ALERT!
This site is not optimized for Internet Explorer 8 (or older).
Please upgrade to a newer version of Internet Explorer or use an alternate browser such as Chrome or Firefox.
Journal and News Scan
January 5, 2018
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A handy free, short, good quality video on an open valve-in valve procedure.
January 5, 2018
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A large cadaveric study of the scalloping of normal mitral valve leaflets. As the accompanying editorial points out, it would be useful to correlate the cadaveric observations to imaging and surgical anatomy.
January 3, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Vernon
This article from the BBC highlights two different artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostic systems, one that evaluates coronary artery disease (CAD) and another that determines whether a lung nodule is cancerous. The systems are being trialed around the UK, and they show promise for improved accuracy of imaging-based diagnoses. The software that evaluates CAD could be available throughout the UK as early as summer of 2018.
January 3, 2018
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
Video and a readable digest of a talk in a Harvard meeting, especially interesting in its scepticism on prevention.
January 2, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
The authors compared mechanically expanded TAVR to self-expanding TAVR in a randomized non-inferiority trial. Major adverse events occurred in 20% and 17% of patients, respectively (safety measure). The one-year rates of mortality, stroke, or paravalvular leak for the valves were 15.4% and 25.5%, respectively (effectiveness measure). Mechanically expanded valves are not inferior to self-expanding valves and broaden the options available for high risk patients.
January 2, 2018
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A sobering editorial, read last May at the AATS, that discusses at length the ethics of ventricular assist as a super expensive therapy seen from the principle of fairness.
January 2, 2018
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A dense but short and readable editorial arguing for the complexity of risk stratification of aortic pathology.
January 1, 2018
Submitted by: Tom C. Nguyen
Incredible story about how American Heart Association President Dr John Warner suffered a cardiac arrest after his presidential address and was subsequently saved by two bystanders. This story emphasizes the fortune of being in the right place at the right time, but more importantly, the public value of knowing CPR.
December 31, 2017
Submitted by: Edward Savage
The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was evaluated to assess tricupsid valve surgery. Isolated and concurrent tricuspid surgery outcomes are analyzed. The authors conclude that "surgical treatment of TR remains underused and is associated with high operative morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospitalizations, and considerable cost."
December 28, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Using a simulated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest scenario, the authors compared the time from an emergency call to resource deployment and arrival for drone-delivered automatic external defibrillator (AED) and ground vehicle-based emergency medical services (EMS). Mean time to dispatch was 3 sec for the drone and 3 min for EMS. Over a median flight distance of 3.2 km, mean time to arrival was 5:21 min for the drone vs 22:00 min for EMS.