Conventional versus Transapical Aortic Valve Replacement: Is It Time for Shift in Indications?

 The incidence of degenerative aortic valve diseases has increased along with the life expectancy of our population. Although conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the gold standard for symptomatic aortic stenosis, transcatheter procedures have proven to be a valid therapeutic option in high-risk patients. The aim of this study was to compare these procedures in a high-risk cohort.

Expanding Surgical Opportunities: Endoscopic Harvesting of the Vena Saphena Parva in Supine Position.

The small saphenous vein (SSV) has proved to be a valid graft option for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), if other grafts are absent or unsuitable. Beside the described open technique we herein present our approach to endoscopic harvesting in supine position in seven patients. Harvesting was successful in six patients.

Minimally invasive versus conventional extracorporeal circulation in minimally invasive cardiac valve surgery.

Background: Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation (MECC) technology was applied predominantly in coronary surgery. Data regarding the application of MECC in minimally invasive valve surgery are missing largely.

Patients And Methods: Patients undergoing isolated minimally invasive mitral or aortic valve procedures were allocated either to conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC) group (n = 63) or MECC group (n = 105), and their prospectively generated data were analyzed.

Bilateral lung transplantation from a donor with fume poisoning.

Organ transplantation is limited by a worldwide organ scarcity. Heart and lung transplantation are particularly affected by this limitation. Consequently, there is increasing interest in transplantation of organs from marginal donors.