Background — Outcome of patients with hypoplastic left heart (HLH) is mainly influenced by the successful first-step palliation according to Norwood procedure. An alternative approach transplantation (HTX). The feasibility ductal stenting in newborns duct-dependent systemic blood flow and bilateral pulmonary artery banding has been reported. But it remains be elucidated whether this allows a new strategy for HLH. Methods Results In various forms HLH (n=11) prostaglandin E-1 administration,...

Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system by inhibition angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is beneficial for treatment hypertension and congestive heart failure. However, it unclear how complete blockade ACE inhibitors if there continuing angiotensin II (Ang II) formation during chronic with inhibitors. Indeed chymase, a serine protease, which able to form from I I) cannot be blocked inhibitors, has been shown present in human heart. The goal study was evaluate extent Ang II–forming pathways...

Background: Following mitral valve replacement, surgical closure of paravalvular leaks is usually advised in severely symptomatic patients and those requiring blood transfusions for persisting haemolysis. However, the long-term prognosis less or not needing unknown. Methods: Between 1987 1997, we observed 96 with leakage. A paraprosthetic leak was diagnosed after a median time 119 days (range: 1 day–23 years) primary replacement. During an average follow-up 5 years 1–23 years), 50/96 were...

Background There are conflicting reports on the effects of training remodeling process in post–myocardial infarction patients with ventricular damage. Methods and Results Twenty-five reduced function (mean ejection fraction, 32.3±6%) after an anteroseptal or inferolateral myocardial were randomized to exercise group (n=12) a control (n=13). Patients resided rehabilitation center for 2 months underwent program consisting two 1-hour sessions walking daily, along four monitored 45-minute...

Both endothelin-A (ETA) and endothelin-B (ETB) receptors are known to be present in human coronary arteries. However, their absolute relative amounts, functional roles, the influence of pathology uncertain. The goal study was characterize endothelin mediating constriction arteries assess cardiomyopathy (CMP) artery disease (CAD) on ET tissue. For comparison, porcine were evaluated parallel. Competition binding experiments using [125I]ET-1 different selective nonselective ETA- ETB-receptor...

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting operation (CABG). Experimental data have shown antiarrhythmic effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on myocardial cells. Orally administered PUFA could significantly reduce the rate postoperative AF. We assessed efficacy for prevention AF CABG. were given intravenously to prevent variation in bioavailability.

Currently used valve substitutes for replacement have certain disadvantages that limit their long-term benefits such as poor durability, risks of infection, thromboembolism or rejection. A tissue engineered autologous composed living is expected to overcome these shortcomings with natural existing biological mechanisms growth, repair, remodeling and development. The aim the study was improve cell seeding methods developing tissue-engineered tissue.Human aortic myofibroblasts were seeded on...

To identify predictors for the safe use of antibiotic treatment without reoperation in patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis.Retrospective study a tertiary care centre.All 49 episodes definite endocarditis (Duke criteria) diagnosed at one institution between 1980 to 1997 were analysed. Ten (20%) treated antibiotics only (antibiotic group) and 39 (80%) combined surgical (surgery group). The analysis included detailed hospital records data on long term follow up which obtained all by...

Objective: Life expectancy of cryopreserved allografts implanted in infants is different from those adults. A morphological study explanted allograft heart valves was performed to determine the mechanism deterioration and compare arterial valve adult patients with infants. Method: Between 1987 1996, 209 were implanted: 125 valved conduits or monocusps reconstruct right ventricular outflow tract congenital disease, 50 treat native aortic prosthetic endocarditis 34 replace mycotic aneurysms...

Between January 1985 and June 1995, more than 1800 consecutive patients underwent implantation of a new permanent cardiac pacemaker at our institution. Thirty-six (0.02%) had 45 reinterventions for infected systems.in group A, 24 27 received simultaneous pacemaker. One reimplantation the same in pocket, two did not require reimplantation. The leads were retained 19 (70%) patients. In B, nine cardiopulmonary bypass or "pursestring" surgery removal an pacemaker; epicardial system was...

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplantation leads to an accelerated form of atherosclerosis with marked and often diffuse vessel wall changes that limit long-term survival. Previous studies showed contradictory results relating endothelial vasodilator response.A total 30 cardiac transplant recipients were studied 3, 12, 24 months transplantation. Coronary angiography was performed at rest, during supine bicycle ergometry, 1.6 mg sublingual nitroglycerin. cross-sectional area...

Objective: In tissue engineering the material properties of synthetic compounds are chosen to enable delivery dissociated cells onto a scaffold in manner that will result vitro formation new functional tissue. The seeding human fibroblasts followed by endothelial on resorbable mesh is precondition successful creation tissues such as vessels or cardiac valves. Methods: Polymeric scaffolds (n=18) composed polyglycolic acid (PGA) with fiber diameter 12–15 μm and polymer density 70 mg/ml were...

The management of mycotic aneurysms and prosthetic graft infection major thoracic abdominal vessels infected extra-anatomic bypass remains a problem in vascular surgery. Cryopreserved arterial homografts, being resistant to infection, offer hope for situ reconstruction the presence an infection. We analyzed clinical, microbiological, preoperative postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), echocardiography and/or angiography data 12 patients with aneurysm or...