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Journal and News Scan

Source: New England Journal of Medicine
Author(s): Dwight Reynolds, Gabor Z. Duray, Razali Omar, Kyoko Soejima, Petr Neuzil, Shu Zhang, Calambur Narasimhan, Clemens Steinwender, Josep Brugada, Michael Lloyd, Paul R. Roberts, Venkata Sagi, John Hummel, Maria Grazia Bongiorni, Reinoud E. Knops, Christopher R. Ellis, Charles C. Gornick, Matthew A. Bernabei, Verla Laager, Kurt Stromberg, Eric R. Williams, J. Harrison Hudnall, and Philippe Ritter for the Micra Transcatheter Pacing Study Group

Results of a multicenter trial of a leadless transcatheter pacing system were reviewed in 300 pts at 6 mos.  Implantation was successful in 99%.  Safety was assessed as freedom from system-related or procedure related complications, and was 96%.  Efficacy was assessed as stable pacing capture at low voltage and was 98%.  25 pts suffered major complications, which is less than for typical systems with leads.

Source: Annals of Surgery
Author(s): Deng, Yi; Pisklak, Paul V.; Lee, Vei-Vei; Tolpin, Daniel A.; Collard, Charles D.; Elayda, MacArthur A.; Coselli, Joseph; Pan, Wei

The timing and dosage of preoperative ASA administration was evaluated with regard to CABG outcomes in a series of 3018 pts.  Dosing within 24 hrs of surgery was associated with a 50% lower mortality rate and an 81mg dose was associated with a 50% or greater reduction in mortality compared to a 325mg dose or no ASA.   

Source: Annals of Surgery
Author(s): Émond, Marcel; Sirois, Marie-Josée; Guimont, Chantal; Chauny, Jean-Marc; Daoust, Raoul; Bergeron, Éric; Vanier, Laurent; Camden, Stephanie; Le Sage, Natalie

A prospective evaluation of patients suffering minor thoracic injuries was performed to assess functional impact at 90 days.  One-third had at least 1 rib fracture and 12% had a delayed hemothorax.  23% had severe or moderate disabilities at 90 days, which was more common among those with more severe injuries.  Outcomes were unrelated to age.

Source: Annals of Surgery
Author(s): Markar, Sheraz; Gronnier, Caroline; Duhamel, Alain; Mabrut, Jean-Yves; Bail, Jean-Pierre; Carrere, Nicolas; Lefevre, Jérémie H.; Brigand, Cécile; Vaillant, Jean-Christophe; Adham, Mustapha; Msika, Simon; Demartines, Nicolas; Nakadi, Issam El; Meunier, Bernard; Collet, Denis; Mariette, Christophe; on behalf of the FREGAT (French Eso-Gastric Tumors) working group, FRENCH (Fédération de Recherche EN CHirurgie), and AFC (Association Française de Chirurgie)

A French multicenter database was used to assess the relationship between severe anastomotic leak on outcomes after esophagectomy.  Among 2439 pts, 8.5% developed a severe leak.  This was associated with lower median overall survival (36 mos vs 55 mos) and disease-free survival (34 mos vs 48 mos), a 28% increased likelihood of death, and a significant increase in recurrence.

Source: Youtube
Author(s): Robert Cerfolio

Bob Cerfolio in full flow and at his best talking about robotic lobectomy 

Source: TED.COM
Author(s): Nikolai Begg

Surgeons are required every day to puncture human skin before procedures — with the risk of damaging what's on the other side. In a fascinating talk, find out how mechanical engineer Nikolai Begg is using physics to update an important medical device, called the trocar, and improve one of the most dangerous moments in many common surgeries.

Source: youtube
Author(s): Hopitaux Universitaires de Genève

You just have to watch this !! 

Source: ASAIO Journal
Author(s): Singh, Gopal; Tsukashita, Masaki; Biscotti, Mauer; Costa, Joseph; Lambert, Daniel; Bacchetta, Matthew; Takayama, Hiroo

This is a very intersting case review in which the authors describe a successful heart transplant from a 37 year old donor on VV ECMO to a 62 year old female recipeint. The authors postulate that this successful outcome may expand the available donor pool for heart transplantation.

Source: ASSAIO Journal
Author(s): Yost, Gardner L; Royston, Thomas J; Bhat, Geetha; Tatooles, Antone J

The investigators report a novel technology to predict VAD thrombosis. This approach records and measures acustic signature characteristics. Using annalysis of spectral tracings the investigators suggest their exists an acoustic patern associated with thrombosis.

Source: World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery
Author(s): Mohsen Karimi and Paul M. Kirshbom

Anomalous origins of coronary arteries from the pulmonary artery are rare malformations in which the coronary arteries originate from pulmonary artery sinuses or branches. The consequences are variable although, in most cases, these anomalies lead to severe coronary hypoperfusion and ventricular dysfunction. Surgical correction is indicated once the diagnosis is established. In nearly all cases, the anomalous artery can be excised from its pulmonary origin, mobilized, and reimplanted directly into the ascending aorta using different surgical techniques. In rare circumstances, technical modifications must be used to restore a normal dual coronary perfusion. 

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