The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2018
The economic impact of a nurse practitioner-directed lung cancer screening, incidental pulmonary nodule, and tobacco-cessation clinic.
Lung cancer screening programs have become increasingly prevalent within the United States after the National Lung Screening Trial results. We aimed to review the financial impact after programmatic implementation of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner-led programs of Lung Cancer Screening and Tobacco Related Diseases, Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic, and Tobacco Cessation Services. ⋯ A nurse practitioner-led program of lung cancer screening, incidental pulmonary nodules, and tobacco-cessation services can provide additional revenue opportunities for a Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology Division, as well as a health care system. The current national, median annual wage of a nurse practitioner is $98,190, and the cost associated directly to their salary (and benefits) may remain neutral or negative within certain programs. However, the larger economic benefit may be realized within the division and institution. This potential additional revenue appears related to evaluation of newly identified diseases and subsequent evaluations, procedures, and operations.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2018
Mitral annuloplasty ring suture forces: Impact of surgeon, ring, and use conditions.
The study objective was to quantify the effect of ring type, ring-annulus sizing, suture position, and surgeon on the forces required to tie down and constrain a mitral annuloplasty ring to a beating heart. ⋯ Mitral annuloplasty suture loading is influenced by ring type, ring-annulus sizing, suture position, and surgeon, suggesting that reports of dehiscence may not be merely a series of isolated errors. When compared with forces known to cause suture dehiscence, these in vivo suture loading data aid in establishing potential targets for reducing the occurrence of ring dehiscence.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2018
Open descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic approaches for complications of endovascular aortic procedures: 19-year experience.
Endovascular aortic repair is increasingly being used to treat aneurysms, dissections, and traumatic injuries, despite its unknown long-term durability. We describe our 19-year experience with open descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic repair after endovascular aortic repair. ⋯ Open repair for complications after endovascular procedures is not uncommon. Experienced centers can yield acceptable outcomes, especially in patients without infection. Close surveillance is mandatory after endovascular aortic repair.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2018
Bacterial adherence to graft tissues in static and flow conditions.
Various conduits and stent-mounted valves are used as pulmonary valve graft tissues for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction with good hemodynamic results. Valve replacement carries an increased risk of infective endocarditis (IE). Recent observations have increased awareness of the risk of IE after transcatheter implantation of a stent-mounted bovine jugular vein valve. This study focused on the susceptibility of graft tissue surfaces to bacterial adherence as a potential risk factor for subsequent IE. ⋯ Our data provide evidence that the surface composition of BJV and CH tissues themselves, bacterial surface proteins, and shear forces per se are not the prime determinants of bacterial adherence.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2018
The dynamic cardiac biosimulator: A method for training physicians in beating-heart mitral valve repair procedures.
Previously, cardiac surgeons and cardiologists learned to operate new clinical devices for the first time in the operating room or catheterization laboratory. We describe a biosimulator that recapitulates normal heart valve physiology with associated real-time hemodynamic performance. ⋯ This beating heart biosimulator reproduces prolapsing mitral leaflet pathology. It may be the ideal platform for surgeon and cardiologist training on many transcatheter and beating heart procedures.