Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon

BACKGROUND:  Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTPs) are primary pleural tumors originating from the mesenchymal tissue. Surgical treatment was the first choice for management of SFTPs. There were no defined guidelines for the follow-up of these tumors and the postoperative therapy due to the rarity of these tumors. METHODS:  We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study from two high-volume centers in Italy. Data of patients diagnosed with pleural solitary fibrous tumors between January 2003 and October 2022 were prospectively recorded and retrospectively analyzed...

What do the special forces of the Federal Police and heart surgeons have in common? To find out, a team of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (DGTHG) started a pilot project called "Strong German Hearts" with an intensive 36-hour training supported by the special forces of the Federal Police.

BACKGROUND:  Lung cancer resections are increasingly being performed via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Conversion to thoracotomy can occur for many reasons and may affect outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of VATS conversion on short- and mid-term outcomes and identify reasons for conversion. METHODS:  Consecutive patients undergoing lobectomy for primary non-small cell lung cancer between 2012 and 2019 in a single UK center were included...

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of simultaneous surgery for patients with primary esophageal and lung cancers. Methods Patients with primary esophageal and lung cancers who underwent simultaneous surgical procedures between January 2016 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The data of patients who underwent esophagectomy and lobectomy (group EL) were compared with those of patients who underwent esophagectomy and sublobar resection (group ES). Results A total of 21 patients were included with an average age of 64...

INTRODUCTION: Chest wall and/or diaphragm reconstruction aim to preserve, restore or improve respiratory function, conserve anatomical cavities and upkeep postural and upper extremity support. This can be achieved by utilizing a wide range of different grafts made of synthetic, biological, autologous or bioartificial materials. We aim to review our experience with decellularized bovine pericardium as graft in the past decade. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgical chest wall and/or diaphragm repair with decellularized bovine pericardium between 01...

BACKGROUND:  Making the right decision in stressful situations is required for goal-oriented action in cardiac surgery. Current labor laws prevent residents to be subjected to situations that test their stress tolerance. These situations often occur only later in the career. We simulated such conditions in a structured non-stop 36-hour cardiac surgical training course and assessed the participant's performance. METHODS:  Fourteen advanced residents/junior staff surgeons were selected...

Background Carinal sleeve resection with pneumonectomy is one of the rarest procedures in thoracic surgery, but for locally advanced central lung cancer with infiltration of the carina it is an option to achieve complete resection. Additionally, it might be the method of choice for patients with stump insufficiency after pneumonectomy or in cases with anastomosis dehiscence after sleeve lobectomy. Aim of this survey was to evaluate the morbidity and long-term survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent sleeve pneumonectomy...

BACKGROUND: This randomized controlled trial was designed to compare 1-year hemodynamic performances and clinical outcomes after aortic valve replacement (AVR) using a recently introduced (the AVALUS group) and worldwide used (the CEPME group) bovine pericardial bioprostheses. METHODS: Patients were screened to enroll 70 patients in each group based on a noninferiority design. The primary endpoint of the trial was the mean pressure gradient across the aortic valve (AVMPG) at 1 year after surgery...

OBJECTIVE: Endocarditis as a potentially life-threatening disease with high complication and mortality rates. In recent years, an increase has been reported throughout Europe. In the aging society, successful treatment is complex and challenging owing to the high rate of multimorbidity. METHODS: We initiated a statewide prospective multicenter endocarditis registry in 2020. Perioperative risk factors, comorbidities, microbiological, laboratory and imaging diagnostics, complications and mortality including 1-year follow-up were collected...

BACKGROUND: Postprocedural thrombocytopenia is a known phenomenon following transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVI). The aim of this study is to evaluate whether postinterventional platelet kinetics differ when comparing the current generation of balloon-expandable (BEV) and self-expanding valve prostheses (SEV). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing TAVI at our facility between 2017 and 2019. Patients were stratified according to the type of prosthesis used - BEV or SEV...

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BACKGROUND: The best surgical treatment strategy for coexisting coronary artery disease and lung cancer remains controversial. This study analyzed the safety and efficacy of a simultaneous minimally invasive procedure for patients with coronary artery disease and lung cancer. METHODS: Patients who underwent simultaneous minimally invasive off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and lung resection from January 2016 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed...

Background Alterations in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function following native tissue-preserving aortic valve (AV) procedures have not been systematically investigated. Furthermore, no comparisons have been made between these changes and those observed after prosthetic AV replacement. Methods From October 2017 to August 2020, 74 patients aged <65 years were referred to our institution for elective AV surgery. Preoperative and postoperative (i.e., discharge, 3-months and 1-year follow-up) transthoracic echocardiography was analyzed...

BACKGROUND: We assessed whether implementation of an immediate preoperative treatment in anemic patients could result in fewer perioperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions and improved outcomes in a real-world setting. METHODS: Starting onFrom January 1st, 20202020, to November 31st, 2022, we implemented a perioperative protocol for anemic patients (women Hemoglobin (Hb) <11.5 g/dL, men Hb<12.5 g/dL), which included subcutaneous erythropoietin alpha, intravenous Iron, and intramuscular vitamin B12 (all given preoperatively) and per os Iron and folic acid given once a day postoperatively...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of coil dislocation in CT-guided microcoil localization of superficial pulmonary nodules is relatively high. The aim of the study is to investigate the outcomes of deeper localization technique during CT-guided microcoil localization of superficial pulmonary nodules before VATS. METHODS: Fifty-seven identified superficial pulmonary nodules (nodule-pleural distance ≤ 1 cm on CT image) from 51 consecutive patients underwent CT-guided microcoil localization and subsequent VATS were included...

BACKGROUND: There are few studies on continuous intercostal nerve block after single operation hole thoracoscopic surgery, i.e., two-port thoracoscopic surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic effect of continuous intercostal nerve block after thoracoscopic surgery. METHODS: A total of 80 patients who underwent single operation hole thoracoscopic surgery in our hospital between September 2020 and June 2021 were enrolled and divided into two groups...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND:  Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a promising interventional treatment for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Evidence in favor of BPA is growing, but long-term data remain scarce. The Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR) is validated for the assessment of patients with pulmonary hypertension within three domains: symptoms, activity, and quality of life (QoL). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of BPA on these domains in patients with inoperable CTEPH...