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Journal and News Scan
June 12, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Laser-assisted fluorescent-dye angiography (LAA) was used prospectively in 150 patients undergoing esophagectomy with gastric pull-up to assess blood flow in the gastric tube. Anastomotic leak occured in 17%. Anastomoses performed in areas of normal perfusion had a 2% leak rate, compared to a 45% leak rate when anastomoses were performed in areas of poor perfusion.
June 12, 2015
Submitted by: Joel Dunning
During the last decade, the world of academic research and publication was attacked by low quality and commercial
journals that mimic the peer-reviewed scientific journals that I call this phenomenon “questionable journals” .
Later, fake conferences were scheduled and money was collected from authors, but the conferences never occurred
. Subsequently, the phenomenon of hijacked journals came into existence in October 2011, and I detected it in
early 2012 . The next phenomenon was the outbreak of fake publishers whose journals never appeared
anywhere . These journals had convincing sounding names, such as the Science Record Journals, the Thomas
Publications Journals (Thomaspub), and the Recent Science journals. However, the sad story continued, and in,
August 2013, I detected and reported five fake impact factor companies that claimed to calculate impact factors for
scientific journals. Indeed those impact factors were bogus metrics that were introduced to the academic world
by fake companies that were not registered anywhere by anyone. The purpose of this article is to provide some
more detailed information concerning how some of the fake impact factors and metrics came into existence and
infected the world of academic publishing.
Mehrdad Jalalian
June 11, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The authors evaluated VATS vs pleural drainage for initial primary spontaneous pneumothorax in 122 pts, evaluating costs and QOL. Costs for VATS were half of those for pleural drainage. Quality adjusted life years were better for VATS. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for VATS was 7,600 euros at 1 year and 10,000 euros at 5 years, well within the acceptable range.
June 11, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This single institution retrospective analysis of esophagectomy or gastrectomy for GEJ cancer compared outcomes between groups who did and did not complete recommended 2 cycles of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Of 110 pts who underwent perioperative chemotherapy, 67% completed postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Completion of 2 cycles or more of postoperative adjuvent chemotherapy was associated with improved survival.
June 9, 2015
Submitted by: Joel Dunning
Alan Bond, a well known Australian tycoon died after redo triple valve surgery in perth.
more can be found here.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/wa-tycoon-alan-bond-in-inten...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-05/alan-bond-obituary-americas-cup-he...
June 9, 2015
Submitted by: Joel Dunning
This group has operated on 5 patients using a totally endoscopic technique for Aortic Valve replacement. See how in this article
June 9, 2015
Submitted by: Philip McElnay
This insightful paper compares surgery for degenerative mitral valve disease over a number of different "eras." Interestingly, the most recent data in what the authors term "era 3" (2005-2011) demonstrates that patients are being operated on at an earlier stage in their disease- with less symptoms than historic eras. The in-hospital mortality, however, in this group of patients is at its lowest-ever: 0.043%. Whilst there, of course, will have been other confounders over the time periods investigated the authors explain that this data may demonstrate that earlier intervention in patients with degenerative mitral valve disease may be beneficial.
May 29, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
240 high risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery were randomized to remote ischemic preconditioning (3 5-min cycles of single upper extremity ischemia after anesthetic induction) or sham. Preconditioning reduced the incidence of acute kidney injury by one-third and the need for renal replacement therapy by two-thirds. These results were associated with changes in urinary insulinlike growth factor–binding protein 7 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2. No differences were found between the groups for other major complications.
May 28, 2015
Submitted by: CTSNet Staff
A new cohort analysis looks at the use of functional imaging, in addition to coronary angiography, in preoperative planning for surgical revascularization.
May 27, 2015
Submitted by: J. Rafael Sadaba
In this manuscript the authors describe their finding after a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the safety and efficacy of the Mitraclip procedure for patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Overall, 875 patients were included. Every patient underwent a follow-up of at least 6 months. The primary safety end point was a composite of all-cause death, rehospitalization for heart failure, and reinterventions during follow-up. The primary efficacy end point was the change in 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Secondary efficacy end points were change in left ventricle ejection fraction (EF), left ventricle volumes, pulmonary arterial pressure, and left atrial volumes, whereas the secondary safety end points were the single components of the primary composite one, cardiac death, and acute kidney injury during index hospitalization. The main findings were a net improvement in 6MWT, in NYHA functional class, and in reverse remodeling; a negative impact of AF diagnosis on positive effect in terms of remodeling; and low rates of procedural cardiac deaths. The authors conclude that Mitraclip is an effective treatment strategy for patients with heart failure and significant mitral regurgitation.