Rupture of the ascending aorta 6 months after TAVI procedure caused by TAVI prosthesis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is indicated for elderly patients who often have severe comorbidities and high operative risk. Despite many advantages, it carries the potential for both early and late complications. The literature reports mainly periprocedural problems.

APOE-NOTCH axis governs elastogenesis during human cardiac valve remodeling.

Valve remodeling is a process involving extracellular matrix organization and elongation of valve leaflets. Here, through single-cell RNA sequencing of human fetal valves, we identified an elastin-producing valve interstitial cell (VIC) subtype (apolipoprotein E (APOE), elastin-VICs) spatially located underneath valve endothelial cells (VECs) sensing unidirectional flow. APOE knockdown in fetal VICs resulted in profound elastogenesis defects.

The cone repair allows right ventricle rehabilitation with excellent tricuspid valve function following the Starnes procedure.

Background: We present a case series of right ventricle (RV) rehabilitation after the Starnes procedure in patients with Ebstein anomaly (EA), applying the Cone repair of the tricuspid valve (TV) to achieve 2-ventricle or 1.5-ventricle physiology.

Methods: This is a retrospective database analysis from 2 institutions in North America.

Effects of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty on longitudinal changes in right ventricular strain and strain rate in pediatric pulmonary stenosis.

Background: Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty (BPV) is a procedure for Pulmonary Stenosis (PS) treatment. In this study, right ventricle (RV) performance was determined through 2D-Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (2D-STE).

Methods: The study involved 25 diagnosed children with PS undergoing BPV and 25 normal children.

Multidetector computed tomography imaging planning for bronchoscopy stent and valve placement in the treatment of COPD, air leaks, and airway stenosis.

Bronchoscopy using a flexible bronchoscope is considered a safe procedure and has been used for diagnosing and treating airway and parenchymal lung diseases. Bronchoscopic interventions in selected patients with emphysema, airway stenosis, and air leaks provide new treatment options. The application of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) planning prior to bronchoscopy is comprehensively addressed.

Where are we getting it wrong? Prevalence and causes of unplanned SAVR in a UK regional cardiac centre.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) prolongs life and improves its quality in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Unplanned SAVR is a failure of AS screening and follow-up programmes. We identified all elective, first, isolated SAVRs performed between 1 January and 31 December 2019 in a Welsh tertiary cardiac centre, and documented the clinical and echocardiographic variables, and reasons for unplanned SAVR.

Melody Valve Implantation in the Tricuspid Position After Pediatric Heart Transplantation-A Case Report.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common after a heart transplant and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. The incidence ranges from 34% immediately after transplant to 20% by 10 years. Most patients can be managed medically; however, severe TR and symptomatic right heart failure warrant tricuspid valve replacement.

A prospective analysis of the correlation between ultrasonic B-lines, cardiac tissue doppler signals and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Background: The development of heart failure is a turning point in the natural course of aortic stenosis (AS). Pulmonary oedema and elevated left ventricular pressure (LVP) are cardinal features of heart failure. Evaluating pulmonary oedema by lung ultrasound involves taking the upper hand with a bedside noninvasive tool that may reflect LVP.

Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 2 in Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis and Pulmonary Hypertension: A Gender-Based Perspective.

Severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) are life-threatening cardiovascular conditions, necessitating early detection and intervention. Recent studies have explored the role of Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 2 (IGF-BP2) in cardiovascular pathophysiology. Understanding its involvement may offer novel insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets for these conditions.

Racial Disparities in Maternal Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution During Pregnancy and Prevalence of Congenital Heart Defects.

Air pollution may be a potential cause of congenital heart defects (CHDs), but racial disparities in this association are unexplored. We conducted a statewide population-based cohort study using North Carolina birth data from 2003-2015 (N=1,225,285) to investigate the relationship between air pollution and CHDs (specifically pulmonary valve atresia/stenosis, Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)). Maternal exposure to particulate matter ≤2.

Spectrum of Heart Diseases in Children in a National Cardiac Referral Center Tanzania, Eastern Africa: A Six-Year Overview.

Background: While communicable diseases have long been the primary focus of healthcare in Africa, the rising impact of paediatric and congenital heart disease (CHD) cannot be overlooked. This research aimed to estimate the frequency and pattern of heart diseases in children who underwent their first echocardiography at a national cardiac referral hospital in Tanzania.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on children aged 0 to 18 years referred for first-time cardiological evaluation from January 2017 to December 2022.

Case Report: two cases of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis involving large vessels.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of systemic diseases caused by a combination of many factors, including genetics, environment, and immunity. AAV is characterized by predominantly small-vessel involvement and has a variety of clinical manifestations. Small-vessel lesions of the kidneys and lungs are common, and lesions of medium-sized arteries may also present, but the involvement of large arteries and their primary branches is very rare.

Clinical presentation and surgical outcomes in patients with Shone's complex: a systematic review.

Objective: Shone's complex comprises of a combination of congenital cardiac anomalies causing obstructions in the left ventricle's inflow and outflow tracts. This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical features and surgical outcomes of Shone's complex.

Methods: An electronic literature search of PubMed and Scopus was performed to identify relevant studies related to the presentation, management, and outcomes of Shone's complex.

The Ross Procedure in Children and Infants: A Systematic Review With Pooled Analyses.

Background: The Ross procedure is a surgical option for congenital aortic stenosis that involves replacing the diseased aortic valve with a pulmonary autograft. Little is known about outcomes in children, particularly those younger than 1 year.

Methods: A systematic review with pooled analyses was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria.