The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Practice Guideline
Ramping Up Delivery of Cardiac Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Guidance Statement From The Society of Thoracic Surgeons COVID-19 Task Force.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound global impact. Its rapid transmissibility has transformed healthcare delivery and forced countries to adopt strict measures to contain its spread. ⋯ This "flattening of the curve" has prompted interest in reopening the economy, relaxing public health restrictions, and resuming nonurgent healthcare delivery. The following document provides a template whereby adult cardiac surgical programs may begin to ramp-up the care delivery in a deliberate and graded fashion as the COVID-19 pandemic burden begins to ease. "Resuscitating" the timely delivery of care is guided by three principles: (1) Collaborate to permit increased case volumes, balancing the clinical needs of patients awaiting surgical procedures with the local resources available within each healthcare system. (2) Prioritize patients awaiting elective procedures while proactively engaging all stakeholders, focusing on those with high-risk anatomy, changing/symptomatic clinical status, and, once these variables have been addressed, prioritizing by waiting times. (3) Reevaluate local conditions continuously to assess for any increase in admissions due to a recrudescence of cases, to assure adequate resources to care for patients, and to monitor in-hospital infectious transmissions to both patients and healthcare workers.
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Guidelines outlining the role of surgical embolectomy for acute pulmonary embolism remain consensus based; however, recent outcomes have improved compared with traditional experiences. This study examined contemporary outcomes of patients treated for acute pulmonary embolism on a nationwide scale. ⋯ In this contemporary, real-world study, mortality occurred in 19.8% of patients undergoing surgical embolectomy for acute pulmonary embolism. This represents a significant improvement compared with traditional outcomes and supports the role of surgery in the multidisciplinary treatment of this high-risk condition.
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Comparative Study
Mechanical Versus Biologic Prostheses for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients Aged 50 to 70.
The use of biologic prosthesis is increasing in surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Recent US guidelines recommend either biologic or mechanical prosthesis for SAVR in patients aged 50 to 70 years. We set out to study long-term outcomes of mechanical versus biologic prosthetic valves in this patient group. ⋯ Mechanical valve prostheses were associated with lower mortality, lower rates of reoperation, and lower occurrence of infective endocarditis compared with bioprostheses within 10 years after SAVR in matched patients aged 50 to 70 years. Our results do not support the routine use of biologic valve prostheses in this patient group.
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Comparative Study
Impact of supra-aortic intimal tears on aortic diameter changes after non-total arch replacement.
This study evaluated the impact of the intimal tear location on aortic dilation and reintervention after nontotal arch replacement (non-TAR) for acute type I aortic dissection. ⋯ We confirmed that SA and proximal DTA intimal tears are associated with subsequent aortic dilation and reintervention. These proximal aortic intimal tears might warrant aggressive surgical treatment at the initial operation or close postoperative follow-up.