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Journal and News Scan
March 18, 2020
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The authors examined the SEER database to assess racial disparities in use of PET for lung cancer staging 2007-2015 and subsequent one-year survival. Blacks (OR 0.54) and Hispanics (OR 0.72) were less likely to undergo PET compared to non-Hispanic whites. Use of PET was associated with improved survival (HR 0.61).
March 17, 2020
Submitted by: Joel Dunning
Simulation of the intubation plan for COVID-19 patients in the current pandemic. Simulation follow the FICM, RCoA, ICS and AAGBI online published guidance.
March 16, 2020
Submitted by: Joel Dunning
This is a very interesting article with four scenario live simulators that demonstrate what happens to the peak of the outbreaks in various sitations from no isolation to severe isolations for a population. A very useful graphical tool to show why this is an important strategy at the moment.
March 16, 2020
Submitted by: Joel Dunning
This is a MUST WATCH interview with Maurizio Cecconi, president elect of the European Intensive Care Society and an intensivist in Milan, Italy, where the Lombardy region has looked after around a thousand patients in the intensive cares of the region with COVID-19. He is interviewed by the Editor in Chief of JAMA and gives very sensible advice.
March 13, 2020
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
The optimal approach for repair of tetralogy of Fallot in symptomatic neonates was assessed comparing complete repair to staged repair. Greater early morbidity was associated with complete repair, but long-term outcomes regarding neurocognitive development need to be assessed in both groups.
March 13, 2020
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Suture techniques were compared for prosthesis-patient mismatch among groups who underwent aortic valve replacement and had a small annulus. Nonpledget mattress sutures performed better than pledget mattress sutures and figure-of-8 nonpledget sutures.
March 13, 2020
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
This article analyzes the outcome of video-assisted thoracoscopic lung resections performed at night compared to daytime operations. Nighttime operations carried a higher risk of intraoperative complications. The authors conclude surgeons should avoid nighttime operations whenever possible.
March 6, 2020
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
This review article looks into the role of ´bovine´ aortic arch configuration as a risk factor for aortic disease. An arch configuration with common origin of the innominate and left carotid artery was associated with a higher risk of thoracic aortic dissection when looking at the results of 485 studies, including 11,381 patients. The authors concluded that ´bovine´ aortic arch configuration should be recognized as a risk factor for aortic disease.
March 4, 2020
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
This retrospective single center observational study investigates the impact of surgical and catheter-based interventions in patients with life-threatening pulmonary emboli (PE). The results of both techniques have been comparable regarding survival and recovery of right ventricular function and acceptable complication rates within these critical patients. The authors conclude that both therapies should be adapted more widely in the treatment of these patients.
March 1, 2020
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A very easy-to-read editorial that digests a manuscript on the IMPROVE study. The study suggests an association of this group of enzymes to the Matrix Metalloproteinases and hence a theory on explaining the biochemistry of atheromatous plaque in relation to smooth muscle cells: if this will be translated to humans, it may offer a route of novel pharmacologic intervention to cardiovascular disease.