Congenital Absence of Left Circumflex Artery: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Congenital absence of the left circumflex artery is a rare coronary anomaly with few reported cases in the literature. These patients are usually diagnosed incidentally when they undergo coronary angiography or coronary CT to rule out underlying coronary artery disease. In this article, we report a case of a 46-year-old man who was incidentally found to have a congenitally absent left circumflex artery with a superdominant right coronary artery after a workup was initiated for frequent premature ventricular contractions and regional wall motion on echocardiogram.

Quantitative increase in frailty is associated with diminished survival after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of frailty index comprised of commonly used frailty metrics on outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) outcomes, including mortality, length of stay, and discharge destination.

Methods And Results: Retrospective data collection was performed for 342 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR at a single center from May 15, 2012, to September 17, 2015. Frailty index score was calculated using 15-ft walk test, Katz activities of daily living, preoperative serum albumin, and dominant handgrip strength.

Outcomes following emergent open repair for thoracic aortic dissection are improved at higher volume centers in direct admissions and transfers.

Background: The purpose of this study is (1) to define the proportion of patients undergoing emergent open repair of thoracic aortic dissection admitted directly through the emergency room versus those transferred from outside hospitals and (2) to determine if a volume-outcomes relationship exists for those patients across admission types.

Methods: De-identified patient-level data was obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2004-2008). Patients undergoing emergent aortic surgery for thoracic aortic dissection (n = 1,507) were identified by ICD-9 codes and stratified by annual center volume into low volume (≤5 cases/year) (n = 963; 63.

Evidence supports severe renal insufficiency as a relative contraindication to heart transplantation.

Background: This study was conducted to determine whether survival after orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) is associated with pre-transplant estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and to define ranges of pre-OHT eGFR associated with differences in post-transplant survival. The 2006 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation revised listing criteria for OHT stated that chronic kidney disease, defined by an eGFR <40 ml/min is a relative contraindication for OHT alone. The committee noted that this recommendation was supported by consensus opinion of experts and not data derived from a randomized trial or non-randomized studies.

Distribution of donor lungs in the United States: a case for broader geographic sharing.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between allocation of donor lungs by geographic sharing type (GST) and lung allocation score (LAS).

Methods: UNOS data included lung transplant recipients between 5/4/05 and 09/30/15 (n = 17 416) grouped by GST of donor lungs: local, regional, or national. Recipients were stratified by LAS <50, 50-75, and >75.

Prophylactic Subclavian Artery Intraaortic Balloon Counter-Pulsation is Safe in High-Risk Cardiac Surgery Patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the safety of prophylactic subclavian artery intraaortic balloon pumps (SCA-IABP) in high-risk cardiac surgery patients as a bridge to recovery (BTR). From November 2011 to January 2013, 11 consecutive patients at three institutions underwent prophylactic insertion of a SCA-IABP as a BTR. All patients (n = 11) had preoperative ejection fractions of 30% or less.

The arrowhead ministernotomy with rigid sternal plate fixation: a minimally invasive approach for surgery of the ascending aorta and aortic root.

Background. Ministernotomy incisions have been increasingly used in a variety of settings. We describe a novel approach to ministernotomy using arrowhead incision and rigid sternal fixation with a standard sternal plating system.

Development of Mega-Aorta Following Incompletely Treated Giant Cell Arteritis.

An 82-year-old male presented with a 9.3 cm ascending aorta and arch aneurysm with additional aneurysms of the innominate, right subclavian, and left common carotid arteries. The patient had a history of temporal arteritis that was only briefly treated in 1989 and a 6 cm ascending aortic aneurysm that was repaired in 1993.