[Infero-postero-lateral acute myocardial infarction caused by left ventricular myxoma embolism].

The majority of myxomas are located in the left atrium (75%) followed by the right atrium (20%). In rare cases, myxomas can be found in the ventricles, with 2.5% reported for myxomas in the left ventricle.

Pulsed or continuous flow in long-term assist devices: a debated topic.

The end-stage cardiomyopathy is an increasing worldwide problem. Cardiac transplantation lacks sufficient donors to treat all patients, and there is thus debate about alternative strategies. The use of left ventricular assist devices for long-term support is increasing with a positive impact on patient survival.

Hypothermic cardiac arrest in the homeless: what can we do?

Accidental deep hypothermia with body temperature < 28 degrees C induces high mortality rates for neurological and cardiac complications. Although several reports described successful treatment of hypothermic arrest by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the field of warming in the homeless is almost completely unquestioned although the malnutrition and the co-morbidities are usually believed as relevant risk factors for poor outcome. This article describes the experience of successful warming by ECMO in two homeless victims of unwitnessed cardiac arrest, who survived without neurological or cardiac complications.

Preoperative mobilization of bone marrow-derived cells followed by revascularization surgery: early and long-term outcome.

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD), along with its main complications such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and congestive heart failure (CHF), remains a serious worldwide problem and affects many patients despite the improvement of medical treatment. The possibility of the replacement of the infarcted areas by the re-generation of the myocardial cells has been long discussed and the mobilization of the stem cells from bone marrow (BMCs) to the peripheral blood (PB) induced by cytokines, represents a potential pathway to activate the regenerative process.

Patients And Methods: We describe BMC mobilization and direct/indirect revascularization in 15 patients operated on for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or mitral valve surgery and/or ventricular remodeling combined to multiple trans-myocardial punctures (Sen technique) in ungraftable non-viable fibrotic areas.

Right minithoracotomy versus full sternotomy for the aortic valve replacement: preliminary results.

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for aortic valve replacement (AVR) is going to increase with different techniques described so far. We hereby report the results of AVR through a right minithoracotomy (RM) compared to a median sternotomy (MS).

Materials And Methods: One hundred patients operated for isolated AVR by the same surgeon (chief of the department) were enrolled and allocated to: MS (group A, 50 patients, 26 females, mean age 69.

Late angiograms ten years after transmyocardial laser revascularization.

We present the angiograms of a patient after transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR), which were performed 10 years before by the application of holmium laser pulses. Thirteen years before the TMR procedure, the patient underwent coronary artery bypass graftings complicated by graft occlusion with no longer possibility of direct revascularization. Then, refractive angina required an alternative approach for symptom relief as the indirect revascularization by the application of the holmium laser pulses.

The role of psychological support in cardiac surgery: initial experience.

The scientific literature has pointed out several predictors of negative outcome after surgery such as pain and depression, negatively affecting the postoperative outcome in cardiac surgery. From January 2009 until June 2010, 15 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were enrolled. The patients were assessed by psychological evaluation either in the hospital stay either in the rehabilitation period with the aim of identifying their emotional condition (sentiments about the onset of the disease, support received from family and friends) even by means of preformed tests for anxiety and depression (tests of Stay and Back).

Acute endocarditis of the patch caused by Staphylococcus capitis in treated tetralogy of Fallot. An unusual location by an unusual bacterium.

We present the case of a 46 year-old male, HCV infected, treated with corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) immediately after percutaneous closure of the Blalock Taussig shunt. Four months later, the patient had infective endocarditis by Staphylococcus capitis localised on the right side of the patch, treated by oxacillin and gentamycin. The particularity of our report is the unusual location of the acute endocarditis and the bacterium involved: the pulmonary valve is much more likely to be involved in endocarditis in TOF patients and the patch endocarditis has rarely been reported.

Aortic valve replacement using a stentless bioprosthesis through right minithoracotomy: an initial experience.

Objective: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is nowadays a safe procedure with low rates of mortality and morbidity, but the necessity for a less invasive approach is going to increase. The use of a stentless prosthesis through right mini-thoracotomy has not yet been described and our experience could be useful for other surgeons.

Methods: From June 2009 until March 2010, seven female patients (mean age 79.

Main pulmonary artery aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature.

Main pulmonary artery aneurysms are a rare entity with few available published data. As reported in the literature, operative treatment is commonly recommended but the relation between the size of the aneurysm, its localization, and the risk of rupture is not as well defined as for aortic aneurysms. Proximal lesions that involve the main branches of the pulmonary artery are usually apparent on chest radiographs and must be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal masses.