Transcatheter valve replacement: a revolution.

Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common valvular disease worldwide; however, its physiopathology remains poorly understood. Although, developments in prevention of this disease have remained relatively stagnant, the last decade has brought about innovative treatment options incorporating different percutaneous and surgical approaches. These advances have allowed physicians to offer relief to high-risk patients, previously deemed nonsurgical. Increasingly, there is a shift toward offering percutaneous valve replacement to moderate and low-risk patients with aortic stenosis. Enthusiasm for a new treatment option must always be tempered by caution; as defining appropriate patient selection is essential to achieve optimal outcomes.

Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: From an Era of Revolution to an Era of Evolution.

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair has a rich and storied tradition that began in Houston, Texas with great pioneer surgeons such as Drs Michael E. DeBakey, Denton A. Cooley, and E. Stanley Crawford. Their early attempts to repair TAAA were complicated by the persistent threats of renal and spinal cord ischemia and difficulty in reattaching the branching vessels of the thoracoabdominal aorta. Today, under the tutelage of Dr Joseph S. Coselli, the Texas Medical Center remains at the forefront of TAAA repair. In this place where great surgeons once walked the halls, their legacy continues.

Intra-aortic balloon pump: current evidence & future perspectives.

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is frequently used to support severely compromised ventricles in critically ill patients. Its relatively affordability and ease of insertion has cemented its position as the first line of treatment for hemodynamic support in cardiogenic shock. Accordingly, the current ACC/AHA recommendations maintain a Class 2A for the use of IABP in shock. However, a review of the current literature suggests that the evidence supporting the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines are equivocal. Alternative uses for IABP such as perioperative support during high-risk cardiac surgery, treatment of left ventricular distention on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and as bridge to transplant have been proposed. The effectiveness of the IABP in these clinical situations remains largely unproven, due to the paucity of available data.

Route of delivery, cell retention, and efficiency of polymeric microcapsules in cellular cardiomyoplasty.

Stem cell transplantation has been considered as a major breakthrough for treating ischemic heart disease. However, survival and retention of transplanted cells at the site of infarction remains tenuous. This chapter details a method of creating polymeric microcapsules for cell delivery, resulting in increased retention of transplanted cells at the target site, while achieving minimal mechanical trauma and cell loss. Simultaneously biocompatible and biodegradable, polymeric microcapsules have important implications in regenerative cell therapy.

Cellular cardiomyoplasty: current state of the field.

Cellular cardiomyoplasty employs stem cell therapy to regenerate myocardium. Characterized by their potential for proliferation, differentiation and capacity for self-renewal, stem cells are ideally suited for use in regenerative medicine. Supplementing traditional therapeutic modalities aimed at the palliation of congestive heart failure, cellular cardiomyoplasty is an innovative approach aimed at producing functional, viable myocardium following an acute infarction. The primary focus is to prevent the onset of congestive heart failure; however, potential applications aimed at reversing ischemic heart disease are concurrently in development. After decades of research, cellular cardiomyoplasty has moved beyond traditional in vitro and animal models; it is currently being implemented in clinical trials. Despite this monumental advance, certain limitations remain inherent in this process, preventing stem cell therapy from reaching its full potential. On a cellular level, stem cell retention and viability postimplantation continues to be problematic. Solutions under investigation include pioneering advances in cell delivery, in vitro pretreatment, and tissue engineering. Moreover, questions surrounding optimal cell type and cellular mechanisms concerning cellular cardiomyoplasty remain unanswered. Clarification of these issues is essential to ensure continued progression of this new technology. Stem cell therapy has been highly successful within the in vitro and in vivo environment. However, as clinical trials abound, cellular cardiomyoplasty must transition from an experimental concept to an effective therapeutic treatment. This process is hindered by discordance between scientific accrue and practical applicability. This review will provide a comprehensive summary of current innovations on cellular cardiomyoplasty, and future prospects. There will be a particular emphasis on the clinical aspects of stem cell therapy in an attempt to bridge the gap between science and medicine. Overcoming this barrier will render cellular cardiomyoplasty accessible to patients on a global basis.