Journal of cardiac surgery
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Multicenter Study
The impact of COVID-19 on thoracic surgery residency programs in the US: A program director survey.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has altered how the current generation of thoracic surgery residents are being trained. The aim of this survey was to determine how thoracic surgery program directors (PDs) are adapting to educating residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the educational approach of thoracic surgery programs. PDs are adapting educational delivery to optimize training and safety during the pandemic. Long-term effects remain uncertain and require additional study.
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Comparative Study
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on congenital heart surgery practice: An alarming change in demographics.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of COVID-19 outbreak on congenital cardiac surgery practice in a single center. ⋯ Congenital cardiac surgery practice can be safely maintained with restricted case volume during the pandemic period. It is alarming that patients in the deprived areas cannot access pediatric cardiac surgery and possibly other health services because of closure of the borders between countries.
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Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is a therapeutic strategy for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There are inconclusive data in this regard and causes of VV-ECMO failure are not yet understood well. ⋯ Hypercoagulability state and oxygenator failure were the most main etiologies for VV-ECMO failure in our study. All patients with COVID-19 undergoing VV-ECMO should be monitored for such problems and highly specialized healthcare team should monitor the patients during VV-ECMO.
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Both coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and cardiac surgery have a negative impact on pulmonary function. This study aimed to determine the postoperative respiratory outcomes of patients with COVID-19 who underwent cardiac surgery. ⋯ Although early respiratory outcomes of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients who underwent early cardiac surgery appeared to be satisfactory, compared to the propensity-scored matched non-COVID group, the postoperative outcomes were worse, especially in the ICU readmitted patients. We suggest postponing cardiac operations unless the patient requires emergency surgery.
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Case Reports
Successful treatment of thoracic aortic graft infection by omental flap following vacuum-assisted closure therapy.
Postoperative thoracic aortic graft infection (TAGI) is a serious and potentially fatal complication. The classical approach is to replace the infected graft. However, this approach has a high mortality rate. Alternatively, treatment of TAGI without graft replacement can be performed METHOD: Herein, we present a 72-year-old case with mediastinitis and graft infection after type A aortic dissection operation and successful treatment using omental flap coverage following vacuum-assisted wound closure therapy without graft replacement. ⋯ The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and remains infection-free to date.