Journal of cardiac surgery
-
Multicenter Study
Adult cardiac surgery in Trinidad and Tobago during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from a developing country.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seen the cancellation of elective cardiac surgeries worldwide. Here we report the experience of a cardiac surgery unit in a developing country in response to the COVID-19 crisis. ⋯ These strategies allowed us to maintain a service for urgent and emergency procedures and may prove useful for larger countries when there is decrease in COVID-19 cases and planning for the restart of elective cardiac surgery.
-
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.
-
Multicenter Study
The role of extracorporeal life support for patients with COVID-19: Preliminary results from a statewide experience.
There is a paucity of clinical data on critically ill patients with COVID-19 requiring extracorporeal life support. ⋯ These preliminary multi-institutional data from a statewide collaborative offer insight into the clinical characteristics of the first 10 patients requiring ECMO for COVID-19 and their initial clinical course. Greater morbidity and mortality is likely to be seen in these critically ill patients with longer follow-up.
-
Multicenter Study
Is there a national variation in cardiothoracic trainees' satisfaction? Evaluation of the United Kingdom General Medical Council national training surveys.
The national training surveys was first started in 2006, with an aim to determine the quality of the national training standard. All trainees working in a General Medical Council approved training post are required to complete the survey. We aimed to evaluate cardiothoracic trainees' satisfaction and determine whether there is variation in the United Kingdom. ⋯ Thirty-three cardiothoracic centers are included in this study The top three areas that trainees are most satisfied are clinical supervision (out of hours) (91.65), clinical supervision (90.65), and educational supervision (88.27). On the other hand, trainees are less satisfying with the handover (62.63), rota design (61.91), and workload (45.07). It is worth noting that workload is the only area of less than 60%. In addition, there is no national variation in all 18 indicators CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that there is no difference in overall trainee satisfaction in the United Kingdom. However, there are differences in various indicators between England and the three other nations. Individual hospital should reflect on trainees' evaluation on the national training surveys report and improve on specific areas if deemed unsatisfactory.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Comparison of total artificial heart and biventricular assist device support as bridge-to-transplantation.
The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) has increased significantly in the last decade. However, right heart dysfunction remains a problem despite the improved outcomes with continuous-flow LVADs. Surgical options for bridge to transplantation (BTT) in patients with biventricular failure are total artificial heart (TAH) or biventricular support (BiVAD). This study examines the differences in pre- and post-transplantation outcomes and survival in patients with TAH or BiVAD support as BTT. ⋯ Although there has been a recent increase in the use of the TAH as BTT, BiVAD support remains a viable option with similar post-transplant survival.