The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2016
Review Meta AnalysisEquivalent outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery performed by consultant versus trainee surgeons: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
In recent years, concerns have been raised about the learning opportunities available to cardiac surgical trainees. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of trainee operator status on clinical outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. ⋯ With appropriate supervision, conventional CABG can be performed by trainee surgeons without an adverse impact on perioperative outcomes or midterm survival. Data regarding off-pump CABG are limited, and further research is warranted to ascertain the impact of trainee operator status on long-term outcomes after off-pump CABG.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2016
Pretreatment with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned media confers pulmonary ischemic tolerance.
Mesenchymal stromal cell-based therapies have demonstrated efficacy in treating a variety of diseases. Despite the potential benefits, there are still significant hurdles that need to be overcome for clinical use. We describe a cell-free-based immunotherapy approach for inducing pulmonary ischemic tolerance by using mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned media. ⋯ Cell-free mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned media therapy confers pulmonary ischemic tolerance. This therapy uses paracrine factors that provide beneficial protective effects by immunomodulating the inflammatory response in resident and infiltrating cell subsets.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2016
Prolonged continuous-flow left ventricular assist device support and posttransplantation outcomes: A new challenge.
To assess outcomes after cardiac transplantation in patients receiving long-term continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) support. ⋯ A bridge-to-transplant (BTT) strategy with a CF-LVAD has become standard care for patients with advanced heart failure. Duration of CF-LVAD support is associated with increased midterm mortality, warranting early transplantation in the modern BTT era.