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Journal and News Scan
September 13, 2019
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Using the STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database, investigators identified factors associated with adverse outcomes after repair of anomalous coronary arteries arising from the pulmonary artery. Operative mortality was increased related to preoperative shock and the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
September 12, 2019
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Concomitant aortic root enlargement at the time of surgical aortic valve replacement is an option to avoid patient-prosthesis mismatch. In this single-center study, 4,210 patients underwent aortic valve replacement, of which 171 had concomitant aortic root enlargement. In analysis of matched patient outcomes, there were similar numbers of postoperative bleeding and pericardial effusion events, and no difference in early deaths. The authors conclude that aortic root enlargement can be performed safely with no increase in early postoperative surgical complications.
September 7, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Posting of a still-relevant TED video regarding the high number of suicides among physicians, a world-wide problem that relates in part to training and working conditions.
September 6, 2019
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Henmi and colleagues analyzed the results of different reimplantation techniques of segmental arteries during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Among 172 patients, 111 underwent segmental artery reconstruction via graft interposition, 38 via single-cuff anastomosis, and 23 via island reconstruction. The graft interposition technique had a poor patency rate. Island reconstruction and single-cuff anastomosis offered better patency, however island reconstruction required reoperation for patch aneurysm. The authors conclude that single-cuff anastomosis is a more reliable technique in terms of early and long-term outcomes.
September 5, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
The January update of an expert panel from the American College of Chest Physicians on the expanding clinical entity of pulmonary hypertension, especially pertinent to the transplant community.
September 3, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Remote ischemic preconditioning did not influence 12-month survival or readmission rates in a randomized trial involving more than 5,400 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention after ST-segment elevation MI.
September 2, 2019
Submitted by: Edward Savage
The authors reviewed the New York State database. Patients with single arterial grafts were compared to those with multiple arterial grafts. Propensity matching was performed based on 38 baseline characteristics. Twenty percent had multiple arterial grafting. There was no difference at one year but at seven years the multiple arterial graft group had lower mortality and a lower repeat revascularization rate.
September 1, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
Interesting viewpoint of a cardiologist on low-SYNTAX subjects.
August 31, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The growth and replication of cardiomyocytes derived from stem cells is insufficient to permit regeneration of functioning heart tissue. In this study, the authors used stem cell-derived epicardial cells to facilitate myocardial regeneration. Tissues from such stem cells enhance the structure and function of heart muscle by improving contractility, calcium handling, and myofibril structure. In a rat heart model, this intervention produced functional improvements for up to three months.
August 31, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This review details the risks of surgical smoke exposure, which include lung injury and cancer. The level of risk has yet to be determined. Most operating rooms do not require smoke evacuation devices, but their use should be considered.