We present a case of left ventricular (LV) rupture that occurred on the second day after inferolateral myocardial infarction (MI). An aggressive diagnostic approach with rapid coronary angiography prior to surgical repair provides a benefit characterized postoperatively by complete recovery of myocardial contractility in the akinetic infarcted area. We believe that coronary artery disease associated with subacute ventricular rupture may, in fact, be better investigated and simultaneously treated under a protocol of early surgical repair.

Aged↗

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Hypoplasia of the posterior leaflet as a rare cause of congenital mitral insufficiency.

A rare case of congenital mitral insufficiency characterized by the hypoplasia of the posterior leaflet is reported. At operation, the mitral valve was successfully repaired by a ring annuloplasty, which created a satisfactory surface of coaptation between the anterior leaflet and the bulky posterior muscular structure. The presence of this posterior muscular structure represents a developmental arrest at the stage of conversion from muscular chordae and leaflets to thin connective structures.

Child↗

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Systemic pulmonary artery shunt using a bovine mesenteric venous graft in newborns.

A new bovine mesenteric venous graft 3 or 4 mm in diameter was used for performing systemic pulmonary artery shunts in six cyanotic newborns (aged 2 to 30 days) from March 1997 onward. Clinical and echocardiographic studies proved that all shunts were patent and functioning well after an average of 8.8 months despite no postoperative anticoagulation or antiplatelet regimen. Histological examination of two grafts explanted at the time of bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis showed no dense fibrotic mural infiltration, calcification, or anastomotic hyperplasia. Bovine mesenteric venous grafts can be used for the construction of systemic pulmonary artery shunts with advantages similar to that of human vein allografts, such as the facility of implantation, good short- and mid-term patency, easy takedown, and avoidance of complications presumably specific to polytetrafluoroethylene.

Animals↗

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Cardiac sarcoma originating from the tricuspid valve.

Primary cardiac sarcomas are uncommon. We report an unusual presentation of a cardiac sarcoma that originated from the posterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve. This tumor, which provided a working diagnosis of tricuspid valve myxoma before and during surgery, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of right atrial and ventricular masses.

Aged↗

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Carotid artery reconstruction following resection during radical neck dissection.

From 1972 to 1991, 7 patients with advanced cancer of the head and neck and nodal metastasis with capsular rupture underwent radical neck dissection and sacrifice of the carotid artery. Vascular reconstruction was performed with either an autologous venous (8 cases) or arterial (1 case) graft. In all patients, the postoperative course was uneventful without neurologic complications. One patient is alive 4 years after the procedure. Six patients expired after a mean survival of 20 months. The indications for vascular reconstruction are discussed.

Adult↗

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Choice of graft material at primary CABG influences cardiac death and reintervention rates.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate long-term survival and need for reintervention (redo CABG or percutaneous coronary artery transluminal angioplasty, PTCA) as a result of graft materials employed at the primary coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 2,327 patients who underwent primary CABG between 1980 and 1990 were followed with regard to survival and reintervention requirements for a period of 10 years. There were three groups of patients. In group 1, CABG was performed between 1980 and 1982 using veins only. Group 2 subjects had CABG done from 1983 to 1985 using veins and internal thoracic artery (ITA). Those in group 3 received two ITAs (double ITA) from 1985 to 1990. Redo CABG and PTCS were performed as needed. RESULTS: The 10-year cumulative survival figures for the groups were 92.8 % (group 1), 94.8% (group 2) and 95.4% (group 3). The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Cardiac event-free survival was 74.4% (group 1), 83.5% (group 2) and 92.6% (group 3), with p < 0.0001. Myocardial infarction occurred more frequently in group 1 (4.7%) than in groups 2 or 3 (2.2 and 1.3%, respectively). The redo rates for CABG were 13.6% (group 1), 8.1% (group 2), and 1.3% (group 3). The corresponding PTCA rates for the three groups were 7.1, 3.7 and 1.6%, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Double ITA, compared with single ITA and/or vein grafts, was the optimal graft material at the time of primary CABG because it had the lowest reintervention rate. It also did not increase postoperative morbidity.

Aged↗

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