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Journal and News Scan
August 11, 2023
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
The first domino transplant procedure performed on infants was successfully completed recently in New York City. One patient needed a heart transplant because of cardiomyopathy and was able to donate a heart valve to another infant, who was only born with one.
August 11, 2023
Submitted by: Malak Elbatarny
This study reported long term outcomes of over three thousand single ventricle patients in the United Kingdom, with a median of 7.6 years. The most significant predictor of long-term survival was single ventricle subtype, with the worst outcomes observed among patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome or unbalanced AVSD. Other negative outcome predictors were low weight at time of first procedure and acquired comorbidities. Although center volume was not a major predictor of long-term outcomes in this study, it is important to note that congenital care in the UK is highly centralized; thus, no low volume centers were captured in this study.
August 11, 2023
Submitted by: Jason Trevis
This article provides a systematic review of the choice of conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting and has been endorsed by both the STS and EACTS. The review reports on a variety of factors related to specific conduits, from patency and clinical outcomes to harvesting and target vessel selection.
August 7, 2023
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
In a research letter on a small pilot genomic study of sampling coronary atheroma, the authors offer a brief explanation on how their technique can be applied to detect stability of coronary plaque.
August 4, 2023
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
Because of the potential risk of early structural valve deterioration, the FDA has sent notice about Abbott’s decision to stop selling and distributing Trifecta aortic surgical heart valves in the United States. The FDA recommends that healthcare providers be aware of the risk of SVD with Trifecta valves, discuss risk with patients, and monitor patients who have undergone implantation with Trifecta valves.Because of the potential risk of early structural valve deterioration, the FDA has sent notice about Abbott’s decision to stop selling and distributing Trifecta aortic surgical heart valves in the United States. The FDA recommends that healthcare providers be aware of the risk of SVD with Trifecta valves, discuss risk with patients, and monitor patients who have undergone implantation with Trifecta valves.
August 4, 2023
Submitted by: Jo Chikwe
This report describes a new Society of Thoracic Surgeons mortality risk model for adults with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac operations that are not included in existing risk models. A risk model was developed using forty-seven congenital variables in 192,196 patients operated on between 2011 and 2019. The risk model was more accurate at predicting operative mortality in adult patients undergoing congenital cardiac surgery (C statistic, 0.815) than the existing Society of Thoracic Surgeons adult risk model without congenital variables (C statistic, 0.79). This will support an online risk calculator for adult patients undergoing congenital cardiac surgery.
August 4, 2023
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
Authors representing the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons published a rebuttal to the Chronic Coronary Disease Guidelines. The authors explain their stance on the revised guidelines, stating their belief that the new recommendations on revascularization are flawed adaptations of the 2021 guidelines. The rebuttal points out contradicting evidence, missing information, selection biases, and more within the revised guidelines.
For more on the societies’ reaction to the new guidelines, read this article from tctMD.
July 27, 2023
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
Alberta’s first minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) surgery was performed at one of the few sites in Canada offering the procedure. The procedure is less invasive than traditional bypass surgery and provides patients with a faster recovery time. Since the first procedure, the multidisciplinary team at the center have performed ten more, a big step for Canadian cardiac surgical care.
July 27, 2023
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
In forty-eight consecutive patients undergoing explants of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) at a single center between 2011 and 2021, at a median of 2.3 years after TAVR, the most common indications for surgery were nonstructural valve dysfunction (patient-prosthesis mismatch or paravalvular leak) in 35 percent, structural valve deterioration in 29 percent, and mitral valve disease in 29 percent. The authors describe that TAVR valves were typically easily removed; however, unplanned aortic root replacement because of aortic root trauma during explantation was required in four patients, and root enlargement was required in four patients. Overall operative mortality was 15 percent.
July 27, 2023
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
These new guidelines contain wide-ranging recommendations on the use of beta-blockers, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1, and other medical therapies to treat chronic coronary disease. They also contain recommendations on how to evaluate, diagnose, and risk stratify patients, as well as the role of coronary revascularization when medical therapy does not work.
Visit this article from tctMD for a summary of the guidelines, including additional observations from the authors.Visit this article from tctMD for a summary of the guidelines, including additional observations from the authors.