Long-term results of suture annuloplasty for degenerative mitral valve disease: a propensity-matched analysis.

Aims: Ring annuloplasty is the gold standard of surgical repair in degenerative mitral valve disease. However, prosthetic annuloplasty has some drawbacks and potential hazards. Suture annuloplasty theoretically is able to preserve annular leaflet dynamics and left ventricular performance, but experience is limited.

Aortic valve decalcification for severe aortic valve stenosis in the elderly: medium-term results.

Aims: To present the results of a novel technique of aortic valve decalcification (AVD) in a consecutive population of elderly patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS) and small aortic annulus.

Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2012, a consecutive series of 34 patients (mean age 80 ± 13 years) with severe AVS were operated on using AVD. They were compared with a matched population of 68 patients (mean age 82 ± 7 years) submitted to aortic valve replacement (AVR) with bioprosthesis.

Longitudinal Strain by Automated Function Imaging Detects Single-Vessel Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Undergoing Dipyridamole Stress Echocardiography.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the incremental value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) by automated function imaging in respect to wall motion (WM) for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) during dipyridamole stress echocardiography.

Methods: Fifty-two patients (mean age, 65.3 ± 8.

In patients with post-infarction left ventricular dysfunction, how does impaired basal rotation affect chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation?

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the contribution of left ventricular (LV) basal rotation to the mechanism of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods: Fifty-seven patients (52 men; mean age, 68.3 ± 11.