Rerepair for Mitral Insufficiency.

Background: Mitral valve repair provides superior outcomes to replacement for primary mitral regurgitation. Whether this is true after previous repair is unknown. This study presents the results of a strategy of rerepair for failed mitral valve repair.

Quantitative Representativeness and Constituency of the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network and Analysis of Complementarity with Existing Ecological Networks.

Studies conducted at sites across ecological research networks usually strive to scale their results to larger areas, trying to reach conclusions that are valid throughout larger enclosing regions. Network representativeness and constituency can show how well conditions at sampling locations represent conditions also found elsewhere and can be used to help scale-up results over larger regions. Multivariate statistical methods have been used to design networks and select sites that optimize regional representation, thereby maximizing the value of datasets and research.

An interdisciplinary team-based approach for significantly reducing lower-level lead poisoning in U.S. children.

Unlabelled: Child lead poisoning damages central nervous system, immune, and renal function, and is the longest-standing public health epidemic in U.S. history.

Robotic and endoscopic mitral valve repair for degenerative disease.

Background: Minimally invasive mitral valve repair has been proven to be a safe alternative to open sternotomy and may be accomplished through classic endoscopic and robotic endoscopic approaches. Outcomes across different minimally invasive techniques have been insufficiently described. We compare early and late clinical outcomes across matched patients undergoing robotic endoscopic and classic endoscopic repair.

Coronary Endarterectomy: Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database.

Background: Coronary endarterectomy (CE) is an uncommon and often unplanned technique used to approach difficult targets during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We evaluated the outcomes of CABG with CE (CE-CABG) using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database.

Methods: All isolated, first-time, elective or urgent CABG cases from July 2011 to September 2019 in the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database were retrospectively reviewed.

Repair of Isolated Native Mitral Valve Endocarditis: A Propensity Matched Study.

In the setting of chronic primary mitral regurgitation, the benefit of mitral valve repair over replacement is well established. However, data comparing outcomes for mitral valve surgery for endocarditis is limited. We sought to determine whether mitral valve repair offers traditional advantages over replacement in the endocarditis population.

Permanent pacemaker implantation following mitral valve surgery: a retrospective cohort study of risk factors and long-term outcomes.

Objectives: Conduction disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation remain a complication following valvular surgery. PPMs confer the risk of infection, tricuspid valve regurgitation and pacing-induced cardiomyopathy. Literature examining PPM placement in mitral valve surgery (MVS) is limited.

Mitral Valve Surgery in Pulmonary Hypertension Patients: Is Minimally Invasive Surgery Safe?

Background: Compared with conventional full sternotomy (FS) approaches, minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) offers improved cosmesis, decreased pain and bleeding, and faster recovery without compromising repair or survival rates. However, little is known about outcomes in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Retrospective review was performed between 2002 and 2019 for all adult patients undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery.

Redo mitral valve surgery following prior mitral valve repair.

Background: The optimal treatment strategy following a failed mitral valve repair remains unclear. This study evaluated early and long-term outcomes of redo mitral valve repair (MVr) and replacement (MVR) after prior mitral valve repair.

Methods: Patients undergoing redo mitral valve surgery after prior mitral valve repair at a single institution between 2002 and 2014 were reviewed.

Cognition and Cerebral Infarction in Older Adults After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for calcific aortic stenosis is associated with high rates of perioperative stroke and silent cerebral infarcts on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but cognitive outcomes in elderly AVR patients compared with individuals with cardiac disease who do not undergo surgery are uncertain.

Methods: One hundred ninety AVR patients (mean age 76 ± 6 years) and 198 non-surgical participants with cardiovascular disease (mean age 74 ± 6 years) completed comprehensive cognitive testing at baseline (preoperatively) and 4 to 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively. Surgical participants also completed perioperative stroke evaluations, including postoperative brain MRI.

Transportation Matters: A Health Impact Assessment in Rural New Mexico.

This Health Impact Assessment (HIA) informed the decision of expanding public transportation services to rural, low income communities of southern Doña Ana County, New Mexico on the U.S./Mexico border.

Valve Selection in End-Stage Renal Disease: Should It Always Be Biological?

Background: When valve replacement is required in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it is not clear if mechanical or bioprosthetic valve selection is better. We compared outcomes between ESRD patients who underwent either mechanical or biologic valve replacements at our institution.

Methods: All patients with ESRD who underwent either mitral or aortic valve replacement from 2002 to 2014 at our institution were reviewed (n = 215; mechanical = 64, biological = 151).

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery III: Training and Robotic-Assisted Approaches.

Minimally invasive mitral valve operations are increasingly common in the United States, but robotic-assisted approaches have not been widely adopted for a variety of reasons. This expert opinion reviews the state of the art and defines best practices, training, and techniques for developing a successful robotics program.

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery I: Patient Selection, Evaluation, and Planning.

Widespread adoption of minimally invasive mitral valve repair and replacement may be fostered by practice consensus and standardization. This expert opinion, first of a 3-part series, outlines current best practices in patient evaluation and selection for minimally invasive mitral valve procedures, and discusses preoperative planning for cannulation and myocardial protection.

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery II: Surgical Technique and Postoperative Management.

Techniques for minimally invasive mitral valve repair and replacement continue to evolve. This expert opinion, the second of a 3-part series, outlines current best practices for nonrobotic, minimally invasive mitral valve procedures, and for postoperative care after minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

The Impact of Deep Versus Moderate Hypothermia on Postoperative Kidney Function After Elective Aortic Hemiarch Repair.

Background: There remains concern that moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) with antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) may provide suboptimal distal organ protection compared with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP). We compared postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in in patients who underwent elective hemiarch repair with either DHCA/RCP or MHCA/ACP.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of all patients undergoing elective aortic hemiarch reconstruction for aneurysmal disease between 2009 and 2014.

Direct innominate artery cannulation: An alternate technique for antegrade cerebral perfusion during aortic hemiarch reconstruction.

Objective: We describe an alternate technique for establishing antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) during hypothermic circulatory arrest via direct, central cannulation of the innominate artery.

Methods: From 2009 to 2015, 100 elective hemiarch reconstructions for proximal aortic aneurysms were performed under moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA). Cerebral perfusion was instituted with ACP via direct cannulation of the innominate artery.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is associated with equivalent cost and shorter hospital stay when compared with traditional sternotomy.

Objective: Mitral valve surgery is increasingly performed through minimally invasive approaches. There are limited data regarding the cost of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. Moreover, there are no data on the specific costs associated with mitral valve surgery.

Visual Reconciliation of Alternative Similarity Spaces in Climate Modeling.

Visual data analysis often requires grouping of data objects based on their similarity. In many application domains researchers use algorithms and techniques like clustering and multidimensional scaling to extract groupings from data. While extracting these groups using a single similarity criteria is relatively straightforward, comparing alternative criteria poses additional challenges.

Minimally Invasive Port Access Approach for Reoperations on the Mitral Valve.

Background: In patients requiring a second-time or more operation on the mitral valve (MV), we assessed whether the outcomes of the minimally invasive port access approach (port access group) were equivalent to those of the traditional redo sternotomy approach (redo sternotomy group).

Methods: In a retrospective review (1998-2011), 409 patients had previous MV operations requiring a second-time or more MV reintervention. Of those, 67 patients had the port access approach, and 342 had the redo sternotomy approach.

Healthy vinton: a health impact assessment focused on water and sanitation in a small rural town on the US-Mexico border.

We conducted a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) focused on water and sanitation in Vinton, TX, a small rural town on the U.S./Mexico Border.

Moderate versus deep hypothermic circulatory arrest for elective aortic transverse hemiarch reconstruction.

Background: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with retrograde cerebral perfusion (DHCA group) has traditionally been the cerebral protection strategy during transverse hemiarch aortic reconstruction. Recently, we have adopted moderate hypothermic (≥ 25 °C) circulatory arrest (MHCA) with antegrade cerebral perfusion (MHCA group). We compared the outcomes for these two circulatory arrest management strategies.