The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2023
Ex vivo biaxial load testing analysis of aortic biomechanics demonstrates variation in elastic energy distribution across the aortic zone zero.
We hypothesized that tissue characteristics vary significantly along zone zero, which may be reflected by regional differences in stored elastic energy. Our objectives were to (1) characterize the regional variation in stored elastic energy within tissues of the aortic zone zero and (2) identify the association between this variation and patient characteristics. ⋯ Aortic tissue biomechanical metrics varied across regions and with patient characteristics within the aortic zone zero. Assessment of endovascular outcomes in the ascending aorta must closely consider the region of deployment and variable tissue qualities along the length of the landing zone. Regional variation in tissue characteristics should be incorporated into existing patient-specific models of aortic mechanics.
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Our multidisciplinary cardiac tumor team now has an experience of operating on 122 cases of primary cardiac sarcoma over a 23-year period. The purpose of this study is to present our short- and long-term outcomes for cardiac sarcoma. ⋯ Management of these complex patients can show reasonable outcomes in centers with a multidisciplinary cardiac tumor team. Mortality has not improved with time and is likely related to the systemic nature of this disease.
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The study objective was to determine the impact of reoperative aortic root replacement on short-term outcomes and survival. ⋯ Reoperative aortic root replacement can be performed safely and provides similar survival to first-time aortic root replacement.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2023
Integrated cardiothoracic surgery match: Trends among applicants compared with other surgical subspecialties.
The objective of this study was to evaluate trends, qualifications, race/ethnicity, and gender of applicants to integrated cardiothoracic (CT I-6) residency programs and compare them with other competitive surgical subspecialties. ⋯ Despite tremendous growth in positions, CT I-6 has consistently been the most difficult surgical subspecialty to match. CT I-6 has recently attracted an increasingly diverse applicant pool. For the 2019 to 2020 National Residency Matching Program Match Cycle, successful applicants had the highest Step 2-Clinical Knowledge scores, AOA membership rates, and graduation rates from a top-40 medical school among all surgical subspecialties examined.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2023
A Novel Ex Vivo Tracheobronchomalacia Model for Airway Stent Testing and In Vivo Model Refinement.
We sought to develop an ex vivo trachea model capable of producing mild, moderate, and severe tracheobronchomalacia for optimizing airway stent design. We also aimed to determine the amount of cartilage resection required for achieving different tracheobronchomalacia grades that can be used in animal models. ⋯ The ex vivo trachea model is a robust platform that enables systematic study and treatment of different grades and morphologies of airway collapse and tracheobronchomalacia. It is a novel tool for optimization of stent design before advancing to in vivo animal models.