The Annals of thoracic surgery
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To evaluate safety and efficacy of a combined repair of aortic arch aneurysms by sequential transposition of the supra-aortic branches and endovascular stent-graft placement. ⋯ Combined repair of aortic arch aneurysms by sequential transposition of the supra-aortic branches with consecutive endovascular stent-graft placement is feasible. Extended application of this technique will enable safe and effective treatment of a highly selected subgroup of patients with aortic aneurysms by avoiding conventional arch aneurysm repair in deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest.
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Review Comparative Study
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after lung transplantation: evolving technique improves outcomes.
Severe pulmonary graft failure (PGF) is the most common cause of death within the first 30 days after lung transplantation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may provide lifesaving temporary support; however, its longer-term efficacy is controversial. ⋯ Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation results have improved with advances in oxygenator technology and surgical techniques. The procedure can allow resolution of early PGF after lung transplantation.
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This study evaluates the utility of positron emission tomography (PET), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and computed tomographic (CT) scans to predict pathologic response and survival following preoperative chemoradiation (CRT) in esophageal cancer. ⋯ The FDG-PET SUV is the most accurate noninvasive test to predict long-term survival after preoperative CRT and before surgical resection. Post-CRT FDG-PET cannot, however, rule out residual microscopic disease so esophagectomy should remain a therapeutic option even if the post-CRT imaging modalities are normal.