Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Readmission in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Repair.

Introduction: We examined the association of socioeconomic status as defined by median household income quartile (MHIQ) with mortality and readmission patterns following open repair of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) in a nationally representative registry.

Methods: Adults who underwent open repair of ATAAD were selected using the US Nationwide Readmissions Database and stratified by MHIQ. Patients were selected based on diagnostic and procedural codes.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement with Intrepid.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement with the Intrepid device is intended for patients who need mitral valve replacement and who are at an increased risk for conventional surgery. The early published results of the early feasibility trial are reviewed as well as device design and the implant procedure. The Apollo trial is reviewed: a randomized trial of the Intrepid device versus conventional surgery including a single arm study for inoperable patients.

Lack of Association Between Extracranial Carotid and Vertebral Artery Disease and Stroke After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Carotid artery stenosis is a risk factor for stroke after surgical aortic valve replacement, but it is unknown whether carotid and vertebral artery disease impacts the risk of stroke after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: We reviewed 294 consecutive cases of TAVR at a tertiary care medical centre. Thirty-one patients without preoperative carotid/vertebral duplex ultrasonograms were excluded.

Effect of aortic aneurysm replacement on outcomes after bicuspid aortic valve surgery: validation of contemporary guidelines.

Objective: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is associated with aortic dilatation and aneurysm (AN) formation. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2006 guidelines recommend replacement of the ascending aorta for an aortic diameter (AD)> 45 mm in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). We evaluated the outcomes of AVR and AVR with aortic replacement (AVR/AN).

Successful implantation of HeartWare HVAD left ventricular assist device with concomitant ascending and sinus of valsalva aneurysms repair.

Coexistence of aortic disease is an uncommon finding in end-stage heart failure patients requiring left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. A 38-year-old man with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy was admitted in stage D heart failure. Preoperative computed tomography demonstrated multiple saccular aneurysms of the ascending aorta and sinus of valsalva.

Biventricular continuous flow VADs demonstrate diurnal flow variation and lead to end-organ recovery.

HeartWare continuous flow ventricular assist devices (HVAD) configured as biventricular assist devices maintain diurnal flow variation, lead to end-organ recovery, and provide for a successful bridge-to-heart transplantation in the first successful North American use of continuous flow biventricular assist devices.

Successful conversion of TandemHeart left ventricular assist device to right ventricular assist device after implantation of a HeartMate XVE.

A 60-year-old man with end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction, 10%) was admitted in cardiogenic shock, which was unresponsive to maximum inotropes and an intraaortic balloon pump. The TandemHeart (TH) left ventricular assist device (Cardiac Assist Inc, Pittsburgh, PA) was placed in the standard percutaneous transseptal configuration with improved hemodynamics. The HeartMate XVE (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA) implantation was performed as a bridge to transplant 5 days after TandemHeart insertion.