It is still mostly about the mitral valve

Mitral valve surgery: when is it appropriate?

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a frequent complication of end-stage cardiomyopathy. Historically, these patients were managed either medically or with mitral valve replacement, both associated with poor outcomes. We studied 150 patients with cardiomyopathy and severe MR who were managed with mitral reconstruction. One hundred fifty patients with 4+ MR, left ventricular ejection fractions of 8%-24...

Quality pancreatic cancer care: it's still mostly about volume.

Even the most optimistic of oncologists must view with dismay the minimal improvement in overall survival for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Progress has been made in diagnosis, selection of patients for operation, and resection, with markedly decreased mortality but persistent morbidity following operation and minimal survival improvement with adjuvant chemotherapy. These improvements have had sec...

Is It Still Fall in Annapolis ? Thinking about a Scheduled

Based on an initiative announced by U.S. President George W. Bush on July 16, 2007, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has scheduled a “meeting” in Annapolis, Maryland, for later this month, in an attempt to advance the prospects of PalestinianIsraeli accommodation. Aside from the meeting’s location, its approximate date, and its general purpose, nothing about this important meeting seems to h...

In patients undergoing mitral surgery for ischaemic mitral regurgitation is it preferable to repair or replace the mitral valve?

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting and mitral intervention for moderate to severe ischaemic mitral regurgitation are best treated with mitral repair or replacement. Five hundred and fifty papers were found using the reported search. Based on the 14 non-randomised studies judged to ...

Caged-ball mitral valve: still functional after 40 years.