CTSNet Podcasts

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Frank Tamru, author of Power: A Memoir and owner of Frank Tamru Consultants LLC, about aortic valve technology throughout the years.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:51 New Website Preparation

02:53 AATS 2026 Overview

11:59 Video 1, Robotic Right-Sided MIDCAB

13:08 Video 2, Extra-Anatomic IAA Repair

14:29 Video 3, Double-Decker Procedure

16:38 Video 4, Aortic Disease Awareness

19:53 Video 5, Robotic Culmen in Situs Inversus

21:30 Frank Tamru, Aortic Valve Technology

35:32 Upcoming Events

36:03 Closing

They explored Tamru’s professional background and involvement with heart surgeons and cardiovascular leaders. The conversation covered various topics, including heart valves and the evolution of open-heart centers. They also discussed the advancements in aortic valve replacement technologies and the critical role of surgeons as decision-makers in the field. Additionally, Frank shared his experience as the founding publisher of the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals. 

In addition, Joel explores a robotic-assisted right-sided minimally invasive coronary artery bypass for anomalous origin of the right coronary artery, a transdiaphragmatic aorto-supraceliac extra-anatomic bypass for interrupted aortic arch with collateralizations, double-decker procedure for partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection, robotic-assisted right upper segmentectomy (culmen) in situs inversus totalis, and an interview with Gareth Owens and Dr. Ben Youdelman on Think Aorta and aortic disease awareness. 

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

CTSNet Content Mentioned 

1. Robotic-Assisted Right-Sided Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass for Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery  

2. A Transdiaphragmatic Aorto-Supraceliac Extra-Anatomic Bypass for Interrupted Aortic Arch With Collateralizations  

3. Double-Decker Procedure for Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection  

4. Think Aorta and Aortic Disease Awareness: An Interview With Gareth Owens and Dr. Ben Youdelman  

5. Robotic-Assisted Right Upper Segmentectomy (Culmen) in Situs Inversus Totalis  

Other Items Mentioned 

1. Power: A Memoir 

2. Website Maintenance Alert! 

3. The Lifeline 

4. Career Center  

5. CTSNet Events Calendar 

Disclaimer

The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Zain Khalpey, an assistant attending surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NY, USA, adjunct assistant professor of surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NY, USA, and Chief Medical AI Officer, Chair of Applied Clinical AI, and Director of Applied Translational Artificial Research Institute (ATARI), AZ, USA, about utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiothoracic surgery.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:42 Upcoming CTSNet Activities
03:01 Website Transition
03:54 JANS 1, Mech vs Bio AVR in 50–70 YO
08:16 JANS 2, Abnormal Bleeding in OR
10:26 JANS 3, Intraop Assessment RV Function
11:54 JANS 4, Laser Anastomosis System CABG
14:49 Video 1, RAMT AVR Hemiarch Replacement
16:23 Video 2, Big Cyst & Small Incisions
17:33 Video 3, Left VATS Pneumonectomy
19:55 Dr. Khalpey, AI in CT Surgery
30:28 Upcoming Events
31:48 Closing

They discuss the importance of ethical AI being and address risk scores. The conversation also covers the application of AI in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings, as well as predictive algorithms and the benefits of integrating AI within cardiothoracic surgery. Additionally, they emphasize that there will always be a need for surgeons, as AI cannot replace human expertise.  

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on a systematic review and meta-analysis on mechanical vs biological aortic valve replacement in patients aged 50-70 years, an observational study of inter-rater reliability between anesthetists and surgeons on abnormal bleeding in the cardiac operating room, advancing intraoperative assessment of right ventricular function, and the excimer laser assisted non-occlusive anastomosis (ELANA) anastomotic system surgical technique to construct distal anastomoses using a novel device in coronary artery bypass grafting. 

In addition, Joel explores a right anterior minithoractomy aortic valve replacement, ascending aorta, and hemiarch repair, thoracoscopic resection of a large mediastinal cyst, and left VATS pneumonectomy in pediatric pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

JANS Items Mentioned 

1. Mechanical Versus Biological Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients Aged 50-70 Years: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 

2. Abnormal Bleeding in the Cardiac Operating Room: An Observational Study of Inter-Rater Reliability Between Anesthetists and Surgeons 

3. Echocardiographic Correlates of Pressure-Volume-Derived Indices: Advancing Intraoperative Assessment of Right Ventricular Function 

4. The Excimer Laser Assisted Non-Occlusive Anastomosis (ELANA) Anastomotic System Surgical Technique to Construct Distal Anastomoses Using a Novel Device in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting 

CTSNet Content Mentioned 

1. Right Anterior Minithoractomy Aortic Valve Replacement, Ascending Aorta, and Hemiarch Repair  

2. When Size Is Not a Limitation: Thoracoscopic Resection of a Large Mediastinal Cyst  

3. Left VATS Pneumonectomy in Pediatric Pulmonary Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma  

Other Items Mentioned 

1. Website Blackout Notice! 

2. Career Center  

3. CTSNet Events Calendar 

Disclaimer

The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.

In this episode of The Cardiac Recovery Room, moderator Amanda Rea, a nurse practitioner and Lead of Advanced Practice and Clinical Program Manager in the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Townson, MD, USA, spoke with Kali Dayton, a critical care nurse practitioner, host of the Walking Home From the ICU and Walking You Through the ICU podcasts, and CEO of Dayton ICU Consulting, about early mobility, verticalization, and delirium.  

Chapters

00:00 Intro 

01:04 Patient Philosophy 

02:45 Early Sedation-Delirium Relationship 

05:23 RASS Scale, Sedation 

07:06 Cardiac ICU Patients 

08:35 Lack of Delirium Tracking or Data 

10:56 ROI from Good Care & Data 

14:44 Preventative Approach 

16:16 Convincing Hesitant Adopters 

18:59 Patient Case Study 

21:19 Cultural Paradigm 

24:48 Mobilization 

27:07 Verticalization Beds 

30:03 Gravity on Patient Health 

32:14 Mobility Screening 

33:14 Defining Walking 

34:47 Mobility Responsibility 

36:55 Standardization & Predictability 

38:23 Key Points 

They discussed what an awake and walking intensive care unit (ICU) is, how early mobility and sedation tie in with delirium, and the history of critical care medicine. The conversation also covered the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) and deep sedation, as well as risk factors for delirium, outdated sedation practices and mobility management, and the importance of having a high reliability environment. Additionally, they explored the ABCDEF bundle and a case study of a patient experiencing delirium. The episode further addressed verticalization beds, walking pads for verticalization, nurse screening tools, and ambulation. 

The Cardiac Recovery Room is the place to hear the conversations colleagues are having after the meetings. Each month, a new episode will be released featuring a leadership panel from the ERAS Cardiac Society. 

Disclaimer

The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.

In this edition of the new CTSNet podcast, The Lifeline, host and nurse educator Jill Ley, Clinical Professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, Founder of the Essentials of Cardiac Surgical Resuscitation, and former Cardiac Surgery Clinical Nurse Specialist at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, CA, USA, speaks with expert guest Rakesh Arora, Director of Cardiothoracic Critical Care and a professor in the Department of Surgery and Anesthesia at Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. They discuss managing arrest in patients with temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS), focusing on a paper Arora authored titled “EACTS/STS/AATS Guidelines on Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support in Adult Cardiac Surgery.”  

Chapters 

00:00 Intro 

01:08 Guidelines Background 

02:02 Resuscitation, Monitoring Parameters 

07:37 Approach to Patients in Extremis 

11:39 Quality Assurance, Internal Data 

12:22 End-Tidal 

13:17 Bleeding Management 

15:33 Arrhythmia, Defibrillation 

17:21 Optimizing Tissue Perfusion 

18:09 Key Points 

20:26 Devices & Flow Patterns 

They began by exploring how this paper was developed and how Arora became involved in this project. They discussed the importance of expediting the resuscitation process and examined the recommendations for a tMCS implantation in patients experiencing post-procedural low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS). Key considerations included oxygen saturation levels (SpO2) and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), as well as the significance of pulsatility. Additionally, they discussed the interaction between devices and patients and the importance of team training and simulation. They also addressed crucial topics such as coagulation, anticoagulation, and defibrillation. Finally, they examined optimizing tissue perfusion for better patient outcomes.  

Every month, The Lifeline features intensive care specialists sharing their expert insights into the rapid and effective management of critically ill cardiac surgical patients. Don’t miss next month’s episode! 

Related Resources 

EACTS/STS/AATS Guidelines on Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support in Adult Cardiac Surgery 

Disclaimer

The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Adam Greenbaum, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory School of Medicine and Co-director of the Emory Structural Heart and Valve Center, Atlanta, GA, USA, about the groundbreaking percutaneous coronary artery bypass graft procedure he developed called the ventriculo-coronary transcatheter outward navigation and reentry (VECTOR) procedure.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:46 FDA Device Recall

03:52 JANS 1, CDC WONDER Aortic Stenosis

06:10 JANS 2, Free vs In-Situ RIMA-CABG

08:04 JANS 3, AF Worsens Outcome of MVR

09:52 JANS 4, EXCEL Trial

12:29 New Website

13:43 Video 1, Ross Procedure Technique

16:16 Video 2, Total Arch Replacement

18:38 Video 3, Pleural Sepsis Podcast

20:51 Dr. Greenbaum, VECTOR Procedure

40:34 Upcoming Events

41:18 Career Center

41:43 Closing

They delved into the development and rationale behind this innovative technique, which aims to provide a solution for patients with no other options, particularly those with narrow sinuses or low-lying coronaries. Additionally, they discussed other leaflet modification methods and the criteria for patient selection for the VECTOR procedure. The conversation also covered the technical steps involved in the procedure, along with specific cases in which it has been utilized, as well as the challenges faced and troubleshooting done by the surgeons. Finally, they explored the future of this procedure.  

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on concerning trends seen in aortic stenosis-related mortality, a meta-analysis on free vs in-situ right internal mammary artery as a conduit in coronary artery bypass surgery, if atrial fibrillation worsens outcome of mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation, and the EXCEL trial on spontaneous myocardial infarction after left main revascularization. 

In addition, Joel explores the Ross procedure with annular stabilization, interposition graft, and loose-jacket technique, total arch replacement with a novel dual stent device, and an episode of The Atrium podcast featuring host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaking with Professor Eric Lim about pleural sepsis. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

JANS Items Mentioned 

1. ‘Concerning’ Trends Seen in Aortic Stenosis-Related Mortality: CDC WONDER 

2. Free vs In-Situ Right Internal Mammary Artery as a Conduit in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Meta-Analysis 

3. Atrial Fibrillation Worsens Outcome of Mitral Valve Repair for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation: Long-Term Follow-Up of 959 Patients 

4. Spontaneous Myocardial Infarction After Left Main Revascularization: The EXCEL Trial 

CTSNet Content Mentioned 

1. Ross Procedure With Annular Stabilization, Interposition Graft, and Loose-Jacket Technique  

2. Total Arch Replacement With a Novel Dual Stent Device  

3. The Atrium: Pleural Sepsis  

Other Items Mentioned 

1. Percutaneous Aorto-Coronary Bypass Graft to Prevent Coronary Obstruction Following TAVR: First Human VECTOR Procedure 

2. Website Blackout Notice! 

3. Career Center  

4. CTSNet Events Calendar 

Disclaimer

The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.