Heart, lung & circulation
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Heart, lung & circulation · Dec 2007
Case ReportsHigh resolution spiral CT scan in the diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm of ascending aorta.
Pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta are rare (<1%), and extremely rare from aortic vent site, but can be a lifethreatening complication. The basic methods of diagnosis are computed tomography scan and aortography. We report high resolution spiral CT may provide the best less invasive means in the diagnosis of the pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta originated from the aortic vent site.
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A 57-year-old man presented with worsening symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain. He was found to have a giant Morgagni hernia with severe compression of his right ventricle on computed tomography scan. ⋯ Morgagni hernia is a type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which may not be symptomatic until adulthood. Presentation with this degree of right ventricular compression is rare.
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Heart, lung & circulation · Aug 2007
Multicenter StudyProsthesis-patient mismatch is associated with higher operative mortality following aortic valve replacement.
Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) occurs when the valve prosthesis implanted at surgery is too small in relation to patient's body size, causing high transvalvular gradients. We investigated if severe PPM is related to early morbidity and mortality after aortic valve replacement (AVR). ⋯ PPM was associated with increased operative mortality. PPM should be avoided where possible as it may reduce operative mortality following AVR.
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Heart, lung & circulation · Aug 2007
Abnormal right ventricular tissue velocities after repair of congenital heart disease--implications for late outcomes.
Although repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and transposition of the great arteries (TGA) has facilitated survival into adulthood, many survivors have residual haemodynamic abnormalities, including exercise intolerance and late right ventricular (RV) failure. ⋯ RV S' and E' velocities are frequently abnormal in asymptomatic survivors of TOF and TGA repair, even where RV function appears 'normal'. Hence TDE during follow up may be a sensitive means of detecting pre-clinical abnormalities in RV performance.
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Heart, lung & circulation · Aug 2007
N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide to predict prognosis in dilated cardiomyopathy with sinus rhythm.
To assess the value of plasma NT proBNP levels for predicting adverse outcomes in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). ⋯ NT proBNP seems to be a strong predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with DCM with sinus rhythm and may be used as a reliable biological marker in risk stratification.