Intraoperative Communication Among Men and Women Surgeons With Nursing and Anesthesia Providers.

Introduction: Gender bias has been reported by women surgeons, but its impact on communication in the operating room (OR) is unclear. OR communication is critical to understand, as it directly impacts patient outcomes. The current study evaluates potential gender bias in the type and quality of communication between surgeons and OR nursing and anesthesia providers.

Does ultrasound guidance decrease femoral access site complications in neurointerventional procedures? A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Ultrasound has been increasingly used to guide femoral arterial access for neuroendovascular procedures. Its effect on the safety outcomes has yet to be established.

Purpose: The purpose is to determine the effect of ultrasound-guided punctures on femoral access site complications (ASC), and to identify other potential predictors of ASC.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes Following the WATCHMAN Device Use in Medicare Beneficiaries.

Background: Long-term outcomes following left atrial appendage occlusion outside clinical trials and small registries are largely unknown. Collecting these data was a condition of US market authorization of the WATCHMAN device. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the rates of stroke, bleeding, and death among Medicare beneficiaries following left atrial appendage occlusion implantation during initial commercial availability of the WATCHMAN left atrial appendage occlusion device overall and in important subgroups.

The path to sustainable cardiac surgery in Rwanda: analysis of costs for consumables used during cardiac surgery for a non-governmental organization.

Background: Until local healthcare infrastructure is strengthened, cardiac surgical care in low- and middle-income countries is often provided by non-governmental organizations by way of visiting healthcare teams. This is generally considered to be a cost-effective alternative to transporting patients to high income countries for surgical care, but the costs of cardiac surgery consumables under this model are poorly understood. Our objective was to identify the per-patient cost of cardiac surgery consumables used in single and double valve replacements performed by a non-governmental organization in Rwanda.

Impact of Aficamten on Disease and Symptom Burden in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Results From SEQUOIA-HCM.

Background: Aficamten is a cardiac myosin inhibitor that mitigates left ventricular outflow gradients in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). The clinical efficacy of aficamten across multiple outcome domains in oHCM has not been fully defined.

Objectives: This responder analysis from the SEQUOIA-HCM (Phase 3 Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Aficamten Compared to Placebo in Adults With Symptomatic oHCM) trial characterizes the clinical impact of aficamten.

The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable strategic plan: Optimizing strategies for lung nodule evaluation and management.

Lung nodules are frequently detected on low-dose computed tomography scans performed for lung cancer screening and incidentally detected on imaging performed for other reasons. There is wide variability in how lung nodules are managed by general practitioners and subspecialists, with high rates of guideline-discordant care. This may be due in part to the level of evidence underlying current practice guideline recommendations (primarily based on findings from uncontrolled studies of diagnostic accuracy).

How to utilize current guidelines to manage patients with cancer at high risk for heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) in patients with cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The success of cancer therapy has resulted in an exponential rise in the population of cancer survivors, however cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now a major life limiting condition more than 5 years after cancer diagnosis [Sturgeon, Deng, Bluethmann, et al 40(48):3889-3897, 2019]. Prevention and early detection of CVD, including cardiomyopathy (CM) and HF is of paramount importance.

Use of web-based decision support to improve informed choice for chemoprevention: a qualitative analysis of pre-implementation interviews (SWOG S1904).

Background: Women with high-risk breast lesions, such as atypical hyperplasia (AH) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), have a 4- to tenfold increased risk of breast cancer compared to women with non-proliferative breast disease. Despite high-quality data supporting chemoprevention, uptake remains low. Interventions are needed to break down barriers.

Evaluating ChatGPT as a patient resource for frequently asked questions about lung cancer surgery-a pilot study.

Objective: Chat-based artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT are reimagining how patients seek information. This study aims to evaluate the quality and accuracy of ChatGPT-generated answers to common patient questions about lung cancer surgery.

Methods: A 30-question survey of patient questions about lung cancer surgery was posed to ChatGPT in July 2023.

Racial disparity in peripheral nerve block usage in breast reconstruction: A nationwide analysis.

Peripheral nerve block (PNB) usage in plastic surgery is associated with reduction in post-operative opioid consumption and pain demonstrating benefits in breast reconstruction (BR). This retrospective study explored whether racial-ethnic disparities exist with PNB use for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing BR. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, women who underwent BR from 2012-2021 and received "regional" in addition to general anesthesia were included in the study.

Characteristics, associations, and outcomes of children with posterior segment coloboma.

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with posterior segment coloboma (PSC).

Methods: The medical records of children (age <18 years) with PSC examined at Boston Children's Hospital from May 1997 to May 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. The following data were collected: demographics, ocular and systemic conditions, coloboma type according to the Ida Mann (IM) classification, and best-corrected visual acuity.

Association of cannabis use disorder with atrial fibrillation in young men without concomitant tobacco use: Insights from nationwide propensity matched analysis.

Background: Recent data are inconclusive regarding the risk of arrhythmias among young cannabis users. Furthermore, many young adults use both cannabis and tobacco, which could add a residual confounding effect on outcomes. So, we studied young men who have cannabis use disorder (CUD) excluding tobacco use disorder (TUD) to understand their independent association with atrial fibrillation (AF) and related outcomes.

Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormonal Therapy on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Transgender Health: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Background: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is common among transgender individuals, but its impact on lipid profile and cardiovascular health is not well studied.

Objectives: The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature to assess the impact of GAHT on lipid profiles and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in transgender individuals.

Methods: Online databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central registry were searched to find studies on lipid profile changes in women who are transgender, also referred to as transfeminine (TF), and men who are transgender, also referred to as transmasculine (TM) before and after GAHT.

The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable strategic plan: Implementation of high-quality lung cancer screening.

More than a decade has passed since researchers in the Early Lung Cancer Action Project and the National Lung Screening Trial demonstrated the ability to save lives of high-risk individuals from lung cancer through regular screening by low dose computed tomography scan. The emergence of the most recent findings in the Dutch-Belgian lung-cancer screening trial (Nederlands-Leuvens Longkanker Screenings Onderzoek [NELSON]) further strengthens and expands on this evidence. These studies demonstrate the benefit of integrating lung cancer screening into clinical practice, yet lung cancer continues to lead cancer mortality rates in the United States.

Robotic-Assisted Pleurectomy Is a Safe and Effective Surgical Treatment for Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

Introduction: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a common thoracic surgical problem. To prevent recurrence, surgical options include blebectomy, mechanical or chemical pleurodesis, pleurectomy, or a combination of these operations. Pleurectomy is associated with lower recurrence rates but may be technically challenging via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Interactions between Food or Herbal Products and Oral Anticoagulants: Evidence Review, Practical Recommendations, and Knowledge Gaps.

Interactions between food and oral anticoagulants (OACs), particularly vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin, are widely recognized and may also be clinically relevant for direct OACs. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions with food or herbs can lead to anticoagulation potentiation, increased risk of bleeding, or reduced drug efficacy, all compromising patient safety. We conducted a systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PubMed for assessments of interactions between OACs and various ingestants.