The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2018
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparison of patients with multivessel disease treated at centers with and without on-site cardiac surgery.
The regional needs and consolidation of cardiac surgery services (CSS) result in an increased number of stand-alone interventional cardiology units. We aimed to explore the impact of a heart team on the decision making and outcomes of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease referred for coronary revascularization in stand-alone interventional cardiology units. ⋯ Patients with multivessel coronary artery disease treated in centers without on-site cardiac surgery services receive a lower rate of appropriate guideline-based intervention with CABG. These findings suggest that a heart team approach should be mandatory even in centers with stand-alone interventional cardiology units.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2018
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyBalloon-expandable transaortic transcatheter aortic valve implantation with or without predilation.
It has been reported that balloon aortic valvuloplasty immediately before transfemoral or transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation has mostly little to no clinical value. We aimed to provide data on the need for balloon aortic valvuloplasty in patients undergoing transaortic transcatheter aortic valve implantation. ⋯ For many patients, balloon aortic valvuloplasty predilation seems to have little clinical value in transaortic transcatheter aortic valve implantation using a balloon expandable transcatheter valve and may result in a higher rate of periprocedural complications, particularly in terms of permanent pacemaker implantation.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2018
Outcomes after surgical pulmonary embolectomy for acute submassive and massive pulmonary embolism: A single-center experience.
Ideal treatment strategies for submassive and massive pulmonary embolism remain unclear. Recent reports of surgical pulmonary embolectomy have demonstrated improved outcomes, but surgical technique and postoperative outcomes continue to be refined. The aim of this study is to describe in-hospital survival and right ventricular function after surgical pulmonary embolectomy for submassive and massive pulmonary embolism with excessive predicted mortality (≥5%). ⋯ In this single institution experience, surgical pulmonary embolectomy is a safe and effective therapy to treat patients with a submassive or massive pulmonary embolism. Although survival in this study is higher than previously reported for patients treated with medical therapy alone, a prospective trial comparing surgical therapy with medical therapy is necessary to further elucidate the role of surgical pulmonary embolectomy in the treatment of pulmonary embolism.