The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2024
Multicenter StudyCenter Case Volume is Associated with Society of Thoracic Surgeons-Defined Failure to Rescue in Cardiac Surgery.
Our understanding of the impact of a center's case volume on failure to rescue (FTR) after cardiac surgery is incomplete. We hypothesized that increasing center case volume would be associated with lower FTR. ⋯ Increasing center case volume is significantly associated with improved FTR rates. Assessment of low-volume centers' FTR performance represents an opportunity for quality improvement.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2024
Comparative StudySimultaneous Heart-Kidney Transplant Compared to Heart Transplant Alone in Non-Dialysis Dependent Patients with Borderline Renal Function.
This study assessed characteristics and outcomes of patients who are not dependent on dialysis receiving simultaneous heart kidney transplantation versus heart transplantation alone (HTA) to identify optimal eGFR threshold where combined transplant strategy may be superior. ⋯ Similar to patients with eGFR <30 mL/minute, patients with eGFR 30 to 44 mL/minute who underwent simultaneous heart kidney transplant had superior outcomes compared with HTA, suggesting possible benefit of combined transplant strategy for this subset of heart transplant candidates.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2024
Comparative StudyPersistent Racial and Sex-based Disparities in Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility.
To evaluate race- and sex-based disparities in lung cancer screening eligibility under the 2013 US Preventive Services Task Force, 2021 US Preventive Services Task Force, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network lung cancer screening guidelines. ⋯ In this analysis of patients with lung cancer in the Southern Community Cohort Study, there remained a large gap in lung cancer screening eligibility between Black and White men and women under the 2021 US Preventive Services Task Force guideline. Only 50% of Black women and 63% of Black men diagnosed with lung cancer would have qualified for screening.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2024
Comparative StudySurgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation is Associated with Improved Survival Compared to Appendage Obliteration Alone: An Analysis of 100,000 Medicare Beneficiaries.
Societal guidelines support the concomitant surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Recent evidence has highlighted the stroke reduction of left atrial appendage obliteration with or without surgical ablation in similar populations. To inform clinical decision-making, we evaluated real-world outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac surgery by comparing no atrial fibrillation management with left atrial appendage obliteration alone versus surgical ablation + left atrial appendage obliteration. ⋯ In Medicare beneficiaries with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac surgery, the surgical management of atrial fibrillation was associated with lower 3-year mortality and readmission for stroke, with surgical ablation + left atrial appendage obliteration being associated with higher survival compared with left atrial appendage obliteration alone.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2024
Independent associations with early mortality after open repair of Crawford extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.
We aimed to identify outcomes and factors that independently associate with early mortality after open repair of Crawford extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, defined as aneurysms confined to the segment below the diaphragm. ⋯ Although patient comorbidities contributed to operative mortality, factors associated with the repair, such as urgent or emergency status, the duration of aortic crossclamping, and certain types of complex reoperation, also played prominent roles. Patients who survive the operation can expect a durable repair that usually is free from late reintervention. Expanding our collective knowledge regarding patients who undergo open repair of extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms will enable clinicians to establish best practices and improve patient outcomes.