AIMS: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a new therapy for severe aortic stenosis in high-risk patients. So far, no reference values for the echocardiographic assessment of this new class of heart valves have been established. The aim of our study was to determine Doppler haemodynamics and the effective orifice ...

Accurate measurement of transvalvular pressure gradients is essential to comprehensively evaluate whether mechanical prosthetic valves are functioning normally. Direct measurements can be technically complicated, traditionally requiring direct, transapical puncture in the setting of both aortic and mitral mechanical valve prostheses. Very few case reports have proposed the use of guidewires ...

Taurine is involved in numerous biological processes. However, taurine plasma level decreases in response to pathological conditions, suggesting an increased need. Knowledge on human taurine metabolism is scarce and only described by arterial-venous differences across a single organ. Here we present taurine organ fluxes using arterial-venous concentration differences combined with ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The carotid bulb is innervated by the sinus nerve of Hering, a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve, derived from the third pharyngeal arch. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, predictors, and outcome of the carotid BR after carotid stent placement according to the location ...

Aortobifemoral bypass is a durable arterial reconstruction with well-defined failure modes. Management of graft limb thrombosis requires restoration of inflow and correction of any causative outflow lesions. Successful, minimally invasive inflow restoration with catheter thrombectomy can become problematic if assessment of technical adequacy is deficient or reveals causal lesions within ...

Bilateral pneumothoraces are a very rare event. In clinical settings, inadvertent incursion into the pleural space resulting from diagnostic or therapeutic medical interventions such as bilateral venipunctures or damage to the lung parenchyma due to high pressure ventilation may be causative. Bilateral pneumothoraces postcardiac surgery are rarely reported. We present ...

The technical difficulty of performing the left ventricular apical anastomosis has limited the adoption of aortic valve bypass surgery for the treatment of aortic stenosis. We report the successful use of an automated coring and apical connector device to perform aortic valve bypass surgery. A 74-year-old man, with a history ...

There has been no detailed intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis to evaluate the degree to which stent underexpansion or reference vessel/stent size mismatch contributes to the occurrence of post-procedural incomplete stent apposition (post-ISA). We evaluated 238 lesions treated with everolimus-eluting stents (n = 110) or paclitaxel-eluting stents (n = 128). Reference ...

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Tracheo-brachiocephalic artery fistulae are critical long-term complications after tracheostomy, reported in 0.6% of patients within three to four weeks after the procedure. In 30% to 50% of cases there is some bleeding prior to onset. Since the onset involves sudden massive bleeding, the prognosis is poor; the reported ...

We present a case of endovascular retrieval of a penetrating foreign body that was originally lodged in the mediastinum and then migrated to the hepatic vein. The steel nail entered the thorax and traversed the left lung causing a pneumothorax. The patient underwent a thoracotomy, but the foreign body had ...

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to test a Nitinol(®)-based vein cuff model for external banding valvuloplasty. METHOD: In 12 adult minipigs, the vena jugularis externa was covered for 42 days by a cuff with an inner diameter adapted to the outer vein diameter in supine position. By changing from supine into ...

Purpose:To quantify a pseudoenhancement phenomenon observed during dynamic contrast material-enhanced ultrasonography (US) of the carotid artery, both in vitro and in vivo.Materials and Methods:Ethical approval was obtained prior to commencing this prospective case series, and each patient gave written informed consent. Thirty-one patients with 50%-99% internal carotid artery stenosis underwent ...

OBJECTIVE: Thrombosis and restenosis remain problematic for many intravascular procedures. Previously, it has been demonstrated that modifying an injured vascular surface with a protein-reactive polymer could block undesirable platelet deposition. As an added benefit, it would be advantageous if one could target therapeutics to the injured site. This study investigates ...

This report describes a case of a delayed cerebral embolic infarction, after internal carotid artery (ICA) ligation secondary to carotid body tumor resection. We describe a 34-year-old woman who underwent left ICA ligation during a large carotid body tumor surgery. Immediately after surgery, the patient was neurologically asymptomatic; however, she ...

The patient was a 56-year-old man who had previously undergone a total gastrectomy without splenectomy, and was diagnosed with pancreatic head and body cancers and primary solitary lung cancer. The pancreas body tumor invaded the origin of the splenic artery, and if the origin of the splenic artery were resected ...

The prevalence of congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries (CAAs) is reported to be approximately 0.2-1.4% of the general population. Of them, The double right coronary artery (RCA) is one of the rarest coronary anomalies. Nonetheless, there is no consensus of the definition of a double RCA until now. Several ...

OBJECTIVESAnimal studies have demonstrated the feasibility of tracheal replacement by silicone-stented allogenic aortas (AAs), showing mature cartilage regeneration into the grafts. In clinical trials, this graft did not prove stiff enough to allow long-term stent withdrawal. This graft insufficiency could be due to ischaemic phase prior to neoangiogenesis. To solve ...

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a pulmonary disease with approximately 40% mortality rate and 75,000 deaths annually in the US. Mechanical ventilation restores airway patency and gas transport, but leads to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Furthermore, surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) is ineffective due to surfactant delivery difficulties and deactivation ...

The purpose of this study was to determine the normal distribution of aortic branch artery ostia. CT scans of 100 subjects were retrospectively reviewed. The angular distributions of the aorta with respect to the center of the T3 to L4 vertebral bodies, and of branch artery origins with respect to ...

Revascularization of lower extremity chronic total occlusions (CTOs) is technically challenging. The Crosser® recanalization catheter was designed to facilitate distal vessel intraluminal entry that is both rapid and safe. We present our experience with the Crosser device as primary therapy for peripheral CTOs. Subjects undergoing evaluation for arterial insufficiency at ...

We describe a novel technique for cerebral embolic device placement with inadvertent entrapment and subsequent rescue in the endovascular treatment of innominate artery stenosis. A 62-year-old female presented with symptomatic right-sided subclavian steal syndrome. Single-site access for revascularization of critical innominate artery stenosis with simultaneous cerebral embolic protection performed for ...

After an uneventful general anesthesia, in a horse negative pressure pulmonary edema developed due to acute upper airway obstruction during the anesthetic recovery phase after colic surgery. No pathologic alteration of respiration was observed until the horse stood up and began suffocating. The horse had recovered with the nasogastric tube ...

[This corrects the article on p. 105 in vol. 19, PMID: 21860728.].

Background. The Eustachian valve (EV) is an embryonic structure redirecting the blood flow from the inferior vena cava through the foramen ovale. It may persist in adults as a floating membrane in the right atrium. A large EV can be associated with thrombosis, embolization, bacterial endocarditis, etc. The prevalence of ...

Background The currently available mechanical devices fail to achieve recanalization in as many as 20-40% of proximal arterial occlusion strokes. Objective The preclinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a novel thrombectomy device designed to achieve immediate flow restoration by quickly removing clot is reported. Methods Four confirmatory animal ...

We report a 49-year-old woman who sustained ischemic stroke after central venous catheter removal. Brain computed tomography (CT) scan revealed air bubbles in the subarachnoid vessels. Contrast-enhanced chest CT and ultrasonography revealed a residual catheter track in the center of a jugular vein thrombus. A right-to-left shunt was confirmed by ...

Abstract  A 65-year-old male with a history of a total thoracic esophagectomy with a retrosternal gastric tube reconstruction required aortic valve replacement for aortic valve stenosis due to a bicuspid aortic valve. Preoperative multidetector computed tomography demonstrated that the gastric tube occupied the retrosternal space and the gastroepiploic artery was ...

Background: The introduction of cyanoacrylate (CA) within a blood vessel triggers polymerization, followed by an inflammatory reaction. Methods: A sheath was positioned 2.0 cm caudad to the junction of the superficial epigastric and abdominus rectus veins in 2 swine, followed by ultrasound-guided injection of 0.16 mL of CA glue. After ...

Abstract  The intervalvular fibrosa, the structure that connects the mitral and the aortic valves, can be injured during aortic valve replacement. Although this complication is rare, it may require complex and extensive repair. Herein, we describe management of a damaged aortic-mitral curtain and fibrous body during tissue aortic valve replacement ...

We performed this study to determine the optimal intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) criteria and to evaluate their accuracy for defining the functional significance of intermediate coronary stenoses in different locations of the coronary tree. Presence of myocardial ischemia is the most important prognostic factor in patients with coronary artery disease and ...

Foreign bodies in the nasal cavity are commonly encountered as a cause of epistaxis; however, nasal leech infestation as a cause of unilateral persistent epistaxis is very rare. Examination of nasal cavity revealed fleshy material in the left nostril, which was identified as leech. The leech was removed with the ...

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) catheters can get stuck in the central vein after long-term use and their removal might become difficult especially in patients with fibrosed or occluded central veins. Herein, a breakthrough technique is reported for the easy removal of a stuck HD catheter from the central vein. Case Report: ...

We demonstrate a minimally-invasive thoracoscopic approach [video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)] for removal of a retained pericardial suture needle after standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. A 46-year-old male presented with unstable angina. His workup demonstrated significant coronary artery disease for which he underwent a six vessel CABG, including entering ...

BACKGROUND: Many reports have described tracheal replacement using aortic allografts, with varying results and minimal understanding of the mechanism of tracheal regeneration. The present study attempted tracheal regeneration in adult dogs using fresh aortic allografts (FAA) and cryopreserved aortic allografts (CAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve adult beagles underwent tracheal resection ...

We describe two cases of true dorsalis pedis artery aneurysms in men referred for pulsatile mass of the dorsal part of the foot. Both aneurysms were resected and grafted with interposition of a short segment of saphenous vein. Histological analysis showed true aneurysm associated with atherosclerosis. To our knowledge, only ...

Carotid endarterectomy (CEAE) is currently considered to be one of the most efficient methods of treatment for chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency and prevention of recurrent acute impairments of cerebral blood supply. Methodically, the manipulation concerned is in the majority of cases carried out by one of two most commonly employed techniques, ...

Gastrothorax, a rare complication following thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, is reported. The clinical features of a gastrothorax and tension pneumothorax are similar and thus, a gastrothorax can masquerade as a tension pneumothorax. The diagnosis is made by a high level of clinical suspicion, chest X-ray shows a distended stomach with ...

The discovery is reported of a previously undescribed type of quadricuspid aortic valve, which was comprised of two equal-sized smaller cusps and two unequal-sized larger cusps. This was proposed as the eighth type of quadricuspid valve, type H. This anatomic variation is the only type of quadricuspid valve that could ...

Background Tandem proximal and distal occlusions in the setting of an acute stroke are therapeutic challenges. Treating either lesion first has its respective shortcomings. An approach is described which may lessen the probability of distal embolic events during emergency carotid angioplasty and stenting during an acute stroke, and simplify access ...

True upper extremity peripheral artery aneurysms are a rarely encountered arterial disorder. Following computer-tomography angiographic (CT-a) imaging examination, true saccular aneurysm, originating from the left brachial artery was diagnosed in the 77-year-old female without history of trauma. The aneurysm was resected by surgical intervention, and primary repair of the brachial ...

Ablation of Bidirectional VT. A 64-year-old recipient of implantable cardioverter defibrillator presenting with a 4.7 × 3.3 cm nonischemic, biventricular aneurysm developed multiple electrical storms due to ventricular tachycardia (VT) with 2 distinct QRS morphologies. Endocardial electroanatomical mapping revealed the presence of a low-voltage area corresponding to the aneurysm, where multiple ...

A 62-year-old man with severe coronary artery disease and a left ventricular aneurysm underwent catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) with right bundle branch block QRS morphology. Endocardial bipolar voltage mapping with standard threshold settings demonstrated no low-voltage areas within the aneurysm. Catheter ablation of the epicardial surface of the ...

Subvalvular aneurysms of the left ventricle are very rare and often the cause is uncertain. Most of the cases of subvalvular left ventricular aneurysms described in the literature are due to congenital weakness of the fibromuscular annuli. We describe a unique case of a child with a tuberculous subaortic aneurysm ...

Popliteal artery aneurysm is defined as an enlargement of the popliteal artery of more than 50 % of the original diameter. In more than 95 % of the cases, arteriosclerosis is the cause. The prevalence of asymptomatic and symptomatic popliteal artery aneurysms is less than 0.5 % of the population ...

True brachial artery aneurysms remain extremely rare and are most commonly related to repetitive blunt trauma. Although operative repair of false aneurysms is well established, management of true aneurysms is varied due to their rarity. We present a true brachial artery aneurysm, in a 55-year old male, which occurred some ...

Aneurysm of the interventricular membranous septum is a very rare cardiac anomaly in the absence of ventricular septal defect. We report the case of a 22-year-old man with aneurysm of the interventricular membranous septum incidentally determined during aortic valve surgery. The patient underwent successful aortic valve replacement and aneurysm repair. ...

Submitral left ventricular aneurysm has been exclusively recognized in the young African population and its occurrence in other than black Africans is rarely reported. Here we describe two surgical cases of submitral left ventricular aneurysm in Asian elderly persons. Although the aneurysms were typically located beneath the posterior mitral valve ...

True aneurysm of the facial artery is extremely rare. We describe a case of true facial aneurysm of the submandibular lesion in a 73-years-old man. A color Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) revealed a 2.1 cm x 1.5 cm aneurysm with turbulent arterial flow and some thrombus inside the ...

The presence of persistent blood flow in popliteal artery aneurysms that have been treated with exclusion and bypass is surprisingly common. Complications from incompletely excluded aneurysms include aneurysm enlargement, local compressive symptoms, and sac rupture. Infection of a previously excluded and bypassed popliteal artery aneurysm is a notably rare complication. ...

We report the case of a false aneurysm at the origin of the anterior tibial artery complicating upper tibial osteotomy. The proximally located lesion compressed the posterior tibial nerve, and despite successful decompression, the patient suffers from probably irreversible neurologic after-effects. Even though it is rare, this complication must be ...