CTSNet Podcasts

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Drs. Daniel Engelman, Medical Director of the Cardiac Surgical Critical Care & Inpatient Services at Baystate Health, Professor of Surgery at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School—Baystate, and President of the ERAS Cardiac Society, and Marlies Ostermann, consultant in critical care and nephrology at Guy's and St. Thomas Foundation Trust and a Director of Research for the Intensive Care Society, about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI).

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:11 Definition & Background

10:55 Burden of CSA-AKI

12:58 Unmet Medical Need

19:47 Identification & Collaboration

26:07 KDIGO, O2 Delivery

32:15 CKD CSA-AKI Final Remarks

35:10 JANS, Success in African CT Surgery

38:49 Video, Modified Root Inclusion Technique

40:53 Closing

They delve into the complexities of CSA-AKI, exploring the percentage of patients affected, defining the condition, and highlighting the overall significance of this issue. They also address creatinine as a late marker for AKI, the long-term scarring that can occur from AKI, and the critical need for thorough preoperative assessments to identify high-risk patients. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of a complete health assessment before surgery. Furthermore, they discuss the dangers of reaching stage 3 AKI, the increased costs of care once that point is reached, and what actions to take if a patient has a positive marker but appears stable. They also highlight the premature use of diuretics contributing to AKI and hyperbilirubinemia. Moreover, they consider how CKD along elevates mortality risk and the importance of developing targeted therapies in the future. Finally, they discuss approaches to reduce ischemia-reperfusion (IR) AKI and the optimization of hemodynamics, as well as potential drugs for treating AKI effectively.  

Joel also highlights a recent JANS article on aligning training, patient profiles, and outcomes to redefine success in cardiac surgery in Africa. In addition, he explores the modified root inclusion technique for a fourth sternotomy with Ross/Konno after previous mechanical aortic valve replacement.  

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

JANS Items Mentioned 

1.) Redefining Success in Cardiac Surgery in Africa: Aligning Training, Patient Profiles, and Outcomes 

CTSNet Content Mentioned 

1.) Fourth Sternotomy With Ross/Konno After Previous Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement: The Modified Root Inclusion Technique 

Other Items Mentioned 

1.) Career Center  

2.) CTSNet Events Calendar 

3.) Instructional Video Competition  

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 Atrium, host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaks with Dr. Randolph Chitwood, retired cardiac surgeon and Founding Director of the East Carolina Heart Institute at East Carolina University, about the future of minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS).

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:58 Dr. Chitwood Background

04:20 Inspiration for MI

07:12 Reason for Mitral Valve Robotics

07:38 Strong Resistance from Specialty

08:35 Beginning Training

10:24 Origins of MI

13:37 Developmental Research

16:19 Steps in MI Mitral Valve Surgery

17:00 Bypass

17:57 Aortic Valve Surgery

19:10 Root Replacement & Dissection

19:27 Extracurricular Hobbies

20:23 Surgery Training Advice

They delve into Dr. Chitwood’s professional background and why he chose to study cardiothoracic surgery. They also discuss the evolution of minimally invasive surgery, including incisions and instruments. Additionally, they highlight robotics, minimally invasive techniques for the mitral valve, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). They also cover aortic valve replacement (AVR) and minimally invasive techniques for the aortic valve. Furthermore, Dr. Chitwood provides advice for trainees, including how they can get involved in using minimally invasive techniques.  

The Atrium is a monthly podcast presenting clinical and career-focused topics for residents and early career professionals across all cardiothoracic surgery subspecialties. Watch for next month’s episode on extended resection with Dr. Maninder Kalkat.    

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 Drs. Jan Vojacek, a cardiac surgeon in the department of cardiac surgery at University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, and president of the Czech Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, and Maral Ouzounian, cardiac surgeon and head of the division of cardiac surgery at the Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto, Canada, and president of the Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons, about the EACTS expert consensus statement on the Ross procedure in adult patients.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:21 JANS 1, ARISE III Stent Graft Enrollment

04:25 JANS 2, Mech vs Biopros Valves in Hemodialysis

07:37 JANS 3, Surgical Sealants After Pulm Resection

09:54 JANS 4, Constrictive Pericarditis Procedures

12:45 Video 1, VATS CO2 Insufflation Technique

14:03 Third Place, Ascending Aortic Stenting Repair-Bridge

15:05 Second Place, Mustard & En Bloc Rotation of Tracts

16:49 First Place, Supracardiac Anomalous Pulm Ven Return

19:43 Drs. Vojacek & Ouzounian, Ross Procedure

42:02 Upcoming Events

42:21 Instructional Video Competition

42:49 Career Center

They discussed the task force and process of getting this statement published, as well as important elements of the guidelines. Additionally, they addressed the significance of shared decision-making with patients, survival rates following the Ross procedure, and overall quality of life. They also compared the Ross procedure to mechanical and biological aortic valve replacements. They explored various surgical techniques related to the Ross procedure, including the native inclusion technique and the prosthetic inclusion technique, emphasizing the importance of technical details, patient selection, and intraoperative management. Furthermore, they discussed the Ross centers of excellence and how to start them.  

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on the ARISE III trial of gore ascending stent graft begins enrollment, mechanical vs bioprosthetic heart valves in hemodialysis patients, an individual patient data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the clinical efficacy of surgical sealants after pulmonary resection, and radical pericardiectomy and use of cardiopulmonary bypass for constrictive pericarditis. 

In addition, Joel explores a new approach for thymic pathologies, robotic-assisted repair of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous return, and combined Mustard and en bloc rotation of the outflow tracts. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

JANS Items Mentioned 

1.) ARISE III Trial of Gore Ascending Stent Graft Begins Enrollment 

2.) Mechanical Versus Bioprosthetic Heart Valves in Hemodialysis Patients 

3.) Clinical Efficacy of Surgical Sealants After Pulmonary Resection: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials 

4.) Radical Pericardiectomy and Use of Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Constrictive Pericarditis 

CTSNet Content Mentioned 

1.) A New Approach for Thymic Pathologies: VATS CO₂ Insufflation Technique 

2.) Robotic-Assisted Repair of Supracardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return  

3.) Combined Mustard and En Bloc Rotation of the Outflow Tracts  

Other Items Mentioned 

1.) EACTS Expert Consensus Statement on the Ross Procedure in Adult Patients  

2.) Winners of the 2025 CTSNet Resident Video Competition 

3.) Instructional Video Competition  

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.

In this episode of The Cardiac Recovery Room, moderator Dr. Daniel Engelman, Medical Director of the Cardiac Surgical Critical Care & Inpatient Services at Baystate Health, Professor of Surgery at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School—Baystate, and President of the ERAS Cardiac Society, spoke with Drs. Kevin Lobdell, Professor and the Director of Regional Cardiovascular and Thoracic Quality, Education, and Research at Atrium Health; Rawn Salenger, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center; Marjan Jahangiri, Professor of Cardiac Surgery at St. George's Hospital, University of London; and Serdar Gunaydin, Head of Department at the University of Health Sciences in Turkey, about the attitudes toward and realities of ERAS across the globe.  

Chapters

00:00 Intro 

01:19 ICU & Early Extubation 

05:07 Acceptance of ERAS Protocols 

09:38 Lead Staff Advocate for ERAS 

12:59 Sternotomy Perception 

14:43 QoL Data Collection 

17:09 Rehabilitation 

19:04 Discharged Patients & Monitoring 

They discussed the intensive care unit and early extubation, highlighting differences between countries. They also covered the acceptance of the ERAS protocol and the regions that are more hesitant to implement it, as well as its application in cardiac surgery specifically. Additionally, they explored who leads the charge within the team responsible for implementing ERAS and addressed perceptions regarding sternotomy. The conversation also included improving quality of life, reducing complications, and patient-reported outcomes measures, emphasizing the importance of shared decision-making. Furthermore, they discussed rehabilitation, discharging patients, and remote monitoring.  

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.

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Michael Lanuti, Director of Thoracic Oncology in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, and thoracic surgeon and CTSNet Senior Editor Leanne Ashrafian about Dr. Lanuti’s thoughts on the JCOG0802 trial and how he believes the wrong parameters were measured.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:52 JANS 1, ESTS Guidelines

05:09 JANS 2, Resident-Led Operating

06:57 JANS 3, Fasting Impact on Pulm Aspiration

10:02 JANS 4, What Does a Dr Look Like

12:00 Video 1, Robotic Resection & Reconstruction

13:31 Video 2, Neonatal Off-Pump Shunt DORV

15:11 Video 3, Min Inv Bi-IMA OPCAB

16:12 Dr. Lanuti, JCOG0802 Results

44:58 Upcoming Events

45:38 Instructional Video Competition

45:49 Career Center

They discussed local recurrence rates, pulmonary function, and the subtypes of adenocarcinoma. Additionally, they explored how to apply these results to future patients, central and peripheral lesions, and other randomized trials. They also covered the five-year results of the JCOG0802 trial and future studies and the implications for future studies, focusing on the parameters that should be considered. Furthermore, they addressed pulmonary function tests and wedge resection.  

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on European Respiratory Society and European Society of Thoracic Surgeons clinical practice guideline on fitness for curative intent treatment of lung cancer, a 10-year propensity-matched analysis on the impact of resident-led operating on outcomes in adult cardiac surgery, a systematic review and meta-analysis on no association between preprocedural fasting and witnessed pulmonary aspiration, and asking AI what a doctor looks like. 

In addition, Joel explores robotic anterolateral approach for left secondary carinal tumor resection and reconstruction, neonatal Blalock-Taussig-Thomas shunt for double outlet right ventricle with RVOTO, and minimally invasive Bi-IMA OPCAB via left thoracotomy. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

JANS Items Mentioned 

1.) European Respiratory Society and European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Clinical Practice Guideline on Fitness for Curative Intent Treatment of Lung Cancer 

2.) Impact of Resident-Led Operating on Outcomes in Adult Cardiac Surgery: A 10-Year Propensity-Matched Analysis 

3.) No Association Between Preprocedural Fasting and Witnessed Pulmonary Aspiration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 

4.) What Does a Doctor Look Like? Asking AI 

CTSNet Content Mentioned 

1.) Robotic Anterolateral Approach for Left Secondary Carinal Tumor Resection and Reconstruction  

2.) Neonatal Off-Pump Blalock-Taussig-Thomas Shunt for Double Outlet Right Ventricle With RVOTO  

3.) Minimally Invasive Bi-IMA OPCAB Via Left Thoracotomy  

Other Items Mentioned 

1.) Instructional Video Competition  

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.