|
|
|
| The Monthly Pulse |
|
|
| Surgeons make history, perform world's first living mitral valve replacement
|
|
| The Story |
|
| In a groundbreaking procedure, surgeons at the Duke University School of Medicine performed the world’s first living mitral valve replacement. The surgery was part of a series of procedures that saved the lives of three young girls, one of whom, following a full heart transplant, donated valves to the two other patients. One recipient of the living valve tissue was a 14-year-old with endocarditis; the other was a nine-year-old with Turner’s syndrome. Parents of the 11-year-old donor were enthusiastic about the opportunity to help other young patients by donating their daughter’s old heart. |
| |
| What You Should Know |
|
| Traditional valve replacements are notoriously challenging for children, as they will inevitably fail as children grow. Living valve replacements continue to grow, however, reducing the need for future surgeries in children. Duke University has been at the forefront of this revolutionary endeavor for years, and is continuing to pave the way for partial heart transplants under the guidance of the FDA.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| Direct aortic cannulation versus femoral arterial cannulation for early outcomes in acute type A aortic dissection: A study-level meta-analysis
|
|
| The Story |
|
| Direct aortic annulation (DAC) and femoral arterial cannulation (FAC) are two approaches for treating acute type A aortic dissection, each with their own unique advantages and risks. To investigate their respective clinical outcomes, researchers recently performed a meta-analysis of 15 studies, focusing on endpoints including operative mortality and postoperative stroke. Additional secondary endpoints such as temporary neurological dysfunction, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and myocardial ischemic time were also analyzed.
|
| |
| What You Should Know |
|
| According to the meta-analysis, operative mortality and incidence of postoperative stroke were lower in the group that received DAC. DAC was also associated with a lower incidence of postoperative temporary neurological dysfunction and re-exploration of bleeding. Some of these differences were nonsignificant after excluding the study with the greatest weight, however.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| Comparing Outcomes Between Advanced Practice Providers and Housestaff Teams in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit |
|
| The Story |
|
| An increasing need for critical care expertise and limitations in specialist availability have led many healthcare organizations to turn to innovative staffing models. Recently, researchers sought to determine the differences in patient outcomes between advanced practice providers (APP) and housestaff teams in cardiac intensive care units (CICUs). A retrospective study was performed at a large urban academic hospital, focusing on the primary outcome of CICU mortality, and found no significant differences. |
| |
| What You Should Know |
|
| The study analyzed a total of 1,620 CICU admissions with no significant differences in patient demographics, admitting diagnoses, or other variables. Outcomes were compared between two CICU teams: one staffed by housestaff and the other by APPs, 80% of whom were physician assistants and 20% of whom were nurse practitioners. These findings suggest that as the demand for treating critically ill cardiac patients grows, implementing innovative staffing models could help healthcare organizations continue to provide high-quality care effectively.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| 17th annual Mid-Atlantic VAD and ECMO Symposium (MAVES) |
|
|
|
| |
|
Sanibel Symposium |
| Wed., May 7 - Sat., May 10 |
|
|
| |
| AAPA 2025 |
| Fri., May 16 - Tues., May 20 |
|
|
| |
| APACVS 2025 |
| Thurs., June 12 - Sun., June 15 |
|
|
| |
| 2025 STS Coronary Conference |
| Thurs., June 12 - Sat., June 14 |
|
|
| |
| 2025 AANP National Conference |
| Tues., June 17 - Sun., June 22 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
