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…
In this article, the authors report interim results of Heart 2, a phase 1, open label, single ascending dose study of VERVE 102, a GalNAc lipid nanoparticle delivering mRNA for an adenine base editor and guide RNA targeting a proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin type 9 (PCSK9) intron 1 splice site. Thirty-five adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or premature coronary artery disease received…
This multicenter registry study evaluated the volume-outcome relationship in elective valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) to establish a threshold for high-volume centers. Utilizing prospective data from 2,668 patients across 37 centers within the Heart Valve Society Aortic Valve Database, the authors modeled early composite safety outcomes and long-term aortic valve reintervention-free survival. The authors found that annual…
In this article, the authors report a nationwide study evaluating surgical mitral valve replacement (MVR) for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in all 16 Dutch cardiothoracic centers between 2017 and 2023. Although RHD has declined in high–income countries, the authors write that migration continues to sustain its clinical relevance in the Netherlands. Among 2,488 MVR patients aged 75 years or younger, 435 had…
This single-center retrospective cohort study from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital compared non-intubated (NI-UVATS, n=18) vs intubated uniportal VATS (I-UVATS, n=47) sleeve lobectomy. In carefully selected patients, NI-UVATS was feasible with zero conversions to intubation or thoracotomy. Operative time (118 minutes versus 107 minutes), blood loss (median 50 mL in both groups), lymph node yield, length of stay (approximately four days), and complication rates (approximately 27 percent) were comparable. R0 resection and two-year…
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…
In this top-notch interview, Cristina Ruiz Segria, CTSNet Senior Editor—Clinical Care Providers and nurse practitioner at James Cook University Hospital, UK, speaks with Professor Julie Sanders, Professor of Cardiovascular Care at King’s College London, UK, about cardiovascular disease research priorities in women. They discuss the project Beating Bias, focusing on its objectives, funding and collaboration,…
This video demonstrates video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomies, providing step-by-step instructional videos that dissect important structures in a library format, organized by each specific lobe. 1. Left Upper Lobectomy A left upper lobectomy began with the dissection of the superior pulmonary vein. A ring forceps was used to safely pass behind the pulmonary vein. A 6…
In this episode of The Atrium, host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaks with Dr. Husam Balkhy, Professor of Surgery and Director of Robotic and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at the University of Chicago, IL, USA, about multi-spectrum robotic cardiac surgery. The discussion focuses on the history of robotics in cardiac surgery, emphasizing the benefits and challenges…
Pectus excavatum is the most common congenital chest wall deformity, and severe cases may require operative correction to improve both physiological and cosmetic outcomes. The authors present the case of a 16-year-old male with severe symmetric pectus excavatum and a Haller index of 5.4 who underwent correction using a modified double-bar Pectus Up technique. Preoperative…
welcomes you to the new, improved website!