BackgroundCalcified amorphous tumor (CAT) of the heart is a rare non-neoplastic intracavitary cardiac mass. Several case reports have been published but large series are lacking.ObjectiveTo determine clinical features, current management and outcomes of this rare disease.DesignA systematic review of all articles reporting cases of CAT in order to perform a pooled analysis of its clinical features, management and outcomes.Data sourcesAn electronic search of all English articles using PUBMED was performed. Further studies were identified by cross-referencing from relevant papers.Inclusion criteriaWe restricted inclusion to articles reporting cases of CAT in the English language literature published up to July 2014.Data extractionOne author performed data extraction using predefined data fields.ResultsA total of 27 articles, reporting 42 cases of CAT were found and included in this review.ConclusionIn this review, the most frequent presenting symptoms were dyspnea and embolic events. Mitral valve and annulus were the most frequent location of CAT. Surgery was most of the time required to confirm diagnosis, and was relatively safe. Overall outcome after surgical resection was good.

Both on- and off-pump totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting are feasible, with a conversion rate that diminishes with increasing experience. Conversion does not adversely affect outcome and thus constitutes a safe alternative. Although target vessel reintervention may be slightly higher than that reported for open coronary artery bypass grafting, graft patency and major adverse cardiac events for both approaches are comparable to those reported in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting procedure.

We aimed to prospectively and quantitatively assess the effects of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) on mitral regurgitation (MR) and to examine the determinants of the changes in MR. Fifty-two patients with AS scheduled for AVR were included if holosystolic MR not being considered for replacement or repair was detected. MR was quantified using the proximal isovelocity surface area method before and 8 ؎ 4 days after surgery. Mitral valvular deformation parameters did not change significantly, but the mitral effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) and regurgitant volume decreased from 11 ؎ 6 mm 2 to 8 ؎ 6 mm 2 and from 20 ؎ 10 ml to 11 ؎ 9 ml, respectively (both p <0.0001). Using multiple linear regression analysis, preoperative severity of MR, mitral leaflet coaptation height, and end-diastolic volume decrease were independently associated with postoperative reduction in MR, whereas changes in mitral valve morphology after surgery were not. Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common finding in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The severity of the MR increases over time in relation to the increase in transaortic pressure gradient.1 At the time of aortic valve replacement (AVR), up to two-thirds of patients with AS exhibit varying degrees of MR.2 Because combined aortic and mitral valve replacement markedly increases the operative risk and affects longterm morbidity and mortality, 3,4 it has been suggested that MR does not require specific treatment because downgrading of MR usually occurs after isolated AVR. In fact, AVR for AS, by reducing left ventricular (LV) afterload, might have the potential to improve mitral valve competence through reverse LV remodeling and reduced mitral annular size. Several authors 2,5-13 have attempted to determine predictive factors for MR changes after surgery. However, these studies, mostly limited by their retrospective nature and/or by the qualitative or semi-quantitative assessment of MR, have given conflicting results. Indeed, the percentage of patients with reduced MR ranges from Ͼ80% 9 to Ͻ30%.8 No study has used a quantitative method for assessing MR in this setting. The extent and determinants of changes in MR after AVR, therefore, remain to be determined. Whether postoperative changes in MR reflect LV hemodynamics or LV and mitral valve geometric changes is unknown. We therefore aimed to prospectively and quantitatively assess the effects of AVR on MR severity and to examine the determinants of postoperative changes in MR. MethodsPatients were included in this multicenter study if they presented with severe AS and were scheduled for AVR and had at least mild holosystolic MR. Patients with MR being considered for a concomitant mitral valve procedure were excluded, as were patients with previous mitral valve surgery, technically inadequate echocardiogram, or greater than moderate aortic regurgitation (vena contracta width Ͼ6 mm). Patients were also subsequently excluded from the study if any surgical procedure on the mitral valve (repair or replacement) was pe...

Integrated revascularization treatment plans provide minimally invasive options for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. This approach may be accomplished with no mortality, low perioperative morbidity, and excellent angiographic LIMA patency. The reintervention rate after PCI in this series was higher than that reported elsewhere and should be investigated further. The choice of suitable vessel, type of stent and timing of the treatment must be carefully considered before implementing this hybrid strategy.

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The largest number of people with MR is in type IIIb. Certain etiologies show overlap within functional classes due to multiple mechanisms of MR. We attempted to classify etiologies of MR by a functional class to determine the disease burden.

Pigs have been reported to present with a stronger pulmonary vascular reactivity than many other species, including dogs. We investigated the pulmonary vascular impedance response to autologous blood clot embolic pulmonary hypertension in anesthetized and ventilated minipigs (n = 6) and dogs (n = 6). Before embolization, minipigs, compared with dogs, presented with higher mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa; by an average of 9 mmHg), a steeper slope of Ppa-flow (Q) relationships, and higher 0-Hz impedance (Z0) and first-harmonic impedance (Z1), without significant differences in characteristic impedance (Zc), and a lower ratio of pulsatile hydraulic power to total hydraulic power. Embolic pulmonary hypertension (mean Ppa: 40-55 mmHg) was associated with increased Z0 and Z1 in both species, but the minipigs had a steeper slope of Ppa/Q plots and an increased Zc. At identical Q and Ppa, minipigs still presented with higher Z1 and Zc and a lower ratio of pulsatile hydraulic power to total hydraulic power. The energy transmission ratio, defined as the hydraulic power in the measured waves divided by the hydraulic power in the forward waves, was better preserved after embolism in minipigs. No differences in wave reflection indexes were found before and after embolism. We conclude that minipigs, compared with dogs, present with a higher pulmonary vascular resistance and reactivity and adapt to embolic pulmonary hypertension by an increased Zc without earlier wave reflection. These differences allow for a reduced pulsatile component of hydraulic power and, therefore, a better energy transfer from the right ventricle to the pulmonary circulation.

Systemic-to-pulmonary shunting in growing pigs has been proposed as an experimental model of high-flow pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart defects. We investigated multipoint pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) vs. cardiac output (Q) plots and pulmonary vascular impedance spectra in 13 piglets aged approximately 4 mo and ventilated alternatively in hyperoxia (inspired O2 fraction 0.4) and in hypoxia (inspired O2 fraction 0.12). The measurements were done 8 wk after either an anastomosis between the thoracic aorta and the pulmonary trunk (n = 7 piglets) or a sham operation (n = 6). Cardiac output was altered by a manipulation of venous return. In the sham-operated piglets, hypoxia increased Ppa by an average of 12 mmHg over the entire range of Q studied, from 60 to 120 ml/kg, and increased both 0 Hz (Z0) and characteristic (Zc) pulmonary vascular impedance. In the shunted piglets compared with the sham-operated piglets in hyperoxia, Ppa was increased by an average of 5-6 mmHg at all levels of Q studied, from 60 to 120 ml/kg (P < 0.01), and Zc was also increased (P < 0.01), whereas Z0 was unchanged. In the shunted piglets, hypoxia increased Ppa at all levels of Q studied only to an average of 3 mmHg, and neither Z0 nor Zc was altered by hypoxia. We conclude that an aortopulmonary shunt of 2-mo duration in growing pigs increases both pulmonary vascular resistance and impedance and is associated with a blunting of pulmonary vascular reactivity to hypoxia.