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Journal and News Scan
November 7, 2019
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
This single institution study spanning a decade of experience identified a 6.5% rate of mortality, which was related to active endocarditis at the time of surgery, the need for preoperative ventilation, longer bypass times, and increasing European risk score.
November 7, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
Interesting retrospective imaging study of true and false lumens with or without bare metal stents placed distally in the abdominal aorta.
November 7, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This brief overview of recently presented improvements in lung cancer therapy highlights the substantial benefits of newer chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens that are transforming the outlooks of many patients with advanced lung cancer.
November 7, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Data from the PARTNER trials were assessed regarding post-procedural prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement and surgical aortic valve replacement. The timing and rates of PVE were similar between the groups, and they had a similar high mortality.
November 6, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
In this randomized trial, percutaneous coronary intervention and CABG had equivalent outcomes for the composite of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction at five years for patients with left main disease of low or intermediate anatomical complexity.
November 6, 2019
Submitted by: Wei-Guo Ma
Gudala and associates performed a literature review of 108 patients who sustained left ventricular rupture following mitral valve replacement. The incidence in pooled data was 0.72%. The authors expounded on the mechanisms, classification, repair techniques, and treatment outcomes of this dreadful complication. In addtion, they added a subcategory, type IV, and proposed an alternative surgical classification. This is a thorough and comprehensive review that would be helpful to all cardiac surgeons.
November 2, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Participation in a post-discharge rehabilitation program after valve surgery was associated with a 34% relative decrease in hospitalization during the first year and a 61% relative decrease in mortality at one year.
November 2, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
A batch of staplers manufactured in July-August 2019 and distributed during August-September 2019 has been recalled. Seven serious injuries and one death are reported to have been associated with failure of this device.
November 1, 2019
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
In this multicenter study, the authors report on outcomes in 156 patients who underwent surgery for anomalous aortic origin of the coronary arteries. Unroofing and reimplantation were the most common procedures. There was no perioperative mortality. The authors concluded that surgery for anomalous aortic origin of the coronary arteries is safe and effective and most patients can return to normal life.
November 1, 2019
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Commonly, a jejunostomy is placed during esophagectomy. In this report including 188 patients, the impact of jejunostomy on outcomes after esophagectomy was examined. Jejunostomy lead frequently (7%) to jejunostomy-related complications and did not reduce the risk of postoperative weight loss. The authors concluded that the routine use of intraoperative jejunostomy appears to be an unnecessary step.