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Background and Objective: Patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension (CPH) who demonstrate pulmonary vasodilation following calcium-channel blocker (CCB) administration are defined as 'responders'. In contrast, 'nonresponders' are patients who do not show such pulmonary vasodilation with CCB therapy. The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of CCB therapy on right heart mechanics in experimental CCB responders versus CCB nonresponders.Methods: In 12 dogs, right atrial (RA) and ventricular pressure and volume (conductance catheters) were simultaneously recorded after 3 months of progressive pulmonary artery banding. Diltiazem was given at 10 mg h with the pulmonary artery constricted (simulated CCB nonresponder). Responders were then created by releasing the pulmonary artery band to unload the ventricle. RA and right ventricular contractility and diastolic stiffness (slope of end-systolic and end-diastolic pressure-volume relations) were calculated and RA reservoir and conduit function were quantified as RA inflow with the tricuspid valve closed compared with open, respectively.Results: With CCB, RA contractility (P < 0.03) and cardiac output (P < 0.004) were compromised in simulated nonresponders whereas RA stroke work was pharmacologically depressed in the setting of an unchanged afterload. After simulating a responder by controlled pulmonary artery band release, the right atrium became less distensible, causing a shift from reservoir to conduit function (P < 0.001) towards physiological baseline conditions and a recovery in the hyperdynamic compensatory response in both chambers (P < 0.007) as evidenced by declined RA and right ventricular contractility with an improved cardiac output as compared with CPH and simulated nonresponders. RA and right ventricular diastolic function in both groups was not affected by CCB.Conclusion: CCB did not affect right ventricular function in simulated nonresponders but significantly impaired RA contractility and cardiac output. In simulated responders, afterload fell substantially, thereby allowing the right atrium and right ventricle to recover from their pathological hyperdynamic contractile response to CPH. This effect outweighed the intrinsic negative effects of CCB therapy on systolic RA function. Current data suggest that the right atrium in CPH is much more sensitive to CCB therapy than the right ventricle and show for the first time why CCB therapy in CPH has been empirically restricted to documented responders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute arterial disruptions of the thoracic aorta are rare and often lethal. They are most often due to blunt trauma and occur most commonly just distal to the left subclavian artery origin in the setting of multisystem injuries. The very proximal nature of the lesion in survivors makes open surgical repair hazardous, with mortality rates reaching over 20%. Endovascular therapy is a new and attractive option for the treatment of those challenging patients. Since March 2002, 3 patients with blunt and 1 patient with a stable iatrogenic descending aortic injury were successfully treated at this institution. Spiral computed tomography followed by angiography was used for diagnosis. No preexisting aortic pathology was present. Major associated injuries included unstable thoracic spinal fractures, abdominal solid organ injuries, and hip fractures, making the subjects poor surgical candidates. The Talent Endovascular Graft was deployed via open femoral or iliac artery access under fluoroscopic guidance. All 4 patients underwent successful exclusion of their thoracic pseudoaneurysm with use of the Talent endovascular graft. One patient required partial coverage of the left subclavian artery, and a second patient had an iliac artery stent deployed after traversal of an area of stenosis with the delivery system. There were no cardiac, neurologic, pulmonary, or peripheral vascular complications. Acute aortic disruption, with its associated high surgical morbidity and mortality, is an excellent indication for endovascular therapy to improve patient outcomes. More long-term data are needed on repair durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We assessed associations between outcomes after open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair and preoperative airflow limitation stratified by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) spirometric classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity., Methods: Among 2368 open elective TAAA repairs in patients with spirometric data, 1735 patients had COPD and 633 did not. Those with COPD were stratified by preoperative respiratory dysfunction as GOLD 1 (forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration [FEV 1 ] ≥80% of predicted; n = 228), GOLD 2 (50% ≤ FEV 1  < 80% of predicted; n = 1215), GOLD 3 (30% ≤ FEV 1  < 50% of predicted; n = 260), or GOLD 4 (FEV 1  < 30% of predicted; n = 32). Early outcomes included operative mortality and adverse events (operative death or persistent stroke, spinal cord deficit, or renal failure requiring dialysis); associations of outcomes were determined using logistic regression models. Kaplan-Meier analysis compared late survival by the log-rank test., Results: Pulmonary complications occurred in 38.4% of patients with COPD versus 30.0% without COPD (P < .001). Operative mortality and adverse events were more frequent in patients with COPD than without COPD (7.9% vs 3.8% [P < .001] and 14.9% vs 9.8% [P = .001], respectively). Worsening GOLD severity was independently associated with operative death and adverse event. Survival was poorer in patients with COPD than in those without (61.9% ± 1.2% vs 73.6% ± 1.8% at 5 years; P < .001), particularly in patients with increasing GOLD severity (68.7% ± 3.2% vs 63.7% ± 1.4% vs 51.4% ± 3.2% vs 31.3% ± 8.2% at 5 years; P < .001)., Conclusions: Patients with COPD are at elevated risk for operative death and adverse events. Staging by GOLD severity aids preoperative risk stratification. Patients with airflow limitations may benefit from optimization before TAAA repair., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement Dr LeMaire serves as a consultant for Cerus Corporation and has served as a principal investigator for clinical studies sponsored by Terumo Aortic and CytoSorbents Corporation. Dr Coselli serves as principal investigator, consults for, and receives royalties and a departmental educational grant from Terumo Aortic; consults and participates in clinical trials for Medtronic, Inc, and W.L. Gore & Associates; and participates in clinical trials for Abbott Laboratories, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Artivion. Dr Moon serves on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic, Inc. Dr Chatterjee has served on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, and Eagle Pharmaceuticals. All other authors have nothing to disclose. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We determined the safety of early discharge after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with uncomplicated postoperative courses and compared outcomes with routine discharge in a national cohort. We identified preoperative factors associated with readmission after early discharge after CABG., Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried to identify patients undergoing CABG from January 2016 to December 2018. Patients were stratified based on length of stay (LOS) as early (≤4 days) vs routine (5-10 days) discharge. Patients were excluded with hospital courses indicative of complicated stays (emergent procedures, LOS >10 days, discharge to extended care facility or with home health, index hospitalization mortality). Propensity score matching was performed to compare outcomes between cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with readmission after early discharge., Results: During the study period, 91,861 patients underwent CABG with an uncomplicated postoperative course (∼20% of CABG population). Of these, 31% (28,790 of 91,861) were discharged early, and 69% (63,071 of 91,861) were routinely discharged. After propensity score matching, patients discharged early had lower readmission rates at 30 days, 90 days, and up to 1 year (P < .001 for all). The index hospitalization cost was lower with early discharge ($26,676 vs $32,859; P < .001). Early discharge was associated with a lower incidence of nosocomial infection at the index hospitalization (0.17% vs 0.81%, P < .001) and readmission from infection (14.5% vs 18%, P = .016)., Conclusions: Early discharge after uncomplicated CABG can be considered in a highly selective patient population. Early-discharge patients are readmitted less frequently than matched routine-discharge patients, with a lower incidence of readmission from infection. Appropriate postdischarge processes to facilitate early discharge after CABG should be further pursued., Competing Interests: Disclosures Joseph S. Coselli reports a relationship with Terumo Aortic that includes: consulting or advisory and funding grants; with Medtronic that includes: consulting or advisory; W. L. Gore & Associates that includes: consulting or advisory; with CytoSorbents Inc that includes: consulting or advisory; with Edwards Lifesciences Corporation that includes: consulting or advisory; and with Abbott Laboratories that includes: consulting or advisory. Marc R. Moon reports a relationship with Medtronic that includes: consulting or advisory. Subhasis Chatterjee reports a relationship with Edwards Lifesciences Corporation that includes: consulting or advisory; with La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company that includes: consulting or advisory; with Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc, that includes: consulting or advisory; and with Baxter Pharmaceutical Products that includes: consulting or advisory. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Aortic dissection is common in patients undergoing open surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). Most often, dissection is chronic and is associated with progressive aortic dilatation. Because contemporary outcomes in chronic dissection are not clearly understood, we compared patient characteristics and outcomes after open TAAA repair between patients with chronic dissection and those with non-dissection aneurysm., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 3470 open TAAA repairs performed in a single practice. Operations were for non-dissection aneurysm in 2351 (67.8%) and chronic dissection in 1119 (32.2%). Outcomes included operative mortality and adverse events, a composite variable comprising operative death and persistent (present at discharge) stroke, paraplegia, paraparesis, and renal failure necessitating dialysis. Logistic regression identified predictors of operative mortality and adverse events. Time-to-event analyses examined survival, death, repair failure, subsequent progressive repair, and survival free of failure or subsequent repair., Results: Compared with patients with non-dissection aneurysm, those with chronic dissection were younger, had fewer atherosclerotic risk factors, and were more likely to have heritable thoracic aortic disease and undergo extent II repair. The operative mortality rate was 8.5% (n = 296) overall and was higher in non-dissection aneurysm patients (n = 217; 9.2%) than in chronic dissection patients (n = 79; 7.1%; P = .03). Adverse events were less frequent (P = .01) in patients with chronic dissection (n = 145; 13.0%), 22 (2.0%) of whom had persistent paraplegia. Chronic dissection was not predictive of operative mortality (P = .5) or adverse events (P = .6). Operative mortality and adverse events, respectively, were independently predicted by emergency repair (odds ratio [OR], 3.46 and 2.87), chronic kidney disease (OR, 1.74 and 1.81), extent II TAAA repair (OR, 1.44 and 1.73), increasing age (OR, 1.04/year and 1.04/year), and increasing aortic cross-clamp time (OR, 1.02/minutes and 1.02/minutes). Patients with chronic dissection had lower 10-year unadjusted mortality (42% vs 69%) but more frequent repair failure (5% vs 3%) and subsequent repair for progressive aortic disease (11% vs 5%) than patients with non-dissection aneurysm (P < .001); these differences were no longer statistically significant after adjustment., Conclusions: Outcomes of open TAAA repair vary by aortic disease type. Emergency repairs and atherosclerotic diseases most commonly occur in patients with non-dissection aneurysm and independently predict operative mortality. Repair of chronic dissection is associated with low rates of adverse events, including operative mortality and persistent paraplegia, along with reasonable late survival and good durability. However, patients with chronic dissection tend to more commonly undergo subsequent repair to treat progressive aortic disease, which emphasizes the need for robust long-term imaging surveillance protocols., Competing Interests: Disclosures M.R.M. serves on the Edwards Advisory Board and the Medtronic Advisory Board; his work is supported in part by the Denton A. Cooley, MD, Chair in Cardiac Surgery at The Texas Heart Institute and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. S.L. serves as a consultant for Cerus; has served as a principal investigator for clinical studies sponsored by Terumo Aortic and CytoSorbents; and his work is supported in part by the Jimmy and Roberta Howell Professorship in Cardiovascular Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. J.S.C. serves as principal investigator, consults for, and receives royalties and a departmental educational grant from Terumo Aortic; consults and participates in clinical trials for Medtronic, Inc., and W.L. Gore & Associates; participates in clinical trials for Abbott Laboratories, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Artivion; and his work is supported in part by the Cullen Foundation., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Transcatheter technologies triggered the recent revision of the guidelines that progressively widened the indications for the treatment of aortic stenosis. On the surgical realm, a technology avoiding the need for sutures to anchor the prosthesis to the aortic annulus has been developed with the aim to reduce the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and simplify the process of valve implantation. In addition to a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)-like stent that exerts a radial force, these so-called "rapid deployment valves" or "sutureless valves" for aortic valve replacement also have cuffs to improve sealing and reduce the risk of paravalvular leak. Despite promising, the actual advantage of sutureless valves over traditional surgical procedures (surgical aortic valve replacement) or TAVR is still debated. This review summarizes the current comparative evidence reporting outcomes of "sutureless valves" for aortic valve replacement to TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement in the treatment of aortic valve stenosis., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures All authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We aimed to identify outcomes and factors that independently associate with early mortality after open repair of Crawford extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, defined as aneurysms confined to the segment below the diaphragm., Methods: This retrospective analysis included 721 extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs performed in our institution from 1986 to 2021. Indications for repair were aneurysm without dissection in 627 cases (87.0%) and aortic dissection in 94 cases (13.0%). Overall, 466 patients (64.6%) were symptomatic preoperatively; 124 (17.2%) procedures were performed in patients with acute presentation, including 58 (8.0%) ruptured aneurysms., Results: Operative death occurred after 49 (6.8%) repairs. Persistent renal failure necessitating dialysis occurred after 43 (6.0%) repairs. Binary logistic regression modeling revealed that previous extent II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, chronic kidney disease, previous myocardial infarction, urgent or emergency repair, and longer crossclamp times during surgery were independently associated with operative mortality. Among early survivors (n = 672), competing risk analysis revealed that cumulative incidence of mortality and reintervention rates at 10 years were 74.8% (95% confidence interval, 71.4%-78.5%) and 3.3% (95% confidence interval, 2.2%-5.1%), respectively., Conclusions: Although patient comorbidities contributed to operative mortality, factors associated with the repair, such as urgent or emergency status, the duration of aortic crossclamping, and certain types of complex reoperation, also played prominent roles. Patients who survive the operation can expect a durable repair that usually is free from late reintervention. Expanding our collective knowledge regarding patients who undergo open repair of extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms will enable clinicians to establish best practices and improve patient outcomes., (Copyright © 2023 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This document on cardiovascular infection, including infective endocarditis, is the first in the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Imaging Indications (ASNC I 2 ) series to assess the role of radionuclide imaging in the multimodality context for the evaluation of complex systemic diseases with multisocietal involvement including pertinent disciplines. A rigorous modified Delphi approach was used to determine consensus clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and an algorithmic approach to diagnosis of cardiovascular infection including infective endocarditis. Cardiovascular infection incidence is increasing and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current strategies based on clinical criteria and an initial echocardiographic imaging approach are effective but often insufficient in complicated cardiovascular infection. Radionuclide imaging with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission computed tomography/CT leukocyte scintigraphy can enhance the evaluation of suspected cardiovascular infection by increasing diagnostic accuracy, identifying extracardiac involvement, and assessing cardiac implanted device pockets, leads, and all portions of ventricular assist devices. This advanced imaging can aid in key medical and surgical considerations. Consensus diagnostic features include focal/multifocal or diffuse heterogenous intense 18 F-FDG uptake on valvular and prosthetic material, perivalvular areas, device pockets and leads, and ventricular assist device hardware persisting on non-attenuation corrected images. There are numerous clinical indications with a larger role in prosthetic valves, and cardiac devices particularly with possible infective endocarditis or in the setting of prior equivocal or non-diagnostic imaging. Illustrative cases incorporating these consensus recommendations provide additional clarification. Future research is necessary to refine application of these advanced imaging tools for surgical planning, to identify treatment response, and more., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the American College of Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the American College of Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society, and by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We examined the effect of frailty on in-hospital mortality, readmission rates, and hospitalization costs after transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement in a population-level cohort., Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried for patients who underwent transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement during 2016-2018. Multivariate logistic regression was used to discern independent effects of frailty on outcomes. Kaplan-Meier time-to-event analysis was used to evaluate the effect of frailty on freedom from readmission., Results: A total of 243,619 patients underwent aortic valve replacement: 142,786 (58.6%) transcatheter aortic valve replacements and 100,833 (41.4%) surgical aortic valve replacements. Frail patients constituted 16,388 (11.5%) and 7251 (7.2%) in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement and surgical aortic valve replacement cohorts, respectively. Compared with nonfrail patients, frail patients had greater in-hospital mortality (transcatheter aortic valve replacement: 3.2% vs 1.1%; surgical aortic valve replacement: 6.1% vs 2.0%; both P < . 001), longer length of stay (transcatheter aortic valve replacement: 4 vs 2 days; surgical aortic valve replacement: 13 vs 6 days; P < . 001), and greater cost (transcatheter aortic valve replacement: $51,654 vs $44,401; surgical aortic valve replacement: $60,782 vs $40,544; P < . 001). Time-to-event analysis showed that frail patients had higher rates of readmission over the calendar year in both transcatheter aortic valve replacement ( P < . 001) and surgical aortic valve replacement ( P < . 001) cohorts. This association persisted on adjusted multivariate regression for mortality (transcatheter aortic valve replacement odds ratio [95% CI] 1.98 [1.65-2.37], surgical aortic valve replacement 1.96 [1.60-2.41]), 30-day readmission (transcatheter aortic valve replacement 1.38 [1.27-1.49], surgical aortic valve replacement 1.47 [1.30-1.65]), and 90-day readmission (transcatheter aortic valve replacement 1.41 [1.31-1.52], surgical aortic valve replacement 1.60 [1.43-1.79]) ( P < . 001 for all)., Conclusions: For patients undergoing transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement, frailty is associated with in-hospital mortality, readmission, and higher costs. Further efforts to optimize outcomes for frail patients are warranted., Competing Interests: J.S.C. participates in clinical studies with or consults for Terumo Aortic, Medtronic, WL Gore & Associates, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Abbott Laboratories, and receives royalties and grant support from Terumo Aortic. M.R.M. is a consultant/advisory board member for Medtronic and Edwards Lifesciences. S.C. has served on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, Eagle Pharmaceuticals, and Baxter Pharmaceuticals. All other authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Background: Operative blood loss is associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality in surgery. Hemostatic agents are used as adjuncts for hemostasis during surgery and help to prevent postoperative bleeding. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of an investigational polysaccharide hemostatic (PH) topical product compared to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved control in clinical use comprising microporous polysaccharide hemospheres (MPH) to achieve hemostasis of bleeding surfaces during surgery., Study Design: This prospective multicenter trial enrolled patients undergoing open elective cardiac, general, or urologic surgery. Patients were stratified by bleeding severity and therapeutic area, then randomized 1:1 to receive PH or MPH. Bleeding assessments occurred intraoperatively using a novel bleeding assessment methodology. Primary endpoint was noninferiority as compared with control via effective hemostasis at 7 min. Patients were monitored and followed daily in the postoperative period until time of discharge and again at 6 weeks. Overall survival was assessed in oncology patients at 24 months. Safety of PH vs. MPH was determined by comparing relative incidence of adverse events., Results: Across 19 centers, 324 (161 PH, 163 MPH) patients were randomized (48 % general surgery, 27 % cardiac surgery, and 25 % urologic surgery). PH was noninferior to MPH and met the primary endpoint of hemostatic success at 7 min at a non-inferiority margin of 10 %. No significant differences were found in adverse event rates. Six deaths were reported within the 6-week follow-up period. No difference in overall survival was observed at 2 years (76 % PH vs. 74 % MPH, P  = .66) for patients undergoing cancer operations., Conclusion: Across three therapeutic areas, PH was noninferior to MPH at all hemostasis assessment time points with no safety concerns. PH is an effective alternative to MPH for hemostasis during surgery.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02359994., Competing Interests: As the study sponsor, CryoLife/Artivion provided financial support to conduct the study including project management, monitoring, data management, statistical analyses, and generation of the final study report for submission to the FDA. The authors have disclosed any conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Authors.)

This document on cardiovascular infection, including infective endocarditis, is the first in the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Imaging Indications (ASNC I2) series to assess the role of radionuclide imaging in the multimodality context for the evaluation of complex systemic diseases with multi-societal involvement including pertinent disciplines. A rigorous modified Delphi approach was used to determine consensus clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and an algorithmic approach to diagnosis of cardiovascular infection including infective endocarditis. Cardiovascular infection incidence is increasing and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current strategies based on clinical criteria and an initial echocardiographic imaging approach are effective but often insufficient in complicated cardiovascular infection. Radionuclide imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and single photon emission computed tomography/CT leukocyte scintigraphy can enhance the evaluation of suspected cardiovascular infection by increasing diagnostic accuracy, identifying extracardiac involvement, and assessing cardiac implanted device pockets, leads, and all portions of ventricular assist devices. This advanced imaging can aid in key medical and surgical considerations. Consensus diagnostic features include focal/multi-focal or diffuse heterogenous intense 18F-FDG uptake on valvular and prosthetic material, perivalvular areas, device pockets and leads, and ventricular assist device hardware persisting on non-attenuation corrected images. There are numerous clinical indications with a larger role in prosthetic valves, and cardiac devices particularly with possible infective endocarditis or in the setting of prior equivocal or non-diagnostic imaging. Illustrative cases incorporating these consensus recommendations provide additional clarification. Future research is necessary to refine application of these advanced imaging tools for surgical planning, to identify treatment response, and more., (© 2024 The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, The American College of Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society, and the Infectious Disease Society of America. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the American College of Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society, and by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Disease Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Technical skill is essential for good outcomes in cardiac surgery. However, no objective methods exist to measure dexterity while performing surgery. The purpose of this study was to validate sensor-based hand motion analysis (HMA) of technical dexterity while performing a graft anastomosis within a validated simulator., Methods: Surgeons at various training levels performed an anastomosis while wearing flexible sensors (BioStamp nPoint, MC10 Inc) with integrated accelerometers and gyroscopes on each hand to quantify HMA kinematics. Groups were stratified as experts (n = 8) or novices (n = 18). The quality of the completed anastomosis was scored using the 10 Point Microsurgical Anastomosis Rating Scale (MARS10). HMA parameters were compared between groups and correlated with quality. Logistic regression was used to develop a predictive model from HMA parameters to distinguish experts from novices., Results: Experts were faster (11 ± 6 minutes vs 21 ± 9 minutes; P = .012) and used fewer movements in both dominant (340 ± 166 moves vs 699 ± 284 moves; P = .003) and nondominant (359 ± 188 moves vs 567 ± 201 moves; P = .02) hands compared with novices. Experts' anastomoses were of higher quality compared with novices (9.0 ± 1.2 MARS10 vs 4.9 ± 3.2 MARS10; P = .002). Higher anastomosis quality correlated with 9 of 10 HMA parameters, including fewer and shorter movements of both hands (dominant, r = -0.65, r = -0.46; nondominant, r = -0.58, r = -0.39, respectively)., Conclusions: Sensor-based HMA can distinguish technical dexterity differences between experts and novices, and correlates with quality. Objective quantification of hand dexterity may be a valuable adjunct to training and education in cardiac surgery training programs., (Copyright © 2024 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. All rights reserved.)

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is associated with elevated morbidity and mortality. Although current prediction models have limited efficacy, several perioperative interventions can reduce patients' risk of POAF. These begin with preoperative medications, including beta-blockers and amiodarone. Moreover, patients should be screened for preexisting atrial fibrillation (AF) so that concomitant surgical ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion can be performed in appropriate candidates. Intraoperative interventions such as posterior pericardiectomy can reduce mediastinal fluid accumulation, which is a trigger for POAF. Furthermore, many preventive strategies for POAF are implemented in the immediate postoperative period. Initiating beta-blockers, amiodarone, or both is reasonable for most patients. Overdrive atrial pacing, colchicine, and steroids have been used by some, although the evidence base is less robust. For patients with POAF, rate-control and rhythm-control strategies have comparable outcomes. Decision-making regarding anticoagulation should recognize that the stroke risk associated with POAF appears to be lower than that for general nonvalvular AF. The evidence that oral anticoagulation reduces stroke risk is less clear for POAF patients than for patients with general nonvalvular AF. Given that POAF tends to be shorter-lived and is associated with greater bleeding risks in the perioperative period, decisions regarding anticoagulation should be individualized. Finally, wearable technology and machine learning algorithms for better predicting and managing POAF appear to be coming soon. These technologies and a comprehensive clinical program could meaningfully reduce the incidence of this common complication., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-23-1626/coif). L.R.B. has received honoraria for lectures from Abiomed. M.W.S. has received speaker fees from Merck. M.R.M. is a consultant/advisory board member for Medtronic and Edwards Lifesciences. S.C. has served on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, Eagle Pharmaceuticals, and Baxter Pharmaceuticals. S.C. serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Journal of Thoracic Disease. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We evaluated community socioeconomic factors in patients who had unplanned readmission after undergoing proximal aortic surgery (ascending aorta, aortic root, or arch)., Methods: Unplanned readmissions for any reason within 60 days of the index procedure were reviewed by race, acuity at presentation, and gender. We also evaluated 3 community socioeconomic factors: poverty, household income, and education. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess long-term survival differences by group (race, acuity, and gender)., Results: Among 2339 patients who underwent proximal aortic surgery during the 20-year study period and were discharged alive, our team identified 146 (6.2%) unplanned readmissions. Compared with White patients, Black patients lived in areas characterized by more widespread poverty (20.8% vs 11.1%; P = .0003), lower income ($42,776 vs $65,193; P = .0007), and fewer residents with a high school diploma (73.7% vs 90.1%; P < .0001). Compared with patients whose index operation was elective, patients who had urgent or emergency index procedures lived in areas with lower income ($54,425 vs $64,846; P = .01) and fewer residents with a high school diploma (81.1% vs 89.2%; P = .005). Community socioeconomic factors did not differ by gender. Four- and 6-year survival estimates were 63.1% and 63.1% for Black patients versus 89.1% and 83.0% for White patients (P = .0009). No significant differences by acuity or gender were found., Conclusions: Among readmitted patients, Black patients and patients who had emergency surgery had less favorable community socioeconomic factors and poorer long-term survival. Earlier and more frequent follow-up in these patients should be considered. Developing off-campus clinics and specific postdischarge measures targeting these patients is important., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement Dr Preventza is a consultant for Terumo Aortic, W.L. Gore & Associates, Abiomed, and Intressa. Dr Chatterjee has served on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences, La Jolla Pharmaceutical, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, and Eagle Pharmaceuticals. Dr Moon serves on the advisory boards of Medtronic and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Coselli serves as principal investigator for, consults for, and receives royalties and a departmental educational grant from Terumo Aortic; consults and participates in clinical trials for Medtronic Inc, and W.L. Gore & Associates; and participates in clinical trials for Abbott Laboratories, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Artivion. All other authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Medical therapies play a central role in secondary prevention after surgical revascularization. While coronary artery bypass grafting is the most definitive treatment for ischemic heart disease, progression of atherosclerotic disease in native coronary arteries and bypass grafts result in recurrent adverse ischemic events. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent evidence regarding current therapies in secondary prevention of adverse cardiovascular outcomes after CABG and review the existing recommendations as they pertain to the CABG subpopulations., Recent Findings: There are many pharmacologic interventions recommended for secondary prevention in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting. Most of these recommendations are based on secondary outcomes from trials which include but did not focus on surgical patients as a cohort. Even those designed with CABG in mind lack the technical and demographic scope to provide universal recommendations for all CABG patients., Conclusion: Recommendations for medical therapy after surgical revascularization are chiefly based on large-scale randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses. Much of what is known about medical management after surgical revascularization results from trials comparing surgical to non-surgical approaches and important characteristics of the operative patients are omitted. These omissions create a group of patients who are relatively heterogenous making solid recommendations elusive. While advances in pharmacologic therapies are clearly adding to the armamentarium of options for secondary prevention, knowing what patients benefit most from each therapeutic option remains challenging and a personalized approach is still required., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Medicine is filled with uncertainty. Clinicians may experience uncertainty due to limitations in their own or existing medical knowledge. Uncertainty can be scientific, practical, or personal, and may involve issues related to probability, ambiguity, and complexity. Pediatricians face additional uncertainties related to the role of families in decision-making and limited ability to know the preferences of children. Clinicians may approach uncertainty in different ways: some choosing to embrace its presence and others attempting to avoid it. Ultimately, pediatricians must learn to navigate uncertainty together with their patients and families, minimizing it when possible while accepting that its presence is unavoidable., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Crawford extent I thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repairs are increasingly performed by an endovascular approach, including in patients with heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD). We evaluated outcomes after open extent I TAAA repair in patients with and without HTAD., Methods: This retrospective study included 992 patients (median age, 67 years; quartile 1-quartile 3, 57-73 years) who underwent extent I TAAA (1990-2022), stratified by the presence of HTAD (n = 177 [17.8%]). Patients with HTAD had genetic aortopathies or presented at age ≤50 years, and 35% (62 of 177) had Marfan syndrome. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of operative death and adverse event, a composite of operative death and persistent (present at discharge) stroke, paraplegia, paraparesis, and renal failure necessitating dialysis. Long-term outcomes were analyzed with competing risks analysis., Results: Patients with HTAD had lower rates of operative mortality (1.7% vs 7.0%, P = .01) and composite adverse event (2.8% vs 12.3%, P < .001) than non-HTAD patients. Most HTAD patients were discharged home (92.6% vs 76.9%, P < .001). Predictors of operative death were increasing age, aortic dissection, tobacco use, chronic symptoms, and rupture. Predictors for adverse event were increasing age, acute symptoms, chronic dissection, and rupture. Patients with HTAD had substantially better repair-failure-free survival (P < .001)., Conclusions: Open extent I TAAA repair was effective in patients with HTAD, with low operative mortality and adverse event rates, better late survival, and excellent long-term durability, making a compelling argument for preferring open repair in these patients., (Copyright © 2024 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Clinical ethics is the dimension of bioethics devoted to analyzing competing values and obligations in clinical care, seeking the optimal balance between competing duties. Competence in clinical ethics is particularly important in our current scientific and social environment, where disharmony and challenges between value systems are common and the medical profession suffers from self-imposed risks to integrity and coherence. The ability to bring ethical analysis into the challenges of everyday clinical practice is a crucial component in resolving values conflicts and protecting the clinician-patient relationship that is the heart of our profession., Competing Interests: Disclosures No disclosures to report., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: In patients who underwent mitral valve replacement for infectious endocarditis, we evaluated the association of prosthesis choice with readmission rates and causes (the primary outcomes), as well as with in-hospital mortality, cost, and length of stay (the secondary outcomes)., Methods: Patients with infectious endocarditis who underwent isolated mitral valve replacement from January 2016 to December 2018 were identified in the United States Nationwide Readmissions Database and stratified by valve type. Propensity score matching was used to compare adjusted outcomes., Results: A weighted total of 4206 patients with infectious endocarditis underwent bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (n = 3132) and mechanical mitral valve replacement (n = 1074) during the study period. Patients in the bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement group were older than those in the mechanical mitral valve replacement group (median 57 vs 46 y, P  < .001). After propensity matching, the bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement group (n = 1068) had similar in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and costs compared with the mechanical mitral valve replacement group (n = 1056). Overall, 90-day readmission rates were high (28.9%) and comparable for bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (30.5%) and mechanical mitral valve replacement (27.5%, P  = .4). Likewise, there was no difference in readmissions over a calendar year by prosthesis type. Readmissions for infection and bleeding were common for both bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement and mechanical mitral valve replacement groups., Conclusions: Outcomes and readmission rates were similar for mechanical mitral valve replacement and bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement in infectious endocarditis, suggesting that valve choice should not be determined by endocarditis status. Additionally, strategies to mitigate readmission for infection and bleeding are needed for both groups., Competing Interests: Dr Coselli participates in clinical studies with and consults for Terumo Aortic, Medtronic, WL Gore & Associates, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Abbott Laboratories, and receives royalties and grant support from Terumo Aortic. Dr Moon serves on the advisory board for Medtronic. Dr Chatterjee has served on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, Eagle Pharmaceuticals, and Baxter Pharmaceuticals. All other authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest.

Objective: Acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery increases morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis relies on oliguria or increased serum creatinine, which develop 48 to 72 hours after injury. We hypothesized machine learning incorporating preoperative, operative, and intensive care unit data could dynamically predict acute kidney injury before conventional identification., Methods: Cardiac surgery patients at a tertiary hospital (2008-2019) were identified using electronic medical records in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database. Preoperative and intraoperative parameters included demographics, Charlson Comorbidity subcategories, and operative details. Intensive care unit data included hemodynamics, medications, fluid intake/output, and laboratory results. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria were used for acute kidney injury diagnosis. An ensemble machine learning model was trained for hourly predictions of future acute kidney injury within 48 hours. Performance was evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and balanced accuracy., Results: Within the cohort (n = 4267), there were approximately 7 million data points. Median baseline creatinine was 1.0 g/dL (interquartile range, 0.8-1.2), with 17% (735/4267) of patients having chronic kidney disease. Postoperative stage 1 acute kidney injury occurred in 50% (2129/4267), stage 2 occurred in 8% (324/4267), and stage 3 occurred in 4% (183/4267). For hourly prediction of any acute kidney injury over the next 48 hours, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.82, and balanced accuracy was 75%. For hourly prediction of stage 2 or greater acute kidney injury over the next 48 hours, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.95 and balanced accuracy was 86%. The model predicted acute kidney injury before clinical detection in 89% of cases., Conclusions: Ensemble machine learning models using electronic medical records data can dynamically predict acute kidney injury risk after cardiac surgery. Continuous postoperative risk assessment could facilitate interventions to limit or prevent renal injury., (Copyright © 2022 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We determined the utilization rate of surgical ablation (SA) during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and compared outcomes between CABG with or without SA in a national cohort., Methods: The January 2016 to December 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database was searched for all patients undergoing isolated CABG with preoperative persistent or chronic atrial fibrillation by using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision classification. Propensity score matching and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to compare outcomes, and Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess risk factors for 1-year readmission., Results: Of 18,899 patients undergoing CABG with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation, 78% (n = 14,776) underwent CABG alone and 22% (n = 4123) underwent CABG with SA. In the propensity score-matched cohort (n = 8116), CABG with SA (n = 4054) (vs CABG alone [n = 4112]) was not associated with increased in-hospital mortality (3.4% [139 out of 4112] vs 3.9% [159 ut of 4054]; P  = .4), index-hospitalization length of stay (10 days vs 10 days; P  = .3), 30-day readmission (19.1% [693 out of 3362] vs 17.2% [609 out of 3537]; P  = .2), or 90-day readmission (28.9% [840 out of 2911] vs 26.2% [752 out of 2875]; P  = .1). Index hospitalization costs were significantly higher for those undergoing SA ($52,556 vs $47,433; P  < .001). Rates of readmission at 300 days were similar between patients receiving SA (43.8%) and no SA (42.8%; log-rank P  = .3). The 3 most common causes of readmission were not different between groups and included heart failure (24.3% [594 out of 2444]; P  = .6), infection (16.8% [411 out of 2444]; P  = .5), and arrhythmia (11.7% [286 out of 2444]; P  = .2)., Conclusions: In patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation, utilization of SA during CABG remains low. SA during CABG did not adversely influence mortality or short-term readmissions. These findings support increased use of SA during CABG., Competing Interests: Dr Coselli participates in clinical studies with and/or consults for Terumo Aortic, Medtronic, W. L. Gore & Associates, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Abbott Laboratories and receives royalties and grant support from Terumo Aortic. Dr Moon serves on the advisory board for Medtronic. Dr Chatterjee has served on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, Eagle Pharmaceuticals, and Baxter Pharmaceuticals. All other authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal style requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) frequently complicates cardiac surgery. Predicting POAF can guide interventions to prevent its onset. This study assessed the incidence, risk factors, and related adverse outcomes of POAF after cardiac surgery., Methods: A cohort of 1,606 patients undergoing cardiac surgery at a tertiary referral center was analyzed. Postoperative AF was defined based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' criteria: AF/atrial flutter after operating room exit that either lasted longer than 1 hour or required medical or procedural intervention. Risk factors for POAF were evaluated, and the performance of established risk scores (POAF, HATCH, COM-AF, CHA2DS2-VASc, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores) in predicting POAF was assessed using discrimination (area under the receiver operator characteristics curve) analysis. The association of POAF with secondary outcomes, including length of hospital stay, ventilator time, and discharge to rehabilitation facilities, was evaluated using adjusted linear and logistic regression models., Results: The incidence of POAF was 32.2% (n = 517). Patients who developed POAF were older, had traditional cardiovascular risk factors and higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores, and often underwent valve surgery. The POAF risk score demonstrated the highest area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (0.65), but risk scores generally underperformed. Postoperative AF was associated with extended hospital stays, longer ventilator use, and higher likelihood of discharge to rehabilitation facilities (odds ratio, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.73-3.08)., Conclusion: This study observed a high incidence of POAF following cardiac surgery and its association with increased morbidity and resource utilization. Accurate POAF prediction remains elusive, emphasizing the need for better risk-prediction methods and tailored interventions to diminish the effect of POAF on patient outcomes., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by The Texas Heart Institute®.)

Objective: To identify potential socioeconomic disparities in the procedural choice of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and in readmission outcomes after SAVR or TAVR., Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried to identify a total of 243,691 patients who underwent isolated SAVR and TAVR between January 2016 and December 2018. Patients were stratified according to a tiered socioeconomic status (SES) metric comprising patient factors including education, literacy, housing, employment, insurance status, and neighborhood median income. Multivariable analyses were used to assess the effect of SES on procedural choice and risk-adjusted readmission outcomes., Results: SAVR (41.4%; 100,833 of 243,619) was performed less frequently than TAVR (58.6%; 142,786 of 243,619). Lower SES was more frequent among patients undergoing SAVR (20.2% [20,379 of 100,833] vs 19.4% [27,791 of 142,786]; P  < .001). Along with such variables as small hospital size, drug abuse, arrhythmia, and obesity, lower SES was independently associated with SAVR relative to TAVR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 1.24). After SAVR, but not after TAVR, lower SES was independently associated with increased readmission at 30 days (aOR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.32), 90 days (aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.15-1.41), and 1 year (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.28; P  < .05 for all)., Conclusions: Our study findings indicate that socioeconomic disparities exist in the procedural choice for patients undergoing AVR. Patients with lower SES had increased odds of undergoing SAVR, as well as increased odds of readmission after SAVR, but not after TAVR, supporting that health inequities exist in the surgical care of socioeconomically disadvantaged patients., Competing Interests: J.S.C. reports participation in clinical studies with and/or consulting for Terumo Aortic, Medtronic, W. L. Gore & Associates, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Abbott Laboratories and royalties and grant support from Terumo Aortic. M.R.M. serves on an advisory board for Medtronic. S.C. has served on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences, La Jolla Pharmaceutical, Eagle Pharmaceuticals, and Baxter Pharmaceuticals. All other authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Objective: Many patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair have had a previous myocardial infarction (MI). To address the paucity of data regarding outcomes in such patients, we aimed to compare outcomes after open TAAA repair in patients with and without previous MI., Methods: From 1986 to 2022, we performed 3737 consecutive open TAAA repairs. Of these, 706 (18.9%) were in patients with previous MI. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of operative death. Propensity score matching analyzed preoperative and select operative variables to create matched groups of patients with or without a previous MI (n = 704 pairs). Late survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared by log rank test., Results: Overall, operative mortality was 8.5% and the adverse event rate was 15.2%; these were elevated in patients with MI (11.0% vs 7.9% [P = .01] and 18.0% vs 14.6% [P = .02], respectively). In the propensity score-matching cohort, the MI group had a greater rate of cardiac complications (32.4% vs 25.4%; P = .005) and delayed paraparesis (5.1% vs 2.4%; P = .1); however, there was no difference in operative mortality (11.1% vs 10.9%; P = 1) or adverse event rate (18.0% vs 16.8%; P = .6). Overall, previous MI was not independently associated with operative mortality in multivariable analysis (P = .1). The matched MI group trended toward poorer 10-year survival (29.8% ± 1.9% non-MI vs 25.0% ± 1.8% MI; P = .051)., Conclusions: Although previous MI was not associated with early mortality after TAAA repair, patients with a previous MI had greater rates of cardiac complications and delayed paraparesis. Patients with a previous MI also trended toward poorer survival., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement Dr Moon serves on the advisory boards for Medtronic and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr LeMaire consults for Terumo Aortic and Cerus and serves as a principal investigator for clinical studies sponsored by Terumo Aortic and CytoSorbents. Dr Coselli consults for, receives royalties and a departmental educational grant from, and participates in clinical trials for Terumo Aortic; consults and participates in clinical trials for Medtronic, Inc, and W.L. Gore & Associates; and participates in clinical trials for Abbott Laboratories, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Artivion. All other authors have nothing to disclose. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Malignancy is the leading cause of late mortality after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), and the burden of post-transplantation cancer is expected to rise in proportion to increased case volume following the 2018 heart allocation score change. In this report, we evaluated factors associated with de novo malignancy after OHT with a focus on skin and solid organ cancers., Methods: Patients who underwent OHT at our institution between 1999 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed (n = 488). Terminal outcomes of death and development of skin and/or solid organ malignancy were assessed as competing risks. Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between perioperative patient and donor characteristics and late-term malignancy outcomes., Results: By 1, 5 and 10 years, an estimated 2%, 17% and 27% of patients developed skin malignancy, while 1%, 5% and 12% of patients developed solid organ malignancy. On multivariable Fine-Gray regression, age [1.05 (1.03-1.08); P < 0.001], government payer insurance [1.77 (1.20-2.59); P = 0.006], family history of malignancy [1.66 (1.15-2.38); P = 0.007] and metformin use [1.73 (1.15-2.59); P = 0.008] were associated with increased risk of melanoma and basal or squamous cell carcinoma. Age [1.08 (1.04-1.12); P < 0.001] and family history of malignancy [2.55 (1.43-4.56); P = 0.002] were associated with an increased risk of solid organ cancer, most commonly prostate and lung cancer., Conclusions: Vigilant cancer and immunosuppression surveillance is warranted in OHT recipients at late-term follow-up. The cumulative incidence of skin and solid organ malignancies increases temporally after transplantation, and key risk factors for the development of post-OHT malignancy warrant identification and routine monitoring., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Given a looming shortage of surgeons and currently inadequate pipelines into our specialty for under-represented groups, there is an urgent need to identify and foster interest in young individuals who may have great potential as future surgeons. We aimed to explore the utility and feasibility of a novel survey instrument to identify high-school students well suited for careers in surgery based on personality profiling and grit., Methods: An electronic screening tool was developed, combining components of the Myers-Briggs personality profile, the Big-Five Inventory 10, and the grit scale. This brief questionnaire was electronically distributed to surgeons and students across two academic institutions and three high schools (one private and two public). Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Chi-squared/Fisher's exact test were performed to evaluate variations between groups., Results: Surgeons (n = 96) displayed mean Grit score of 4.03 (range: 3.08-4.92; standard deviation: 0.43), while high-schoolers' (n = 61) mean score was 3.38 (range: 2.08-4.58; standard deviation: 0.62) (P < 0.0001). Surgeons showed Myers-Brigg Type Indicator trait-dominance toward extroversion, intuition, thinking, and judging, while students displayed greater breadth of traits. Students were much less likely to show dominance in introversion versus extroversion (P < 0.0001) as well as perceiving versus judging (P < 0.0001). Big-Five Inventory 10 traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness were more prevalent among surgeons (P < 0.0001 for both)., Conclusions: Importantly, there exists a subgroup of high-school students with personality and grit similar to those of surgeons. Moreover, we have demonstrated the feasibility of using this novel screening tool for future studies aimed to create pipelines for early exposure opportunities and mentorship., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Spinal cord deficit (SCD) is a feared complication after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Vigilant management throughout the perioperative period is necessary to reduce the risk of SCD. Measures for preventing SCD during the intraoperative period include preoperative optimization and recognizing patients at a higher risk of SCD. In this manuscript, we discuss intraoperative adjuncts including utilization of cerebrospinal fluid drainage, left heart bypass, mild hypothermia, selective reimplantation of intercostal and lumbar arteries, and renal and visceral vessel perfusion. From the operative to the postoperative period, careful attention to avoiding hypotension and anemia is important. If SCD is recognized early, therapeutic intervention may be implemented to mitigate injury., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: JSC participates in clinical studies with and/or consults for Terumo Aortic, Medtronic, W. L. Gore & Associates, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Abbott Laboratories and receives royalties and grant support from Terumo Aortic. SAL consults for Terumo Aortic and Cerus and serves as a principal investigator for clinical studies sponsored by Terumo Aortic and CytoSorbents. SAL’s work is supported in part by the Jimmy and Roberta Howell Professorship in Cardiovascular Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. OP provides consultation for and participates in clinical trials with Medtronic and W.L. Gore & Associates. MRM serves on the advisory board for Medtronic and Edwards Lifesciences. SC has served on advisory boards for Edwards Lifesciences, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, Eagle Pharmaceuticals and Baxter Pharmaceuticals. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2023 Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: In 2019, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outlined 8 operational recommendations for pediatric institutional ethics committees (IECs). The study purpose was to quantify the extent to which pediatric IECs adhere to the AAP IEC Policy Statement recommendations., Methods: A convenience sample of ethics points of contact from Children's Hospital Association membership were invited to complete an electronic survey on their ethics programs and practices in spring 2022. Nineteen survey questions were preidentified as reflecting measures specific to best practice standards previously published by the AAP. This subset of questions was analyzed using frequencies and categorized to assess for adherence to the AAP IEC policy recommendations., Results: A total of 117 out of 181 surveys were completed (65%). Stark IEC practice gaps include: lack of diversity of membership, training needs to maintain members' competencies, quality improvement within the organization, and scope of ethics service. Over one-quarter of IECs do not have a systematic way of informing hospital staff about ethics consultancy services and how to place an ethics consult. Nineteen percent of responding IEC services do not inform patients or families about the existence of ethics consult services. One-third of responding children's hospitals do not provide resources for the IECs to engage in ethics education at the facility., Conclusions: IECs in children's hospitals are not consistently abiding by operational recommendations. Next steps should include assessment of recommendation barriers and enablers with a goal of enhancing strong practices across IECs in children's hospitals., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Background: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a heritable thoracic aortic disease with pervasive cardiovascular effects, including commonly, a dilated aortic root. Traditionally, the root is replaced using a mechanical composite valve graft (CVG); however, this valve-replacing (VR) approach necessitates a lifelong regimen of anticoagulation with a potential for late bleeding complications. In time, valve-sparing (VS) approaches were developed. Today, several options for aortic root replacement (ARR) exist; each has advantages and disadvantages that helps inform choice. The Aortic Valve Operative Outcomes in Marfan Patients (AVOMP) is a multi-center international registry to analyze clinical outcomes of ARR in MFS patients using either VR or VS techniques to better elucidate choice. We summarize outcomes of AVOMP and present our own experience., Methods: We performed 223 consecutive elective ARR [1991-2023] in patients with MFS; 15 such repairs were included in AVOMP. Repairs included 113 (51%) using a mechanical CVG, 62 (28%) using a VS approach, and 48 (22%) using a bioprosthetic root. Many patients underwent aortic arch repair (30% to 54% by type)., Results: The median patient age was 38 [29-52] years. In comparing VS and VR groups, patients were similar in age and rates of major comorbidities and symptoms. Patients with VR repair had a more complex aortic history. The rate of redo sternotomy was 24% (n=54). Operative death was uncommon [4% overall (10/223); ranging from 2% to 8% by type], and stroke was rare [1/223 (<1%)]. Late survival and reoperation differed by operative approach; survival was improved in patients who underwent VS repair., Conclusions: We found that repair in patients with MFS undergoing ARR resulted in low operative risk. Our late results were similar to those of AVOMP in that patients undergoing VS repair tended to experience greater rates of valvular-structural deterioration, although this did not appear to impact survival., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: SAL consults for Terumo Aortic and Cerus and has served as a principal investigator for clinical studies sponsored by Terumo Aortic and CytoSorbents. JSC serves as principal investigator, consults for, and receives royalties and a departmental educational grant from Terumo Aortic; consults and participates in clinical trials for Medtronic, Inc., and W.L. Gore & Associates; and participates in clinical trials for Abbott Laboratories, CytoSorbents, Edwards Lifesciences, and Artivion. MRM advises Medtronic and Edwards Lifesciences. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2023 Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Prosthesis choice during aortic valve replacement (AVR) weighs lifelong anticoagulation with mechanical valves (M-AVR) against structural valve degeneration in bioprosthetic valves (B-AVR)., Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried to identify patients who underwent isolated surgical AVR between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018, stratifying by prothesis type. Propensity score matching was used to compare risk-adjusted outcomes. Readmission at 1 y was estimated with Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis., Results: Patients (n = 109,744) who underwent AVR (90,574 B-AVR and 19,170 M-AVR) were included. B-AVR patients were older (median 68 versus 57 y; P < 0.001) and had more comorbidities (mean Elixhauser score: 11.8 versus 10.7; P < 0.001) compared to M-AVR patients. After matching (n = 36,951), there was no difference in age (58 versus 57 y; P = 0.6) and Elixhauser score (11.0 versus 10.8; P = 0.3). B-AVR patients had similar in-hospital mortality (2.3% versus 2.3%; P = 0.9) and cost (mean: $50,958 versus $51,200; P = 0.4) compared with M-AVR patients. However, B-AVR patients had shorter length of stay (8.3 versus 8.7 d; P < 0.001) and fewer readmissions at 30 d (10.3% versus 12.6%; P < 0.001) and 90 d (14.8% versus 17.8%; P < 0.001), and 1 y (P < 0.001, KM analysis). Patients undergoing B-AVR were less likely to be readmitted for bleeding or coagulopathy (5.7% versus 9.9%; P < 0.001) and effusions (9.1% versus 11.9%; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: B-AVR patients had similar early outcomes compared to M-AVR patients, but lower rates of readmission. Bleeding, coagulopathy, and effusions are drivers of excess readmissions in M-AVR patients. Readmission reduction strategies targeting bleeding and improved anticoagulation management are warranted in the first year following AVR., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the effect of severe acute blood loss anemia (ABLA) on postoperative outcomes in Jehovah's Witness (JW) patients undergoing cardiac surgery., Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult JW patients undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) between January 1998 and December 2018 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri., Setting: At a single tertiary academic center., Participants: Patients who were JWs undergoing cardiac surgery requiring CPB., Interventions: Patients were divided into the following 2 groups: JW patients who developed severe ABLA (defined as postoperative hematocrit level <21), and patients who did not develop severe ABLA., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 48 JW patients who underwent cardiac surgery between 2008 and 2018 were identified. Of these patients, 9 (18.8%) developed postoperative severe ABLA, and 39 (81.3%) did not. Severe ABLA was associated with increased postoperative mortality at 30-days, 90-days, and 1-year postoperatively, and a trend toward increased hospital length of stay., Conclusions: Severe ABLA after cardiac surgery was associated with higher mortality and a trend toward increased hospital length of stay among JW patients. More data are required to confirm the findings., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)