Concomitant Tricuspid Valve Ring Annuloplasty During Mitral Valve Surgery Versus Mitral Valve Surgery Alone: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aim: Although current guidelines recommend concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty for moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and/or dilated annulus, there remains significant variation in undertaking concomitant tricuspid valve surgery (TVA) across different centres. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of concomitant tricuspid valve surgery for patients with moderate or greater TR and/or dilated annulus at the time of mitral valve (MV) surgery.

Method: A systematic review of the literature using six databases.

Recurrent infection and embolism following tricuspid valve repair for infective endocarditis in an intravenous drug user: A clinical dilemma.

Management of infective endocarditis (IE) in intravenous drug users (IVDUs) can be challenging due to risk of reinfection following surgery. Although complex repair techniques that can be utilized to reconstruct the tricuspid valve after extensive debridement, treatment of active IVDU is incomplete without effective post-operative harm reduction intervention program.

Salvage debulking surgery and hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy for massive recurrent mesothelioma in the mediastinum.

Mediastinal malignant pleural mesothelioma with signs of tamponade is rare. Indication for reoperation for recurrent malignant pleural mesothelioma is a controversial but viable option in selected patients. We report a case of a 68-year-old man presenting with epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent a total of three debulking surgeries (pleurectomy/decortication) combined with hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy.

In patients with thoracic aortic graft infection, is graft explantation and replacement superior to in situ graft preservation?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether graft explantation and replacement are superior to graft preservation in patients with thoracic aortic graft infections. Altogether, more than 487 papers were found using the reported search; of these, 7 comparative studies represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.

Myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrillation due to iatrogenic right coronary artery occlusion following tricuspid valve annuloplasty: a case report.

Background: Iatrogenic right coronary artery (RCA) injury is a rare complication of tricuspid valve annuloplasty. Given that surgical intervention is increasingly favoured for tricuspid regurgitation, it is of great importance to recognize potential complications following tricuspid valve surgery.

Case Summary: A 72-year-old man underwent surgical mitral and tricuspid valve repair.

Frozen elephant trunk does not increase incidence of paraplegia in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Objective: We seek to assess the safety of total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk for acute type A aortic dissection in respect to the risks of operative mortality, stroke, and paraplegia using an international multicenter registry (ARCH).

Methods: The ARCH Registry database from 37 participating centers was analyzed between 2000 and 2015. Patients who underwent emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection treated by total arch replacement with or without frozen elephant trunk were included.

Minimally Invasive Epicardial Surgical Ablation Alone Versus Hybrid Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with non-paroxysmal AF is an elusive goal. Some suggest that hybrid ablation, combining minimally invasive epicardial surgical ablation with endocardial catheter ablation, may be more effective than either modality alone. However, randomised trials are lacking.

Giant Aortic Thrombus in the Ascending Aorta and Perforation of Bowel Associated With Cocaine Use.

A floating giant aortic thrombus is a rare finding in the absence of any coagulation disorder. Patients usually remain asymptomatic until the development of embolic complications. Our report highlights cocaine abuse as a potential cause of aortic thrombus and bowel perforation.

Surgical septal myectomy or alcohol septal ablation: which approach offers better outcomes for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether surgical septal myectomy (SM) is more beneficial than alcohol septal ablation (ASA) in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Altogether 218 articles were found using the reported search, of which 15 studies represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.

Hemiarch versus total aortic arch replacement in acute type A dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Despite recent advances in aortic surgery, acute type A aortic dissection remains a surgical emergency associated with high mortality and morbidity. Appropriate management is crucial to achieve satisfactory outcomes but the optimal surgical approach is controversial. The present systematic review and meta-analysis sought to access cumulative data from comparative studies between hemiarch and total aortic arch replacement in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Acute complete uterine inversion after controlled cord traction of placenta following vaginal delivery: a case report.

Early recognition and active management of the third stage of labor will reduce the risks associated with uterine inversion. All staff members in the maternal unit should be updated with Green-Top guidelines No. 52 and be appropriately trained in the PROMPT course to provide a standardized approach in obstetric emergencies.

Is moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion superior to deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in elective aortic arch surgery?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether moderate hypothermia circulatory arrest with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) is more beneficial than deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in elective aortic arch surgery. Altogether, 1028 papers were found using the reported search, of which 6 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.

Body Mass Index and Smoking Affect Thioguanine Nucleotide Levels in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Introduction: Optimal levels of the thiopurine metabolite, 6-thioguanine nucleotides [6-TGN] correlate with remission of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Apart from variations in the thiopurine methyl transferase [TPMT] gene, little is known about other predictors of 6-TGN levels. Obesity adversely affects response to infliximab and adalimumab and clinical course in IBD, but little is known about the interaction of thiopurines and obesity.