Native aortic endocarditis due to an unusual pathogen: Actinotignum schaalii.

We report a case of aortic native valve endocarditis due to Actinotignum schaalii in an 89-year-old man with prostatism history but no signs of urinary infection. Actinotignum schaalii was isolated not only from positive blood culture but also from cardiac valve culture using mass spectrometry and 16S rDNA sequencing. Actinotignum schaalii is recognized as commensal of genitourinary tract, but it was underdiagnosed.

[Pulmonary revalvulation and rhythmologenic risks in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot].

Tetralogy of Fallot is a frequent congenital heart disease that has been repaired since the mid-1950s. The follow-up after repair is good despite a persistent risk of sudden death. The risk factors in long-term follow-up are advanced age at repair, hemodynamic status of the right ventricle, QRS duration≥180ms, left ventricular dysfunction, and existence of sustained or not ventricular tachycardia.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure improves left atrial mechanical function through Frank-Starling mechanism.

Background: Modifications in left atrial (LA) flow velocities after left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion have been shown in animal and ex vivo models. In a substudy of PROTECT AF (Percutaneous Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage Versus Warfarin Therapy for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation), an objective improvement in quality of life was observed after LAA closure.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of LAA closure on LA transport function.