Type A Aortic Dissection with Antegrade Intimointimal Intussusception.

We describe a 60-year-old man with a history of hypertension who presented to an outside emergency department with chest pain and left lower extremity numbness and weakness. Computed tomography (CT) revealed Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD), and he was transferred to our institution for emergent open surgical repair. Review of the outside CT showed no dissection flap in the ascending aorta and a complex flap in the proximal descending thoracic aorta consistent with complex intimal transection at the sinotubular junction and intimointimal intussusception.

Ventricular Septal Rupture Complicating Silent Myocardial Infarction.

A 55-year-old gentleman presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath for the past 3 days. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging assessed intracardiac shunting and a mechanism of ventricular septal rupture (VSR), showing significant left-to-right shunting and Qp:Qs of 4:1. There was transmural myocardial infarction as well as an aneurysm at the diaphragmatic inferior wall of the left ventricle.

Surgical Salvage of Annular Rupture After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation by Conversion Into Annular Enlargement.

We describe an 88-year-old woman who experienced annular rupture during transcatheter aortic valve replacement despite preventative measures. She underwent Y incision and rectangular patch for the double purpose of repairing the rupture and enlarging the aortic root. We highlight the heart team's role in confronting this potentially catastrophic complication.

Late Transcatheter Aortic Valve Thrombosis Leading to Cardiogenic Shock.

A 67-year-old woman with prior transcatheter aortic valve replacement presented with worsening dyspnea. Imaging revealed transcatheter aortic valve thrombosis and aortic stenosis. Despite oral anticoagulation, she progressively deteriorated and developed cardiogenic shock.

Atypical Presentation of Right Ventricular Cardiac Hamartoma in a Young Man.

Cardiac tumors in adults are exceedingly rare and usually benign. We describe a 29-year-old man with a previous diagnosis of interventricular septal hypertrophy who presented with increasing severity of dyspnea and fatigue. Work-up revealed a 4.

Current considerations for heart-kidney transplantation.

Cardiorenal syndrome is a complex syndrome characterized by dysfunction of the heart and kidneys in an interdependent fashion and is further divided into different subtypes based on primary organ dysfunction. Simultaneous Heart-Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage irreversible dysfunction of both organs, however it may be avoided with determination of cardiorenal subtype and management of primary organ dysfunction. This article discusses types of cardiorenal syndrome, indications and concerns regarding the use of simultaneous heart-kidney transplantation, and outlines algorithms for determination of need for dual vs.

Outcomes of Full and Partial Cardiac Autotransplantation for Complex Left-Sided Heart Tumors.

Background: Complex or malignant left-sided heart tumors present a challenge for resection and reconstruction. Cardiac autotransplantation was developed to address this but is a complex technique. Partial autotransplantation was developed to simplify the procedure.

Renal Dysfunction in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Late-stage heart failure and renal dysfunction are often seen in conjunction. Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) describes the complex interaction between the two disease states. Early literature described the pathophysiology of CRS as related only to reduced cardiac output and decreased renal perfusion.

Papillary Fibroelastoma Incidentally Found on Left Atrial Wall During Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement.

A 60-year-old man was about to undergo minimally invasive aortic valve replacement when transesophageal echocardiography revealed an intracardiac mass on the left atrial free wall. Multimodal images from 5 months earlier had shown no mass. We converted the procedure to open surgery.

Atypical Presentation of Marantic Endocarditis.

We describe a 39-year-old man referred for surgical aortic valve replacement for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Intraoperative inspection was unexpectedly consistent with marantic endocarditis. Pathology confirmed nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.

Acute mitral valve regurgitation secondary to papillary muscle rupture due to infective endocarditis.

Background: Papillary muscle rupture due to infective endocarditis is a rare event and proper management of this condition has not been described in the literature. Our case aims to shed light on treatment strategies for these patients using the current guidelines.

Case Presentation: This case presents a 58-year-old male with acute heart failure secondary to papillary muscle rupture.

Cardiovascular Surgery Procedural Training and Evaluation: Current Status and Future Directions.

The increasing complexity of heart disease manifestations and treatments as well as technological advancements make cardiovascular surgery an evolving specialty. In this review, we provide an overview of the factors leading to new developments in this field and discuss the adopted pathways to train cardiovascular surgeons in the United States. We also review the current challenges to the existing training culture and discuss the need to adopt adjuvant strategies to fulfill the societal expectations of what it means to be a competent cardiovascular surgeon.

Lifetime management of aortic valve disease: Aligning surgical and transcatheter armamentarium to set the tone for the present and the future.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has already received the green light for high-, intermediate- and low-risk profiles and is an alternative for all patients regardless of age. It is clear that there has been a push towards the use of TAVR in younger and younger patients (<65 years), which has never been formally tested in randomized controlled trials but seems inevitable as TAVR technology makes steady progress. Lifetime management as a concept will set the tone in the field of the structural heart.

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Comprehensive Review and Multidisciplinary Approach to Surgical Treatment.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated sequelae of acute pulmonary embolism. In this comprehensive review, we provide an introductory overview of CTEPH, highlight recent advances in its diagnostic imaging, and describe the surgical technique for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), the only established curative treatment for CTEPH. We also discuss the emerging role of balloon pulmonary angioplasty, both independently and combined with PTE, for patients with inoperable, residual, or refractory pulmonary hypertension post PTE.

Large, Hormonally Active Primary Cardiac Paraganglioma: Diagnosis and Management.

We describe a 26-year-old woman presenting with chest pain and evidence of coronary ischemia. Echocardiography revealed a large left ventricular mass initially deemed unresectable at her initial institution. Investigation revealed a dopamine-secreting primary cardiac paraganglioma encompassing vital cardiac architecture.

Early results of a modified biological valved conduit for the Bentall procedure.

Introduction: Few bioprosthetic valved conduits for aortic root surgery are commercially available. Long-term Warfarin therapy (mechanical), potential root calcification (xeno- or homograft valves), and the need for additional ascending aorta grafts are concerns associated with currently used valved conduits. A simplified, self-assembled bioroot conduit comprising currently available materials that facilitates future intervention and exhibits advantages of a bioprosthesis was used.

Ortner's syndrome: Cardiovocal syndrome caused by aortic arch pseudoaneurysm.

72-year-old hypertensive presented with two weeks history of left sided chest pain and hoarseness. Workup demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm in the lesser curvature of the distal aortic arch opposite the origin of the left subclavian artery from a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer. Following a left carotid-subclavian bypass, endovascular stenting of the aorta was performed excluding the pseudoaneurysm.

"Open" approach to aortic arch aneurysm repair.

Aortic arch aneurysm is a relatively rare entity in cardiac surgery. Repair of such aneurysms, either in isolation or combined with other cardiac procedures, remains a challenging task. The need to produce a relatively bloodless surgical field with circulatory arrest, while at the same time protecting the brain, is the hallmark of this challenge.

Prevalence Pattern of Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease among Patients Presenting for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Oman.

Objectives: To identify the pattern of prevalence of risk factors in patients presenting for coronary artery bypass grafting at a single center in Oman.

Methods: All patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting between March 2008 to March 2010 were included and data were obtained from history and laboratory investigations. The prevalence rates of eight conventional risk factors are presented as a retrospective single center observational study.