Seeing the Invisible: Mixed Reality–Guided Anatomical Segmentectomy for Ground-Glass Nodules

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Mixed reality–guided anatomical segmentectomy represents an emerging strategy to improve intraoperative spatial understanding during sublobar lung resection. Accurate identification of segmental anatomy is critical in segmentectomy, particularly for ground-glass nodules, where lesion localization and margin assessment can be challenging. Conventional imaging review and intraoperative visualization may be insufficient to fully translate complex three-dimensional anatomy into…

Normothermic Treatment of an Aortic Arch Aneurysm

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Surgery of the aortic arch has advanced significantly in recent years. The gold standard technique for treating arch aneurysms remains moderate to deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest of the lower body, coupled with cerebral protection. Recently, some authors have developed various techniques for normothermic arch surgery without cardiopulmonary arrest (1, 2). Here, the authors present…

The Beat With Joel Dunning Ep. 163: Is the TAVR Heart Team About to Lose a Member?

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This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning discusses the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) heart team potentially losing a member. He explores the current composition of the TAVR heart team, proposed changes, the thoughts of cardiothoracic societies, and future actions regarding this issue. Additionally, he spoke with Dr. Thoralf Sundt, Chief of the…

Resection of a Cardiac Sarcoma

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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…

Managing Adhesions and Air Leaks in Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

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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…

Hemi-Commando Procedure for Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Endocarditis

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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…

Free Surgical Care in Sudan: An Interview With Dr. Gina Portella

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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…

Tracking Burnout and Recovery in Surgical Trainees: An Interview With Dr. Lauren Barron

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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…

In the Heart of Congo

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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…

Left-Sided Uniportal VATS Enucleation of a Large Esophageal Leiomyoma

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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…

The Beat With Joel Dunning Ep. 162: Lifetime Management of Aortic Valve Disease

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This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Isaac George, CTSNet Board Member and Co-Director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center, Surgical Director of Structural Heart Disease, and Co-Director of the Mitral and Tricuspid Center at Columbia University Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian, NY, USA, about the lifetime management of aortic valve disease.…

Thoracoscopic Right Atrial Access for Septal Lead Implantation: A Novel Minimally Invasive Technique

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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…

Utilizing the RAA Valve for the Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot With Pulmonary Atresia Following RVOT Stenting

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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…