The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Surgical resection is viewed as the most effective way to ensure both locoregional control and long-term survival in esophageal cancer. Although minimally invasive esophagectomy has been widely accepted as an alternative to open surgery, the role of robotic assistance has yet to be elucidated. We report our institutional experience with robotic-assisted Ivor Lewis esophagectomy using real-time perfusion assessment and demonstrate this as a safe and technically feasible alternative to traditional open Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that robotic-assisted Ivor Lewis esophagectomy using real-time perfusion assessment is a safe and technically feasible alternative to traditional open Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. It allows for R0 resection with adequate lymph node harvesting and a short hospital stay.
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We investigated the incidence and causes of unplanned hospital readmissions after continuous-flow (CF) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We also analyzed the impact of unplanned readmissions on post-CF-LVAD survival and the costs associated with each cause of readmission. ⋯ Gastrointestinal bleeding and CF-LVAD-related infections were the leading causes of readmission. Patients with a CF-LVAD spent 93% of their time out of hospital after implantation, and readmissions did not have a negative impact on long-term survival. New approaches to minimize these adverse events will continue to improve the efficacy and decrease the cost of CF-LVAD therapy.
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Clinical Trial
Pulmonary Artery Sealing Using the HARMONIC ACE+ Shears for Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Lobectomy.
The standard technique for pulmonary arterial (PA) branch sealing in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy consists of vascular endostaplers. We evaluated the immediate efficacy of an ultrasonic energy vessel-sealing device for sealing PA branches and compared it with the gold standard (endostapler) in an ex vivo model. ⋯ PA branches sealed using the HARMONIC ACE+ in a simulated ex vivo model were able to sustain high intraluminal pressures. ACE-sealed vessels burst at mean bursting pressures equal to or greater than the VES-stapled vessels.