Journal of cardiovascular medicine
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Aug 2007
Acquired pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation treated by angioplasty and stent implantation.
Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis is a late complication of radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. Although frequently asymptomatic, it can be associated with severe respiratory symptoms that cause significant morbidity. This study evaluated the role of angioplasty and stent implantation in patients affected by acquired PV stenosis. ⋯ The treatment of PV stenosis by angioplasty with stent implantation is feasible and safe. The majority of patients undergoing this procedure showed symptomatic improvement and patency of the PV.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · May 2007
Edge-to-edge mitral valve repair for isolated prolapse of the anterior leaflet caused by degenerative disease.
The use of new techniques to correct mitral regurgitation due to prolapse of the anterior leaflet has been shown to expand the original surgical armamentarium and to improve postoperative outcome. We retrospectively analysed our experience with isolated prolapse of the anterior mitral leaflet repaired using the edge-to-edge technique. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that the 'edge-to-edge' technique is a reliable procedure to correct prolapsing leaflets. The addition of this technique to the surgical armamentarium has neutralized prolapse of the anterior leaflet as an incremental risk factor for reoperation.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Apr 2007
Primary angioplasty and routine utilization of thrombus aspiration devices: feasibility and results in a consecutive series of 486 patients.
Primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is the treatment of choice for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in high-volume centres with experienced operators, but is often limited by a suboptimal microvascular perfusion due to distal embolization and impaired myocardial perfusion. The present study investigates whether routine use of thrombus aspiration (TA) devices is feasible in daily practice, along with its safety and effectiveness. ⋯ In our case series, 486 consecutive unselected patients with STEMI were treated in a primary PTCA high-volume centre using TA devices. Our study demonstrates that, in STEMI patients treated with primary PTCA, a routine strategy with TA before angioplasty guided by angiographic selection criteria is feasible in almost 50% of cases, is safe and effective, does not increase procedural time and offers good results in terms of tissue perfusion, both epicardial (TIMI flow) and myocardial (MBG, ST regression). When successfully performed, TA identifies a population with favourable in-hospital and 6-month outcome.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Apr 2007
Case ReportsUnusual presentation of ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysm.
We here report a very unusual presentation of ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm. In a 50-year-old patient, almost asymptomatic and in stable clinical conditions, the chest radiograph and computed tomography scan revealed a right-sided rupture of a previously undiagnosed thoracic aortic aneurysm. The patient was treated successfully with an emergency surgical procedure.