Exploring the use of an under-desk leg swing device during employee aptitude testing and implications on work performance and productivity.

Background: As modern occupations become more sedentary, desk-bound workers are more at risk of chronic diseases. Active workstations have gained popularity in the workplace, but there remain concerns about their impact on cognitive function.

Objective: This study investigated the use of a novel under-desk leg swing device on cognitive ability in the workplace compared to sitting.

The utilization of educational resources published by the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association.

Objective: The Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) is a trainee-led cardiothoracic surgery organization in North America that has published a multitude of educational resources. However, the utilization of these resources remains unknown.

Methods: Surveys were constructed, pilot-tested, and emailed to 527 current cardiothoracic trainees (12 questions) and 780 former trainees who graduated between 2012 and 2019 (16 questions).

Surgical strategy and outcomes for atrial functional mitral regurgitation: All functional mitral regurgitation is not the same!

Objective: Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is a cardiac pathology that causes the mitral valve to malfunction, leading to mitral regurgitation (MR). The optimal strategy for FMR remains unclear, and FMR outcomes are poor. All etiologies of FMR might not be the same, and subdividing patients with FMR caused by atrial (AFMR) versus ventricular FMR pathology might be important.

Ultrasonic Emulsification of Severe Mitral Annular Calcification During Mitral Valve Replacement.

Purpose: Severe mitral annular calcification (MAC) increases surgical complexity and is independently associated with increased operative mortality for mitral valve replacement (MVR). Recently we adopted ultrasonic emulsification/aspiration for annular decalcification to address these risks and describe our early experience with this new technology.

Description: Excluding previous mitral valve surgery or endocarditis, 179 patients with MAC underwent MVR at a single institution between January 2015 and March 2020.

Pulmonary Endarterectomy for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: An STS Database Analysis.

Background: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is optimally treated by pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PEA). Treatment effectiveness has been evaluated principally using single-center series. Data from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database were used to evaluate a volume-outcomes relationship for PEA.