Novel insights by 4D Flow imaging on aortic flow physiology after valve-sparing root replacement with or without neosinuses

This study was undertaken to evaluate the flow dynamics in the aortic root after valve-sparing root replacement with and without neosinuses of Valsalva reconstruction, by exploiting the capability of 4D Flow imaging to measure in vivo blood velocity fields and 3D geometric flow patterns

Traumatic aortic arch false aneurysm after blunt chest trauma in a motocross rider

This article details a case report of a traumatic aortic arch false aneurysm after blunt chest trauma. Thoracic aorta false aneurysms are a rare and life-threatening complication of aortic surgery, infection, genetic disorders and trauma

Port Access (Thru-Port System) video-assisted mitral valve surgery

The aim of this review is to focus the attention on the "state of the art" of port-access and video-assisted mitral valve surgery appraising the results compared to the traditional approach, describing different technical strategies and analyzing how to avoid and manage its related complications concomitantly elucidating which procedure is associated with the most favorable risk-benefit and cost-benefit profile. Our default strategy is to use the minimally invasive approach combining video-assisted right mini-thoracotomy with endo-cardiopulmonary bypass and endo-aortic balloon occlusion (EBO) whenever possible. This choice is supported by the evidence that, after an initial learning curve, it is a safe and effective approach in terms of short- and long-term results, mainly for redo operations and even for elderly patients with moderately elevated peri-operative risk.The aim of this review is to focus the attention on the "state of the art" of port-access and video-assisted mitral valve surgery appraising the results compared to the traditional approach, describing different technical strategies and analyzing how to avoid and manage its related complications concomitantly elucidating which procedure is associated with the most favorable risk-benefit and cost-benefit profile. Our default strategy is to use the minimally invasive approach combining video-assisted right mini-thoracotomy with endo-cardiopulmonary bypass and endo-aortic balloon occlusion (EBO) whenever possible. This choice is supported by the evidence that, after an initial learning curve, it is a safe and effective approach in terms of short- and long-term results, mainly for redo operations and even for elderly patients with moderately elevated peri-operative risk

Late MitraClip Failure: Removal Technique for Leaflet-Sparing Mitral Valve Repair

MitraClip system has been recently introduced in clinical practice for percutaneous mitral valve repair in selected patients. In the case of early or late detachment of the device dedicated tools, either with percutaneous or surgical approach, have been developed. We describe a novel technique to atraumatically remove the MitraClip. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Coronary Artery–Left Atrial Fistula: Displayed by 64-Slice Computed Tomography

[No abstract available

Aortic Valve Replacement: Understanding Predictors for the Optimal Ministernotomy Approach

Introduction: The most common minimally invasive approach for aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the partial upper mini-sternotomy. The aim of this study is to understand which preoperative computed tomography (CT) features are predictive of longer operations in terms of cardio-pulmonary bypass timesand cross-clamp times. Methods: From 2011 to 2022, we retrospectively selected 246 patients which underwent isolated AVR and had a preoperative ECG-gated CT scan. On these patients, we analysed the baseline anthropometric characteristics and the following CT scan parameters: aortic annular dimensions, valve calcium score, ascending aorta length, ascending aorta inclination and aorta-sternum distance. Results: We identified augmented body surface area (>1.9 m2), augmented annular diameter (>23 mm), high calcium score (>2500 Agatson score) and increased aorta-sternum distance (>30 mm) as independent predictors of elongated operation times (more than two-fold). Conclusions: Identifying the preoperative predictive factors of longer operations can help surgeons select cases suitable for minimally invasive approaches, especially in a teaching context

Morphological modification of the aortic annulus in tricuspid and bicuspid valves after aortic valve reimplantation: an electrocardiography-gated computed tomography study

Aortic valve-sparing operations have been shown to produce fewer valve-related complications than valve replacement. The aortic root is a morphological and functional unit in which the annulus plays an important role on dynamism, shape and geometry of the valve with different results in bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) or tricuspid aortic valves (TAVs). The aim is to evaluate the differences in the size and shape of the aortic annulus between native BAVs and TAVs using ECG-gated computed tomography (CT) after a reimplantation procedure

Giant right atrial thrombus in hepatocellular carcinoma: real-time characterization by cardiac magnetic resonance and real time three-dimensional echocardiography

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with extension to the right atrium is an uncommon form of cardiac involvement. We report a case of a 67-year-old man admitted to our Department for the incidental findings of a mass in the right atrium. Physical examination revealed leg edema, distention of external jugular vein and ascites. The anamnestic collection revealed HCC occurred on post-alcoholic liver cirrhosis 3 years earlier. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a dilated RA containing a mass, with superficial apposition of a thrombotic material. Bi-dimensional echocardiography is the most commonly used noninvasive tool for evaluating intracardiac masses. Although MRI is considered the gold standard, real-time three-dimensional echocardiography has the capability to obtain the entire volume reconstruction of an intracardiac mass, even with an irregular shape. Moreover, it permits an hemodynamic evaluation of the potential obstructive effects visualized from different angles and planes

Type A Chronic Aortic Dissection in 40-Years Old Smeloff-Cutter Aortic Valve

We report the case of a 60-year-old man undergone an aortic valve replacement with a Smeloff- Cutter prosthesis 40 years ago. The patient underwent a redo aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement for ascending aorta aneurysm that intraoperatively appeared as a chronic Type A aortic dissection. The Smeloff-Cutter prosthesis looked intact and functionally normal. The ascending portion of the aorta appeared dissected two centimeters above the sino-tubular junction, between the non-coronary and the left coronary valsalva sinuses: we speculate that Smeloff-Cutter prosthesis may contribute, due to its rheology and features, to the determinism of aortic dilatation and subsequently dissection