Evaluation of mechanical valve replacement at Jordan University Hospital

To investigate the operative mortality and mid-term [up to eight years] results of mechanical valve replacement. Retrospective data analysis of 118 consecutive patients who underwent mechanical valve replacement. The early and late morbidity and mortality were analyzed at our institution, from January 2001 to December 2008. Hospital mortality was 2.5% [3 patients]. Complications recorded during the follow up study include: prosthetic valve endocarditis [3.4%], bleeding [3.4%], stroke [3.1%], and reoperation [.8%]. No structural valvular dysfunction and no valvular thromboses were reported. Our data show that valves replacement with mechanical valve may be performed with low morbidity and mortality

Incidental invasive thymoma during coronary artery bypass surgery

We encountered 2 incidental cases of invasive thymomas at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan; during routine coronary artery bypass graft surgery between 2005 and 2008 with an incidence of 0.6%. Both patients presented with angina pain. None of the 2 patients had pressure symptoms cough, shortness of breath or superior vena cava syndrome or Myasthenia Gravis symptoms. Total thymectomy with dissection of perithymic fat was performed on both cases. No radiotherapy was given. No recurrence of the tumor was seen in 2 years follow up. These cases are presented to emphasize the occurrence of this tumor