Body mass Index does not impact long-term survival of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis undergoing lung transplantation.

Objective: We investigated the impact of body mass index (BMI) on post-operative outcomes and survival of patients with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) undergoing lung transplantation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 222 patients with IPF that underwent lung transplant (LT) at our institution from 2005 to 2019. Recipients were divided in 4 groups: group-1 consisted of underweight patients (BMI ≤18.

Risk of Hypovitaminosis and Vitamin C Deficiency in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Vitamin C levels are known rapidly decrease in adult critical illness. Vitamin C scavenges free radicals, provides critical protection of the endothelial barrier, and improves endothelial responsiveness to catecholamines. Children with congenital heart disease and undergoing cardiac surgery might be at increased risk for low circulating vitamin C levels.

Consequences of anastomotic leaks after minimally invasive esophagectomy: A single-center experience.

Background: Anastomotic leak (AL) after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a well-described source of morbidity for patients undergoing surgical treatment of esophageal neoplasm. With improved early recognition and endoscopic management techniques, the long-term impact remains unclear.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent MIE for esophageal neoplasm between January 2015 and June 2021 at a single institution.

Nicardipine Is a Safe, Efficacious, and Cost-Effective Antihypertensive for Neonates and Young Infants Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: The use of nicardipine in congenital cardiac surgery has been guarded given the calcium sensitivity of immature myocardium and paucity of clinical data. Reports of nicardipine use have excluded neonates with single ventricles. The goal of this study was to compare the use of nicardipine and sodium nitroprusside for postoperative blood pressure control in young patients recovering from cardiac surgery.

Impact of distance from implant center on mechanical circulatory device patient outcomes.

Objectives: Patients on left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support receive extensive care and education before discharge home. We investigated the impact of patient's residential distance from LVAD implantation center on outcomes and survival.

Methods: A total of 214 patients received a LVAD between 2006 and 2018 at our institution.

Prophylactic Peritoneal Drainage is Associated with Improved Fluid Output after Congenital Heart Surgery.

Infants undergoing congenital heart surgery (CHS) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) and fluid overload. We hypothesized that placement of a passive peritoneal drain (PPD) can improve postoperative fluid output in such infants. We analyzed 115 consecutive patients, age birth to 60 days, admitted to the PICU after CHS with CPB between 2012 and 2018.

Beyond 30 Days: Analysis of Unplanned Readmissions During the First Year Following Congenital Heart Surgery.

Objective: We investigated the incidence and etiologies for unplanned hospital readmissions during the first year following congenital heart surgery (CHS) at our institution and the potential association of readmissions with longer term survival.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 263 patients undergoing CHS at our institution from August 2011 to June 2015. Scheduled readmissions were excluded.

Technical Performance Score Predicts Perioperative Outcomes in Complex Congenital Heart Surgery Performed in a Small-to-Medium-Volume Program.

As the quality of surgical outcomes depend on many factors, the development of validated tools to assess the different aspects of complex multidisciplinary teams' performance is crucial. The Technical Performance Score (TPS) has only been validated to correlate with outcomes in large-volume surgical programs. Here we assess the utility of TPS in correlation to perioperative outcomes for complex congenital heart surgeries (CHS) performed in a small-to-medium-volume program.

The Mitral Monobloc: A Simplification for Intervalvular Fibrous Body Reconstruction in Endocarditis.

The only viable option in prosthetic valve endocarditis with extensive abscess of the aorto-mitral curtain is radical debridement and reconstruction of the intravalvular fibrous body. This report details a simplified intravalvular fibrous body reconstruction technique.

Intraoperative Completion Angiogram May Be Superior to Transesophageal Echocardiogram for Detection of Pulmonary Artery Residual Lesions in Congenital Heart Surgery.

The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic capabilities of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) compared to completion angiography for detection of residual post-operative pulmonary artery lesions. This is a retrospective review of 19 consecutive surgical cases involving the pulmonary arteries that had post-operative TEE and completion angiography from 2014 to 2017. The echocardiograms were reviewed by 2 blinded examiners and categorized as adequate or inadequate visualization of the surgical repair.

Cardiac Surgery Outcomes in Abdominal Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a cause of morbidity and mortality in organ transplant recipients. Cardiac surgery after organ transplantation is not uncommon in this population. We evaluated 30-day outcomes and long-term survival of abdominal transplant recipients undergoing cardiac surgery at our institution.

To use or not to use? Amiodarone before heart transplantation.

Background: Amiodarone frequently is used in patients with heart failure. Concerns still exist about possible complications related to its lingering effect during and after heart transplantation.

Methods: We selected all consecutive patients who received a heart transplant at our institution between January 2004 and December 2015 (n = 220) and compared the peri- and postoperative outcomes of patients who were taking amiodarone for at least 120 days before heart transplant (n = 127) with patients who did not take amiodarone prior to heart transplant (n = 93).

Short-term clinical outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting at a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Background: We retrospectively assessed the outcomes after coronary revascularization at a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center when a strategy of assigning higher risk patients to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was employed.

Methods: Over a 5 year period all consecutive patients that underwent CABG at our VA Medical Center were assigned to a surgeon who either performs the CABG exclusively off-pump or to one who performed the CABG on-pump. The higher risk patients were assigned preferentially for off-pump revascularization.

Timing and Frequency of Unplanned Readmissions After Lung Transplantation Impact Long-Term Survival.

Background: Adverse events that require hospital readmission frequently occur long after lung transplantation (LT) that has been successfully performed. We sought to identify the causes and rate of unplanned readmissions after LT and to determine whether unplanned readmissions have a significant impact on post-LT survival.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes in 174 LT recipients who underwent LT at our center from June 2005 to May 2014.

Recurrent severe aortic stenosis one year after transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation: Successful treatment with balloon aortic valvuloplasty.

Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve (VIV) implantation has evolved as one of the primary therapeutic modalities in patients with failed surgical bioprosthesis allowing a reduction in rate of surgical reintervention. We report a case of a 90-year-old woman who had previously undergone aortic valve replacement with 21-mm Carpentier-Edwards valve in 1999 followed by 23 mm Sapien VIV in March 2013. She developed severe recurrent aortic stenosis 1-year post-VIV which was successfully treated with balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV).

Timely Post-discharge Telephone Follow-Up is a Useful Tool in Identifying Post-discharge Complications Patients After Congenital Heart Surgery.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of structured post-discharge telephone follow-up (TFU) on the time to the first postoperative clinic visit and early unplanned hospital readmissions in patients after congenital heart surgery. Structured phone calls delivered by senior surgical practitioners were made 1-4 days post-discharge. Demographics and clinical outcomes of pediatric patients receiving a TFU from 2012 to 2014 were assessed.

A novel approach to prevent post-operative ileus after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Patients with postoperative ileus (POI), a common post-surgical event, experience intense discomfort. Various treatments targeting prevention of POI have shown to have an unpredictable effect. We introduced a novel postoperative bowel management protocol in patients implanted with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD).

Hospital Readmissions After Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Incidence, Causes, and Cost Analysis.

Background: We investigated the incidence and causes of unplanned hospital readmissions after continuous-flow (CF) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We also analyzed the impact of unplanned readmissions on post-CF-LVAD survival and the costs associated with each cause of readmission.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 126 patients who underwent implantation with a CF-LVAD from January 2007 to December 2013.

Impact of age on outcomes following continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation.

Objectives: The goal of our study was to analyse the impact of age on outcomes in patients who underwent continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) placement at our institution.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight patients were implanted with a CF-LVAD between January 2008 and June 2014. Eighty-five patients were implanted with the device as a bridge to transplant (BTT); the remaining (n = 43) were on destination therapy (DT).

Functional evaluation of human donation after cardiac death donor hearts using a continuous isolated myocardial perfusion technique: Potential for expansion of the cardiac donor population.

Objective: To investigate the resuscitation potential and contractile function in adult human donation after cardiac death (DCD) hearts by ex vivo perfusion.

Methods: With institutional review board approval and under the DCD protocol at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Organ Procurement Organization, 5 brain dead (BD) and 5 DCD donor hearts were evaluated. All BD hearts were declined for clinical transplantation because of coronary artery disease, advanced age, or social history.

Acuity adaptable patient care unit system shortens length of stay and improves outcomes in adult cardiac surgery: University of Wisconsin experience.

Objectives: The Acuity Adaptable Patient Care (AAC) unit system allows all beds within a nursing unit to negate the need for transfer with changes in patient status. The unit is specialty specific to all levels of patient care. This system was implemented in March 2006 for cardiothoracic surgery at our institution.

Intravital microscopy to study myocardial engraftment.

Tissue engineering and stem cell transplantation are promising novel therapies for myocardial repair. A major barrier to cell survival after transplantation involves inadequate vascularization. Continuous observation of cardiac tissue engraftment and angiogenesis could help understand these processes and allow for identification of the optimal conditions for these therapeutic interventions.

Mitochondrial DNA deletion mutations in adult mouse cardiac side population cells.

We investigated the presence and potential role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion mutations in adult cardiac stem cells. Cardiac side population (SP) cells were isolated from 12-week-old mice. Standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to screen for the presence of mtDNA deletion mutations in (a) freshly isolated SP cells and (b) SP cells cultured to passage 10.

Mesenchymal stromal cells are present in the heart and promote growth of adult stem cells in vitro.

Background Aims: For many years the human heart has been considered a terminally differentiated organ with no regenerative potential after injury. Recent studies, however, have cast doubt on this long-standing dogma. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of and characterize mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in the adult mouse heart.