Transcatheter versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a viable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. One such high-risk group is patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is known to increase surgical risk and adversely affect outcomes. This study aims to compare midterm and long-term survival in TAVR and SAVR among patients with PH.

Rise of the Machines - Normothermic Regional Perfusion Use in Heart Transplantation in the United States.

Objective: Recently, normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) and direct procurement and perfusion (DPP) have allowed for heart transplantation following donation after circulatory death (DCD). This study aimed to characterize utilization and variation of NRP and DPP in the United States.

Methods: Heart transplants from 12/1/19-3/31/24 were identified from the United Network for Organ Sharing Database.

Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion in Donation after Cardiac and Brain Death Donation.

Background: Allografts from donation after circulatory death (DCD) or brain death donors may be evaluated by ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to assess quality for transplantation. We sought to determine the association of donor type with transplantation outcomes at a national level.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for lung transplant recipients, which were stratified into: DCD EVLP, brain death EVLP, standard DCD and standard brain death, followed by an unadjusted analysis.

Impact of Hospital Transfers on Cardiac Surgery Outcomes: A Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database Analysis.

Background: Transfers for cardiac surgery are not well studied. We sought to understand the risk profile of transferred patients and determine whether transfer rates vary by cardiac surgery and whether outcomes of transferred patients vary with type of referral hospital/surgery.

Methods: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with operative risk models were identified from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database between July 1, 2014, and December 31, 2022.

How We Solved the Shortage of Cardiothoracic Surgeons: Train More or Work Longer.

Background: In the early 2000s, a significant shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons was predicted. We sought to evaluate our specialty's progress and to update the predicted needs of cardiothoracic surgeons in the coming decades.

Methods: To assess the supply of cardiothoracic surgeons, the evolution of cardiothoracic surgery training was reviewed.