Correlation between plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels and changes in New York Heart Association functional class, left atrial size, left ventricular size and function after mitral and/or aortic valve replacement.

Background And Objectives: Elevated plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been demonstrated in patients with chronic valvular disease. We designed the present study to assess whether changes in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels after mitral, aortic and double mitral and aortic valve replacement reflect changes in heart failure (HF) symptoms including New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and changes in left atrium (LA) size, left ventricle (LV) size and LV function.

Design And Setting: A prospective observational nonrandomized study among consecutive patients undergoing mitral and/or aortic valve replacement in our center.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor as an additive treatment after successful balloon dilation of a critical pulmonary valve stenosis.

A 2 days old, 2.7 kg heavy baby boy with critical pulmonary stenosis, underwent successful balloon dilation. After the uneventful procedure, he remained oxygen dependent.

NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels after valve replacement.

Elevated plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels have been demonstrated in patients with chronic valvular disease. To assess whether changes in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels after mitral, aortic, and double-valve replacement reflect changes in heart failure symptoms, a prospective observational nonrandomized study was undertaken in 24 consecutive patients (mean age, 55.3 ± 16.

Pulmonary atresia with hypoplastic right ventricle and large subaortic ventricular septal defect.

A neonate is presented with a very rare association consisting of pulmonary atresia with large ventricular septal defect but additionally, combined with a hypoplastic right ventricle and well developed pulmonary arteries. The management strategy is described.

Can experienced physicians with high peripheral interventional volume but low carotid artery stenting (CAS) volume achieve low complication rates during CAS?

Aims: It has been stated that experienced physicians with a high volume of carotid artery stent (CAS) procedures have low complication rates, including cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). Complication rates, however, are not known for physicians with a low volume of CAS (<50 CAS/yr) but with a high volume of other peripheral endovascular procedures. Since the techniques used in CAS are similar to those used routinely in other peripheral interventions, we hypothesise that high volume peripheral interventional operators with appropriate training would have low complication rates during CAS procedures.

Successful percutaneous closure of a secundum atrial septal defect through femoral approach in a patient with interrupted inferior vena cava.

Percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD II) is considered the treatment of choice in the majority of cases. Interrupted inferior vena cava with azygos continuation can make delivery of the occluder difficult or not possible. Transjugular, transhepatic approach or surgery can be the alternative.

A novel catheter in patients with peripheral chronic total occlusions: a single center experience.

Objectives And Background: Recanalization of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) is technically challenging with less than optimum results in arterial disease. Crosser® is a novel technology that utilizes high frequency (20 KHz) vibration energy to fragment occlusive fibrous atherosclerotic plaque and helps in traversing the occluded vessel. We report a single center experience with this catheter as the primary device in peripheral chronic total occlusions.

Successful thrombolytic therapy for stuck mitral mechanical valve.

Thrombosis of a mechanical prosthetic valve is a serious and fortunately it is a rare complication of cardiac valve replacement. We present a case of prosthetic mechanical valve On-X 31/33 mm thrombosis thrombus size 8 x 14 mm on a mitral position, which was treated with a successful intravenous thrombolytic therapy of streptokinase infusion over 10 hours repeated twice with no complications.

Acute type A aortic dissection at seven weeks of gestation in a Marfan patient: case report.

A 34-year-old Marfan patient at the seventh week of pregnancy presented with acute type A aortic dissection and severe aortic regurgitation. The aortic valve and ascending aorta were replaced successfully using circulatory arrest and deep hypothermia. At 35 weeks of gestation, the patient underwent a cesarean section and delivered a healthy baby.

Total arterial coronary revascularization using arterial bypass circle with multiple inflows.

Coronary artery bypass techniques, currently applied to maximize the benefits of multiple arterial coronary conduits, render the newly constructed myocardial flow dependent on a single source "inflow" of blood. We describe a technique for total arterial coronary revascularization with multiple inflows; the distal end of the pedicled right internal thoracic artery is anastomosed to the distal end of a free radial artery, and the other end of the radial artery is then connected to the ascending aorta. This vascular circle, passed in a retro-cardiac fashion, is used to revascularize the inferio-lateral surface of the heart using multiple side-to-side anastomoses.