The current state of the Multidisciplinary Heart Team Approach: a systematic review.

Background: The heart team (HT) approach, recommended for managing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration. Despite its potential benefits, evidence on its effectiveness and implementation is varied and sparse. This review assesses the HT approach's impact on patient outcomes and care delivery in cardiovascular care.

The DETECTION project part 1: An international Delphi survey about diagnostics and treatment of anterior mediastinal cystic lesions.

Background: Differentiating benign anterior mediastinal cysts from malignancies is challenging in clinical practice. International guidelines on optimal diagnostics and treatment for anterior mediastinal cystic lesions are lacking. The first part of the DETECTION project focuses on possible heterogeneity in diagnostics and treatment of anterior mediastinal cystic lesions among international thoracic medical experts.

Interpretation of intra-operative strain differences in ascending thoracic aortic repair patients.

Local biaxial deformation plays a pivotal role in evaluating the tissue state of the ascending aorta and in driving intramural cell-mediated tissue remodeling. Unfortunately, the absence of anatomical markers on the ascending aorta presents challenges in capturing deformation. Utilizing our established intra-operative biaxial strain measurement method, we delineated local biaxial deformation characteristics in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgery recipients (n = 20), and Aortic Repair surgery patients (n = 47).

The volume-outcome relation for pulmonary endarterectomy in chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: We conducted a volume-outcome (V-O) meta-analysis of PEA procedures for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), to objectively determine the minimum required annual case load that can define a high-volume centre.

Methods: Three electronic databases were systematically queried until May 1st, 2024. Centres were divided in volume tertiles (Ts).

The Effect of Teleprehabilitation on Adverse Events After Elective Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Patients scheduled for cardiac surgery and procedures often present with modifiable risk factors for adverse perioperative outcomes. Prehabilitation has shown potential to enhance mental and physical fitness; however, its effect on clinical cardiovascular endpoints in this population has not been studied.

Objectives: The current trial was designed to evaluate the effect of a personalized multimodal teleprehabilitation on the incidence of composite endpoint on major adverse cardiovascular events in patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery.

Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting: experience in 1500 patients.

Objectives: Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) is a minimally invasive approach to achieve surgical revascularization through a minimally invasive approach. Still, data regarding non-robotic TECAB are limited. This report presents the results of a TECAB technique using long-shafted instruments, defined as Endo-CABG, from a single-centre experience in 1500 consecutive patients.

Periareolar Incision for Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery: How to Do It?

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has demonstrated its efficacy in diminishing postoperative pain, accelerating early recovery, and facilitating a prompt return to daily activities. Notably, the periareolar incision has gained prominence owing to its superior cosmesis. This article elucidates the procedural details for implementing periareolar incision access in MICS and providing insights into its technique and applications.

Short- and long-term outcomes in isolated vs. hybrid thoracoscopic ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and reconstructed individual patient data meta-analysis.

Aims: Both isolated thoracoscopic and hybrid thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation techniques have demonstrated favourable outcomes in the management of patients with (long-standing) persistent AF, as compared with catheter ablation. However, it is currently unknown whether there is a difference in short- and long-term outcomes when comparing these two minimally invasive surgical AF ablation procedures. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate these two techniques, with a specific emphasis on long-term freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs).

Percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents versus coronary bypass surgery for coronary artery disease: A Bayesian perspective.

Objectives: Coronary revascularization is frequently performed for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aims to assess the totality of randomized evidence comparing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents (DES-PCI) with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for CAD.

Methods: A systematic search was applied to 3 electronic databases, including randomized trials comparing DES-PCI with CABG for CAD with 5-year follow-up.

Outcomes of Mitral Valve Regurgitation Management after Expert Multidisciplinary Valve Team Evaluation.

: Mitral regurgitation (MR) affects millions worldwide, necessitating timely intervention. There are significant clinical challenges in the conservative management of MR, leaving a knowledge gap regarding the impact of multidisciplinary decision-making on treatment outcomes. This study aimed to provide insights into the impact of multidisciplinary decision-making on the survival outcomes of MR patients, focusing on conservative approaches.

The prognostic impact of unplanned invasive coronary angiography following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives: Myocardial ischaemia following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a potentially devastating complication. Nevertheless, the incidence, aetiology and prognostic relevance of unplanned coronary angiography (uCAG) remain understudied. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and outcome of patients undergoing urgent, uCAG in the postoperative period following CABG.

Disease relapse in relation to lymph node sampling in lung carcinoid patients.

The predictive value of the extent of peri-operative lymph node (LN) sampling in relation to disease relapse in patients with pulmonary carcinoid (PC) is unknown. Furthermore, post-surgery follow-up recommendations rely on institutional retrospective studies with short follow-ups. We aimed to address these shortcomings by examining the relation between LN sampling and relapse in a population-based cohort with long-term follow-up.

Favorable resuscitation characteristics in patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A secondary analysis of the INCEPTION-trial.

Introduction: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly used as a supportive treatment for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Still, there is a paucity of data evaluating favorable and unfavorable prognostic characteristics in patients considered for ECPR.

Methods: We performed a previously unplanned post-hoc analysis of the multicenter randomized controlled INCEPTION-trial.

Building a patient-centred nationwide integrated cardiac care registry: intermediate results from the Netherlands.

This paper presents an overview of the development of an integrated patient-centred cardiac care registry spanning the initial 5 years (September 2017 to December 2022). The Netherlands Heart Registration facilitates registration committees in which mandated cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons structurally evaluate quality of care using real-world data. With consistent attendance rates exceeding 60%, a valuable network is supported.

Cost-effectiveness of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation vs. conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a pre-planned, trial-based economic evaluation.

Aims: When out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) becomes refractory, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a potential option to restore circulation and improve the patient's outcome. However, ECPR requires specific materials and highly skilled personnel, and it is unclear whether increased survival and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) justify these costs.

Methods And Results: This cost-effectiveness study was part of the INCEPTION study, a multi-centre, pragmatic randomized trial comparing hospital-based ECPR to conventional CPR (CCPR) in patients with refractory OHCA in 10 cardiosurgical centres in the Netherlands.

Circulating BMP10 Levels Associate With Late Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation and Left Atrial Endomysial Fibrosis.

Background: Serum bone morphogenetic protein 10 (BMP10) blood levels are a marker for history of atrial fibrillation (AF) and for major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AF, including stroke, AF recurrences after catheter ablations, and mortality. The predictive value of BMP10 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and association with morphologic properties of atrial tissues are unknown.

Objectives: This study sought to study the correlation between BMP10 levels and preoperative clinical traits, occurrence of early and late postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), and atrial fibrosis in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Left atrial function of patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing thoracoscopic hybrid ablation.

Objectives: Thoracoscopic hybrid ablation is an effective and safe rhythm control strategy for patients with complex forms of atrial fibrillation. Its effect on left atrial function has not yet been studied.

Methods: In a retrospective single-centre analysis of patients undergoing thoracoscopic hybrid ablation, the left atrial emptying fraction was calculated using the biplane modified Simpson method in the apical 2- and 4-chamber views on transthoracic echocardiography.

One-year postprocedural quality of life following mitral valve surgery: data from The Netherlands heart registration.

Objectives: The aim of surgical treatment of mitral valve disease is to reverse heart failure and to restore life expectancy and quality of life (QoL). In mitral valve surgery, QoL has not been studied extensively, especially regarding the surgical approach. The current study aimed to evaluate QoL after mitral valve surgery through full sternotomy and a minimally invasive approach (MIMVS).

Clinical Predictors of Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation During 2.5 Years After Cardiac Surgery: Prospective RACE V Cohort.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent complication after cardiac surgery that is associated with late atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences (late-POAF) and increased morbidity and long-term mortality.

Objectives: This study sought to determine device-detected POAF incidence and to identify clinical variables associated with POAF, both in patients with and without preoperative AF history.

Methods: A total of 133 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery were prospectively enrolled and continuously monitored with an implantable loop recorder for 2.