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The purpose of this work is to revisit the history of surgical treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) over the last 60 years, in the light of advancing knowledge of the pathophysiology of obstruction.In this narrative review the contribution of the different surgical approaches to the field will be assessed in our personal experience in Florence.Septal myectomy is the treatment of choice in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical treatment. Over the decades, numerous "theme variations" of the Morrow operation have been proposed, each of them targeting a specific pathophysiological determinant of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.Precision surgery in oHCM patients today depends on the ability of the surgeon to combine and master these variations, with the bird's eye view allowed by climbing on the shoulders of giants.

We present the case of a type A aortic dissection originating from the right coronary ostium and an intraoperative diagnosis of the entire coronary artery system originating from a single right-sided coronary ostium.

Background Acquired ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a life-threatening condition that occurred after a myocardial infarction (MI). The timing of the intervention remains very debated but it is crucial to choose the right surgical technique to obtain a stable and complete repair. Methods We report the case of an acquired VSD that occurred after a MI without obstructions of coronary arteries (MINOCA). The defect was promptly treated with a double patch plus glue sandwich technique. Results At the end of the procedure, echocardiographic data showed no residual shunt, and no major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were reported during postoperative days or 6 months follow-up. Conclusion Our report suggests that MI's mechanical complications can occur even after a MINOCA.

Background: Takotsubo syndrome is an increasingly recognised cardiac condition that clinically mimics an acute coronary syndrome, but data regarding its prognosis remain controversial. It is currently unknown whether acute coronary syndrome risk scores could effectively be applied to Takotsubo syndrome patients. This study aims to assess whether the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score can predict clinical outcome in Takotsubo syndrome and to compare the prognosis with matched acute coronary syndrome patients. Methods: A total of 561 Takotsubo syndrome patients was included in this prospective registry. According to the GRACE score, the population was divided into quartiles. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and the secondary endpoints were cardiocerebrovascular events (a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, recurrence of Takotsubo syndrome and stroke). Results: The median GRACE risk score was 139±27. Takotsubo syndrome patients with a higher GRACE risk score mostly have a higher rate of physical triggers and lower left ventricular ejection fraction on admission. During long-term follow-up, all-cause mortality rates were 5%, 11%, 12% and 22%, respectively, in the first, second, third and fourth quartile (P Conclusion: In Takotsubo syndrome, the GRACE risk score allows us to predict all-cause mortality and cardiocerebrovascular events at long-term follow-up.

Aims Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant neoplasm with a frequent cardiac involvement characterized by restrictive cardiomyopathy. Kidney and thromboembolic complications are also described. Methods and results A 52-year-old woman with a history of kidney disease was admitted to nephrology department due to worsening of renal function and refractory hypertension. A bone marrow biopsy revealed the diagnosis of MM. A renal and fat pad biopsy with Congo red staining was performed but amyloid deposition was not observed. Increased cardiac enzymes suggested a cardiac involvement. Indeed, two intracardiac right-sided masses and massive pulmonary embolism were detected. Surgical cardiac intervention was promptly performed and a chemotherapy regimen was started. Meantime, a kidney biopsy revealed a light-chain deposition disease. Conclusions This case highlights that multiple organ involvement in patients with MM may result from a combination of paraprotein-dependent and -independent factors. Moreover, in patients with not acute massive pulmonary embolism and intracardiac right masses, surgical pulmonary embolectomy should be promptly performed to preserve RV function and to avoid prevent pulmonary hypertension development.

© 2019 The Authors European Journal of Heart Failure © 2019 European Society of Cardiology, Recent evidence suggests comparable in‐hospital and long‐term outcomes between takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and acute coronary syndrome. Medical scoring systems are practical tools for decision making and prognostic assessment. However, TTS‐specific scoring systems for risk stratification have not yet been established. Recently, classification based on triggering conditions proved useful in predicting adverse outcomes in TTS (InterTAK Classification).1 Since clinical parameters other than triggering conditions can be associated with adverse outcomes in TTS, such as systolic blood pressure and heart rate, the present study aimed to establish a scoring system combining triggering factors with other important but easily‐ obtainable clinical parameters of daily clinical practice., C.T. has been supported by the H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani Research Programme and the Swiss Heart Foundation. L.S.M. was supported by EU HORIZON 2020 (SILICOFCM ID777204). The InterTAK Registry is supported by the Biss Davies Charitable Trust.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common myocardial disease characterized by otherwise unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy. The main cause of disabling symptoms in patients with HCM is left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. This phenomenon is multifactorial, determined both by anatomical and functional abnormalities: myocardial hypercontractility is believed to represent one of its major determinants. The anatomical anomalies are targeted by surgical interventions, whereas attenuating hypercontractility is the objective of old and new drugs including the novel class of allosteric myosin inhibitors. This review summarizes the current treatment modalities and discusses the emerging therapeutical opportunities focusing on the recently developed cardiac myosin ATPase inhibitors Mavacamten and CK-274. Novel surgical and interventional approaches are also discussed.

Background We describe the baseline, operative, and postoperative features of a group of 18 patients who contracted the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV2) infection in a rehabilitation facility after cardiac surgery, and present some potential explanations for the surprisingly benign course of the COVID‐19 in this cohort. Methods All patients were operated on an urgent or emergency basis (acute aortic syndrome, 3; refractory heart failure, 12; and endocarditis, 3) during the first lockdown period of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The mean age was 70 years, and 12 patients were male. After the diagnosis of COVID‐19, patients were treated according to the most recent recommendations. Eleven asymptomatic patients were discharged home or to a COVID‐19 hotel and underwent close monitoring. Patients with fever, dyspnea, or a significant rise of the polymerase chain reaction levels were hospitalized, three received antivirals, three azithromicyne, and five hydroxychloroquine. Nasal swabs were repeated on a weekly basis, and all patients were quarantined until the collection of two consecutive negative samples. Results Diversely from other observations on perioperative COVID‐19 reporting mortality rates of 30%–40%, the COVID‐19 had a benign course in our cohort: only seven patients required hospitalization, and one required short intensive care unit admission. There were no deaths, and at the latest follow‐up, all patients had been discharged home. Comment Our data show that the SARS‐CoV2 infection after cardiac surgery may have a benign course. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between the timing of the infection, some potentially protective therapies (e.g., anticoagulants), and the course of the COVID‐19.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is associated with a substantial risk of recurrence [(1)][1]. However, clinical features including triggers and ballooning patterns and predictors of recurrence have not yet been fully evaluated. Patients were enrolled from the International Takotsubo Registry [(2,3)][2].

Background Prognosis of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) remains controversial due to scarcity of available data. Additionally, the effect of the triggering factors remains elusive. Objectives This study compared prognosis between TTS and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and investigated short- and long-term outcomes in TTS based on different triggers. Methods Patients with TTS were enrolled from the International Takotsubo Registry. Long-term mortality of patients with TTS was compared to an age- and sex-matched cohort of patients with ACS. In addition, short- and long-term outcomes were compared between different groups according to triggering conditions. Results Overall, TTS patients had a comparable long-term mortality risk with ACS patients. Of 1,613 TTS patients, an emotional trigger was detected in 485 patients (30%). Of 630 patients (39%) related to physical triggers, 98 patients (6%) had acute neurologic disorders, while in the other 532 patients (33%), physical activities, medical conditions, or procedures were the triggering conditions. The remaining 498 patients (31%) had no identifiable trigger. TTS patients related to physical stress showed higher mortality rates than ACS patients during long-term follow-up, whereas patients related to emotional stress had better outcomes compared with ACS patients. Conclusions Overall, TTS patients had long-term outcomes comparable to age- and sex-matched ACS patients. Also, we demonstrated that TTS can either be benign or a life-threating condition depending on the inciting stress factor. We propose a new classification based on triggers, which can serve as a clinical tool to predict short- and long-term outcomes of TTS. (International Takotsubo Registry [InterTAK Registry]; NCT01947621)

Background Scoring systems for risk stratification in takotsubo syndrome (TTS) are lacking. Purpose The present study aimed to develop a score to predict the overall mortality in TTS. Methods TTS patient were enrolled from a multicenter registry. Parameters known to be associated with adverse outcomes in TTS were identified based on current literature. A multivariable analysis including these parameters was conducted and those which were found to be significantly associated with mortality were considered in the scoring system. For each patient, the prognostic score was derived by summing the respective points of each prognostic factor. Based on cut-off values, patients were categorized into four groups including low, intermediate, high, and very high risk. Results A total of 1160 patients (90.8% females; mean age 66.5±13.0 years) were included in the present study. Regarding triggering factors, an emotional trigger was identified in 32.6% of TTS patients while 32.1% had preceding physical activities, medical conditions, or procedures and 5.7% had preceding neurologic disorders. The remaining patients (29.7%) had no identifiable triggering factors. According to the results from multivariable analysis, points were assigned to each parameter that was independently associated with long-term mortality: 15 points for neurologic trigger, 10 points for the other physical trigger, 8 points for Age >70 years, 7 points for male sex, 7 points for left ventricular ejection fraction ≤45%, 6 points for diabetes mellitus, 5 points for heart rate >94 bpm on admission, 5 points for systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg on admission, and 2 points for no identifiable trigger. Based on the total points, patients were categorized into four prognostic groups: low-risk ≤15 points (43.5%), intermediate-risk 16–22 points (28.0%), high-risk 23–29 points (18.0%), and very high-risk >29 points (10.5%). Conclusion This novel score for risk stratification in TTS only requires easy-obtainable variables to clinicians even in the acute phase and could identify low to very high risk of overall mortality. Thus, it could potentially serve as a useful clinical tool to predict prognosis in patients with TTS.

Background Clinical characteristics and outcomes of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients with malignancy have not been fully elucidated. This study sought to explore differences in clinical characteristics and to investigate short‐ and long‐term outcomes in TTS patients with or without malignancy. Methods and Results TTS patients were enrolled from the International Takotsubo Registry. The TTS cohort was divided into patients with and without malignancy to investigate differences in clinical characteristics and to assess short‐ and long‐term mortality. A subanalysis was performed comparing long‐term mortality between a subset of TTS patients with or without malignancy and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with or without malignancy. Malignancy was observed in 16.6% of 1604 TTS patients. Patients with malignancy were older and more likely to have physical triggers, but less likely to have emotional triggers compared with those without malignancy. Long‐term mortality was higher in patients with malignancy (P, See Editorial Angelini and Uribe

Aims We aimed to evaluate the frequency, clinical features, and prognostic implications of cardiac arrest (CA) in takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Methods and results We reviewed the records of patients with CA and known heart rhythm from the International Takotsubo Registry. The main outcomes were 60-day and 5-year mortality. In addition, predictors of mortality and predictors of CA during the acute TTS phase were assessed. Of 2098 patients, 103 patients with CA and known heart rhythm during CA were included. Compared with patients without CA, CA patients were more likely to be younger, male, and have apical TTS, atrial fibrillation (AF), neurologic comorbidities, physical triggers, and longer corrected QT-interval and lower left ventricular ejection fraction on admission. In all, 57.1% of patients with CA at admission had ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia, while 73.7% of patients with CA in the acute phase had asystole/pulseless electrical activity. Patients with CA showed higher 60-day (40.3% vs. 4.0%, P Conclusions Cardiac arrest is relatively frequent in TTS and is associated with higher short- and long-term mortality. Clinical and electrocardiographic parameters independently predicted mortality after CA.

The clinical course of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) can be complicated by several life-threatening conditions. In particular, cardiogenic shock (CS) represents one of the leading causes of mortality in the acute phase and occurs in a considerable number of patients with TTS, with an incidence of ≈10%. At present, no established guidelines are available to support specific treatment recommendations,and the conventional therapy for CS leads to uncertain results in TTS cases. The International Takotsubo Registry (www.takotsubo-registry.com) is an observational, prospective, and retrospective registry established at the University Hospital Zurich in 2011, with the largest TTS database worldwide. Patients were included in the registry between 2011 and 2017 based on modified Mayo Clinic Diagnostic criteria. Hospitalization data were recorded through standardized forms on admission or during revision of clinical charts; follow-up data were obtained from medical records, telephone follow-up, or clinical visits. The study population was categorized into 2 groups: patients with TTS with and without CS. The study protocol was reviewed by the respective local ethics committees or investigational review boards at each collaboration site. Where informed consent was required, formal written consent was obtained from patients.