Sutureless aortic valve replacement in stentless bioprosthesis failure.

Reoperation for a failed stentless bioprosthesis is an extremely challenging procedure due to severe adhesion around the previous stentless graft and the severely calcified aortic root. Although rarely the subject of reports in the literature, sutureless aortic valve replacement allows a fast and simple implantation, which decreases the risk of cardiac ischaemia and cardiopulmonary bypass. Here we present the case of sutureless aortic valve replacement as a potentially simple and safe option for reoperation for a failed stentless bioprosthesis.

Transient constrictive pericarditis after coronary bypass surgery.

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare complication after coronary artery bypass grafting In most cases pericardiectomy is required as a definitive treatment. However, there are several types of constrictive pericarditis such as transient cardiac constriction. Some types of constrictive pericarditis can only be managed with medical therapy.

Incidence and predictors of silent embolic cerebral infarction following diagnostic coronary angiography.

Background: Coronary angiography (CAG) is an invasive diagnostic procedure, which could lead to procedure related complications. One of the well known post-procedural complications is cerebral embolic infarction with or without symptoms. Silent embolic cerebral infarction (SECI) has clinical significance because it can progress to a decline in cognitive function and increase the risk of dementia in the long term.

Low molecular weight heparin treatment in pregnant women with a mechanical heart valve prosthesis.

No definitive recommendation is available concerning optimal antithrombotic therapy in pregnant women with a mechanical heart valve. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the clinical results of nadroparin treatment with respect to pregnancy outcome and maternal complications. From 1997 to 2005, 31 pregnancies were reviewed in 25 women.

Ischemic esophageal necrosis secondary to traumatic aortic transection.

Esophageal necrosis with perforation secondary to traumatic aortic transection is extremely rare but usually fatal. A 47-year-old man complained of sudden swallowing difficulty 6 days after blunt trauma. Computed tomography showed a ruptured aorta and the midesophagus shifted to the right side with luminal obliteration because of the ruptured aorta.