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The article "Prognostic Impact of Prior Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting—A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" explores the impact of prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The study found that patients with prior PCI had higher rates of perioperative mortality compared to those who underwent CABG as the primary treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD). Secondary outcomes such as perioperative myocardial infarction, neurological events, bleeding, acute renal failure, and hospital length of stay did not show significant differences between the two groups. [Extracted from the article] more...

The article "Survival Trends of Patients After Mitral Valve Repair for Structural Mitral Regurgitation Compared to the General Population" in the journal Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeon examines the impact of mitral valve repair (MVr) on survival rates for patients with structural mitral regurgitation (MR). The study found that while MVr initially restores life expectancy to levels comparable to the general population within the first 6 years post-surgery, the risk of death increases thereafter due to the return of severe regurgitation and the need for reoperation. This research underscores the importance of long-term monitoring and management for patients undergoing MVr for structural MR. [Extracted from the article] more...

The meta-analysis published in the journal "Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeon" examines the survival trends of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and sex-specific differences. The study found that both men and women who undergo CABG for treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) have similar life expectancy in the first decade compared to the general population. However, beyond 10 years, life expectancy becomes worse than the general population, with men experiencing the worst outcomes. The study suggests that this difference may be due to graft occlusions. [Extracted from the article] more...

This article discusses the long-term follow-up of a surgical procedure called the UFO-procedure, which is used to treat severe concomitant aortic and mitral valve endocarditis. The procedure involves the resection of the affected valves and the intervalvular fibrous body, followed by reconstruction using a double patch technique. The study analyzed data from 41 patients who underwent the UFO-procedure and found that the procedure was technically successful in all patients, although half of them died in the hospital due to sepsis and multi-organ failure. However, surviving patients reported a good quality of life. The article concludes that the UFO procedure can provide a meaningful perspective for patients with severe endocarditis, but classic risk scores do not accurately predict outcomes for this specific patient population. [Extracted from the article] more...

This article, published in the journal Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeon, examines the long-term survival rates of elderly patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared to the general population. The study found that elderly patients who undergo CABG have a significantly lower risk of death compared to their age-matched counterparts in the general population. This survival advantage becomes apparent after the first year following surgery and highlights the life-prolonging effect of bypass surgery in elderly patients. The findings suggest that CABG may help eliminate the expected reduction in life expectancy due to coronary artery disease. [Extracted from the article] more...

This article, titled "Permanent Pacemaker Requirements after Tricuspid Valve Surgery¿A Comprehensive Single Center Experience," discusses the requirement for permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation after tricuspid valve (TV) surgery. The study analyzed data from a single center and found that the introduction of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for addressing the TV resulted in a decrease in PPM requirements. The study also found that surgical experience may play a role in the need for PPM. Overall, the article suggests that TV surgery can be performed with low rates of PPM and that the use of an SOP may further reduce the need for PPM. [Extracted from the article] more...

This article discusses the potential benefits of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass during coronary artery bypass grafting (Off-Pump CABG) in patients with signs of early liver fibrosis. The study utilized the Fib-4 score, which assesses liver fibrosis based on ALT, AST, platelet count, and patient age, to compare the outcomes of Off-Pump and On-Pump CABG surgeries. The results showed that Off-Pump CABG had lower mortality rates compared to On-Pump CABG in patients with a Fib-4 score above 1.2, and this difference in mortality increased with higher Fib-4 scores. The study suggests that Off-Pump CABG may be superior in patients with early liver fibrosis, and the Fib-4 score is a valuable tool for assessing cardiac surgical risk. [Extracted from the article] more...

A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO). The analysis included seven studies with a total of 14,196 patients. The results showed that CABG was associated with a lower risk of long-term mortality, as well as lower rates of long-term myocardial infarction (MI) and repeat revascularization compared to PCI. However, there were no significant differences in other secondary endpoints. The findings suggest that CABG may be a superior treatment option for patients with CTO. [Extracted from the article] more...

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the safety of crushed or chewed P2Y12 inhibitors (P2Y12i) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was conducted. The study found that the crushed/chewed administration of P2Y12i provided superior platelet inhibition at 1 hour without significantly increasing major or minor bleeding risk. The type of drug (Ticagrelor or Prasugrel) did not influence the impact of crushed/chewed P2Y12i on bleeding events. This research suggests that this administration approach may be safe and effective for patients with ACS. [Extracted from the article] more...

The article in the "Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeon" journal explores the long-term outcomes of implanting the largest available Epic Supra aortic bioprosthesis (size 29). The study reviewed 1,845 patients who received the Epic Supra bioprosthesis between 2011 and 2023, with 360 patients receiving the size 29 prosthesis. Results showed low mortality rates at 30 days, with no significant differences between recommended sizing and upsizing. The study concludes that the 29-size prosthesis can be safely implanted into patients with smaller annuli, potentially improving future valve-in-valve options. [Extracted from the article] more...

The article explores the impact of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement on patients with impaired liver function and potential portal hypertension. By analyzing data from 1,840 patients who underwent aortic valve surgery, the study found that patients with signs of liver dysfunction and portal hypertension had significantly lower perioperative mortality when surgery was performed through a sternotomy-sparing mini-thoracotomy. The findings suggest that this approach may be beneficial for patients with liver issues undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery. [Extracted from the article] more...

A meta-analysis published in the journal "Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeon" compared video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open thoracotomy (OT) for lung metastasectomy. The study included 11 studies with 2,159 patients and found that patients who underwent VATS had higher overall survival rates, shorter hospital length of stay, and similar rates of recurrence compared to OT. The authors concluded that VATS may be a preferable strategy for pulmonary metastasectomy based on these findings. [Extracted from the article] more...

The meta-analysis compared Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) and High-power Short-duration (HPSD) ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) and found no significant differences in AF recurrence, fluoroscopy time, or complications between the two procedures. However, PFA was associated with a significantly shorter procedure duration. The study included seven trials with a total of 1,304 patients with AF, indicating that both PFA and HPSD ablation are viable options for AF treatment. [Extracted from the article] more...

The article compares Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass (MIDCAB) and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) for patients with Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) of the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery. The study found that MIDCAB is associated with fewer re-interventions, higher success rates, and fewer cancelled interventions compared to PCI, with no significant difference in myocardial infarction rates or short- or long-term mortality. The research was conducted by H. Kirov, M. Diab, M. Schaefers, T. Caldonazo, M. Mukharyamov, and T. Doenst. [Extracted from the article] more...

A retrospective multicenter analysis in Germany compared the outcomes of total arterial revascularization (TAR) versus traditional methods in 574 heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The study found that TAR was associated with a significantly lower incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and reduced postoperative delirium compared to non-TAR methods. While mortality rates tended to be lower in the TAR group, this difference was not statistically significant. The findings suggest that TAR may offer superior outcomes and improved recovery for HFrEF patients undergoing CABG. [Extracted from the article] more...

This article, titled "Mini-sternotomy versus Right Anterior Mini-thoracotomy for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement¿A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis," compares the clinical outcomes of two minimally invasive techniques for aortic valve replacement (AVR): mini-sternotomy (MS) and right anterior mini-thoracotomy (RAM-T). The study reviewed ten studies with a total of 30,524 patients and found that there was no significant difference in perioperative mortality between the two approaches. However, RAM-T was associated with higher rates of reoperation for bleeding, lower rates of stroke, and longer operation duration compared to MS. Other secondary endpoints did not show statistically significant differences. [Extracted from the article] more...

This article discusses the current trends in surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in Germany. The study found that the number of SAVR procedures has declined due to the increasing use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in older patients. The survey revealed that most centers use biological prostheses, with the choice of prosthesis being influenced by factors such as durability and hemodynamic properties. Economic concerns were also mentioned as a factor in decision-making. The study suggests that joint scientific efforts are needed to address the discrepancy between perception, data availability, and treatment reality in SAVR. [Extracted from the article] more...