Embolic complications in a large contemporary cohort of infective endocarditis: do we need score model?

Purpose: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a heterogeneous disease undergoing epidemiological changes. Whether those changes have an impact on the correlates of embolic events (EE) remains unclear. We analyzed the correlates of EE and proposed a diagnostic score model in a large contemporary cohort.

Long-Term Outcome of Infective Endocarditis Involving Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Impact of Comorbidities and Lead Extraction.

(1) Background: Management of cardiac implantable electronic device-related infective endocarditis (CIED-IE) hinges on complete hardware removal. We assessed whether long-term prognosis is affected by device removal, considering baseline patient comorbid conditions; (2) Methods: A total of 125 consecutive patients hospitalized for CIED-IE were included in this retrospective analysis. Outcomes were in-hospital, one-year, and long-term mortality.

Enterococcal infective endocarditis is a marker of current occult or future incident colorectal neoplasia.

Background: Few studies suggest an association between Enterococcal infective endocarditis (EIE) and colorectal disease, including colorectal neoplasia (CRN) and colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we analyze differences in prevalence, risk factors and outcome of CRN and CRC between EIE and Streptococcus gallolyticus infective endocarditis (SGIE).

Methods: Single center, observational study of 166 patients with definite EIE or SGIE.

The ascending aorta with bicuspid aortic valve: a phenotypic classification with potential prognostic significance.

Objectives: Different methods to classify the anatomical configurations of the aorta with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) have been proposed. We aimed to test them in terms of descriptive power (i.e.

Towards an individualized approach to bicuspid aortopathy: different valve types have unique determinants of aortic dilatation.

Objectives: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)-related aortopathy is increasingly recognized to be a heterogeneous disease entity, although the surgical approach, from indications to techniques, is still standard rather than individualized. We aimed to define the determinants of aortic dilatation in BAV patients stratified according to the valve morphotype.

Methods: A consecutive echocardiographic series of 622 BAV patients was analysed.

Pattern of ascending aortic dimensions predicts the growth rate of the aorta in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.

Objectives: This study sought to identify risk factors for rapid growth of the ascending aorta in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease, taking into account its phenotypic variability.

Background: Phenotypic heterogeneity of BAV-related aortopathy has recently been widely recognized. However, few studies have addressed the determinants of aortic growth so far, not distinguishing among morphological phenotypes.

Endovascular stent-graft treatment of thoracic aortic syndromes: a 7-year experience.

Thoracic aortic diseases (TAD) are relatively frequent conditions associated with high mortality. Recently, several reports have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of endovascular stent-graft (EVG) placement for TAD as an alternative to open surgery. We report our experience in management of thoracic aortic syndrome on 56 consecutive patients with TAD that underwent endovascular stent-graft repair.

A rare complication of atrial septal occluders: diagnosis by transthoracic echocardiography.

Atrial septal defect transcatheter occlusion techniques have become a reliable alternative to surgical procedures. Possible complications can derive from unfavorable anatomy of the defect and over-dimensioning of the device. We describe the first case ever reported of anterior mitral leaflet perforation caused by an atrial septal occluder.

Treatment of type B aortic dissection: endoluminal repair or conventional medical therapy?

Objective: To evaluate the mid-term results of endovascular stent-grafting for type B aortic dissection, in comparison with those of standard medical therapy in uncomplicated cases.

Methods: Between January 1999 and 2004, among 56 patients (mean age 59.5+/-11.