Clinical profile, microbiology and outcomes in infective endocarditis treated with aortic valve replacement: a multicenter case-control study.

Background: Aortic valve infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to describe the clinical profile, risk factors and predictors of short- and long-term mortality in patients with aortic valve IE treated with aortic valve replacement (AVR) compared with a control group undergoing AVR for non-infectious valvular heart disease.

Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2013, a total of 170 cases with IE treated with AVR (exposed cohort) and 677 randomly selected non-infectious AVR-treated patients with degenerative aortic valve disease (controls) were recruited from three tertiary hospitals with cardiothoracic facilities across Scandinavia.

Bleeding in minimally invasive versus conventional aortic valve replacement.

Background: Observational studies have shown reduced perioperative bleeding in patients undergoing minimally invasive, compared with full sternotomy, aortic valve replacement. Data from randomized trials are conflicting.

Methods: This was a Swedish single center study where adult patients with aortic stenosis, 100 patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either minimally invasive (ministernotomy) or full sternotomy aortic valve replacement.

The Longest Living Patient Supported With Left Ventricular Assist Device (14 Years).

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) improve survival and reduce symptoms in patients with advanced heart failure; however, the longer-term durability of LVADs remains uncertain especially with older-generation devices. In this case report, we describe the clinical course of a patient who has been successfully treated with the same HeartMate II LVAD for 14 years, the longest published and still ongoing LVAD support with the same originally implanted device.

Routine use of percutaneous femoral cannulation in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Large series of percutaneous femoral access for extracorporeal circulation in minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) are scarcely reported.

Methods: This is a single-centre study describing the use of percutaneous femoral access in patients undergoing MICS via minithoracotomy. Femoral artery closure was performed with a plug-based closure device.