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Journal and News Scan
January 6, 2023
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
A study found that insured Black patients who need mitral valve replacement surgery are more likely to undergo open heart surgery, while their white counterparts are more likely to have minimally invasive surgery. These disparities in care may be due most Black patients being treated at under-resourced hospitals, or where minimally invasive surgeries and experienced surgeons are not available.
January 6, 2023
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
The FDA has approved the drug Cytalux for use in lung surgery. The drug, also known as pafolacianine, binds to lung cancer cells to make them glow under infrared light. Surgical removal of lung tumors before they spread to the rest of the body remains one of the most effective ways to treat the disease, so the availability of this drug has major implications for lung cancer patient outcomes.
December 21, 2022
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
Aortic root replacement and aortic arch replacement surgeries were performed on patients in Odisha, India for the first time recently. This achievement means that patients suffering from life-threatening aortic diseases do not have to go out of state to receive care, and can undergo surgery close to home for free.
December 21, 2022
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
A comparative study between five types of transcatheter heart valves found that although adverse outcome rates are low among all devices, some differences do stand out. The authors found that each TAVI device has characteristics that apply to individual patients, and an approach highly tailored to individual patients is recommended.
Minimum Volume Standards for Surgical Care of Early-Stage Lung Cancer: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
December 21, 2022
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of receiving surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer at hospitals that perform at least forty lung resections annually. An analysis was performed at hospitals stratified by Leapfrog standard, and concluded that although it is more costly, care at Leapfrog centers results in better ninety-day and five-year outcomes.
December 15, 2022
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
A multinational study found an association between extreme hot and cold temperatures and cardiovascular diseases. Heart failure was the most common cause of death associated with extreme temperatures, closely followed by ischemic heart disease and stroke. This study highlights the increased cardiovascular-related mortality that may come with the effects of climate change.
December 15, 2022
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
The outcome of perioperative prophylactic glucocorticoids for heart surgery in infants was unknown, and this study aimed to determine the effectiveness using a multicenter, randomized trial. Out of the infants who received either a dose of methylprednisolone or a placebo, the likelihood of a worse outcome did not significantly differ.
December 15, 2022
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
This study examined the relationship between the relatively low surgical case volume for septal myectomy (SM) repair and the early outcomes of SM. In the studied database, the volume of SM cases varied widely, and there appeared to be an important association between surgical experience and the occurrence of adverse outcomes.
December 9, 2022
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
Researchers have been awarded a grant to fund cancer vaccine research, including the development of an mRNA vaccine that would target precancerous lung lesions. Eventually, researchers hope to develop an mRNA vaccine that targets groups of shared antigens in people with lung cancer, along with personalized vaccines directed at the genetic structure of each lung cancer patient’s tumor.
December 9, 2022
Submitted by: Cameron Lind
After cardiac surgery in neonates, it is crucial to monitor fluid balance metrics to avoid mortality. This study aimed to determine the association between these metrics and infant postoperative mortality. Researchers concluded that time to first negative daily fluid balance, but not percentage fluid overload, is associated with improved outcomes. Treatments to achieve early negative fluid balance may decrease postoperative care requirements.