Recurrent ventricular fibrillation due to coronary artery spasm immediately after ascending aorta replacement.

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is a dangerous complication during cardiac surgery, causing arduous weaning of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and myocardial tissue loss with consequent left and right ventricular dysfunctions. We describe the case of a 67-year-old man with hypertension and smoking habit, with ECG evidence of lateral myocardial ischemia without symptoms. On this basis, he was investigated with scintigraphy, which confirmed an anterior-lateral area of reversible ischemia and, subsequently, with angiography, which revealed just mild lesion (50%) of diagonal ramus associated with ascending aorta aneurysm: no sign of CAS was detected.

Revelation of quadricuspid aortic valve at aortography in elderly patient with severe aortic regurgitation.

Aortic regurgitation is associated with numerous eponymous signs. It has been reported severe aortic regurgitation also due to a quadricuspid aortic valve, a rare congenital anomaly. We present a case of revelation of quadricuspid aortic valve at left ventriculography with aortography in a 71-year-old Italian woman with severe aortic regurgitation.

Aortobronchial fistula after aortic dissection type B.

Although rare, aortobronchial fistula complicates thoracic aortic surgery. Correct diagnosis and the infectious nature of the lesion are the most important conditions to define, for the following best therapy. We presented a case of non-infectious postsurgical aortobronchial fistula, revealed by computed-tomographic scan and angiography procedure, treated with prosthetic graft replacement and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy.

Bovine pericardial bioprosthesis in mitral position. A ten-year follow-up.

Background: The pericardial bovine prosthesis Pericarbon should offer some advantages in comparison with the former generations, because its development is focused on solving previous problems and resulted in the variation of the pericardial fixation method, of valve structure and of stent coating. This hypothesis was evaluated through a retrospective follow-up.

Methods: Between 1985 and 1989, 78 Pericarbon prostheses O 29 were implanted in mitral position by the same surgeon.

Patent ductus arteriosus. Follow-up of 677 operated cases 40 years later.

Background: This review is about the patency of ductus arteriosus (PDA), with particular care concerning diagnosis, surgical techniques, survival and postoperative pregnancy in operated females.

Methods: a) Sperimental study: the research has been conducted retrospectively and the follow-up is 40 years. b)

Environment: all the patients were operated on in the Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Turin (public structure) and in the Italian Institution of Cardiac Surgery (private structure).