Coronary artery bypass using bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) has been related to survival benefits in patients with coronary artery disease, but data is not conclusive. In South America, several centers reported their own experience with good results in survival, minimal postoperative cardiovascular events, and a low degree of mediastinal infection, however, the number of cases is low, and the absence of publications in several countries is a matter of concern. We review the leading publications on BITA grafting in our region, assessing how far we have advanced in coronary surgery.

Coronary artery bypass using bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) has been related to survival benefits in patients with coronary artery disease, but data is not conclusive. In South America, several centers reported their own experience with good results in survival, minimal postoperative cardiovascular events, and a low degree of mediastinal infection, however, the number of cases is low, and the absence of publications in several countries is a matter of concern. We review the leading publications on BITA grafting in our region, assessing how far we have advanced in coronary surgery.

Coronary artery bypass using bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) has been related to survival benefits in patients with coronary artery disease, but data is not conclusive. In South America, several centers reported their own experience with good results in survival, minimal postoperative cardiovascular events, and a low degree of mediastinal infection, however, the number of cases is low, and the absence of publications in several countries is a matter of concern. We review the leading publications on BITA grafting in our region, assessing how far we have advanced in coronary surgery.

The combination of aortic valve regurgitation, rheumatoid aortitis, and subaortic stenosis is not frequent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, the surgical treatment of these entities may be challenging with non-adequate results. We report a case of a patient with severe aortic valve regurgitation, inaccessible aortic root secondary to rheumatoid aortitis, and severe subaortic stenosis initially treated by aortic valve replacement. We reoperated the patient due to acute prosthetic valve failure performing an aortic valve reconstruction using bovine pericardium and Ozaki’s technique with good outcomes.

The combination of aortic valve regurgitation, rheumatoid aortitis, and subaortic stenosis is not frequent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, the surgical treatment of these entities may be challenging with non-adequate results. We report a case of a patient with severe aortic valve regurgitation, inaccessible aortic root secondary to rheumatoid aortitis, and severe subaortic stenosis initially treated by aortic valve replacement. We reoperated the patient due to acute prosthetic valve failure performing an aortic valve reconstruction using bovine pericardium and Ozaki’s technique with good outcomes.