Lung Transplant Outcomes in Recipients of Advanced Age: Are Two Always Better Than One?

Background: Lung transplantation has become more common in patients aged 65 years and older. We aimed to examine outcomes across age groups and identify risk factors for decreased survival.

Methods: United Network for Organ Sharing data for all primary lung transplants from 1/1/2006 to 3/8/2023 was retrospectively reviewed.

Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Achalasia.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy surgery is an incisionless, minimally invasive, natural orifice technique used to treat the symptoms of achalasia and other spastic disorders of the esophagus. Recent experience demonstrates that it can be performed safely by experienced esophageal surgeons and there are very good short-term outcomes comparable to laparoscopic myotomy. The rapid worldwide adoption of this technique demonstrates its potential to replace the current therapies available for achalasia.

Technology-Enhanced Simulation Improves Trainee Readiness Transitioning to Cardiothoracic Training.

Objective: Transitioning from medical school and general surgery training to cardiothoracic (CT) surgical training poses unique challenges for trainees and patient care. We hypothesized that participation in technology-enhanced simulation modules that provided early exposure to urgent/emergent CT patient problems would improve cognitive skills and readiness to manage common urgencies/emergencies.

Design: Traditional and integrated cardiothoracic residents at our institution participated in a technology-enhanced simulation curriculum.

Surgical treatments for esophageal cancers.

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on the role of the nurse in preparation of esophageal resection (ER); the management of patients who develop high-grade dysplasia after having undergone Nissen fundoplication; the trajectory of care for the patient with esophageal cancer; the influence of the site of tumor in the choice of treatment; the best location for esophagogastrostomy; management of chylous leak after esophagectomy; the optimal approach to manage thoracic esophageal leak after esophagectomy; the choice for operational approach in surgery of cardioesophageal crossing; the advantages of robot esophagectomy; the place of open esophagectomy; the advantages of esophagectomy compared to definitive chemoradiotherapy; the pathologist report in the resected specimen; the best way to manage patients with unsuspected positive microscopic margin after ER; enhanced recovery after surgery for ER: expedited care protocols; and long-term quality of life in patients following esophagectomy.

Chordal relocation for repair of anterior mitral leaflet flail: a reproducible option.

Repair of anterior mitral leaflet (AML) flail is considered to be among the more technically challenging mitral procedures. While neochord reconstruction is an excellent technique, sizing challenges may limit wide reproducibility. Chordal relocation of secondary or tertiary AML chords can minimize sizing imprecision in open or minimally invasive repair while providing patients with a safe, durable and reproducible option.