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Journal and News Scan
July 30, 2021
Submitted by: Christopher Anderson
Norwood palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome typically results in retrograde perfusion of the native aortic root. This may predispose to native aortic root thrombosis (NART).
July 30, 2021
Submitted by: Christopher Anderson
This article presents the assessment of long-term outcomes of patients treated by anatomical pulmonary resection with the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approach, VATS requiring intraoperative conversion to thoracotomy, or an upfront open thoracotomy for lung cancer surgery. The study found that VATS is favored when possible.
July 22, 2021
Submitted by: Wei-Guo Ma
On July 22, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery published this consensus statement on nomenclature and classification of the congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and Its aortopathy.
This consensus statement divides BAV into 3 types: 1) Cusp-fused type (right-left, right-non and left-non-coronary cusp fusion ); 2) Two-sinus type (latero-lateral and antero-posterior ); and 3) Partial-fusion (forme fruste) type.
BAV-associated aortopathy are categorized into 3 types: 1) Ascending type; 2) Root type; and 3) Extended type.
July 16, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This study assessed cognitive involved in cardiac surgical procedures from the perspective of three different specialty groups: surgeons, anesthesiologists, and perfusionists. The 137 unique processes that were identified were classified as: decision points, critical communications, pitfalls, and strategies. Understanding these processes and the different perspectives each team member brings to the operation may help improve patient safety and outcomes.
July 15, 2021
Submitted by: Christopher Anderson
This study analyzes the relocation of both papillary muscles to correct FMR in both ICM and DCM. The results demonstrate very satisfactory in-hospital and 1-year outcomes.
July 12, 2021
Submitted by: Jessica Luc
In this article, Dr. Sandhu et al. review their 22-year experience in managing patients with thoracic aortic graft infection. They demonstrate that this infection is highly morbid and requires prompt antimicrobial coverage, debridement, graft replacement, and vascularized graft coverage to prevent morbidity and mortality.
July 12, 2021
Submitted by: Jessica Luc
In this article, Dr. Farber et al. describe the acceptable five year outcomes of using the Conformable GORE® TAG® thoracic endoprosthesis (CTAG) device (W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) for thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) of blunt aortic injuries in a prospective, single-arm study among 111 patients.
July 12, 2021
Submitted by: Jessica Luc
In this article, Dr. Skelhorne-Gross et al. discuss the utility of a standardized minimal opioid pain prescription post minimally invasive thoracic surgery to limit postoperative opioid prescriptions. They provided patients with a standardized prescription of Hydromorphine (2mg x 15 tabs), Acetaminophen (1g tid x 7 days), and Ibuprofen (400mg po tid x 3 days), and demonstrate that the pain was successfully controlled in the majority of patients.
July 12, 2021
Submitted by: Jessica Luc
In this article, Jacobs et al. provide a multi-institutional outcomes review of 200 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 supported with ECMO. The mean time on ECMO was 15 days with survival on VV-ECMO of 46.3% and survival on VA-ECMO of 25%. Predictors of survival included a lower median age and shorter median time from COVID-19 diagnosis to ECMO initiation.
July 9, 2021
Submitted by: Thomas Theologou
This registry, involving multiple centers, aims to provide conclusive results reflecting the importance of critical preoperative conditions and different treatment strategies to reduce the risk of early adverse events after surgery for acute TAAD.