ALERT!
This site is not optimized for Internet Explorer 8 (or older).
Please upgrade to a newer version of Internet Explorer or use an alternate browser such as Chrome or Firefox.
Journal and News Scan
August 22, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A robust RCT that denies association of nuclear CT-defined myocardial viability and long-term benefit from surgical coronary revascularisation. It is worth following the discussion this manuscript is certain to generate..
August 22, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
In this multiinstitutional retrospective study, administration of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with persistent nodal disease after induction therapy and esophagectomy was associated with improved survival.
August 22, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This study of over 25,000 pts from the International Lung Cancer Consortium identified underweight and severly obese patients as having poorer survival than others, whereas a survival advantage was evident among patients who were overweight or mildly obese. Decreased BMI (wt loss) was associated with poorer outcomes across all BMI categories.
August 21, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
An interesting discussion in this manuscript of a case-control study of 666 subjects.
August 20, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
It's never too late to quit. Among heavy smokers, smoking cessation resulted in a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease within five years of quitting (hazard ratio 0.61), although their risk remained elevated compared to never smokers.
August 20, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
Interesting follow-up study of 208 pulmonary ground -glass opacities in 160 subjects, with a yield of three adenocardinomas.
August 19, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
In a QI study of nearly 5,400 operations, 188 adverse events were recorded. Of these, over 56% were associated with human error. Of all human performance deficiencies, cognitive error accounted for over half.
August 19, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
A standardized perioperative management protocol for pts taking direct oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation entailed no bridging with other anticoagulants. It resulted in low and acceptable rates of major bleeding (<2%) and stroke (<1%).
August 19, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Ever wonder why your patients get respiratory infections postoperatively? Here's another risk factor. Almost 95% of hospital caregivers completed at least one shift while ill with an acute upper respiratory infection during flu season, despite hospital policies against such behavior. This was more common among physicians than among nurses.
August 17, 2019
Submitted by: Wei-Guo Ma
JTCVS just published a call for proposals of joining the Cardiac Surgery Intersociety Alliance (CSIA) as pilot sites. CSIA is jointly overseen by the AATS, EACTS, STS, the Asian Society for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, and the World Heart Federation. The mission of CSIA is to evaluate, endorse, and work with potential sites in low-income countries to increase access to sustainable heart surgery, with particular emphasis on rheumatic heart disease.