The Duration of Effect of Intravenous Hydroxocobalamin in Vasoplegia
In April 2023, researchers from Nebraska Medicine’s Department of Pharmacy sought to quantify the length of hemodynamic improvements after intravenous administration of B12. The complete manuscript by Madeline Blaha, Meghan Blais, and Logan Olson is available in Cureus. Detailed below is a summary of their findings. Vasoplegia, characterized by low systemic vascular resistance that leads to…
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ECMO and Impella Support Strategies as a Bridge to Surgical Repair of Post-Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture
Post-infarct ventricular septal rupture, or PIVSR, is a severe cardiac complication that continues to have significant morbidity and mortality despite decreased prevalence due to early revascularization strategies. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) strategies, such as venoarterial extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and Impella, have been proposed to correct any hemodynamic instabilities and give patients more time to…
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The Development and Efficacy Testing of a Formula to Increase the Precision of Oxygen Therapy During Cardiopulmonary Bypass
In September 2023, researchers from University Hospital Heidelberg (Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Department of Anesthesiology) and Furtwangen University developed and clinically applied a formula for tailored oxygen therapy during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The complete manuscript by Jan Turra, David Riesterer, Christoph Eisner, Folker Wenzel, Andreas Mobius, Matthias Karck, Rawa Arif, Christoph Lichtenstern, and Dania…
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Cost of Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in Pediatric Patients with Postoperative Heart Block
In November 2023, researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital (Department of Cardiac Surgery and Department of Cardiology), Harvard Medical School (Department of Surgery and Department of Pediatrics), and University of Utah (Division of Epidemiology and Department of Biomedical Engineering) estimated the economic burden to patients and their families following permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. The complete manuscript…
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Procedural Readmissions Following TAVR Incidence and Outcomes
In September 2023, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School (Divisions of Cardiac Surgery and Cardiovascular Medicine) and the Washington University School of Medicine (Division of Cardiac Surgery) examined the incidence and outcomes in patients receiving procedural readmissions after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The complete manuscript by Paige Newell, Hoda Javadikasgari,…
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Applications of Electrosurgery in Interventional Cardiology
In January 2023, researchers from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (Cardiovascular Branch), MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and Emory University Hospital (Structural Heart and Valve Center) investigated typical applications of electrosurgery, including the evidence and key technical steps for each. The complete manuscript by Jaffar M. Khan, Toby Rogers, Adam B. Greenbaum, Vasilis C….
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Octopus Circulatory System: A Closer Look
Octopuses have three hearts, and their cardiovascular system is quite unique among animals. Two of the hearts are called branchial hearts, and the third is called the systemic heart. Branchial Hearts (Gill Hearts): These two hearts are responsible for pumping blood through the gills, where it is oxygenated. Octopuses have gills for breathing, and these hearts…
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Longitudinal Strain Measured After Cardiopulmonary Bypass Offers Highest Prognostic Ability for Postoperative Complications
Researchers from Quantitative Health Sciences (Departments of Intensive Care and Resuscitation, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, and Quantitative Health Sciences) and the Cleveland Clinic (Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology) investigated which measurement of global longitudinal strain (before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), after CPB, or the change in GLS) served as the strongest predictor of postoperative complications. The complete manuscript by Brett J….
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FDA Approves Two Gene Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two milestone treatments, Casgevy and Lyfgenia, representing the first cell-based gene therapies for treating sickle cell disease (SCD) in patients 12 years and older.Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders affecting approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. It is most common in African Americans and,…
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Stress ulcer prophylaxis in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit
A recent report by van Diepen and colleagues, as featured in the latest edition of the Journal, presents the efficacy and safety aspects of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) compared to Histamine-2 Receptor Blockers (H2RBs). These drugs are used for stress ulcer prophylaxis in patients in cardiac surgery intensive care units. The study is of particular…
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The effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on blood thiamine concentration and its association with postoperative lactate concentration
There is a relationship between thiamine levels and hyperlactatemia following cardiothoracic surgery. Hyperlactatemia is commonly seen in these patients and is associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates. Lactate gets produced when anaerobic metabolism occurs, boosting its concentrations and reducing thiamine levels. Thiamine is essential for aerobic metabolism, as it is necessary for the enzyme…
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Long-Term Outcomes and Durability of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
In May 2023, researchers from Loyola University Medical Center and Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center discussed the mid-to-long-term clinical outcomes observed in landmark transcatheter aortic valve implementation (TAVI) trials. They analyzed the long-term durability of transcatheter heart valves (THVs). The complete manuscript by Parth V. Desai, Sachin S. Goel, Neal S. Kleiman, and…
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