The Annals of thoracic surgery
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The impetus for aortic valve (AV) repair is to decrease valve-related complications in comparison to prosthetic valve replacement. However, relatively few data are available to confirm this hypothesis. We analyzed valve-related complications in a large series of patients undergoing AV repair. ⋯ The current findings confirm that AV repair is associated with low mortality, acceptable durability, and a low risk of valve-related events.
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Patients with end-stage achalasia may not be candidates for a transhiatal minimally invasive esophageal resection because of anatomic challenges and adhesions from previous interventions, namely, thoracotomy. Given the tactile feedback provided through a GelPort laparoscopic system (Applied Medical, Rancho Margarita, CA) we proposed that a minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy would be feasible in this patient cohort. The procedure was successful in 4 patients; seven complications occurred in 3 of the patients. At follow-up all patients demonstrated that they were meeting their nutritional needs with an oral diet.
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A video-assisted thoracoscopic approach to lobectomy varies among surgeons. Typically, 3 to 4 incisions are made. Our approach has evolved from a 3-port to a 2-port approach to a single 4- to 5-cm incision with no rib spreading. We report results with single-incision video-assisted thoracic major pulmonary resections during our first 2 years of experience. ⋯ Single-incision video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomic resection is a feasible and safe procedure with good perioperative results, especially when performed by surgeons experienced with the double-port technique and anterior thoracotomy.
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At the 25th Annual General Thoracic Surgical Club meeting in March 2012, the major cooperative groups presented updates on clinical trials at the Robert Ginsberg Clinical Trials Meeting. There were 57 members in attendance. ⋯ These include oncologic trials that thoracic surgeons are currently accruing patients to in North America. The purpose of this review is to centralize the information to assist surgeons enrolling patients into oncologic clinical trials in thoracic surgery.