Sex differences in authorship in cardiothoracic surgery during the early coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic negatively impacted cardiothoracic (CT) surgery, with changes in clinical, academic, and personal responsibilities. We hypothesized that the pandemic may disproportionately impact female academic CT surgeons, accentuating preexisting sex disparities. This study assessed sex differences in authorship of 2 major CT surgery journals during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global Impact of Social Media on Women in Surgery.

The professional use of social media is increasingly prevalent today, particularly in medicine and surgery. Several recent movements have highlighted the strengths of this forum for networking and mentorship for females in surgery who otherwise may lack mentors locally. We sought to describe modern uses for and strengths of social media for women in surgery globally a systematic review of the literature.

Emphasizing iterative practices for a sequential course-based undergraduate research experience in microbial biofilms.

Iteration is a fundamental area of course design in course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). Iteration includes development of many skills necessary for laboratory work, experimental design, data analysis, communication and teamwork. With a focus on the microbial biofilm research track of the First-year Research Immersion (FRI) program, the perceptions of four student cohorts were examined at the end of the three-term CURE sequence, relative to exposure to iterative tasks, learning gains and benefits from the research experience.

Resection of a large mycotic aneurysm of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

A 50-year-old Indigenous woman, on home haemodialysis, was found to have a large mycotic aneurysm of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery at the site of a previous drug-eluting stent. Blood cultures grew methicillin-sensitive bacteraemia. She underwent a complex operation involving resection of the mycotic aneurysm, removal of the stent and a coronary artery bypass graft to the distal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery using the left internal mammary artery.

Massive prosthetic aortic abscess: an overarching plight 7 years post-Bentall's procedure.

Infections of proximal aortic vascular grafts are a catastrophic complication of aortic surgery. Despite aggressive antimicrobial and surgical intervention, mortality and reinfection rates remain significant. Here, we describe a man aged 71 years with a medical history of bioprosthetic aortic valve with aortic arch replacement (modified Bentall's procedure), who developed a large periprosthetic abscess due to 7 years after his initial surgery.

The Thoracic Surgery Social Media Network: Early experience and lessons learned.

Background: The Thoracic Surgery Social Media Network (TSSMN) is a social media collaborative formed in 2015 by The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery to bring social media attention to key publications from both journals and to highlight major accomplishments in the specialty. Our aim is to describe TSSMN's preliminary experience and lessons learned.

Methods: Twitter analytics was used to obtain information regarding the @TSSMN Twitter handle and #TSSMN hashtag.

The Thoracic Surgery Social Media Network: Early Experience and Lessons Learned.

Background: The Thoracic Surgery Social Media Network (TSSMN) is a social media collaborative formed in 2015 by The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery to bring social media attention to key publications from both journals and to highlight major accomplishments in the specialty. Our aim is to describe TSSMN's preliminary experience and lessons learned.

Methods: Twitter analytics was used to obtain information regarding the @TSSMN Twitter handle and #TSSMN hashtag.

Training program for Research Educators of sequential course-based undergraduate research experiences.

Science education studies have shown that a sequence of course-based research experiences has many positive effects for undergraduates. To maximize those benefits, we created a training program for the instructors (aka Research Educators). The program guides them in how to move students early in their college years through the process of science such that students then can successfully apply their learning to conduct real research projects.

A Rare Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma Masquerading as Pulmonary Embolus.

We present the case of a 46-year-old woman with a presumed diagnosis of multiple unprovoked pulmonary emboli. Her cardiorespiratory function continued to deteriorate despite optimal medical therapy. At surgical thrombectomy she was identified to have an intimal soft tissue lesion arising from the right pulmonary artery.

Role of Research Educator in sequential course-based undergraduate research experience program.

In our First-Year Research Immersion (FRI) program, students take a sequence of three CUREs (course-based undergraduate research experiences). Each Research Educator (Research Assistant Professor, aka RE) oversees the day-to-day work of about 30 first-year and 25 second-year students in a dedicated research-training lab. Instead of the typical work-load division for faculty between their teaching responsibilities (typically lecture) and research programs, REs combine these two responsibilities into one endeavour that better engages and teaches beginning students intending to major in science or engineering.

Large air-filled intrapulmonary bronchogenic cyst associated with tension pneumothorax during air travel.

A 38-year-old woman developed a spontaneous right-sided tension pneumothorax during light aircraft travel. The aircraft was diverted to a regional centre, where emergent needle thoracostomy and chest tube insertion were performed. History suggested that this was the second episode of pneumothorax, with an untreated event with similar symptomatology during air travel 1 year ago.

Cardiac Prehabilitation.

The care of patients undergoing cardiac surgery is becoming more complex, in part owing to the increasing burden of comorbid disease, frailty, and psychosocial issues. Many risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality are potentially modifiable if identified and treated in a timely fashion before surgery. Cardiac prehabilitation, draws from strategies currently undertaken in cardiac rehabilitation but implements them proactively rather than reactively.

Social media as a tool to rewrite the narrative for women in cardiothoracic surgery.

To deliver the best possible care, the global surgical workforce should mirror the diverse society it is entrusted to serve. Cardiothoracic surgery remains amongst the most under-represented of the surgical specialties for women. Herein, we describe the role of social media in the cardiothoracic surgery community and its potential to rewrite the narrative for women in cardiothoracic surgery.

Social Media as a Means of Networking and Mentorship: Role for Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

As women represent <5% of practicing cardiothoracic (CT) surgeons, networking and mentorship is pivotal to support the growth of women in this field. With widespread use of social media in the healthcare domain, its role in enhancing mentorship for CT surgeons who lack access to same-sex mentors remains unknown. Methods: A 35-item survey investigating CT trainee and surgeon social media use was designed using online survey software and distributed via social media and email.

The academic tweet: Twitter as a tool to advance academic surgery.

Social media, Twitter in particular, has emerged as an essential tool for surgeons. In the realm of academic surgery, it enables surgeons to advance the core values of academic surgery, as outlined by the Association for Academic Surgery: inclusion, leadership, innovation, scholarship, and mentorship. This article details the ways in which surgeons are using Twitter to embody these values and how the Twitter account for the Association of Academic Surgeons accomplishes its goal of inspiring and developing young academic surgeons.

Social media in the mentorship and networking of physicians: Important role for women in surgical specialties.

Background: Social media may be a useful supplement to physician and trainee interactions; however, its role in enhancing mentorship has not been described.

Methods: A 35-item survey investigating trainee and physician social media use was distributed. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Patch Repair of Anomalous Origin of Left Anterior Descending Artery From the Right Coronary Artery.

Coronary artery anomalies occur in an estimated 1.3% of the population. We present the case of a 52-year-old man who had a less common anomaly of a left anterior descending artery arising from the right coronary ostium, causing ischemia and chest pain, demonstrated by perfusion scan.

Modern cardiac surgery: the future of cardiac surgery in Australia.

Cardiac surgery is a relatively young specialty and is undergoing many changes presently. The advent of catheter-based technology, minimally invasive surgery and better information regarding the roles of cardiac surgery in the management of common cardiac disease is changing the way we provide services. In Australia, attention must be turned to the way cardiac surgical services are provided to enable delivery of modern procedures.

Surgical Results and Outcomes After Reimplantation for the Management of Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Right Coronary Artery.

Background: Anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery (AAORCA) has been reported to cause myocardial ischemia, leading to angina, dyspnea, and decreased exercise tolerance. Reimplantation is a repair technique devised to exclude the abnormal intramural portion of the anomalous artery and avoid the known late attrition of saphenous vein grafts. Our study aims to evaluate the medium-term clinical outcomes with this technique.