[Long term results of patients implanted with CRT-D: Results of a monocentric study]. / Devenir à long terme des patients implantés d'un défibrillateur triple chambre: résultats d'une série monocentrique en centre hospitalier.

Implantable cardiac defibrillators and resynchronization devices (CRT-D) are frequently used for heart failure patients. This is a retrospective study which included 50 patients with a CRT-D. The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac events (death, hospitalization for acute heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias). During 30-month follow-up, 4 patients (8%) died, 10 patients were hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (20%) and 5 patients (10%) presented an appropriate choc for a ventricular arrhythmia. In total, 19 patients presented at least one cardiac event (38%). An improvement in dyspnea was reported in 84% of patients. An improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was reported in 74% of patients and 12% of them have normalized LVEF. In this study, the majority of patients implanted with a CRT-D presented an improvement of their symptoms. However, residual cardiac events were reported and remain unpredictable.

Endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta: mid-term results and evaluation of magnetic resonance angiography.

AIM: The endoluminal stent-grafting represents an alternative to surgery in the treatment of lesions of the descending thoracic aorta. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the mid-term results of the Talent stent-graft in the different indications of aortic disease and the use of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the diagnosis of complications. METHODS: Over a 3-year period, 23 patients with a high surgical risk and presenting a localized lesion of the descending thoracic aorta had an implantation of a Talent stent-graft. Indications were degenerative aneurysm (n=13), false aneurysm (n=7) and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (n=3). The feasibility of the endovascular treatment and sizing of the aorta and stent-grafts were determined pre-operatively by MRA and intraoperative angiography. Immediate and mid-term technical and clinical success were assessed by clinical and MRA follow-up. RESULTS: Endovascular treatment was completed successfully in all patients with no conversion to open repair. There was no intraoperative mortality. The mean operative time was 38+/-7 min. Primary success rate was 100%. We didn't have perioperative mortality. The mean follow-up period was 15+/-5 months. The survival rate was 97% (n=22). Regression of the aneurysmal size was observed in 70% (n=16). MRA diagnosed 3 over 4 postoperative endoleaks that were not diagnosed with the CT-scan, and did not interfere with the nitinol structure of the stent-graft. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of the various localized diseases of the descending thoracic aorta is a promising, feasible, alternative technique to open surgery in well selected patients. MRA is well adapted to diagnose postoperative endoleaks.