Clinical stage IA non-small cell lung cancer with occult pathologic N1 and N2 disease after segmentectomy: does a completion lobectomy justify?

Objectives: When final pathology shows pathologic N1 or N2 disease after a pulmonary segmentectomy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), completion of lobectomy could be considered and recommended as an option for treatment. We explored outcomes after segmentectomy for clinical stage IA NSCLC with occult pN1 or pN2 disease.

Methods: We identified clinical stage IA NSCLC undergoing segmentectomy or lobectomy from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) between 2010 and 2020.

Patching an aortic tear using the side-arm and surrounding skirt of a physician-modified ascending aortic graft.

Background And Aim Of Study: Aortic complications during cannulation must be managed urgently and often require hypothermic circulatory arrest. We report a unique management strategy to repair an aortic tear without dissection by modifying a Dacron ascending aortic graft with side-arm.

Case Presentation: A 32-year-old female patient undergoing reoperative cardiac surgery suffered an unexpected aortic tear during cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass.

Preoperative Statin Use Not Associated With Improved Outcomes After Ascending Aortic Repair.

Statins have potent pleiotropic effects that have been correlated with improved perioperative cardiovascular surgery outcomes. We hypothesize that statins may improve morbidity and mortality after ascending aortic surgery. Within a statewide database consisting of 19 centers a total of 1804 patients had ascending aortic repair with or without aortic valve replacement (2004-2016).

Expanding the donor lung pool: how many donations after circulatory death organs are we missing?

Background: The number of patients with end-stage pulmonary disease awaiting lung transplantation is at an all-time high, while the supply of available organs remains stagnant. Utilizing donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors may help to address the supply-demand mismatch. The objective of this study is to determine the potential donor pool expansion with increased procurement of DCD organs from patients who die at hospitals.

Pre-implant left ventricular apex position predicts risk of HeartMate II pump thrombosis.

Background: Thrombosis within a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a devastating complication that often necessitates device exchange. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between patient anatomy and pump thrombosis. We hypothesize that lateral displacement of the left ventricular (LV) apex increases risk for pump thrombosis.