European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2016
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialIs a third arterial conduit necessary? Comparison of the radial artery and saphenous vein in patients receiving bilateral internal thoracic arteries for triple vessel coronary disease.
The use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITAs) is associated with improved long-term survival after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, it is unclear whether the addition of a radial artery (RA) in patients already receiving BITA confers any additional survival benefit over that of a saphenous vein (SV). As such, we reviewed our multicentre experience and compared both strategies. ⋯ The addition of an RA graft even in patients already receiving BITAs is associated with a survival benefit. In younger patients with a reasonable long-term life expectancy, surgeons should strive to achieve total arterial revascularization with BITAs and radial arteries.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2016
ReviewLung cancer screening: did we really need a randomized controlled trial?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the USA. Within the past decade, two large trials (the National Lung Screening Trial Research and the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program) confirmed a significant role for low-dose CT (LDCT) screening in identifying early stages of cancer leading to reduced mortality in high-risk patients. ⋯ Despite the strong support for LDCT among physicians who treat lung cancer and cumulative data demonstrating a survival benefit for screening and early detection, it took more than a decade for lung cancer screening to be embraced at the policy level. With many lives lost in the interim, did we really need a randomized controlled trial to make this decision?
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2016
Impact of positional relationship of commissures on cusp function after valve-sparing root replacement for regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve.
The aim of this study is to investigate the longitudinal valve function after valve-sparing root replacement in patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs), in terms of both transvalvular pressure gradient (TVPG) and freedom from aortic regurgitation. ⋯ In terms of freedom from aortic regurgitation and valve function, similar outcomes were achieved in both despite different repair techniques used for fixation of commissures during valve-sparing aortic root replacement in BAV. However, attention should be paid to patients with 180° commissural reposition because of a trend towards higher TVPG.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2016
Valve-sparing aortic root replacement in adult patients previously operated for congenital heart defects: an initial experience.
To review our experience with valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) in adult patients after the previous surgery for congenital heart disease. ⋯ Analysis of our experience in a small group of patients confirms that valve-sparing aortic root surgery can be safely performed in adult congenital patients presenting with progressive aortic root dilatation following their previous surgery. Although we have analysed patients with different original congenital cardiac lesions and the follow-up period is not long, we can conclude that the use of the reimplantation technique (David procedure) have resulted in overall satisfactory AoV function at follow-up. Longer follow-up with larger series will be needed, however, before firm conclusions can be drawn.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2016
Long-term results of mitral valve surgery for degenerative anterior leaflet or bileaflet prolapse: analysis of negative factors for repair, early and late failures, and survival.
To evaluate the feasibility of mitral valve repair in patients with anterior leaflet (ALP) or bileaflet prolapse (BLP) and identify factors predisposing patients to replacement. To compare long-term survival of patients submitted to repair (Group Repair) against those submitted to replacement (Group Replacement), and investigate causes of early and late failures of repair. ⋯ Patients with ALP or BLP can be submitted to surgery with low mortality and great probability of repair in expert hands. Patients should be operated on at an early phase (asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic), because there is a higher probability of repair and greater benefit on long-term survival.