Year in Review 2021: Noteworthy Literature in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia.

In 2021, progress in clinical science related to Cardiac Anesthesiology continued, but at a slower rate due to the ongoing pandemic and disruptions to clinical research. Most progress was incremental and addressed persistent questions related to our field. To identify articles for this review, we completed a structured review using our previously reported methods (1).

Year in Review 2020: Noteworthy Literature in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology.

The year 2020 was marred by the emergence of a deadly pandemic that disrupted every aspect of life. Despite the disruption, notable research accomplishments in the practice of cardiothoracic anesthesiology occurred in 2020 with an emphasis on optimizing care, improving outcomes, and expanding what is possible for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This year's edition of Noteworthy Literature Review will focus on specific themes in cardiac anesthesiology that include preoperative anemia, predictors of acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery, pain management modalities, anticoagulation strategies after transcatheter aortic valve replacement, mechanical circulatory support, and future directions in research.

Use of Transesophageal Echocardiography to Improve the Safety of Transvenous Lead Extraction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during transvenous lead extraction (TLE) involving both conventional and laser lead removal.

Background: TLE carries a small but measurable risk of serious adverse events. Few studies have examined the potential benefit of continuous monitoring with TEE during this procedure.

Intraoperative transeophageal echocardiography to diagnose an anomalous circumflex artery.

We describe a 43-year-old male presenting for hemiarch replacement and possible aortic valve replacement. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated an atypical coronary vessel, enabling proper diagnosis of an anomalous circumflex artery and appropriate operative planning.

Constrictive pericarditis with a calcific mass invading into the right ventricular myocardium.

We present a rare and unique case of calcific constrictive pericarditis with a calcified pericardial mass invading the right ventricular myocardium. Perioperative two-dimensional and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography revealed the extent and structure of the pericardial mass and led to the repair of the right ventricular free wall as a surgical intervention.

Total ischemia time alters the longitudinal and circumferential shortening of the right ventricle in transplanted hearts.

Objectives: Ischemia time is a risk factor for mortality and right ventricular (RV) failure after heart transplantation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ischemia time on known transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) parameters of RV function and on a novel quantitative measurement of RV circumferential shortening.

Methods: Right and left ventricular (LV) function was evaluated retrospectively in 20 consecutive patients after heart transplant using known TEE parameters as well as a quantitative measurement of circumferential contraction.