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Aims: Smoking is linked to disease and survival in the general and transplant population. We studied the smoking history, disease and survival of patients after heart transplantation., Methods: A total of 130 patients who underwent heart transplantation between 1995 and 2019 received a questionnaire to document their smoking history. We assessed patient characteristics, comorbidities and survival., Results: Sixty-five per cent of patients were active or former smokers prior to heart transplantation. All patients stopped smoking; 26% of the former smokers resumed smoking after transplantation. Patients who resumed smoking were younger at the time of transplantation, used fewer statins and were more likely to be treated with azathioprine after transplantation. The mean follow-up for all patients was 11 ± 5.5 years. Patients who resumed smoking were more likely to develop solid organ cancers (45%) compared to those who remained abstinent (23%) and those who never smoked (13%) ( p 0.014). A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis identified smoking resumption, with a RR of 2.31 (1.14-4.68, p 0.02), and age at transplantation, with a RR of 1.03 (1-1.06, p 0.034), as significant for survival. Patients resuming smoking after transplantation had a significantly higher risk of dying from solid organ cancer, with a RR of 2.54 (1.03, 6.28; p 0.04) with a short median survival time (25th-75th percentile) of (1 (0-5) months, p 0.007)., Conclusion: Patients who resume smoking after heart transplantation have worse survival and are at higher risk of dying from solid organ cancer. Implementing a smoking cessation plan throughout the post-transplant period is important.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is an infrequent cardiac anomaly. In the United States, it accounts for only 0.15 to 1.5% of all cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms can be acquired, secondary to infectious, degenerative or traumatic processes. This paper describes the case report of an 81-year-old woman, with an unruptured aneurysm of the right Valsalva sinus, who was admitted to the emergency department with a history of chest pain. After surgical repair of the sinus ofValsalva aneurysm, the prognosis is usually good, and the risk of recurrence is rare.

Objective: The elderly segment of the Western population is increasing rapidly, and cardiac surgeons are being asked to consider the very elderly for cardiac surgery. Our objective was to obtain data on the outcome of cardiac surgery in octogenarians in order to improve the indication for surgery and to give more accurate information to patients, family and general practitioners., Methods and Results: From January 1990 through December 1998, 127 octo- and nonagenarians (age 80-94, mean 82.2 years) underwent cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery and aortic surgery) at the University Hospital of Antwerp. A retrospective review of the patients' medical records was performed. Follow-up information was obtained by mail or telephone from each patient's primary physician or cardiologist. Hospital mortality was 7.1% (9/127) and late mortality (mean follow-up 2 years) was 23% (30/127). Actuarial survival at 108 months was 70% (90/127). Eighty-three percent of the patients were having class III or IV anginal symptoms before operation. At follow-up 76% of the survivors were in NYHA class I or II., Conclusion: Cardiac surgery in the very old often permits survival with improved symptoms. Therefore surgery should not be refused solely because of old age.