Special Issue "New Perspectives in Cardiothoracic Surgery"

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Cardiovascular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2023 | Viewed by 5213

Special Issue Editors

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece
Interests: congenital heart disease; heart failure; cardiac transplantation; cardiovascular stem cell genetics; proatherogenic inflammation
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Interests: multiarterial grafting; valve repair techniques; thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissection; aortic biomechanics; pericardial decompression syndrome; frailty assessment; risk stratification models

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of cardiothoracic surgery has seen tremendous growth in recent years. Staggering technological advancements have enabled the integration of off-pump CABG, miniaturized CPB circuits, and hybrid revascularization approaches in the armamentarium of practicing cardiac surgeons. Compelling evidence demonstrates the reproducibility, safety, and efficacy of minimally invasive cardiac surgery, including thoracoscopically-assisted and totally endoscopic approaches. Once thought to be unamenable to reparative surgery, aortic valve disease has promoted revolutionized forms of treatment, with a broad application and standardization of valve-sparing aortic root replacement procedures, the Ozaki technique, and more. Percutaneous approaches, including but not limited to TAVI and MitraClip, have also found application in the care of high-risk patients with structural heart disease. Similarly, endovascular techniques have a fast-expanding role in patients with aortic aneurysms and dissections, nearly eliminating major surgery in selected cases. Breakthroughs in mechanical circulatory support have also been instrumental in managing patients with end-stage cardiopulmonary failure. Thoracic surgical oncology has also experienced a major change with the advent of VATS and robotic technology. In this ever-changing landscape, residency and fellowship programs must strive to equip the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons with a versatile skill set that includes open, minimally invasive, and transcatheter expertise.

Original research articles, meta-analyses, and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • CABG surgery—conduit dilemmas and off-pump CABG;
  • New-generation prosthetic valves and emerging lifetime valve management strategies;
  • Novel repair techniques for diseased native valves;
  • Transcatheter approaches;
  • Complex aortic surgery and thoracic endovascular techniques;
  • Mechanical circulatory support (LVAD, BiVAD, TAH, ECMO, percutaneous devices);
  • Advances in cardiopulmonary bypass circuits and myocardial/organ protection strategies;
  • Heart/lung transplantation and novel immunosuppression regimens;
  • Advances in the surgical management of pediatric and adult congenital heart disease;
  • Challenges in the perioperative, anesthetic, and ICU management of cardiothoracic patients;
  • Minimally invasive cardiac surgery;
  • VATS and robotic thoracic surgical oncology;
  • Education and training in cardiothoracic surgery.

Dr. Konstantinos S. Mylonas
Prof. Dr. Dimitrios C. Angouras
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • coronary artery bypass graft surgery
  • aortic surgery
  • valve surgery
  • pediatric cardiac surgery
  • cardiothoracic transplantation
  • lung cancer
  • pneumonectomy
  • lobectomy
  • segmentectomy
  • esophagectomy

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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Article
The Role of the N-Terminal of the Prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Predicting Postoperative Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(23), 7217; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11237217 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 790
Abstract
Background: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is the progressive and potentially reversible dysfunction of at least two organ systems in the course of an acute and life-threatening disorder of systemic homeostasis. MODS is a serious post-cardiac-surgery complication in valvular heart disease that is [...] Read more.
Background: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is the progressive and potentially reversible dysfunction of at least two organ systems in the course of an acute and life-threatening disorder of systemic homeostasis. MODS is a serious post-cardiac-surgery complication in valvular heart disease that is associated with a high risk of death. This study assessed the predictive ability of selected preoperative and perioperative parameters for the occurrence of MODS in the early postoperative period in a group of patients with severe valvular heart disease. Methods: Subsequent patients with significant symptomatic valvular heart disease who underwent cardiac surgery were recruited in the study. The main end-point was postoperative MODS, defined as a dysfunction of at least two organs—perioperative stroke, heart failure requiring mechanical circulatory support, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, and postoperative acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy. A logistic regression was used to assess relationships between variables. Results: There were 602 patients recruited for this study. The main end-point occurred in 40 patients. Preoperative NT-proBNP (OR 1.026; 95% CI 1.012–1.041; p = 0.001) and hemoglobin (OR 0.653; 95% CI 0.503–0.847; p = 0.003) are independent predictors of the primary end-point in a multivariate regression analysis. The cut-off point for the NT-proBNP value for postoperative MODS was calculated at 1300 pg/mL. Conclusions: A high preoperative level of NTpro-BNP may be associated with the onset of MODS in the early postoperative period. The results of the study may also suggest that earlier cardiac surgery for significant valvular heart disease may be associated with an improved prognosis in this group of patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Cardiothoracic Surgery)
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Review

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Review
Surgical Site Infection in Cardiac Surgery
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(23), 6991; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11236991 - 26 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3240
Abstract
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are one of the most significant complications in surgical patients and are strongly associated with poorer prognosis. Due to their aggressive character, cardiac surgical procedures carry a particular high risk of postoperative infection, with infection incidence rates ranging from [...] Read more.
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are one of the most significant complications in surgical patients and are strongly associated with poorer prognosis. Due to their aggressive character, cardiac surgical procedures carry a particular high risk of postoperative infection, with infection incidence rates ranging from a reported 3.5% and 26.8% in cardiac surgery patients. Given the specific nature of cardiac surgical procedures, sternal wound and graft harvesting site infections are the most common SSIs. Undoubtedly, DSWIs, including mediastinitis, in cardiac surgery patients remain a significant clinical problem as they are associated with increased hospital stay, substantial medical costs and high mortality, ranging from 3% to 20%. In SSI prevention, it is important to implement procedures reducing preoperative risk factors, such as: obesity, hypoalbuminemia, abnormal glucose levels, smoking and S. aureus carriage. For decolonisation of S. aureus carriers prior to cardiac surgery, it is recommended to administer nasal mupirocin, together with baths using chlorhexidine-based agents. Perioperative management also involves antibiotic prophylaxis, surgical site preparation, topical antibiotic administration and the maintenance of normal glucose levels. SSI treatment involves surgical intervention, NPWT application and antibiotic therapy Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Cardiothoracic Surgery)

Other

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Systematic Review
Sarcopenia Adversely Affects Outcomes following Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(17), 5573; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12175573 - 26 Aug 2023
Viewed by 495
Abstract
Background: Sarcopenia is a degenerative condition characterised by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. Its impact on cardiac surgery outcomes remains poorly investigated. This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence to determine the effect of sarcopenia [...] Read more.
Background: Sarcopenia is a degenerative condition characterised by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. Its impact on cardiac surgery outcomes remains poorly investigated. This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence to determine the effect of sarcopenia on cardiac surgery outcomes. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines from inception to April 2023 in EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar. Twelve studies involving 2717 patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included. Primary outcomes were early and late mortality; secondary outcomes included surgical time, infection rates, and functional outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate methods. Results: Sarcopenic patients (906 patients) had a significantly higher risk of early mortality (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.44 to 3.99, p = 0.0007) and late mortality (OR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.57 to 4.48, p = 0.0003) compared to non-sarcopenic patients (1811 patients). There were no significant differences in overall surgical time or infection rates. However, sarcopenic patients had longer ICU stays, higher rates of renal dialysis, care home discharge, and longer intubation times. Conclusion: Sarcopenia significantly increases the risk of early and late mortality following cardiac surgery, and sarcopenic patients also experience poorer functional outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Cardiothoracic Surgery)
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