BACKGROUND: ATS Medical, Inc, developed a mechanical heart valve that has been in use since 1992. In this article, we present the results of 15 years of follow-up of patients who have undergone ATS heart valve replacement at our hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed ATS heart valve replacements on ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of azygos arch valves and assess azygos valve insufficiency at computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the chest or body with high rate contrast material injection. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-one CTAs using high intravenous injection rates (3-5 mL/second) of 300 mgI/mL contrast material were retrospectively evaluated ...

In recent years, significant advances have been made in the definition of regulatory pathways that control normal and abnormal cardiac valve development. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the early development of valve progenitors and establishment of normal valve structure and function. Regulatory hierarchies consisting of a ...

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter pulmonary valve insertion has recently emerged as an alternative to surgery. To extend its indications to patients with a large right ventricular outflow tract, we previously developed an intravascular device that reduces the diameter of the main pulmonary artery, allowing the insertion of available valved stents. Here we ...

Heart valve disease and pulmonary hypertension, in patients with carcinoid tumors and people who used the fenfluramine-phentermine combination for weight control, have been associated with high levels of serotonin in blood. The mechanism by which serotonin induces valvular changes is not well understood. We recently reported that increased oxidative stress ...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine how height of a hand wheel affects maximum torque production and risk of injury to the shoulders and back of workers. BACKGROUND: Workers in the processing, refinery, and energy generation industries manually open and close valves with hand wheels that require ...

In the few reported cases of Propionibacterium infective endocarditis involving prosthetic aortic valves, abscess is common and frequently requires surgery. We report a case of P. acnes infective endocarditis identified on prolonged blood cultures with aortic root abscess involving a Starr-Edwards valve. Intravenous antibiotics and valve replacement led to recovery.

The aims of this study were to identify that the differences in the natural history of patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis may be reflected in differences in the expression of procoagulant protein factors. Carotid artery plaques were obtained from 33 symptomatic and 4 asymptomatic patients with internal carotid ...

Computed tomography scans were performed before and after aortic valve resection with consecutive implantation of a valved stent in human hearts with highly calcified aortic valves in situ (n=2). This demonstrates that the valved stent shows better fitting in the annulus after removal of the native valve.

Malformations of the cardiac endocardial cushions (ECs) and valves are common congenital dysmorphisms in newborn infants. Many regulators of EC development have been identified, but the process of valve maturation is less well understood. Zebrafish have been used to understand cardiogenesis through 6 days postfertilization, yet mature heart valves are ...

As the first reliable prosthetic heart valve to be introduced, the Starr-Edwards ball valve prosthesis has gained worldwide clinical acceptance. Although very few instances have been described of valve durability exceeding 30 years, the case is reported of a patient with a well-functioning Starr-Edwards ball valve prosthesis in the aortic ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Transcatheter aortic valves (TAVs) provide minimally invasive treatment for high-risk patients with severe native aortic stenosis. While the off-label application of TAV for degenerative bioprosthetic stenosis (valve-in-valve therapy) is attractive, few cases have been reported. If the rigid annulus and stent posts of bioprostheses ...

Thrombosis of a mechanical prosthetic valve is a serious and fortunately it is a rare complication of cardiac valve replacement. We present a case of prosthetic mechanical valve On-X 31/33 mm thrombosis thrombus size 8 x 14 mm on a mitral position, which was treated with a successful intravenous thrombolytic ...

Truncal valve insufficiency is a significant risk factor for post-operative mortality following repair of truncus arteriosus. The surgical management of dysplastic and insufficient truncal valves remains an operative challenge. We report the cases of two infants with type 2 truncus arteriosus and severely dysplastic and insufficient quadricuspid truncal valves. At ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The calcification of cardiac valves is more frequently observed on left-sided (aortic or mitral) than right-sided (pulmonic or tricuspid) valves. The cause of this preferential left-sided calcification remains relatively unknown. The study aim was to evaluate the capacity of interstitial cells isolated from the ...

Our group is currently developing a pneumatic ventricular assist device (PVAD). In general, the major causes of hemolysis in a pulsatile VAD are cavitation, and Reynolds shear stress (RSS) in the mechanical heart valve (MHV). In a previous study, we investigated MHV cavitation. To select the optimal bileaflet valve for ...

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement has been recently introduced into clinical practice. Patients with transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement will definitely face the problems of valve degeneration. In addition to surgical re-replacement of the degenerated bioprosthetic valves, we studied the replacement of degenerated bioprosthetic valves with transcatheter reimplantation of stent-mounted pulmonary ...

Patients who develop a severe stenosis in biological pulmonary conduits previously implanted for pulmonary outflow trunk reconstructions are treated either by surgical re-replacement, or by transcatheter stent-valve implantation through a femoral vein access. A catheter-based sub-xyphoidian access through the right ventricle for stent-valve positioning in a pulmonary conduit has rarely ...

Venous valves are still discussed controversially, mainly because it is still uncertain whether primarily missing or insufficient valves or the weakness of the venous walls cause varices. Furthermore, the distribution and frequencies of major superficial tributary veins (MSTVs), which should discharge the great saphenous vein (GSV) between the terminal (TV) ...

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement with balloon-expandable and self-expandable stent valves is available in Europe. The balloon-expandable valve is currently being investigated in a randomized trial in the US. We report an uncommon complication of left main trunk occlusion with balloon-expandable valve deployment and its successful percutaneous management. Left main trunk ...

BACKGROUND: Secondary repair of the pulmonary valve after right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction is infrequently reported. This article describes possible techniques of secondary pulmonary valve repair and reports follow-up results. METHODS: Secondary pulmonary valve repairs in 7 patients (5 children and 2 adults) in our institution were reviewed. All ...

A tissue-engineered heart valve (TEHV) represents the ultimate valve replacement, especially for juvenile patients given its growth potential. To date, most TEHV bioreactors have been developed based on pulsed flow of culture medium through the valve lumen to induce strain in the leaflets. Using a strategy for controlled cyclic stretching ...

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to report a novel indication for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in patients with previous right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) patch. BACKGROUND: Current indications for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation are limited to patients who had pulmonary valve stenosis and/or regurgitation in a right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit. ...

OBJECTIVES: We describe procedural and clinical outcomes in a high-risk cohort undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement with early next-generation transcatheter valve and delivery systems. BACKGROUND: Percutaneous aortic valve replacement is gaining acceptance as a viable option in patients at high surgical risk. Broader application will require further advances in valve ...

As the percentage of seniors continues to rise in many populations around the world, the already challenging burden of valvular heart disease will become even greater. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of patients with moderate-to-severe valve disease are refused or denied valve surgery based on age and/or accompanying comorbidities. Furthermore, because ...

The concept of transcatheter aortic valve replacement was developed with the goal of offering a therapeutic solution to patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are not considered good candidates for surgical valve replacement. Initial attempts were complicated by vascular access problems and lack of appropriate tools. With time and ...

Triple valve surgery remains a complex intervention, with prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cross-clamp times. A median sternotomy is the standard approach in the surgical treatment of multiple valve disease. In this report, we attempt to describe our approach for the correction of the triple heart valve disease through a ...

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation helps in prolonging the lifespan of surgically placed right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduits, and represents a less invasive alternative to repeat open-heart surgery. The clinical indications for treatment match those of surgery. As far as the suitability is concerned, the current ideal substrate is a degenerated ...

OBJECTIVE: Off-pump valve replacement using self-expandable stents is an emerging technique for pulmonary valve disease. However, significant limitations are the lack of easily available valve substitute to be inserted within the stent and, in the setting of repaired tetralogy of Fallot, the existence of huge pulmonary trunk. We report the ...

CONTEXT: From January 1995 to June 2003, there were 514 patients who underwent pulmonary valve replacements at either the Hospital for Sick Children or Toronto General Hospital. Fifty-four (10.5%) of these adults returned for replacement of their prostheses because of failure. Forty (74.1%) of the 54 explants were bioprostheses, and ...

A euphonium is presented that has better intonation and is easier to play in the extreme registers. It is a complete double horn having five double valves in contrast to the incomplete normal double French horn having only three double valves. The valves descend 2, 1, 3, 4, and 5 ...

This paper presents recent advances in cardiovascular fluid mechanics that define the current state of the art. These studies include complex multimodal investigations with advanced measurement and simulation techniques. We first discuss the complex flows within the total cavopulmonary connection in Fontan patients. We emphasize the quantification of energy losses ...

The intonation deviations from the well-tempered scale are presented for valve brass wind instruments. Compensating and full double instruments are considered. Systems including descending valves and less popular ascending valves are studied. The lengths of the valve tubes are optimized by minimizing the overall root mean squared (rms) intonation error ...

We examined whether right ventricle-pulmonary artery valved conduit (RPVC) implantation can overcome the disadvantages of current procedures for pulmonic stenosis (PS). We histologically evaluated the feasibility of RPVC using a homograft in PS model dogs. Eight dogs underwent pulmonary artery banding (PAB) and then 12 weeks later were assigned to ...

The aim of this study was to assess mechanical valve function using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). In 20 patients (mean age, 50+/-12 years; male-to-female ratio, 10:10), 30 St. Jude bileaflet mechanical valves (15 aortic and 15 mitral valves) were evaluated using MDCT. We selected images vertical and parallel to ...

Right ventricle (RV)-pulmonary artery (PA) valved conduit (RPVC) implantation decreases RV systolic pressure in pulmonic stenosis (PS) by forming a bypass route between the RV and the PA. The present study evaluates valved conduits derived from canine aortae in a canine model of PS produced by pulmonary artery banding (PAB). ...

Prosthetic valve obstruction by pannus or thrombus represents a rare but potentially serious cause of prosthetic valve dysfunction. We report a case in which the diagnosis of prosthetic valve obstruction was made in the catheterization laboratory utilizing cineradiography, left ventriculography and intracardiac echocardiography. The findings in this case suggest that ...

Hydrothermal isometric tension (HIT) testing and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to assess the molecular stability and cross-link population of collagen in the four valves of the adult bovine heart. Untreated and NaBH(4)-treated tissues under isometric tension were heated in a water bath to a 90 degrees C isotherm that ...

A 41-year-old woman with rheumatoid triple valve disease was operated. Mitral and aortic valves were replaced with prosthetic valves. The tricuspid valve annulus was highly stenotic (valve area: 1.4 cm (2)), therefore a bidirectional Glenn shunt procedure was performed to preserve the right ventricular function. In the long term, 4 ...

The first description of the presence of a utriculo-endolymphatic valve in human fetuses was given by Bast in 1928. Since then this valve-like structure is called Bast's valve. Its exact function has not yet been established. The general opinion is that it has a protective function by having the possibility ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Four different bileaflet mechanical prostheses are currently utilized for valve replacement in the United States. We reviewed the different designs, hemodynamic features, and long-term outcomes of each of these prostheses. RECENT FINDINGS: Bileaflet mechanical valves provide excellent long-term durability and overall superb hemodynamic performance. Subtle design modifications ...

Thrombotic occlusion of prosthetic valves continues to be an uncommon but serious complication. Intravenous thrombolytic treatment has been proposed as an alternative to surgical intervention. Due to the lack of a generally accepted standard regimen, various infusion protocols and thrombolytic doses were used for the management of prosthetic heart valve ...

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of aortic valve stenosis may involve inflammation and we have previously demonstrated Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) DNA in stenotic aortic heart valves. Dissemination of these bacteria is probably mediated by alveolar macrophages. Bacterial DNA alone does not indicate whether the bacteria are viable and replicating. This study ...

OBJECTIVE: The juvenile sheep functional valve chronic implant calcification model was used to compare long-term calcification rates, functional performance, and durability for 3 types of right ventricular outflow tract implants: classically cryopreserved homografts and 2 decellularized pulmonary valved conduits. METHODS: Fifteen juvenile sheep were randomly assigned to one of 3 ...

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to determine whether aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs) and pulmonary valve interstitial cells (PVICs) differ in expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4, response to TLR agonists, and osteogenic phenotypic changes. BACKGROUND: Calcific stenosis occurs frequently in aortic valves but rarely in pulmonary valves. Studies have ...

OBJECTIVES: The major problem with heart valve bioprostheses made from chemically treated porcine aortic valves is their limited longevity caused by gradual deterioration, which has a causal link with valve tissue mechanical properties. To our best knowledge, there are no published studies on the mechanical properties of modern, commercially available ...

Obstructive prosthetic valve thrombosis is a serious complication in patients with prosthetic heart valves. It should be suspected in patients with worsening functional class, embolic phenomena, and inadequate anticoagulation. TTE is very informative and the most frequent modality to begin with. TEE is extremely important, with its unique role in ...

Advanced prosthetic valve endocarditis is often associated with substantial destruction of the tissues adjacent to the prosthesis. Removal of the infected prosthesis and débridement of the infected tissues make implantation of a new prosthesis challenging. Herein, we discuss successful surgical aortic valve translocation in a 50-year-old man who had advanced ...

Dual antiplatelet therapy is currently recommended for all patients with acute coronary syndromes, independent of whether they receive pharmacological treatment or undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. Antiplatelet agents are the cornerstone of pharmacological treatment in interventional cardiology. However, there is a clear need for randomized trials to assess the treatment strategy ...

Bileaflet mechanical heart valves, which exhibit hemodynamic performance fairly similar to that of native valves, can be investigated by the analysis of their closing sounds. Signal spectra calculated from the closing sounds are characterized by specific features that are suitable for the functional evaluation of the valves. Five commercial bileaflet ...