Is It Safe to Let Trainees Operate on High Risk Cardiac Surgery Cases?

Increasing complexity in cardiac operations has raised the discussion on trainee autonomy and the number of cases required to achieve competency. This study compares outcomes among cases done by trainees vs consultants for high risk patients. 696 (trainee=158 vs consultant=438) major high risk cardiac operations (Euroscore >10) were reviewed at a single center.

Premature Structural Failure of Trifecta Bioprosthesis in Midterm Follow-up: A Single-Center Study.

Background: A cluster of aortic bioprosthetic valve failures, most of which were Trifecta bioprostheses, was observed in Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom. This study was performed to assess whether the cluster represents a significant failure of this valve model or whether there is a selection bias that can explain the failure of these valves.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated all bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement operations performed between 2011 and 2016 inclusive in our center.

Outcomes of patients with acute prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis.

Background: Prosthetic valve endocarditis is burdened by high mortality and morbidity. We reviewed our experience in the management of patients with acute prosthetic aortic valve infection and studied the implications and outcomes associated with surgical treatment and medical therapy.

Methods: Data of 118 consecutive patients admitted during the period 2008-2018 with definite acute prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis, and presenting a surgical indication, were retrieved from the hospital database.

Is Resident Training Safe in Cardiac Surgery?

Background: There exists a knowledge gap regarding the safety of training in cardiac surgery. The purpose of this analysis was to establish the safety of resident training in cardiac surgery and compare the results of the trainee cases to those performed by consultants.

Methods: In all, 5894 (trainee, 3343; consultant, 2551) major cardiac operations (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation less than 10) from 2013 to 2018 were reviewed.

Early Hemodynamic Performance of the Crown PRT Aortic Prosthesis: A Prospective Study.

Background: Currently, only limited data are available on the rate of hemodynamic progression with clinical outcome in patients receiving the latest Crown PRT aortic prosthesis. The study aim was to report clinical and hemodynamic outcomes in 55 consecutive patients for a follow up of up to one year after Crown PRT implantation.

Methods: Between February and September 2015, a total of 55 patients (34 males, 21 females; mean age 77.

Age-related presentation of acute type A aortic dissection.

Background: We evaluated the clinical and anatomic presentations of acute type A aortic dissection according to patient age.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 235 consecutive patients who underwent acute type A dissection repair between January 2000 and December 2014. The influence of age on anatomical and clinical presentation, surgical management in the entire cohort and also after exclusion of patients with known connective tissue disorders was assessed using logistic regression.

Mitral valve replacement in severely calcified mitral valve annulus: a 10-year experience.

Objectives: Severe calcification in the mitral valve annulus is a challenging problem during mitral valve surgery. We describe our experience with mitral valve replacement in severely calcified mitral valve without decalcification of the annulus.

Methods: Between April 2001 and July 2011, 61 patients underwent mitral valve replacement with severe mitral annulus calcification without decalcification of the annulus.

Knife in the superior mediastinum: Amazing escape.

This text describe through images, how a knife is retrieved from the superior mediastinum.