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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Successful Treatment of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Newborns with Severe Respiratory Failure During ECMO Therapy
The study by Qi-Liang Zhang and Colleagues, published in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics, explores the outcomes of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation in newborns suffering from severe respiratory failure due to persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) while undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment. This retrospective study reviews clinical data from five newborns…
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Impact of Extracorporeal Life Support on Liver Health and Survival Post-Lung Transplant
The article titled “Postoperative Liver Dysfunction After Lung Transplantation With Extracorporeal Life Support and 1-Year Mortality-A Cohort Study” by Cecilia Veraar et al., featured in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia conducts an in-depth exploration of the prevalence and consequences of liver dysfunction following lung transplants, particularly those that involve the use of extracorporeal…
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Vortex Dynamics in the Aortic Root: Implications for LVAD Optimization
The article titled “Aortic Root Vortex Formation During Left Ventricular Assist Device Support” by Pangelina, Chaztyn, and colleagues, published in the journal ASAIO delves into the crucial dynamics of vortex formation in the aortic root under the influence of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). The research emphasizes these vortices’ critical role in optimizing blood flow….
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Redefining ECMO in Hematologic and Non-Hematologic Malignancy
This newsletter introduces a recent literature review by Roberto Rabello Filho et al., published in Frontiers in Intensive Care Medicine and Anesthesiology Section: “Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in critically ill patients with active hematologic and non-hematologic malignancy: a literature review,” on the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in critically ill patients with active hematologic and…
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Link Between Cerebral Over-perfusion and Postoperative Delirium: Insights for Cardiac Surgery Care
The study, conducted by Marcus Thudium et al. and published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, examines the connection between cerebral over-perfusion, cortical metabolism, and postoperative delirium (POD) in cardiac surgery patients. While decreased cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) has been associated with POD, interventions aimed at optimizing rSO2 have produced inconclusive results. The researchers conducted…
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Optimizing Artificial Lungs: How Geometry Can Reduce Blood Clot Risks and Enhance Efficiency
A recent study by Angela Lai and colleagues, published in Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, explores the impact of geometric design in the fiber bundles of artificial lungs on blood clot formation. These hollow fiber bundles serve as the functional core of artificial lungs, enabling the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. However, they are also…
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Limitations in Gauging the Effects of Allocation Policy Changes on Liver Transplant
The Study analyzes the economic impact of changes in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) liver allocation policies. The researchers focus on how these policy shifts influence transplant costs, patient access, and overall transplant activity across different regions in the U.S. They highlight disparities caused by the new model, which redistributes livers to sicker…
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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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Pulse Biosciences’ Cardiac Surgery System Receives FDA Breakthrough Device Designation
The Pulse Biosciences CellFX® Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation (nsPFA) Cardiac Surgery System has been granted FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, recognizing its potential in treating atrial fibrillation (AF) using a non-thermal ablation approach. Unlike traditional thermal ablation methods, which rely on extreme heat or cold, this system applies nanosecond-duration, high-amplitude electrical pulses to create precise lesions…
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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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How Bypass Time Relative to Body Size Predicts Postoperative Complications in Cardiac Surgery
A recent study conducted by Florian Falter et al., published in Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, explored the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time indexed to body surface area (bypass index) on postoperative outcomes in cardiac surgery patients. The study focuses on the increased postoperative risks associated with prolonged CPB times, which is particularly relevant…
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