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Journal and News Scan
September 4, 2014
Submitted by: Joel Dunning
Brighton Colorado in the story of -- dog who save lives but now need saving himself. K is an eight year old lab -- pit bull mix who spent several tours of duty sniffing out roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. With his handler army specialist Brandon Donahue at -- side.
They're everywhere he couldn't really go anywhere without finding one who is. And I estimated he saved a few thousand lives now -- much deserved retirement is threatened by -- tumor in his heart. Which if not corrected will likely kill the dog.
Surgery will cost more than 6000 dollars Donahue and his wife has started a fund raiser and are determined to get the job done. -- means a lot to me and no means a lot to him. To be able to -- live.
September 4, 2014
Submitted by: Joel Dunning
This remarkable dog served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan sniffing out bomb threats, and it is estimated he saved thousands of lives. When he was diagnosed with a cardiac tumor, his handler decided to offer him heart surgery, and is raising money for this purpose.
September 4, 2014
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The impact of center and surgeon volume on outcomes after arterial switch for TGV was investigated using data from the STS database. Median center and surgeon annual volumes were 4 and 2. Both center and surgeon volume were important determinants of the composite outcome (death or major complication), with surgeon volume having the most important effect.
September 4, 2014
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The impact of continuous flow VAD on survival among patients awaiting heart transplant is not well known. Pts on the UNOS list were propensity score matched 1:2 (HeartMate II vs no VAD). Wait list mortality was 10% during the 7.5 year study. Use of a VAD improved survival to transplant at 1 (91% vs 77%) and 2 years (85% vs 68%). Use of VAD as a bridge to transplant may improve survival and improve organ allocation.
September 4, 2014
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This study summarized data regarding valve use in over 1l,000 pts in the STS database who underwent aortic valve replacement for active endocarditis. Nearly 75% of pts had no prior cardiac surgery. Prior cardiac surgery was associated with a higher risk of root replacement (29.9% vs 7.2%), a higher rate of complications (68% vs 61%), and a substantially higher rate of operative mortality (21.1% vs 9.8%, unadjusted). The use of biological valves increased over time.
September 1, 2014
Submitted by: J. Rafael Sadaba
In this retrospective study, the authors evaluate the effect of preprocedural significant mitral regurgitation (MR) on outcomes of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for sever aortic stenosis. In an overall series of 316 patients, 60 had been diagnosed with significant MR prior to the procedure. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards modelling, significant preprocedural MR was independently associated with 12-month and cumulative mortality. Following the procedure, 52.9% of the patients had less than grade 3 MR. Patients in whom MR improved had a better outcome than those with a worsening in MR.
September 1, 2014
Submitted by: Ruben Osnabrugge
The authors of this review article provide an extensive overview of the curent state of play in the field of Aortic Stenosis. They discuss risk scores,treatment decisions, and up-to-date evidence of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.
August 31, 2014
Submitted by: Marcelo Jimenez
In this retrospective study based on a database of 5390 patients with early-stage esophageal cancer, T1a and T1b lesions were treated by endoscopic (26.5%) or surgical resection (73.5%). For patients undergoing surgery, the incidence of lymph node metastasis was 5.0% for T1a and 16.6% for T1b lesions. Size > 2 cm and intermediate-/high-grade lesions were the best predictors of nodal involvement. The risk of nodal metastases should be considered when counseling patients.
August 30, 2014
Submitted by: Tom C. Nguyen
The study provides a risk-adjusted impact of postoperative atrial fibrillation on hospital mortality, resouces utlization, and costs. 49,264 patients from the STS database who underwent cardiac surgery were extracted from 2001-2012. AF increased operative mortality 2% vs 1%), morbidity, readmission rates, ICU stay, postoperative length of stay, and costs.
August 25, 2014
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This interesting overview points out the negative effects of adrenaline on outcomes in a number of observational and randomized studies of patients experiencing cardiac arrest. The author recommends using Vasopressin after the first dose of adrenaline during resuscitation from cardiac arrest.