Venous access closure using a purse-string suture without heparin antagonism or additional compression after MitraClip implantation.

Objectives: This observational study was designed to analyze the safety and feasibility of percutaneous skin closure using a purse-string suture (PSS) after MitraClip procedures.

Methods: Forty-one consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation who underwent MitraClip implantation from February 2018 to January 2019 at our institution received a PSS after percutaneous mitral valve repair before withdrawal of the 24-French (Fr) sheath. Protamine was not administered after venous closure at procedure end.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using an open 0.35 T system.

Objective: To evaluate cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a 0.35 T magnetic resonance system with open design.

Methods: Eleven patients were examined in an open MRI system with a field strength of 0.

Prevalence of right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy in a non-referral hospital.

In a cardiological department of a non-referral hospital responsible for 80,000 inhabitants with 2500 in-hospital patients and 1500 out-hospital patients per year, the prevalence, symptoms and prognosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) were examined retrospectively. From 1997 to 2002, ARVD/C was diagnosed in 35 females and 45 males (overall prevalence 1 in 1000 inhabitants) with a mean age of 45.6 years.