Surgery versus surveillance for ascending aortic aneurysms in elderly patients.

Background: Whether elderly patients with aortic root or ascending aortic aneurysm (ATAA) would benefit from the new surgical size threshold of 5.0 cm is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the natural history of ATAA in elderly patients and to compare long-term outcomes of those who underwent initial surveillance versus surgery.

Intra-operative and post-operative management of conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting: a clinical consensus statement of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiovascular Surgery and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Coronary Task Force.

The structural and functional integrity of conduits used for coronary artery bypass grafting is critical for graft patency. Disruption of endothelial integrity and endothelial dysfunction are incurred during conduit harvesting subsequent to mechanical or thermal injury and during conduit storage prior to grafting, leading to acute thrombosis and early graft failure. Late graft failure, in particular that of vein grafts, is precipitated by progressive atherogenesis.

Revascularization after minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting in 566 patients: Is it a problem?

Objectives: Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) allows visualization and revascularization of all myocardial territories through a small anterolateral thoracotomy, with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. It is increasing in popularity as a safe and effective alternative to sternotomy CABG. In this study, we examined the correlates and long-term outcomes of repeat revascularization (RR) in patients who undergo MICS CABG.