Publications by authors named "P C F Di Stefano"
Background: Outcome prediction in Status epilepticus (SE) aids in clinical decision-making, yet existing scores have limitations due to SE heterogeneity. Serum albumin is emerging as a readily available prognostic biomarker in various clinical conditions. This study evaluates hypoalbuminemia in predicting short- and long-term mortality.
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- Septic embolization, a common complication of infective endocarditis (IE), can lead to serious issues like acute coronary syndrome, although it's rare and affects 22-50% of patients.
- This study analyzed 649 patients with left-sided IE from 2013 to 2023, focusing on coronary embolism (CE) through various diagnostic methods, with a median follow-up duration of 4.7 years.
- Results showed CE occurred in only 1.2% of patients, primarily treated surgically, and those with CE were more likely to have cerebral embolisms, highlighting the need for early detection and better management strategies in IE cases.
While the visual estimation of systolic left ventricular function by experienced examiners closely aligns with quantitative methodologies, the accuracy of visual estimation in determining the severity of valvular regurgitation using colour flow Doppler assessment of native heart valves remains largely unexplored. This study analysed the ability of 262 physicians to visually estimate the severity of 12 native valve regurgitations by grading colour Doppler transthoracic echocardiography loops in an online questionnaire. The assessments of the participants were compared to standardized quantitative evaluations conducted by certified echocardiography experts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMinimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) has been increasingly adopted worldwide as an alternative to conventional sternotomy, especially for young patients. The remarkable results gained by MIMVS have encouraged its application in more complex and fragile patients, such as the elderly, though results in this subgroup remain controversial. It is the aim of this study to assess the postoperative outcomes of patients older than 75 years old undergoing MIMVS, and to compare these results to those of younger patients.
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- The study focuses on the impact of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) on global longitudinal strain (GLS) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
- It involved 108 patients who underwent echocardiography before surgery, a week after, and at twelve months post-surgery, with findings showing an initial decrease in GLS that later improved significantly, particularly in patients with mild diastolic dysfunction.
- The results indicate that while SAVR initially reduces GLS regardless of diastolic dysfunction severity, it ultimately leads to recovery of GLS over time, especially in those with grade I dysfunction.