The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Comparative Study
Comparison of cardiothoracic training curricula: integrated six-year versus traditional programs.
Traditionally, cardiothoracic residency programs are 2 or 3 years in length and require the completion of a general surgery residency. Six-year integrated programs (IP) that directly match fourth-year medical students have been recently developed. Our objective was to examine the curricula of traditional 2-year (T2) and 3-year (T3) programs and compare them to the curricula of IP. ⋯ Integrated programs should not be considered "cardiac pathways" as they spend a significant amount of time on thoracic rotations. Additional nonsurgical rotations provide an opportunity for residents in IP to develop unique skills not currently provided in traditional programs.
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Case Reports
Reoperative transapical aortic valve implantation for early structural valve deterioration of a SAPIEN XT valve.
We report on the first repeat transapical aortic "valve-in-valve" implantation for severe aortic stenosis in a degenerated transcatheter valve (Edwards SAPIEN XT; Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) using a second Edwards SAPIEN XT valve.
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Management of unbalanced common atrioventricular canal (UCAVC) defect by a single-ventricle (SV) approach frequently results in poor outcomes, especially in trisomy 21 patients. In this report we describe our results with conversion to biventricular circulation in UCAVC patients with SV palliation. ⋯ Biventricular conversion from failing SV palliation in UCAVC can be accomplished with an acceptable early and late morbidity and mortality, although need for reintervention was not uncommon.
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Editorial Comment
Blood transfusion and infection after cardiac surgery.