In patients with severe mitral annular calcification undergoing mitral valve surgery, complete annular decalcification and reconstruction yields favorable outcomes.

The transradial approach for catheterization is becoming increasingly more popular. At present, the choice of the right or left radial artery depends on the operator's preference. We examined how the laterality influenced the effectiveness of the approach. Employing Judkins-type catheters, we performed coronary angiography in 232 patients with the left approach and in 205 patients with the right approach. Although access time did not differ between the two groups of patients, the duration of catheter manipulation was shorter in the left- than in the right-approach group (11.7 +/- 5.9 vs. 9.8 +/- 4.4 min; P < 0.001). Because of the shorter duration of catheter manipulation, the total procedural duration was shorter in the left-approach group (13.7 +/- 6.4 vs. 11.4 +/- 4.8 min; P < 0.001). The fluoroscopy time was shorter in the left- than in the right-approach group (3.7 +/- 2.5 vs. 5.0 +/- 3.3 min; P < 0.001). The amount of contrast material did not differ between the groups (79 +/- 27 vs. 83 +/- 25 ml). The rate of guidewire usage to engage the coronary ostium was higher in the right- than in the left-approach group because of the severe tortuosity of the right subclavian artery (20/205 vs. 0/232; P < 0.001). Thus, for operators with significant experience, the left radial approach may provide increased procedural efficacy for coronary angiography compared to the right radial approach.

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The combination of EuroSCORE II and SYNTAX score was useful in predicting early major complications after CABG. In the long term, EuroSCORE II continued to be associated with late mortality, but SYNTAX score did not.

Objective As the use of minimally invasive surgery in cardiothoracic surgery increases, so does the need for simulation and training. We developed a heart model for simulation and training of minimally invasive cardiac surgery, particularly minimally invasive mitral valve repair using our new three-dimensional printing system. Methods Digital imaging and communication in medicine data from patient computed tomography, three-dimensional computer-aided design, and three-dimensional printing helped create replicas of the heart and thoracic cavity. A polyvinyl alcohol model material with a texture and physical properties similar to those of heart tissue was initially used in mitral valve replicas to simulate surgical procedures. To develop this material, we mechanically investigated the composition of each part of the porcine heart. Results We investigated the elastic modulus and breaking strength of the porcine heart. Based on investigation results, the cardiac model was set at rupture strength 20 MPa, elastic modulus 0.17 MPa, and moisture content 85%. This provided a biotexture and feeling exactly like a patient heart. Computed tomography scans confirmed that the model shape was nearly the same as that of a human heart. We simulated minimally invasive mitral valve repair, including ring annuloplasty, chordal reconstruction, resection and suture, and edge-to-edge repair. Full surgery simulations using this model used minimally invasive cardiac surgery tools including a robot. Conclusions This life-like model can be used as a standard simulator to train younger, less experienced surgeons to practice minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures and may help develop new operative tools.