[Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: Report of two cases].

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare condition that usually causes a coronary syndrome, but may also cause sudden death. It is more common in women and is associated with factors such as the peripartum period and oral contraceptive use. We report two cases.

[Mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral insufficiency: likelihood of success, early and-long term results at 20 years].

Background: The 2014 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease require to know the probability of success and operative mortality of Mitral Valve Repair (MVR) for Degenerative Mitral Insufficiency (DMI) at a given institution.

Aim: To assess the probability of success, operative mortality and long-term results of MVR for DMI.

Patients And Methods: The database of the Cardiovascular Surgery Service was reviewed for the period December 1991 to December 2013.

[Twenty years of mitral valve repair. An experience in 322 patients].

Background: Mitral valve repair is the preferred procedure for the surgical treatment of mitral valve insufficiency (MI), procedure that we initiated 20 years ago.

Aim: To assess our experience and long-term results of mitral valve repair.

Patients And Methods: The database of the cardiology department was reviewed for the period between December 1991 and December 2012.

[Long-term results of mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral insufficiency].

Background: The preferred treatment for ischemic mitral insufficiency is mitral valve repair with a prosthetic ring, because it does not deteriorate left ventricular function, allowing better immediate and long-term results.

Aim: To assess long-term results of mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring for ischemic mitral insufficiency.

Patients And Methods: One hundred patients (68 men), with a mean age of 65.

[Sixty years of mitral valve surgery].

On June 10, 1948, Charles Bailey, MD, operated successfully a mitral valve stenosis in Philadelphia and six days later, Dwight Harken, MD, performed the same operation in Boston, marking the onset of cardiovascular surgery. These successful operations were preceded by several failures and even deaths, that had to be overcome by both pioneers. This manuscript reviews several cases and situations that these surgeons had to face during the development of cardiovascular surgery, that changed the natural history of cardiac diseases.

[Complete repair in a single period of circulatory arrest of a ruptured atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm. Report of one case].

The aortic arch aneurysm is a complex disease with a growing incidence in our population. We report a 64 year-old female with an atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 9.4 cm and evidence of contained rupture.

[Surgery of post myocardial infarction papillary muscle rupture].

Background: Papillary muscle rupture is a serious complication of myocardial infarction whose only treatment is surgery.

Aim: To analyze our most recent surgical experience with papillary muscle rupture.

Patients And Methods: The database of our Service was reviewed for the period 1995-2005, to identify patients with papillary muscle rupture.

[Massive tricuspid valve insufficiency after blunt chest trauma: report of one case].

Cardiac valve lesions after a blunt chest trauma are rare and less than 1% of cardiac lesions because of chest trauma affect the tricuspid valve. We report a 70 year-old female that suffered a severe chest trauma in a car accident. During the repair of the multiple skeletal lesions, the patient had a severe hemodynamic decompensation.

[Cardiac myxoma: clinical characterization, diagnostic methods and late surgical results].

Background: Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor.

Aim: To evaluate clinical aspects, diagnostic methods and surgical outcomes in patients with cardiac myxoma.

Patients And Methods: AH patients who underwent surgical resection of a cardiac myxoma between January 1973 and December 2004 at our institution, were identified and their medical records and diagnostic data reviewed.

[Risk factors for postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. A prospective analysis].

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a relevant complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However there is controversy regarding possible contributing factors.

Aim: To study the incidence of AF, its risk factors and its repercussion on hospital stay and charges, in patients undergoing CABG.

[Cryoablation of pulmonary veins as complementary treatment of atria I fibrillation in valvular surgery].

Background: The Cox MAZE III operation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) is complex and consumes significant operative time. Cryoablation of the pulmonary veins (CPV) is a simpler alternative for patients that require concomitant valvular surgery.

Aim: To evaluate CPV in patients with AF submitted to valvular surgery.

[Partial or total replacement of the aortic arch. Experience in 23 patients].

Background: Surgery of the aortic arch is a very complex procedure since it requires protective strategies for the brain, heart and rest of the body.

Aim: To communicate our experience in the first 23 total or partial replacements of aortic arch.

Material And Methods: Retrospective search in the database of the Cardiovascular Surgery Unit for patients subjected to partial or total replacement of the aortic arch since 1998.

[Endovascular treatment of descending aorta trauma].

Background: Mortality of traumatic aortic lesions is over 80%. A group of those who survive, develop a chronic pseudo aneurism, usually asymptomatic, that is detected during imaging studies. Since conventional surgical treatment of traumatic aortic lesions has a great mortality, endovascular treatment has been used as an alternative treatment in the last decade.