The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2023
Incidence of and risk factors for pacemaker implantation after the modified Cryo-Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation.
The Maze procedure is a well-established treatment for atrial fibrillation. However, it is sometimes associated with bradycardia requiring pacemaker implantation. We assessed the rates of in-hospital and late-onset pacemaker implantation after the modified Cryo-Maze procedure and explored the risk factors for pacemaker implantation. ⋯ Longer preoperative atrial fibrillation duration and older age are risk factors for late-onset pacemaker implantation after the modified Cryo-Maze procedure. However, the incidence of pacemaker implantation is not associated with increased morbidity or atrial fibrillation recurrence.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2023
Public reporting for coronary artery bypass graft surgery: The quest for the optimal scorecard.
A number of publicly available rating algorithms are used to assess hospital performance in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, concerns remain that these algorithms fail to correlate with each other and inadequately capture the case complexity of individual center practices. ⋯ Correlations between current CABG public reporting systems are weak. Further work is needed to refine and standardize CABG rating systems to more adequately capture the scope and complexity of an individual center's clinical practice and to better inform patients.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2023
Right heart failure and patient selection for isolated tricuspid valve surgery.
To characterize patients with right heart failure undergoing isolated tricuspid valve surgery, focusing on right heart morphology and function. ⋯ The cluster analysis of patients with right heart failure undergoing isolated tricuspid valve surgery separated functional and structural tricuspid valve disease. Good early outcomes suggest expanding criteria for tricuspid valve surgery and earlier intervention for functional TR with right heart failure.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2023
EditorialShooting for the moon: Genome editing for pig heart xenotransplantation.
Gene-edited pigs could eventually provide organs that are safely and effectively protected from the human immune response without exogenous immunosuppression.