Cardiology
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Comparative Study
Quality of life improvement after robotically assisted coronary artery bypass grafting.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with long rehabilitation periods and slow quality of life (QOL) improvement. Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) can be performed using robotic technology and remote access perfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether TECAB leads to accelerated QOL improvement as compared to standard CABG. ⋯ TECAB using robotic technology leads to improved physical health, shorter hospital stay and a more rapid restoration of daily activities. Conversion from TECAB to sternotomy does not lead to QOL impairment as compared to primary sternotomy.
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To determine the prevalence of isolated left ventricular noncompaction (IVNC) as a cause of heart failure and heart transplantation. ⋯ The most common causes for heart failure remain idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, CAD and valvular heart disease. Strictly using the criteria for the definition of IVNC, IVNC is a rare underlying cardiomyopathy for both, heart failure (2.7%) and heart transplantation (2%) in our center.
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Case Reports
Transcatheter closure of a ventricular septal defect following myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
Post-operative ventricular septal defect (VSD) following septal myectomy in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is a rare complication which may warrant closure. Repeat early sternotomy for surgical closure of the VSD seems undesirable and transcatheter VSD closure may be a valid alternative. We report the case of successful closure of a 10-mm VSD following surgical therapy for HOCM using an Amplatzer Muscular VSD Occluder.