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Journal and News Scan
March 27, 2018
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A succinct balanced editorial advancing, amongst other things, the position for initial nonintervention for submassive pulmonary embolism.
Bleeding Complications After Use of Novel Oral Anticoagulants in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
March 26, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Vernon
Hassan and colleagues performed a retrospective analysis of 81 patients who presented for open cardiac surgery while receiving novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy. Patients were off NOACs for a median of 4 days (IQR, 3 - 6 days) prior to surgery. The authors found the length of the NOAC withdrawal period was significantly related to the postoperative 24-hour drainage volume, which was 480 ml (IQR, 350 - 600 ml). Additionally, 6.2% of patients required rethoracotomy to investigate bleeding. The authors suggest that 10 days of NOAC withdrawal might be preferable prior to elective cardiac surgery.
March 24, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This survey of general surgeons in the US who had a pregnancy during surgical training identified a number of challenges that may influence career satisfaction. These included inadequate scheduling support, lactation facilities, and mentoring. 30% of participants would advise a female medical student not to pursue a surgical career.
March 23, 2018
Submitted by: Benjamin Bidstrup
This article examines an interesting concept for preparing for mitral repair. This may have useful assistance in complex valve repairs and in the early stages of training of young surgeons.
March 23, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Vernon
Patient Care
A teen in Chicago, Illinois, USA, awaiting a heart transplant received the news that a heart was available from his pediatric cardiologist, who dressed up as Chewbacca from Star Wars just for the occasion.
Surgeons in the UAE replaced all four heart valves in a man with infective endocarditis.
A hospital system based in Delaware, USA, plans to launch an app to help monitor infants born with a single ventricle when they are discharged from the hospital after surgery.
Drugs and Devices
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has granted national reimbursement for the MitraClip™ from Abbott, a move that will make the technology more accessible through the country’s health insurance system.
Research, Trials, and Funding
Researchers from the Netherlands presented a proof-of-concept study at the recent European Heart Rhythm Association meeting, showing that putting light-sensitive ion channels into the heart allows it to terminate arrhythmias itself in response to a pulse of light.
Reports of severe myocarditis after cancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors are increasing, say researchers from the US and France, and they speculate that this is due both to increased use of these drugs and heightened awareness of this complication.
March 23, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Surgery for cancer is known to suppress immune response and facilitate the development of metastases. In this study in mice, a scaffold designed to release agonists of innate immunity over time was placed in the bed of resected tumors. The treatment reduced local recurrence and improved survival.
March 21, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Vernon
Of 1,232 patients who underwent elective arch repairs at 11 European aortic centers, 155 were selected and their surgical outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Approximately 13% of patients suffered an aortic event, and 85% of them needed reoperation. Multivariate analysis found older age at reoperation to be the only independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality.
March 21, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
One of the more contentious issues in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs is the role of preoperative carbohydrate loading. This randomized trial demonstrated less need for insulin for treating serum glucose >180 mg/dl in the carbohydrate-loading group compared to the placebo group (2.4% versus 16.0%; RR 0.15; p<0.001) with no change in the frequency of postoperative infection.
March 21, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
A brief, informative, and helpful article. It highlights alarming reports that 80% to 90% of "negative" randomized controlled trials in surgery are not adequately powered to reliably declare a negative outcome.
March 19, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Vernon
Kepez and colleagues retrospectively evaluated the incidence of coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Of 83 patients with CTEPH who underwent coronary angiography prior to pulmonary endarterectomy, collaterals were found definitively in 15 patients (18.1%) and were probable in an additional 4 patients (4.8 %). The presence of coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals was associated with higher pulmonary artery pressure, higher pulmonary vascular resistance, and a greater reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance following surgery.