Rebuilding the health sector in Gaza: alternative humanitarian voices.

In November 2023, a variety of disparate health organizations formed an international coalition to consolidate efforts and develop collaborative strategies in response to the increasing critical healthcare challenges caused by the recent war in Gaza. The coalition includes medical and public health experts, humanitarian practitioners, academics, and health policy-makers from across the world. Their membership has not much to do with mainstream humanitarian organisations. It is lead by the diaspora from the region. Their vision is the long-term reconstruction of the health system in Gaza while responding the most urgent needs. This collective effort will require explicit efforts to speak with one voice and avoid duplication. This collective movement may be an orginal initiative that may be able to beat the expected international donor fatigue.

Surgical Management of Anomalous Right Coronary Artery in the Adult: Technique and Case Series.

BACKGROUND: The management of adult patients with anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery (ARCA) from the left aortic sinus poses important challenges. The presence of symptoms or documented ischaemia, the anatomical characteristics of the ostium, and the course of the coronary determine decision-making. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all cases of surgical management of ARCA at a single centre. The primary endpoints were mortality and myocardial infarction at 30 days. Secondary endpoints included recurrence of symptoms, freedom from re-intervention, and mortality during long-term follow-up. RESULTS: From October 2019 to August 2023, 15 adult patients underwent surgery for ARCA; 13 patients were included in this study (mean age 53.9±11.1 years; 10 female). A slit-like orifice, a long intramural segment, and an interarterial course were found in all patients. Twelve (12) patients (92.3%) were symptomatic: nine with angina, combined with dyspnoea on exertion in seven. One (1) patient had history of pre-syncope. One (1) patient presented with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. All patients underwent formal unroofing of the orifice and intramural portion of the ARCA; five patients had a concomitant procedure. No 30-day mortality nor myocardial infarction was recorded. At a mean follow-up of 20.1±12.8 months, all patients were alive. One (1) patient (7.6%) developed recurrent dyspnoea; investigations showed no ischaemia. No repeated interventions were required. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical unroofing of anomalous coronary artery in the adult is safe and effective; correction of both the slit-like orifice and intramural portion of the anomaly provides a durable result in patients with ARCA.

Unroofing of an anomalous right coronary artery originating from the left coronary sinus.

Coronary abnormalities, including the anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery, coronary fistula and myocardial bridge, are among the most common congenital cardiovascular anomalies. A left coronary artery arising from the right cusp is less common than the right coronary artery arising from the left cusp but is more often found in autopsy series of sudden cardiac deaths. A slit-like/fish-mouth-shaped orifice, acute angle take-off, intramural course, interarterial course and hypoplasia of the proximal coronary artery have all been proposed as reasons for symptoms, ischaemia and sudden cardiac death. Surgical intervention is recommended for those patients with signs or symptoms of myocardial ischaemia. Intervention in asymptomatic patients with an interarterial/intramural left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva is recommended due to the higher calculated risk of sudden cardiac death. In asymptomatic patients with an intramural right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva, provocative testing is recommended. The slit-like orifice is more commonly seen in an anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left sinus, and we believe it is the major factor responsible for myocardial ischaemia. Our unroofing technique focuses on: (i) transecting the endothelial tissue flap to create a neo-ostium; (ii) limiting the flap resection to the intramural portion to avoid extra-aortic incision; and (iii) marsupialization of a neo-ostium with interrupted sutures to reapproximate the endothelium and prevent aortic dissection.

Impact of digital transformation on the future of medical education and practice.

In this article, the author provides synopses of the factors that have finally propelled health-care education and practice to join, at times reluctantly, the overarching digital transformative process that has been swept other industries over the last few decades. The key contributors and driving forces that have energized the entry of health-care education and practices are mentioned. The roles of major universities, large technology companies, and the expanding roles of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are described. The projected future developments are predicted to continue to be substantial, sweeping, and forcing changes that are unprecedented. Thus, academicians and practitioners should be alerted to what the rapidly changing landscape is likely to become and accordingly take steps to manage and preserve their roles or risk be left behind or worse be forced out.

The surgical technique of the convergent procedure.

The convergent procedure is a newly developed hybrid ablation procedure that involves extensive epicardial ablation of the posterior left atrial wall followed by endocardial mapping and addition of pulmonary vein isolation. It is a team-based approach that provides a promising option for patients with persistent and permanent atrial fibrillation. In this manuscript, we present a detailed description of the surgical component of this procedure and include potential pitfalls based on our experience in performing it.

Advances in technology and remote cardiac monitoring: Living the future of cardiovascular technology.

Hospital administrations and providers are more than ever in need for new technologies and innovative methods with clinical benefit at lower costs. Surgeons and clinicians depend on conventional risk stratification scores developed to allow physicians to establish the risk of perioperative mortality. However, the current practiced models of preventive cardiology largely depend on patient motivation and awareness to be able to apply such risk scores appropriately. It was not until the appearance of miniaturized pocket-sized, user-friendly digital technologies that the awareness started to grow, highlighting the importance of role of technology and artificial intelligence in modern-day medicine.

Editorial: Telemedicine in the era of coronavirus 19: Implications for postoperative care in cardiac surgery.

Telemedicine, telehealth and artificial intelligence in healthcare are becoming commonly utilized in various medical specialties. The article authored by Dr. Aminah Sallam and colleagues in the Journal provides data in support of the cardiac surgical patients, and the caring cardiac surgeons willingness to adopt telemedicine as a method of connectivity between patient and surgeon.

Lessons learned on a new procedure: Nonsternotomy minimally invasive pulmonary embolectomy.

The endpoint in emergent management of acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE) has traditionally been with embolectomy through a standard median sternotomy. This approach is limited in both exposure and concomitant functional morbidity associated with sternotomy. In a previous publication, we described a novel minimally invasive, thoracoscopically assisted approach to pulmonary embolectomy. This approach utilized a small 5-cm left upper parasternal thoracotomy and femoral cardiopulmonary bypass to conduct thoracoscopically assisted surgical pulmonary embolectomy. The first publication featured three patients that had a massive pulmonary embolus that was treated with minimally invasive pulmonary embolectomy, and the initial data was positive and suggested that this approach is safe and feasible. We now broaden our experience with another two patients who underwent this approach, and highlight a number of technical and management modifications that have been made to optimize the procedure. These lessons learned will ideally benefit future surgeons as this approach is more heavily implemented in practice.

Priorities in coronary artery bypass grafting: Is midterm survival more dependent on completeness of revascularization or multiple arterial grafts?

OBJECTIVE: Both completeness of revascularization and multiple arterial grafts (multiple arterial coronary artery bypass grafting) have been associated with increased midterm survival after coronary artery bypass grafting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative impact of completeness of revascularization and multiple arterial coronary artery bypass grafting on midterm survival after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: A retrospective review of 17,411 isolated, primary coronary artery bypass grafting operations from January 2002 to June 2016 at a US academic institution was performed. Patients were divided into groups based on complete or incomplete revascularization and number of arterial grafts. Inverse probability of treatment weighting based on the generalized propensity score was performed to minimize imbalance in preoperative characteristics. Between-group differences in outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses, incorporating the propensity score weights. RESULTS: Patients undergoing multiple arterial coronary artery bypass grafting in this study were younger, had fewer comorbid conditions, and had lower incidence of left main stenosis compared with patients undergoing single-arterial coronary artery bypass grafting. Short-term perioperative outcomes were similar between groups once propensity score weighting was used to minimize between-group differences in preoperative variables. Median follow-up in the entire population was 630 days, but was 1366 days in the cohort with data available from the Social Security Death Index. Multiple arterial coronary artery bypass grafting was protective for midterm survival compared with single arterial coronary artery bypass grafting, regardless of complete or incomplete revascularization or strategy (multiple arterial complete revascularization vs single-arterial complete revascularization: hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.97; P = .02; multiple arterial incomplete revascularization vs single-arterial incomplete revascularization: hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.90; P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: After controlling for preoperative comorbidities, multiple arterial coronary artery bypass grafting provides a modest midterm survival benefit over single-arterial coronary artery bypass grafting irrespective of completeness of revascularization, suggesting that when forced to choose, surgeons may elect to pursue multiple arterial conduits.

Characteristics and distribution of obesity in the Arab-American population of southeastern Michigan.

BACKGROUND: Arab-Americans constitute ~ 5% of Michigan's population. Estimates of obesity in Arab-Americans are not up-to-date. We aim to describe the distribution of and factors associated with obesity in an Arab-American population in Southeastern Michigan (SE MI). METHODS: Retrospective medical record review identified n = 2363 Arab-American patients seeking care at an Arab-American serving clinic in SE MI, located in a city which is home to a large proportion of Arab-Americans in the United States (US). Body mass index (BMI) was the primary outcome of interest. Distribution of BMI was described using percentages, and logistic regression models were constructed to examine the association between obesity, other comorbid conditions and health behaviors. This cohort was compared to Michigan's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2018 (n = 9589) and to a cohort seeking care between 2013 and 2019 from a free clinic (FC) located in another city in SE MI (n = 1033). RESULTS: Of the 2363 Arab-American patients, those who were older or with HTN, DM or HLD had a higher prevalence of obesity than patients who were younger or without these comorbidities (all p-value < 0.001). Patients with HTN were 3 times as likely to be obese than those without HTN (95% CI: 2.41-3.93; p < 0.001). Similarly, the odds of being obese were 2.5 times higher if the patient was diabetic (95% CI: 1.92-3.16; p < 0.001) and 2.2 times higher if the patient had HLD (95% CI: 1.75-2.83; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in obesity rates between Arab-Americans (31%) and the BRFSS population (32.6%). Compared to Arab-Americans, patients seen at the FC had a higher obesity rate (52.6%; p < 0.001) as well as significantly higher rates of HTN, DM and HLD (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Overall obesity rates in Arab-Americans were comparable to the population-based BRFSS rates, and lower than the patients seen at the FC. Further studies are required to understand the impact of obesity and the association of comorbidities in Arab-Americans.

A novel tool for patient data management in the ICU-Ensuring timely and accurate vital data exchange among ICU team members.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need to simplify data collection for critically-ill patients, particularly for physicians relocated to the ICU setting. Herein we present a simple, reproducible, and highly-customizable manual-entry tool to track ICU patients using new HIPAA-compliant Google Big Query technology for parsing large datasets. This innovative flow chart is useful and could be modified to serve the particular needs of different sub-specialists, particularly those that either rely heavily on hand-written notes or experience poor electronic medical record (EMR) penetration. METHODS: The tool was developed using a combination of three Google Enterprise features: Google Forms for data input, Google Sheets for data output, and Google Big Query for data parsing. Code was written in SQL. Sheets functions were used to transpose and filter parsed data. White and black box tests were performed to examine functionality. RESULTS: Our tool was successfully able to collect and output fictional patient data across all 57 data points specified by the intensivists and surgeons of Cardiovascular Department of Mt. Sinai Morningside Hospital. CONCLUSION: The functional tests performed demonstrate use of the tool. Though originally conceived to simplify patient data collection for newly relocated physicians to the ICU, our tool also overcomes financial and technological barriers previously described in low-income countries that could dramatically improve patient care and provide data to power future studies in these regions. With the original code provided, implementers may adapt our tool to best meet the requirements of their clinical setting and protocols during this very challenging time.

Vacuum-assisted extraction of ilio-caval and right heart masses: A 5-year single center experience.

PURPOSE: Despite paucity of data, there exists growing popularity of catheter-based extraction methods for intravascular thrombi and vegetations. We describe a large single center experience with vacuum-assisted extraction techniques (VAET) for right-sided intravascular and cardiac masses. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative course of patients undergoing VAET between 2014 and 2019. Primary outcomes were survival and freedom from recurrent bacteremia. Procedural success was a composite definition of survival, majority of mass extraction, absence of recurrent bacteremia, and valve function not requiring further intervention during index hospitalization. RESULTS: Of the entire cohort (n = 58), 48% and 52% underwent VAET for vegetations and sterile thrombi, respectively. Of those with positive cultures, the most common organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (48%). Preoperative active bacteremia was present in 36% (21/58) and of these patients, 76% (16/21) had neither recurrent nor persistent bacteremia post-op. The majority of masses (67%, 38/58) were debulked with an average reduction in size of 42%. Conversion to open surgery occurred in 3.5% (2/58). Intraoperative and 30-day survival were 98% (57/58) and 90% (28/31), respectively. Overall success was 86% (50/58). The prevalence of moderate/severe tricuspid regurgitation was 37% pre-op and 61% post-op. Average length of intensive care unit and overall hospital stay was 5.6 and 16 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this single center experience, VAET was conducted safely with a high degree of success and freedom from short-term recurrent bacteremia. This minimally invasive procedure is an attractive alternative to traditional open techniques for removal of right-sided intravascular and cardiac masses.

Response to COVID-19 pandemic: Beyond medical education in Brazil.

We received a response to our Editorial from a group in Brazil that raised valuable concerns about the struggles in transforming medical education in low-income countries. Here, we address the concerns they raised that reinforce the global need for a "Coalition for Medical Education."

Initial Experience with Non-Sternotomy Minimally Invasive Pulmonary Embolectomy with Thoracoscopic Assistance.

The endpoint in emergent management of acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE) has traditionally been with embolectomy through standard median sternotomy. This approach is limited in both exposure and concomitant functional morbidity associated with sternotomy. Herein we describe a novel minimally invasive, thoracoscopically assisted approach to pulmonary embolectomy. This utilizes a small 5-cm left parasternal thoracotomy and femoral cardiopulmonary bypass to conduct thoracoscopically assisted surgical pulmonary embolectomy. This novel minimally invasive approach has been developed and successfully utilized in 3 patients with massive PE at our institution. The assistance of the thoracoscope allowed for complete visualization and clot extraction of the main and segmental pulmonary arteries bilaterally. The use of a non-sternotomy approach sped both functional and pulmonary recovery times and decreased length of stay. These initial data suggest that non-sternotomy minimally invasive surgical pulmonary embolectomy with thoracoscopic assistance is a feasible and safe approach for acute massive PE that may result in enhanced recovery times and decreased hospital length of stay.

Coalition for medical education-A call to action: A proposition to adapt clinical medical education to meet the needs of students and other healthcare learners during COVID-19.

With the ongoing coronavirus, journals and the media have extensively covered the impacts on doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and other healthcare workers. However, one group that has rarely been mentioned despite being significantly impacted is medical students and medical education overall. This piece, prepared by both a medical student and a cardiothoracic surgeon with a long career in academic medicine, discusses the recent history of medical education and how it has led to issues now with distance-based learning due to COVID-19. It concludes with a call to action for the medical education system to adapt so it can meet the needs of healthcare learners during COVID-19 and even beyond.

Outcomes Following Shock Aortic Valve Replacement: Transcatheter Versus Surgical Approaches.

OBJECTIVES: To compare transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients in shock. BACKGROUND: There are minimal data on the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes for patients in shock that undergo TAVR and no data comparing these outcomes to similar patients undergoing SAVR. METHODS: This is a single center, retrospective cohort study of patients having Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)-defined urgent or emergent AVR for aortic stenosis with clinical signs and symptoms of shock. Inclusion criteria were based on the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) shock consensus statement and included: the need for inotropic or vasopressor agents, mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy or newly initiated hemodialysis, and/or utilization of mechanical hemodynamic support. Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes for TAVR and SAVR were compared. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria for this study (17 TAVR, 20 SAVR). TAVR patients had a higher STS Predicted Risk of Mortality (PROM) score of 22.3% compared to 11.8% for SAVR patients (p = 0.001). No significant differences were found in baseline echocardiographic results. TAVR procedures required less procedure room time (185.9 min TAVR, 348.5 min SAVR, p < 0.001) and fewer intraoperative packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions (0.2 units TAVR, 3.4 units SAVR, p < 0.001). TAVR patients also had lower rates of prolonged postoperative ventilation compared to SAVR patients (38.5% TAVR, 75.0% SAVR, p = 0.047). TAVR and SAVR had similar rates of mortality at discharge (2 TAVR, 1 SAVR, p = 0.584), 30-days (2 TAVR, 1 SAVR, p = 0.584), and 1-year (8 TAVR, 5 SAVR, p = 0.149). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a higher risk TAVR group, patients in shock undergoing either TAVR or SAVR have similar 30-day mortality. At one year, SAVR patients have a numerically better, though not statistically significant, survival. These findings support the use of TAVR for patients in shock with aortic stenosis.