Penetrating cardiac injuries are rare but are one of the most urgent emergencies because they require early intervention in order to prevent death. The mortality rate of such injuries, including pre-hospitalization deaths, goes up to 90%. The most commonly injured heart chamber is the right ventricle since it takes over half of the anterior thoracic wall. The left ventricle is injured less often, but these patients usually have worse prognoses and higher mortality rates because such injuries lead to hemodynamic instability faster. We present a unique case of a suicide attempt in which the patient stabbed himself with a knife, penetrated the left ventricle, and survived even though he transected the second diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery and pulled the knife out of his chest.

(1) Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common complication following cardiac surgery. It leads to increased perioperative morbidity and costs. Our study aimed to determine the incidence of new-onset POAF in patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) and develop a multivariate model to identify its predictors. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including all consecutive patients who underwent isolated AVR at our institution between January 2010 and December 2022. Patients younger than 18, with a history of atrial fibrillation, previous cardiac surgery, or those who underwent concomitant procedures were excluded. Patients were dichotomized into POAF and No POAF groups. Multivariate logistic regression with backward elimination was utilized for predictive modeling. (3) Results: This study included 1108 patients, of which 297 (27%) developed POAF. The final multivariate model identified age, larger valve size, cardiopulmonary bypass time, delayed sternal closure, ventilation time, and intensive care unit stay as predictors of POAF. The model exhibited fair predictive ability (AUC = 0.678, p < 0.001), with the Hosmer–Lemeshow test confirming good model fit (p = 0.655). The overall correct classification percentage was 65.6%. (4) Conclusions: A POAF prediction model offers personalized risk estimates, allowing for tailored management strategies with the potential to enhance patient outcomes and optimize healthcare costs.

This is a description of transhiatal laparoscopic approach for mid-esophageal diverticulum. Traditionally mid-esophageal diverticula are approached by thoracotomy or thoracoscopy, with the laparoscopic technique being reserved for epiphrenic diverticula. A 78-year-old Caucasian female with a secondary dilatative ischemic cardiomyopathy presented with dysphagia, tenderness in the epigastrium and a considerable weight loss. A large mid-esophageal diverticulum was found on barium swallow and confirmed by CT scan. Underlying achalasia was recorded on manometry. The patient underwent diverticulectomy via transhiatal approach, followed by Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication. Throughout the procedure auxiliary, esophagoscopic image was provided by interventional gastroenterologist due to a very narrow operating field and lack of orientation points. Based on our experience with this case, we propose transhiatal approach as a feasible alternative to thoracoscopy, in particular with patients who suffer from cardiac or pulmonary co-morbidities which make traditional techniques of high risk.

A 44-year-old female patient with chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy presented with acute cardiogenic shock requiring ECMO support. Multiple failed weaning trials from temporary mechanical circulatory assistance prompted a transition to staged durable biventricular support. Her course was complicated with recurrent RVAD stoppages. The initial event was treated with pump exchange, while for the subsequent RVAD standstill, we employed a device wash-out and reimplantation strategy. A brief period of circulatory arrest was employed to explore the right-sided cardiac chambers using a single-use bronchoscope.

Stanford A aortic dissection is one of the most devastating acute medical conditions due to its high morbidity and mortality. We describe a 77-year-old male patient with a medical history of surgical aortic valve replacement with a still functioning Starr–Edwards caged-ball valve 40 years prior. The patient was promptly diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm and dissection, and an emergency Bentall procedure in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was performed. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first Stanford A dissection case described in the literature in a patient with Starr–Edwards valve, and the longest still functioning caged-ball valve to have been replaced with the Bentall procedure. We also discuss the caged-ball valve’s unfavorable hemodynamics as a potential predisposing factor of the dissection, as well as the patient’s supposed initial bicuspid aortic valve disease which could also predispose to aortic aneurysm formation and dissection.