Recurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis after liver transplantation - analysing the European Liver Transplant Registry and beyond.

Liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) can be complicated by recurrence of PSC (rPSC). This may compromise graft survival but the effect on patient survival is less clear. We investigated the effect of post-transplant rPSC on graft and patient survival in a large European cohort.

Personalized external aortic root support.

Objectives: Implantation of a personalized external aortic root support (PEARS) can prevent dilatation of the aortic root and ascending aorta in patients with aortopathy of various aetiologies. Because PEARS is an emerging technology, all aspects concerning indications, surgical technique and safety should be elucidated. Our goal was to summarize all of these aspects so that physicians and patients would have sufficient information to evaluate this alternative approach.

Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity to Metals of Environmental Burden in Patients with Takotsubo Syndrome - Is There a Clinical Relevance?

Objective: Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is a heart condition characterised by a sudden transient left ventricular dysfunction; its pathophysiology is probably associated with elevated levels of catecholamines but the exact mechanism is not known as yet. Literature and clinical experience suggest that TS affects persons with various comorbidities. This pilot work aims to evaluate the frequency of comorbidities with potential pathological immune reactivity, and to evaluate the potential association between TS and hypersensitivity to metals assessed by LTT-MELISA®.

Rationale and design of the Aortic Valve replAcemenT versus conservative treatment in Asymptomatic seveRe aortic stenosis (AVATAR trial): A randomized multicenter controlled event-driven trial.

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) therapy is an obvious choice for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients as it improves symptoms, left ventricular function, and survival. The treatment decisions and indication for AVR in asymptomatic patients with severe AS and normal left ventricular ejection fraction are less well established and the subject of ongoing debate. Many efforts have been made to define the best treatment option in asymptomatic AS patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction.

Successful transplantation of a heart with an atrial septal defect caused by blunt trauma.

We report a case of a successful heart transplantation from a donor after multiple trauma. A traumatic atrial septal defect was repaired, and the postoperative course was uneventful.

Successful re-use of the transplanted heart.

The case of re-use of a previously transplanted heart after brain death of the first recipient is reported. The second recipient was a 60-year-old man who suffered end-stage ischemic heart disease. The operative and postoperative course was uneventful, with the exception of secondary diabetes.