Content from the Journal of the American Neurological Surgeons.
This is a case presentation of an 18-month-old female who presented to the emergency department with altered mental status. In the emergency room, the patient’s electrocardiogram (EKG) raised concerns for biventricular hypertrophy. A transthoracic echocardiogram indicated that her right coronary artery originated from the main pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) and measured approximately 1.8 to 2.2 mm,…
This session features leading surgeons discussing various aspects of aortic stenosis at the Transcatheter Heart Valves Greece (THVGreece) 2026 conference. Please note that all presentations are delivered in Greek. The first presentation, “Moderate AS + EF 35%: Intervene or Observe?” was delivered by Dr. Dimitris Tziakas, an Associate Professor of Cardiology at Democritus University of…
This interview centers around robotic cardiac surgery. At the 2026 American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Annual Meeting, CTSNet JANS Editor Dr. Mujtaba Mubashir, a cardiothoracic fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, engaged in an insightful discussion with Dr. Ali Hage, a cardiac surgeon at NYU Langone Health, NY, USA, to…
This video series showcases a robotic mitral valve replacement performed by Dr. Feras Khaliel, a world leader in robotics, at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning traveled to Riyadh to film a series of videos with Dr. Feras Khaliel, who has performed more than 520 robotic cardiac operations, including the…
This case involved a 74-year-old woman who complained of dyspnea on exertion for the past three weeks. She also reported dysphagia for solids without experiencing weight loss. The patient had a history of hypertension and dyslipidemia, and a previous occurrence of deep vein thrombosis. During a cardiac evaluation, a transthoracic ultrasound revealed a large mass…
This video presents a Ross procedure with internal and external reduction annuloplasty using autologous tissue rings. The patient was a 41-year-old previously healthy male who presented after a syncopal episode. Workup showed complete heart block, a bicuspid aortic valve with leaflet thickening, and a large vegetation on the non-coronary cusp, and 4+ aortic insufficiency (AI).…
This instructional video demonstrates techniques for managing adhesions and preventing air leaks during right upper lobe lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in patients with severe emphysema. In Case 1, a 79-year-old patient with significant comorbidities presented with extensive adhesions between the right upper lobe and the chest wall. Careful adhesiolysis was performed using cauterization while…
Primary tracheal tumors are rare, with adenoid cystic carcinoma being a common subtype with a tendency for submucosal spread (1). Surgical resection with primary anastomosis is the standard treatment. Minimally invasive techniques, including uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and non-intubated surgery, aim to reduce perioperative morbidity (2). However, their use in complex airway procedures like…
A 74-year-old male with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and a previous transcatheter bioprosthetic aortic valve of less than one year presented to an outside facility with repetitive embolic phenomenon to the lower extremities, requiring open incisions and embolectomy. The patient was diagnosed with sepsis secondary to transcatheter aortic valve endocarditis, aortic root abscess, and…
This interview highlights the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery, situated on the outskirts of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The Salam Centre was opened in 2007 by the Italian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) EMERGENCY International, the center is named “Salam,” which means “peace’” in Arabic. It has conducted more than 8,000 rheumatic valvular surgeries alone and has provided free…
This interview focuses on tracking burnout and recovery in surgical trainees. At the 2026 American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Annual Meeting, CTSNet JANS Editor Ali Mashadi, a medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland—Bahrain, spoke with Dr. Lauren Barron, a cardiothoracic surgery Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas…
The mission to Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, begins with the inspiring story of Dr. Danny Kapend, an African doctor determined to transform the healthcare landscape for the people of Lubumbashi. As a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Kapend dreams of establishing cardiovascular surgery in the region. In 2023, Dr. Kapend met Dr. Marcio Rufino, a…
Esophageal leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the esophagus. Surgical enucleation is indicated for symptomatic or large lesions and is typically performed via a right-sided approach. Case Presentation A 42-year-old, non-smoking, otherwise healthy male presented with abdominal discomfort. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was performed and demonstrated no intra-abdominal pathology; however, a…
Conventional transvenous pacing is standard care; however, patients with limited venous access often face a therapeutic dead end. The authors present a novel, minimally invasive thoracoscopic technique for right atrial access and septal lead implantation, targeting the left bundle branch (LBB) area—a solution that has not been previously described. The case involved a patient with…
This session shows leading surgeons presenting on tricuspid valve challenges at the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland Annual Meeting. Dr. Norman Briffa, a consultant cardiac surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and a Reader at the University of Sheffield, UK, discussed “Challenges in Tricuspid Valve Management.” He addressed the goals…
Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. In patients with a small pulmonary annulus, repair often requires a transannular patch, resulting in progressive pulmonary regurgitation and eventual right ventricular dilation and dysfunction. To address these limitations, valve-sparing and right ventricular outflow tract reconstructive techniques are increasingly being used. Pulmonary valve reconstruction…