OBJECTIVE Elevated plasma aldosterone concentrations in patients have been linked to a spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists provide additional benefits in patients with heart failure. However, whether aldosterone and the mineralocorticoid receptor are involved in aortic aneurysm is unknown. APPROACH AND RESULTS We report that administration of deoxycorti...

BACKGROUND Simultaneous repair of pectus deformities and open heart surgery has been reported. CASE PRESENTATION We describe a case of a 23 year old male with a severe pectus deformity complaining of chest pain. Subsequent work up revealed a 10 cm. ascending aortic aneurysm and severe aortic insufficiency. We opted to repair the aneurysm and close the sternotomy, leaving the deformity intact....

A 32-year-old woman presented to the emergency department after the sudden onset of palpitations, dyspnoea and left-sided tinnitus. Echocardiography revealed a ruptured aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva into the right atrium. Due to deterioration of right heart failure with rapidly progressive decline of systemic blood pressure, the patient underwent immediate surgery with a patch r...

An 82-year-old man presented with typical signs and symptoms of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) associated with an aortoiliac aneurysm, such as a pulsatile abdominal mass, continuous bruit, thrill, and high output heart failure. Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) confirmed the presence of an AVF between the right common iliac artery aneurysm and vein. We subjected the patient to surgic...

Left ventricular aneurysm is a common sequela of anterior myocardial infarction. At the time of coronary artery bypass grafting, resection of this aneurysm is frequently undertaken to alleviate symptoms of heart failure and/or refractory ventricular tachycardia. Complications related to aneurysmectomy are uncommon. We describe an unusual patient who presented with hemoptysis related to the form...

A patient with unruptured congenital aneurysm of the left coronary sinus of Valsalva presented with acute right-sided heart failure due to right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The mechanism for such an acute presentation may have been a sudden increase in the size of the aneurysm. The surgical importance of this lesion is the combined aortocameral approach which is seldom required for c...

The frequency of cardioembolic stroke is expected to rise as the general population ages. Much of the increase may be attributed to atrial fibrillation, the most common cause of cardioembolic stroke and one that plays a substantial role in aging adults. Other sources of cardioembolic stroke may include ventricular thrombus from myocardial infarction, heart failure, structural heart defects such...

Giant congenital right atrial aneurysms are rare defects of the heart. Though usually asymptomatic, they can be potentially life-threatening. Major risks include heart failure, supraventricular arrhythmias, rupture of the wall of the aneurysm. This defect is usually diagnosed incidentally. It is commonly found when transthoracic echocardiography or chest X-ray is performed. In some cases comput...

Methods We conducted a retrospective observational analysis of our experience with different approaches and perfusion techniques in patients with thoraco-abdominal aneurysm. Group 1: 3 patients: aortic cross-clamp, with left heart bypass, without selective organ perfusion Group 2: 2 patients: aortic cross-clamp, without left heart bypass, selective organ perfusion Group 3: 1 patient: aortic cro...

We present the case of a giant aneurysm and dissection of the abdominal aorta in an eight month old infant. Imaging studies especially a helicoid computerized axial tomography with 3D reconstruction, showed a lesion which extended from the diaphragm to the iliac arteries. The clinical findings and the above mentioned studies revealed non-obstructive heart rhabdomyomas, tubers in the brain and t...