Pathology of cardiovascular interventions and surgery

This review describes the histopathology of cardiovascular tissue in patients who have undergone interventions and/or surgery, primarily on coronary arteries, aortas arteries, cardiac biopsies and excisions, and explanted devices. The tissue, prosthesis and/or devices are submitted for surgical pathology or autopsy examination. The anatomic pathologist must provide comprehensive reports on the gross and microscopic findings of the biopsied or explanted specimen, including the condition of any existing prosthesis, the state of the normal and/or diseased host tissue, and complications related to the procedure. The pathologist needs to be well informed of the clinical history, which should include a detailed description of any explanted prosthesis or device. Each report prepared by the pathologist should convey a comprehensive clinical-pathologic discussion to provide useful information to the physicians treating the patient, including cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons.