Randomized clinical trials in cardiac surgery: from necessity to difficulty
A commentary on a review article exploring the current state of randomized evidence and its role in advancing cardiac surgery.
Surgeons under scrutiny: the 360° revolution in the U.S. versus inertia in the Spanish model
The American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) has formally adopted the 360° evaluation as an integral component of its certification process for thoracic surgeons, aiming to provide a more objective assessment of professional competence and nontechnical skills.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: “and miles to go before I sleep”
Expert review on the current status and historical evolution of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).
Extracorporeal circulation and cancer risk: what does the new evidence tell us?
This Swedish retrospective observational study compares the long-term risk of cancer incidence in relation to the use or omission of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Ten-year outcomes of the Epic® porcine valve: is the Abbott® as good as it looks?
This retrospective observational study, based on real-world data, aimed to assess the 10-year outcomes of the St. Jude/Abbott Epic® porcine mitral valve.
Survival analysis in the presence of paravalvular leak after TAVI: size does matter
This was a single-center, retrospective observational cohort study that assessed the prevalence of paravalvular leak (PVL) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in over 3000 patients and its impact on long-term survival based on leak severity.
Surgical septal myectomy after prior septal reduction therapy: are second chances better… or just not as harmful as we fear?
This retrospective single-center study (Mayo Clinic) aimed to assess early and late outcomes of patients who underwent extended septal myectomy due to recurrent left ventricular outflow tract gradients following prior septal reduction therapy, either percutaneous (alcohol septal ablation) or surgical.
When to intervene in aortic stenosis? current recommendations and what the future may hold.
We review the indications for intervention in aortic stenosis (AS) according to the 2021 ESC/EACTS Guidelines, offering a practical perspective on how to apply these recommendations in real-world surgical settings. Additionally, we analyze recent evidence that may anticipate significant updates in future guideline revisions.
