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Journal and News Scan
Outcomes for small children (<10kg) bridged to heart transplant with VADs were compared to those who were not bridged. 2:1 propensity score matching was used to create comparison groups. Survival of 59 bridged pts was similar to that of 108 non-bridged pts, and most major complication rates were similar. Strokes occurred in 8.5% of bridged pts and 0.9% of non-bridged pts.
This randomized study assigned patients with CAD to either PCI or OPCAB and assessed cognition 7.5 years later. The OPCAB group had better cognition at long-term follow-up in univariate analysis, but when adjusted for covariates, there was no significant difference in the cognition outcomes.
This retrospective review of a large institutional database identified 337 patients who had undergone resection of a pulmonary carcinoid tumor and tracked recurrence and survival rates. 95% of recurrences were distant and only 24% were detected during routine follow-up. Only 3% of patients with typical carcinoid tumors suffered recurrence compared to 26% of those with atypical tumors. The authors suggest that routine follow up may not be indicated in patients with resected typical carcinoid tumors who have no risk factors.
This study of 389 pts receiving a continuous flow LVAD evaluated the risk of thromoembolic (TE)complications associated with preop AF. TE occured in 25% of pts; freedom from TE at 2 years was 46% in those with AF and 72% in those without AF (p<0.001). AF did not affect late survival.
The authors presented a novel concept of tricuspid annuloplasty for functional tricuspid regurgitation using an adjustable annuloplasty band. This method allowed authors to adjust the ring size on beating heart after weaning off the cardiopulmonary bypass.
The MitraClip Therapy Economic and Clinical Outcomes Study Europe (ACCESS-EU) enroled 117 patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) considered ineligible for surgery. Mortalities at 30 days and 12 months were 6.0 and 17.1%, respectively. At 12 months, 74.6% (53 of 71) of patients in follow-up achieved significant reductions in MR and improved clinical outcomes. This complementary non-surgical intervention should be indicated by an inter-disciplinary team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.
A database analysis on 4212 patients found female sex to be associated with improved survival in patients with Stage I adenocarcinoma but not with other stages or with squamous carcinoma. The authors discuss the reasons for their findings.
A multicenter retrospective study on over 26000 patients compared off-pump and on-pump surgery for CABG. Off-pump surgery was associated with a lower perioperative incidence of stroke in patients with two or more cardiovascular risk factors especially with chronic renal failure.
See highlights as the meeting takes place, including the interview below with the EACTS President, Jose Luis Pomar.
This is an outstanding video on the surgical repair of the pulmonary arteries, which has been published in the MMCTS as a detailed techniques article.