The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Nov 2015
Comparative StudyAssessment of mitral annuloplasty ring by cardiac computed tomography: Correlation with echocardiographic parameters and comparison between two different ring types.
This study investigated computed tomographic (CT) appearance after mitral ring annuloplasty, especially comparing CT findings between patients with normal pressure gradient (PG) and patients with functional mitral stenosis (MS) and between 2 commonly used types of annuloplasty ring. ⋯ Significant pannus around the annuloplasty ring on CT may cause functional MS after mitral ring annuloplasty. This may occur more frequently with the Duran ring.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Nov 2015
Influence of experience and the surgical learning curve on long-term patient outcomes in cardiac surgery.
We hypothesized that increased postgraduate surgical experience correlates with improved operative efficiency and long-term survival in standard cardiac surgery procedures. ⋯ In cardiac surgery, not including CABG, surgeon experience is an important determinant of operative efficiency and of long-term survival.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Nov 2015
Effect of pulmonary vascular resistance before left ventricular assist device implantation on short- and long-term post-transplant survival.
Pulmonary hypertension is often considered a contraindication to orthotopic heart transplantation. Left ventricular assist device support may improve pulmonary hypertension by unloading the left ventricle, making patients eligible for transplantation. We sought to investigate the effect of continuous-flow left ventricular assist device support on pulmonary hypertension and compare post-transplantation outcomes in patients with preexisting pulmonary hypertension. ⋯ Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device therapy reduced pulmonary vascular resistance. Subsequent orthotopic heart transplantation in patients with significantly elevated pulmonary vascular resistance resulted in higher in-hospital mortality but similar 3-year survival.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Nov 2015
Simple repair approach for mitral regurgitation in Barlow disease.
Mitral valve repair for myxomatous Barlow disease is a challenging procedure requiring complex surgery with less than optimal results. The use of ring-only repair has been previously reported but never analyzed or followed-up. We investigated this simple valve repair approach for patients with Barlow disease and multisegment involvement causing mainly central jet. ⋯ Mitral annuloplasty for Barlow disease patients with multisegment involvement and mainly central regurgitant jet is both simple and reproducible with excellent late outcomes.