The heart surgery forum
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The heart surgery forum · Aug 2011
Case ReportsRadical and harmless shave resection of atypical papillary fibroelastomas of the cardiac valves.
Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are rare cardiac tumors usually treated by shave resection. Up to 20% of the patients are actually denied such a conservative surgical approach because atypical morphology is thought to preclude radical and effective outcomes. ⋯ In experienced hands surgical shave resection is the gold standard for the treatment of PFE even in atypical presentations.
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The heart surgery forum · Aug 2011
Case ReportsSurgical repair of a giant atrial septal aneurysm with patent foramen ovale.
Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is a rare occurrence. Many studies have established a correlation between ASA and both ischemic stroke of unidentified cause and cardiac embolism. ⋯ Although the detailed mechanism involved in the degeneration of the atrial septum is unclear, we recommend that such damage be surgically repaired to reduce the risk of cerebral embolism or heart failure in symptomatic patients. Surgery is recommended for larger ASA.
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The heart surgery forum · Aug 2011
Case ReportsAortoesophageal fistula secondary to thoracic endovascular aortic repair of a descending aortic aneurysm rupture.
We present the case of a patient who developed an aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) 4 years after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture. ⋯ AEF is a catastrophic complication of TEVAR. Conservative treatment is often associated with fatal results. If possible, these patients should be treated with secondary major surgical procedures.
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The heart surgery forum · Jun 2011
Case ReportsTemporary extracorporeal circulatory support and pulmonary embolectomy for catastrophic amniotic fluid embolism.
Amniotic fluid embolism is usually a life-threatening complication of an otherwise healthy pregnancy. Medical management of the coagulopathy and cardiovascular collapse is challenging and is often unsuccessful. We present a case and advocate the use of temporary circulatory support and pulmonary embolectomy in what would otherwise have been a fatal scenario.
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The heart surgery forum · Jun 2011
Cilostazol, a type III phosphodiesterase inhibitor, reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord injury is still a devastating complication after surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of cilostazol, a type III phosphodiesterase inhibitor, against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced spinal cord injury in rats. ⋯ Administration of cilostazol before spinal cord ischemia reduced neurologic injury and produced clinical improvement by attenuating oxidative stress in this rat spinal cord I/R model.