Clinical Outcomes for Postinfarct Ventricular Septal Defect Repair in a Large State-Wide Surgical Registry.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a life-threatening complication occurring after delayed presentation of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We assessed clinical characteristics based on mortality following surgical repair of post-AMI VSD and evaluated trends of mortality, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device use, and surgical approach. We included all patients who had surgical VSD repair following AMI who were included in a regional quality collaborative from May 2008 through January 2020.

Evaluation of noise pollution impact on health in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to look at the interrelation between adult health issues in Dhaka and noise pollution.

Methods: The methodology involved a cross-sectional survey conducted in five different land use categories, with a sample size of 1,016 individuals. A validated questionnaire that focused on sources of perceived noise pollution and health issues related to noise was used to gather subjective data for the study.

Transplantation Outcomes with Donor Hearts after Circulatory Death.

Background: Data showing the efficacy and safety of the transplantation of hearts obtained from donors after circulatory death as compared with hearts obtained from donors after brain death are limited.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, noninferiority trial in which adult candidates for heart transplantation were assigned in a 3:1 ratio to receive a heart after the circulatory death of the donor or a heart from a donor after brain death if that heart was available first (circulatory-death group) or to receive only a heart that had been preserved with the use of traditional cold storage after the brain death of the donor (brain-death group). The primary end point was the risk-adjusted survival at 6 months in the as-treated circulatory-death group as compared with the brain-death group.

Pulmonary Hypertension and Operative Risk in Mitral Valve and Coronary Surgery.

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a known risk factor for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), though less well understood for valve operations. We hypothesized PHT is associated with lower risk during mitral valve operations compared to CABG.

Methods: Patients undergoing isolated mitral valve or CABG operations (2011-2019) in a regional Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) database were stratified by pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP).

Autism spectrum disorder among 16- to 30-month-old children in Bangladesh: Observational cross-sectional study.

A nationwide survey was done in Bangladesh to assess autism spectrum disorder prevalence in 16- to 30-month-old children at urban-rural distribution and to determine the association with socioeconomic and demographic conditions. A three-stage cluster sampling method was used where districts from all divisions were selected in the first stage, census enumeration areas as blocks of households were selected in the second stage and households (within the blocks) were selected in the third stage. Thereby, it included 38,440 children from 37,982 households (71% rural, 29% urban) aged 16-30 months from 30 districts of eight divisions of Bangladesh.

Socioeconomic distress is associated with failure to rescue in cardiac surgery.

Objective: The influence of socioeconomic determinants of health on failure to rescue (mortality after a postoperative complication) after cardiac surgery is unknown. We hypothesized that increasing Distressed Communities Index, a comprehensive socioeconomic ranking by ZIP code, would be associated with higher failure to rescue.

Methods: Patients undergoing Society of Thoracic Surgeons index operation in a regional collaborative (2011-2021) who developed a failure to rescue complication were included.

Knowledge, attitude, and hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccine among university students of Bangladesh.

Global vaccination coverage is an urgent need to recover the recent pandemic COVID-19. However, people are concerned about the safety and efficacy of this vaccination program. Thus, it has become crucial to examine the knowledge, attitude, and hesitancy towards the vaccine.

Effect of Socioeconomic Distress on Risk-Adjusted Mortality After Valve Surgery for Infective Endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis affects patients of all socioeconomic status. We hypothesized that the Distressed Communities Index (DCI), a comprehensive assessment of socioeconomic status, would be associated with risk-adjusted mortality for patients with endocarditis. All patients with endocarditis (2001-2017) in a regional Society of Thoracic Surgeons database were analyzed.

Percutaneous approach to left ventricular assist device decommissioning.

Objective: To assess the outcomes of a single-center experience with percutaneous left ventricular assist device (LVAD) decommissioning.

Background: Patients with LVADs may eventually require their removal, either due to recovery of left ventricular function or recurrent complications. Traditionally, withdrawal of LVAD support has been managed with surgical device explantation, which carries significant procedural risks.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices towards Dengue Fever among University Students of Dhaka City, Bangladesh.

Dhaka has become the worst affected city in Bangladesh regarding dengue fever (DF). A large number of university students are residing in this city with a high DF risk. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the DF status and responses among these students through their Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) survey.

Zero balance ultrafiltration to correct metabolic alkalosis occurring during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Introduction: We describe a case report of metabolic alkalosis that occurred during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) that was corrected during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using zero balance ultrafiltration with normal saline (NS) 0.9%.

Case Report: A 67-year-old male received a heart transplant 6 days after being placed on VA ECMO.

Contemporary prevalence and outcomes of rheumatic mitral valve surgery.

Objective: Rheumatic mitral valve disease is often viewed as a historic disease in North America with limited contemporary data. We hypothesized that rheumatic pathology remains common and has worse short-term outcomes and higher resource utilization compared to other mitral valve pathologies.

Method: All patients undergoing mitral valve repair or replacement (2011-2019) were extracted from a regional Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

Perceived Noise Pollution and Self-Reported Health Status among Adult Population of Bangladesh.

Despite the public health concern, there is a dearth of research regarding perceived noise pollution and noise-related health status in Bangladesh. This study was carried out to evaluate the noise-related health status among Bangladesh's adult population. 1386 adult Bangladeshis participated in an online survey.

Changes in Controllable Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Practice for White and Black Americans.

Background: Racial disparities in outcomes after cardiac surgery are well reported. We sought to determine whether variation by race exists in controllable practices during coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We hypothesized that racial disparities exist in CABG quality metrics, but have improved over time.

Status and perception toward the COVID-19 vaccine: A cross-sectional online survey among adult population of Bangladesh.

Introduction: COVID-19 has become a global public health concern. Safe and effective vaccines are required to control the pandemic. However, positive perception toward the vaccine is also necessary for a successful vaccination effort.

Ventriculoseptal Rupture Caused by Takotsubo Syndrome.

Ventriculoseptal rupture (VSR) is a rare complication of takotsubo syndrome that often requires immediate treatment. Patients with VSR experience a range of outcomes and should be managed at centers with cardiac and surgical expertise. We present 2 cases of VSR complicating takotsubo syndrome that highlight potential outcomes.

An interventional approach to left ventricular assist device outflow graft obstruction.

Background: LVADs provide life-sustaining treatment for patients with heart failure, but their complexity allows for complications. One complication, LVAD outflow graft obstruction, may be misdiagnosed as intraluminal thrombus, when more often it is extraluminal compression from biodebris accumulation. It can often be treated endovascularly with stenting.

Donation after circulatory death: opportunities on the horizon.

Purpose Of Review: Organ transplantation remains the gold standard therapy for many end-organ diseases. The demand for donor organs continues to grow to far exceed supply. This review summarizes recent protocols, procedures, and ethics surrounding the increased utilization of donors after circulatory death for transplantation.

Minimally Invasive vs Open Coronary Surgery: A Multi-Institutional Analysis of Cost and Outcomes.

Background: Limited multi-institutional data evaluating minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) outcomes have raised concern for increased resource utilization compared with standard sternotomy. The purpose of this study was to assess short-term outcomes and resource utilization with MICS CABG in a propensity-matched regional cohort.

Methods: Isolated CABG patients (2012-2019) were extracted from a regional Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

Impact of tricuspid regurgitation with and without repair during aortic valve replacement.

Background: Long-term outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) are worse in patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR), but the impact of concomitant tricuspid valve intervention remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tricuspid intervention in patients with TR undergoing AVR.

Methods: Patients undergoing AVR in a regional Society of Thoracic Surgeons database (2001-2017) were stratified by severity of TR and whether or not they underwent concomitant tricuspid intervention.

Hospital Variability Drives Inconsistency in Antiplatelet Use After Coronary Bypass.

Background: Continuation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) after acute myocardial infarction is recommended by current guidelines. We sought to evaluate guideline adherence over time and factors associated with postoperative DAPT within a regional consortium.

Methods: Isolated CABG patients from 2011 to 2017 who had a myocardial infarction within 21 days prior to surgery were included.

Outcomes of non-elective coronary artery bypass grafting performed on weekends.

Objectives: A weekend effect with increased mortality has previously been reported in surgical patients and those with acute myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that a similar phenomenon may exist in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Patients undergoing non-elective isolated CABG (2011-2017) were included from a multicentre regional Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

Examination of a Proposed 30-day Readmission Risk Score on Discharge Location and Cost.

Background: Readmissions cost an estimated $41 billion in the United States each year. To address this, a single institution recently developed a new risk model predictive of 30-day readmission after adult cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study is to validate and refine this new readmission risk model using a statewide database.