Pressure overload-induced heart failure is characterized by a substantial defect in cardiac oxidative capacity, at least in part due to a mitochondrial defect downstream of substrate-specific pathways. Numerous changes in mitochondrial protein levels have been detected, and the contribution of these to oxidative defects and impaired cardiac energetics in failing hearts is discussed.

Pressure overload-induced impairment in fatty acid oxidation precedes the onset of congestive heart failure but mitochondrial respiratory capacity is maintained until the EF decreases in vivo. These temporal relations suggest a tight link between impaired substrate oxidation capacity in the development of heart failure and contractile dysfunction and may imply therapeutic and prognostic value.

Surgery for CP is associated with a significant risk based on the poor preoperative patient status. Whenever justified, partial over radical pericardiectomy should be preferred and TVR should be indicated liberally. Reduced LVEF and right ventricular dilatation were independent predictors for early mortality, whereas CAD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and renal insufficiency were risk factors for late mortality. Thus, an optimal timing for surgery on CP remains crucial to avoid secondary morbidity with an even worse natural prognosis.

Heated debates revolve around the hemodynamic performance of stented aortic tissue valves. Because the opening area strongly influences the generation of a pressure gradient over the prosthesis, and the outer diameter determines which valve actually fits into the aortic root, it would seem logical that the valve with the greatest opening area in relation to its outer diameter should allow the best hemodynamic performance. Interestingly, neither of these 2 parameters is reflected by the manufacturing companies' size labels or suggested sizing strategies. In addition, it is known that valves with the same size label from different companies may differ significantly in their actual dimension (outer diameter). Finally, the manufacturer-suggested sizing strategies differ so much that expected differences from valve design may get lost because of differences in sizing. These size and sizing differences and the lack of information on the geometric opening area complicate true hemodynamic comparisons significantly. Furthermore, some fluid dynamic considerations regarding the determination of opening area by echocardiography (the effective orifice area) introduce additional obscuring factors in the attempt to compare hemodynamic performance data of different stented tissue valves. We analyzed the true dimensions of different tissue prostheses and the manufacturer-suggested sizing strategies in relation to published effective orifice areas. We have demonstrated how sizing and implantation strategy have much greater impact on postoperative valve hemodynamics than valve brand or type. In addition, our findings may explain the different opinions regarding valve hemodynamics of different tissue valves.