PURPOSE To elucidate the effects of prosthetic valve sound on a patient's quality of life (QOL). METHODS We compared the valve sounds of ATS, SJM, and Carbomedics (CM) based on assessments by 248 patients who underwent mechanical valve replacements from January 2000 to August 2003 at seven facilities in Japan. We used a self-administered questionnaire for evaluating patients' assessments of v...

BACKGROUND The relationship of aortic valve dysfunction and ascending aortic aneurysm is unclear in adults with bicuspid aortic valve disease. METHODS We retrospectively studied 134 consecutive out-patients (98 men, 36 women aged 43 ± 18 years) with bicuspid aortic valve disease. To investigate the relationship of ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic valve dysfunction we exclusively considere...

A 79-year-old man underwent trans-catheter aortic valve replacement for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis with a 26-mm Edwards SAPIEN XT valve. Immediately after valve deployment there was moderate amount of paravalvular leak. Post-dilation was performed with an additional 2 cc of volume, and the paravalvular leak was reduced to trace. Nine months later, trans-thoracic echocardiography reveale...

Three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography has advantages over traditional two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography in visualizing tricuspid valve morphology in Ebstein's anomaly. We describe the application of intra-operative 3D transesophageal echocardiography during a tricuspid valve repair procedure in a patient with Ebstein's anomaly. Intra-operatively three-dimensional transesopha...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) in the Artificial Valve Endocarditis Reduction Trial (AVERT) cohort. BACKGROUND The initial AVERT cohort consisted of 807 patients randomized to receive either a Silzone-coated prosthetic valve or a conventional prosthetic valve; early clinical reports showed higher rates of v...

BACKGROUND In patients after aortic valve surgery, the quality of life is hypothesized to be influenced by the type of the valve procedure. A cross-sectional study on the postoperative quality of life was carried out in patients after aortic valve-sparing surgery (with regards to the age of the patient), Ross procedure and mechanical aortic valve replacement. METHODS Quality of life was studi...

This review highlights aspects of calcific aortic valve disease that encompass the entire range of aortic valve disease progression from initial cellular changes to aortic valve sclerosis and stenosis, which can be initiated by changes in blood flow (hemodynamics) and pressure across the aortic valve. Appropriate hemodynamics is important for normal valve function and maintenance, but pathologi...

OBJECTIVE To compare the results of the root reconstruction with the aortic valve-sparing operation versus composite graft-valve replacement. METHODS From January 2002 to October 2013, 324 patients underwent aortic root reconstruction. They were 263 composite graft-valve replacement and 61 aortic valve-sparing operation (43 reimplantation and 18 remodeling). Twenty-six percent of the patients...

supravalvar mitral ring is a rare congenital heart defect of surgical importance. the condition is characterized by an abnormal ridge of the connective tissue on the atrial side of the mitral valve. it often substantially obstructs the mitral valve inflow. we herein introduce a case of a supravalvar mitral ring in a 17-year-old male, who was admitted to our hospital with cardiac syncope. he had...

conclusions children with chd are at risk of severe complications with the involvement of other organs. long-term febrile illness should be taken seriously in these children. they need hospitalization and careful evaluation. case presentation a 6-year-old girl with a ventricular septal defect (vsd) was presented. echocardiography revealed large vegetation in the right ventricular outflow tract ...