The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2024
Thirty years of surgical management of pediatric pulmonary hypertension :mid-term outcomes following reverse Potts shunt and transplantation.
Reverse Potts shunt (RPS) and lung or heart-lung transplantation are life-extending surgical interventions for pediatric patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Robust criteria for identifying patients who will benefit from these procedures remain elusive. Based on 30 years of experience, we sought to refine the surgical indications. ⋯ In selected children with suprasystemic PAH, RPS is associated with functional capacity improvements and decreased pharmacotherapy needs over the midterm. RPS deserves consideration earlier in the course of pediatric PAH, with transplantation being performed in the event of refractory RV failure.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2024
Bicuspid Aortopathy does NOT Require Earlier Surgical Intervention.
Guidelines for surgical correction of patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) have oscillated over the years. In this study, we outline the natural history of the ascending aorta in patients with BAV and trileaflet aortic valve (TAV) ATAA followed over time, to ascertain if their behavior differs and to determine if a different threshold for intervention is required. ⋯ The threshold for surgical repair of ascending aneurysm with BAV should not differ from that of TAV. Prophylactic surgery should be considered at 5.0 cm for patients with TAV (and BAV) at expert centers.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2024
Impact of Intraoperative Blood Products, Fluid Administration, and Persistent Hypothermia on Bleeding Leading to Reexploration After Cardiac Surgery.
Risk factors for severe postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery remain multiple and incompletely elucidated. We evaluated the impact of intraoperative blood product transfusions, intravenous fluid administration, and persistently low core body temperature (CBT) at intensive care unit arrival on risk of perioperative bleeding leading to reexploration. ⋯ We found evidence of both dilution- and hypothermia-related effects associated with perioperative bleeding leading to reexploration in cardiac surgery. Interventions targeting modification of such risk factors may decrease the rate this complication.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Sep 2024
Simulation-Based Design of Bicuspidization of the Aortic Valve.
Severe congenital aortic valve pathology in the growing patient remains a challenging clinical scenario. Bicuspidization of the diseased aortic valve has proven to be a promising repair technique with acceptable durability. However, most understanding of the procedure is empirical and retrospective. This work seeks to design the optimal gross morphology associated with surgical bicuspidization with simulations based on the hypothesis that modifications to the free edge length cause or relieve stenosis. ⋯ Free edge length 1.5d or greater was required to avoid aortic stenosis in simulations. Cases with free edge length 1.7d or greater showed excessive billow and other changes in gross morphology. Cases with free edge length 1.5d to 1.6d have a total free edge length approximately equal to the annular circumference and appeared optimal. These effects should be studied in vitro and in animal studies.