Hemodynamically significant prosthesis-patient mismatch can be predicted and is associated with early prosthetic valve dysfunction in aortic bioprosthesis.

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of predicted prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) regarding actual PPM measured postoperatively. To assess the association between PPM and prosthetic valve dysfunction.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study including adult patients after aortic valve replacement surgery with a biological prosthesis.

Acute penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the ascending aorta.

A 67-year-old man presented with chest pain. Clinical examination revealed hypertension (160/90 mm Hg). Electrocardiogram indicated no acute coronary syndrome and cardiac enzymes were normal.

Non-fluoroscopic catheter ablation of arrhythmias with origin at the summit of the left ventricle.

Background: Catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) arising from the left ventricular Summit (LVS) is challenging and requires high-dose fluoroscopy to limit vascular damage of the coronary arteries. Ionizing radiation can increase the incidence of malignancies to both patient and operator. This study describes outcomes of catheter ablation of LVS VAs using intracardiac echo-facilitated 3D electroanatomical mapping (ICE-3D) to avoid fluoroscopy.

Anatomical Connections Between the Papillary Muscles and the Ventricular Myocardium: Correlation With QRS Variability of Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Background: Papillary muscles (PM) ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) exhibit QRS variability, attributed to anisotropy. ECG inconsistencies such as late precordial transition (TZ) and discordant QRS axis may not be solely explained by anisotropic conduction. We sought to determine the presence of anatomic connections of the PM and correlate them with ECG inconsistencies and ablation results.

Surgical Treatment of Dysphagia Lusoria Caused by Right-Aortic Arch with Kommerell Diverticulum: Left Heart Bypass without Subclavian Revascularization.

The authors present the case of a 26-year-old patient suffering from dysphagia because of compression by a Kommerell diverticulum in right aortic arch anomaly. Open surgical arch and descending aorta replacement with left heart bypass without left subclavian artery reimplantation was performed.

Myocardial injury following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: insights from delayed-enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence, localisation and extent of myocardial injury as determined by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods And Results: A total of 37 patients, who underwent successful TAVI with a balloon-expandable valve (transapical [TA], n=11; non-TA, n=26), were included. Cardiac biomarker (CK-MB and cTnT) levels were determined at baseline and following TAVI.

Characteristics of trabeculated myocardium burden in young and apparently healthy adults.

Increased myocardial trabeculations define noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCC). Imaging advancements have led to increasingly common identification of prominent trabeculations with unknown implications. We quantified and determined the impact of trabeculations' burden on cardiac function and stretch in a population of healthy young adults.

The retrograde P-wave theory: explaining ST segment depression in supraventricular tachycardia by retrograde AV node conduction.

Background: Pseudo ischemic ST segment changes during supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) are not yet fully understood. Our aim was to determine whether venticulo-atrial (VA) conduction during SVT may be a possible mechanism for ST depression (STd) in SVT.

Methods: Patients undergoing SVT ablation (2010-2012) were analyzed (n = 72).

Three-dimensional esophagus reconstruction and monitoring during ablation of atrial fibrillation: combination of two imaging techniques.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the accuracy of a novel three-dimensional (3D) imaging integration technique of the esophagus combining multislice computed tomography (CT) scan of the esophagus into the three-dimensional (3D) electroanatomic map just before pulmonary vein (PV) isolation.

Methods: We included 94 consecutive patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent ablation. All patients had a CT performed prior procedure that was integrated to the 3D reconstruction electromechanical map of the atrium and the esophagus (Verismo(TM), EnSite® NavX version 7.