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Journal and News Scan
October 10, 2018
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
This institutional series from Leipzig Heart Centre presents results from 15 years of bilateral internal thoracic artery usage in off-pump CABG (OPCABG). Survival analysis as well as detailed postoperative outcomes are presented to demonstrate that OPCABG with bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting is a safe operation with low mortality and morbidity.
October 10, 2018
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A brief viewpoint article (by the savior of baby Esperanza) from a widely read non-surgical journal on the debate on ECMO/EOLIA. I assume 'thoracotomy' implies 'sternotomy' as the standard surgical approach for ECMO cannulation in adults and larger children.
The surgical reader will of course realize that this paper is focusing on non-arterial ECMO ( V-V), although the distinction between VV and V-A is not discussed explicitly by Dr. Bartlett on this occasion.
October 6, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This is a damning article about profiteering in academic publishing at the expense of researchers, institutions, and other interested parties.
October 4, 2018
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Patients undergoing tracheobronchoplasty for diffuse tracheobronchial malacia were retrospectively stratified as severely frail or other based on a cumulative deficits model score. Severe frailty was associated with an increased risk of respiratory failure (OR 13.1), pneumonia (OR 20.1), and overall respiratory complications (OR 17.4).
October 2, 2018
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
There are several different strategies for arterial cannulation in patients with acute aortic dissection type A. Kitamura and colleagues compared results of direct true-lumen cannulation (Samurai cannulation) with other cannulation options. The retrospective review includes 100 patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection, 61 of whom underwent Samurai cannulation. Samurai and other cannulation site patients had in-hospital mortality rates of 5% and 7%, respectively. Seven percent of Samurai cannulation patients and 10% of other cannulation site patients experienced disabling stroke. There was no difference between the groups regarding survival and freedom from aorta-related death at follow-up. The authors conclude that Samurai cannulation is a safe and reasonable option in patients with type A dissection.
October 2, 2018
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
Will await the full paper to test the titular preliminary assertion.
September 28, 2018
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Patient Care and General Interest
Saturday, September 29 is World Heart Day! This year’s theme is “My Heart, Your Heart.”
Gerald D. Buckberg, MD, a renowned heart surgeon who made a major contribution in the field of myocardial protection, recently passed away.
Team Heart, a group of medical volunteers, visits Rwanda once a year to perform life-saving valve replacement procedures caused by rheumatic heart disease, which is prevalent in many African and Asian countries.
An atrial fibrillation procedure performed on a keen Hong Kong-based marathon runner saved him from a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm and gave him renewed energy when training.
Research
Data presented at the recent TCT 2018 conference indicates that patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and high risk of operative mortality who underwent TAVR had similar 5-year survival and stroke rates compared with those who underwent SAVR.
A study published in Pediatric Research indicates that neonates with congenital heart disease tend to have enlarged kidneys.
The BMI journal Heart has published research suggesting a link between mitral valve prolapse – a common condition – and sudden cardiac death.
September 26, 2018
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
This single institution summary of treatment of failed stenting for esophageal perforation included 26 patients over an eight year period. Management included primary closure, esophagectomy, and observation. The overall prognosis was very good, supporting the use of stents as initial therapy for esophageal perforation in appropriate patients.
September 26, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Using the National Cancer Database, the effect of the timing of computed tomography (CT) surveillance after resection of non-small cell lung cancer on survival was investigated. Survival was similar for patients undergoing CTs every three months or every six months compared to those undergoing annual surveillance CTs. More frequent imaging also had no impact on survival after recurrence.
September 26, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Data in the STS Database indicate that invasive mediastinal staging is underused in patients undergoing resection for non-small cell lung cancer, and that the pattern of use varies widely among the participants. Use of guidelines outlining indications for invasive mediastinal staging should be encouraged.