A heart transplant after total artificial heart support: initial and long-term results.

Objectives: At our centre, the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t) (SynCardia Systems, LLC, Tucson, AZ, USA) is used to provide long-term support for patients with biventricular failure as a bridge to a transplant. However, a heart transplant (HT) after such support remains challenging. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the immediate and long-term results following an HT in the cohort of patients who had a TAH-t implant.

Long-term Outcome of Patients With Nonoperated Prosthetic Valve Infective Endocarditis: Is Relapse the Main Issue?

In nonoperated prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), long-term outcome is largely unknown. We report the follow-up of 129 nonoperated patients with PVE alive at discharge. At 1 year, the mortality rate was 24%; relapses and reinfection were rare (5% each).

The MITRA-HR study: design and rationale of a randomised study of MitraClip transcatheter mitral valve repair in patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation eligible for high-risk surgery.

Aims: Percutaneous mitral valve repair has become an alternative to conventional surgery in patients suffering primary mitral regurgitation (MR) with a contraindication to surgery and could benefit patients at high surgical risk. The aim of the MITRA-HR study is to raise the level of evidence supporting the use of the MitraClip device in primary MR patients with a predefined high risk for surgery.

Methods And Results: MITRA-HR is a prospective, multicentre, randomised study designed to compare mitral valve repair using the MitraClip with conventional surgery in patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation at high risk for surgery.

Risk-benefit Assessment of Systematic Thoracoabdominal-pelvic Computed Tomography in Infective Endocarditis.

Background: In the management of infective endocarditis (IE), the presence of extracardiac complications has an influence on both diagnosis and treatment. Current guidelines suggest that systematic thoracoabdominal-pelvic computed tomography (TAP-CT) may be helpful. Our objective was to describe how systematic TAP-CT affects the diagnosis and the management of IE.

New insights into mitral valve dystrophy: a Filamin-A genotype-phenotype and outcome study.

Aims: Filamin-A (FLNA) was identified as the first gene of non-syndromic mitral valve dystrophy (FLNA-MVD). We aimed to assess the phenotype of FLNA-MVD and its impact on prognosis.

Methods And Results: We investigated the disease in 246 subjects (72 mutated) from four FLNA-MVD families harbouring three different FLNA mutations.

Early structural valve deterioration of Mitroflow aortic bioprosthesis: mode, incidence, and impact on outcome in a large cohort of patients.

Background: Structural valve deterioration (SVD) is a major flaw of bioprostheses. Early SVD has been suspected in the last models of Mitroflow bioprosthesis. We sought to assess the incidence, mode, and impact of SVD on outcome in a large series of Mitroflow aortic valve replacement.

Human comparative experimental study of surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation by epicardial techniques.

Background: To set up an experimental model of cadaveric heart in order to evaluate and compare histologic transmurality of lesions immediately caused by different energy sources of anti-arrhythmic epicardial devices.

Methods: Procedures were performed on a cadaveric human heart in orthotopic position with an ischemic time of 48 h at 37° and supported through the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Three anti-arrhythmic epicardial devices were studied: the bipolar forceps Cardioblate BP (Medtronic) for the radiofrequency, the Epicor Ultracinch LP Ablation device (St.

Propofol Infusion syndrome during refractory status epilepticus in a young adult: successful ECMO resuscitation.

Background: Propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) is a rare but serious complication of propofol administration consisting of metabolic disorder with acidosis, often leading to fatal cardiovascular collapse.

Methods: A case of PRIS is described in a 17-year-old female with refractory status epilepticus (RSE) who was receiving high-dose propofol for seizure control and sedation.

Results: Metabolic syndrome was observed with renal failure, severe metabolic acidosis, and rhabdomyolysis after 58 h of propofol infusion at a maximum dose of 8.

Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis of the mitral valve in a heart transplant recipient: a case report.

Aspergillus endocarditis is a rare event after heart transplantation. We report a case of Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis after orthotopic heart transplantation. The patient was treated with a combination of voriconazole and caspofungin without valve replacement and survived for 168 days after the diagnosis.

Pneumothorax after left pneumonectomy: implantation of an intrapleural prosthesis.

Postpneumonectomy syndrome is defined as an airway obstruction due to mediastinal shift and rotation after pneumonectomy. A patient who had undergone a left pneumonectomy for bronchial carcinoma 13 years before presented with tension pneumothorax of her remaining lung. Although all factors relevant to the development of postpneumonectomy syndrome were ascertained, the patient had a pneumothorax rather than an airway obstruction.