Publications by authors named "Smerup M"

BACKGROUND Giant coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) are extremely rare and can mimic cardiac tumors. Therefore, an unidentified mass in the heart requires a multimodality imaging approach for accurate diagnosis and guidance of further management, which for CAAs often include surgical intervention to prevent complications such as thrombosis or rupture. CASE REPORT A 37-year-old man presented with non-specific symptoms.

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Investigating DNA methylation (DNAm) in cardiac tissues is vital for epigenetic research in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). During cardiac surgery, biopsies may not be immediately stored due to a lack of human or technical resources at the collection site. Assessing DNAm stability in cardiac samples left in suboptimal conditions is crucial for applying DNAm analysis.

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To examine temporal changes in patient characteristics, the incidence rate of surgical intervention, and the three-year mortality rate for patients undergoing surgical intervention for mitral valve stenosis (MS) from 2001 to 2021 in Denmark. Utilizing Danish nationwide registries, we identified all adult patients undergoing first-time surgical intervention for MS (2001-2021). Temporal changes in the incidence rate of surgical intervention across calendar periods were investigated (2001-2005, 2006-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-2021).

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Background: When patients undergo surgery for mitral regurgitation, risk of reoperation is of concern.

Aims: To examine the incidence and factors associated with mitral reoperation following surgery for mitral regurgitation according to type of surgery.

Methods: Patients undergoing first-time surgery for mitral regurgitation, 1996-2021, were identified from nationwide registries.

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Background And Aims: In patients undergoing heart valve surgery, subsequent bacteremia and infective endocarditis are feared events. Data on the incidence and bacterial microbiological etiology following left-sided heart valve surgery are sparse.

Methods: Between 2010-2021, all patients undergoing left-sided valve surgery were identified using Danish nationwide registries.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are surviving longer, but this leads to more complications, particularly arrhythmias, which have not been thoroughly studied long-term
  • - A study of 45,820 Danish patients with CHD found that they have a significantly higher incidence of arrhythmias (2.6%) compared to matched controls (0.2%), with some heart conditions presenting even greater risks
  • - Arrhythmias in CHD patients are linked to a higher risk of death (HR of 6.9), highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and management of heart problems in this population
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  • Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at higher risk for infective endocarditis (IE), prompting the need for specialized prevention and treatment approaches.
  • A study analyzing data from Danish registries found significant differences in IE characteristics and outcomes between patients with CHD and those without, with notable trends in age, comorbidities, and types of bacteria causing infection.
  • Results showed that patients with CHD had lower in-hospital and one-year mortality rates compared to those without CHD, despite similar long-term recurrence rates of IE between the two groups.
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Background: Hospitalizations are a major burden for both patients and society but are potentially preventable. We examined the one-year hospitalization burden in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and compared hospitalization rates and patterns with those undergoing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods: Using Danish nationwide registries, we identified patients who underwent first-time TAVR and isolated SAVR (2008-2019), respectively.

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Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a dangerous and lethal illness with high mortality rates. One of the main indications for surgery according to the guidelines is prevention of embolic events. However, uncertainty remains concerning the timing of surgery and the effect of early surgery in combination with antibiotic therapy versus antibiotic therapy alone in IE patients with a vegetation size > 10 mm.

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Background: Patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) have high readmission rates. Several risk factors have been proposed as potential modifiable targets, including anemia. We examined the association between anemia at discharge and subsequent outcomes in these patients.

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The continued development in methylome analysis has enabled a more precise assessment of DNA methylation, but treatment of target tissue prior to analysis may affect DNA analysis. Prediction of age based on methylation levels in the genome (DNAmAge) has gained much interest in disease predisposition (biological age estimation), but also in chronological donor age estimation in crime case samples. Various epigenetic clocks were designed to predict the age.

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Purpose: Surgery is required in 20-50% of patients with infective endocarditis (IE). Frailty increases surgical risk; however, the prognostic implications of frailty in patients undergoing IE-related surgery remain poorly understood. We aimed to assess the association between frailty and all-cause mortality or rehospitalization after discharge (≥ 14 days).

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Background: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly used for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, survivors managed with ECPR are at risk of poor functional status. The purpose of this study was to investigate return to work (RTW) after refractory OHCA.

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Aim: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) can be considered in selected patients with refractory cardiac arrest. Given the risk of patient futility and high resource utilisation, identifying ECPR candidates, who would benefit from this therapy, is crucial. Previous ECPR studies investigating lactate as a potential prognostic marker have been small and inconclusive.

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Background: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for selected refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is increasingly used. Detailed knowledge of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and long-term cognitive function is limited. HRQoL and cognitive function were assessed in ECPR-survivors and OHCA-survivors with prehospital return of spontaneous circulation after standard advanced cardiac life support (sACLS).

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Background: Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are abnormal communications between the coronary arteries and the heart chambers, arteries, or veins, potentially leading to significant shunting, myocardial ischaemia and heart failure. Computed tomographic (CT) angiography or conventional invasive angiography is the reference standard for the diagnosis of coronary fistulas. The fistula anatomy can become very complex, which makes surgical or interventional planning challenging.

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Background: Robust data on changes in pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) procedural volume and predictors of bioprosthetic pulmonary valve (BPV) durability in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) are scarce.

Objectives: This study sought to assess temporal trends in PVR procedural volume and BPV durability in a nationwide, retrospective TOF cohort.

Methods: Data were obtained from patient records.

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Aims: The NatIonal Danish endocarditis stUdieS (NIDUS) registry aims to investigate the mechanisms contributing to the increasing incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) and to discover risk factors associated to the course, treatment and clinical outcomes of the disease.

Methods: The NIDUS registry was created to investigate a nationwide unselected group of patients hospitalized for IE. The National Danish healthcare registries have been queried for validated IE diagnosis codes (International Classification of Disease, 10 edition [ICD-10]: DI33, DI38, and DI398).

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Microbiological etiology has been associated with surgery for infective endocarditis (IE) during admission, especially . We aimed to compare patient characteristics, microbiological characteristics, and outcomes by treatment choice (surgery or not). We identified patients with first-time IE between 2010 and 2020 and examined the microbiological etiology of IE according to treatment choice.

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Untreated fresh cardiac tissue is the optimal tissue material for investigating DNA methylation patterns of cardiac biology and diseases. However, fresh tissue is difficult to obtain. Therefore, tissue stored as frozen or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) is widely used for DNA methylation studies.

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Article Synopsis
  • There have been limited treatment options for patients suffering from severe tricuspid regurgitation, especially when surgery isn't preferable.
  • New catheter-based therapies are starting to emerge as alternatives for these patients.
  • This report highlights the first-ever human case of a percutaneous transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement using the MonarQ system in a 75-year-old woman with severe symptoms.
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Objective: The incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) is increasing, as is the insertion of prosthetic heart valves. We aimed to examine nationwide temporal trends in the incidence of IE in patients with a prosthetic heart valve in Denmark from 1999 to 2018.

Methods: Using the Danish nationwide registries, we identified patients who underwent heart valve implantation (for other reasons than IE) between 1999 and 2018.

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The use of fresh tissue for molecular studies is preferred but often impossible. Instead, frozen or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are widely used and constitute valuable resources for retrospective studies. We assessed the utility of cardiac tissue stored in different ways for gene expression analyses by whole transcriptome sequencing of paired fresh, frozen, and FFPE tissues.

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Article Synopsis
  • Dysnatremia, or abnormal sodium levels, is common in infants after congenital heart disease surgery, affecting nearly 50% within 48 hours post-operation.
  • The study found that hypernatremia (high sodium levels) was mainly linked to the use of blood products, while hyponatremia (low sodium levels) was associated with higher free water administration and positive fluid balance.
  • Recommendations emphasize the need for individualized fluid therapy and regular monitoring to minimize dysnatremia risks in pediatric cardiac patients, along with calls for further research on fluid management strategies.
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Background: Primary cardiac tumours are rare, and diagnosis may be difficult, as symptoms and cardiac imaging may mimic other cardiac diseases. The intimal sarcoma is the least commonly reported cardiac tumour with only few cases reported worldwide. In this case report, we present a case of an intimal sarcoma with a highly aggressive disease course.

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