CTSNet Podcasts

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Enoch Akowuah, an academic consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Newcastle University and South Tees NHS Foundation Trust, UK, and Dr. Matthias Raschpichler, a cardiac surgeon at Leipzig Heart Center, Germany, about the REPEAT trial.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:21 JANS 1, NOBLE Trial

07:14 JANS 2, Ischemic Mitral Regurg MVR

08:58 JANS 3, Pregnancy Outcomes AVR

11:19 JANS 4, MCS LVAD Candidates

13:06 Video 1, Thoracoplasty

14:58 Video 2, Nuss Procedure After Ravitch

16:42 Video 3, Traumatic Right Main Bronchus

19:04 REPEAT Trial, Bioprostheses

32:22 Upcoming Events

32:46 Closing

They discussed the trial’s objectives, including what it is, why it is needed, and its overall goals. The setup of the trial was also examined, covering aspects such as funding, composite outcome, and follow-up procedures. Additionally, they addressed the target number of patients required for recruitment and the efforts involved in recruiting patients and centers to participate in the trial. They emphasized the overall significance of the trial, outlining what is necessary for its success and highlighting the importance of collaboration among heart teams.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on percutaneous coronary intervention vs coronary artery bypass grafting for unprotected left main stenosis, a two-decade experience on the outcomes of mitral valve repair in ischemic mitral regurgitation, maternal, valvular and fetal outcomes of pregnancy following aortic valve replacement, and temporary mechanical circulatory support in left ventricular assist device candidates with right ventricular dysfunction.

In addition, Joel explores if forgotten techniques of thoracoplasty with latissimus dorsi myoplasty are relevant today, the Nuss procedure after previous Ravitch operation, and uniportal VATS repair of traumatic right main bronchus transection following blunt chest injury.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.  

JANS Items Mentioned

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Unprotected Left Main Stenosis: 10-Year Final Results From the Randomised, Open-Label, Non-Inferiority NOBLE Trial

Outcomes of Mitral Valve Repair in Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: A Two-Decade Experience

Maternal, Valvular and Foetal Outcomes of Pregnancy Following Aortic Valve Replacement 

Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support in Left Ventricular Assist Device Candidates With Right Ventricular Dysfunction: Acuity Without Long-Term Futility

CTSNet Content Mentioned

Are the Forgotten Techniques of Thoracoplasty With Latissimus Dorsi Myoplasty Relevant Today? 

Nuss Procedure After Previous Ravitch Operation 

Uniportal VATS Repair of Traumatic Right Main Bronchus Transection Following Blunt Chest Injury 

Other Items Mentioned

The REPEAT Trial

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 Cardiac Recovery Room, moderator Dr. Rawn Salenger, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, spoke with Dr. Nadia Hensley, Associate Professor and Physician Advisor for Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at John Hopkins School of Medicine; Dr. Nawwar Al-Attar, consultant cardiac surgeon at NHS Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Scotland; and Dr. Serdar Gunadyin, Head of Department at the University of Health Sciences in Turkey. The focus of their conversation was on surgical bleeding.

Chapters 

00:00 Intro 

02:35 Case 1, Diffuse Coagulopathy 

03:26 Bleeding Scale 

08:13 Team-Wide Bleeding Language 

11:07 Alternative Approaches 

14:09 Standardizing Test Results Response 

18:04 No Access to Visoelastic Testing 

19:55 Topical Hemostatic Agents 

23:08 Case 2 

24:14 Coagulopathy vs Surgical Bleeding 

28:08 Passive Hemostatic Agent 

29:10 Visoelastic Testing 

31:29 Closing Points

They discussed two different cases, including patient details and case specifics: one involving diffused coagulopathy and the other concerning focal bleeding. While examining these cases, they talked about hemostasis and the hemostasis checklist. They also discussed the validated intraoperative bleeding (VIBe) scale and its purposes, and the importance of being on the same page as your team. Additionally, they delved into viscoelastic testing and algorithms and addressed scenarios where access to viscoelastic testing may not be available. They also explored the thresholds for guided therapy, including functional fibrinogen levels. Lastly, the experts touched on passive hemostatic and how to teach residents coagulopathy and surgical bleeding.

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. Brad Leshnower, Director of Aortic Surgery at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA, USA, about the first implantation of the Gore Ascending Stent Graft in the ARISE III trial for the treatment of an acute type A dissection.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:26 New CTSNet Website

03:31 JANS 1, Thromboendarterectomy Fellowship

05:28 JANS 2, Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor

07:36 JANS 3, Type A Acute Aortic Dissections

09:51 JANS 4, Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis at 10 Years

11:46 Video 1, Nuss Procedure w Chrondrotomies

13:08 Video 2, Cardiac Redo Surgery

14:52 Video 3, Uniportal Lobectomy Bronchial Reimplantation

16:13 Dr. Leshnower, Ascending Stent Grafts

32:51 Career Center

33:52 Closing

They discussed Dr. Leshnower’s experience with this groundbreaking implantation, including the case details such as the patient’s medical history, the assessment of the patient’s high-risk status, and the criteria for determining their suitability for the procedure. Imaging techniques and the contributions of the other surgeons involved in the case were also highlighted. Furthermore, they delved into the use of the stent in previous ARISE trials and what Dr. Leshnower learned from those early experiences. The conversation also covered topics such as proximal placement, the innominate artery, and the preoperative planning required for the trial. Dr. Leshnower also shared what he learned from this case and discussed the future of the stent graft and this technique.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on the safety and efficacy of a dedicated pulmonary thromboendarterectomy fellowship, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor use and outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement, association between surgical timing and postoperative outcomes in type A acute aortic dissection, and early surgery or conservative care for asymptomatic aortic stenosis at 10 years.

In addition, Joel explores the Nuss procedure with midline chrondrotomies in severe pectus excavatum, redo surgery for failed MVr, iatrogenic ASD, tricuspid valve regurgitation, and aorta replacement, and uniportal VATS left lower sleeve lobectomy with upper lobe bronchial reimplantation for typical carcinoid tumor.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.  

JANS Items Mentioned

Safety and Efficacy of a Dedicated Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy Fellowship: The UK Experience at a High-Volume Center

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Use and Outcomes After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Association Between Surgical Timing and Postoperative Outcomes in TypeAAcute Aortic Dissection

Early Surgery or Conservative Care for Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis at 10 Years 

CTSNet Content Mentioned

The Nuss Procedure With Midline Chrondrotomies in Severe Pectus Excavatum 

Redo Surgery for Failed MVr, Iatrogenic ASD, Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation, and Aorta Replacement 

Uniportal VATS Left Lower Sleeve Lobectomy With Upper Lobe Bronchial Reimplantation for Typical Carcinoid Tumor 

Other Items Mentioned

ARISE III Trial of Gore Ascending Stent Graft Begins Enrollment

How to Navigate the New CTSNet Website

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 edition of the 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 Jan Headley, Principal at Consultants in Acute and Critical Care. They explore the use of functional hemodynamics in the postoperative management of cardiothoracic surgical patients.

Chapters 

00:00 Intro 

01:26 Case Study 

04:28 Fluid Responsiveness, Dynamic Parameters 

07:37 Variability Within Normal Limits 

09:34 Determining Responsiveness Efficiently 

12:45 No PA-Catheter Patients 

15:35 Reassessing Values 

17:22 First Step 

19:20 No-Fluid Patient 

20:27 Stroke Volume Trends 

21:13 Key Takeaways 

The discussion includes a case study illustrating how functional hemodynamics can guide clinical decisions in this context. They delve into the concepts of fluid management and fluid responsiveness, comparing dynamic parameters and static parameters, and the importance of increasing stroke volume. Key topics also include pulse pressure variation, stroke volume variation, variability, and delta stroke volume. The conversation further covers techniques such as the passive leg raise maneuver and the pulmonary occlusive maneuver.

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!

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. Andrea Steely, an Assistant Professor of Cardiac Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, about aortic surgery and long-term patient follow-up.

Chapters

00:00 Intro 

01:43 New CTSNet Website 

02:36 AATS 2026 

09:15 EJCTS News 

10:15 Video 1, Left Ventriculotomy 

10:51 Video 2, 3-Vessel TECAB 

12:24 Video 3, AV Disease in Young Patients 

13:14 Andrea Steely, Aortic Surgery & Follow-Up 

29:14 Upcoming Events 

They discussed the critical importance of educating both patients and surgeons about aortic disease, and the most effective strategies for follow-up care after aortic surgery. The conversation also covered testing genetic factors and stabilizing the aortic arch. They also explored reintervention and the importance of a multidisciplinary follow-up approach. Additionally, they addressed topics such as lung cancer screening, the training of non-MDs to evaluate screening charts, and the development of an aortic pathology sheet for each patient.  

In addition, Joel explores an underutilized approach for closing multiple apical ventricular septal defects, robotic-assisted three-vessel minimally invasive coronary artery bypass, and a presentation from Emile Bacha on the "Surgical Management of Aortic Valve Disease in Young Patients." 

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

CTSNet Content Mentioned 

1. Left Ventriculotomy: An Underutilized Approach for Closing Multiple Apical Ventricular Septal Defects 

2. Robotic-Assisted Three-Vessel Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass 

3. SCTS 2026 | Surgical Management of Aortic Valve Disease in Young Patients 

Other Items Mentioned 

1. How to Navigate the New CTSNet Website 

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.