BARBERO , Cristina

Background: Mean age of patients with valves diseases is significantly increasing, and, in the near future, cardiac surgeons will have to deal with a considerable number of patients aged more than 80 years. The remarkable results gained by the minimally invasive approach have encouraged its application in more complex and fragile patients, such...

Background: Perfusion strategies and aortic clamping techniques for right mini-thoracotomy mitral valve (MV) surgery have evolved over time and remarkable short- and long-term results have been reported. However, some concerns have raised about the adequacy of myocardial protection during the minimally invasive approach, particularly with the...

The role of aortic clamping techniques on the occurrence of neurological complications after right mini-thoracotomy mitral valve surgery is still debated. Brain injuries can occur also as silent cerebral micro-embolizations (SCM), which have been linked to significant deficits in physical and cognitive functions. Aims of this study are to...

Objective Custodiol (R) and St. Thomas cardioplegia are widely employed in mini-thoracotomy mitral valve (MV) operations. One-dose of the former provides 3 h of myocardial protection. Conversely, St. Thomas solution is usually reinfused every 30 min and safety of single delivery is unknown. We aimed to compare single-shot St. Thomas versus...