Transfemoral Implantation of a Fully Repositionable and Retrievable Transcatheter Valve for Noncalcified Pure Aortic Regurgitation.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the use of the Direct Flow Medical (DFM) transcatheter heart valve (Direct Flow Medical, Santa Rosa, California) for the treatment of noncalcific pure aortic regurgitation (AR).

Background: The treatment of noncalcific AR has remained a relative contraindication with transcatheter heart valves due to challenges in anchoring devices in the absence of calcium, concerns of valve embolization, and the high risk of significant residual paravalvular leak.

Methods: The study population consisted of patients treated for severe noncalcific pure AR with transfemoral implantation of a DFM transcatheter heart valve at 6 European centers.

Increased Risk of Cerebral Embolization After Implantation of a Balloon-Expandable Aortic Valve Without Prior Balloon Valvuloplasty.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) without versus with prior balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) on the risk of cerebral embolization in patients who receive a balloon-expandable valve.

Background: Avoiding BAV prior to TAVR may simplify the procedure, but the risk of cerebral embolization is currently unknown.

Methods: A total of 87 consecutive high surgical-risk patients with no contraindications for diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) were enrolled.

Aortic valve replacement after transapical valve-in-valve implantation.

Transapical valve-in-valve aortic valve replacement has emerged as an attractive alternative for high-risk surgery in elderly patients with degenerated aortic bioprothesis. Despite recent encouraging results, further clinical investigation is required to avoid potential cases of prosthesis-aortic annulus mismatch. We report a surgical valve replacement in a high-risk patient with dysfunctional transapical, implanted aortic valve-in-valve prosthesis 1 year after implantation.

The Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis: role of age on clinical performance in aortic position.

Background: The Mosaic bioprosthesis is a third-generation stented porcine bioprosthesis combining physiologic fixation and α-amino oleic acid antimineralization treatment to improve durability and hemodynamic function. This single-center study reports on the performance of the Mosaic bioprosthesis in patients 65 years of age or less and patients older than 65 years at implantation.

Methods: Between 1994 and 1999, 88 younger patients (mean age, 58 years) and 167 older patients (mean age, 72 years) were enrolled in this prospective nonrandomized clinical trial.

Clinical results of the Medtronic Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis up to 13 years.

Background: The Mosaic bioprosthesis is a third-generation stented porcine bioprosthesis combining physiologic fixation and alpha-amino oleic acid (AOA) antimineralisation treatment to improve haemodynamic performance and durability. This single-centre study reports the clinical results, including haemodynamic performance, of the Mosaic bioprosthesis after implant in aortic or mitral position.

Methods: Between February 1994 and October 1999, 255 patients with aortic valve replacement (AVR; mean age: 67 years, range: 23-82 years) and 47 patients with mitral valve replacement (MVR; mean age: 67 years, range: 41-84 years) were enrolled in this prospective non-randomised clinical trial.

Recombinant hirudin for cardiopulmonary bypass anticoagulation: a randomized, prospective, and heparin-controlled pilot study.

Background: Lepirudin, a recombinant hirudin, is a direct acting thrombin inhibitor that has been used as a heparin alternative in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia requiring on-pump cardiac surgery. To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and clinical utility of lepirudin as a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) anticoagulant, we compared lepirudin with heparin in a routine CPB setting.

Methods: Twenty patients were randomly assigned to receive lepirudin (0.

Hemodynamic performance of the Medtronic Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis up to ten years.

Background: The Mosaic bioprosthesis (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) is a third-generation stented porcine bioprosthesis combining physiologic fixation and amino oleic acid antimineralization treatment to improve hemodynamic performance and durability. The findings of this single-center experience with this valve were evaluated to determine the clinical and hemodynamic performance.

Methods: Between February 1994 and October 1999, we enrolled 255 patients with aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a mean age of 67 years (range, 23 to 82 years) and 47 patients with mitral valve replacement (MVR) with a mean age of 67 years (range, 41 to 84 years) in this post-United States Food and Drug Administration approval prospective and nonrandomized clinical trial.

Lepirudin for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in a patient with terminal renal insufficiency and acute heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

A patient with triple heart valve disease, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and terminal renal insufficiency was treated successfully using lepirudin for anticoagulation of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and during the postoperative course. Anticoagulatory monitoring was performed with ecarin clotting time during CPB and aPTT postoperatively.

Aneurysm hybrid treatment by simultaneous replacement of ascending aorta and aortic arch and endoluminal stenting of the descending aorta.

Background: Resection of the descending thoracic aorta and replacement with a vascular prosthesis is associated with an increased risk of paraplegia, as opposed to endoluminal stenting. We report on the first case in which a thoracic aortic aneurysm was treated in a hybrid approach, combining surgery with the implantation of a new intraluminal stent during 1 procedure.

Methods: A 76-year-old man with long-standing hypertension suffered from acute chest pain.

Anticoagulation management and cardiac surgery in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is the gold standard for anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Of patients undergoing CPB operations, 25% to 50% develop heparin-dependent antibodies during the postoperative period, typically between day 5 and 10, if UFH is continued during the postoperative course. In 1% to 3% of all patients undergoing CPB operation with UFH anticoagulation, these antibodies activate platelets causing a prothrombotic disorder, known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), which can lead to life-threatening thromboembolic complications.