The clinical case presented in this video concerns a 67-year-old female patient who came to the authors’ attention in 2021 after undergoing a computed tomography (CT) scan that revealed the incidental finding of a 16 mm ground-glass opacity (GGO) located in the left lower lobe. As the lesion was well localized and adequate surgical margins…
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…
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 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…
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…
Autograft dilation and neo-aortic regurgitation remain key concerns after the Ross procedure. This meta-analysis of 526 patients shows complete Dacron reinforcement yields comparable outcomes to unsupported or partially supported techniques in survival, reoperation, and regurgitation, supporting an individualized strategy based on patient age, anatomy, and expertise.
In the EPOCH CardioLink-10 trial, 318 adults undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy were included in a modified intention-to-treat analysis across four Canadian centers. Patients received bilateral superficial parasternal intercostal plane blocks with 0.2 percent ropivacaine or placebo via indwelling catheters for 48 hours. Ropivacaine reduced cumulative opioid use at 72 hours vs the placebo, with mean use of 122.8 vs 145.9 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) and a least-squares…
This retrospective cohort study from the Mayo Clinic analyzed 62 consecutive adult patients undergoing conversion from a mechanical valve to a bioprosthetic valve due to severe anticoagulation-related complications, including major bleeding and systemic thromboembolism. The authors sought to delineate whether this reoperative strategy successfully eliminates the long-term burden of chronic anticoagulation and its associated morbidities. Outcomes revealed a substantial early procedural hazard, with…
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…
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