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Objectives: Isolated tricuspid valve dysplasia is a rare disease characterized by a wide spectrum of possible anomalies. We describe the use of the Cone concept to treat a patient with a double-orifice tricuspid valve with massive regurgitation and severe deficit of coaptation., Methods: Three adult patients with congenital non-Ebstein tricuspid valve anomaly characterized by severe coaptation deficiency underwent tricuspid valve repair applying the Cone technique. In particular, we describe the case of a symptomatic 21-year-old woman with a double-orifice tricuspid valve, with massive regurgitation and severe right ventricular dilatation. The tricuspid valve was transformed from a double-orifice valve into a single-orifice valve. The most superior orifice was opened, and the tissue surrounding the orifice was used to extend the leaflet of the inferior orifice. A Cone was created, and a ring annuloplasty was used to stabilize the result., Results: The patient was discharged home after 7 days with trivial residual tricuspid regurgitation and no significant antegrade gradient. The final coaptation height was 2.8 cm. The cardiothoracic ratio decreased from 0.77 to 0.59 after 2 months, and symptoms promptly improved., Conclusions: Over the past 2 years, we have applied the Cone creation concept to patients with a severely dysplastic tricuspid valve with excellent early results. One patient had a double-orifice tricuspid valve, and a Cone repair concept was adopted anyway. One orifice was sacrificed, and surrounding tissue was used to augment the leaflets of the other orifice. A Cone was created to improve central coaptation with a good initial result., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Objectives: Energy demand and supply need to be balanced to preserve myocardial function during paediatric cardiac surgery. After a latent aerobic period, cardiac cells try to maintain energy production by anaerobic metabolism and by extracting oxygen from the given cardioplegic solution. Myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) changes gradually during the administration of cardioplegia., Methods: MVO2 was measured during cardioplegic perfusion in patients younger than 6 months of age (group N: neonates; group I: infants), with a body weight less than 10 kg. Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate crystalloid solution was used for myocardial protection and was administered during a 5-min interval. To measure pO2 values during cardioplegic arrest, a sample of the cardioplegic fluid was taken from the inflow line before infusion. Three fluid samples were taken from the coronary venous effluent 1, 3 and 5 min after the onset of cardioplegia administration. MVO2 was calculated using the Fick principle., Results: The mean age of group N was 0.2 ± 0.09 versus 4.5 ± 1.1 months in group I. The mean weight was 3.1 ± 0.2 versus 5.7 ± 1.6 kg, respectively. MVO2 decreased similarly in both groups (min 1: 0.16 ± 0.07 vs 0.36 ± 0.1 ml/min; min 3: 0.08 ± 0.04 vs 0.17 ± 0.09 ml/min; min 5: 0.05 ± 0.04 vs 0.07 ± 0.05 ml/min)., Conclusions: We studied MVO2 alterations after aortic cross-clamping and during delivery of cardioplegia in neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery. Extended cardioplegic perfusion significantly reduces energy turnover in hearts because the balance procedures are both volume- and above all time-dependent. A reduction in MVO2 indicates the necessity of a prolonged cardioplegic perfusion time to achieve optimized myocardial protection., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

A newborn with situs solitus, normally related great arteries and intact atrial septum, underwent surgical repair at our institution for anomalous drainage of the right superior vena cava in the left atrium at the level of the right superior pulmonary veins. This rare cyanotic congenital cardiac malformation is herein described with special regard to its anatomical and diagnostic features. A novel surgical approach for achieving correction is also described.

Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries is a rare congenital heart lesion in which pulmonary blood supply may arise from different segments of the aorta. We report an unusual case of a newborn with a major collateral artery originating from the proximal ascending aorta. Successful reparative surgery was undertaken.

Background: The extracardiac conduit technique is a valid option for completing total cavopulmonary anastomosis (TCPC) in patients with a single ventricle. The technique allows for beating heart surgery, optimal flow dynamics, and reduced postoperative atrial arrhythmia. Different types of conduit have been proposed. This study reported a single-centre experience with two different types of conduit., Methods: Consecutive patients referred for TCPC at the current institution between January 2001 and September 2013 were included. Retrospective extraction of pertinent variables was accomplished through electronic patient chart review. Patients were stratified based on the type of conduit used to perform the TCPC: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) conduit (Group A) and polyethylene-terephthalate (Dacron) conduit (Group B)., Results: The patient population included 105 patients: Group A had 80 patients, and Group B had 25 patients. The two groups were similar in major clinical and procedural variables, including conduit size and Nakata index. Eighteen patients (Group A: one [1.25%]; Group B: 17 [68%]) had conduit occlusion or severe stenosis requiring intervention after a mean 46.9±35months after the operation. The percentage of patients in Group A who were free of conduit obstruction at 3, 5, and 10 years was 100%, 100%, and 96%, respectively, whereas these figures were 68%, 52%, and 35% in Group B (log-rank <0.000). Conduit re-intervention was associated with an increased risk of overall mortality after primary intervention (p<0.004). Dacron tube was found to be an independent risk factor for mid-term stenosis or obstruction (hazard ratio, 62.9; 95% CI, 8.2-482.2; p=0.000)., Conclusion: Dacron conduit for TCPC surgery was associated with a higher risk of obstruction and need for early re-intervention compared with PTFE conduit. Surgical or percutaneous re-interventions for conduit obstruction increased the risk of late mortality., (Copyright © 2018 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital coronary anomaly with a reported incidence of approximately 0.002%. Usually, the diagnosis is made by echocardiography leaving computed tomography or angiography only to diagnostic completion in doubtful cases or for interventional procedures.Herein we report a doubtful case of a patient with a diagnosis of coronary fistula between the right coronary and the pulmonary artery that proved to be an anomalous origin of the coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. The patient underwent corrective surgery with translocation of the coronary artery on the aorta.

Two neonates were taken shortly after birth to our unit with a prenatal diagnosis of [S,D,S] Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia and "unusual" aorta to pulmonary connection. The echocardiogram confirmed the main diagnosis showing: a left aortic arch with a vascular connection between the right innominate artery and the origin of the right pulmonary artery in patient A; and right aortic arch with a vascular connection between the left innominate artery and the origin of the left pulmonary artery in patient B.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is an atypical fat depot surrounding the heart with a putative role in the development of atherosclerosis., Methods and Results: We profiled genes and miRNAs in perivascular EAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of metabolically healthy patients without coronary artery disease (CAD) vs. metabolic patients with CAD. Compared with SAT, a specific tuning of miRNAs and genes points to EAT as a tissue characterized by a metabolically active and pro-inflammatory profile. Then, we depicted both miRNA and gene signatures of EAT in CAD, featuring a down-regulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, nuclear receptor transcriptional activity, and an up-regulation of those involved in antigen presentation, chemokine signalling, and inflammation. Finally, we identified miR-103-3p as candidate modulator of CCL13 in EAT, and a potential biomarker role for the chemokine CCL13 in CAD., Conclusion: EAT in CAD is characterized by changes in the regulation of metabolism and inflammation with miR-103-3p/CCL13 pair as novel putative actors in EAT function and CAD., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2015. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To compare early and mid-term outcomes after repair of extensive aneurysm of the thoracic aorta using the conventional elephant trunk or frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedures., Methods: Fifty-seven patients with extensive thoracic aneurysmal disease were treated using elephant trunk (n = 36) or FET (n = 21) procedures. Patients with aortic dissection, descending thoracic aorta (DTA) diameter less than 40 mm, and thoracoabdominal aneurysms were excluded from the analysis, as were those who did not undergo antegrade selective cerebral perfusion during circulatory arrest. Short-term and mid-term outcomes were compared according to elephant trunk/FET surgical management., Results: Preoperative and intraoperative variables were similar in the two groups, except for a higher incidence of female sex, coronary artery disease and associated procedures in elephant trunk patients. Hospital mortality (elephant trunk: 13.9% versus FET: 4.8%; P = 0.2), permanent neurologic dysfunction (elephant trunk: 5.7% versus FET: 9.5%; P = 0.4) and paraplegia (elephant trunk: 2.9% versus FET: 4.8%; P = 0.6) rates were similar in the two groups. Follow-up was 100% complete. In the elephant trunk group, 68.4% of patients did not undergo a second-stage procedure during follow-up for a variety of reasons. Of these patients, the DTA diameter was greater than 51 mm in 72.2% and two (6.7%) died due to aortic rupture while awaiting stage-two intervention. Endovascular second-stage procedures were successfully performed in all FET patients with residual DTA aneurysmal disease (n = 3), whereas nine of 11 elephant trunk patients who returned for second-stage procedures required conventional surgical replacement through a lateral thoracotomy. Kaplan-Meier estimate of 4-year survival was 75.8 ± 7.6 and 72.8 ± 10.6 in elephant trunk and FET patients, respectively (log-rank P = 0.8)., Conclusion: In patients with extensive aneurysmal disease of thoracic aorta, elephant trunk and FET procedures seem to be associated with similar satisfactory early and mid-term outcomes. The FET approach leads to single-stage treatment of all aortic disease in most patients, and facilitates endovascular second-stage treatment in patients with residual DTA disease. The elephant trunk staged-approach appears to leave a considerable percentage of patients at risk for adverse aortic events.

Aim: Aim of the study was to analyze outcome in patients who underwent surgery following type A aortic dissections and to evaluate the long-term survival rates in patients 70 years of age and older and those under 70 years of age, and in males as compared to females., Methods: Between September 1997 and October 2008, 154 patients were retrospectively enrolled. There were 102 males (66.2%) and 52 females (33.8%) with a mean age of 63.5±12; seven patients (4.5%) were over 80 years of age, 46 (29.8%) were between 70 and 80 years of age and 101 were under 70 years of age at the time of surgery. We compared patients 70 years of age and older with those under 70 years of age, analyzing the early and long-term survival results and postoperative complications., Results: Overall in-hospital mortality was 17.5% and permanent neurological dysfunction occurred in 10 patients (6.5%). Twenty patients (12.9%) died during follow-up. Among the males, the long-term survival rate was 80%, 68% and 51% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Among the females, survival rate was 84.6%, 72.3% and 47.5% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Five- and 10-year survival rates were 78.1% and 59.4%, respectively, for patients under 70 years of age, and 50.8% at 5 years and 26.1% at 10 years for those over 70., Conclusion: Patients might not be excluded from surgical intervention for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) only due to age. It is important to consider biological age and the clinical features of the patients at the time of surgery. Age is a relative but not absolute contraindication for surgery in ATAAD. Long-term survival was not statistically different between males and females.

Background: The impact of different cannulation strategies on outcomes of aortic arch surgery remains controversial. This retrospective study sought to evaluate central cannulation (ascending aorta, right axillary, and innominate artery) compared with femoral artery cannulation for aortic arch surgery, and to identify among preoperative and intraoperative variables the independent predictors of death and permanent neurologic dysfunction (PND) in aortic arch surgery., Methods: All patients were operated through a median sternotomy using antegrade selective cerebral perfusion with moderate hypothermia as a method of brain protection. Treatment bias was addressed by use of propensity-score matching and multivariate regression analysis. Logistic regression models were used to identify the independent predictors of hospital mortality and PND., Results: Of the 473 patients undergoing aortic arch surgery, 273 (57.7%) underwent femoral cannulation (FC), and 200 (42.3%) underwent central cannulation (CC). The CC and FC cannulation were associated with similar risk of in-hospital death (absolute risk reduction [ARR]: 0.7%; p = 0.880) and PND (ARR:-2.6%, p = 0.361) in the overall cohort and after adjusting for propensity-based matching (ARR for hospital mortality: 2.2%, p = 0.589; ARR for PND: 3.4%, p = 0.271). Female gender (odds ratio [OR]:2.1, p = 0.030), type A acute dissection or intramural hematoma (OR: 2.2; p = 0.041), and CPB time (OR: 1.010/minute, p = 0.015) were independent predictors of in-hospital death. Female gender (OR: 2.4; p = 0.033), type A acute dissection or intramural hematoma (OR: 4.2; p = 0.005), and diabetes (OR: 6.6, p = 0.007) were independent predictors of PND., Conclusions: During aortic arch surgery, CC and FC are associated with a similar risk of postoperative death and PND. Type A acute aortic dissection and cardiopulmonary bypass time remain strong risk factors for mortality and PND., (Copyright © 2013 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Limited data exist on renal complications of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) within a comprehensive program using different valves with transfemoral, transapical, and trans-subclavian approach., Methods: Prospective single-center registry of 102 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI using both approved bioprostheses and different access routes. The main objective was to assess the incidence, predictors and the clinical impact of acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI was defined according to the valve academic research consortium (VARC) indications., Results: Mean age was 83.7 ± 5.3 years, logistic EuroSCORE 22.6 ± 12.4%, and STS score 8.2 ± 4.1%. Chronic kidney disease at baseline was present in 87.3%. Periprocedural AKI developed in 42 patients (41.7%): 32.4% stage 1, 4.9% stage 2 and 3.9% stage 3. The incidence of AKI was 66.7% in transapical, 30.3% in transfemoral, and 50% in trans-subclavian procedures. The only independent predictor of AKI was transapical access, with a hazard ratio (HR) between 4.57 and 5.18 based on the model used. Cumulative 1-year survival was 88.2%. At Cox regression analysis, the only independent predictor of 30-day mortality was diabetes mellitus (HR 7.05, 95% CI 1.07-46.32; p=0.042), whilst the independent predictors of 1-year death were baseline glomerular filtration rate<30 mL/min (HR 5.74, 95% CI 1.42-23.26; p=0.014) and post-procedural AKI 3 (HR 8.59, 95% CI 1.61-45.86, p=0.012)., Conclusions: TAVI is associated with a high incidence of AKI. Although in the majority of the cases AKI is of mild entity and reversible, AKI 3 holds a strong negative impact on 1-year survival. The incidence of AKI is higher with transapical access., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: A growing body of evidence has shown that delayed management of traumatic injury of the thoracic aorta determines survival benefits as compared with immediate treatment. However, few data exist comparing outcomes after delayed open surgical or endovascular management. Accordingly, we reviewed our experience with delayed management, stratifying the data according to type of repair; open surgical versus endovascular., Methods: Since 1992, delayed aortic repair has represented our first-line management for all blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury (BTTAI) patients, except for those who presented with or became unstable due to impending aortic rupture. These patients were converted to urgent primary aortic repair. Thus, between 1992 and 2010, a total of 77 BTTAI patients were managed according to this policy. There were 57 (74%) men having a mean age of 33.4 years. Thirty-one (41.3%) patients underwent open surgical repair (SR), 44 (58.6%) underwent endovascular repair (ER), and 2 died while awaiting aortic repair. At admission, the clinical and trauma characteristics were similar in both groups. The trauma-to-repair time span (in days) was 200 (Q1-Q3: 27 to 340) and 10 (Q1-Q3: 2 to 79) for SR and ER patients, respectively (p = 0.001). Due to unpaired hemodynamic or imaging signs of impending aortic rupture, 15 patients required urgent repair, which was endovascular in 11 (25%) cases and surgical in 4 (12.9%)., Results: Overall, hospital mortality was 3.9% (n = 3), being 0% in SR patients and 2.3% (n = 1) in ER patients (p = 0.398). No new postoperative paraplegia occurred; a cerebellar stroke occurred in 1 (2.3%) ER patient receiving intentional coverage of the left subclavian artery. During follow-up (96.1% complete at 95 ± 70 months), no late deaths occurred. At 15 years, the estimates of survival and freedom from secondary aortic procedures were 96% and 100%, respectively., Conclusions: Delayed management of traumatic aortic injury was associated with satisfactory short- and long-term results without significant differences between open surgical and endovascular repair. However, the reduced invasiveness of endovascular repair can optimize operative timing allowing prompt aortic repair in unstable patients, earlier repair in stable patients, and, when indicated, easier concomitant non-aortic surgery., (Copyright © 2013 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of our study was to report our hospital and long-term results after reinterventions on the thoracic aorta., Methods: Between 1986 and 2011, 224 reoperations on the proximal thoracic aorta after previous aortic surgery were performed in our institution. The number of reinterventions quadrupled during the course of the study period. Mean patient age was 58.1 years, and 174 patients (77.7%) were male. An urgent/emergency operation was performed in 39 patients (17.4%). Indications for surgery included degenerative and chronic postdissection aneurysm (n = 166), false aneurysm (n = 31), active prosthetic infection (n = 16), acute dissection (n = 10), and other (n = 1). Surgical procedures involved the aortic root in 40.6% of patients, the ascending aorta in 9.4%, the aortic arch in 24.6%, and the entire proximal thoracic aorta in 25.4%., Results: Hospital mortality was 12.1%. On multivariate analysis, cardiopulmonary bypass time (odds ratio, 1.1023/minute; P < .001), and urgent/emergency status (odds ratio, 5.6; P < .001) emerged as independent predictors of hospital mortality. The follow-up was 98.7% complete. Estimated 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 84.4%, 72.5%, and 48.5%, respectively. Eighteen reinterventions were performed during follow-up-16 because of the progression of aortic disease at the proximal aorta (n = 2) and downstream aorta (n = 14). Freedom from reoperation at 1, 5, and 10 years was 95.6%, 90.2%, and 81.5%, respectively., Conclusions: Reoperative aortic surgery was associated with satisfactory short- and long-term results, especially if carried out on an elective basis. The extent of the aortic replacement did not impact survival and was associated with a reduced need for reintervention. The progressive nature of aortic disease and the favorable results of elective primary aortic interventions suggest favoring aggressive aortic resections at initial surgery., (Copyright © 2013 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Primary cardiac tumours are relatively rare in the paediatric population, and they may occur with different signs and symptoms in foetal or post-natal life. The clinical manifestations of cardiac tumours in foetal life may include arrhythmias, congestive heart failure and hydrops. In post-natal life, cardiac tumours may cause cyanosis, respiratory distress, myocardial dysfunction, valvular insufficiency, arrhythmias, inflow or outflow tract obstructions and sudden death. Surgical treatment is essential when symptoms are present, while the role of medical therapy can merely be palliative. Results are various and related to the patients' and tumour characteristics. Primary benign heart tumours mainly have a good prognosis, while malignant neoplasms usually have a poor prognosis; in both cases, however, a strict follow-up is always mandatory in order to detect the recurrence of cardiac neoplasms after surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to report results of aortic root reoperations and to identify predictors of in-hospital and long-term mortality., Methods: Between 1986 and 2011, 111 consecutive patients (mean age 55.4 years, 85 male [76.6%]) were reoperated on the aortic root after previous aortic surgery at our institution. An urgent/emergent operation was performed in 24 patients (21.6%). Indications for reoperation were degenerative aneurysm (n = 56), chronic post-dissection aneurysm (n = 27), active prosthetic infection (n = 14), false aneurysm (n = 10) and acute dissection (n = 4). Surgical procedures were limited to the aortic root in 68 patients (61.3%), and involved the entire proximal thoracic aorta in 43 patients (38.7%)., Results: In-hospital mortality was 12.6%, being 6.9% and 33.3% in elective and urgent cases, respectively (p=0.002). On multivariate analysis, cardiopulmonary bypass time (odds ratio 1.029/min; p=0.011) and urgent/emergent status (odds ratio 8.486; p=0.044) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Follow-up was 99.1% complete. Estimated 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 82.5%, 71.9% and 50.6%, respectively. Six redo procedures were performed during follow-up. Freedom from reoperation at 1, 5, and 10 years was 100%, 91.7% and 86.1%, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, chronic aortic dissection (hazard ratio 21.2; p=0.009) was an independent predictor of reintervention at follow-up., Conclusions: Reoperation on the aortic root can be performed with acceptable mortality and good mid- and long-term outcomes, in particular when carried out on an elective basis. Cardiopulmonary bypass time and urgent/emergent status remain the most important risk factors for reduced survival in aortic surgery.

Patients with dissecting or aneurysmal disease of the aortic arch represent a unique challenge for the cardiac surgeon, and the employment of valid surgical and endovascular techniques and appropriate methods of cerebral protection is crucial for obtaining satisfactory postoperative results. Open surgical repair remains the approach of choice, even if supported by increasingly improved endovascular procedures. At present, a wide range of surgical, endovascular and hybrid procedures is available for the treatment of these high-risk patients. The aim of this review is to describe the different procedures used in patients with aortic arch pathology and to review the main results available in the literature.

Transapical aortic valve implantation is being employed as a less invasive alternative to open heart surgery in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. Here we report the case of an awake transapical aortic valve implantation in a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report results and to identify predictors of hospital and long-term mortality in patients undergoing re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta., Methods: Between 1986 and 2009,174 re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta after previous aortic surgery were performed in our Institution. The patients' mean age was 58 years, 132 (75.9%) were men. The mean time from last operation was 9.9 years. An urgent operation was performed in 35 (20.1%) patients. Indications for surgery included degenerative and chronic post-dissection aneurysm (n=133), acute dissection (n=8), false aneurysm (n=22), and active prosthetic infection (n=11). Root procedures were performed in 65 (37.3%) patients, ascending aorta replacement in 27 (15.5%), different extents of aortic arch replacement in 39 (22.4%), and root, ascending aorta and arch replacement in 43 (24.7%)., Results: Hospital mortality was 12.6%. On multivariate analysis, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (odds ratio (OR)=1.1018 per min), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV (OR=3.86), and active endocarditis (OR=5.15) emerged as independent predictors of hospital mortality. Mean follow-up time was 56 months. The estimated 1-, 5-, and 10 years' survival were 81.6%, 74.2%, and 44.5%, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, age (hazard ratio (HR)=1.037 per year) and CPB time (HR=1.010 per min) emerged as independent risk factors of late mortality., Conclusions: Short- and long-term survival was satisfactory being excellent in patients with degenerative aneurysms and dismal in those with active endocarditis. Extensive aortic resections did not increase hospital mortality and were associated with a reduced need for aortic re-interventions. CPB time remains the most important risk factor for reduced survival in aortic surgery., (Copyright © 2011 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The frozen elephant trunk, combining together surgical and endovascular techniques, has been developed to treat patients with extensive disease of the thoracic aorta. In this article, we report three cases in which the frozen elephant trunk could facilitate surgical arch repair and patients' management., (Copyright © 2011 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ascending aortic aneurysms involving the aortic root are usually treated with replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic valve using a composite valved conduit. However, the aortic valve is usually normal and the dysfunction is due to an impairment of the other components of the aortic root. In these cases, the aortic root can be replaced, sparing the native aortic valve. Aortic valve-sparing operations have been demonstrated to be effective and durable. This article summarizes the principal methods of valve-sparing procedures, and describes the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and their impact on patient outcomes.