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Congenit Heart Dis 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Betty Irene Moore Heart Center Clinical and Translational Research Program, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California.

Background: Little is known about the early time course of biventricular function and mechanics after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. We sought to evaluate and describe the evolution of the right ventricle (RV) after TOF repair in young infants and children using conventional echocardiographic parameters and global longitudinal strain (GLS).

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients with TOF and pulmonary stenosis who underwent repair from January 2002 to September 2015 and had at least 3 serial postsurgical echocardiograms spanning from infancy to early childhood (<8 years). Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.

Dr. Dwight C. McGoon, a prolific surgeon at the Mayo Clinic, achieved an amazing feat during the early days of cardiac surgery. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery. Aurora, CO.

Background: Bovine Jugular Vein (BJV) conduits are commonly used for pulmonary valve replacement in pediatric patients. They are available in supported (sBJV) and unsupported (uBJV) versions. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of sBJV and uBJV conduits. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Apr 11;14(1):72. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department in cardiac surgery hospital of Damascus university, Damascus, Syria.

Background: Yellow nail syndrome is a rare disease with unknown etiology, Attributed to functional anomalies or disturbance in lymphatic drainage. This condition is characterized by triad of nail discoloration, respiratory or intrathoracic manifestations and lymphedema.

Case Presentation: Twenty days after mitral valve replacement for severe rheumatic mitral valve stenosis, 39 years old woman presented with face tenderness and hearing problems besides stuffy and clogged nose and underwent routin rhinosinusitis therapy. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Quebec Heart & Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address:

Objective: In patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the impact of concomitant mitral stenosis (MS) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and impact of moderate to severe MS in patients undergoing TAVR.

Methods: The study included 2113 consecutive patients (mean age: 80 ± 9 years, mean STS: 6. Read More

Hum Genet 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.

Rare heterozygous variants in SMAD6 have been identified as a significant genetic contributor to bicuspid aortic valve-associated thoracic aortic aneurysm on one hand and non-syndromic midline craniosynostosis on the other. In this study, we report two individuals with biallelic missense variants in SMAD6 and a complex cardiac phenotype. Trio exome sequencing in Proband 1, a male who had aortic isthmus stenosis, revealed the homozygous SMAD6 variant p. Read More

Congenit Heart Dis 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota.

Background: We hypothesized that echocardiographic indices of right ventricular to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling were comparable to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI)-derived RV volumetric indices in predicting disease severity in chronic pulmonary regurgitation (PR).

Methods: Patients with ≥ moderate PR (2003-2015) with and without prior CMRI scans were enrolled into the study cohort and validation cohort, respectively. Endpoint was to determine the association between noninvasive RV-PA coupling indices (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/right ventricular systolic pressure [TAPSE/RVSP] and fractional area change [FAC]/RVSP ratio) and markers of disease severity, and compared this association to that of CMRI-derived RV volumetric indices and markers of disease severity (peak oxygen consumption [VO ], NT-proBNP and atrial and/or ventricular arrhythmias). Read More

BMC Pediatr 2019 Apr 5;19(1):92. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Neonatology Department, Miguel Servet Children's Hospital, Isabel la Católica Avenue 1-3, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.

Background: Rasopathies are a group of genetic malformative syndromes including neurofibromatosis 1, Noonan, LEOPARD, Costello, cardio-facio-cutaneous, Legius, and capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndromes.

Case Presentation: We present a female newborn that consulted at the emergency department with refusal to eat and sleepiness. A shortened femur, thickened nucal fold and suspect for agenesis of the corpus callosum were observed in prenatal ultrasound. Read More

An Pediatr (Barc) 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Servicio de Cardiología Infantil, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu-Clínic, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Servicio de Cuidados Críticos, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Estados Unidos.

Introduction: Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and critical pulmonary stenosis in newborns encompasses a wide spectrum of disease, including cases with significant right ventricular hypoplasia and coronary artery to right ventricle fistulae, which may be considered a contraindication for decompression of the right ventricle. The aim of this study was to review the middle- and long-term outcomes of these patients over 20 years and identify differential factors between both groups, including patients with coronary artery fistulae.

Patients And Methods: We performed a descriptive retrospective study by identifying all patients that received a diagnosis of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and critical pulmonary stenosis between January 1996 and January 2018. Read More

Exp Physiol 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

BIOMED- Biomedical Research Center, and REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? An increasing number of patients are in need of aortic valve replacement. It remains unresolved how surgical aortic valve replacement affects the cardiopulmonary and muscle function during exercise. What is the main finding and its importance? Early after the surgical replacement of the aortic valve a significant decline in pulmonary function was observed, which was followed by a decline in skeletal muscle function in the subsequent weeks of recovery. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Leipzig - Heart Centre, Strümpellstrasse 39, 04289, Leipzig, Germany.

To compare contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (ceMRA) and 3D steady-state free precession (SSFP) during systole and diastole for assessment of the right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT) in patients considered for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. We retrospectively evaluated 89 patients (male: 45, mean age 19 ± 8 years), who underwent cardiac-MRI after surgical TOF-repair. Datasets covering the whole heart in systole and diastole were acquired using ECG-gated 3D SSFP and non-gated ceMRA. Read More

Can J Cardiol 2019 Apr 11;35(4):446-452. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Divisions of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Common arterial trunk (CAT) is a rare anomaly with a spectrum of pathology. We sought to identify current trends and factors associated with postnatal outcomes.

Methods: This was a single-centre review including 153 live births with planned surgery. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Shanghai Obstetrical Cardiology Intensive Care Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.

Objective: To develop a model for predicting cardiac risk among pregnant women with structural heart disease in eastern China.

Methods: The model was built using data from pregnant women (development cohort, n=566; validation cohort, n=314) who delivered at Shanghai Obstetrical Cardiology Intensive Care Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai, between 2002 and 2015. Independent predictors of adverse cardiac events were determined by logistic regression. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department for Cardiothoracic, Transplant, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany.

Background: Unlike the vast amount of animal data available on the recellularization of allogenic decellularized heart valves (DHV), there have only been sporadic histological reports on such grafts in humans.

Methods: Two experienced cardiac pathologists independently evaluated human specimens obtained during re-operation between 12/2010 and 4/2017 DHV in 7 categories following automated staining (scores 0-6) in comparison to published data. An optimal result of 42 points was classified as 100%. Read More

Cardiovasc Revasc Med 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Interventional Cardiology Unit, Cardio Center, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milano, Italy.

Mitral stenosis is a rare and potentially severe complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Given the anatomic coupling and interdependence of the aortic and mitral valves, it comes by itself that procedures (either surgical or percutaneous) involving the aortic valve imply the risk of altering mitral valve function. Indeed, transcatheter aortic prostheses may impair adequate anterior mitral leaflet (AML) opening, especially when implanted in a "low" position, thus resulting in high transvalvular gradients. Read More

Birth Defects Res 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Background: Benzodiazepine medications can be used to treat anxiety, a condition affecting 15% of women of childbearing age in the United States. Studies have shown conflicting results for the association between benzodiazepine use during pregnancy and birth defects.

Methods: We analyzed 1997-2011 data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a multisite, population-based case-control study. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Objectives: Decellularized pulmonary homografts (DPH) have shown excellent results for pulmonary valve replacement. However, controlled multicentre studies are lacking to date.

Methods: Prospective European multicentre trial evaluating DPH for pulmonary valve replacement. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2019 27;6:52. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.

Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) and valvular pulmonic stenosis (PS) are two of the most common congenital heart diseases of dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and mode of inheritance of these congenital heart diseases in a large veterinary teaching hospital population. Case records of dogs presented to the University of California Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH) between January 2008 to December 2017 were reviewed retrospectively and pedigree information was obtained when available. Read More

Mayo Clin Proc 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

INOVA Heart and Vascular Institute, Fairfax, VA; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Objective: To comparatively assess the natural history of patients of different ages undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Patients And Methods: For this study, we used the YOUNG TAVR, an international, multicenter registry investigating mortality trends up to 2 years in patients with aortic valve stenosis treated by TAVR, classified according to 3 prespecified age groups: 75 years or younger (n=179), 76 to 86 years (n=602), and older than 86 years (n=221). A total of 1002 patients undergoing TAVR were included. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2019 19;56:32-36. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Westmead Institute for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia; The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address:

Presentation Of Case: A multiparous expectant mother was referred to our tertiary unit at 23 weeks with a complex fetal cardiac anomaly in the context of suspected heterotaxy syndrome. The cardiac findings were consistent with isomerism: the fetal cardiac position was levocardia with a single functioning double outlet ventricle and AV valve, pulmonary stenosis, and interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC) with azygous continuation. The fetal abdominal situs was also altered, with the stomach to the right, and the hepatobiliary system midline to left. Read More

Med Intensiva 2019 Feb 25. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Vithas Parque San Antonio, Málaga, España.

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 27;9(1):2956. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Surgery and Physiology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Aortic Stenosis (AS) is the most frequent valvulopathy in the western world. Traditionally aortic valve replacement (AVR) has been recommended immediately after the onset of heart failure (HF) symptoms. However, recent evidence suggests that AVR outcome can be improved if performed earlier. Read More

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2019 01;10(1):18-19

1 Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA.

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2019 01;10(1):11-17

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

Objective: Surgical outcomes of biventricular repair for hearts with hypoplastic left ventricle with congenital mitral valve stenosis are described. Serial changes of left ventricular geometry and clinical features after biventricular repair were reviewed.

Methods: Eight patients with hypoplastic left ventricle and congenital mitral valve stenosis who underwent first surgical intervention for biventricular circulation in neonatal or infantile period between 2001 and 2014 comprise the study population. Read More

Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Pôle des cardiopathies congénitales de l'enfant et de l'adulte, centre de référence malformations cardiaques congénitales complexes (M3C), hôpital Marie-Lannelongue, université Paris-Sud, université Paris-Saclay, 133, avenue de la Résistance, 92350 Le Plessis-Robinson, France.

Background: Transcatheter pulmonary valvuloplasty in neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) or duct-dependent pulmonary valve stenosis (DD-PVS) has become a reasonable alternative to surgical right ventricle decompression.

Aim: To investigate mid-term outcomes following pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Methods: Sixty-five neonates with PA-IVS (n=29) or DD-PVS (n=36) (median age 4 days; mean weight 3. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2019 Feb 25;21:93-97. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 W Drake Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.

A 10-week-old male intact mixed breed dog presented for evaluation of suspected right-sided congestive heart failure. Echocardiographic imaging revealed a perforate cor triatriatum dexter (CTD), along with pulmonary valve stenosis and tricuspid and mitral valve dysplasia. In typical CTD cases, there is unidirectional blood flow across the dividing membrane, from the caudal into the cranial right atrial chambers. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2019 Feb 12;21:41-48. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Congenital Heart Center, 1600 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.

Four dogs presented for evaluation and treatment of severe pulmonic valve stenosis and underwent stenting of the pulmonic valve annulus using bare-metal balloon-expandable stents. All dogs survived the procedure with immediate reduction of the transpulmonary valve pressure gradient and increase in activity levels. One dog had a stent fracture and migration 1 month after the intervention. Read More

Isr Med Assoc J 2019 Feb;21(2):88-93

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.

Background: Rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) is a relatively rare diagnosis in the developed countries and its treatment during pregnancy is challenging due to hemodynamic changes. With the demographic changes due to recent waves of immigration an increase in the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease is expected.

Objectives: To evaluate maternal and neonatal complications in patients with mitral stenosis. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2019 Feb;72(2):156-159

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan.

Ross procedure has been found to have a lower incidence of infective endocarditis compared to other aortic replacement procedure using prosthetic valves. We report a case of 25-year-old man who underwent Ross procedure for congenital aortic stenosis and regurgitation when he was 7 years old. He presented with fever and was highly suspected of infective endocarditis. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

The Fetal Center, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address:

The aim of foetal cardiac therapy is to treat an abnormality at the developmental stage so that the process of cardiac growth, which is complex and relies on the volume and direction of circulating blood as well as genetic determinants, can continue. In reality, most cardiac interventions are palliative; hence, major abnormalities are still present at birth. Nevertheless, tangible benefits following successful foetal intervention include improved haemodynamics and reduction in secondary damage leading to better postnatal outcomes. Read More

Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

The Heart Centre for Children, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.

Despite advances in modern surgery, congenital heart disease remains a medical challenge and major cause of infant mortality. Valved conduits are routinely used to surgically correct blood flow in hearts with congenital malformations by connecting the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery (RV-PA). This review explores the current range of RV-PA conduits and describes their strengths and disadvantages. Read More

Clin Res Cardiol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, Pulmonary Diseases and Vascular Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is the most common valve disease requiring therapeutic intervention. Even though the incidence of AS has been continuously rising and AS is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, to date, no medical treatments have been identified that can modify disease progression. This unmet medical need is likely attributed to an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanism driving disease development. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Necker Sick Children Hospital-M3C, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.

Objectives: Repair of tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) can be challenging in the presence of an abnormal coronary artery (CA) in 5-12% of cases. The aim of this study was to report our experience with ToF repair without the systematic use of a right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit.

Methods: We conducted a monocentric retrospective study from 2000 to 2016, including 943 patients with ToF who underwent biventricular repair, of whom 8% (n = 76) presented with an abnormal CA. Read More

J Tehran Heart Cent 2018 Jul;13(3):153-154

Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Int Heart J 2019 Mar 8;60(2):352-358. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Cardiology, Sakakibara Heart Institute.

Cirrhosis is a significant adverse factor of cardiac surgeries. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has evolved as a less invasive therapy for aortic stenosis, whereas detailed case analysis of TAVI in cirrhotic patients is limited.Among 444 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI in the Sakakibara Heart Institute between October 2013 and January 2018, we retrospectively reviewed 11 patients (2. Read More

Cardiovasc Diagn Ther 2018 Dec;8(6):725-738

Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, St Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

A bicuspid aortic valve and/or coarctation of the aorta (COA) are often associated with dilatation of the ascending aorta and para-coarctation. Congenital heart diseases (CHD), such as truncus arteriosus, transposition of the great arteries (TGA), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), single ventricle with pulmonary stenosis/atresia and the Fontan procedure, are also associated with aortic root dilatation, aneurysm and rarely, dissection, which can be fatal and require aortic valve and root surgery. A significant subset of adults with complex CHD exhibit progressive dilatation of the aortic root even after repair due to aortic medial degeneration. Read More

Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am 2019 Mar 22;31(1):31-38. Epub 2018 Dec 22.

School of Nursing, Louisiana State University Health, 1900 Gravier Street, Room 328, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. Electronic address:

Valvular heart dysfunction (VHD) affects up to 7% of adults up to age 44 year, whereas up to 13% of individuals older than 75 years are affected. The broad term of valvular heart disease includes dysfunction of one or more of the 4 heart valves, including the pulmonary valve, tricuspid valve, mitral valve, or aortic valve. Specifically the more frequent anomalies, implication, assessment, and treatment that will be described more extensively include aortic regurgitation, aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, or tricuspid regurgitation. Read More

JAMA Cardiol 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Importance: Severe aortic stenosis causes pressure overload of the left ventricle, resulting in progressive cardiac dysfunction that can extend beyond the left ventricle. A staging system for aortic stenosis has been recently proposed that quantifies the extent of structural and functional cardiac changes in aortic stenosis.

Objectives: To confirm the reproducibility of a proposed staging system and expand the study findings by performing a survival analysis and to evaluate the association of aortic stenosis staging with both cardiac and noncardiac post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) readmissions. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Apr 25;123(8):1314-1320. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas, Texas. Electronic address:

This study was performed to investigate the prevalence and impact on survival of baseline mitral stenosis (MS) in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) due to the presence of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. This retrospective study included 928 consecutive patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI in 2 institutions, from January 2012 to August 2016. Mean follow-up was 40. Read More

Int J Surg 2019 Mar 28;63:1-7. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

GVM Care & Research, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Anthea Hospital, Bari, Italy.

Background: The effects of surgical aortic valve replacement versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement on endothelial function are unknown. We investigated the effects of surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement on early and 90-day endothelial function measured by brachial flow mediated dilation and apoptotic rate in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells in patients with significant aortic stenosis, intermediate risk of surgery, and no coronary artery disease.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational case control single-blind study at a single tertiary center. Read More

J Comp Pathol 2019 Jan 30;166:29-34. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Strandings of live new-born West Indian manatees (WIMs; Trichechus manatus) are one of the main challenges for the conservation of this species in Brazil, particularly in the northeastern states. Congenital malformations (CMs) are rare in sirenians. We identified CMs in two of 19 stranded WIMs that were rescued, rehabilitated and subjected to complete pathological examinations in Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte States between 1992 and 2017. Read More

Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2019 Feb 20;38(1):57-62. Epub 2019 Jan 20.

c Department of Medical Ultrasound , Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , China.

Introduction: The main characteristics of absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APVS) include the absence or hypoplasia of the pulmonary valve, stenosis of the pulmonary valve annulus, and aneurysmal dilatation of the pulmonary trunk and its branches. In the more common type 1, the tetralogy of Fallot-like type, there is a ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, pulmonary arterial dilatation, and absence of ductus arteriosus, The second type has an intact ventricular septum, less pulmonary artery dilatation, and a patent ductus arteriosus, with or without tricuspid atresia.

Case Report: This APVS had an intact ventricular septum with an absent ductus arteriosus. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Apr 7;123(7):1149-1155. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Cardiology, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address:

We studied the trends and outcomes of patients with intestinal angiodysplasia-associated gastrointestinal bleeding (Heyde's syndrome [HS]) with aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The National Inpatient Sample (2007 to 2014) and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify HS hospitalizations, pertinent co-morbidities, and outcomes of SAVR versus TAVI from 2011 to 2014. The incidence of HS with AS was 3. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2019 Jan;73(2):148-157

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Background: Transcatheter aortic and pulmonary valves have been used to treat stenosis or regurgitation after prior surgical tricuspid valve (TV) replacement or repair. Little is known about intermediate-term valve-related outcomes after transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR), including valve function, thrombus, and endocarditis.

Objectives: The authors sought to evaluate mid-term outcomes in a large cohort of patients who underwent TTVR after surgical TV repair or replacement, with a focus on valve-related outcomes. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Jan 10. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, PA, USA.

Objectives: Patients with patent internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts after prior coronary artery bypass grafting surgery who require aortic valve replacement (AVR) pose unique technical challenges for safe and optimal myocardial protection. The purpose of this study is to review our short- and long-term outcomes with redo minimally invasive AVR in patients with patent in situ ITA grafts.

Methods: From 2008 to 2016, 48 patients with at least 1 patent in situ mammary artery graft underwent minimally invasive AVR. Read More

Indian J Anaesth 2018 Dec;62(12):963-971

Department of Cardiac Anesthesia, Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Background And Aims: There is conflicting evidence on adverse effect of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) on outcomes after cardiac surgery for rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The authors studied Indian patients with RHD and preoperative PAH, who undergo cardiac surgery with a hypothesis that they have poor short and long-term outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of 407 patients. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018 2;30:245. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

Service de Chirurgie Thoracique et Cardio-vasculaire, Hôpital de Fann, UCAD, Dakar, Sénégal.

Interauricular communication (IAC) is the second most important congenital heart disease in children. It accounts for 6-8% of congenital cardiac malformations in children. However, many questions are still open about this pathology. Read More

J Card Surg 2019 Jan 9;34(1):7-13. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (VIV-TAVI) in patients with degenerated small bioprostheses.

Methods: Outcomes of consecutive 27 high-risk patients (logistic EuroSCORE 35.5 ± 18. Read More