The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2023
The impact of thoracic endovascular aortic repair following blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury on blood pressure.
Blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs) are associated with a high mortality rate. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the most frequently used surgical strategy in patients with BTAI, as it offers good short- and middle-term results. Previous studies have reported an abnormally high prevalence of hypertension (HT) in these patients. This work aimed to describe the long-term prevalence of HT and provide a comprehensive evaluation of the biomechanical, clinical, and functional factors involved in HT development. ⋯ HT frequently occurs otherwise healthy subjects undergoing TEVAR implantation after BTAI. TEVAR stiffness and length, the proximal landing zone, and distal oversizing are potentially modifiable surgical characteristics related to abnormal blood pressure.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2023
Outcomes of temporary ventricular assist device: A pediatric institutional experience over 25 years.
There are scarce data describing outcomes of pediatric temporary ventricular assist device support. ⋯ This study suggests temporary ventricular assist device support is feasible in children with favorable outcomes.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2023
The Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association: Understanding the needs of medical students pursuing cardiothoracic surgery in the United States.
Founded in 2020, the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association is the first national organization dedicated to supporting medical students interested in pursuing cardiothoracic surgery. Our inaugural survey aimed to describe their basic characteristics and needs. ⋯ There is a significant need to directly engage medical students who are interested in cardiothoracic surgery considering limited exposure at home institutions through a lack of cardiothoracic surgery interest groups and cardiothoracic residency programs. The Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association is poised to address these areas with directed networking by connecting cardiothoracic surgery faculty and residents from other institutions with medical students interested in pursuing cardiothoracic surgery.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2023
Extracellular vesicle therapy attenuates antiangiogenic signaling in ischemic myocardium of swine with metabolic syndrome.
Our recent studies using a porcine model of metabolic syndrome (MS) and chronic myocardial ischemia show that extracellular vesicle (EV) therapy improves blood flow and arteriogenesis in ischemic myocardium, although mechanisms of these changes are unclear. We hypothesized that in the setting of MS, EV therapy would decrease antiangiogenic signaling to mediate increased blood flow to chronically ischemic myocardium. ⋯ In the setting of MS and chronic myocardial ischemia, EV therapy is associated with decreased expression of antiangiogenic proteins, which might contribute to increased blood flow to chronically ischemic myocardium.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2023
Intra-tracheally injected human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived pneumocytes and endothelial cells engraft in the distal lung and ameliorate emphysema in a rat model.
Pulmonary emphysema is characterized by the destruction of alveolar units and reduced gas exchange capacity. In the present study, we aimed to deliver induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells and pneumocytes to repair and regenerate distal lung tissue in an elastase-induced emphysema model. ⋯ Our findings suggest that human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived distal lung cells can engraft in emphysematous lungs and participate in the formation of functional distal lung units to ameliorate the progression of emphysema.