[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.

[Long term results of mitral balloon valvuloplasty].

Background: Mitral balloon valvuloplasty (MBV) is the therapy of choice for the treatment of symptomatic mitral stenosis with suitable anatomy. Although its short and mid-term results are favorable, there is a paucity of information about long-term follow-up.

Aim: To assess the late results of MBV.

[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.

[Non compaction cardiomyopathy: a series of 15 cases].

Background: Non compaction cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder caused by the arrest of myocardial compaction during embryogenesis, leading to a non compacted endocardial layer with marked hypertrabeculation and deep recesses.

Aim: To report the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of a series of 15 adult patients with non-compaction cardiomyopathy.

Patients And Methods: We included a total of 15 patients aged 52 ± 17 years (40% males) diagnosed at our echocardiography laboratory between January 2001 and July 2010.

[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.

[Cardiac tumors in children and adults: A Multicentric retrospective study].

Background: Cardiac tumors are very uncommon at all ages. There are important clinical differences between children and adults in the behavior of these tumors.

Aim: To compare the behavior of primary and secondary cardiac tumors, from fetal age to adults.

[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.