Exercise right heart catheterization predicts outcome in asymptomatic degenerative aortic stenosis.

Introduction And Objectives: Degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS) is the most frequent valvular heart disease. It remains unclear how to identify asymptomatic DAS patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction who have a high probability of event occurrence and would thus benefit from early intervention. Here, we describe a protocol for exercise hemodynamics in true asymptomatic patients with moderate or severe DAS and assess the prognostic value of the data obtained in this population.

Preoperative C-reactive protein predicts respiratory infection after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Increased levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the preoperative evaluation for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) have been associated to poor outcomes in the postoperative period.

Objective: To evaluate the association of high levels of hsCRP with short-term outcomes after cardiac surgery.

Methods: Prospective cohort with 331 patients who underwent CABG surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) at our Institution.