The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Selective use of cardiac computed tomography angiography: an alternative diagnostic modality before second-stage single ventricle palliation.
To assess the accuracy and risk of substituting cardiac computed tomography for cardiac catheterization in select patients for evaluation of anatomy before second-stage single ventricle palliation. ⋯ Cardiac computed tomography and cardiac catheterization are equally accurate for evaluation of anatomy before second-stage single ventricle palliation when compared with surgical findings. Computed tomography may be the preferred test in select patients because of decreased vascular access and anesthesia risk, lower radiation and contrast exposure, and fewer adverse events.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Intermediate-term oncologic outcomes after video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for early-stage thymoma.
To evaluate the impact on patient survival of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy for the treatment of early-stage thymoma, by comparing the intermediate-term oncologic outcomes with outcomes after open thymectomy. ⋯ Our findings indicate that the intermediate-term oncologic outcomes after VATS thymectomy for early-stage thymoma are as favorable as outcomes after open thymectomy. Further follow-up is still required to evaluate the long-term outcomes after VATS thymectomy.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Preoperative heart failure in the Medicare population undergoing mitral valve repair and replacement: an opportunity for improvement.
Elderly patients are under-represented in most surgical series of mitral valve surgery. The impact of preoperative heart failure (HF) on the outcomes of this subset has not been extensively studied. ⋯ Preoperative HF is present in a large number of elderly patients undergoing primary isolated mitral valve surgery and adversely affects their short-term and long-term survival, irrespective of procedure type (repair or replacement). The study supports the early identification of elderly patients with mitral valve disease and referral to surgery before the onset of HF.