Treating Atrial Fibrillation is No Maze: A Reminder to Heart Teams for Concomitant Surgical Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation With Cardiac Surgery.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia and is often found during times of other cardiac pathologies that require surgical management including coronary revascularization and valve surgery. Surgical ablation of AF, most frequently performed through the Cox-Maze IV procedure, is highly effective in restoring sinus rhythm. Despite robust society guideline recommendations for concomitant surgical ablation (CSA) for AF, the practice has yet to be widely adopted.

Safety-Net Hospital Status Is Associated With Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Outcomes at an Urban Academic Medical Center.

Introduction: Socioeconomic disparities impact outcomes after cardiac surgery. At our institution, cardiac surgery cases from the safety-net, county funded hospital (CH), which primarily provides care for underserved patients, are performed at the affiliated university hospital. We aimed to investigate the association of socioeconomic factors and CH referral status with outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Survival after multiple episodes of cardiac arrest.

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is widely used in response to cardiac arrest. However, little is known regarding outcomes for those who undergo multiple episodes of cardiac arrest while in the hospital.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of multiple cardiac events with in-hospital mortality for patients admitted to our tertiary care hospital who underwent multiple code events.

Impact of cerebrovascular accidents on lung transplant survival.

Background: Cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are a source of postoperative morbidity. Existing data on CVA after lung transplantation (LT) are limited. We aimed to evaluate the impact of CVA on LT survival.

Homelessness and Race are Mortality Predictors in US Veterans Undergoing CABG.

Coronary artery disease requiring surgical revascularization is prevalent in United States Veterans. We aimed to investigate preoperative predictors of 30-day mortality following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the Veteran population. The Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement (VASQIP) national database was queried for isolated CABG cases between 2008 and 2018.

mitral valve endocarditis in a patient with a history of mitral valve annuloplasty.

A woman with a history of congenital heart disease status post multiple valve operations including mitral valve repair presented with 2 months of low back pain and general malaise. Blood cultures returned positive for Gram-positive cocci. While transthoracic echocardiography did not identify vegetations, transoesophageal echocardiography visualised vegetations on the patient's mitral valve, which had previously undergone repair with annuloplasty.

Understanding who benefits from endovascular aortic repair in those deemed unfit for open repair.

Introduction: Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) who are deemed unacceptable candidates for open repair (UNFIT) pose a clinical challenge. The EVAR2 Trial randomized UNFIT patients to endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) vs no intervention from 1999 to 2003, concluding that survival was not improved by EVAR. However, outcomes after EVAR over the last 2 decades have dramatically changed.

The Colorectal Cancer Tumor Microenvironment and Its Impact on Liver and Lung Metastasis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. A total of 20% of CRC patients present with distant metastases, most frequently to the liver and lung. In the primary tumor, as well as at each metastatic site, the cellular components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to tumor engraftment and metastasis.

Endovascular Aortic Repair in Patients of Advanced Age.

Purpose: Treatment decisions for the elderly with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are challenging. With advancing age, the risk of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) increases while life expectancy decreases, which may nullify the benefit of EVAR. The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of EVAR on 1-year mortality in patients of advanced age.

Cardiac transplantation in adults with congenital heart disease: A single center case series.

Background: Adult congenital heart disease (CHD) transplant recipients historically experienced worse survival early after transplantation. We aim to review updated trends in adult CHD transplantation.

Methods: We performed a single center case series of adult cardiac transplants from January 2013 through July 2020.

How I do it: robotic-assisted Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Advances in minimally invasive techniques, including robotic surgical technology, have led to improved outcomes in esophagectomy. In this article, we detail our approach to the robotic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Risk Factors for Nonhome Discharge After Esophagectomy for Neoplastic Disease.

Background: Esophagectomies are known to be technically challenging operations that create significant physiologic changes. These patients often require assisted care postoperatively that necessitates a nonhome discharge. The purpose of this study was to assess factors associated with nonhome discharge after esophagectomy for neoplastic disease.

Antifungal Therapy in Fungal Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections.

Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are life-threatening surgical emergencies associated with high morbidity and mortality. Fungal NSTIs are considered rare and have been largely understudied. The purpose of this study was to study the impact of fungal NSTIs and antifungal therapy on mortality after NSTIs.

Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Lung Transplantation.

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is often used to support patients undergoing lung transplantation who are intolerant of anatomic manipulation or single lung ventilation during the procedure. However, CPB may be associated with adverse outcomes. We evaluated the hypothesis that CPB is associated with increased acute kidney injury (AKI) and postoperative mortality after lung transplantation.