Off-Pump CABG in 2026: Outcome Gains Driven by Experience and Patient Selection
Analysis of 2026 data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database, encompassing over 1.5 million coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) cases, indicates that off-pump CABG (OPCAB) is associated with substantial reductions in early complications. Compared with on-pump CABG, OPCAB demonstrated approximately 10–20% lower operative mortality, a 15–30% reduction in stroke incidence, and notable reductions in…
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Rethinking Anticoagulation in ECMO
Tianyu Zhang and colleagues recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis in Frontiers in Medicine evaluating reduced-intensity and heparin-sparing anticoagulation strategies during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). Systemic anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin has traditionally represented the standard of care in ECMO management; however, bleeding complications continue to pose a significant challenge. The study aimed to determine…
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Myocardial Microcirculation Combined With Lactate Predicts LV Function After DCD Heart Transplantation
Assessment of donation after circulatory death (DCD) hearts during ex vivo blood perfusion (EVBP) has customarily relied heavily on lactate trends to guide transplantability decisions. However, concerns have been raised regarding whether lactate alone adequately reflects myocardial viability. In a recent experimental study, Saemann et al. (2026) and Colleagues evaluated whether combining myocardial microcirculatory assessment…
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Normothermic Regional Perfusion as a Platform for DCD Lung Assessment and Recovery
The article “Normothermic regional perfusion for donation after circulatory death in lung transplantation,” published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine in 2025, reviews the expanding evidence on thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) for lungs recovered from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors. Authored by Andrew J. Gorton, Daniel K. Mohammadi, Mohammad J. Malik, and Suresh Keshavamurthy,…
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Optimizing CO₂ Levels in Acute Brain Injury: Balancing Cerebral Blood Flow and Intracranial Pressure
The article “Carbon dioxide pathophysiology and targets following acute brain injury” by Shaurya Taran et al., published in Intensive Care Medicine, highlights the crucial role of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO₂) in the management of acute brain injury (ABI). PaCO₂ strongly influences cerebral blood flow (CBF): higher levels cause vasodilation and increased CBF, while lower…
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Can a Simple Index Predict Kidney Injury After Heart Surgery in Diabetic Patients?
A recent study published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery by Chen Li et al. investigates the role of the triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). TyG-BMI, a marker of insulin resistance, has previously been linked to various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases,…
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Physiologic Complexities of ECMO in Pregnancy: A Modern Clinical Review
Dr. Carmen S. Hrymak from the University of Manitoba’s Department of Emergency Medicine and Section of Critical Care, along with her multidisciplinary colleagues, recently published an in-depth review examining the use of ECMO in pregnant and peripartum patients. Their work illustrates that pregnancy can make drastic changes in cardiovascular, respiratory, and haematologic physiology, which specifically…
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Preoperative Sarcopenia as a Predictor of Complications and Mortality After Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass in the Elderly
A recent study published in BMC Geriatrics by Xiaoqian Wang and colleagues explored the effects of sarcopenia on postoperative recovery in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The researchers focused on sarcopenia assessed through the erector spinae muscle (ESM) area measured by preoperative thoracic computed tomography (CT). This approach has not been…
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A New Method for Complex Endocarditis Cases
A recent case report published in General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Cases presents a straightforward and effective surgical technique for the explantation of the EDWARDS INTUITY rapid deployment valve in the setting of prosthetic valve endocarditis. Rapid deployment valves, such as the INTUITY model, are designed to reduce operative times and improve hemodynamic performance. However,…
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Delayed Awakening: Key Predictors After Cardiac Surgery with Bypass
A retrospective study: “Factors Affecting the Time to Postoperative Recovery of Consciousness in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Retrospective Study,” published in the Cureus Journal by Mikiko Tomino and colleagues, investigated the factors influencing the time to recovery of consciousness in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Conducted at Tokyo Medical…
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Nutritional Care in Pediatric ECMO: Toward a Personalized and Evidence-Based Approach
A recent comprehensive review published in Nutrients by Marwa Mansour and colleagues explores the essential yet often overlooked role of nutritional support in pediatric patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This population is particularly vulnerable to malnutrition, which is frequently observed and strongly linked to increased morbidity and mortality. Despite its critical importance, nutritional management…
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The Influence of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Duration on Mortality and Mid-Term Survival in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Repair.
A recent study conducted by Mikko Uimonen and colleagues, published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease by MDPI, investigated the relationship between cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). The study retrospectively analyzed data from 1122 patients who underwent surgical treatment across…
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