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…
Read
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…
Read
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…
Read
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…
Read
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,…
Read
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…
Read
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…
Read
Lung Transplants: 10 °C Preservation Proven Safe for 24 Hours
A recent study published in the Annals of Surgery by Hoetzenecker et al. provides compelling evidence that donor lungs can be safely preserved at a temperature of 10 °C for up to 24 hours without negatively impacting outcomes after lung transplantation. This multi-center retrospective study analyzed data from 181 lung transplant recipients treated between November…
Read
FDA Expands Indication for Medtronic Evolut™ TAVR Systems
The FDA has approved Medtronic’s Evolut transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) systems to be used in Redo TAVR procedures. This means patients who previously received a transcatheter valve and are now experiencing valve failure have a minimally invasive option instead of undergoing open-heart surgery. The expansion of this indication reflects the growing need for lifetime…
Read
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…
Read
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…
Read
Targeting Cell Death and DAMPs During Normothermic Perfusion to Improve Graft Outcomes
In Part two of his review published in Frontiers in Transplantation, Dr. Walter G. Land explores innovative strategies to improve transplant outcomes by targeting regulated cell death (RCD) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) during normothermic perfusion of donor organs. The review presents a conceptual framework in which injury-induced RCD leads to the release of DAMPs…
Read