Brain Metastases from Primary Cardiac Tumors: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis.

: Primary cardiac tumors (PCTs) are rare entities, with only a minority being malignant and capable of distant dissemination. Among the rarest and most challenging metastatic events are brain metastases originating from cardiac tumors. Due to the heart's direct access to systemic circulation, even benign tumors such as atrial myxomas may cause cerebral embolic phenomena.

Incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury in redo cardiac surgery: a single center analysis.

The incidence, risk factors and prognostic implications of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing redo cardiac surgery are still poorly defined. We prospectively collected data on 394 consecutive redo patients between January 2011 and October 2020. Patients were divided into groups according to the occurrence of different degrees of postoperative AKI (No AKI vs.

Prognostic Implication of Preoperative Anemia in Redo Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Preoperative anemia has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery, but little is known about its prognostic value in the setting of redo procedure. A retrospective, observational cohort study of prospectively collected data was undertaken on 409 consecutive patients referred for redo cardiac procedures between January 2011 and December 2020. The EuroSCORE II calculated an average mortality risk of 25.

Acute type A aortic dissection in bicuspid versus tricuspid aortic valve patients: focus on geometrical features of the aorta.

Objectives: This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the geometrical features, including diameters, length and angulation, of the ascending aorta with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve and to identify imaging markers potentially predicting whether aortopathy is likely to evolve chronically or to complicate with acute type A dissection.

Methods: Angio-computed-tomography scans of 354 patients (from 3 centres) with non-dilated (n = 97), aneurysmal (n = 100) or dissected aorta (n = 157) were reviewed. Diameters were measured at root, sinotubular junction, ascending, brachio-cephalic trunk origin; centreline lengths of the root and tubular tract and ascending-arch angle (between the ascending tubular tract axis and the proximal arch axis) were also measured.

Analysis of changes in "mitral valve reserve" after coronary artery bypass grafts in patients with functional mitral regurgitation.

Introduction: The treatment of moderate functionalmitral regurgitation (FMR) during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is still debated. Our primary end point was to assess the improvement of "mitral valve reserve" (MVR) after CABG alone as a clinical demonstration of left ventricular (LV) recovery.

Materials And Methods: Between June 2019 and June 2021, we prospectively enrolled 104 consecutive patients undergoing CABG with moderate FMR.

Intraoperative Assessment of Coronary Resistances: A New Quality Marker and Potential Tool to Predict Early Graft Failure after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?

Intraoperative assessment of graft patency is pivotal for successful coronary revascularization. In the present study we aimed to propose a new, easy to perform tool to assess anastomotic quality intraoperatively, and to investigate its potential reliability in predicting early graft failure. Intraoperative graft flowmetry of 63 consecutive patients undergoing CABG were prospectively collected.

Implications of abnormal ascending aorta geometry for risk prediction of acute type A aortic dissection.

Objectives: Recently, increased length of the ascending aorta has been suggested as a possible risk factor for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Our goal was to identify measurable aortic geometrical characteristics associated with elongation that could differentiate ATAAD from uncomplicated aortic dilation (>45 mm).

Methods: In angiographic computed tomography scans performed in 180 patients having cardiac surgery, aortic diameters, root length, length of the ascending aorta at both the centreline and the greater curvature (convexity) and the root-ascending (root-asc) angle (that between the root axis and the axis of the ascending tract) and the ascending-arch (asc-arch) angle (that between the axis of the ascending aorta and the arch axis) were measured and compared among 3 patient groups: normal aorta (diameter < 45 mm), dilation/aneurysm (>45 mm) and ATAAD.

Cardiac surgery practice during the COVID-19 outbreak: a multicentre national survey.

Objectives: Healthcare systems worldwide have been overburdened by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Accordingly, hospitals had to implement strategies to profoundly reshape both non-COVID-19 medical care and surgical activities. Knowledge about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac surgery practice is pivotal.

Cardiac surgery practice during the COVID-19 outbreak: a regionwide survey.

Background: Health systems worldwide have been overburdened by the "COVID-19 surge". Consequently, strategies to remodulate non-COVID medical and surgical care had to be developed. Knowledge of the impact of COVID surge on cardiac surgery practice is mainstem.

Topical rifampicin for prevention of deep sternal wound infections in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Deep sternal wound infections (DSWI), although an infrequent complication, significantly impair postoperative outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Among several preventive strategies, topical antibiotic therapy immediately before sternal closure has been strongly advocated. In this retrospective analysis, the incidence of DSWI in 517 patients undergoing isolated CABG and receiving rifampicin irrigation of mediastinum, sternum and suprasternal tissues was compared to an historical consecutive cohort of 448 patients.

"": Anticoagulation Management in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Prosthetic Valves in the Era of Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

Valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation often coexist. Oral vitamin K antagonists have represented the main anticoagulation management for antithrombotic prevention in this setting for decades. Novel direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are a new class of drugs and currently, due to their well-established efficacy and security, they represent the main therapeutic option in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

[ANMCO/GISE/SICCH Inter-Society Consensus Document: Antithrombotic therapy after surgery or structural interventional procedures for valvular heart diseases: how to treat postoperative complications].

Continuous improvement of technologies, devices and drugs needs a renewal and update of current recommendations and guidelines on antithrombotic strategies, especially in those fields where literature lacks of established scientific evidences. Accordingly, the aim of this consensus statement is to provide support for antithrombotic therapy based on current guidelines and the most recent scientific evidences.After an overview on the currently available devices, the appropriate therapy according to type of procedure and implanted device is discussed.

Effects of intra-aortic balloon pump on coronary artery bypass grafts blood flow: differences by graft type and coronary target.

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is used worldwide as an anti-ischemic strategy. However, little is known about the modifications of the graft blood flow during IABP. A retrospective study aimed at analyzing transit-time flow measurements during 1:1 IABP and during its cessation in 401 consecutive patients receiving IABP before coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 880 graft segments) was reported.

Impact of lesion sets on mid-term results of surgical ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different lesion sets of ablation in patients undergoing mitral surgery plus maze.

Background: The role of lesion sets on outcome after maze is poorly defined.

Methods: A total of 141 patients were prospectively followed up.

In vivo functional flowmetric behavior of the radial artery graft: is the composite Y-graft configuration advantageous over conventional aorta-coronary bypass?

Introduction: Intraoperative flowmetric results of different configurations (Y-graft or aorta-coronary) of radial artery grafts have been poorly investigated.

Methods: We report the results of an observational study designed to analyze transit-time flow measurements at baseline and during 1:1 intra-aortic balloon pumping in 114 consecutive patients receiving the radial artery as a aorta-coronary bypass (group A, 72 patients) or as a Y-graft with the left internal thoracic artery (group B, 42 patients). Graft flow reserve, recruited by 1:1 intra-aortic balloon pumping) greater than 1 indicated recruitment of surplus graft flow.

Mid-term echocardiographic results with different rings following restrictive mitral annuloplasty for ischaemic cardiomiopathy.

Background: Despite restrictive mitral annuloplasty (RMA) being considered effective for chronic ischaemic mitral regurgitation (CIMR), few data exist on mid-term echocardiographic results with different prosthetic rings. Therefore, comparative echocardiographic analysis has been performed.

Methods: Sixty-four consecutive coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) + RMA (downsizing by two-ring sizes; median size: 26 mm) for CIMR with a follow-up of at least 6 months were prospectively followed-up with serial echocardiograms (preoperative, discharge, 6 months, follow-up ending).