Mitral valve replacement (MVR) is usually performed in two methods of running and interrupted suturing. In running method, the suturing of the valve is usually with some traction on the annulus and also there is a risk of aortic valve injury. This study was conducted to evaluate a new technique for suturing to avoid these complications and decrease the time of cardiac arrest. One hundred an...

The design and development of functional engineered tissues is dependent on multiple considerations, with biomechanics paramount for load-bearing constructs such as tissue engineered heart valves. As the cryopreserved allograft is the current standard for valve replacement in pediatric patients, identifying and quantifying essential structural–mechanical properties of the native valve leaflet i...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. Here, we present a special surgical case of mitral stenosis with SLE. Mitral valve replacement was performed, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Pathohistological findings of the mitral valve showed chronic inflammation, proliferative fibrous change. The postoperative course seemed to be uneventful. But ...

Aortic stenosis is the most common native valve disease, affecting up to 5% of the elderly population. Surgical aortic valve replacement reduces symptoms and improves survival, and is the definitive therapy in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. However, despite the good results of classic surgery, risk is markedly increased in elderly patients with co-morbidities. Transcatheter a...

Bacillus cereus is a rare cause of endocarditis, typically associated with intravenous drug abuse, rheumatic heart disease, prosthetic heart valves, pacemakers, or immunodeficiency. We present the first case of native valve Bacillus cereus endocarditis with no apparent risk factors. The patient had a fulminant course requiring emergent valve replacement.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is nowadays a routine therapy for patients with advanced heart failure. We present the case of a 74-year-old male patient who was admitted to our center with terminal heart failure in dilated cardiomyopathy and ascending aortic aneurysm with aortic valve regurgitation. The LVAD implantation with simultaneous aortic valve and supracoronary ascending aortic r...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of the prosthesis type on early mortality and long-term survival after re-replacement of aortic valve prosthesis, especially in patients over 60 years old. METHODS Late outcome of 223 patients who underwent a reoperation on the aortic valve and received a mechanical (mechanical group) or biological (biological group) heart valve...

V alve replacement for aortic stenosis is easily recognized as life saving, because of the short survival of most patients with advanced symptomatic stages of aortic stenosis. However, there is an increased late mortality from congestive heart failure occurring years after the aortic valve replacement. This problem has been thought to relate to irreversible myocardial changes, manifested morpho...

KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE We describe the first valve-in-valve Corevalve transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the St. Jude Toronto stentless porcine aortic valve in the United States, which enabled this 59-year-old patient with a history of bacterial endocarditis and aortic regurgitation to avoid heart transplant with complete resolution of his severe left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES This study was undertaken to investigate time trends in early mortality, morbidity and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing heart valve surgery over the last decade. METHODS A regional, prospectively collected, study comprising all patients (2,327) undergoing valve surgery in a defined geographical area from January 1990 to December 1999 was conducted. Data were collecte...