Patients with refractory angina who underwent transmyocardial revascularization and received continued medical therapy, as compared with similar patients who received medical therapy alone, had a significantly better outcome with respect to improvement in angina, survival free of cardiac events, freedom from treatment failure, and freedom from cardiac-related rehospitalization.

The St Jude Medical Trifecta valve is a unique pericardial bioprosthesis with design elements that provide excellent hemodynamic performance while providing ease of implantation. Long-term follow-up continues to confirm the promising results of this innovative bioprosthesis.

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These midterm results demonstrate that the Trifecta valve is a safe and effective valve substitute with excellent hemodynamic performance and durability that is maintained through the 6-year follow-up period.

The present prospective study was designed to determine the prevalence of pleural effusion at approximately 28 days after cardiac surgery and their subsequent course. This consecutive case study included 389 patients; 312 had only coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) surgery, 37 had both valve and CABG surgery, and 40 had only valve surgery. Chest radiographs were obtained approximately 28 days postoperatively. Patients were subsequently contacted by telephone 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and questioned about the presence of fluid in their chest and related symptoms. The prevalence of pleural effusions in the patients undergoing only CABG surgery (63%) or CABG surgery plus valve surgery (62%) was significantly (p = 0.05) higher than that in the patients undergoing valve surgery only (45%). The prevalence of effusions occupying more than 25% of the hemithorax was 9.7%. The primary symptom associated with these larger effusions was dyspnea. Chest pain and fever were uncommon. Over the 12-month follow-up, the effusions tended to resolve. In conclusion, the prevalence of pleural effusions occupying more than 25% of the hemithorax is approximately 10%, 28 days postoperatively. These larger pleural effusions produce dyspnea but not chest pain or fever, and most of the effusions disappear gradually over the subsequent months.

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Background-Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF), a frequent complication after cardiac surgery, causes morbidity and prolongs hospitalization.