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Journal and News Scan
March 7, 2022
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium was queried for patients undergoing repair of conotruncal abnormalities and subsequent AVR 1982 - 2003. Of 106 patients undergoing AVR, the operative mortality was 12%, and was related to infant age at the time of surgery (OR = 55). Transplant-free survival at 25 years was 53%. Transplant-free survival at 20 years was inferior to that of patients undergoing AVR for non-conotruncal abnormalities (61% vs 82%). Valve type was not associated with outcomes.
March 4, 2022
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A paper that addresses a gap in knowledge and will guide future research: of particular interest, the penultimate paragraph on The Role of Interventions.
March 3, 2022
Submitted by: Christopher Anderson
More than 40,000 children in the United States are undergoing congenital heart surgery annually. Yet, the relationship between hospital quality and costs remains unclear. This article explores this issue.
February 28, 2022
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
An interesting brief editorial on an experiment revisiting renal denervation as a panacea to cardiovascular disease
February 26, 2022
Submitted by: Wei-Guo Ma
This newly released AHA scientific statement offers a comprehensive review of the latest imaging and measurement techniques for patients with chronic aortic dissection and clarifies the need for standardized measurements and reporting for lifelong surveillance. It is divided into seven parts: epidemiology and anatomic spectrum; pathophysiology; managment of chronic aortic dissection; imaging technique; measurement principles; surveillance imaging; and risk stratification and new developments. The emerging role of imaging and computer simulations is examined to predict aortic false lumen degeneration, remodeling, and biomechanical failure from morphological and hemodynamic features. The writing group also identifies critical knowledge gaps and research needs that may serve as an impetus for additional research and development.
February 24, 2022
Submitted by: Christopher Anderson
Global health champion, Harvard Medical School professor, anthropologist and co-founder of the nonprofit health organization Partners in Health, Dr. Paul Farmer, has died at age 62. This article lists some of Dr. Farmer's accomplishments.
February 24, 2022
Submitted by: Malak Elbatarny
The Ross procedure in adults has recently seen a surge in interest. The aim of this study was to compare long-term outcomes after the Ross procedure vs biological and mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in adults (aged 18-50 years) undergoing aortic valve surgery.
February 24, 2022
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
Interesting study of hypertrophied human cardiomyocytes
February 22, 2022
Submitted by: Emily Farkas
Paul Farmer, a physician, anthropologist and humanitarian who gained global acclaim for his work delivering high-quality health care to some of the world’s poorest people, died on Monday on the grounds of a hospital and university he had helped establish in Butaro, Rwanda.
February 18, 2022
Submitted by: Wei-Guo Ma
The American Heart Association has released a scientific statement on imaging and surveillance of chronic aortic dissection, expounding the state-of-the-art imaging and measurement techniques (CT, MR and echocardiography), and clarifying the need for standardized measurements and reporting for lifelong surveillance.