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Journal and News Scan

Methylene Blue Does Not Improve Vasoplegia After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

April 9, 2021

Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Author(s): Amit Saha, MD, Douglas L. Jennings, PharmD, Yuming Ning, PhD, Paul Kurlansky, MD, Andrea N. Miltiades, MD, Jessica L. Spellman, MD, Joseph Sanchez, MD, Melana Yuzefpolskaya, MD, Paolo C. Colombo, MD, Hiroo Takayama, MD, PhD, Yoshifumi Naka, MD, PhD, and Koji Takeda, MD, PhD

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This investigation studied the effectiveness of methylene blue (MB) for vasoplegia in LVAD recipients and found that clinical outcomes did not improve after LVAD implantation.

Management of Antithrombotic Therapy After Acute Coronary Syndromes

April 9, 2021

Submitted by: Edward Savage

Source: The New England Journal of Medicine

Author(s): Fatima Rodriguez MD, MPH and Robert A Harrington MD

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This review nicely summarizes the recommendations for antithrombotic therapy in the setting of acute coronary syndromes. In a section relevant to cardiac surgeons, they suggest that patients who undergo CABG surgery in the setting of an acute coronary syndrome should be similarly treated with dual antiplatelet therapy.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease in 29,893 Patients Undergoing Transcatheter or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement From the German Aortic Valve Registry

April 2, 2021

Submitted by: Catherine Joyce

Source: European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

Author(s): Silvia Mas-Peiro, Gloria Faerber, Dimitra Bon, Eva Herrmann, Timm Bauer, Sabine Bleiziffer, Raffi Bekeredjian, Andreas Böning, Christian Frerker, Andreas Beckmann, Helge Möllmann, Mariuca Vasa-Nicotera, Stephan Ensminger, Christian W Hamm, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, Stephan Fichtlscherer, Thomas Walther for the GARY-Executive Board

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This analysis presents the impact of chronic kidney disease on patients undergoing TAVI or SAVR procedures.

Postoperative Bleeding and Acute Kidney Injury in Esophageal Cancer Patients Receiving Ketorolac

April 2, 2021

Submitted by: Catherine Joyce

Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Author(s): Erin M. Corsini, MD, MSc, Nicolas Zhou, DO, Mara B. Antonoff, MD, Reza J. Mehran, MD, David C. Rice, MD, Jack A. Roth, MD, Boris Sepesi, MD, Stephen G. Swisher, MD, Ara A. Vaporciyan, MD, Garrett L. Walsh, MD, and Wayne L. Hofstetter, MD

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This study analyzes the medication Ketorolac when used for acute kidney injury or bleeding after surgery.

FDA Approves First in the World Device to Treat Patients with Congenital Heart Disease

March 26, 2021

Submitted by: Wei-Guo Ma

Source: FDA NEWS RELEASE

Author(s): U.S. Food and Drug Administration

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On Friday, March 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (TPV) System to be used to treat pediatric and adult patients with a native or surgically-repaired right ventricular outflow tract who have severe pulmonary valve regurgitation.

Impact of Age on Surgical Outcomes for Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

March 25, 2021

Submitted by: Emily Robinson

Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Author(s): Norma E. Farrow, MD, MHS, Vignesh Raman, MD, MHS, Oliver K. Jawitz, MD, MHS,Soraya L. Voigt, MD, Betty C. Tong, MD, MHS, David H. Harpole, Jr, MD, and Thomas A. D’Amico, MD

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This study analyzes surgery versus chemoradiation for esophageal cancer in older patients.

Long-Term Results After Aortic Valve Replacement for Bicuspid or Tricuspid Valve Morphology in a Swedish Population

March 25, 2021

Submitted by: Emily Robinson

Source: European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

Author(s): Anders Holmgren, Tone Bull Enger, Ulf Näslund, Vibeke Videm, Solveig Valle, Karen Julie Dybvad Evjemo, Örjan Friberg, Alexander Wahba

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Holmgren et al. report the long-term outcome of aortic valve replacement patients for bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve pathologies within a Swedish cohort. In their analysis, patients with bicuspid valve morphology showed an independent association with improved outcome, even matching the general population´s prognosis.

Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot Using Autologous Right Atrial Appendages: Short- to Mid-Term Results

March 15, 2021

Submitted by: Emily Robinson

Source: European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

Author(s): Ahmadali Amirghofran, Fatemeh Edraki, Mohammadreza Edraki, Gholamhossein Ajami, Hamid Amoozgar, Hamid Mohammadi, Abbas Emaminia, Bahram Ghasemzadeh, Mohammad Borzuee, Farah Peiravian, Zahra Kheirandish, Nima Mehdizadegan, Mohammadreza Sabri, Sirus Cheriki, Hamid Arabi

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Amirghofran et al. present a cohort of 21 patients receiving repair of tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) by a new surgical technique using autologous right atrial appendage tissue as a pulmonary valve substitute. This technique was proven feasible with good mid-term results and valve function in patients undergoing ToF repair requiring a PA valve substitute.

Comparative Effectiveness of Mechanical Valves and Homografts in Complex Aortic Endocarditis

March 15, 2021

Submitted by: Emily Robinson

Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Author(s): Zaid M. Abdelsattar, MD, MS, Mohamed F. Elsisy, MB, BCh, Hartzell Schaff, MD, John Stulak, MD, Kevin Greason, MD, Alberto Pochettino, MD, Arman Arghami, MD, Philip Rowse, MD, Gabor Bagameri, MD, Vishal Khullar, MD, Richard Daly, MD, Sertac Cicek, MD, Joseph Dearani, MD, and Juan Crestanello, MD

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This study compared outcomes of mechanical valves, bioprostheses, and homografts patients undergoing an operation for active complex aortic endocarditis.

Updating an Empirically Based Tool for Analyzing Congenital Heart Surgery Mortality

March 10, 2021

Submitted by: Emily Robinson

Source: World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery

Author(s): Marshall L. Jacobs, MD, Jeffrey P. Jacobs, MD, Dylan Thibault, MS, Kevin D. Hill, MD, MS, Brett R. Anderson, MD, MBA, MS, Pirooz Eghtesady, MD, PhD, Tara Karamlou, MD, MSc, S. Ram Kumar, MD, PhD, John E. Mayer, MD, Carlos M. Mery, MD, MPH, Meena Nathan, MD, David M. Overman, MD, Sara K. Pasquali, MD, MHS, James D. St. Louis, MD, David Shahian, MD, Sean M. O’Brien, PhD

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STAT Mortality Categories (developed 2009) stratify congenital heart surgery procedures into groups of increasing mortality risk to characterize case mix of congenital heart surgery providers. This update of the STAT Mortality Score and Categories is empirically based for all procedures and reflects contemporary outcomes. Cardiovascular surgical operations in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2017) were analyzed. In this STAT 2020 Update of the STAT Mortality Score and Categories, the risk associated with a specific combination of procedures was estimated under the assumption that risk is determined by the highest risk individual component procedure. Operations composed of multiple component procedures were eligible for unique STAT Scores when the statistically estimated mortality risk differed from that of the highest risk component procedure. Bayesian modeling accounted for small denominators.