Feasibility study comparing synthesized mammography with digital breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography for simulated first round screening in a single BreastScreen NSW centre.

Introduction: While digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has proven to enhance cancer detection and reduce recall rates (RR), its integration into BreastScreen Australia for screening has been limited, in part due to perceived cost implications. This study aims to assess the cost effectiveness of digital mammography (DM) compared with synthesized mammography and DBT (SM + DBT) in a first round screening context for short-term outcomes.

Methods: Clients recalled for nonspecific density (NSD) as a single lesion by both readers at the Northern Sydney Central Coast BreastScreen service in 2019 were included.

An observational study to determine volume changes in the functional liver remnant following portal vein embolization.

Background And Aim: Portal vein embolization (PVE) prior to hepatic resection reduces the risk of hepatic insufficiency in the postoperative period by redistributing blood from the embolized unhealthy liver to the healthy liver, termed the functional liver remnant (FLR). A retrospective analysis of liver volumes after embolization in a single institution was performed to identify change in volume of the FLR and determine factors affecting this change.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2015, 21 patients undergoing PVE followed by hepatic resection for varied indications (colorectal metastases, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, etc.

An analysis of the morbidity associated with abdominal wall resection and reconstruction after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC).

Purpose: CRS/HIPEC has evolved as an effective method for management of selected patients with peritoneal metastatic disease. Abdominal wall resection (AWR) is often required, and may require complex reconstructions, such as component separation (CST) leading to wound dehiscence (WD) and wound complications (WC). The purpose of our study was to analyse factors contributing to wound complications and wound recurrence (WR).

The Aortic Root Replacement Procedure: 12-year Experience from the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons Database.

Background: The aortic root replacement procedure (ARR), is often considered the gold standard in the management of aortic root and ascending aorta aneurysms. Our aim was to review the Australian experience with this procedure to ascertain early and late outcomes of mortality and morbidity.

Methods: We reviewed the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons' (ANZSCTS) database for patients undergoing ARR.

The Benefits and Pitfalls of the Use of Risk Stratification Tools in Cardiac Surgery.

Risk assessment tools are increasingly used in surgery. In cardiac surgery, risk models are used for patient counselling, surgical decision-making, performance benchmarking, clinical research, evaluation of new therapies and quality assurance, among others. However, they have numerous disadvantages which need to be considered.

Early and Late Outcomes Following Valve Sparing Aortic Root Reconstruction: The ANZSCTS Database.

Background: Valve sparing aortic root reconstruction (VSARR) has become an alternative to traditional aortic root replacement with a valved conduit. There have been various modifications but the two broad types are aortic root reimplantation and the aortic root remodelling procedure. We present the early and late outcomes following valve sparing aortic root reconstruction surgery in Australia.

Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Composite Y Grafts: Analysis of 464 Angiograms in 296 Patients.

Background: The use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITA) in coronary artery bypass graft surgery improves patient survival. The optimum BITA graft configuration is unknown. This study evaluates outcomes after the use of bilateral internal mammary Y grafting as the primary grafting strategy.

Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of On-Pump (ONCAB) versus Off-Pump (OPCAB) Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in the Elderly: A Review of the ANZSCTS Database.

Background: The elderly population (age >70 years) incurs greater mortality and morbidity following CABG. Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) may mitigate these outcomes. A retrospective analysis of the results of OPCAB in this population was performed.

Application of Clinical Databases to Contemporary Cardiac Surgery Practice: Where are We now?

Cardiac surgery has embraced and encouraged the use of large, multi-institutional datasets in clinical practice. From a research perspective, database studies have facilitated an increased understanding of cardiac surgery. Among other uses, they have allowed an investigation of disease incidence and mortality, high risk groups, disparities in health care delivery and the impact of new devices and techniques.

Outcomes of On-Pump versus Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in the High Risk (AusSCORE > 5).

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) has been established as the preferred intervention for coronary revascularisation in the high-risk population. Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) may further reduce mortality and morbidity in this population subgroup. This study presents the largest series of high-risk (AusSCORE > 5) OPCAB patients in Australia and New Zealand.

Prognostic coronary surgery in a case of malignant mesothelioma previously managed with trimodality treatment.

We report a case of malignant pleural mesothelioma treated with trimodality treatment. At three years after the extrapleural pneumonectomy, coronary artery revascularisation surgery for NSTEMI was performed in view of favourable long term prognostic and survival outcome. Five years following pleuropneumonectomy there is no clinical or radiological evidence of mesothelioma and the patient remains free of cardiac symptoms.