Outcomes of lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema: unilateral and bilateral.

Background: Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has historically been performed as a bilateral operation. We aimed to compare the short-term morbidity and mortality between unilateral and bilateral LVRS.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent LVRS for emphysema at two hospital sites over 10 years.

The Outcomes of Surgical Pulmonary Embolectomy for Pulmonary Embolism: A Meta-Analysis.

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy, short- and long-term cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortalities and postoperative morbidities of surgical pulmonary embolectomy (SPE) for patients with massive or submassive pulmonary embolism. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify articles reporting SPE for pulmonary embolism. The outcomes included in-hospital and long-term mortality in addition to postoperative morbidities.

Outcome of lung transplantation in patients with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in the era of COVID-19 infection.

Lung transplant recipients are at higher risk of developing COVID-19 infection compared to other solid organ transplants. The risk further increases in the unvaccinated patients. We present a case of a 43-year-old male who underwent bilateral sequential lung transplantation for pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) and had an uneventful recovery.

Initial experience and outcomes with a hybrid extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for lung transplantation.

Background: The utilization of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for intraoperative support during lung transplantation has increased over the past decade. Although veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has recently emerged as the preferred modality over cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), many centers continue to use both forms of ECLS during lung transplantation. Our novel hybrid VA-ECMO/CPB circuit allows for seamless transition from VA-ECMO to CPB at a significant cost savings compared to a standalone VA-ECMO circuit.

Percutaneous Transseptal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation to Rescue a Failing Right Ventricle in an Animal Model.

Objective: We tested the feasibility and effectiveness of a percutaneous atrial transseptal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation strategy in a right ventricular failure (RVF) model.

Methods: We performed 4 nonsurvival porcine experiments. Percutaneous transseptal access was achieved using a steerable introducer.

Extending donor criteria: successful lung transplantation post back table donor pulmonary artery thrombolysis.

Pulmonary embolization in donor lungs is a common finding and found in up to 38% of cases. To expand the pool of organs, transplant centers now utilize lungs, from increased risk donors, that may have pulmonary embolic disease. Modalities of clearing pulmonary artery embolisms are critical to reduce the prevalence of primary graft dysfunction post transplantation.

Clinical Outcomes After Tracheobronchoplasty With Ringed Polytetrafluoroethylene Vascular Graft.

Background: This report describes the surgical technique and outcomes of tracheobronchoplasty (TBP) with ringed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular graft.

Methods: We identified all patients who underwent PTFE-TBP for severe expiratory central airway collapse from January 1, 2018 to August 2021 at Mayo Clinic, Florida. Preoperative and postoperative St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), Cough-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (CSQLQ), pulmonary function testing, 6-minute walk test, and blinded dynamic bronchoscopy videos at 3-month follow-up were used to assess outcomes.

Radiation Therapy for Primary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Trachea: Photons, Protons, or Carbon.

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea (ACC-T) is an extremely rare cancer of the central bronchial system. It is usually associated with an excellent prognosis. Surgery is the standard treatment for resectable tumors, while radiation therapy is used for unresectable tumors or medically inoperable patients.

Localization and surgical approach to mediastinal parathyroid glands.

Background: Hyperactive parathyroid glands (PTGs) are in the mediastinum 4.3% of the time. Historically, localization and resection of these glands can be challenging.

Survival Outcomes of Lung Transplant Recipients From Donors With Abnormal Kidney Function.

Background: Recovering lungs with pulmonary edema due to abnormal kidney function is considered one of the expanded selection criteria for lung transplant. The aim of this study is to assess lung transplant recipients' survival from donors with abnormal kidney function and to determine differences in lung recovery rates from donors with and donors without abnormal kidney function.

Methods: We reviewed the United Network for Organ Sharing registry for first-time adult lung transplant donors and recipients from June 2005 to March 2017.

Safe heart flush technique during recovery from donors after circulatory death.

Background: Donation after circulatory death is the donation after cardiac arrest. This technique has been employed and adopted by clinicians to overcome the shortage of available hearts for transplant. Warm ischemia time plays a pivotal role in the survival outcome of the heart recipients.

Regression of Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation After Lung Transplant: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Although tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common in candidates for lung transplant, no data or established guidelines exist regarding the need for surgical repair at the time of transplant. We aimed to evaluate the natural course of TR by assessing the incidence and extent of TR regression among patients who did not undergo tricuspid valve repair (TVR) concomitantly with lung transplant.

Methods: We retrospectively identified adult patients who underwent lung transplant without TVR at our institution from 2001 through 2017.

Assessment of length of stay and cost of minimally invasive versus open thymectomies in patients with myasthenia gravis in Florida.

Background: Thymectomy has become a standard component in treatment for myasthenia gravis. The best surgical approach is still subject to debate. Minimally invasive surgery may have a lower mortality and morbidity rate, improved cosmetic results, and equivalent efficacy at improving neurologic symptoms to open approaches.

Missing lung nodule? Intra-operative contingency plan with O-arm imaging: a case report.

Despite the availability of various modalities to locate small non-palpable pulmonary nodules during minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery, precise lung nodule resection remains a challenge. Pre-operative localization techniques add additional time, expense, and complication rate. Intra-operative localization methods, such as ultrasound, may be a real-time solution, but challenges remain with visualizing deep parenchyma lesions and operator-dependent use.

Multidisciplinary Approach for Lung Transplantation due to COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel etiology of end-stage lung disease, has resulted in major disruptions to the process of health care delivery worldwide. These disruptions have led to team-based innovations globally, resulting in a broad range of new processes in cardiopulmonary perioperative management. A key intersection of multidisciplinary teamwork and COVID-19 is found in lung transplantation, in which diverse teams collaborate throughout the perioperative period to achieve optimal outcomes.

Combined cardiac surgery procedures and liver transplant: a single-center experience.

Objective: Morbidity and mortality rates associated with liver transplant are high for patients with concomitant heart disease. Traditionally, such cases were considered contraindications for transplant. The objective of our study was to assess the outcome of combined surgical approaches.

Heart-lung transplant in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and dextrocardia patient.

A 53-year-old male patient was presented to our institution with the clinical picture of biventricular failure. The echocardiogram revealed congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, dextrocardia with situs solitus, atrioventricular discordance and ventriculoatrial discordance, severe systemic and mitral valves regurgitation, and severe pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure: 51 mm Hg). He underwent heart-lung transplant.

Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Presenting as a Solitary Pulmonary Nodule on a Lung Cancer Screening CT.

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare inflammatory condition that mostly affects lungs in smokers. On imaging, it usually presents as multiple, upper lobe predominant, solid, and cavitary nodules, but presentation as solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is rare. We describe a case of SPN seen on low-dose lung cancer screening CT (LDCT) that was FDG avid on PET/CT.

Agitation Techniques to Enhance Drainage of Retained Hemothorax.

. Retained hemothorax (RH) is a common problem in cardiothoracic and trauma surgery. We aimed to determine the optimum agitation technique to enhance thrombus dissolution and drainage and to apply the technique to a porcine-retained hemothorax.

Safe Lung Flush Technique During Recovery From Donors After Circulatory Death.

Donation after circulatory death is defined as donation after cardiac arrest and circulatory cessation. The number of circulatory death donors is growing and significantly increases the organ donor pool. Shortening the warm ischemia time is pivotal in the outcomes and survival after transplant.

Lung Transplantation Using a Hybrid Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit.

Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) support using intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during lung transplantation (LTx) is now a routine practice for many high volume centers. Circuits that are dedicated to ECMO alone can be expensive and do not allow full cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to be performed. We describe our technique of instituting venoarterial ECMO during LTx using a less-expensive hybrid circuit that facilitates easy and immediate conversion to full CPB if needed, without interruption of ECC.

Intraoperative management of a hybrid extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit for lung transplantation.

Background: The use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) for intraoperative cardiopulmonary support during lung transplantation has been increasing in the recent years. Our group previously described a novel hybrid extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit for use in lung transplantation.

Technique: Our approach for intraoperative management of our novel hybrid ECMO circuit for lung transplantation is driven by two main goals: The first is to deliver management that ensures an appropriate balance between the native and ECMO cardiac outputs in order to provide a stable environment that promotes attenuation of ischemic-reperfusion injury during implantation.