Ex vivo lung perfusion: how we do it.

Lung transplantation is an established treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease. However, a shortage of donors, low lung utilization among potential donors, and waitlist mortality continue to be challenges. In the last decade, ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has expanded the donor pool by allowing prolonged evaluation of marginal donor lungs and allowing reparative therapies for lungs, which are otherwise considered not transplantable.

Is internal mammary artery graft beneficial in emergent coronary artery bypass surgery? A Society of Thoracic Surgeons national database analysis.

Background: Often, only saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) are used in emergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures to provide quicker myocardial revascularization despite its lower long-term patency relative to the internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts. We examined differences between IMA and non-IMA graft recipients in emergent CABGs and its impact on in-hospital outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective review of Society of Thoracic Surgeon National Database was done to identify patients age ≥18 years undergoing primary emergent isolated CABG between 2013 and 2016.

Objective Donor Scoring System for Lung Transplantation.

Background: There is no objective method to estimate post-lung transplant survival solely on the basis of cumulative donor risk factors.

Methods: The United Network Organ Sharing thoracic transplant database was queried to identify patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2005 and 2015. A Cox proportional hazard model was generated using a training set to identify donor risk factors significantly associated with posttransplant survival.

Valvectomy Versus Replacement for the Surgical Treatment of Tricuspid Endocarditis.

Background: Optimal surgical treatment of infective tricuspid endocarditis is debatable, especially in the setting of inherent social and pathologic concerns. This study compared tricuspid valve repair, replacement, and excision for the treatment of infective endocarditis METHODS: A single-center cardiac surgery database was queried to identify patients aged older than 18 years who underwent tricuspid valve operations for infective endocarditis between 2012 and 2016. Patients were divided into three groups by the type of tricuspid valve operation: valvectomy, repair, or replacement.

Use of drug intoxicated donors for lung transplant: Impact on survival outcomes.

Introduction: The number of increasing deaths due to the opioid epidemic has led to a potential greater supply of organ donors. There is hesitancy to use drug intoxicated donors, and we evaluated their impact on post-transplant survival.

Background: Patients ≥18 years of age undergoing lung transplantation and donors from whom at least one organ was donated between January 2005 and March 2015 were selected from the United Network of Organ Sharing database.

Changing demographics of heart donors: The impact of donor drug intoxication on posttransplant survival.

Recent reports have shown an increase in the number of organ donors from drug intoxication. The impact of donor drug use on survival after cardiac transplant remains unclear. The aim of our study was to illustrate changes in donor death mechanisms and assess the impact on posttransplant survival.

Does Donor Age and Double Versus Single Lung Transplant Affect Survival of Young Recipients?

Background: In an effort to expand the donor pool for lung transplants, numerous studies have examined the use of advanced age donors with mixed results, including decreased survival among younger recipients. We evaluated the impact of the use of advanced age donors and single versus double lung transplantation on posttransplant survival.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was retrospectively queried between January 2005 and June 2014 to identify lung transplant patients aged at least 18 years.

Metabolic syndrome as a predictor for postoperative complications after urologic surgery.

Objective: To elucidate whether metabolic syndrome (MS) has an effect on outcomes after nephrectomy, prostatectomy, or cystectomy.

Methods: Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program's database, patients undergoing cystectomy, nephrectomy, or prostatectomy between 2005 and 2011 were reviewed to assess for the presence of MS and a variety of perioperative complications.

Results: The overall complication rate for cystectomy, nephrectomy, and prostatectomy was 52.