Development and Publication of Clinical Practice Parameters, Reviews, and Meta-analyses: A Report From the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Presidential Task Force.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) is committed to improving the quality, safety, and value that cardiothoracic anesthesiologists bring to patient care. To fulfill this mission, the SCA supports the creation of peer-reviewed manuscripts that establish standards, produce guidelines, critically analyze the literature, interpret preexisting guidelines, and allow experts to engage in consensus opinion. The aim of this report, commissioned by the SCA President, is to summarize the distinctions among these publications and describe a novel SCA-supported framework that provides guidance to SCA members for the creation of these publications.

Pig-to-human heart xenotransplantation in two recently deceased human recipients.

Genetically modified xenografts are one of the most promising solutions to the discrepancy between the numbers of available human organs for transplantation and potential recipients. To date, a porcine heart has been implanted into only one human recipient. Here, using 10-gene-edited pigs, we transplanted porcine hearts into two brain-dead human recipients and monitored xenograft function, hemodynamics and systemic responses over the course of 66 hours.

Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation using normothermic regional perfusion:The NYU Protocol.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass for thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion on the metabolic milieu of donation after cardiac death organ donors before transplantation.

Methods: Local donation after cardiac death donor offers are assessed for suitability and willingness to participate. Withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy is performed in the operating room.

Donation After Circulatory Death: Expanding Heart Transplants.

Heart failure affects 6.2 million adults in the United States (US), resulting in a decrease in quality of life. Limited options exist for the treatment of end-stage heart failure.

A Call for Diversity: Underrepresented Minorities and Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Education.

This paper is the first of a four-part series that details the current barriers to diversity in the field of adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology and outlines actionable programs that can be implemented to create change. Part I and Part II address the training experience of women and underrepresented minorities (URMs) in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology (ACTA), respectively, and explore concrete opportunities to promote positive change. Part III and Part IV examine the professional experience of URMs and women in ACTA, respectively, and discuss interventions that can facilitate a more equitable and inclusive environment for both groups.

Sex Diversity in the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship: The Influence of Geographic Region.

Objectives: To investigate if the lack of sex diversity in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowships is a result of few female applicants or low acceptance rate.

Design: Retrospective review of adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology applicants and fellows by sex and geographic regions across the United States.

Setting: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship programs across the United States.

Anesthetic Considerations During Heart Transplantation Using Donation After Circulatory Death.

Worldwide, the majority of heart transplant organs are from donation after brain death. However, the shortage of suitable donors places severe limitations on this route. One option to increase the donor pool is to use organs from donation after circulatory death (DCD).

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists/European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists Practice Advisory for the Management of Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (poAF) is the most common adverse event after cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. Despite progressive improvements in overall cardiac surgical operative mortality and postoperative morbidity, the incidence of poAF has remained unchanged at 30% to 50%. A number of evidence-based recommendations regarding the perioperative management of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been released from leading cardiovascular societies in recent years; however, it is unknown how closely these guidelines are being followed by medical practitioners.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists/European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists Practice Advisory for the Management of Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (poAF) is the most common adverse event after cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. Despite progressive improvements in overall cardiac surgical operative mortality and postoperative morbidity, the incidence of poAF has remained unchanged at 30%-50%. A number of evidence-based recommendations regarding the perioperative management of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been released from leading cardiovascular societies in recent years; however, it is unknown how closely these guidelines are being followed by medical practitioners.

Totally Endoscopic Robotic Left Atrial Appendage Closure Demonstrates High Success Rate.

Objective: In patients with atrial fibrillation, 90% of embolic strokes originate from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Successful exclusion of the LAA is associated with a lower stroke rate in patients with atrial fibrillation. Surgical oversewing of the LAA is often incomplete when evaluated with transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE).

Left Atrial Appendage Velocity as a Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: To determine if there is an association between left atrial appendage velocity and the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF).

Design: Single institution retrospective study performed between January 2013 and December 2013.

Setting: Single-institution, university hospital.

Endocarditic sinus of valsalva fistulae to right ventricular outflow tract in adult ventricular septal defects.

Surgical repair of congenital ventricular septal defects (VSDs) in adults is quite rare. Most congenital VSDs are repaired in children. Of those adult patients diagnosed as having VSDs, many are not repaired due to irreversible pulmonary vascular disease.

Blood conservation strategies can be applied safely to high-risk complex aortic surgery.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of blood conservation strategies on patient outcomes after aortic surgery.

Design: Retrospective cohort analysis of prospective data.

Setting: University hospital.