Multicenter Euro4C Registry).

Data regarding the potential influence of gender on outcomes of rotational atherectomy (RA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are scarce and conflicting. Using the Euro4C registry, an international prospective multicentric registry of RA PCI, we evaluated the influence of gender on clinical outcomes of RA PCI. Between October 2016 and July 2018, 966 patients were included.

Simultaneous implantation of MitraClip devices in a patient with severe mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation.

We present a case of an 84-year old patient with severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation with a lot of cormobidities who underwent a simultaneous transfemoral (one approach) mitral and tricuspid valve repair using the MitraClip system.

The TRACE registry (Trans-Radial Approach in Central and northErn Greece).

Objective: We examined trans-radial approach (TRA) use in coronary angiographies (CAs) as well as in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) in specific regions of Greece, its distribution in public and private catheterization laboratories (CLs) and its preference by operators. Reliable data regarding the use of TRA are not available in Greece.

Methods: The study was performed in northern and central Greece, which constitutes 35.

Surgical septal myectomy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Greece: a single-center initial experience.

Introduction: Surgical septal myectomy is thought to be the gold standard of treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with obstruction symptoms refractory to optimal medical therapy. In Europe, during the last 2 decades, myectomy has been set aside, while alcohol septal ablation has been widely promoted. In this paper, we analyze our first experience of surgical septal myectomy in a small cohort of patients with HCM coming from a single tertiary center.

The use of rotational atherectomy and drug-eluting stents in the treatment of heavily calcified coronary lesions.

Introduction: The treatment of calcified coronary artery lesions is a challenge for percutaneous angioplasty. Rotational atherectomy is an established technique for the effective modification of these lesions prior to conventional angioplasty and stent implantation. Drug-eluting stents (DES) have shown encouraging results in complex lesions and high-risk patients.

Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects: immediate and mid-term results.

Introduction: The incidence of percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO), which has become an established therapy, is constantly increasing. In this study, which is the first in the Greek literature, we present the immediate and mid-term results from this intervention in our center.

Methods: From April 2004 to April 2008, 103 patients underwent percutaneous closure of an ASD or PFO using Amplatzer closure devices.

Feasibility study of a temporary percutaneous left ventricular assist device in cardiac surgery.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate a percutaneous left ventricular assist device (Tandem Heart pVAD; Cardiac Assist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) in the postcardiotomy setting.

Methods: Between August 2001 and August 2004, 11 high-risk male patients who had undergone heart failure surgery or surgical revascularization were supported by the TandemHeart postcardiotomy. The major indication for pVAD insertion was failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass.

Modified (Valsalva graft) aortic root reimplantation for successful repair of pulmonary autograft aneurysm after Ross procedure.

Dilatation of the pulmonary autograft after the Ross procedure is a possible complication, necessitating aortic valve replacement. We present a case of a patient who developed pulmonary autograft dilatation and was treated successfully with valve-sparing aortic root reimplantation with a Valsalva graft.

First human implantation of a new rotary blood pump: design of the clinical feasibility study.

Surgical treatment of heart failure is emerging as one of the most challenging clinical dilemmas for patients with end-stage cardiac failure not amenable to medical treatment. One of the most intriguing techniques is the use of implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as a bridge to recovery. The early experience from our centre has shown that even short term post-cardiotomy mechanical assistance, after heart failure surgery, improves patient outcome; thus, a clinical feasibility study was designed.

Ross procedure: medium-term results.

Introduction: The Ross procedure is a safe alternative option for aortic valve replacement in selected patients. Here we present the medium-term results of our experience with this procedure.

Methods: Between December 1998 and January 2004, 21 patients (16 male, 5 female, mean age 42 years) underwent aortic valve replacement using the Ross operation.

Temporary assist device for postcardiotomy cardiac failure.

Postcardiotomy left ventricular failure (LVF) complicating a cardiac surgical procedure is usually managed with intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation. We report two cases of postcardiotomy LVF unresponsive to inotropic support and IABP counterpulsation that were managed successfully with the use of the TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) (CardiacAssist, Pittsburgh, PA). The TandemHeart pVAD appears to be safe and effective as a bridge to recovery in the treatment of postcardiotomy cardiac failure.