Does Duration of Symptoms Reliably Predict Detection of Left Atrial Thrombus in Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Large prospective trials attribute minimal thromboembolic risk for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) when duration of symptoms is shorter than 48 hours. Our goal is to compare the prevalence of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus as demonstrated by a Trans esophageal echocardiography (TEE) exam between patients presenting with less or more than 48 hours of AF symptoms.

Methods: Observational cohort study including consecutive patients hospitalized with primary diagnosis of new onset AF, not previously treated with oral anticoagulation.

High Mitral Annulus Calcium Score in Pre-Operative Chest Computerized Tomography and Adverse Outcomes in Mitral Valve Surgery.

Background: Severe mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is believed to bear high operative and post-operative risk during mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery, including longer surgery time, post-surgical valvular leaks and increased rate of embolic phenomena. We hypothesized that quantification of mitral calcium in pre-operative chest computerized tomography (CCT), performed to assess aortic root before cross-clamping may help in risk assessment of adverse intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing MVR.

Methods: We included patients who underwent MVR between the years 2015 and 2018 at Poriya medical center.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients on ticagrelor therapy is not associated with adverse perioperative outcomes.

Background: Management of patients treated with Ticagrelor is challenging, as stopping Ticagrelor prior to coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG) may increase the risk of acute stent thrombosis. The aim of the study was to compare bleeding complications in patients treated with ticagrelor combined with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) versus ASA alone until 1 day before surgery.

Methods: Bleeding complications, defined as the composite of red blood cell transfusion ≥1000 ml, chest drainage ≥2000 ml, and bleeding requiring surgical re-exploration, were compared in 161 patients, with 101 on preoperative acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) alone (group A) and 65 on ticagrelor + ASA (group B).

Clinical, Surgical, and Sociopsychological Factors and Depression After Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Background: Depression is highly prevalent in cardiac surgical patients and is associated with mortality. The objectives of the study were to evaluate depression scores longitudinally pre- and postoperatively and to examine the association between postoperative depression scores and clinical, surgical, and sociopsychological factors.

Methods: Depression scores were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Study of Depression (CES-D) in 100 cardiac surgical patients who underwent cardiac surgery preoperatively, during hospitalization, and at 2 and 6 week after discharge.

Correction to: Cardiac surgery in patients with Hemophilia:is it safe?

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for electrical injury induced cardiogenic shock support: a case report.

Background: High voltage electrical injury (HVEI) of more than 1000 V is a potentially devastating form of a multisystem injury associated with high morbidity and mortality. We present the first case of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) as a life saving device for treating a patient with severe cardiogenic shock after a high voltage electrical injury.

Case Presentation: A 26-year-old male sustained HVEI while working with a concrete mixer pump that came in contact with a high voltage cable of 10,000 V.

Cardiac surgery in patients with Hemophilia:is it safe?

Background: The life expectancy of hemophiliacs is similar to that of the general population. As a result, the prevalence of age-related cardiovascular diseases has increased. We present our experience with hemophilia patients who underwent cardiac surgery in our Medical Center between 2004 and 2019.

[SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH IN A YOUNG ADULT WITH DIFFUSE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE].

Introduction: We present a very unusual case in which a high-school student was admitted to our cardiac center unconscious and intubated after suffering from out of hospital SCD. There was no history of fever, substance abuse, family history of sudden cardiac death and/or coronary artery disease, arthralgia, hypercoagulable state or familial hyperlipidemia. An emergent coronary angiogram revealed diffuse obstructive coronary artery disease which was treated with several stents.

Short- and long-term results after prosthetic mitral valve implantation in patients with severe mitral annulus calcification†.

Objectives: To investigate short- and long-term outcomes of a conservative decalcification approach in mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery in the presence of mitral annulus calcification (MAC).

Methods: Of the 1038 patients who underwent MVR, 133 (13%) had significant MAC with at least 30% of the annular circumference heavily calcified. In most patients, the surgical approach to MAC included conservative decalcification, supra-annular prosthesis implantation and insertion of a pericardial patch between the MV annulus and the prosthesis.

Water-Soluble Enema Prior to Ileostomy Closure in Patients Undergoing Low Anterior Resection: Is It Necessary?

Background: Diverting ileostomy is recommended in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and low anterior resection for low-rectal cancer. Prior to ileostomy reversal, water-soluble enema is performed to assess the low colorectal anastomosis. The aim of this study was to assess whether performance of routine water-soluble enema prior to ileostomy takedown is necessary.

Sutureless Versus Stented Valve in Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Small Annulus.

Background: Aortic valve replacement, particularly in elderly patients with small aortic annulus, could lead to patient-prosthesis mismatch. Sutureless bioprosthesis could be an ideal solution for these patients. We compared results of aortic valve replacement with sutureless versus stented bioprosthetic valves.

Sutureless Aortic Valve: Early and Mid-Term Results at a Single Center.

Unlabelled: Background: Prolonged life expectancy has increased the number of elderly high risk patients referred for surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). These referred high risk patients may benefit from sutureless bioprosthesis procedures which reduce mortality and morbidity.

Objectives: To present our initial experience with sutureless aortic bioprotheses, including clinical and echocardiographic results, in elderly high risk patients referred for AVR.

Transapical Transcatheter Valve-in-Valve Implantation for Failed Mitral Valve Bioprosthesis.

Unlabelled: Background: The rate of mitral bioprosthesis implantation in clinical practice is increasing. Transcatheter valve-in- valve implantation has been described for high risk patients requiring redo valve surgery.

Objectives: To report our experience with transapical valve-in-valve implantation for failed mitral bioprosthesis.

Effects of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor on ischemic kidney injury during nephron sparing surgery: quantitative assessment by NGAL and KIM-1.

Purpose: Interruption of renal blood flow is often necessary during nephron sparing surgery (NSS) and can induce renal injury. This study examines whether tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor and well-known vasodilator, exerts nephroprotective effects in patients undergoing NSS.

Methods: This non-randomized study included 49 patients with enhancing solid renal mass.

Permanent pacemaker insertion following isolated aortic valve replacement before and after the introduction of TAVI.

Background: Permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is required in 3-12% of all patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Our aim was to evaluate the contemporary incidence and impact of the introduction of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for PPM insertion after isolated AVR.

Methods: Since 2004, during a 10-year period, a total of 858 patients underwent isolated AVR at our institution.

Urinary NGAL and KIM-1: potential association with histopathologic features in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: NGAL and KIM-1 are suggested to play a key role in the carcinogenesis and progression of renal cell carcinoma. Attention is currently focused on the potential use of the urinary level of NGAL and KIM-1(uNGAL and uKIM-1, respectively) in making an early diagnosis, establishing a prognosis and determination of the histologic characteristics.

Methods: Forty-six patients underwent surgical treatment for renal lesions (n = 37) and for non-functioning kidney (n = 9).

Urinary NGAL and KIM-1: biomarkers for assessment of acute ischemic kidney injury following nephron sparing surgery.

Purpose: Nephron sparing surgery is considered the treatment of choice in most patients with confined renal cancer. Interrupting renal blood flow is often necessary during such surgery, which can induce significant renal injury. We explored the possibility of using urinary NGAL and KIM-1 excretion as novel biomarkers to assess the extent of acute kidney injury after nephron sparing surgery.