CTSNet Podcasts

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Dr. Nasser Altorki, thoracic surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, and thoracic surgeon and CTSNet Senior Editor Leanne Ashrafian about the 10-year results from the JCOG0802 trial. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:56 JANS 1, Re-Repair vs Replacement 05:07 JANS 2, Mini Mitral Multicentre RCT 07:01 JANS 3, PERSEVERE Study 08:54 JANS 4, Parietal Pleurectomy vs Pleural Abrasion 11:38 Career Center 12:33 Video 1, Endoscopic Post-Infarction VSD Repair 14:11 Video 2, 3D Dor Procedure & MVR Huge LV Aneurysm 15:19 Video 3, Non-Cardioplegic Myo Protection Robotic 17:16 Nasser Altorki Interview, JCOG 45:16 Upcoming Events 47:20 Closing They discuss key aspects of the trial, including the noninferiority primary endpoint. Dr. Altorki shares his overall thoughts on the trial, and they also examine topics such as pulmonary function, lobar vs sublobar resection, and segmentectomy vs wedge resection. Additionally, they explore secondary primary lung cancer, the importance of thoracic surgeons presenting data to patients, and best practices for segmentectomy to ensure patient safety. They also examine good wedge resection vs bad wedge resection, planning for segmentectomy, and the future of lobectomy and segmentectomy.   Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on the outcomes of re-repair vs replacement after failed primary mitral regurgitation repair, minimally invasive thoracoscopically-guided right minithoracotomy vs conventional sternotomy for mitral valve repair, one-year results of novel aortic arch hybrid prosthesis for repair of acute DeBakey Type I dissection with malperfusion, and a meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of parietal pleurectomy vs pleural abrasion in treating spontaneous pneumothorax.  In addition, Joel explores endoscopic post-infarction VSD repair, 3D video-assisted endoscopic Dor procedure and MVR for post-infarction huge LV aneurysm, and non-cardioplegic myocardial protection for robotic mitral surgery. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.    JANS Items Mentioned  1.) Outcomes of Re-Repair Versus Replacement After Failed Primary Mitral Regurgitation Repair: STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database Analysis  2.) Minimally Invasive Thoracoscopically-Guided Right Minithoracotomy Versus Conventional Sternotomy for Mitral Valve Repair: The UK Mini Mitral Multicentre RCT  3.) One-Year Results of Novel Aortic Arch Hybrid Prosthesis for Repair of Acute DeBakey Type I Dissection With Malperfusion: PERSEVERE Study  4.) A Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Parietal Pleurectomy Versus Pleural Abrasion in Treating Spontaneous Pneumothorax  CTSNet Content Mentioned  1.) Endoscopic Post-Infarction VSD Repair  2.) Pushing Surgical Boundaries: 3D Video-Assisted Endoscopic Dor Procedure and MVR for Post-Infarction Huge LV Aneurysm  3.) Non-Cardioplegic Myocardial Protection for Robotic Mitral Surgery  Other Items Mentioned  1.) Instructional Video Competition  2.) 2025 Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club Video Competition  3.) 2025 CTSNet Recruitment Guide   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 Vicki Morton, Director of Clinical and Quality Outcomes at Providence Anesthesiology Associates in North Carolina, USA, spoke with Alexander Gregory, a cardiovascular anesthesiologist and assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, and the Libin Cardiovascular Institute at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada, and Dr. V. Seenu Reddy, a cardiothoracic surgeon at HCA’s TriStar Cardiovascular Surgery in Nashville, Tennesee, USA, about the 10 things they hate about Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS).   Chapters 00:00 Introduction  01:38 Overcomplication  05:29 Simple Barriers  08:54 Change Obstructionists  10:52 Status Quo  12:49 Messing with Protocol  14:21 Giving Up on Protocol  16:48 Need for Patient-Reported Outcomes  19:18 Struggle Into Cardiac Subspecialty  21:30 Takeaways  The goal of this discussion was to identify specific challenges and propose potential solutions. They emphasize the importance of having two leaders—a champion and a co-champion—to effectively guide ERAS initiatives. Additionally, they discuss creating standing orders and issues related to microbarriers and resistance to change. They also highlight the need for customization of protocols, acknowledging the differences between surgeons who utilize ERAS and those who do not, as well as the tendency to maintain the status quo. Patient perspectives are another key focus, with a call to implement changes that enhance tracking and monitoring of patient outcomes. Furthermore, they explore the role of technology designed for patients, as well as applying ERAS principles to surgeries that fall “outside of the box.”   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 episode of The Atrium, host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaks with Dr. Samer Nashef, a consultant cardiac surgeon at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, about complications in cardiothoracic surgery. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:34 Dr. Nashef Background 04:06 Results Monitoring 08:55 Common Complications 14:40 Mentality 19:18 Identifying Room for Improvement 21:25 Pattern of Response 22:47 Long-Term Complications 26:08 Mortality/Morbidity Meetings 28:28 Perfection, Balance 30:33 Coping w Major Complications 35:06 Learning Your Psyche 35:51 Trainee-Consultant Responsibility 37:51 Resilience 39:19 Key Takeaways 41:07 Training Advice They delve into early complications that trainees experience, approaches to managing acute complications, and nonacute and postoperative complications. They also highlight learning from complications, coping strategies, and the emotional impact involved in cardiothoracic surgery. Additionally, they discuss the concepts of growth, resilience, and strength in cardiothoracic surgery. Furthermore, Dr. Nashef provides advice to trainees currently navigating difficult cases, and general guidance for those in training.   The Atrium is a monthly podcast presenting clinical and career-focused topics for residents and early career professionals across all cardiothoracic surgery subspecialties. Be sure to watch 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 spoke with Dr. Laurens Ceulemans, thoracic surgeon at the University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium, about lung volume reduction. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:41 Right to Repair, Robotics Re-Use 04:53 REPEAT Trial 06:30 JANS 1, PCI After CABG Randomized Trial 08:01 JANS 2, No-Touch vs Conventional Saph Veins 11:04 JANS 3, Sir Terence English & Keyvyn Mohagissi 12:09 CTSNet Recruitment Guide 12:54 Video 1, JCOG0802 Bombshell & Webinar 16:33 Video 2, Endoscopic Cardiac Foreign Body Extraction 17:56 Video 3, First Europe Robotic AVR Perceval Valve 18:42 Video 4, Bilateral VATS Sympathectomy 20:10 Laurens Ceulemans Interview 34:15 Upcoming Events 34:48 Closing They highlighted key takeaways from the procedure and addressed the issue of air leaks. They also discussed bilateral lung volume reduction and emphasized the importance of a team approach. Additionally, they focused on why surgeons should be selecting the healthiest patients for this operation rather than the most critically ill, as well as the future of lung volume reduction.    Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on a multicenter, randomized trial on the PCI of native coronary artery vs saphenous vein graft after prior bypass surgery, a meta-analysis of randomized trials on the outcomes of no-touch vs conventionally harvested saphenous veins for coronary artery bypass surgery, and the death of transplant pioneer Sir Terence English at 93.  In addition, Joel explores bombshell 10-year JCOG0802 results showing lobectomy is superior to segmentectomy for lung cancer, endoscopic extraction of a cardiac foreign body, the first robotic aortic valve replacement in Europe using a Perceval valve, and bilateral VATS sympathectomy for ventricular tachycardia electrical storm. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.    JANS Items Mentioned  1.) PCI of Native Coronary Artery vs Saphenous Vein Graft After Prior Bypass Surgery: A Multicenter, Randomized Trial  2.) Outcomes of No-Touch Vs Conventionally Harvested Saphenous Veins for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials  3.) Transplant Pioneer Sir Terence English Dies at 93  CTSNet Content Mentioned  1.) Bombshell 10-Year JCOG0802 Results Show Lobectomy Is Superior to Segmentectomy for Lung Cancer  2.) Military Heart Trauma: Endoscopic Extraction of a Cardiac Foreign Body  3.) First Robotic Aortic Valve Replacement in Europe Using a Perceval Valve   4.) Bilateral VATS Sympathectomy for Ventricular Tachycardia Electrical Storm  Other Items Mentioned  1.) Restore Robotics   2.) 2025 Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club Video Competition  3.) 2025 CTSNet Recruitment Guide   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. Christopher McGregor, professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, about the current state of cardiac and kidney xenotransplantation. Chapters 00:00 Intro  03:10 Sir Terence English  08:00 JANS 1, Cardiac Xenotransplantation  09:13 JANS 2, Coffee Consumption on AF  11:06 JANS 3, Environmental Factors Acute AD  12:49 JANS 4, PROTHOR Trial  15:15 Video 1, Combined AV & Coronary via LAM  17:08 Video 2, ARCA w MV Prolapse  19:32 Video 3, Redo Elephant Trunk After EAR  22:06 Chris McGregor Interview  48:23 Upcoming Events  50:15 Closing  They discussed the three approved trials for xenotransplantation in 2025, the preclinical efficacy assessment, and the various challenges of xenotransplantation. Additionally, they explored the history of orthotopic transplants, heart failure, and antibody-mediated rejection. They also examined the future of xenotransplantation and the anatomy of pig hearts vs human hearts.   Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on the status of cardiac xenotransplantation including preclinical models, the DECAF randomized clinical trial on if caffeinated coffee consumption or abstinence reduces atrial fibrillation; the impact of environmental factors on acute aortic dissection; and a multicenter, international, randomized, controlled, phase 3 trial on the effects of intraoperative higher vs lower positive end-expiratory pressure during one-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery on postoperative pulmonary complications (PROTHOR).   In addition, Joel explores combined aortic valve and coronary surgery via left anterior minithoracotomy, management of anomalous right coronary artery in a patient with mitral valve prolapse, and redo frozen elephant trunk after endovascular arch repair. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.    JANS Items Mentioned  1.) 2025: Status of Cardiac Xenotransplantation Including Preclinical Models  2.) Caffeinated Coffee Consumption or Abstinence to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation: The DECAF Randomized Clinical Trial  3.) Weathering the Aorta: The Impact of Environmental Factors on Acute Aortic Dissection   4.) Effects of Intraoperative Higher Versus Lower Positive End-Expiratory Pressure During One-Lung Ventilation for Thoracic Surgery on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications (PROTHOR): A Multicentre, International, Randomised, Controlled, Phase 3 Trial  CTSNet Content Mentioned  1.) Combined Aortic Valve and Coronary Surgery via Left Anterior Minithoracotomy: Clinical Experience With Sutureless Bioprosthesis  2.) Management of Anomalous Right Coronary Artery in a Patient With Mitral Valve Prolapse  3.) Redo Frozen Elephant Trunk After Endovascular Arch Repair  Other Items Mentioned  1.) Resident Video Competition  2.) 2025 CTSNet Recruitment Guide   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.