The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Dendriform pulmonary ossification, defined as "widespread heterotopic bone formation within the lungs," is a rare entity, which is usually diagnosed upon postmortem examination. The case of a 43-year-old man with dendriform pulmonary ossification is presented. In this patient's case, thoracoscopic biopsy was an excellent diagnostic modality for identifying dendriform pulmonary ossification. Although this entity has been reported rarely, with improved technology and survival we might expect its prevalence to increase.
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Vascular delay and intermittent stimulation: keys to successful latissimus dorsi muscle stimulation.
The goal of this study was to obtain physiologically significant increases in peak left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure and stroke volume with latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) stimulation in cardiomyoplasty (CMP). We hypothesized that preserving LDM integrity by vascular delay and intermittent stimulation would significantly increase LDM cardiac assistance. ⋯ VD and IS considerably increased the LV assistance with LDM stimulation. Further studies of this combined approach to CMP should be planned.
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Outcomes of the Fontan operation in children initially palliated with the modified Norwood procedure are incompletely defined. ⋯ In relatively high-risk patients, midterm results of the Fontan operation for children initially palliated with the Norwood procedure were good. Combined interventional-surgical treatment algorithms can lead to improved outcomes.
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Multicenter Study
Fifteen-year experience with the mitral Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT pericardial bioprosthesis.
This multicenter study concerning the mitral PERIMOUNT valve previously reported clinical results at 12 years; this report updates the performance to 15 years postoperatively. ⋯ The Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT Pericardial Bioprosthesis is a reliable choice for a tissue valve in the mitral position, especially in patients more than 60 years of age.
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Aortic root re-replacement is being performed with increased frequency. Limited information is available regarding the surgical approaches and clinical outcomes of this reoperation. ⋯ Redo aortic root replacement can be performed with good early and late results. Patients operated on for prosthetic root endocarditis may have an increased risk of recurrent late endocarditis.