ECMO with ProtekDuo Cannula as a Bridge to Lung Transplantation: a Single-Center Case Series
The article by Yuriy Stukov et al., published in the Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia, comprehensively reviews the use of the ProtekDuo cannula in Venopulmonary (VP) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to lung transplantation. The study is a retrospective case series from a single center, focusing on the efficacy of VP ECMO in managing…
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The Predictive Value of Biomarkers in Aortic Dissection
The review article by Abanob G. Hanna, published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, delves into the prognostic value of various preoperative biomarkers in patients undergoing surgical repair of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. The study aims to improve the process of selecting surgical candidates by identifying reliable biomarkers that can accurately predict surgical outcomes….
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Outcomes in VA-ECMO: Insights from ICU Scoring System Analysis
The study “Comparison of Four Intensive Care Scores in Prediction of Outcome after Veno-Arterial ECMO: A Single-Center Retrospective Study,” led by Suraj Sudarsanan and colleagues, was published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. This research evaluated the effectiveness of four scoring systems, APACHE-II, SOFA, CASUS, and SAVE, in predicting mortality among patients undergoing…
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Actual Cost of E-CPR in Australia
A recent study conducted in Australia applied time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) to determine the actual cost of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR). The analysis revealed that the average cost per care cycle was approximately $75,014. This comprehensive estimate included all significant components of care delivery, with intensive care unit (ICU) management emerging as the most critical…
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Pancreas Transplant Opportunities: The Promise of DCD Donors Explored in New Systematic Review
The newsletter discusses a systematic review article titled “Donor after circulatory death in pancreas transplantation: a scoping review of the literature,” published in Frontiers in Transplantation. This review critically addresses the utilization of donors after circulatory death (DCD) as a viable strategy to alleviate the widening gap between the high demand for pancreas transplants and…
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Monitored Anesthesia Care: A Promising Alternative for Safer, Faster Recovery in Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB)
A recent study published in the European Journal of Medical Research by Wen-Ting Chen et al. investigates the potential benefits of monitored anesthesia care (MAC) over intubated general anesthesia (IGA) for patients undergoing elective cardiac surgeries involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Conducted from April 2012 to February 2017, this prospective observational study included 24 patients, 11…
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Multidirectional Blood Flow During Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Case of False Aortic Dissection Identified with Transesophageal Echocardiography
The case report: “Multidirectional Blood Flow During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Mimicking an Iatrogenic Aortic Dissection During Transesophageal Echocardiographic Examination” from Cardiovascular Imaging Case Report by John C. Foster et al. details a complex scenario during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) where multidirectional blood flow in the thoracic aorta mimicked the appearance of an iatrogenic aortic dissection (IAD) in…
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Revolutionizing Heart Surgery: The Transformation of Saphenous Vein Grafts into High-Performance Conduits
The saphenous vein graft (SVG) has long been a cornerstone of coronary bypass surgery, renowned for its essential role yet notorious for its vulnerability to atherosclerosis, which limits its long-term patency. This dichotomy has driven advancements in surgical techniques that aim to enhance the effectiveness of SVGs. Recent innovative approaches, such as the no-touch technique…
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Mapping the Global Scientific Progress on Minimal Invasive Extracorporeal Circulation: Key Trends, Collaborations, and Future Directions
The article “Minimal Invasive Extracorporeal Circulation: A Bibliometric Network Analysis of the Global Scientific Output” by Jacopo D’Andria Ursoleo et al., published in Perfusion, provides an in-depth bibliometric analysis of research on Minimal Invasive Extracorporeal Circulation (MiECC). MiECC has emerged as a potentially more “physiologic” alternative to conventional extracorporeal circulation used in cardiac surgery. Despite…
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Transforming Heart Recovery in Circulatory Death Donors
Thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP), supported by Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) devices, is emerging as a groundbreaking strategy for heart recovery in donors declared dead by circulatory criteria (DCDD). In an article published in Transplant International (by Frontiers), Mario Royo-Villanova et al. detail the potential of this approach, which restores cardiac activity by re-establishing…
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Expanding Kidney Transplants: The Benefits of a 3-Hour Wait Policy for Donor Time to Death.
The study “Donor Time to Death and Kidney Transplant Outcomes in the Setting of a 3-Hour Minimum Wait Policy” conducted by Samuel J. Tingle and colleagues, published in JAMA Network Open, explores the potential benefits of extending the minimum wait time for organ donation after circulatory death (DCD) to address the growing demand for kidney transplants. Current international…
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Optimizing Blood Transfusion Strategies in CABG Surgery: New Predictive Models Enhance Patient Care and Resource Efficiency
The article “Risk of Transfusion in Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: Models Developed From The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database” by James R. Edgerton et al., published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, focuses on developing risk assessment models to accurately predict the likelihood and volume of blood transfusions needed during coronary artery bypass graft…
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