Type A Aortic Dissection Following Abdominal Solid Organ Transplantation: Population-Level Outcomes in the United States.

Background: This study aims to analyze the patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and contemporary trends concerning type A aortic dissection (TAAD) in previous recipients of abdominal solid organ transplantation (ASOT) in the United States.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify all patients aged ≥18 with TAAD and a history of ASOT (TAAD-ASOT) between 2002 and 2015Q3 using ICD-9 diagnosis and procedure codes. Baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between TAAD-ASOT patients and TAAD patients without a history of ASOT (TAAD-non-ASOT).

Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis After Y-Incision Aortic Annular Enlargement: A Simple Solution.

The Y-incision aortic annular enlargement (AAE) has been established as a safe and effective technique for upsizing the aortic annulus by 3 to 4 valve sizes. However, concerns have been raised regarding its technical complexity during reoperations, particularly given the extensive enlargement of the aortic annulus and root. We present a case of reoperative aortic valve replacement after previous Y-incision AAE for prosthetic valve endocarditis and aortic root abscess.

Grouped mixtures of air pollutants and seasonal temperature anomalies and cardiovascular hospitalizations among U.S. Residents.

Background: Air pollution is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Temperature is also linked to CVD, with a primary focus on acute effects. Despite the close relationship between air pollution and temperature, their health effects are often examined separately, potentially overlooking their synergistic effects.

Exposure-response associations between chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and risks of hospital admission for major cardiovascular diseases: population based cohort study.

Objective: To estimate exposure-response associations between chronic exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and risks of the first hospital admission for major cardiovascular disease (CVD) subtypes.

Design: Population based cohort study.

Setting: Contiguous US.

Type A Aortic Dissection in Heart Transplantation Recipients in the United States.

Background: Type A aortic dissection in heart transplantation recipients is rare and lethal, with limited research beyond case reports. This study aimed to analyze patient characteristics and clinical outcomes of this condition through a US national database.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database (2002-2018) was used to identify all type A aortic dissection in heart transplantation recipients aged >18 years.

Second-generation extracellular matrix patch for epicardial infarct repair.

Current myocardial infarction treatments focus on improving hemodynamics rather than addressing the problem of lost myocardium impairing left ventricular function. Epicardial infarct repair with a bioactive patch placed on the ischemic area is an emerging approach to promote endogenous myocardial repair. We report the use of a second-generation CorMatrix-extracellular matrix (ECM) patch as an adjunct to surgical revascularization in treating a young patient with diffuse, multivessel coronary artery disease unamenable to PCI and a large anterior myocardial infarction.

Pulmonary valve infective endocarditis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus.

Infective endocarditis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus is an uncommon event that, when it does occur, usually requires surgical valve replacement. The pulmonary valve is the least common heart valve involved in infective endocarditis. We present a rare case of isolated pulmonary valve endocarditis with Mycobacterium abscessus in a patient with recurrent sternal infections following repeated coronary artery bypass.

Mainstreamed genetic testing of breast cancer patients: experience from a single surgeon's practice in a large US Academic Center.

This study evaluated the impact of mainstreamed genetic testing (MGT) on the timing and uptake of testing in an academic breast surgeon's practice. Before September 2019 (pre-MGT phase), a breast surgery practice at Massachusetts General Hospital followed a traditional model of a pre-test consultation with a genetic counselor (GC) following a referral. After September 2019 (post-MGT phase), the same practice offered patients genetic testing in a single clinical encounter with a breast surgeon.

Aortic Dissection During Pregnancy and Puerperium: Contemporary Incidence and Outcomes in the United States.

Background Aortic dissection (AD) during pregnancy and puerperium is a rare catastrophe with devastating consequences for both parent and fetus. Population-level incidence trends and outcomes remain relatively undetermined. Methods and Results We queried a US population-based health care database, the National Inpatient Sample, and identified all patients with a pregnancy-related AD hospitalization from 2002 to 2017.

Penetrance of Gastric Adenocarcinoma Susceptibility Genes: A Systematic Review.

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world, and the presence of germline pathogenic variants has been linked with approximately 5% of gastric cancer diagnoses. Multiple GAC susceptibility genes have been identified, but information regarding the risk associated with pathogenic variants in these genes remains obscure. We conducted a systematic review of existing studies reporting the penetrance of GAC susceptibility genes.

Association of Intravenous Drug Use and Length of Stay Following Infective Endocarditis.

Introduction: Intravenous drug use (IVDU) and associated infective endocarditis (IE) has been on the rise in the US since the beginning of the opioid epidemic. IVDU-IE has high morbidity and mortality, and treatment can be lengthy. We aim to quantify the association between IVDU and length of stay (LOS) in IE patients.

Right ventricular wall dissection complicating myocardial infarction.

Right ventricular wall dissection is extremely rare and can result in dismal clinical outcomes. We report a 68-year-old patient who presented with acute myocardial infarction and was found to have right ventricular wall dissection by ventriculography. At surgery, the infarcted myocardium was excised, and a two-patch technique was used to repair the ventricular septal defect.

Anemia is associated with higher mortality and morbidity after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Background: It is uncertain whether preoperative anemia is independently associated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) outcomes. Using a national vascular surgery database, we evaluated the associations between preoperative anemia and 30-day mortality, postoperative complications, and 1-year survival for patients undergoing TEVAR.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients in the Vascular Quality Initiative who had undergone TEVAR for aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, penetrating aortic ulcer, hematoma, or thrombus between January 2011 and December 2019.

Healthy and unhealthy plant-based diets in relation to the incidence of colorectal cancer overall and by molecular subtypes.

Background: Plant-based foods have been recommended for health. However, not all plant foods are healthy, and little is known about the association between plant-based diets and specific molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer (CRC). We examined the associations of healthy and unhealthy plant-based diets with the incidence of CRC and its molecular subtypes.

Surgical outcomes of pulmonary valve infective endocarditis: A US population-based analysis.

Background: Pulmonary valve infective endocarditis (PVIE) represents a rare subset of right-sided IE. This study aimed to evaluate the population-level surgical outcomes of PVIE in the United States.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study using the 2002-2017 National Inpatient Sample database.

Sex-based outcomes in surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection: A meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Objective: Epidemiologic variation with respect to sex has been established in aortic dissection. However, current literature on sex-based outcomes in patients with aortic dissection is conflicting. In this study we aimed to compare perioperative outcomes according to sex in patients treated surgically for acute type A aortic dissection.