Aortic wrapping is life-saving in high-risk acute aortic dissection and intramural haematoma.

Aortic wrapping is a controversial repair in patients presenting with acute type A aortic dissection or intramural haematoma, but this method may be a potential alternative to medical treatment or conventional repair in patients aged >80 years and in those presenting with prohibitive co-morbidities such as stroke, circulatory collapse, full oral anticoagulation with the last generation drugs. We report on 5 high-risk and/or patients over 80 years who received external aortic wrapping with or without cardiopulmonary bypass during the last 18 months. All survived the procedure and could be extubated early postoperatively.

Acute limb ischemia after femoro-femoral extracorporeal life support implantation: A comparison of surgical, percutaneous, or combined vascular access in 402 patients.

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is a salvage treatment for acute circulatory failure. Our high-volume tertiary centre performs more than 100 implants annually and provides ECLS-transports. With this study, we aimed to analyze the incidence and risk factors of limb ischemia depending on the vascular access.

An innovative cold storage system for donor heart transportation-lessons learned from the first experience in Switzerland.

Background: The current standard for donor heart preservation consists of cold organ storage in three sequential plastic bags. This technique can cause freezing injuries of the donor heart as the temperature inside the transport box is not monitored routinely. The SherpaPak™ Cardiac Transport System (CTS) (Paragonix Technologies, Cambridge, MA, USA) aims to resolve this problem by maintaining a controlled preservation temperature between 4 and 8 °C.

MitraClip procedure as bridge to left ventricular assist device: Enable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning and reduce perioperative risk.

Secondary mitral valve regurgitation is a frequent consequence of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe heart failure. The management of this disease can be challenging since it often culminates in refractory pulmonary edema and multi-organ failure. We present the case of a 50-year-old male who was admitted in cardiogenic shock following myocardial infarction.

Late outcome after surgical and topical treatment for Aspergillus mediastinitis after heart transplantation.

The 7-year long-term survival after Aspergillus fumigatus mediastinitis after heart transplantation, an uncommonly described condition, is herein reported. A 66-year-old male developed an infection with A. fumigatus covering the entire thoracic cavity with a fungal turf after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Initiation of an inter-hospital extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transfer programme for critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019: bringing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support to peripheral hospitals.

Objectives: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a resource-intensive, highly specialized and expensive therapy that is often reserved for high-volume centres. In recent years, we established an inter-hospital ECMO transfer programme that enables ECMO implants in peripheral hospitals. During the pandemic, the programme was expanded to include ECMO support in selected critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Pulsatile arterial blood pressure mimicking aortic valve opening during continuous-flow LVAD support: a case report.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have become a common treatment option in advanced heart failure. Lack of aortic valve opening during left ventricular unloading is a common complication and associated with a worse outcome. Maintaining a minimum pulse pressure is an important goal during the early postoperative period after LVAD implantation since it is commonly seen as secure sign of aortic valve opening.

Temporary epicardial pacemaker wires: significance of position and electrode type.

Objective: To determine the pacing and sensing properties of different temporary epicardial pacemaker electrodes after cardiac surgery depending on position at the heart and time after surgery.

Methods: From September 2009 to October 2010, 60 patients undergoing cardiac surgery were prospectively randomized into two groups: group O: Osypka-electrodes (n = 30), group M: Medtronic-electrodes (n = 30). In position 1, the bipolar electrodes were inserted onto the anterior wall of the right ventricle and at the right atrial auricle, in position 2, onto the diaphragmal wall of the right ventricle and at the aortic aspect of the superior vena cava medial close to the atrium.

Short- and long-term outcomes in octogenarians after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objectives: Coronary artery surgery in octogenarians is carried out with an increasing frequency. We tried to determine short- and long-term outcomes and quality of life after coronary artery surgery in this patient group.

Methods: From 3312 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in two centres in the years 2004-06, 240 (7.