Hospital Volume and Long-Term Survival Among Medicare Beneficiaries Undergoing Surgical Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Despite guideline recommendations, transfer rates to high-volume aortic centers (high-VACs) for acute type A aortic dissections (TAAD) remain suboptimal; this may be because the benefit of undergoing surgical repair of TAAD at high-VACs remains poorly quantified. Medicare beneficiaries undergoing surgical repair of TAAD from 1999-2019 were identified. Hospital and surgeon annual aortic case volumes in Medicare beneficiaries were determined.

Improving Cardiogenic Shock Team Activation Through Nurse Education and Alert Implementation.

Background: Patients with cardiogenic shock have a 25% to 50% mortality rate despite the introduction of mechanical circulatory devices and coordinated medical treatment. The use of shock teams has improved outcomes for these patients.

Local Problem: A cardiovascular hospital with a multidisciplinary shock team had inconsistency and delays in recognition and diagnosis of patients with cardiogenic shock.

Hospital and surgeon surgical valvar volume and survival after multivalve cardiac surgery in Medicare beneficiaries.

Objective: Long-term outcomes after multivalve cardiac surgery remain underevaluated.

Methods: Medicare administrative claims from 2008 to 2019 identified beneficiaries undergoing multivalve surgery. Operative characteristics were doubly adjudicated using International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Technology codes.

Transcatheter Valve-in-Valve Replacement With Balloon- Versus Self-Expanding Valves in Patients With Degenerated Stentless Aortic Bioprosthesis.

Valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been associated with favorable outcomes in patients with degenerated stentless bioprosthesis. However, whether the outcomes after ViV TAVR for failed stentless bioprosthesis differ between balloon-expandable valves (BEVs) and self-expanding valves (SEVs) remains unknown. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed 59 consecutive patients who underwent ViV TAVR for failed stentless bioprsothesis with BEVs (n = 42) versus SEVs (n = 17) in a single-health care system between 2013 and 2022.

Midterm durability of valve-sparing root replacement in bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves.

Background: Among patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) who are potential candidates for valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR), the long-term durability of this technique is not well understood. This study aimed to compare the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of VSRR in those with BAV and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) morphology.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent VSRR between 2007 and 2021 at a single center.

Causes and Clinical Outcomes of Patients Who Failed Screening for Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Interventions.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) has recently emerged as a promising alternative to surgery for tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, a significant proportion of patients fail screening for TTVI, and little is known about their characteristics and natural history. This study sought to investigate causes of screen failure and outcomes of patients declined for TTVI.

Tricuspid regurgitation burden following transcatheter aortic valve replacement requiring early pacemaker implantation.

Background: Conduction abnormality requiring the implantation of a permanent pacemaker (PPM) is a well-known and clinically important complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, PPM implantation may result in lead-associated tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR). This study sought to determine the incidence and progression of TR following PPM implantation after TAVR.

Distal Versus Proximal Radial Artery Access for Cardiac Catheterization: 30-Day Outcomes of the DIPRA Study.

Background Proximal radial artery (pRA) access for cardiac catheterization is safe but can jeopardize subsequent use of the artery because of occlusion. Distal radial artery (dRA) access in the anatomical snuffbox preserves the radial artery, but safety and potential detrimental effects on hand function are unknown. Methods and Results In the DIPRA (Distal Versus Proximal Radial Artery Access for Cardiac Catheterization and Intervention) study, a single-center trial, 300 patients were randomized 1:1 to cardiac catheterization through dRA or pRA.

Outcomes of the Ross procedure in patients older versus younger than 50 years old.

Objectives: The Ross procedure is traditionally considered for young adult patients with aortic valve disease. This study compares long-term outcomes of patients undergoing the Ross procedure who are ≥50 and <50-years old.

Methods: Data were collected from 225 patients undergoing Ross procedure at a single centre from 1994 to 2019.

Race, neighborhood disadvantage, and survival of Medicare beneficiaries after aortic valve replacement and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Race, neighborhood disadvantage, and the interaction between these 2 social determinants of health remain poorly understood with regards to survival after aortic valve replacement with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (AVR+CABG).

Methods: Weighted Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to evaluate the association between race, neighborhood disadvantage, and long-term survival in 205,408 Medicare beneficiaries undergoing AVR+CABG from 1999 to 2015. Neighborhood disadvantage was measured using the Area Deprivation Index, a broadly validated ranking of socioeconomic contextual disadvantage.

Vein Graft Use and Long-Term Survival Following Coronary Bypass Grafting.

Background: Although placement of at least 1 arterial graft during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has a proven survival benefit, it is unknown what degree of revascularization with saphenous vein grafting (SVG) is associated with improved survival.

Objectives: The authors sought to determine whether undergoing surgery performed by a surgeon who is liberal with vein graft utilization is associated with improved survival in patients undergoing single arterial graft CABG (SAG-CABG).

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study of SAG-CABG performed in Medicare beneficiaries from 2001 to 2015.

Contemporary Outcomes of Isolated Tricuspid Valve Surgery.

Introduction: Isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery is uncommonly performed and has historically been associated with excessive operative mortality. We previously reported improved short-term outcomes at our center. Understanding contemporary outcomes of isolated TV surgery beyond the perioperative period is essential to properly benchmark outcomes of newer transcatheter interventions.

Impact of improving severity of secondary mitral regurgitation on survival.

Aims: Secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) is frequent in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and portends detrimental prognosis. Despite interventions addressing the mitral valve (MV) have been proven effective to improve survival, an important knowledge gap exists regarding the role of medical therapy (MT) in this context. Thus, we aimed at investigating the role of MT optimization in patients with SMR and HFrEF.

Bloodstream and respiratory coinfections in patients with COVID-19 on ECMO.

Background: Although several studies have characterized the risk of coinfection in COVID pneumonia, the risk of the bloodstream and respiratory coinfection in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) supports severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is poorly understood.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients with COVID-19 ARDS on ECMO at a single center between January 2020 and December 2021. Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared.

Real-world validation of fractional flow reserve computed tomography in patients with stable angina: Results from the prospective AFFECTS trial.

Background: Fractional flow reserve computed tomography (FFRct) allows for non-invasive assessment of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Real-world data regarding the diagnostic performance of FFRct is scarce. We aim to validate the diagnostic performance of FFRct against invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in patients with stable angina and an abnormal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) study.

A Liquid Biopsy Signature for the Detection of Patients With Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer.

Background & Aims: Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is a distinct clinical and molecular entity with poor survival outcomes compared with late-onset CRC. Although the incidence of EOCRC is rising, current CRC screening strategies have several limitations in diagnostic performance for EOCRC. In view of this clinical challenge, novel and robust biomarkers for detection of EOCRC are necessary.

Effect of Preincisional Liposomal Bupivacaine Sternal Blockade on Poststernotomy Opioid Use.

Background: Prolonged and excessive opioid use in the postoperative setting is associated with multiple complications. The use of regional analgesia may reduce postoperative opioid use.

Methods: In a placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial patients undergoing sternotomy were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a liposomal bupivacaine parasternal block or a normal saline parasternal injection.

Surgical treatment of infective endocarditis at comprehensive versus primary valve centers.

Background: A recent expert consensus statement proposed designation of comprehensive and primary valve centers, with a recommendation that comprehensive centers house surgical skill and resources to treat patients with infective endocarditis (IE). We sought to compare outcomes of patients who underwent valve surgery for IE at comprehensive versus primary valve centers within a large health care system.

Methods: We reviewed 513 consecutive patients who underwent IE surgery at 8 hospitals (2 comprehensive and 6 primary valve centers) from 2014 to 2020.

Long-Term Survival After On-Pump and Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) may be associated with increased hazard for long-term mortality as compared with on-pump CABG. We sought to evaluate risk-adjusted long-term survival after off-pump and on-pump CABG, particularly among high-volume and low-volume CABG surgeons.

Methods: We evaluated 1,235,089 isolated CABGs (off pump = 209,085; on pump = 1,026,004) performed in Medicare beneficiaries from 2001 to 2015.

Outcomes of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Caused by COVID-19 Versus Influenza.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be effective for refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with influenza, but its utility in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is uncertain. We compared outcomes of patients with refractory ARDS from COVID-19 and influenza placed on ECMO.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 120 patients with refractory ARDS due to COVID-19 or influenza placed on ECMO at 2 referral centers from January 2013 to October 2020.

Differences in Administrative Claims Data for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Between International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision Coding.

This cross-sectional study examines the changes in coding of coronary artery bypass graft procedures after the transition from the to the