Defining the Cross-Volume Effect of Extracorporeal Life Support on Outcomes of Cardiogenic Shock.

Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains a leading cause of mortality despite advancements in mechanical circulatory support and other management strategies. In particular, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requires expertise in cardiac surgery, cardiology, and critical care. The benefits of such expertise may extend beyond patients undergoing ECMO.

Structural and biomechanical characterizations of acellular porcine mitral valve scaffolds: anterior leaflets, posterior leaflets, and chordae tendineae.

Mitral valve (MV) tissue engineering is still in its early stage, and one major challenge in MV tissue engineering is to identify appropriate scaffold materials. With the potential of acellular MV scaffolds being demonstrated recently, it is important to have a full understanding of the biomechanics of the native MV components and their acellular scaffolds. In this study, we have successfully characterized the structural and mechanical properties of porcine MV components, including anterior leaflet (AL), posterior leaflet (PL), strut chordae, and basal chordae, before and after decellularization.

Differences in Organ Donation and Transplantation in States Within the United States and in European Countries: Is There a Benefit to Opting Out?

Background: Organ donation in the United States currently requires explicit consent by an "opt-in" approach. Some European countries have reported an increase in donation rates with an "opt-out" strategy. We hypothesized that regional differences in decision making affect organ donation rates in different countries and suggest no single approach will reliably increase organ donation rates.

Cardiac transplantation in adults with congenital heart disease: A single center case series.

Background: Adult congenital heart disease (CHD) transplant recipients historically experienced worse survival early after transplantation. We aim to review updated trends in adult CHD transplantation.

Methods: We performed a single center case series of adult cardiac transplants from January 2013 through July 2020.

Myocardial Substrate Oxidation and Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Intermediates During Hypothermic Machine Perfusion.

Background: The optimal substrate for hypothermic machine perfusion preservation of donor hearts is unknown. Fatty acids, acetate, and ketones are preferred substrates of the heart during normothermic perfusion, but cannot replete the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle directly. Propionate, an anaplerotic substrate, can replenish TCA cycle intermediates and may affect cardiac metabolism.

A comparison of cholecystitis grading scales.

Background: Previously, our group developed the Parkland grading scale for cholecystitis (PGS) to stratify gallbladder (GB) disease severity that can be determined immediately when performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). In prior studies, PGS demonstrated excellent interrater reliability and was internally validated as an accurate measure of LC outcomes. Here, we compare PGS against a more complex cholecystitis severity score developed by the national trauma society, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST), which requires clinical, operative, imaging, and pathologic inputs, as a predictor of LC outcomes.

Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction: a quest for ideal management.

Management of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction has undergone much change over the last century. Techniques described in the literature include anatomical repairs and the use of various patches, conduits, and innovative grafts. However, many of these approaches require reoperations or catheter-based interventions, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and cost.

Ipsilateral arcuate foramen and high-riding vertebral artery: implication on C1-C2 instrumentation.

Background Context: Several methods for C1-C2 stabilization have been described in the literature. These include C1-C2 transarticular and C1 lateral mass screws. In patients with aberrant anatomy such as a high-riding vertebral artery (VA) or the presence of an arcuate foramen at C1, there exists a higher risk of VA injury.