Outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy in septuagenarians.

Background: Spread of technology and increased surveillance have led to more patients with lung cancers being identified than ever before. Increasingly, patients from the elderly population are referred for surgery; however, many studies do not focus on this patient group. We reviewed the outcomes of septuagenarians who underwent lobectomy via an open thoracotomy (OT) or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approach to determine whether the VATS approach would result in superior post-operative outcomes.

Surgical Management of Caseous Calcification of the Mitral Annulus.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA) is a rare variant of mitral annular calcification; it can manifest with conduction abnormalities or systemic embolization. It typically involves the posterior mitral annulus, and surgery is indicated for severe mitral valve dysfunction, for embolic complications or when the diagnosis is not certain. We describe a structured approach to the surgical management of CCMA using bovine pericardium to repair the defect.