The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2013
Comparative StudyCrossed wiring closure technique for bilateral transverse thoracosternotomy is associated with less sternal dehiscence after bilateral sequential lung transplantation.
Bilateral transverse thoracosternotomy (clamshell incision) is a widely used approach in bilateral sequential lung transplantation, but the closure technique is associated with sternal dehiscence. This study compares the incidence of sternal dehiscence between the crossed and uncrossed closure techniques. ⋯ Using the crossed closure technique for the sternum after bilateral sequential lung transplantation reduces the incidence of sternal dehiscence compared with the uncrossed closure technique and, therefore, reduces the necessity of reconstructive surgery.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2013
Are discordant positron emission tomography and pathological assessments of the mediastinum in non-small cell lung cancer significant?
Many patients with non-small cell lung cancer have positive mediastinal lymph nodes on preoperative positron emission tomography (PET) but do not have mediastinal involvement after surgery. The prognostic significance of this discordance was assessed. ⋯ Patients with positive mediastinal lymph nodes on preoperative PET, but negative on histologic analysis, are not at increased risk of disease recurrence. Pathologic staging remains the standard.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2013
Six-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency applicants: characteristics, expectations, and concerns.
During the past 5 years, 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency programs have increased in number and popularity. ⋯ We found that most of the candidates for 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency were young, high-achieving individuals oriented toward academic careers with a significant interest in dedicated research time and cardiac surgery.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2013
Two-ventricle repairs in the unbalanced atrioventricular canal defect spectrum with midterm follow-up.
Unbalanced atrioventricular (AV) canal defects include a hypoplastic ventricle (HV) and AV valve (HAVV) precluding complete 2-ventricle repairs (2VRs). Catch-up growth would solve this problem and was induced by increasing HAVV flow. The objectives were to assess reliability of HV and HAVV growth and provide 5- to 15-year 2VR follow-up. ⋯ Reliable HV/HAVV catch-up growth was induced, and all midterm 2VRs were satisfactory.