CTSNet Podcasts

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Aamir Amin, a cardiothoracic surgery resident at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, UK, about humanoid robots and artificial intelligence (AI) in surgery.

Chapters 

00:00 Intro 

01:19 Quadruple-Organ Transplant 

02:12 Sublobar Resection NSCLC Consensus 

07:25 Ventricular Papillary MI Consensus 

14:23 Weather Triggers of Acute Aortic Dissection 

15:14 Perivascular Adipose ITA 

16:20 Video 1, VATS Hyperparathyroidism 

18:22 Video 2, Left VATS Pneumonectomy 

20:27 Dr. Amin, Humanoid AI in Surgery 

36:08 Upcoming Events 

37:17 Career Center 

Dr. Amin shares his insights from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) executive program on AI in healthcare, highlighting the program’s benefits and key takeaways. He also reviewed research on humanoid robots, including a paper titled “In Vivo Feasibility Study of Humanoid Robots in Surgery.” Additionally, they discussed the practical implementation of AI in surgery, its broader benefits, and its specific application within cardiothoracic and intraoperative settings. Finally, they explored the risks associated with humanoid robots and Dr. Amin provided guidance on the initial steps individuals can take to get involved with AI.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on the STS expert consensus document (2026) on addressing definition and practices of sublobar resection in non-small cell lung cancer, ventricular free-wall rupture, ventricular pseudoaneurysm, and papillary muscle rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction, a case-crossover study of 293 patients on weather-related triggers of acute aortic dissection, and perivascular adipose on relaxation of internal thoracic artery with surgical implications.

In addition, Joel explores a VATS solution for ectopic primary hyperparathyroidism, left VATS pneumonectomy, and an episode of The Atrium podcast featuring host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaking with Dr. Filip Casselman about aortic valve replacement.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.

JANS Items Mentioned

STS Expert Consensus Document (2026) on Addressing Definition and Practices of Sublobar Resection in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Ventricular Free-Wall Rupture, Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm, and Papillary Muscle Rupture Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction

Weather-Related Triggers of Acute Aortic Dissection: A Case-Crossover Study of 293 Patients

Perivascular Adipose on Relaxation of Internal Thoracic Artery With Surgical Implications: Better Antispastic Effect of Pedicle Than Skeletal Grafts

CTSNet Content Mentioned

Navigating the Mediastinum: A VATS Solution for Ectopic Primary Hyperparathyroidism

The Atrium: Aortic Valve Replacement

Left VATS Pneumonectomy

Other Items Mentioned

Humanoid Robots in the Operating Room: A Framework for Staged Integration of Embodied AI in Surgery

In Vivo Feasibility Study of Humanoid Robots in Surgery

Human–Robot Collaboration in Surgery at the Nexus of Knowledge, Agency, and Ownership

Northwestern Medicine Performs First Known Quadruple-Organ Transplant Involving Retransplanted Lungs

Career Center

CTSNet Events

 

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. Ahmed Ghazy, Head of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany, about robotic cardiac surgery adoption and training.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:06 SRS Conference

03:57 JANS 1, Surgical Left AA Closure

05:01 JANS 2, Mainstream CTS Research

06:20 JANS 3, Socioec Deprivation Aortic Outcomes

07:55 JANS 4, Standalone & Hybrid AF Ablation

09:54 Video 1, Type A AAR & PA Banding

11:32 Video 2, Off-Pump SVC Reconstruction

13:39 Video 3, Endarterectomy & Off-Pump CABG

14:29 Dr. Ghazy, Robotic Cardiac Training

29:48 Upcoming Events

Dr. Ghazy shares his experience working with Dr. M. M. Yusuf, a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, India. Their conversation covers Dr. Ghazy’s hands-on experience with various robotic systems and simulators, the professional connections he made, and insights into India’s healthcare system. He also details the logistics of organizing the visit, including the application process and the specific procedures he performed. Furthermore, they discuss the difference between robotic systems and the difference between robotic-assisted and traditional minimally invasive surgery.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on methods and criteria for evaluating the success of surgical left atrial appendage closure, evaluating the mainstream influence of cardiothoracic surgical research, insights from a 20-year single-center cohort on the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on early and long-term outcomes after major aortic surgery, and safety and efficacy of stand-alone and hybrid thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation ablation.

In addition, Joel explores Type A interrupted aortic arch repair and pulmonary artery banding through a left posterolateral thoracotomy, off-pump superior vena cava reconstruction with mediastinal mass excision for SVC syndrome, and a 30-year-old bullet injury causing carotid stenosis—simultaneous carotid endarterectomy and off-pump CABG.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.

JANS Items Mentioned

Methods and Criteria for Evaluating the Success of Surgical Left Atrial Appendage Closure: A Systematic Review

Evaluating the Mainstream Influence of Cardiothoracic Surgical Research: An Analysis of Google Trends Data from 2004 to 2024

Impact of Socioeconomic Deprivation on Early and Long-­Term Outcomes After Major Aortic Surgery: Insights From a 20-Year Single­Centre Cohort 

Safety and Efficacy of Stand-Alone and Hybrid Thoracoscopic Atrial Fibrillation Ablation 

CTSNet Content Mentioned

Type A Interrupted Aortic Arch Repair and Pulmonary Artery Banding Through a Left Posterolateral Thoracotomy 

Off-Pump Superior Vena Cava Reconstruction With Mediastinal Mass Excision for SVC Syndrome 

A 30-Year-Old Bullet Injury Causing Carotid Stenosis—Simultaneous Carotid Endarterectomy and Off-Pump CABG

Other Items Mentioned

Innovation Video Competition

Career Center

CTSNet Events

 

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. Filip Casselman, Staff Surgeon and Co-Director of the Cardiovascular Center at OLV Clinic (AZORG), Aalst, Belgium, about aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:30 Why CT Surgery?

02:36 Anatomy

03:23 Pathology

06:15 History

09:06 Preoperative Planning

15:12 Indications

16:26 TAVR vs SAVR

20:25 Step-by-Step

41:25 Postop Management & Complications

46:32 Training Advice

The discussion explores the anatomy of the aortic valve, the pathology of aortic stenosis (AS) and aortic regurgitation (AR), and their respective echo grading, including complex cases like low-flow, low-gradient AS and bicuspid aortic valves. The conversation covers the history of AVR, preoperative planning—including prosthesis selection—and clinical indications for intervention in both symptomatic and asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

Furthermore, they compare transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Technical aspects of the procedure were also addressed, from preparation and positioning to median or J-sternotomy approaches, cannulation, aortotomy, prosthesis sizing, managing patient-prosthesis mismatch, weaning from bypass, and chest closure. Finally, they provide insights into sutureless devices, postoperative management, and complications.

The Atrium is a monthly podcast presenting clinical and career-focused topics for residents and early career professionals across all cardiothoracic surgery subspecialties. Keep an eye out for next month’s episode.  

 

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 speaks with Drs. Michael Mack and Tom Nguyen about the proposed US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services changes to how cardiologists and cardiac surgeons interact during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:21 TAVR Heart Team
04:08 JANS 1+2, JACC TAVR vs SAVR
12:19 JANS 3, TAVR Short-Term Outcomes
14:06 JANS 4, SAVR Life Expectancy
17:44 JANS 5, WSJ TAVR Article
19:19 Video 1, Direct AA Cannulation Technique
21:23 Video 2, Endoscopic Redo TVR After CABG
24:25 Video 3, Gaudiani Cox-Maze III
27:33 Dr. Mack & Nguyen, TAVR Heart Team
51:12 Closing

Dr. Mack explained the current heart team system, established in 2011 through collaboration with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CMS, which has been highly successful in ensuring safe and effective TAVR implementation. He argues that the proposed CMS changes could potentially dismantle this collaborative approach by allowing asynchronous patient evaluation and procedures to be performed by single operators without surgeon involvement. Dr. Nguyen provided insights from a system leader's perspective, noting that while the proposed changes raise significant concerns about patient care and data collection, some cardiologists argue that surgeons are already not actively involved in many programs, making the single operator model the norm in practice. Both expressed concern that without mandatory surgeon participation and TAVR registry involvement, smaller programs may adopt practices that lack proper accountability and could lead to inappropriate patient selection and outcomes, potentially creating more contentious debates between TAVR and surgical approaches.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles including a propensity-matched analysis comparing 10-year outcomes after SAPIEN 3 TAVR in the PARTNER 2 SAPIEN 3 Intermediate-risk Registry with surgery in the PARTNER 2A trial; a single-center retrospective study evaluated 61 patients who underwent cardiac surgery after prior TAVR during a 10-year period at a high-volume academic center; whether surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) should remain the first choice for aortic stenosis in patients with a life expectancy beyond five years; and an article examining the dramatic rise in the popularity of transcatheter aortic valves, early valve failure, and the impact it has on patients’ lives.

In addition, Joel explores axillary cannulation as a primary cannulation strategy, beating-heart endoscopic tricuspid valve replacement for high-risk redo patients after CABG and device-related tricuspid valve injury, and a Cox-Maze III operation combined with a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD), as well as an ascending aortic replacement and aortic valve resuspension.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.

JANS Items Mentioned

10-Year Outcomes of SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement or Surgery in Intermediate-Risk Patients

A Decade of Cardiac Surgery After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Short-Term Clinical Outcomes at a High-Volume Center

Great Debate: Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Is First Choice for Aortic Stenosis in Patients With a Life Expectancy Beyond 5 Years

A Breakthrough Heart Procedure Comes With Risky Tradeoffs

CTSNet Content Mentioned

Direct Axillary Artery Cannulation With the Open Seldinger Technique

Endoscopic Redo Tricuspid Valve Replacement After CABG

The Cox-Maze III Procedure Combined With Valve-Sparing Aortic Surgery and CABG

Other Items Mentioned

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Database—TAVR

Career Center

CTSNet Events

 

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. Chris Malaisrie, a Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Northwestern University and an Attending Cardiac Surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, about valve-sparing aortic root replacement techniques.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
02:25 TAVR Heart Team Coverage
03:52 JANS 1, TAVR vs SAVR Perspective
10:50 JANS 2, Gene-Edited Transplant Model
13:13 JANS 3, Long-Term Outcomes Atrial Fib
14:31 JANS 4, 147-Minute Drowning Circ Arrest
18:01 Video 1, Double Ann Enlargement Prosth Mis
20:48 Video 2, Reop Aortic Root Reconstruction
22:24 Video 3, Normothermic AA Aneurysm
24:22 Dr. Malaisrie, Aortic Root Replacement
41:42 Closing

The conversation covers a wide range of procedures, including the Bentall, Yacoub, and David operations, as well as the Ross procedure and personalized external aortic root support (PEARS). They further explore approaches to mitral and aortic valve repair, the management of diseased leaky valves, and the advantages of the Stanford modification of the David V procedure. Dr. Malaisrie concludes the discussion by offering advice to surgeons on refining their valve repair skills and shares his prediction for the future of valve repair surgery.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on age vs lifetime perspective on the transcatheter vs surgical aortic valve implantation, gene-edited pig cardiac xenotransplantation as a bridge to allotransplantation in infants, long-term outcomes of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery, and a case on ice water drowning survival after 147-minute submersion and 7 °C hypothermic circulatory arrest.

In addition, Joel explores double annular enlargement as an effective technique to overcome patient-prosthesis mismatch, reoperation for aortic root reconstruction, and normothermic treatment of an aortic arch aneurysm.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.

JANS Items Mentioned

Transcatheter vs Surgical Aortic Valve Implantation: Age vs Lifetime Perspective

Gene-Edited Pig Cardiac Xenotransplantation as a Bridge to Allotransplantation in Infants: Progress in a Pig-to-Baboon Model

Long-Term Outcomes of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: Results From 19,000 Patients

Ice Water Drowning Survival After 147-Minute Submersion and 7 °C Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest

CTSNet Content Mentioned

Double Annular Enlargement as an Effective Technique to Overcome Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch

Reoperation for Aortic Root Reconstruction

Normothermic Treatment of an Aortic Arch Aneurysm

Other Items Mentioned

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Database—TAVR

Career Center

CTSNet Events

 

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.