Content from the Journal of the American Neurological Surgeons.
This video is the second-place winner from the 2025 CTSNet Innovation Video Competition. Watch all entries into the competition, including the other winning videos. Leaflet replacement is one of the techniques used in aortic valve repair to preserve the valve. It is frequently performed when a leaflet is damaged or destructed due to conditions such as…
In open and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) pulmonary surgery, direct palpation allows surgeons to locate small or deep pulmonary nodules with the sense of touch. However, in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS), the absence of tactile feedback represents a significant limitation. This video illustrates how visual strategies can be used to compensate for this loss. By…
This is the first-place video from the 2025 CTSNet Innovation Video Competition. Watch all entries into the competition, including the runner-up and third place winner. Click here to watch Dr. Sameh Said’s interview with CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning. Background Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) represents a constellation of defects affecting the left side of the heart,…
Objective Whether the moderator band should always be preserved or cut during the relief of the pulmonary subvalvar obstruction in the repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a controversial topic. This presentation includes two cases illustrating that, at times, the moderator band can obstruct the right ventricular outflow tract in TOF and should be…
Idiopathic diaphragmatic relaxation is a rare condition characterized by the abnormal elevation of one hemidiaphragm within the thoracic cavity without any evidence of abdominal visceral herniation. This anatomical displacement can lead to symptoms such as dyspnea, dysphagia, and tachycardia. While many cases are secondary to phrenic nerve injury—either post-traumatic or post-surgical—a subset of patients presents…
This is a case presentation of a 9-day-old female infant born at 38 weeks with a postnatal diagnosis of interrupted aortic arch type B, two large posterior malaligned ventricular septal defects, severe left ventricular outflow tract narrowing, and a large patent foramen ovale. Additional noncardiac findings indicated an absence of thymic tissue, correlating with clinical…
Currently in its 32nd year, the Birmingham Review Course is the longest-running course in the cardiothoracic specialty. The 2025 course promises an immersive learning experience featuring didactic lectures and interactive seminars on cardiac and thoracic topics, along with opportunities to engage with an international faculty. The 2025 Birmingham Review Course will take place from September…
In May 2025, the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery brought together professionals in the field of cardiothoracic surgery to discuss and share knowledge on minimally invasive techniques. Watch for more ISMICS 2025 videos in the coming weeks. At the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting 2025, Dr. Danny…
The complexity of cardiac surgery precludes its application via minimally invasive approaches compared to other surgical specialties. Despite these complexities, minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has been applied in procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve repairs and replacement (1), and, more recently, for congenital heart defects (CHD) (2). This case provides insight into…
Materials and Methods A 56-year-old male with a history of systemic hypertension presented with dyspnea on exertion, classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III for one month. C linical examination revealed an apex beat located at the fifth left interspace outside the midclavicular line, along with slightly reduced air entry in the left hemithorax. …
This short video demonstrates how to correct sternum asymmetry in the Nuss procedure using a Gigli saw. It is often very difficult to correct asymmetry, even with costal compression sutures and the Park Pectus System, but Professor Hyung Park previously demonstrated this technique, in which the sternum was divided just before it started to angulate,…
CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Dr. Joel Dunning recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Jeffrey Velotta, thoracic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, regarding his paper, Time to Surgery in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Defining the Optimal Diagnosis-to-Resection Interval to Reduce Mortality. Their discussion covered the key takeaway messages from the study and the…
Enlarging Axillary Incision The axillary incision was enlarged in two ways. First, a horizontal conversion to a posterolateral approach was performed based on previous pen markings. Additionally, a vertical downward enlargement was made to reach the selected chest drain location. Use of Right Atrial Appendage The right atrial appendage was utilized by placing a…
In this video, viewers will learn how to construct an autologous pericardial mitral valve for infants and small children when repair is not possible. The technique offers a durable solution by utilizing the patient’s own living tissue, thereby avoiding the risks of degeneration and calcification associated with chemically treated or prosthetic valves. While some long-term…
This video submission is from the 2025 CTSNet Instructional Video Competition. Watch all entries from the competition, including the winning videos. This video aims to provide the basics of obtaining accurate aortic dimensions. Aortic surveillance is critical for the early detection and lifelong monitoring of aortic disease, enabling appropriately timed treatments that can prevent life-threatening complications.…
Redo tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) is a technically demanding and high-risk surgical procedure, especially in patients with prior cardiac operations and multiple comorbidities. This case report outlines the use of an annular-preserving explantation technique utilizing electrocautery to safely remove a degenerated bioprosthetic tricuspid valve. The report emphasizes surgical planning, intraoperative management, and the patient’s postoperative…
welcomes you to the new, improved website!