The Annals of thoracic surgery
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The role of a reentry tear in the descending thoracic aorta (DTA) after repair of acute aortic dissection is not well known. We therefore investigated the impact of reentry tear location on late aorta reintervention and the aortic expansion rate after open repair of acute type I aortic dissection. ⋯ A proximally located DTA reentry tear was associated with an increased risk of late aorta reintervention and distal aortic dilatation.
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Practice Guideline
Committee Recommendations for Resuming Cardiac Surgery Activity in the SARS-CoV-2 Era: Guidance From an International Cardiac Surgery Consortium.
Recommendations for the safe and optimized resumption of cardiac surgery care, research, and education during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) era were developed by a cardiovascular research consortium, based in 19 countries and representing a wide spectrum of experience with COVID-19. This guidance document provides a framework for restarting cardiac surgery in the outpatient and inpatient settings, in accordance with the current understanding of SARS-CoV-2, the risks posed by interrupted cardiovascular care, and the available recommendations from major societies.
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Daytime Variation in Aortic Valve Surgery and Clinical Outcome: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.
Time of day potentially impacts outcomes in cardiac surgery. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess whether elective aortic valve replacement surgery performed in the morning versus the afternoon is associated with differences in risk-adjusted morbidity and mortality. ⋯ In our propensity score-matched analysis on 2720 patients undergoing elective isolated aortic valve replacement or combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting, time of day variation had no significant impact on clinical outcomes. Thus our study refutes the need to consider the timing of elective aortic valve surgery to improve clinical outcomes.
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Practice Guideline
Adult Cardiac Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Tiered Patient Triage Guidance Statement.
In the setting of the current novel coronavirus pandemic, this document has been generated to provide guiding statements for the adult cardiac surgeon to consider in a rapidly evolving national landscape. Acknowledging the risk for a potentially prolonged need for cardiac surgery procedure deferral, we have created this proposed template for physicians and interdisciplinary teams to consider in protecting their patients, institution, and their highly specialized cardiac surgery team. In addition, recommendations on the transition from traditional in-person patient assessments and outpatient follow-up are provided. Lastly, we advocate that cardiac surgeons must continue to serve as leaders, experts, and relevant members of our medical community, shifting our role as necessary in this time of need.