Peer coaching in cardiac surgery: a pilot study on rehabilitation participation and perioperative challenges.

Following cardiac surgery, active participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is associated with reduced cardiovascular events and improved survival. However, CR attendance remains persistently low, with only ∼25% of patients participating. The Peer Coaching for Cardiac Patients (PCCP) pilot programme aimed to assess whether peer coaching could enhance CR participation and reduce perioperative anxiety and depression in cardiac surgery patients.

Midterm survival, clinical, and hemodynamic outcomes of a novel mechanical mitral valve prosthesis.

Objective: To evaluate the midterm survival, clinical, and hemodynamic outcomes of the On-X mechanical mitral valve, based on the 5-year results of the Prospective Randomized On-X Anticoagulation Clinical Trial (PROACT).

Method: PROACT Mitral was a multicenter study evaluating 401 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) with either Standard or Conform-X On-X mitral valves, comparing low-dose and standard-dose warfarin. Here we report prespecified secondary outcomes of survival, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, and valve hemodynamics as assessed by core lab-adjudicated echocardiography at 1, 3, and 5 years in the pooled population.

A retrospective multicenter study of operating room extubation and extubation timing after cardiac surgery.

Background: In an effort to enhance recovery after cardiac surgery, intraoperative extubation has been targeted as possibly beneficial. This multicenter cohort study aimed to assess this by evaluating the outcomes of operating room (OR) extubation versus extubation within 6 hours of intensive care unit (ICU) arrival (early ICU extubation). Furthermore, we assessed time to ICU extubation and mortality and morbidity.

Interhospital variability in failure to rescue rates following aortic valve surgery.

Objective: This study evaluated interhospital variability and determinants of failure-to-rescue for patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement.

Methods: An observational study was conducted among 28,842 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with or without coronary artery bypass grafting between July 2011 and June 2017 across 90 hospitals participating in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. Postoperative complications were defined as major (stroke, renal failure, reoperation, prolonged ventilation, sternal infection) and overall (major plus 14 other morbidities).

Aficamten: A Breakthrough Therapy for Symptomatic Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Aficamten is a novel cardiac myosin inhibitor that has demonstrated its ability to safely lower left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradients and improve heart failure symptoms in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Based on the REDWOOD-HCM open label extension (OLE) study, participants receiving aficamten had significantly reduced resting and Valsalva LVOT gradient within 2 weeks after initiating treatment, with ongoing improvements over 24 weeks, and recent evidence suggests effects can sustain up to 48 weeks. While beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and disopyramide have shown some benefits in managing HCM, they have limited direct impact on the underlying disease process in patients with obstructive HCM.

Mid-term outcomes of concomitant Cox-Maze IV: Results from a multicenter prospective registry.

Background: Benefits of concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) surgical treatment are well established. Cardiac societies support treating AF during cardiac surgery with a class I recommendation. Despite these guidelines, adoption has been inconsistent.

Temporal trends and predictors of surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation across a multistate healthcare system.

Background: Multiple class I and class IIa recommendations exist related to surgical ablation (SA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objective: Examine temporal trends and predictors of SA for AF in a large US healthcare system.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from the Society for Thoracic Surgery (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database for 21 hospitals in the Providence St.

WITHDRAWN: Low-Dose Versus Standard Warfarin After Mechanical Mitral Valve Replacement: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.

A Reproducible and Effective Technique for Coronary Sinus Injury Repair.

Coronary sinus injury related to the use of a retrograde cardioplegia catheter is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication with mortality reported as high as 20%. We present a series of iatrogenic coronary sinus injuries as well as an effective method of repair without any ensuing mortality. There were 3,004 cases that utilized retrograde cardioplegia at our institution from 2007 to 2018.

Cardiac surgeons' concerns, perceptions, and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on health care and cardiac surgery. We report cardiac surgeons' concerns, perceptions, and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A detailed survey was sent to recruit participating adult cardiac surgery centers in North America.

Interhospital failure to rescue after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: We evaluated whether interhospital variation in mortality rates for coronary artery bypass grafting was driven by complications and failure to rescue.

Methods: An observational study was conducted among 83,747 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between July 2011 and June 2017 across 90 hospitals. Failure to rescue was defined as operative mortality among patients developing complications.

Temporal Trends in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Insights From the Washington Cardiac Care Outcomes Assessment Program.

Background Patient selection and outcomes for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have changed over the past decade. However, there is limited information on outcomes for both revascularization strategies in the same population. The study evaluated temporal changes in risk profile, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes for PCI- and CABG-treated patients.

Intrathoracic complications associated with trans-femoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Implications for emergency surgical preparedness.

Background: Intrathoracic complications (ITC) requiring emergency surgical intervention occur during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Objectives: Characterize the incidence, outcomes and predictors of ITC in a large cohort of transfemoral (TF) TAVR cases over a 5 year period.

Methods: Retrospective registry and chart review of all nonclinical trial TF-TAVR patients from seven centers within one hospital system from 2012-2016.

Cost and Outcome of Minimally Invasive Techniques for Coronary Surgery Using Robotic Technology.

Objective: Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB) with robotic distal anastomosis and robotic-assisted minimally invasive coronary artery bypass (RA-MIDCAB) with robotic internal mammary artery harvest and direct hand-sewn distal anastomosis via an anterior thoracotomy have both been reported as safe and efficacious. We compared hospital cost and short-term outcomes between these techniques.

Methods: Patients who underwent robotic-assisted minimally invasive single-vessel Coronary artery bypass grafting (2011-2014) were retrospectively reviewed.