Acute Microcirculatory Effects of Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Superficial Partial Thickness Burn Wounds.

Microcirculation is a critical factor in burn wound healing. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) has been shown to improve microcirculation in healthy skin and demonstrated ischemic protective effects on heart, kidney, and liver cells. Therefore, we examined microcirculatory effects of RIC in partial thickness burn wounds.

Changes in inflammatory and vasoactive mediator profiles during valvular surgery with or without infective endocarditis: A case control pilot study.

Background: More than 50% of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) develop an indication for surgery. Despite its benefit, surgery is associated with a high incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and mortality, which may be linked to increased release of inflammatory mediators during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We therefore assessed plasma cytokine profiles in patients undergoing valve surgery with or without IE.

An 86-Year-Old Female with Mitral Regurgitation and Significant Pectus Excavatum.

 We report the case of minimally invasive mitral valve repair in an 86-year-old female with symptomatic structural mitral regurgitation and severe pectus excavatum.  The case summarizes four areas of repetitive heart team discussions. First, should an 86-year-old patient still be treated invasively? Second, if so, should treatment be interventional or surgical? Third, if surgical, should we replace or repair at that age and fourth which surgical access is best with respect to her chest deformation?  We chose to surgically repair the valve using a minimally invasive approach.

Predictors of Outcome for Aortic Valve Reimplantation Including the Surgeon-A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: Aortic valve reimplantation is considered technically demanding. We searched for predictors of long-term outcome including the surgeon as risk factor.

Methods: We selected all aortic valve reimplantations performed in our department between December 1999 and January 2017 and obtained a complete follow-up.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting using Bilateral Internal Thoracic Arteries through a Left-Sided Minithoracotomy: A Single-Center Starting Experience.

Background:  Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) is associated with the best long-term survival. However, using BITA increases the risk of sternal wound infections with conventional sternotomy. We describe here our initial results of minimally invasive CABG (MICS-CABG) using BITA.