The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 2025
Significance of Isolated Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair.
Although postoperative atrial fibrillation has been shown to be associated with worse survival after thoracic aortic surgery, its effect on outcomes independently from other postoperative complications is not well understood. ⋯ Postoperative atrial fibrillation is common after open proximal thoracic aortic aneurysm repair. Although development of major postoperative complications is associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation and decreased long-term survival, isolated postoperative atrial fibrillation does not appear to influence long-term survival.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 2025
Age Is Superior to Aortopathy Phenotype as a Predictor of Aortic Mechanics in Patients with Bicuspid Valve.
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy is defined by 3 phenotypes-root, ascending, and diffuse-based on region of maximal aortic dilation. We sought to determine the association between aortic mechanical behavior and aortopathy phenotype versus other clinical variables. ⋯ Aortic mechanical function under physiologic and failure conditions in BAV aortopathy is robustly associated with age and poorly associated with aortopathy phenotype. Data suggesting that the root phenotype of BAV aortopathy portends worse outcomes are unlikely to be related to aberrant, phenotype-specific tissue mechanics.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 2025
Impact of Dual Thoracic Recovery from Circulatory Death Donors on Heart and Lung Transplant Outcomes.
Concomitant heart and lung recovery can result in increased operative complexity, ischemic time, and competition for resources and anatomic territory. Dual thoracic recovery from circulatory death donors may have additional risks that are not fully understood. We investigated the effects of dual heart and lung recovery from circulatory death donors on thoracic transplant outcomes. ⋯ Recovering both the heart and lungs from a circulatory death donor does not negatively impact transplant outcomes. Outcomes in this population should continue to be investigated as more data and longer-term follow-up become available.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 2025
Appropriate sizing of the frozen elephant trunk: How to predict proximal descending aortic diameter prior to dissection?
The predissection aortic diameter is the best reference for determining the size of the frozen elephant trunk in aortic dissection. We aimed to develop a new prediction method to estimate the predissection diameter of proximal descending aorta. Furthermore, we evaluated the accuracy of the estimated predissection proximal descending aortic diameters calculated using 3 prediction methods. ⋯ These results suggest that the new prediction method can be used as a simple and accurate estimation method for the predissection aortic diameter at the proximal descending aorta.