General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jul 2018
ReviewSurgical strategies for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect associated with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.
Treatment of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries is challenging and controversial. Basically, the collateral arteries are treated surgically by unifocalization to integrate them and unify the blood flow in the pulmonary circulation. These major collateral arteries are anatomically similar to the bronchial arteries; however, they develop into different vessels because of different environmental exposures. ⋯ Recently, single-stage unifocalization performed during infancy has become the preferred method for achieving low right ventricular pressure after closing the ventricular septal defect. Furthermore, for the maintenance of the lowest possible right ventricular pressure after definitive repair, combination therapy or hybrid therapy with catheter and surgical intervention is essential. The surgical treatment strategy for a single ventricle with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries is more difficult than that involving two ventricles.
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jul 2018
The impact of junior surgical jobs in cardiothoracic surgery on career choice in the United Kingdom.
Cardiothoracic surgery is a small specialty, often with a limited presence on the undergraduate curriculum. In the past, there was a heavy reliance on postgraduate exposure to inform career choice. Recent changes in recruitment to the specialty in the United Kingdom may reduce exposure of the best trainees to the specialty, and reduce the quality of future surgeons. This study will evaluate the impact of junior surgical jobs on future career preferences. ⋯ The role of junior surgical jobs in the specialty is immensely important on career choice. Moving to a more junior recruitment may exclude excellent candidates who have simply not experienced cardiothoracic surgery.