The Impact of the Cox-Maze Technique on Freedom From Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia observed with concomitant cardiac surgery. Surgical options include a cut-and-sew technique Maze (CAS) and a cryoablation/bipolar technique Maze (CB). There are limited data comparing the long-term outcomes of these 2 techniques.

Urgent transcatheter aortic valve replacement may be performed with acceptable long-term outcomes.

Background: The wide availability of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and broadening of its indications to most patients with aortic stenosis may increase its utilization in the urgent setting. However, a comparison of long-term outcomes of patients undergoing urgent TAVR when compared to elective TAVR have not been well studied.

Methods: All patients that underwent TAVR from 2011 to 2018 were included.

Influence of Residency Training on Research Productivity and Plastic Surgery Career.

Background: The impact of residency training on academic productivity and a career in academic plastic surgery remains uncertain. Previous literature has explored the influence of training institutions on academic careers in surgery. The aims of the study were to assess research productivity during plastic surgery residency training and to illustrate how differences in training programs impact resident research productivity.

Percutaneous thrombectomy in patients with massive and very high-risk submassive acute pulmonary embolism.

Objective: Examine FlowTriever thrombectomy feasibility in high-risk PE patients.

Background: The FlowTriever thrombectomy system (Inari Medical, Irvine, CA) can reduce right ventricle (RV) strain in acute submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) patients. This technology has not been studied in higher risk PE patients.

In Vivo Post-Cardiac Arrest Myocardial Dysfunction Is Supported by Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II-Mediated Calcium Long-Term Potentiation and Mitigated by Alda-1, an Agonist of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Type 2.

Background: Survival after sudden cardiac arrest is limited by postarrest myocardial dysfunction, but understanding of this phenomenon is constrained by a lack of data from a physiological model of disease. In this study, we established an in vivo model of cardiac arrest and resuscitation, characterized the biology of the associated myocardial dysfunction, and tested novel therapeutic strategies.

Methods: We developed rodent models of in vivo postarrest myocardial dysfunction using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation resuscitation followed by invasive hemodynamics measurement.

Effects of baseline and early acquired thrombocytopaenia on long-term mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with bivalirudin.

Aims: Bivalirudin use as a procedural anticoagulant in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with a lower incidence of thrombocytopaenia compared to other antithrombotic agents. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of baseline thrombocytopaenia and early changes in platelet counts among patients undergoing PCI with exclusive use of bivalirudin.

Methods And Results: We evaluated 7,505 patients who underwent PCI over a period of eight years.

Histopathological Evidence of Adventitial or Medial Injury Is a Strong Predictor of Restenosis During Directional Atherectomy for Peripheral Artery Disease.

Purpose: To investigate the impact on restenosis rates of deep injury to the adventitial layer during directional atherectomy.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2010, 116 consecutive patients (mean age 69.6 years; 56 men) with symptomatic femoropopliteal stenoses were treated with directional atherectomy at a single center.

Acute Limb Ischemia.

Acute limb ischemia is a vascular event presenting with sudden decrease in limb perfusion (of <14 days' duration) that threatens limb viability. Acute thrombosis of the native artery or graft makes up the bulk of etiopathogenesis. Prompt revascularization is the cornerstone of management of acute limb ischemia in limbs that have not undergone irreversible tissue and nerve damage.

Impact of major bleeding on long-term mortality in anemic versus nonanemic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention using bivalirudin.

Bleeding complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have been associated with higher short and long-term mortality. Bivalirudin has been shown to reduce bleeding complications in patients who underwent PCI; however, the impact of anemia on bleeding complications and long-term mortality has not been studied. A total of 11,991 patients who underwent PCI over a period of 8 years with bivalirudin as the primary antithrombotic agent were included.

Rat model of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: We aim to develop a rat model of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

Methods: VA-ECMO was established in twelve Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-350 g) through cannulation of the right jugular vein for venous drainage and the right femoral artery for arterial reinfusion. Arterial blood pressure was measured using a conductance catheter through cannulation of the left carotid artery.