Atrial natriuretic peptide property on the ischemic myocardium inducing HSP72.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of atrial natriuretic peptide on ischemic myocardium through the induction of heat-shock protein 72.

Methods: 30 isolated rabbit hearts perfused on isolated heart apparatus were randomly assigned to receive either warm Krebs-Henseleit solution with 1 µmol L(-1) atrial natriuretic peptide (n = 15) or warm Krebs-Henseleit solution without atrial natriuretic peptide (n = 15) in preischemic, ischemic, and postischemic conditions. In all rabbit hearts, global ischemia was produced by clamping the aortic and atrial inflow lines.

Giant congenital fistula of the circumflex coronary artery with drainage into right atrium.

A dilated and tortuous fistula from circumflex coronary artery draining into the right atrium was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and selective angiography in a 64-year old female. Transcatheter closure was excluded by the cardiologist because of the presence of a large huge at the drainage site so the patient was scheduled for surgical ligation. Intraoperative and postoperative controls were performed by echocardiography.

Structural deterioration of the cryopreserved mitral homograft valve.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term fate of the cryopreserved mitral homograft focusing on structural valve deterioration.

Methods: Homograft replacement of the mitral valve was performed in 106 patients. The causes of mitral disease were rheumatic disease (n=75), endocarditis (n=24), and others (n=7).

Papillary fibroblastoma of tricuspid valve with pulmonary embolization.

A 53-year-old man was diagnosed with a papillary fibroelastoma of the tricuspid valve with pulmonary embolization and associated coronary artery disease. He underwent excision of the tumor and coronary bypass grafting. Due to potential embolization, it is recommended that all such fibroelastomas be excised.

Perioperative patency of coronary artery bypass grafting is not influenced by off-pump technique.

Background: Some concerns have been raised about technical accuracy and quality of distal anastomoses in off-pump myocardial revascularization (OPCAB), which could affect graft patency.

Methods: Transit-time flowmetric results and clinical, enzymatic, and echocardiographic findings from 201 consecutive isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass graft cases (cardiopulmonary bypass coronary artery bypass grafting; group A) were compared with 96 consecutive OPCAB (group B) cases performed at our institution between January 2003 and December 2004. Maximum, mean, minimum flow, and pulsatility index were compared, stratifying the two groups according to graft type and coronaries revascularized.