Surgical Resection of Superior Vena Cava Saccular Aneurysm.

Aneurysms of the superior vena cava are rare vascular malformations of systemic veins. This report presents the case of a 27-year-old woman with an incidental finding of mediastinal shadow widening on the chest roentgenogram that was confirmed by computed tomographic angiography to be a superior vena cava saccular aneurysm >4 cm in diameter. Surgical resection was recommended on the basis of aneurysmal size and shape and was performed through median sternotomy by using cardiopulmonary bypass.

Vascular Ring Surgical Repair: Re-Implantation of the Left Subclavian Artery into the Left Carotid Artery in a Pediatric Patient.

Vascular rings are a rare congenital anomaly of the aortic arch, in which a ring-shaped structure forms, surrounding the trachea and/or esophagus, potentially causing compression. We describe the case of a 14-month-old female patient with failure to thrive secondary to dysphagia, and a vascular ring formed by a right aortic arch, an aberrant left subclavian artery, and a left ligamentum arteriosum. Surgical repair involved ligamentum arteriosum division, Kommerell's diverticulum obliteration, and left subclavian artery re-implantation into the left carotid artery.

Outcomes of rapid deployment aortic valve replacement with concomitant cardiac procedures.

Background: Rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (RD-AVR) has been recently introduced with encouraging results. Outcomes of isolated RD-AVR include good hemodynamic profile, facilitation of minimally invasive techniques, and reduction of surgical times. However, role of this prosthesis in concomitant surgery is not well known.

Age and Sex Determine Electrocardiogram Parameters in the .

Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and age is an important risk factor. Preclinical models provide supportive evidence toward age-related cardiac changes, as well as allow for the study of pathological aspects of the disease. In the present work, we evaluated the electrocardiogram (ECG) recording in the during the aging process in both females and males.

Cardiac tyrosine hydroxylase activation and MB-COMT in dyskinetic monkeys.

The impact of age-associated disorders is increasing as the life expectancy of the population increments. Cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, have the highest social and economic burden and increasing evidence show interrelations between them. Particularly, dysfunction of the cardiovascular nervous system is part of the dysautonomic symptoms of Parkinson's disease, although more studies are needed to elucidate the role of cardiac function on it.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Pacemaker Implantation After Rapid Deployment Aortic Valve Replacement: Results from the RADAR Registry.

Introduction: Rapid deployment aortic valve replacement has been recently introduced in clinical practice. Different studies have reported a significant reduction in surgical times with excellent hemodynamic profiles and short-term results. However, an increase in permanent pacemaker requirements compared with conventional aortic valve replacement has been described.

Cardiac Noradrenaline Turnover and Heat Shock Protein 27 Phosphorylation in Dyskinetic Monkeys.

Background: Autonomic dysfunction is a well-known dominant symptom in the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease. However, the role of cardiac sympathetic nerves still needs to be elucidated.

Objectives: To evaluate cardiac sympathetic response in Parkinsonian and dyskinetic monkeys.

[Current surgical options and outcomes for newborns with hypoplastic left heart syndrome].

Since the first successful palliation was performed by Norwood et al. in 1983, there have been substantial changes in diagnosis, management, and outcomes of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Survival for stage 1 palliation has increased to 90% in many centres, with patients potentially surviving into adulthood. However, the associated morbidity and mortality remain substantial.

Valve-Sparing Tetralogy of Fallot Repair With Intraoperative Dilation of the Pulmonary Valve. Mid-Term Results.

Deleterious long-term effects of chronic pulmonary regurgitation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot have become evident during the last decades. Subsequently, some groups have developed strategies to spare the pulmonary valve function at the time of repair with good early results. However, mid-term outcomes are scarce in the literature and in some cases controversial.

Postoperative Plasma Mitochondrial DNA and Cytokine Profiles of Elderly Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement.

Introduction: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is gaining increasing interest as a marker of cellular damage and could also act as an inflammatory mediator in cardiopulmonary bypass induced postoperative inflammatory response. Although minimally invasive heart valve surgery reportedly reduces inflammation, the mtDNA and cytokine profile in this context remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: Here, we report a prospective series of 40 elderly patients with aortic stenosis who underwent bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (AVR) through upper ministernotomy with either a sutureless ( = 20) or a conventional ( = 20) valve.

Prosthetic pulmonary valve and conduit endocarditis in congenital heart disease.

Background: Pulmonary valve replacement is one of the most common procedures in patients with congenital heart disease. Little is known about prosthetic valve endocarditis in this population.

Objectives: To review management and outcomes of pediatric and adult patients with a prosthetic pulmonary valve or right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit infective endocarditis.

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups influence the risk of aortic stenosis.

Aim: The underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of aortic stenosis are not clear. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in many pathological conditions including cardiac diseases. We aimed to analyze the mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in a group of patients undergoing valve replacement surgery due to severe aortic stenosis.

Mitral valve replacement via a left thoracotomy in dextrocardia and situs solitus.

Dextrocardia with situs solitus and severe mitral regurgitation is a rare clinical presentation which posse a surgical challenge and requires specific preoperative planning. A 54-year-old women with this anatomy, multiple thoracic procedures, and severe mitral valve regurgitation underwent successful mitral valve replacement with a 27-mm mechanical prosthesis through a left thoracotomy under ventricular fibrillation, on the basis of computed tomography findings. We emphasize the importance of preoperative planning and a surgical approach through a left thoracotomy and under ventricular fibrillation.

Indexed left atrial size predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing aortic valve surgery.

Objectives: The enlargement of the left atrium has been identified as a marker of chronically increased left ventricular filling pressure and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. This study aims to evaluate the association of indexed left atrial diameter with stroke, cardiovascular mortality, the combined event, and all-cause mortality in patients who underwent aortic valve surgery.

Methods: Indexed left atrial diameter was measured in 2011 adult patients (mean age, 70.

Rapid Deployment Aortic Replacement (RADAR) Registry in Spain: a protocol.

Introduction: Rapid deployment valves (RDV) represent a newly introduced approach to aortic valve replacement which facilitates surgical implantation and minimally invasive techniques, shortens surgical times and shows excellent haemodynamic performance. However, evidence on their safety, efficacy and potential complications is mostly fitted with small-volume and retrospective studies. Moreover, no current guidelines exist.

[Surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus in premature neonates: Does the surgical technique affect the outcome?].

Introduction: Surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus in premature neonates is an aggressive technique and is not free of complications. A study was designed with the aim of describing our experience with a less invasive technique, the extra-pleural approach via a posterior minithoracotomy, and to compare the results with the classic transpleural approach.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on premature neonates on whom surgical closure of the ductus was performed during a ten-year period (March 2005 to March 2015).

Successful cardiac transplantation in a patient with congenital generalized lipodystrophy.

We report a case of a 12-yr-old boy referred to our unit with congenital generalized lipodystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy related to a lamin gene mutation. He progressively developed end-stage heart failure and was referred for heart transplant evaluation. The patient's lipid profile, glucose level, and renal function were normal, and vascular retinopathy was ruled out.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome after Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Several cellular and molecular mechanisms have been implicated in the development of myocardial dysfunction and low cardiac output in pediatric patients undergoing heart surgery. Ischemia- reperfusion injury with alterations in calcium homeostasis as well as mitochondrial function has been strongly related to myocyte damage and heart failure in this population. In this article, we will review the main mechanisms of postoperative cardiac dysfunction at cellular and molecular levels and the subsequent protective strategies.

Pulmonary Vasodilators in the Management of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Pulmonary hypertension is among the causes of low cardiac output syndrome after neonatal and pediatric cardiac surgery. In the setting of transient postoperative myocardial dysfunction, even a moderate elevation of pulmonary pressure can result in heart dysfunction and circulatory collapse. Although, specific pharmacological manipulation of pulmonary vascular resistance is frequently required in the perioperative period, there is no widely standardized management.

Inodilators in the Management of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Postoperative low cardiac output syndrome has been shown to have both a central and a peripheral vascular involvement. Therefore, inodilators which provide with a combination of positive inotropic and vasodilating therapy, conceptually should be an ideal form of treatment. However, contradictory data on these drugs exist.

Impact of pacing on systemic ventricular function in L-transposition of the great arteries.

Objective(s): To assess the impact of univentricular versus biventricular pacing (BiVP) on systemic ventricular function in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA).

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients with a diagnosis of ccTGA who underwent pacemaker insertion. From 1993 to 2014, 53 patients were identified from the cardiology database and surgical records.