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Cardiol J 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Abbott Health Economics & Reimbursement.

There is a great need for innovative technologies that will improve the health and quality of life (QoL) of Polish patients with cardiac problems. It is important that the safety and effectiveness of the technology are confirmed by scientific evidence on which guidelines and clinical recommendations are based. Scientific evidence for medical devices is also increasingly important for decision-making in finance approval from public funds. Read More

J Cardiovasc Echogr 2018 Oct-Dec;28(4):207-217

Luigi Vanvitelli University, Monaldi Hospital, AORN Ospedali Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.

Mitral valve prolapse is generally a benign condition characterized by fibromyxomatous changes of the mitral leaflet with displacement into the left atrium and late-systolic regurgitation. Although it is an old clinical entity, it still arouses perplexity in diagnosis and clinical management. Complications, such as mitral regurgitation (MR), atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, endocarditis, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death (SCD), have been reported. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Dec;10(12):6969-6986

Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.

Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is a frequent complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) associated with a worse prognosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms of IMR are not fully understood, but it is known to be a complex process in which ventricular remodelling is the main causal factor. The various imaging techniques in cardiology and echocardiography fundamentally have contributed significantly to clarify the mechanisms that cause and progressively aggravate IMR. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb;12(2):e007928

The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH (A.Z.B.).

Background: The 2012 World Heart Federation Criteria are the current gold standard for the diagnosis of latent rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Because data and experience using these criteria have grown, there is opportunity to simplify and develop outcome prediction tools. We aimed to develop a simple echocardiographic score applicable for RHD screening with potential to predict disease progression. Read More

J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan;27(1):50-63

Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Background: We compared the gene expression profiles in the hypertrophied myocardium of rats subjected to pressure overload (PO) and volume overload (VO) using DNA chip technology, and compared the effects on exercise capacity with a treadmill test.

Methods: Constriction of the abdominal aorta or mitral regurgitation induced by a hole in the mitral leaflet were used to induce PO (n = 19), VO (n = 16) or PO + VO (n = 20) in rats. Serial echocardiographic studies and exercise were performed at 2-week intervals, and invasive hemodynamic examination by a pressure-volume catheter system was performed 12 weeks after the procedure. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Jan 17:1-12. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

a Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón , Madrid , Spain.

Early onset Marfan syndrome is the most severe form of Marfan syndrome diagnosed during perinatal period. Early onset Marfan syndrome is associated with high mortality rates, usually within the first 2 years of life. First, we present a case of prenatally diagnosed early onset Marfan syndrome in a dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy, where suspicion was raised at 35 weeks of gestation. Read More

A A Pract 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Intraoperative evaluation of mitral regurgitation is a complex undertaking. Bileaflet prolapse/flail can result in divergent mitral regurgitation jets with a characteristic "crossed swords sign" appearance. We present a case of divergent mitral regurgitation jets that were detected intraoperatively and evaluated using 3-dimensional imaging. Read More

Heart Surg Forum 2018 Nov 7;21(6):E443-E447. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.

Background: We sought to analyze the pathological characteristics of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) with concomitant mitral valve abnormalities and to discuss the surgical treatment strategies.

Methods: The clinical data of 26 HOCM patients treated from January 2014 to March 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 19 males and 7 females with a mean age of 47 ± 16 years (range, 10-70 years). Read More

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2019 Jan 2. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oslo University, Oslo, Norway.

Objectives: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement has recently been introduced as an alternative treatment option for severe mitral regurgitation. We present our single-centre first experience with screening and implantation outcomes.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with mitral regurgitation grades 3 and 4 were screened based on study inclusion/exclusion criteria, echocardiography and computed tomography imaging. Read More

Ann Cardiothorac Surg 2018 Nov;7(6):780-786

Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

The IRIS mitral annuloplasty ring is a transcatheter, transfemoral and transseptal-delivered complete, semi-rigid annuloplasty ring. The IRIS system mimics surgical annuloplasty by reducing the mitral septal-lateral dimension and improving leaflet coaptation. We report the early experience with the IRIS system in seven patients. Read More

Ann Cardiothorac Surg 2018 Nov;7(6):731-740

Heart Valve Clinic, University Hospital of Zürich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

The field of mitral valve disease diagnosis and management is rapidly evolving. New understanding of pathophysiology and improvements in the adoption of sophisticated multimodality imaging modalities have led to early diagnosis and to more complex treatment. The most common cause of mitral regurgitation (MR) in the western world is in the primary alteration of the valve, which leads to degenerative leaflet prolapse due to chordal elongation or rupture and annular dilatation. Read More

Ann Cardiothorac Surg 2018 Nov;7(6):716-723

CORE Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

Background: Valvular heart disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world; in industrialized nations, mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular lesion. Untreated, severe MR has a poor prognosis, with a 5-year mortality rate of up to 50%. Surgical repair of symptomatic, severe primary MR has been demonstrated to improve survival. Read More

Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2018 Dec 31:1-16. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

c Department of Mechanical Engineering , University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK.

The aim of this study is to simulate the Mitral Regurgitation (MR) disease progression from mild to severe intensity. A Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) model was developed to extract the hemodynamic parameters of blood flow in mitral regurgitation (MR) during systole. A two-dimensional (2D) geometry of the mitral valve was built based on the data resulting from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) dimensional measurements. Read More

Perfusion 2018 Dec 31:267659118820776. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

1 Department of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Objectives:: To evaluate the impact of concomitant tricuspid valve (TV) repair on the right ventricular (RV) function postoperatively and within the 6 months following degenerative mitral valve (MV) repair.

Methods:: The prospective study included 37 patients (mean age 57.32 ± 2. Read More

Indian Heart J 2018 Dec 29;70 Suppl 3:S235-S240. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Seth G S Medical College, K E M Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Background: Quantification of mitral regurgitation (MR) has always required an "integrated approach" as there is no single gold-standard method. We investigated a new Doppler-derived parameter "left ventricular early inflow-outflow index (LVEIO)" for the quantification of MR and its likelihood to predict severe MR in correlation with already established parameters in an Indian population including a large subset of patients with rheumatic etiology.

Methods: A prospective study was performed at a major tertiary care center in western India over a 5-month period. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Jan 26;12(2):127-136. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

University Heart Center Zürich, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the additional utility of measuring left atrial (LA) pressure as a complement to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and Doppler imaging.

Background: The efficacy of the MitraClip (MC) is assessed intraoperatively by TEE. However, TEE measures are operator dependent and can be influenced by left ventricular (LV) function and changes in LA compliance. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2018 Dec 29;13(1):133. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China.

Background: The totally thoracoscopic procedure for mitral valve (MV) disease is a minimally invasive method. We investigated the procedure's feasibility, safety and effectiveness when it was performed by an experienced operator.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 53 consecutive patients with MV disease treated between December 2014 and April 2017 by minimally invasive procedures. Read More

Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

1st Department of Cardiology, Upper Silesian Medical Center, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.

Introduction: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is one of the main causes of congestive heart failure (CHF). The main symptom of CHF is exercise tolerance impairment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for impaired exercise tolerance in patients after STEMI. Read More

Indian Heart J 2018 Nov - Dec;70(6):836-842. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

Background: Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) can be complicated with significant mitral regurgitation (MR). We performed a pilot, prospective study to evaluate the role of three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) in the prediction of MR after PBMV through mitral valve quantification (MVQ).

Methods: Between October 2014 and October 2016, 37 patients with rheumatic, moderate-to-severe mitral stenosis, referred to the Cath lab of Bab Alshearia University hospitals for PBMV, were divided into two age and sex matched groups. Read More

Acta Biomater 2019 Feb 21;85:241-252. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Healthy function of tricuspid valve (TV) structures is essential to avoid tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and may significantly improve disease prognosis. Mitral valve (MV) structures have been extensively studied, but little is known about the TV and right-sided heart diseases. Therefore, clinical decisions and finite element (FE) simulations often rely heavily on MV data for TV applications, despite fundamentally different mechanical and physiological environments. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Pak J Med Sci 2018 Nov-Dec;34(6):1576-1578

Sultan Abdulwadoud Alshoabi, MD. Department of Diagnostic Radiologic Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunwwarah, Saudi Arabia. E-mail:

A 32 years old male patient presented to the emergency room with complete loss of consciousness since three hours. This was after two weeks of night fever, sweating and considerable loss of weight with self-treatment by antipyretic drugs. In the last two days, the patient develops confusion and altered behavior. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(50):e13658

Department of Pharmacy, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, China.

Rationale: Lactococcus lactis and Pediococcus pentosaceus are rare pathogens which rarely caused infections in humans. Several cases with L. lactis endocarditis have been reported in the literature, among them few were caused by L. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb 12;12(2):353-362. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Traditional approaches to the characterization of secondary or functional mitral regurgitation (MR) have largely ignored the critical importance of the left ventricle (LV). We propose that patients with secondary MR represent a heterogenous group, which can be usefully subdivided based on understanding that the effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) is dependent on left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV). According to the Gorlin hydraulic orifice equation, patients with heart failure, an LV ejection fraction of 30%, an LVEDV of 220 to 250 ml, and a regurgitant fraction of 50% would be expected to have an EROA of ≈0. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan.

Objective: The standard treatment of prosthetic paravalvular leakage (PVL) accompanied by heart failure or hemolytic anemia is repeat open surgery. Although favorable outcomes for transcatheter prosthetic PVL closure in patients with a high surgical risk for repeat open surgery have been reported, procedural feasibility has not been examined in Japan.

Methods: From March 2015 to November 2015, transcatheter PVL closure in mitral position was performed in four patients (age range 41-78, three females) with high surgical risk due to history of repeated surgeries, chest radiation and reconstruction of the mitral annulus after debridement of abscess owing to infective endocarditis. Read More

APMIS 2019 Jan;127(1):41-44

Centre for Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantation, Brno, Czech Republic.

We report a very rare case of Streptococcus canis native infective endocarditis in a 73-year-old woman living in close contact with her dog. Her echocardiography showed large calcifications in the mitral annulus, massive regurgitation below the posterior leaflet, and adjacent vegetation. Blood culture was positive for Streptococcus Lancefield group G. Read More

J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2018 Dec;31(12):1330-1343

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey. Electronic address:

Over the past six decades, echocardiography has evolved into an important technique for not only imaging cardiac structures, but also, by employing the Doppler equation, for assessing cardiac blood flow and tissue velocities. This review focuses on pulsed Doppler echocardiography: its principles, early development, and clinical applications. Important clinical applications include: (1) measurement of flow velocities, stroke volumes, and regurgitant and shunt volumes; (2) assessment of time intervals, e. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2018 Dec 18;20(6):399-404. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address:

An 8-month-old Hanoverian gelding was presented with a history of cardiac murmurs that were not apparent as a foal nor reported at the time of castration. Major echocardiographic findings included mitral valvular thickening, functional stenosis, and mitral regurgitation of sufficient severity to cause diastolic and systolic cardiac murmurs, left-sided volume overload, and pulmonary hypertension. Due to the hemodynamic severity of the lesion and poor prognosis for future performance and longevity, euthanasia was elected. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

Aims: Bivalvular functional regurgitation (BVFR) defined as concomitant mitral and tricuspid insufficiency has not been described or systematically assessed before. Therefore, this study sought to define incidence, impact and natural history of BVFR in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) to provide the foundation for risk assessment and directions for potential treatment strategies.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 1021 consecutive patients with HFrEF under guideline-directed medical therapy and performed comprehensive echocardiographic and neurohumoral profiling. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Aims: Mechanisms of chronic ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) are well-characterized by apically tethered leaflet caused by papillary muscles (PMs) displacement and adynamic mitral apparatus. We investigated the unique geometry and dynamics of the mitral apparatus in first acute myocardial infarction (MI) by using quantified 3D echocardiography.

Methods And Results: We prospectively performed 3D echocardiography 2. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jan 3;33(1):46-53. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts.

Background: Pathophysiologic mechanisms for the development and progression of degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) remain elusive. Increased concentrations of circulating trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors choline and l-carnitine are associated with the presence and severity of heart disease in people.

Objectives: To determine if differences exist in plasma concentrations of TMAO, choline, or l-carnitine among dogs with DMVD and congestive heart failure (CHF), dogs with asymptomatic DMVD, and healthy control dogs. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Ghent University Hospital, Cornelis Heymanslaan 10, 10-K12, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.

Previously we introduced and validated the average pixel intensity (API) method for grading mitral regurgitation (MR) in a heterogeneous MR population. We now investigated the feasibility and added value of the API method more specifically in patients with functional MR (FMR). We consecutively enrolled 283 patients with pure FMR. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Amsterdam UMC, Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether stress echocardiography improves selection of patients who might have clinical benefit from percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip. In total, 39 patients selected for MitraClip implantation underwent preprocedural low-dose stress (dobutamine or handgrip) echocardiography from which stroke volume, ejection fraction and MR grade were measured. Outcome after MitraClip implantation was determined by New York Heart Association classification and Quality of Life questionnaires. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Dec;7(23):e010584

1 Department of Cardiology Austin Health University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia.

Background The relationship between mitral valve prolapse ( MVP ) and sudden cardiac death ( SCD ) remains controversial. In this systematic review, we evaluate the relationship between isolated MVP and SCD to better define a potential high-risk subtype. In addition, we determine whether premortem parameters could predict SCD in patients with MVP and the incidence of SCD in MVP . Read More

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

a Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust , London , UK.

Introduction: Mitral valve prolapse is a common valve pathology with a spectrum of disease from isolated prolapse to myxomatous, multi-scallop Barlow's disease. The main complications relate to progression of mitral regurgitation, endocarditis, sudden death and stroke. The timing of intervention in patients with asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation is controversial. Read More

Multimed Man Cardiothorac Surg 2018 Nov 16;2018. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Cardiac Surgery Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria.

Transcatheter treatment of structural heart disease is becoming an everyday reality for an increasing number of surgeons, and effective training modalities for basic guide-wire skills, catheter handling, and periprocedural imaging are of growing relevance. In this video tutorial we present a beating-heart porcine model used as a high-fidelity training simulator for transcatheter cardiac valve procedures.  We demonstrate a complete transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair procedure, including periprocedural imaging, clip deployment, and quality control. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Greenberg Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA.

Ischemic mitral regurgitation (iMR) augments risk for right ventricular dysfunction (RV). Right and left ventricular (LV) function are linked via common coronary perfusion, but data is lacking regarding impact of LV ischemia and infarct transmurality-as well as altered preload and afterload-on RV performance. In this prospective multimodality imaging study, stress CMR and 3-dimensional echo (3D-echo) were performed concomitantly in patients with iMR. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Oct 17. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery, Hôpital cardiologique Louis Pradel, Lyon Medical School, Bron, France.

Objectives: Complex structure of mitral valve and its central position in the heart limit assessment of mitral function to standardized calculated parameters assessed using medical imaging (echocardiography). Novel techniques, which allow mitral valve repair (MVr) in a beating heart, offer the opportunity for innovative objective assessment in physiologic and pathologic conditions. We report, to our knowledge, the first data of real-time chordal tension measurement during a transapical neochordae implantation. Read More

Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2018 Nov - Dec;61(5-6):397-403. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

The Division of Cardiology, Mayo College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America.

Compared with the vast literature concerning the echocardiographic assessment of mitral, or aortic disease, the data concerning the evaluation of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is very limited. In this review we summarized the present data concerning the assessment of TR. We review the present knowledge concerning the pathogenesis of TR showing that it is extremely multi-factorial, thus, when assessing patients with TR by echocardiography it is imperative to focus on four major aspects: evaluation of severity of TR, assessment of the etiology of TR, evaluation of the mechanism of TR and suitability for surgical or per-cutaneous repair. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, 55905 MN, USA.

Aims: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and mitral valve prolapse (MVP) are common but the prevalence and significance of coexistent conditions are unknown. This study investigated the prevalence, phenotypic expression, and clinical significance of coexistent MVP-BAV.

Methods And Results: Retrospective comparison of MVP-BAV and MVP-tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) prevalence including de novo echocardiographic analysis of all MVP-BAV patients between 2005 and 2015 was performed. Read More

Swiss Med Wkly 2018 11 15;148:w14675. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

, 3010, Bern, SWITZERLAND.

BACKGROUND The term “predisposition” is used as an indication of antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent infective endocarditis and as a criterion for diagnosing infective endocarditis according to the modified Duke criteria. The criterion for diagnosing infective endocarditis in native valves is not well defined. OBJECTIVES To identify conditions that increase the risk for infective endocarditis in native valves, for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis according to the modified Duke criteria. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb;20(2):131-132

Marcus Heart Valve Center, Piedmont Heart Institute, 95 Collier Rd NW Suite 5015, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Nov 8. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, Aenesthesiological and Geriatric Sciences "Sapienza" University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I, Viale del Policlinico 155, Rome, Italy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe incidence and determinants of left ventricular reverse remodelling (r-LVR) at 6 months follow-up after MitraClip implantation in patients with secondary severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods And Results: Forty-five patients, undergoing MitralClip implantation with low ejection fraction and high surgical risk were enrolled in this study. Three of them died before the scheduled 6 months follow-up period and one patient had cardiac surgery due to MitraClip detachment. Read More

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2018 Nov 8. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Structural Heart and Valve Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is not currently approved for pure native valve aortic incompetence, and is typically performed on a compassionate basis in selected patients who are at high risk for conventional surgery. We describe the first use of TAVR to treat iatrogenic severe acute pure aortic incompetence following mitral valve surgery. A 71-year-old gentleman developed life-threatening acute aortic regurgitation (AR) within hours of a very challenging fifth open heart mitral valve replacement. Read More

J Interv Cardiol 2018 Dec 5;31(6):916-924. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Institut für Herz- und Kreislaufforschung am Klinikum Links der Weser Bremen (BIHKF), Bremen, Germany.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) on outcome after transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR).

Methods And Results: One hundred thirty patients (median age 72.7 ± 10. Read More

J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep 2018 Jan-Dec;6:2324709618807504. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.

In this article, we report the case of a 75-year-old man who was presented with new low back pain for 2 weeks. His past history was significant for severe aortic stenosis necessitating bioprosthetic aortic valve placement 4 years ago, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. His physical examination was positive for point tenderness over the lower lumbar spine. Read More

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2018 Oct;49(10):e151-e153

A newborn with severe neonatal Marfan syndrome (NMS), characterized by aortic root dilation, mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation, diaphragmatic eventration with respiratory distress, intestinal malrotation, and various skeletal abnormalities, developed bilateral pupillary block from luxated crystalline lenses. He underwent bilateral immediate sequential vitrectomy and lensectomy to prevent further episodes of pupillary block. Bilateral surgery was performed due to the extremely high anesthesia risk. Read More

J Cardiovasc Thorac Res 2018 30;10(3):138-143. Epub 2018 Sep 30.

Department of Cardiac MRI, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, USA.

The understanding of gross cardiac anatomy has been relatively stable over the last 80 years, reliant on well-established autopsy findings. The advent of dynamic imaging by cardiac MRI and CT provides a window to view anatomic features in vivo, providing insights typically masked at autopsy due to death. We hypothesize that cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with its high spatial and temporal resolution allows detection of anatomic features not previously appreciated at autopsy. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Oct 10. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Cardiac Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass. Electronic address: