Juniper Publishers Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Therapy

JUNIPER PUBLISHERS - OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Abstract The information provided by diagnostic imaging technologies is an invaluable tool for managing cardiology patients. However, one must be careful not to make clinical decisions based exclusively on an image produced by diagnostic devices because; occasionally this approach could prove misleading. Micro-bubbles in the left heart in a patient undergone mitral valve replacement (MVR) three years back are uncommon and require further evaluation. The differential diagnosis being paradoxical air embolism through a PFO, left atrial rupture, atrial-bronchial or atrial-esophageal fistula and Cavitations/De-gassing. The Cavitation/De-gassing phenomenon is caused by the local pressure drop that occurs during the closure and/or opening of mechanical valve leaflets. Occasionally, these peculiar features of echo cardiographic images generated by cavitations can simulate a mass or vegetation an...

JUNIPER PUBLISHERS-OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Abstract Background: Full median sternotomy has been a standard surgical approach for heart surgery for more than 50 years. Several advantages increasing the use of less invasive approaches to the mitral valve surgery including, cosmetic, blood product use, respiratory, and pain advantages over conventional surgery. Parasternal incision, right mini-thoracotomy and partial sternotomy are described approaches for less invasive cardiac surgery. Objective: Comparing the standard approach via conventional median sternotomy vs. less invasive approach via upper partial sternotomy. Methods: Sixty patients, underwent mitral valve replacement with or without tricuspid valve repair in NHI, were enrolled in this study and divided into two equal groups, Group I via conventional median sternotomy (CMS), and Group II via upper partial sternotomy (UPS). The preoperative characteristics, operative ...