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
June 25, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The authors reviewed their experience with patients suffering blunt trauma who had evidence of a pneumomediastinum on CT. Among over 3,000 pts, 2.7% had pneumomediastinum. Those affected had higher injury scores and a higher mortality rate (12.5% vs 3.6%). Increased risk of mortality was associated with posterior mediastinal air, air in all mediastinal spaces, and an associated hemothorax.
June 25, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This study evaluated outcomes in patients undergoing resection for lung cancer who were found at surgery to have pleural carcinomatosis. 2.9% of registry patients were identified, of whom 49% had a macroscopic complete resection. 5-year survival in those without other metastatic disease was 29%. 5-year survival in those undergoing macroscopic complete resection was 37%.
June 24, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Patients with afib undergoing elective surgery or invasive procedure who were on coumadin were randomized to bridging with low molecular weight heparin or placebo preoperatively. The incidence of arterial thromboembolism was .03% in the bridge group and 0.4% in the placebo group, demonstrating non-inferiority of placebo. The bleeding complication rates were higher in the bridge group, 3.2% vs 1.3%. Not bridging was non-inferior to bridging and reduced the risk of bleeding complications.
Temporal Trends in Quality of Life Outcomes After Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
June 24, 2015
Submitted by: Ruben Osnabrugge
The authors of this study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) after Transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TA-TAVR) versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). They used the QoL data of 875 TA-TAVR patients from the PARTNER nonrandomized continued acces registry and compared this with the smaller randomized group of TA-TAVI and SAVR patients. They found that despite more experience in this continued access population, QoL was similar to randomized TA-TAVR patients and SAVR patients.
June 24, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The ELCAP data set was evaluated for pts identified with non-solid nodules at baseline or during follow-up. 2392 (4.2%) pts had nonsolid nodules at baseline, of which 73 were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. A new nodule was identified in an additional 485 (0.7%) pts, of whom 11 were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Nonsolid nodules improved in 66% of pts. Median time to cancer treatment was 19 mos, and survival was 100% at a median follow-up of 78 mos. 22 of these pts had a solid component develop during f/u and prior to therapy. The group recommends that nonsolid nodules can be safely followed with CT at intervals of 12 months.
June 22, 2015
Submitted by: CTSNet Staff
Using a regression analysis, researchers determined that procedure times are better indicators of OR efficiency in cardiac surgery than knife to skin times.
June 20, 2015
Submitted by: Arie Blitz
The University of Wisconsin group analyzed the etiology, costs, and effect on survival of unplanned readmissions after LVAD surgery. At a median follow-up of 11 months, 68 of the 103 patients (66%) were readmitted. The top 3 causes of readmission were GI bleeding, driveline infection, and stroke. Thirty patients (44%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. The median direct cost of each readmission was $7,546. Survival was not significantly affected by hospital readmission.
June 19, 2015
Submitted by: CTSNet Staff
Through a subxiphoid approach, the pericardium is incised and a rigid (usually a video-mediastinoscope) or a flexible endoscope (flexible bronchoscope or flexible choledoscope) is inserted into the pericardial cavity. The inner surface of the parietal pericardium and the epicardium can be explored and biopsies can be taken under visual control. In addition, a subxiphoid pericardial window can be developed, and sclerosing agents instilled for pericardiodesis, if a malignant aetiology is confirmed.
June 19, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The FDA approved Edwards' Sapien third generation transcatheter aortic valve, designed to limit paravalvular leakage by incorporating a skirt at the base of the valve. The approval was based on results of the PARTNER II S3 study, which demonstrated improved rates of paravalvular leakage at 30 days (<4%) compared to 10% to 20% rates for other valves.
June 18, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Using UNOS data, the authors evaluated long-term survival and primary graft failure (PGF) comparing cohorts with less than and more than 6 hours of graft ischemia. 31% of patients had prolonged ischemia. There was no association between prolonged ischemia and PGF or survival at 1 and 5 years.