The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Observational Study
Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Bayesian Analysis.
This study was conducted to identify preoperative predictors of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) by using a Bayesian analysis that included information from prior studies. ⋯ This prospective Bayesian analysis identified five independent preoperative predictors of POAF after isolated CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass: CHA2DS2-VASc score, severe obesity, preoperative β-blocker use, preoperative antiplatelet therapy, and renal failure. The main interest in the CHA2DS2-VASc score as a predictor of POAF is that it is a simple and widely used bedside tool. Patients with these independent predictors of POAF may constitute a target population to test preventive strategies, such as non-antiarrhythmic and antiarrhythmic drugs.
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Five-year survival of stage IV esophageal cancer is rare. The treatment of advanced esophageal cancer is typically palliative and the role of surgery remains controversial. We sought to understand the impact of curative surgery on survival and identify any favorable tumor or patient characteristics that might make surgical resection appropriate when treating stage IV esophageal cancer. ⋯ Few patients with stage IV esophageal cancer survive long term after surgical resection, though 5-year survival can occur. Our current recommendation is that esophagectomy should not be performed for stage IV disease.
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Case Reports
Mitral Valve Replacement With Sapien 3 Transcatheter Valve in Severe Mitral Annular Calcification.
Transcatheter valve implantation in the mitral position with severe calcific mitral stenosis has been described in patients who are at an increased risk for conventional mitral valve surgical procedures. We report the direct deployment of the Sapien 3 valve in the mitral position with severe mitral annular calcification through a sternotomy in an arrested heart in two cases.
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Multicenter Study
Outcomes of Patients Receiving Temporary Circulatory Support Before Durable Ventricular Assist Device.
Temporary circulatory support (TCS) is used to stabilize patients in critical cardiogenic shock and bridge patients to a durable ventricular assist device (VAD). Whether TCS confers increased risk at the time of VAD implant is unknown. ⋯ Temporary circulatory support restores hemodynamics and reverses end-organ dysfunction. Nevertheless, these patients have high residual risk with postoperative morbidity and mortality that parallels profile 1 patients without TCS. Caution is suggested in downgrading risk for TCS patients with improved hemodynamic stability.