Chuong Tran Viet Pham

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a reversible form of acute heart failure often triggered by physical or emotional stressors. Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) has become a prevalent approach for treating mitral valve pathologies, yet its association with TTS remains underexplored. We present the case of a female patient undergoing MIMVS with concomitant Maze ablation, who developed TTS postoperatively. Despite a normal coronary angiogram, transient coronary spasm due to an imbalance in autonomic nervous activity was considered. The patient exhibited preoperative risk factors including sequelae of cerebral infarction. Female patients undergoing MIMVS with preoperative risk factors such as cerebral infarction sequelae may be at increased risk of developing TTS postoperatively. The InterTAK Diagnostic score, in conjunction with the International Expert Consensus Document on Takotsubo Syndrome, aids in promptly diagnosing TTS and differentiating it from acute coronary syndrome. Further research is warranted to elucidate the relationship between MIMVS and TTS.

MedPharmRes is owned by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City and published under Open Access arrangement. MedPharmRes publishes quarterly and covers all fields in medicine, public health, epidemiology, and pharmacy, including drug synthesis and delivery and health and medical education research, in an attempt to bridge the gaps between healthcare and clinical specialization. The journal’s publication criteria are based on the accuracy of the research methodology and high ethical standards.

This study presents the early and midterm outcomes of combining atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) at our center.From January 2017 to June 2022, our center treated a total of 86 patients with both MIMVS and surgical AF ablation. The patient cohort included 62 women (72.1%) and 24 men (27.9%). The average EuroScore II was 2.64 ± 1.49%, and the patients were followed up for an average period of 46.31 ± 9.84 months.Postoperatively, 95.3% of patients experienced a change in sinus rhythm, and 86.2% were discharged in sinus rhythm. The hospital's mortality rate was 2.3%, with a late mortality rate of 3.5%. Survival analysis revealed an atrial fibrillation–free 5-year follow-up rate of 59.1 ± 9.1%. The 5-year survival rate was 92.7 ± 3.3%.Our 5-year experience demonstrates that the combination of MIMVS and surgical AF ablation can be routinely performed with favorable peri- and postoperative outcomes. This reflects our hospital's culture and guidance on patient selection, particularly when adopting minimally invasive approaches for multiple procedures.

Background: Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are rare, accounting for approximately 10% of all cardiac tumors, with 44% of cases located on the aortic valve and only 15% of cases located on the tricuspid valve. However, the optimal management of papillary fibroelastomas remains varied. Case presentation: We present two successful instances of treating heart valve papillary fibroelastomas through minimally invasive surgery. These cases involved heart valve papillary fibroelastomas located in two common sites: the aortic valve on the left heart, which was accessed via an upper hemi-sternotomy, and the tricuspid valve on the right heart, which was accessed via beating heart total thoracoscopy. Conclusion: The article consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of a minimally invasive surgical approach in managing heart valve papillary fibroelastomas. This study provides further evidence by presenting two cases of heart valve papillary fibroelastomas - one on the aortic valve and the other on the tricuspid valve - that were successfully treated using this approach, resulting in favorable outcomes.

A 38-year-old Asian male with severe mitral valve regurgitation underwent elective minimally invasive mitral valve repair with artificial chordae and concomitant Cox-Maze procedure. Cardiopulmonary bypass required large peripheral cannulas due to the patient’s increased body surface area with a total bypass time of 216 min. At 10 h, the patient reported progressive right lower extremity pain with evidence of swelling, diffuse paresthesias, and weak peripheral pulses. The patient underwent double-incision lower leg fasciotomies, revealing significant interstitial fluid and bulging muscle chambers. Compartment syndrome demonstrates non-traumatic etiologies. Elevated body mass index, Kawashima Type D femoral artery classification, prolonged bypass times, driven partially due to concomitant Cox-Maze, and larger cannula sizes should increase the index of suspicion.