Invasive Hemodynamic Assessment for the Right Ventricular System and Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Mice.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic and severe cardiopulmonary disorder. Mice are a popular animal model used to mimic this disease. However, the evaluation of right ventricular pressure (RVP) and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) remains technically challenging in mice.

Association between cardiopulmonary bypass time and 90-day post-operative mortality in patients undergoing arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The aortic arch replacement and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are both associated with the early mortality after cardiothoracic surgery. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CPB time and 90-day post-operative mortality in patients undergoing aortic arch surgery using the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique with selective ante-grade cerebral perfusion (SACP).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of 377 adult patients undergoing aortic arch surgery via FET with SACP from July 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018 at Beijing Anzhen Hospital.

An exploration of the surgical skill training curriculum for cardiac surgery residents.

Background: A "boot camp" program is commonly adopted in surgical skills training. Due to a shortage of cardiac surgeons, establishment of a well-designed training curriculum for cardiac surgery residents is needed in developing countries.

Methods: We established a comprehensive 3-module training curriculum, including: (1) the cardiopulmonary bypass establishment technique, (2) coronary artery anastomosis and (3) basic surgical skills of thoracoscopy.

Detection of pathogens from resected heart valves of patients with infective endocarditis by next-generation sequencing.

Objectives: Identification of the underlying pathogens of infective endocarditis (IE) is critical for precision therapy.

Methods: We evaluated a metagenomic method with next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the direct detection of pathogens from the resected valves of 44 IE patients and seven rejected IE patients according to the modified Duke criteria.

Results: NGS displayed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values of 97.

Clinical comparative analysis of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution and St. Thomas crystalloid cardioplegia: A 12-year study from a single institution.

Cardioplegic reperfusion during a long-term ischemic period interrupts cardiac surgery and increases cellular edema due to repeated administration. The present clinical study compared the protective effects of histidine-ketoglutarate-tryptophan (HTK) solution and St. Thomas crystalloid cardioplegia.

A huge left atrial mass "not a myxoma".

N/A.

Predictors of tamponade and constriction in patients with pericardial disease undergoing interventional and surgical treatment.

Objective: The aim of our study was to define predictors of cardiac compression development including clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, chest-X-ray and perioperative parameters and their diagnostic value.

Methods: Overall 243 patients with pericardial disease, among them 123 with compression (tamponade, constriction) and 120 without signs of compression were included in the study. Clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, chest-X-Ray, echocardiographic and perioperative data were included in the logistic regression analysis to define predictors of tamponade/constriction development.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of inferior vena cava adjacent to hepatic veins: complete off-pump resection and inferior vena cava graft reconstruction with application of external skin surface cooling.

Objectives: Resection of a leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC) requires venovenous bypass, especially if IVC clamping above the hepatic veins is planned. This report describes the application of external skin surface cooling for off-pump resection of a primary IVC leiomyosarcoma adjacent to the hepatic veins with graft IVC reconstruction in conditions of suprahepatic caval clamping and uninterrupted Pringle's manoeuvre.

Methods: A 62-year-old woman presented with IVC leiomyosarcoma adjacent to the hepatic veins.

Lipomatous Hypertrophy of the Atrial Septum in a Patient Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

. Lipomatous hypertrophy of the atrial septum (LHAS) is a rare entity characterized by mass-forming deposition of fatty tissue within the atrial septum. To date, <300 cases have been reported; many of them were autopsy findings.

Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution decreases mortality and morbidity in high-risk patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with complex congenital heart disease: an 11-year experience from a single institution.

Cardioplegic reperfusion during a long term ischemic period interrupts cardiac surgery and also increases cellular edema due to repeated solution administration. We reviewed the clinical experiences on myocardial protection of a single perfusion with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) for high-risk patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with complex congenital heart disease. This retrospective study included 101 high-risk patients undergoing arterial switch operation between March 2001 and July 2012.

A Secure and High-Fidelity Live Animal Model for Off-Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery Training.

Objective: Existing simulators for off-pump coronary artery (CA) bypass grafting training are unable to provide cardiac surgery residents all necessary skills they need entering the operation room. In this study, we introduced a secure and high-fidelity live animal model to supplement the in vitro simulators for off-pump CA bypass grafting training.

Design: The left internal thoracic artery (ITA) of 3 Chinese miniature pigs was grafted to the left anterior descending CA using an end-to-side anastomosis.

Endoventriculoplasty of the Left Ventricle for Congenital Diverticulum.

Congenital left ventricular diverticulum is an extremely rare heart defect. Here, we report a case of successful endoventriculoplasty using a Dacron patch in an infant who was followed up for one year.

Early and long-term outcomes and quality of life after concomitant mitral valve surgery, left atrial size reduction, and radiofrequency surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most formidable supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, which worsens the natural course of mitral valve disease. In this study, we evaluated early and long-term results and quality of life (QOL) after simultaneous surgical radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of AF, left atrial reduction and mitral valve repair or replacement.

Methods: Overall, 147 patients with mitral valve diseases who underwent mitral valve surgery were included in this prospective cohort study.

Transapical implantation of a self-expandable aortic valve prosthesis utilizing a novel designed positioning element.

Objectives: To evaluate a new transapical system which utilizes a novel designed positioning element and a two-step positioning mechanism for easy and accurate implantation of transcatheter valves.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an important treatment option for non-surgical patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, accurate placement of the transcatheter valve remains challenging.

Post-conditioning through lower limb ischemia-reperfusion can alleviate lung ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objective: Operation on the infrarenal aorta could cause ischemic-reperfusion (IR) injury in local tissues and remote organs (e.g. the lung).

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with pericardial disease--Association of PR segment depression with arrhythmias and clinical signs: Experience of cardiac surgery center.

Objective: We aimed to describe clinical, morphological, intraoperative, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic (ECG) associations of PR segment depression (PRsd), as well as its relationship with arrhythmias and outcomes in pericardial diseases (PD).

Methods: Overall, 79 patients among 197 patients with PD, referred to cardiac surgery center for treatment, were eligible for inclusion in the study. ECGs were analyzed for presence of PRsd, abnormal P-wave, low voltage QRS, QRS alternans, STj deviation and arrhythmias.

Pseudoaneurysm and aorto-bronchial fistula following balloon dilation of recoarctation.

This case report documents the successful surgical repair of an aorto-bronchial fistula and a giant aortic pseudoaneurysm at the proximal anastomosis of a dacron interposition tube graft that was balloon dilated for recurrent coarctation. Balloon dilation for recoarctation of a dacron interposition tube graft may lead to serious complications.

Outcomes after aortic arch reconstruction for infants: deep hypothermic circulatory arrest versus moderate hypothermia with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion.

Objectives: Optimal cerebral and visceral protection is crucial in aortic arch surgery. The main method for this protection has traditionally been deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). Recently, antegrade cerebral perfusion with moderate hypothermia has become the preferred strategy for adult patients and some children undergoing aortic arch surgery.

Mesothelial/monocytic incidental cardiac excrescences (cardiac MICE) associated with acute aortic dissection: a study of two cases.

Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition mainly caused by hypertension, atherosclerotic disease and other degenerative diseases of the connective tissue of the aortic wall. Mesothelial/monocytic incidental cardiac excrescences (cardiac MICE) is a rare benign reactive tumor-like lesion composed of admixture of histiocytes, mesothelial cells, and inflammatory cells set within a fibrinous meshwork without a vascular network or supporting stroma. Cardiac MICE occurring in association with aortic dissection is exceptionally rare (only one such case reported to date).

Pathological findings in cardiac apex removed during implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are non-specific: 13-year-experience at a German Heart Center.

Background And Aim: Ventricular assist devices (VAD) have become an established therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure. The two main reasons for this development are the shortage of appropriate donor organs and the increasing number of patients waiting for heart transplantation (HTX). Furthermore, the enormous advances in the technical equipment and the rising clinical experience have improved the implantation technique, the durability and the long-term patient outcomes.

Successful venous angioplasty of superior vena cava syndrome after heart transplantation.

Introduction. For patients with terminal heart failure, heart transplantation (HTX) has become an established therapy. Before transplantation there are many repeated measurements with a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) via the superior vena cava (SVC) necessary.

Incidental finding of a giant asymptomatic right atrial tumor.

Primary cardiac tumors are very rare, atrial myxoma being the most common benign tumor of the heart. They may present with a great variety of incidental asymptomatic masses to severe life-threatening cardiovascular complications necessitating emergency surgery. Here we report the diagnostic evaluation and successful surgical resection of such a giant cardiac tumor which was found on a routine medical check-up in a 62-year-old patient.

Aortic valve replacement and concomitant procedures with the Perceval valve: results of European trials.

Background: The Perceval (Sorin Group, Milan, Italy) is a self-anchoring sutureless aortic valve prosthesis. We report the short- to midterm results of combined aortic valve replacement (AVR) with concomitant procedures in elderly patients undergoing operation as part of 3 consecutive prospective multicenter European studies.

Methods: From April 2007 to February 2013, 243 patients (mean age, 79.