Aortic Valve Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Annular Abscess: Antibiotics in the Abscess Cavity.

Objectives: Infective endocarditis of the aortic valve complicated by annular abscess is a challenging problem and often requires patch reconstruction after surgical debridement of the abscess cavity. Filling the remaining cavity with antibiotics is advocated to prevent recurrent endocarditis. This study aimed at evaluating the role of local antibiotics in patients with aortic valve infective endocarditis complicated by annular abscess.

Five-Year Results of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting With or Without Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients With Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: CABACS RCT.

Background: In patients with coronary artery disease and concomitant asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis, combined simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been widely performed despite lack of evidence from randomized trials. We recently showed that the risk of stroke or death within 30 days was higher following CABG+CEA compared with CABG alone. Here, we report long-term outcomes following CABG with versus without CEA.

Safety of Simultaneous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Purpose: The optimal operative strategy in patients with severe carotid artery disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is unknown. We sought to investigate the safety and efficacy of synchronous combined carotid endarterectomy and CABG as compared with isolated CABG.

Methods: Patients with asymptomatic high-grade carotid artery stenosis ≥80% according to ECST (European Carotid Surgery Trial) ultrasound criteria (corresponding to ≥70% NASCET [North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial]) who required CABG surgery were randomly assigned to synchronous carotid endarterectomy+CABG or isolated CABG.

Impact of Liver Indicators on Clinical Outcome in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background: Liver dysfunction increases death and morbidity after cardiac operations. There are currently no data evaluating liver function in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We aimed therefore to evaluate our TAVR results in regard to liver function.

Early and long-term cognitive outcome after conventional cardiac valve surgery.

Objectives: Adverse cognitive outcome is well recognized after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) while little is known about the extent and duration of decline after cardiac valve surgery. We investigated changes in cognitive function following conventional cardiac valve surgery over up to 4 years.

Methods: Among 36 patients (65.

Comparison of mid-term haemodynamic performance between the BioValsalva and the BioIntegral valved conduits after aortic root replacement.

Objectives: We retrospectively compared the haemodynamic performance of the BioValsalva (BV) and BioIntegral (BI) biological aortic-valved conduits in the aortic root position.

Methods: Between July 2008 and June 2014, a total of 55 patients underwent aortic root replacement using the BV conduit (n = 27) or the BI conduit (n = 28). The primary study endpoints were haemodynamic performance during follow-up, including mean pressure gradients (MPGs) and effective orifice areas (EOAs).

Intraaortic Protection From Embolization in Patients Undergoing Transaortic Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Purpose: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) results in the dislodgement of debris with risk of cerebral lesions or stroke. The EMBOL-X protection device (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) is positioned within the ascending aorta to capture such debris.

Description: Between July 2012 and April 2014 we randomly assigned 30 high-risk patients to undergo transaortic TAVI with the SAPIEN XT prosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences) combined with either the EMBOL-X device (group-1, n = 14) or without (group-2, n = 16).

Special report: 26-year durability of a bioprosthesis implanted in a 21-year-old patient.

The choice of prosthetic heart valve type is largely dependent upon patient's age at implantation and on what, in his eyes, seems more pertinent: avoidance of complications associated with anticoagulation of mechanical valves or structural valve deterioration of bioprosthetic valves. Long lasting and new promising concepts such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation are promoting the use of bioprosthesis even in younger patients. However, it is up to the individual patient to decide.

Cognitive function after transapical aortic valve implantation: a single-centre study with 3-month follow-up.

Objectives: Reports on adverse neurological events following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have focused on strokes, while more subtle postoperative cognitive decline has not yet been systematically investigated. In this study, we prospectively examined neurological and cognitive outcomes in patients undergoing transapical (TA) and surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods: A total of 64 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis were investigated between January 2008 and July 2009.

The heart in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: early detection of contractile performance alteration.

Progressive cardiomyopathy is a major cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Coupling between Ca(2+) handling and contractile properties in dystrophic hearts is poorly understood. It is also not clear whether developing cardiac failure is dominated by alterations in Ca(2+) pathways or more related to the contractile apparatus.

Silent and apparent cerebral ischemia after percutaneous transfemoral aortic valve implantation: a diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: The risk of stroke after transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI) due to dislodgement and subsequent embolization of debris from aortic arch atheroma or from the calcified valve itself ranges between 2% and 10%. The rate of clinically silent cerebral ischemia is unknown but may be even higher.

Methods And Results: Thirty-two patients who underwent TAVI with the use of a balloon-expandable (n=22) or self-expandable (n=10) stent valve prosthesis were included in this descriptive study and compared with a historical control group of 21 patients undergoing open surgical aortic valve replacement.

ARTA: AT1-receptor blocker therapy in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Decline in renal and cognitive function may complicate early recovery after coronary-artery bypass grafting. AT(1)-receptor antagonists have been demonstrated to be neuro- and renoprotective. Aim of ARTA, a prospective, double-blind, randomised and placebo controlled study, was to detect whether preoperative treatment with candesartan influences postoperative cognitive and renal function.

Contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI before coronary artery bypass surgery: impact of myocardial scar extent on bypass flow.

The aim of the study was to relate the extent of myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiac MRI to intraoperative graft flow in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Thirty-three CAD patients underwent LGE MRI before surgery using an inversion-recovery GRE sequence (turboFLASH). Intraoperative graft flow in Doppler ultrasonography was compared with the scar extent in each coronary vessel territory.

Cognitive outcomes three years after coronary artery bypass surgery: relation to diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Cognitive decline is well recognized early after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), but controversy exists regarding the degree and duration of these changes. We investigated the course of cognitive performance during 3 years after surgery and determined whether ischemic brain injury detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was related to cognitive decline.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients undergoing on-pump CABG completed preoperative neuropsychologic examination and were followed up prospectively at discharge, 3 months, and 3 years after surgery.

Prognostic impact of previous percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with diabetes mellitus and triple-vessel disease undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objectives: In the current era of stent usage, percutaneous coronary intervention is more frequently performed as the initial revascularization strategy in multivessel disease before patients are finally referred to coronary artery bypass grafting. We sought to determine whether previous PCI has a prognostic impact on outcome in patients with diabetes mellitus and triple-vessel disease.

Methods: Between January 2000 and March 2006, 621 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus and triple-vessel disease undergoing isolated first-time coronary artery bypass grafting as the primary revascularization procedure (group 1) were evaluated for in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events and compared with 128 patients with diabetes mellitus and triple-vessel disease treated during the same time period with previous percutaneous coronary intervention before coronary artery bypass grafting (group 2).

Prognostic value of preoperative cardiac troponin I in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Study Objectives: Elevated levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) have been associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); however, the prognostic implications of preoperative cTnI determination have not been investigated so far.

Design And Setting: Retrospective study in a department of cardiothoracic surgery of a university hospital.

Patients And Methods: A possible correlation between preoperative cTnI levels and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and in-hospital mortality in CABG patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) was investigated.

Small ischemic brain lesions after cardiac valve replacement detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: relation to neurocognitive function.

Objective: Following coronary artery bypass graft surgery, some studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have demonstrated new small ischemic brain lesions in patients without apparent neurological deficits. We aimed to prospectively evaluate brain injury after cardiac valve replacement using MRI and to determine the relationship to neurocognitive function.

Methods: Thirty patients with a mean age of 64.

Risk stratification with cardiac troponin I in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objective: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a highly sensitive and specific marker for postoperative prediction of patients outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Whether preoperatively elevated cTnI levels similarly predict the outcome in patients scheduled for elective CABG is currently unknown.

Methods: Therefore, a possible correlation between preoperative cTnI levels and perioperative major adverse events and in-hospital mortality after CABG was investigated.

Role of troponin I, myoglobin, and creatine kinase for the detection of early graft failure following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: The detection of early graft failure following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) enables immediate reintervention and may significantly limit myocardial damage, thus potentially improving outcome. To date, non-invasive indicators of early graft failure following coronary surgery are still of uncertain diagnostic value.

Methods: In a prospective study, patients following isolated CABG with a postoperative serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) above 20 ng/ml or significant ECG-changes underwent acute repeat angiography.

Evaluation of brain injury after coronary artery bypass grafting. A prospective study using neuropsychological assessment and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: Neurocognitive dysfunction is a common complication after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have demonstrated that new focal brain lesions can occur after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), even in patients without apparent neurological deficits. Diffusion-weighted MRI is superior to conventional MRI and allows for sensitive and early detection of ischemic brain lesions.