Initial Experience with the Transapical Access for TEVAR.

 The endovascular approach has become a mainstay in the treatment of aortic aneurysms. While the transfemoral approach is most commonly used, it is often inaccessible due to a vascular pathology, such as occlusion, tortuosity or heavy calcifications. The transapical access provides an alternative approach.

A method for stereoscopic strain analysis of the right ventricle by digital image correlation during coronary bypass surgery: short communication.

Perioperative cardiosurgical management of volume therapy remains one of the challenging tasks in cases of patients with severe heart disease. Early detection of congestive cardiac failure prevents subsequent low output and worse outcome. An effective method for controlling extracorporeal circulation is created by developing a non-invasive intraoperative method for right ventricular strain analysis through digital image contrast correlation.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in malignant and benign pericardial effusion.

Background: The pathogenetic role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in malignant pericardial effusion and diagnostic value of pericardial VEGF levels to discriminate malignant from benign pericardial effusions are uncertain.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that pericardial VEGF levels would be higher in malignant than benign pericardial effusion and that VEGF would be a useful marker for the diagnosis of malignant pericardial effusion.

Methods: Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we assessed pericardial and serum VEGF levels in patients with malignant pericardial effusion (n = 19), in patients with nonmalignant pericardial effusion (n = 30), and for control, in patients without pericardial disease (n = 26).

Illness beliefs before cardiac surgery predict disability, quality of life, and depression 3 months later.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of patients' presurgery illness beliefs and cardiac risk factors on health-related outcomes 3 months following cardiac surgery.

Methods: In a prospective design, 56 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), heart valve surgery, or a combined procedure) were approached on admission to hospital and reassessed 3 months after surgery. Presurgery assessment included cardiac risk factors and measures of illness severity.

Percutaneous left atrial cardiac biopsy with CT fluoroscopy guidance.

Percutaneous computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopy-guided biopsy was performed to evaluate an intracardiac tumor located within the left atrium of a 72-year-old woman. Postinterventional follow-up was unproblematic and free of complications. Histopathologic examination revealed a high-grade cardiac sarcoma, and the patient underwent consecutive resection and radiation therapy.

Different profile of antioxidative capacity results in pulmonary dysfunction and amplified inflammatory response After CABG surgery.

Background: Respiratory complications after cardiosurgical interventions are frequent and cause severe problems, postoperatively. The present study addresses the question for group-specific release of radical oxygen species (ROS) by extracorporeal circulation (ECC) with emphasis on pulmonary function.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-one patients who had undergone bypass surgery were evaluated for serum antioxidative capacity (AOC).