Assessing the impact of socioeconomic distress on hospital readmissions after cardiac surgery.

Background: The impact of socioeconomic distress on readmission rates following cardiac surgery has not been studied. We hypothesized that patients living in distressed communities would have a higher 30-day readmission rate after cardiac surgery compared to those living in less distressed communities.

Methods: Patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between 2016 and 2023 within a regional collaborative were identified.

Cardiac Surgical Unit-Advanced Life Support-certified centers are associated with improved failure to rescue after cardiac arrest: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Objective: The impact of Cardiac Surgical Unit-Advanced Life Support (CSU-ALS) training on failure to rescue after cardiac arrest (FTR-CA) is unknown. We hypothesized that institutional CSU-ALS certification would be associated with lower FTR-CA.

Methods: Patients undergoing Society of Thoracic Surgeons index operations from 2020 to 2023 from a regional collaborative were analyzed.

Prophylactic left atrial appendage ligation during coronary artery bypass grafting: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Objective: The study objective was to evaluate short-term outcomes and statewide practice patterns of prophylactic left atrial appendage ligation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting without preoperative atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Adult patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (2017-2023) within a regional collaborative were identified. Patients with a history of atrial fibrillation, previous cardiac surgery, or nondevice-based left atrial appendage ligation were excluded.

Malignant undifferentiated and rhabdoid tumors of the gastroesophageal junction and esophagus with SMARCA4 loss: a case series.

Undifferentiated SMARCA4-deficient carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction is a rare, highly aggressive, and diagnostically challenging malignancy. Here we present a case series of high-grade undifferentiated malignant neoplasms of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction that share SMARCA4 loss by immunohistochemistry and demonstrate a rhabdoid phenotype. Five cases are presented, including 4 men and 1 woman with an age range of 48-79 years.

Endothelial Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 Channels Mediate Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Background: Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), involving severe inflammation and edema, is a major cause of primary graft dysfunction after transplant. Activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channels modulates vascular permeability. Thus, this study tests the hypothesis that endothelial TRPV4 channels mediate lung IRI.

Quadriceps Strength Is Influenced by Skeletal Maturity in Adolescents Recovering From Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament injuries and anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLRs) are common, especially in adolescent patients. Recovery of strength, jumping performance, and perceived/subjective function are often used to make a return to sports decisions after injury. It is unknown how skeletal maturity may influence strength recovery after ACLR.

Tele-Urology During COVID-19: Rapid Implementation of Remote Video Visits.

Introduction: COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges to the delivery of urological care. Following rapid implementation of remote video visits at our tertiary academic medical center serving a large rural population we describe and assess our experience with planned video visits and ongoing scheduling efforts.

Methods: Patients scheduled for video visits between April 14 and April 27, 2020 were included.

Benefits and barriers to pediatric tele-urology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Telemedicine video visits are an under-utilized form of delivering health care. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, practices are rapidly adapting telemedicine for patient care. We describe our experience in rapidly introducing video visits in a tertiary academic pediatric urology practice, serving primarily rural patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Does renal mass biopsy influence multidisciplinary treatment recommendations?

To examine how a multidisciplinary team approach incorporating renal mass biopsy (RMB) into decision making changes the management strategy. A multidisciplinary team comprised of a radiology proceduralist, a pathologist and urologists convened monthly for renal mass conference with a structured presentation of patient demographics, co-mborbidities, tumor pathology, laboratory and radiographic features. Biopsy protocol was standardized to an 18-gauge core needle biopsy using a sheathed apparatus under renal ultrasound guidance.