Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon

BACKGROUND:  This meta-analysis compared the outcomes of bilateral cerebral perfusion (BCP) and unilateral cerebral perfusion (UCP) in aortic surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS:  A systematic literature search identified 12 studies involving 4,547 patients. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to analyze perioperative characteristics, short-term mortality rates, and postoperative neurological complications...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The natural sequential collapse method (NSCM) can be employed during surgery to reduce the duration of segmentectomy. This method avoids inflating the lung by rapidly blocking vessels within the tumor watershed. It is important to note that the color of the lungs should be used to determine the surgical procedure. The NSCM is efficient and straightforward in revealing the intersegmental plane.

We read with interest the report from Schmoeckel et al. regarding the March 3, 2023 Workshop of the German Heart Transplant Centers. Within the report, Schmoeckel et al. mention the ethical requirement that xenotransplantation offer recipients a favorable risk-benefit outcome. To our surprise, they write "a heart [xenotransplantation] can be expected to have a rather large benefit with sufficient certainty for patients in terminal heart failure" and that xenozoonotic transmission "does not appear to represent an obstacle from an ethical perspective...

BACKGROUND: Although coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is performed via three different techniques, conventional, on-pump beating heart CABG (ONBHCAB), or off-pump CABG (OPCAB), data is limited to compare ONBHCAB versus OPCAB. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated postoperative cardiac biomarkers, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and Troponin I (cTnI), early and late outcomes in 806 patients undergoing isolated ONBHCAB or OPCAB between February 2008 and September 2022...

BACKGROUND: While sex-related differences in cardiovascular surgery outcomes have increasingly garnered attention in the past decades, knowledge about sex disparities in the pathophysiology of acute type A aortic dissections (ATAADs) remains sparce. In this study, we evaluate the histopathologic and atherosclerotic lesions in female and male ATAAD patients. METHODS: A total of 68 patients were studied: 51 ATAAD patients (mean age 62.5 ± 10.8 years, 49% women) and 17 control patients (mean age 63 ± 5...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Report of a Workshop of the German Heart Transplant Centers, Martinsried, March 3, 2023.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate whether myocardial viability assessed with cardiac magnetic resonance affected long-term clinical outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Preoperative cardiac magnetic resonance with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was performed in 103 patients (64.9±10.1 years, male:female = 82:21) with 3 vessel disease and left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤0...

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) with subsequent paraplegia and/or stroke after arch repair with frozen elephant trunk (FET) remain the most devastating complications. In this study, we aim to examine the impact of different cerebral perfusion strategies on the neurological out-come comparing bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (bACP) and trilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (tACP). METHODS: Between 2009 and 2021, 88 patients underwent total arch replacement using a hybrid prosthesis in FET technique for acute (40,4%) and chronic (59,6%) aortic pathologies...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

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: Patients undergoing lung tumor surgery may experience various complications after discharge from the hospital. Using patient-reported outcomes (PROs), this study attempted to identify relevant indicators of postdischarge complications after lung tumor surgery and develop a predictive nomogram model to evaluate the risk for individual patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent lung tumor surgery between December 2021 and June 2022 were included in this study...

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...

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...