BACKGROUND Edge-to-edge approximation of the mitral valve leaflets (Alfieri procedure) is a novel surgical treatment for patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). Long-term durability may be limited if abnormal mitral leaflet stresses result from this procedure. The aim of the current study was to measure Alfieri stitch tension (F(A)) and to explore its geometric determinants in an ovi...

Real-time, phased-array, two-dimensional echocardiographic studies identified ruptured chordae tendineae in five patients: four patients had a flail mitral valve and one had flail mitral and tricuspid valves. The characteristic abnormality was a rapid systolic motion of the involved leaflet beyond the line of valve closure into the atrium. The maximal abnormal systolic motion was greatest at th...

The translational diffusion coefficient (D) of lipids located in the outer and inner leaflets of planar supported DLPC (1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) bilayers in the fluid phase was measured using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy of dye-labeled lipids at the low concentration of 0.001% and using iodide quenching of dyes in the outer leaflet to distinguish diffusion in the inne...

social and financial ties. This does not release us from normal professional responsibility. Child abuse is addressed in a recent leaflet entitled "Protecting children from abuse",' the result of a project that was initiated by Amateur Swimming Federation, developed by the National Society for the Protection (NSPCC) and National Coaching Foundation, and supported by the Sports Council and Child...

The geometry of the mitral leaflets, most commonly viewed using three-dimensional ultrasound, is an important input for mechanical models predicting valve closure. Current methods for leaflet modeling from ultrasound either require extensive user interaction, rely on inaccurate assumptions, or produce generic results. The presented method for modeling the mitral leaflets from three-dimensional ...

OBJECTIVE Valve repair for aortic insufficiency may provide an alternative to aortic valve replacement in selected patients. This repair could be an attempt at permanent correction or palliation to allow the aortic annulus to grow and avoid the use of anticoagulation. Based upon a five-year experience, we proposed a classification according to valvular anatomy which could be a guide to patient ...

OBJECTIVE The optimal orientation of a bileaflet mechanical valve for tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) has not yet been determined. The aim of this study was to use fiberoptic cardioscopy to evaluate the effect of orientation of a mechanical valve implanted in the tricuspid position on bileaflet mechanical valve behavior. METHODS Twelve pigs (50-59 kg) underwent TVR with a St. Jude Mechanica...