Midterm Survival, Clinical, and Hemodynamic Outcomes of a Novel Mechanical Mitral Valve Prosthesis.

Objectives: To evaluate the midterm survival, clinical, and hemodynamic outcomes of the On-X mechanical mitral valve, based on the 5-year results of the Prospective Randomized On-X Anticoagulation Clinical Trial (PROACT).

Methods: PROACT Mitral was a multicenter study evaluating 401 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) with either Standard or Conform-X On-X mitral valves, comparing low-dose and standard-dose warfarin. Here, we report pre-specified, secondary outcomes of survival, New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification, and valve hemodynamics as assessed by core-lab-adjudicated echocardiography at 1, 3, and 5 years within the pooled population.

Anti-Thymocyte Globulin as a Therapy for Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is a polyclonal antibody formulation which has been used as a second-line therapy for chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Limited data exist evaluating its efficacy; however, several single-center retrospective studies have variably demonstrated either improvement or stabilization of spirometry parameters after administration of ATG. ATG has been in use at UT Southwestern for treatment of CLAD since at least 2010; here, we seek to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention at our center.

Clinical and radiological septic joint analysis of spontaneous sternoclavicular joint infections: achieving the best outcomes-a systems engineering approach.

Objectives: Spontaneous sternoclavicular joint infection (SSCJI) is a rare and poorly understood disease process. This study aims to identify factors guiding effective management strategies for SSCJI by using data mining.

Methods: An Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective review of patients from 2 large hospitals (2010-2022) was conducted.

Safety-Net Hospital Status Is Associated With Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Outcomes at an Urban Academic Medical Center.

Introduction: Socioeconomic disparities impact outcomes after cardiac surgery. At our institution, cardiac surgery cases from the safety-net, county funded hospital (CH), which primarily provides care for underserved patients, are performed at the affiliated university hospital. We aimed to investigate the association of socioeconomic factors and CH referral status with outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Impact of cerebrovascular accidents on lung transplant survival.

Background: Cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are a source of postoperative morbidity. Existing data on CVA after lung transplantation (LT) are limited. We aimed to evaluate the impact of CVA on LT survival.

mitral valve endocarditis in a patient with a history of mitral valve annuloplasty.

A woman with a history of congenital heart disease status post multiple valve operations including mitral valve repair presented with 2 months of low back pain and general malaise. Blood cultures returned positive for Gram-positive cocci. While transthoracic echocardiography did not identify vegetations, transoesophageal echocardiography visualised vegetations on the patient's mitral valve, which had previously undergone repair with annuloplasty.

Diaphragmatic plication among lung transplant patients: A single-center experience.

Background: There is lack of data reporting outcomes among patients needing diaphragmatic plication (DP) during or after lung transplantation (LT). We sought to assess the association of DP with post-transplant spirometry among other outcomes.

Methods: We included all patients who underwent LT between 2012 and 2016 (n = 324, mean age 56.

Training Cardiothoracic Residents in Robotic Lobectomy Is Cost-Effective With No Change in Clinical Outcomes.

Our objective was to evaluate for any changes in quality or cost when robotic lung resection is used with significant trainee participation. All anatomic lung resections between January 2006 and June 2016 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Clinical data were recorded by double entry.

ECMO Long Haulers: A Distinct Phenotype of COVID-19-Associated ARDS With Implications for Lung Transplant Candidacy.

Background: Studies indicate that the recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome may be slower than other viral pneumonia. There are limited data to guide decisions among patients who need extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, especially the expected time of recovery and considering lung transplantation (LT).

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome placed on ECMO between March 1, 2020, and September 15, 2021 (n = 20; median age, 44 y; range, 22-62 y; male:female, 15:5).

WITHDRAWN: Low-Dose Versus Standard Warfarin After Mechanical Mitral Valve Replacement: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.

Effects of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Initiation on Oxygenation and Pulmonary Opacities.

Introduction: There is limited data on the impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on pulmonary physiology and imaging in adult patients. The current study sought to evaluate the serial changes in oxygenation and pulmonary opacities after ECMO initiation.

Methods: Records of patients started on veno-venous, or veno-arterial ECMO were reviewed (n=33; mean (SD): age 50(16) years; Male: Female 20:13).

Lung transplantation: how we do it.

Lung transplantation is considered the gold standard for patients with chronic end-stage pulmonary disease. However, due to the complexity of management and relatively lower median survival as compared to other solid organs, many programs across the world have been slow to adopt the same. In our institution, we started lung transplantation in September 1990.

Ex vivo lung perfusion: how we do it.

Lung transplantation is an established treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease. However, a shortage of donors, low lung utilization among potential donors, and waitlist mortality continue to be challenges. In the last decade, ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has expanded the donor pool by allowing prolonged evaluation of marginal donor lungs and allowing reparative therapies for lungs, which are otherwise considered not transplantable.

Neoadjuvant SABR for Renal Cell Carcinoma Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus-Safety Lead-in Results of a Phase 2 Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, oncologic outcomes, and immune effect of neoadjuvant stereotactic radiation (Neo-SAbR) followed by radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy (RN-IVCT).

Methods And Materials: These are results from the safety lead-in portion of a single-arm phase 1 and 2 trial. Patients with kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma [RCC]) and inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus (TT) underwent Neo-SAbR (40 Gy in 5 fractions) to the IVC-TT followed by open RN-IVCT.

Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Lung Transplantation.

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is often used to support patients undergoing lung transplantation who are intolerant of anatomic manipulation or single lung ventilation during the procedure. However, CPB may be associated with adverse outcomes. We evaluated the hypothesis that CPB is associated with increased acute kidney injury (AKI) and postoperative mortality after lung transplantation.

Percutaneous Aspiration for Septic Thrombi in Burn Patients.

Therapeutic interventions are limited for high-risk burn patients with caval and intracardiac septic thrombi. Percutaneous thrombectomy represents a less invasive alternative to median sternotomy. However, there is limited literature on application of this approach and outcomes in these patients.

Incidence and variables associated with 30-day mortality after lung transplantation.

Background: With the introduction of the lung allocation score (LAS), sicker patients are prioritized for lung transplantation (LT). There is a lack of data regarding variables independently associated with 30-day mortality after LT.

Methods: We queried the UNOS database for adult patients undergoing LT between 1989 and 2014.

Diagnosis and interventions of vascular complications in lung transplant.

Though rare, pulmonary vascular complications after lung transplantation carry high morbidity and mortality. Knowledge of the normal and abnormal appearance of lung transplant vasculature is essential for timely and appropriate diagnosis and management of complications. Appropriate selection of surgical and endovascular treatments depend on the availability of expertise and requires a multidisciplinary approach to ensure the best outcomes.

Anticoagulation and Antiplatelet Strategies After On-X Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: The burden oral anticoagulation is a limitation of mechanical valve prostheses.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test whether patients could be safely managed with dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (aspirin 325 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg) or lower warfarin after On-X mechanical aortic valve replacement (mAVR).

Methods: PROACT (Prospective Randomized On-X Anticoagulation Trial) (n = 576) is a multicenter (41 sites) noninferiority trial.

Evaluation of current strategies for surveillance and management of donor-specific antibodies: Single-center study.

Background: Although the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) is known to impact lung allograft, limited data exist regarding DSA management.

Methods: We did a retrospective study at our center evaluating DSA management in adult lung transplant recipients undergoing lung transplantation between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2014. Study follow-up was completed through October 2017.

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: review of surgical treatment.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ranks among the most common congenital cardiac diseases, affecting up to 1 in 200 of the general population. When it causes left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, treatment is guided to reduce symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death. Pharmacologic therapy is the first-line treatment, but when it fails, surgical myectomy or percutaneous ablation of the hypertrophic myocardium are the standard therapies to eliminate subaortic obstruction.

Predictors of outcome among patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplantation.

Background: There is a lack of data regarding clinical variables associated with successful bridge to lung transplantation (LT) using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support.

Methods: We reviewed the institutional database for patients supported with veno-venous (VV) or veno-arterial ECMO as a bridge to LT (n=25; mean age: 50.6±14.