BACKGROUND In patients with percutaneous device implantation for closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO), a 10% incidence of new or worsened aortic regurgitation within 12 months has been reported with echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a powerful noninvasive tool to quantify volume and fraction of valve insufficiencies. We studied the acute and long-term impact of percutaneo...

Traditionally, cardiac surgery has been performed by median sternotomy. However, a renaissance is occurring. Cardiac operations are being performed through smaller and alternative incisions with enhanced technological assistance. Both coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery can be accomplished with this novel methodology. Specifically, minimally invasive mitral valve surgery has becom...

Since the first cardiac valve replacement in the early sixth decade of the last century, the search continued for ideal cardiac valve substitute with proven structural durability over a period of 10 to 20 years, central flow orifice without transvalvular gradient, absence of host reactivity deleterious to valve function, non-thrombogenecity without the use of anti-coagulant, resistance to infec...

Right-sided endocarditis, and endocarditis of the tricuspid valve in particular, is a relatively uncommon condition, encountered approximately 5 to 10 percent all cases infectious (IE). The recent increase prevalence right-sided IE attributed intravenous drug abuse as well increased utilization implantable cardiac devices such pacemakers, cardioverter-defi brillators, resynchronization therapy ...

OBJECTIVE To determine the early mortality and major morbidity associated with cardiac surgery in the elderly. DESIGN Retrospective case record review study of 575 patients >/= 70 years old who underwent cardiac surgery at the Manchester Heart Centre between January 1990 and December 1996. SETTING Regional cardiothoracic centre. SUBJECTS Patients >/= 70 years old who underwent cardiac sur...

RATIONALE The Notch signaling pathway is crucial for primitive cardiac valve formation by epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and NOTCH1 mutations cause bicuspid aortic valve; however, the temporal requirement for the various Notch ligands and receptors during valve ontogeny is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to determine the functional specificity of Notch in valve devel...

Double orifice left atrioventricular valve (DOLAVV) or double orifice mitral valve (DOMV) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly manifesting either as an isolated lesion (mitral stenosis or mitral insufficiency) or in association with other congenital cardiac defects. Signs of mitral valve disease are usually present along with the symptoms of associated coexistent congenital heart diseases. Mitr...

Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are rare cardiac valve tumours with reported incidence of <0.03% according to autopsy studies. Among them, pulmonary valve PFEs are extremely rare. With wider use of echocardiography, they are being increasingly recognized premortem. We describe a case of a 32-year-old Caucasian woman with PFE of pulmonic valve diagnosed by echocardiography. The patient underwent...

Objective—To determine the early mortality and major morbidity associated with cardiac surgery in the elderly. Design—Retrospective case record review study of 575 patients > 70 years old who underwent cardiac surgery at the Manchester Heart Centre between January 1990 and December 1996. Setting—Regional cardiothoracic centre. Subjects—Patients > 70 years old who underwent cardiac surgery. Main...

BACKGROUND Whether minimally diseased aortic valves should be replaced during other necessary cardiac operations remains controversial. Part of the decision-making process in that issue revolves around the risks of subsequent aortic valve replacement. This study evaluated the results of aortic valve replacement in patients following prior cardiac surgery. METHODS From February, 1984 through D...