Perspectives on Acute Decompensated RV Failure in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive vascular disorder defined by increased Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR), which leads to Right Ventricular (RV) dysfunction and ultimately Right Heart Failure (RHF). Rohit Masih and colleagues, in The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal, highlight the severe and life-threatening nature of acute decompensated RV failure in patients with PAH. Acute…
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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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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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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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Advances and Clinical Insights in Cardiac Surgery 2024: A Comprehensive Review of Evidence and Outcomes
The 2024 year-in-review of cardiac surgery literature was published in The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon (2025; 73:332-345) to present an evidence-based summary of significant findings from the previous year. In 2024, reminders persist that the long-standing superiority of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) over percutaneous intervention (PCI) in CAD remains unchanged. Extensive registry data and…
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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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Study Confirms No Brain Activity During TA-NRP with Supra-Aortic Vessel Ligation
A recent study by Matthieu Glorion and colleagues, published in JHTL Open, investigated whether thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) could inadvertently restore brain circulation and function following circulatory death, a concern with significant ethical and legal implications for organ donation. In a controlled porcine model, nine experiments were conducted in which the supra-aortic vessels responsible…
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Perfusion Optimization and Lactate Dynamics in Normothermic Regional Perfusion A Summary of the 2025 Baylor Experience
This 2025 review from Baylor University Medical Center examines how cardiopulmonary bypass principles have been adapted to improve normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) in organ donation following circulatory death. The authors describe NRP as a technique that restores warm, oxygen-rich circulation to abdominal or thoraco-abdominal organs, reducing ischemic injury and allowing clinicians to evaluate organ function…
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Preventing Thrombus Migration During Cardiac Surgery: Lessons from a Case of Left Ventricular Thrombus Embolization
This case report from CASE Cardiovascular Imaging Case Reports by Taisei Kawabe et al. describes a 53-year-old man who developed a left ventricular (LV) thrombus following an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Initially managed with percutaneous coronary intervention and anticoagulation therapy, the patient later experienced a transient ischemic stroke, which was attributed to embolization…
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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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Optimizing Catheter Design and Length to Improve CRRT Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients
This randomized controlled trial by Zhifeng Zhou and colleagues, published in Critical Care, explored the impact of catheter tip design and length on the performance and safety of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. Although side-hole and step-tip catheters are both commonly used for CRRT, there has…
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