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International journal of cardiology 05/2013; · 7.08 Impact Factor
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International journal of cardiology 04/2013; · 7.08 Impact Factor
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International journal of cardiology 04/2013; · 7.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Postsurgical intrapericardial adhesions are still considered an unavoidable consequence of cardiothoracic operations. They increase the technical difficulty and the risk of reoperations. The pathogenesis of postsurgical adhesions is a multistep process, and the main key players are (1) loss of mesothelial cells, (2) accumulation of fibrin in areas devoid of mesothelial cells, (3) loss of normal pericardial fibrinolysis, and (4) local inflammation. Today, very promising methods to reduce adhesions are available for clinical use. This report reviews the process of formation of adhesions and the methods to prevent them, classified according to the mechanism of action.
The Annals of thoracic surgery 04/2013; · 3.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation has emerged as a valuable option to treat patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, who are not being considered for surgery because of significant comorbidities. Concerns exist over treating patients who have previously undergone mitral valve surgery for possible interference between the percutaneous aortic valve and the mitral prosthesis or ring.METHODS
At our centre, from May 2008 to December 2012, 172 patients (76 male) with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis were eligible for transcatheter aortic valve implant. Nine patients, affected by severe aortic stenosis, had previously undergone mitral valve surgery (4 mono-leaflet, 3 bileaflet, 1 bioprosthesis, 1 mitral ring); they were considered high-risk surgical candidates following joint evaluation by cardiac surgeons and cardiologist and had undergone TAVI.RESULTSSeven patients underwent standard femoral retrograde CoreValve(®) (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, USA) implantation, two patients underwent a direct aortic implantation through a mini-thoracotomy. All patients experienced immediate improvement of their haemodynamic status. No deformation of the nitinol tubing of the CoreValve, nor distortion or malfunction of the mechanical valve or mitral ring, occurred as assessed by echographical and fluoroscopic evaluation. No major postoperative complications occurred. In all patients , echocardiography indicated normal valve function during follow-up.CONCLUSIONS
Our experience confirms the feasibility of CoreValve implantation in patients with mechanical mitral valves or mitral annuloplasty ring.
Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery 03/2013;
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European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 02/2013; · 2.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Adhesions are a formidable challenge in patients undergoing reoperative cardiac surgery, particularly in those supported by an intracorporeal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and undergoing heart transplantation. This report describes the pathological findings following the clinical use of a surgical sealant (CoSeal, Baxter Healthcare, Fremont, CA), in a patient who underwent LVAD implantation. On the treated surfaces, a minimal amount of adhesions were observed, whereas in untreated surfaces adhesions were present.
Surgical Innovation 02/2013; · 2.13 Impact Factor
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Enrico Ammirati,
Fabrizio Oliva,
Tiziano Colombo,
Luca Botta,
Manlio Cipriani,
Aldo Cannata,
Alessandro Verde,
Fabio M Turazza,
Claudio F Russo,
Roberto Paino, Luigi Martinelli,
Maria Frigerio
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ABSTRACT: Heart transplantation (HTx) is considered to be the gold standard treatment for advanced heart failure (HF) but it is available only for a minority of patients, due to paucity of donor hearts (278 HTx were performed in 2011 in Italy). Patients listed for HTx have a prolonged waiting time (that is about 2.3 years in the 2006-2010 time period in Italy) that is superior compared with patients who receive HTx (median time around 6 months), to underline the presence of an allocation system that prioritizes candidates in critical conditions. Patients listed for HTx have a poor quality of life and their annual mortality is around 8-10%. Another 10-15% of HTx candidates are removed from the waiting list each year because they are no longer suitable for transplantation. On the other hand, continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been demonstrated to improve survival and quality of life of patients with advanced/refractory HF. LVAD therapy can represent a valid alternative to HTx, and it is recommended for patients with advanced HF in the recent edition of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines on HF management. In the United States, a larger number of centers compared with European ones started to apply a strategy of LVAD implant for many patients who meet clinical criteria for listing for HTx. Data from our center concerning the last 6 years of LVAD implant (51 implants since 2006) reported a 75.5% survival rate at 1 year. In Italian series, as in our center, current HTx survival is only slightly superior (83% survival rate at 1 year), based on data from the Italian National Transplant Center. We report a proposal for updated listing criteria for HTx and indications for LVAD implant in patients with advanced acute and chronic HF. Criteria for identifying suitable patients for HTx and/or LVAD considering the shortage of donors are discussed.
Giornale italiano di cardiologia (2006) 02/2013; 14(2):110-9.
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Giuseppe Bruschi,
Tiziano Colombo,
Fabrizio Oliva,
Luca Botta,
Nuccia Morici,
Aldo Cannata,
Claudia Vittori,
Fabio Turazza,
Andrea Garascia,
Giovanna Pedrazzini,
Maria Frigerio, Luigi Martinelli
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: Heart transplantation (HTx) is still one of the most effective therapies for end-stage heart disease for patients with no other medical or surgical therapy. We report the results of our 25-year orthotropic HTx single-centre experience. METHODS: From November 1985, 905 orthotopic heart transplants have been performed at our centre. We exclude from the present analysis 13 patients who underwent re-transplantation and 14 pediatric cases (age at HTx <15 years). RESULTS: The present study collected the data of 878 primary adult orthotopic HTx performed at our centre. Mean age at HTx was of 49.6 ± 11.6 years. Mean donor age was 36.9 ± 14.8 years. Hospital mortality was 11.6% (102 patients), early graft failure was the principal cause of death (58 patients) followed by infections (18 cases) and acute rejection (7 patients). Overall actuarial survival was 78.1% at 5 years and 63.8% and 47.5%, respectively, at 10 and 15 years from HTx. Mean survival was 10.74 years; 257 late deaths were reported (33.1%); main causes were neoplasm in 83 patients, and cardiac causes included coronary allograft vasculopathy in 78 patients. Freedom from any infection at 5, 10 and 15 years was 52.2, 44.1 and 40.1%, respectively. Freedom from rejection at 5 years was 36.2%, with 493 patients experiencing at last one episode of rejection, the majority occurring during the first 2 months after transplantation. The long-term survival of HTx recipients is limited in large part by the development of coronary artery vasculopathy and malignancies. In our experience freedom from coronary allograft vasculopathy at 10 years was 66.9%, and 85 patients underwent percutaneous coronary revascularization. In our study population, 44 patients experienced posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder and 91 patients experienced a solid neoplasm, mean survival free from neoplasm was 12.23 years. CONCLUSION: Over the past four decades the field of HTx has evolved considerably, with improvements in surgical techniques and postoperative patients' care. A careful patient selection and treatment of candidates for transplantation as well as accurate clinical follow-up combined with real multidisciplinary teamwork that involved different heart failure specialists, allowed us to obtain our excellent long-term results.
Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine 01/2013; · 1.51 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation has been designed to treat patients affected by severe symptomatic aortic stenosis considered extremely high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. The CoreValve® (Medtronic Inc., MN, USA) is a multilevel self-expanding and fully radiopaque nitinol frame with a diamond cell configuration that holds a trileaflet porcine pericardial tissue valve and anchors the device in the native anatomy. CoreValve was the first percutaneous valve to be granted the CE mark for transfemoral implantation in May 2007 and the CoreValve US Pivotal Trial is actively underway. The CoreValve is available in four sizes (23, 26, 29 and 31 mm) to serve a broad range of patients' annulus from 18 to 29 mm. All the valves fit into an 18-Fr size catheter. Currently, more than 35,000 patients have been treated in more than 60 countries worldwide from the femoral artery, the axillary artery and, more recently, from a direct aortic approach, with excellent results up to 4-year follow-up.
Expert Review of Medical Devices 01/2013; 10(1):15-26. · 2.63 Impact Factor
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European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 12/2012; · 2.55 Impact Factor
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Giuseppe Bruschi,
Federico de Marco,
Luca Botta,
Aldo Cannata,
Jacopo Oreglia,
Paola Colombo,
Alberto Barosi,
Tiziano Colombo,
Sandra Nonini,
Roberto Paino,
Silvio Klugmann, Luigi Martinelli
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ABSTRACT: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been designed to treat elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis at high risk for operation; however, these patients are also often affected by severe iliac-femoral arteriopathy that prohibits the transfemoral approach.
From May 2008 to January 2012, 400 patients were evaluated for TAVI at our center; of these, 141 patients (64 men; mean age 81.3±8 years) with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and no reasonable surgical option due to excessive risk were eligible for CoreValve (137 patients; Medtronic Inc, MN) or Sapien (Edwards Lifesciences, CA) implantation. Twenty-five patients (all affected by severe peripheral vasculopathy, including five re-do procedures), with a mean The Society of Thoracic Surgeons mortality score 11%±6%, underwent CoreValve implantation directly from the ascending aorta through a right anterior minithoracotomy. This case series was reviewed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of these patients. A combined team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons with expertise in hybrid procedures, and anesthetists performed all the procedures.
In all patients after valve deployment, the mean aortic gradient immediately dropped to 5 mm Hg or less, and the angiographic grade aortic insufficiency was 1 or less in 22 patients. One patient was converted to the transfemoral approach due to an extremely fragile aortic wall, but the patient died of abdominal aorta aneurysm rupture on postoperative day 1. Procedural success was obtained in the remaining 24 patients. A left ventricle tear in 1 patient was successfully surgically treated. Four patients required a permanent pacemaker implantation. Thirty-day mortality was 8% (2 patients). All discharged patients improved their New York Heart Association functional class and functional capacity, and echocardiograms demonstrated good valve performance up to 2 years (mean valve gradient, 9 mm Hg). During follow-up, 1 patient died of cachexia and another of bone marrow aplasia.
TAVI with the direct aortic approach is safe and feasible, offering a new attractive option to treat selected high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis and peripheral vasculopathy, including those requiring a re-do procedure, and has emerged as a valuable alternative route to transapical access.
The Annals of thoracic surgery 05/2012; 94(2):497-503. · 3.74 Impact Factor
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Raffaele Caruso,
Alessandro Verde,
Jonica Campolo,
Filippo Milazzo,
Claudio Russo,
Chiara Boroni,
Marina Parolini,
Salvatore Trunfio,
Roberto Paino, Luigi Martinelli,
Maria Frigerio,
Oberdan Parodi
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ABSTRACT: This study investigates the impact of early left ventricular (LV)-mechanical unloading on systemic oxidative stress and inflammation in terminal heart failure patients and their impact both on multi organ failure and on intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Circulating levels of urinary 15-isoprostane-F(2t) (8-epi-PGF2(α)) and pro-inflammatory markers [plasma interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and urinary neopterin, a monocyte activation index] were analyzed in 20 healthy subjects, 22 stable end-stage heart failure (ESHF) patients and in 23 LV assist device (LVAD) recipients at pre-implant and during first post-LVAD (PL) month. Multi-organ function was evaluated by total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (tSOFA) score. In LVAD recipients the levels of oxidative-inflammatory markers and tSOFA score were higher compared to other groups. After device implantation 8-epi-PGF2(α) levels were unchanged, while IL-6, and IL-8 levels increased during first week, and at 1month returned to pre-implant values, while neopterin levels increased progressively during LVAD support. The tSOFA score worsened at 1 PL-week with respect to pre-implant value, but improved at 1 PL-month. The tSOFA score related with IL-6 and IL-8 levels, while length of ICU stay related with pre-implant IL-6 levels. These data suggest that hemodynamic instability in terminal HF is associated to worsening of systemic inflammatory and oxidative milieu that do not improve in the early phase of hemodynamic recovery and LV-unloading by LVAD, affecting multi-organ function and length of ICU stay. This data stimulate to evaluate the impact of inflammatory signals on long-term outcome of mechanical circulatory support.
Cytokine 05/2012; 59(1):138-44. · 3.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Women candidates for heart transplantation are definitely less than men, just 20% of all patients transplanted; even in the INTERMACS registry they represent only 21% of all ventricular assist devices (VAD) implanted. The reasons for this big difference are discussed in this article. Why women are less frequently assessed for unconventional therapies? Are they sicker or just less regarded? Our experience and the literature show us clear epidemiological, clinical and treatment differences that could lead to a lower prevalence of end-stage disease in women of an age suitable for unconventional therapies. Once on the transplant list, women wait less than men for a heart transplant, because they present with more severe disease, have a lower body mass index and undergo less VAD implants. After transplantation women's survival is comparable to men's, although they usually complain of a lower quality of life. Females receive less often a VAD than men. The main reasons for this include presentation with advanced heart failure at an older age than men, worse outcomes related to small body surface area, and lower survival rates on VAD when implanted as bridge to heart transplantation.
Giornale italiano di cardiologia (2006) 05/2012; 13(5):35-41.
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ABSTRACT: Transcatheter valve implantation into failing surgical mitral bioprosthetic valves have been reported. This strategy avoids performing high-risk repeat cardiac surgery in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. All these patients have been treated by a transapical approach. We report a case of failing bioprosthetic mitral valve in an 82-year-old woman successfully treated with a 29-mm Edwards SAPIEN balloon expandable bioprosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) with direct left atrial approach through a right anterior thoracotomy. Our experience demonstrates the technical feasibility and safety of this approach. Therefore, mitral valve-in-surgical valve implantation may be a viable treatment alternative in carefully selected patients.
The Annals of thoracic surgery 05/2012; 93(5):1708-10. · 3.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A 61-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent orthotopic heart transplantation. On routine coronary angiography 1 year later, a huge fistula was seen between the left anterior descending coronary artery and the right ventricle. When the patient developed symptoms of ischemia 8 years later, the fistula was successfully closed percutaneously, using a covered stent.
Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals 04/2012; 20(2):188-90.
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ABSTRACT: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation has rapidly gained credibility as a valuable alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis, who are otherwise left untreated owing to the perceived high risk of operative mortality. However, these patients are often also affected by severe iliofemoral arteriopathy, rendering the transfemoral approach unfeasible. Different alternative access routes have been used in these patients, such the transapical and the subclavian routes. We report our experience of direct aortic access through a right anterior minithoractomy to implant a self-expanding aortic valve bioprosthesis in two patients who had previously undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
The Annals of thoracic surgery 04/2012; 93(4):1297-9. · 3.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The choice of cardioplegic solution for myocardial preservation in heart transplantation (HT) remains debated. We analysed our experience with three different cardioplegic solutions in adult HT performed during past 5 years, in terms of non-immunological intraoperative biventricular graft failure (BVF) and in-hospital mortality.
A total of 133 patients underwent HT at our hospital from January 2006 to December 2010. Patients were divided into three groups, according to the solution adopted in the donor: HTK-Custodiol (n = 61), Celsior (n = 38) and St Thomas (n = 34). For each patient, solution was chosen according to surgeon's preference.
Recipient and donor mean age was 48.2 ± 12.7 and 43.8 ± 13.6 years, respectively. Twenty-four patients (18.0%) were in Status 1 at the transplant. The mean ischaemic time was 187.9 ± 52.6 min. Intraoperative BVF was observed in 18 cases (13.5%). Patients with BVF, and their respective donors, were older than the other patients (patients: 53.3 vs 47.4 years, P = 0.06; donors: 49.4 vs 42.9 years, P 0.06), and experienced significantly higher in-hospital mortality (47.3 vs 7.8%, P = 0.0001). The combination of patients aged 60 years or older with donors aged 60 years or older carried a mortality of 66.6% (6 out of 9). The three groups of patients did not differ significantly in terms of preoperative and intraoperative features and outcomes, including biventricular graft failure and death. At multivariate analysis, predictors of in-hospital death were a combination of both a recipient and a donor aged ≥ 60 years (OR 27.9), intraoperative BVF (OR 14.8) and previous cardiac surgery (OR 13.0). Cardioplegic solution did not predict mortality.
We did not observe a significant effect of the kind of cardioplegic solution on the early HT outcomes. The combination between both a recipient and a donor aged ≥ 60 years, reoperation and BVF are strong predictors of in-hospital death.
European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 04/2012; 41(4):e48-52; discussion e52-3. · 2.55 Impact Factor
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Enrico Ammirati,
Nicola Marziliano,
Claudia Vittori,
Patrizia Pedrotti,
Manuela A Bramerio,
Valentina Motta,
Francesco Orsini,
Silvio Veronese,
Piera A Merlini, Luigi Martinelli,
Maria Frigerio
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ABSTRACT: Effective treatments for mutated transthyretin (TTR)-related cardiac amyloidosis are limited. Heart transplantation or combined liver-heart transplantation are the most successful options, although results rely on underline mechanism and systemic nature of the disease. In this report, we present the first case of a Caucasian patient with the p.Val122Ile mutated TTR-related cardiac amyloidosis treated with heart transplantation due to this gene mutation frequent in Afro-Americans with a prevalent isolated heart involvement. The choice of isolated heart transplantation instead of combined heart and liver transplantations was based on (1) severe and progressive cardiac disease, (2) evidence of a gene mutation generally associated with isolated cardiac disease and (3) absence of relevant extra-cardiac involvement (with the possible exception of mild peripheral neuropathy). In any case, the very short post-transplant observation period of 10 months does not allow any conclusions on the long-term course of the presented strategy. Finally, it is the first European Caucasian family with the p.Val122Ile TTR mutation that has been described. Till now, very few Caucasian cases of p.Val122Ile mutated TTR-related cardiac amyloidosis have been reported. The patient and some members of his family also had mild peripheral neuropathy suggesting a regional phenotypic heterogeneity of European Caucasian TTR p.Val122Ile.
Amyloid: the international journal of experimental and clinical investigation: the official journal of the International Society of Amyloidosis 03/2012; 19(2):113-7. · 2.12 Impact Factor
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Raffaele Caruso,
Alessandro Verde,
Manuela Cabiati,
Filippo Milazzo,
Chiara Boroni,
Silvia Del Ry,
Marina Parolini,
Claudia Vittori,
Roberto Paino, Luigi Martinelli,
Daniela Giannessi,
Maria Frigerio,
Oberdan Parodi
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ABSTRACT: Inflammatory mechanisms are associated with worse prognosis in end-stage heart failure (ESHF) patients who require left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profiles describe patient condition at pre-implant and outcome. This study assessed the relationship among inflammation patterns and INTERMACS profiles in LVAD recipients.
Thirty ESHF patients undergoing LVAD implantation as bridge to transplant were enrolled. Blood and urine samples were collected pre-operatively and serially up to 2 weeks post-operatively for assessment of inflammatory markers (plasma levels of interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, IL-10, and osteopontin, a cardiac inflammatory-remodeling marker; and the urine neopterin/creatinine ratio, a monocyte activation marker). Multiorgan function was evaluated by the total sequential organ failure assessment (tSOFA) score. Outcomes of interest were early survival, post-LVAD tSOFA score, and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay.
Fifteen patients had INTERMACS profiles 1 or 2 (Group A), and 15 had profiles 3 or 4 (Group B). At pre-implant, only IL-6 levels and the IL-6/IL-10 ratio were higher in Group A vs B. After LVAD implantation, neopterin/creatinine ratio and IL-8 levels increased more in Group A vs B. Osteopontin levels increased significantly only in Group B. The tSOFA score at 2 weeks post-LVAD and ICU duration were related with pre-implant IL-6 levels.
The INTERMACS profiles reflect the severity of the pre-operative inflammatory activation and the post-implant inflammatory response, affecting post-operative tSOFA score and ICU stay. Therefore, inflammation may contribute to poor outcome in patients with severe INTERMACS profile.
The Journal of heart and lung transplantation: the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 03/2012; 31(6):625-33. · 3.54 Impact Factor
