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Journal and News Scan
The link between blood transfusion and adverse outcome is well noted in cardiac surgery. However, the rising significance of each unit transfused, whether red blood cell (RBC) or non-RBC, is not fully known. This study looked at the relationship of patient outcomes with the type and number of blood product units transfused.
There is clinical equipoise surrounding the perioperative and long-term effects of autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) patients undergoing open versus minimally invasive thymectomy, particularly for nonthymomatous MG. This analysis utilizes multicenter, real-world clinical evidence to assess perioperative complications of open and minimally invasive thymectomy techniques in MG patients.
COVID-19 has changed many aspects of the world, and the United States continues to gather the largest number of COVID-related deaths. There is a paucity of data surrounding the effect of COVID-19 on adult cardiac surgery trends and outcomes on regional and national levels.
The Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium was queried for patients undergoing repair of conotruncal abnormalities and subsequent AVR 1982 - 2003. Of 106 patients undergoing AVR, the operative mortality was 12%, and was related to infant age at the time of surgery (OR = 55). Transplant-free survival at 25 years was 53%. Transplant-free survival at 20 years was inferior to that of patients undergoing AVR for non-conotruncal abnormalities (61% vs 82%). Valve type was not associated with outcomes.
A paper that addresses a gap in knowledge and will guide future research: of particular interest, the penultimate paragraph on The Role of Interventions.
More than 40,000 children in the United States are undergoing congenital heart surgery annually. Yet, the relationship between hospital quality and costs remains unclear. This article explores this issue.
An interesting brief editorial on an experiment revisiting renal denervation as a panacea to cardiovascular disease
This newly released AHA scientific statement offers a comprehensive review of the latest imaging and measurement techniques for patients with chronic aortic dissection and clarifies the need for standardized measurements and reporting for lifelong surveillance. It is divided into seven parts: epidemiology and anatomic spectrum; pathophysiology; managment of chronic aortic dissection; imaging technique; measurement principles; surveillance imaging; and risk stratification and new developments. The emerging role of imaging and computer simulations is examined to predict aortic false lumen degeneration, remodeling, and biomechanical failure from morphological and hemodynamic features. The writing group also identifies critical knowledge gaps and research needs that may serve as an impetus for additional research and development.
Global health champion, Harvard Medical School professor, anthropologist and co-founder of the nonprofit health organization Partners in Health, Dr. Paul Farmer, has died at age 62. This article lists some of Dr. Farmer's accomplishments.
The Ross procedure in adults has recently seen a surge in interest. The aim of this study was to compare long-term outcomes after the Ross procedure vs biological and mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in adults (aged 18-50 years) undergoing aortic valve surgery.