Comparison of early and long-term follow-up results of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty and mitral valve replacement.

Background: Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty and mitral valve replacement have been the treatment options for mitral stenosis for several years, however, studies that compare these two modalities are very rare in the literature.

Objective: In this article, we aim to investigate the comparison of clinical results of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty and mitral valve replacement.

Methods: 527 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis, treated with percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty or mitral valve replacement (276 patients with percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty and 251 patients with mitral valve replacement) from 1991 to 2012 were evaluated.

Impact of right ventricular stroke work index on predicting hospital readmission and functional status of patients with advanced heart failure.

Introduction And Aims: The prognosis of chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has been studied extensively, but factors predicting cardiac decompensation are poorly defined. Right ventricular stroke work index (RVSWI), an invasive measure of right ventricular (RV) systolic function, is a well-known prognostic marker of RV failure after left ventricular assist device insertion and after lung transplantation. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess whether there is a relationship between RVSWI, HFrEF hospital readmission due to cardiac decompensation, and prognosis.

Evaluation of Resting Cardiac Power Output as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure.

If the heart is represented by a hydraulic pump, cardiac power represents the hydraulic function of the heart. Cardiac pump function is frequently determined through left ventricular ejection fraction using imaging. This study aims to validate resting cardiac power output (CPO) as a predictive biomarker in patients with advanced heart failure (HF).

Surgical placement of left ventricular lead for cardiac resynchronisation therapy after failure of percutaneous attempt.

Objective: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment to improve functional status and prolong survival of patients in advanced chronic heart failure. This study assessed the surgical outcomes of left anterior mini-thoracotomy for the implantation of left ventricular epicardial pacing leads in cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

Methods: Our study consisted of 30 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac resynchronisation therapy with a left thoracotomy between November 2010 and April 2012 in our clinic.

Remote monitoring of left ventricular assist device parameters after HeartAssist-5 implantation.

Although several left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used widely, remote monitoring of LVAD parameters has been available only recently. We present our remote monitoring experience with an axial-flow LVAD (HeartAssist-5, MicroMed Cardiovascular, Inc., Houston, TX, USA).

Immediate and follow-up results of repeat percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy for restenosis after a succesful first procedure.

Background: The widespread use of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) has led to an increase in restenosis cases. The data regarding follow-up results of repeat PMC are quite limited. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate the immediate and midterm results of the second PMC, in patients with symptomatic mitral restenosis after a succesful first procedure.

Right atrial pacemaker lead thrombosis causing tricuspid inflow obstruction.

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of progressive dyspnea with effort. The patient had a permanent pacemaker that was implanted 16 years ago. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large, mobile mass in the right atrium attaching to the insertion site of the atrial lead at the tricuspid valve level.

Serum N-terminal pro-BNP levels correlate with symptoms and echocardiographic findings in patients with mitral stenosis.

This study is designed to evaluate the N-terminal pro-BNP (NTproBNP) levels in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and its possible correlation with clinical and echocardiographic parameters of the disease. The study group consisted of 29 patients with isolated MS (patients with greater mild regurgitation were excluded) and 20 normal control subjects of similar age and gender distribution. Blood samples for NTproBNP were collected at the time of clinical and echocardiographic examination.

Right ventricular and tricuspid valve function in patients with two ventricular pacemaker leads.

Unlabelled: Existing data on the effect of retained pacemaker leads on right ventricular (RV) and tricuspid valve function is limited.

Objective: In this echocardiographic study we investigated the long-term effect of retained ventricular leads on RV and tricuspid valve function in patients with permanent pacemakers. Forty patients, 18 with two (group I) and 22 with one (group II) ventricular lead were assessed echocardiographically at an average of 39 months after the second lead implantation in group I and 80 months after the lead implantation in group II.