Three-step preoperative sequential planning for pulmonary valve replacement in repaired tetralogy of Fallot using computed tomography.

Objectives: Our goal was to compare results between a standard computed tomography (CT)-based strategy, the 'three-step preoperative sequential planning' (3-step PSP), for pulmonary valve replacement in repaired tetralogy of Fallot versus a conventional planning approach.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study with unmatched and matched groups. The 3-step PSP comprised the planning of mediastinal re-entry, cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the main procedure, using standard 3-dimensional videos.

Updated Meta-analysis on the Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale in Reduction of Stroke Rates: the DEFENSE-PFO Trial Does not Change the Scenario.

Objective: We aimed to analyze whether patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure reduces the risk of stroke, assessing also some safety outcomes after the publication of a new trial.

Introduction: The clinical benefit of closing a PFO has been an open question, so it is necessary to review the current state of published medical data in regards to this subject.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL/CCTR, SciELO, LILACS, Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant articles were used to search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported any of the following outcomes: stroke, death, major bleeding or atrial fibrillation.

Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale versus Medical Therapy after Cryptogenic Stroke: Meta-Analysis of Five Randomized Controlled Trials with 3440 Patients.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether patent foramen ovale closure reduces the risk of stroke, also assessing some safety outcomes.

Introduction: The clinical benefit of closing a patent foramen ovale after a cryptogenic stroke has been an open question for several decades, so that it is necessary to review the current state of published medical data in this regard.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL/CCTR, SciELO, LI-LACS, Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for randomized controlled trials that reported any of the following outcomes: stroke, death, major bleeding or atrial fibrillation.

Stratification of complexity in congenital heart surgery: comparative study of the Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) method, Aristotle basic score and Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio- Thoracic Surgery (STS-EACTS) mortality score.

Objective: To determine whether stratification of complexity models in congenital heart surgery (RACHS-1, Aristotle basic score and STS-EACTS mortality score) fit to our center and determine the best method of discriminating hospital mortality.

Methods: Surgical procedures in congenital heart diseases in patients under 18 years of age were allocated to the categories proposed by the stratification of complexity methods currently available. The outcome hospital mortality was calculated for each category from the three models.

Pulmonary valve replacement after operative repair of tetralogy of Fallot: meta-analysis and meta-regression of 3,118 patients from 48 studies.

Because the real benefit of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot who develop pulmonary insufficiency remains unclear, it is necessary to analyze the evidence published around the world. We performed a systematic review of studies that reported data about the effect of PVR in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot that developed pulmonary insufficiency, until December 2012. The variables chosen to represent the benefit were both right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular measures, QRS duration, and functional class.