Effectiveness of Thoracic Wall Blocks in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery, a Network Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) and thoracic paravertebral blocks (PVB) are well-established techniques for pain management in thoracotomy. Here, we examine the efficacy of various thoracic fascial plane blocks vs TEA and PVB for intraoperative and postoperative analgesia for video assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) with network meta-analysis.

Methods: A search for prospective randomized control studies using adult patients undergoing VATS with general anesthesia.

Diagnosis and Management of a Unique Iatrogenic Biatrial Gerbode Defect.

The Gerbode defect was first described in the late 1950s as a congenital peri-membranous ventricular septal defect (VSD), resulting in a left to right ventriculoatrial shunt. We present a case of a patient with restenosis of a prior bioprosthetic aortic valve (AV) who underwent reoperative AV replacement (AVR), which was complicated by a unique iatrogenic Gerbode defect with concurrent LV-LA communication. Our case highlights the unique complications resulting from ventriculoatrial shunts, with consideration paid to the management of ventriculoatrial defects described.