Seven cases of single ventricle, six cases of hypoplasia of the right heart (tricuspid atresia), and one case of hypoplasia of the left heart were investigated with reflected ultrasound. In hypoplasia of the right heart there was abnormal anterior movement of the mitral valve; in hypoplasia of the left heart, abnormal anterior movement of the tricuspid valve, and in single ventricle, similiar m...

Interpretation of the meaning of a mean diastolic atrioventricular gradient or a mean systolic ventricular-great vessel gradient requires simultaneous determination of the level of the gradient, the heart rate, and the cardiac output. The feasibility of steady-state Fick principle cardiac output determination during combined right and left heart catheterization is investigated. LEFT heart cathe...

A rare presentation with rapidly progressive right heart failure due to tricuspid inflow obstruction (simulating right-sided valvular heart disease) caused by a non-coronary cusp sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with small perforation is reported. The aneurysm was causing ball valve obstruction at the tricuspid valve, leading to dilated right atrium and back pressure changes which were relieved after...

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.

Prosthetic heart valve (PHV) replacement replaces a heart disease with another one. There is no ideal prosthetic heart valve. All of the prosthetic heart valves need to be followed by caution. PHV diseases (PHVD) includes a group of pathologic processes like prosthetic valve obstruction, thromboembolism and regurgitation. Correct diagnosis and treatment of these pathologic situations will decre...

  Multiple aorto-cardiac cavity communications is very rare but important complication of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis. The case below illustrates multiple aorto-cardiac cavity fistula formation following prostethic aortic valve endocarditis presented with slowly progressive symptoms of heart failure. A brief review of surgical reconstruction and the existing literature are presented, i...

The indication for aortic valve replacement (AVR) combined left ventricular (LV) plasty in the patient with aortic valve stenosis (AS) complicated by ischemic heart disease is controversial. We describe a case of AS with ischemic heart disease of a patient who underwent a successful surgical treatment, AVR combined with the endoventricular patch technique. The patient was an 82-year-old woman w...

Physical check-ups among athletes with valvular heart disease are of significant relevance. In athletes with mitral valve stenosis the extent of allowed physical activity is dependant on the size of the left atrium and the severity of the valve defect. Patients with mild-to-moderate mitral valve regurgitation can participate in all types of sport associated with low and moderate isometric stres...