The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 2025
Influence of Air Quality on Lung Cancer in People Who Have Never Smoked.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. The percentage of people who have never smoked with lung cancer has risen recently, but alternative risk factors require further study. Our goal was to determine the influence of air quality on incidence of lung cancer in people who have smoked or never smoked. ⋯ Newly diagnosed lung cancer appears to be more related to poor air quality among people who have never smoked than people who have smoked. Future studies are needed to examine the associations of specific pollutants with lung cancer incidence.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 2025
Impact of Telehealth Post-operative Care on Early Outcomes Following Esophagectomy.
To address the short-term clinical outcomes of patients postesophagectomy who underwent telehealth care following surgery. The primary objective was to compare the frequency of emergency department admission between telehealth and in-person cohorts. Secondary objectives included comparing the frequency of endoscopies and clinic visits, as well as reasons for emergency department admission. ⋯ A program of virtual follow-up, with integrated in person visits and endoscopy as required, is feasible and safe for following patients postesophagectomy.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 2025
Appropriate sizing of the frozen elephant trunk: How to predict proximal descending aortic diameter prior to dissection?
The predissection aortic diameter is the best reference for determining the size of the frozen elephant trunk in aortic dissection. We aimed to develop a new prediction method to estimate the predissection diameter of proximal descending aorta. Furthermore, we evaluated the accuracy of the estimated predissection proximal descending aortic diameters calculated using 3 prediction methods. ⋯ These results suggest that the new prediction method can be used as a simple and accurate estimation method for the predissection aortic diameter at the proximal descending aorta.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 2025
Utility of Structured Follow-up Imaging after Aortic Surgery.
Although postoperative follow-up after aortic surgery is recommended by guidelines, its clinical utility is not well documented. We hypothesized that structured follow-up imaging by an aortic program would improve outcomes. We then documented radiologic findings on asymptomatic postoperative imaging. ⋯ Implementation of structured follow-up imaging by an aortic program resulted in low clinical compliance. Follow-up was associated with increased rates of aortic reintervention. Clinically relevant radiologic findings were common on asymptomatic imaging and increased throughout 5-year follow-up rather than plateauing in the early postoperative period.