The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2025
Changes in Heart Transplant Outcomes of Elderly Patients in the New Allocation Era.
Studies demonstrate that heart transplantation can be performed safely in septuagenarians. We evaluate the outcomes of septuagenarians undergoing heart transplantation after the US heart allocation change in 2018. ⋯ Septuagenarians comprise a greater proportion of heart transplant recipients after the allocation change, and their post-transplant outcomes relative to younger recipients have worsened.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2025
Surgery and Transcatheter Intervention for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation in The United States.
We evaluated practice trends and 3-year outcomes of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) and surgical repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation in the United States. ⋯ Among Medicare beneficiaries with degenerative mitral regurgitation, an increase in TEER utilization was associated with worse survival, increased heart failure readmissions, and more mitral reinterventions. Randomized trials are needed to better inform treatment choice.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2025
Comparative StudyPerioperative Outcomes and Survival after Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
This study aimed to compare the difference in perioperative outcomes and prognosis between neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. ⋯ This retrospective study showed that neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy was safe and effective for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Further verification is needed in randomized controlled trials.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2025
Characterizing a learning curve for robotic-assisted bronchoscopy: Analysis of skills acquisition in a high-volume academic center.
Shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is an emerging technology for the sampling of pulmonary lesions. We seek to characterize the shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy learning curve at an academic center. ⋯ Skills acquisition in shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is variable. Approximately half of proceduralists become facile with the technology within 25 lesions. After the initial learning phase, operators increasingly target lesions with more challenging features. Overall, these findings can inform certification and competency standards and provide new users with expectations related to performance over time.