Coronary endarterectomy in coronary artery disease: Factors affecting graft patency and survival.

Background: Coronary endarterectomy aims to improve completeness of revascularization in patients with occluded coronary vessels. The benefits of coronary endarterectomy remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term surgical outcomes and factors affecting graft patency post-coronary endarterectomy.

Mitral valve repair using a semirigid ring: patient selection and early outcomes.

Background: Commonly used complete mitral annuloplastic rings include saddle-shaped and semirigid rings, with no clear indication for either type. A semirigid ring may be preferred in patients whose native mitral saddle shape is well maintained. We present our experience of using semirigid rings for mitral valve repair.

Multimodality imaging assessment for Thoraflex hybrid total arch replacement.

Conventionally, aortic pathologies involving the ascending, arch, and descending thoracic aorta are treated by a staged operation. The Thoraflex device is a composite 4-branched graft with a distal endovascular stent, which allows one-stage treatment of these pathologies. We describe our multimodality hybrid approach for total arch replacement using the Thoraflex device with the adjunct of intraoperative 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography, Endo-EYE endoscopy, and on-table aortography in a hybrid operating room.

Abnormal mitral-aortic intervalvular coupling in mitral valve diseases: a study using real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Background: Mitral and aortic valves are coupled via fibrous tissue. This coupling is considered to be important for cardiac function before and after mitral valve surgery. The relationship between mitral-aortic coupling and different types of mitral regurgitation (MR) is not completely understood.