The genetic basis of thoracic aortic disease: The future of aneurysm classification?

The expansion in the repertoire of genes linked to thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) has revolutionised our understanding of the disease process. The clinical benefits of such progress are numerous, particularly helping our understanding of non-syndromic hereditary causes of TAA (HTAAD) and further refinement in the subclassification of disease. Furthermore, the understanding of aortic biomechanics and mechanical homeostasis has been significantly informed by the discovery of deleterious mutations and their effect on aortic phenotype. The drawbacks in genetic testing in TAA lie with the inability to translate genotype to accurate prognostication in the risk of thoracic aortic dissection (TAD), which is a life-threatening condition. Under current guidelines, there are no metrics by which those at risk for dissection with normal aortic diameters may undergo preventive surgery. Future research lies with more advanced genetic diagnosis of HTAAD and investigation of the diverse pathways involved in its pathophysiology, which will i) serve to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms, ii) improve guidelines for treatment and iii) prevent complications for HTAAD and sporadic aortopathies.

A rare case of an intramyocardial mesothelial inclusion cyst.

A symptomatic intramyocardial cyst, whilst a rare occurrence, is most effectively investigated using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Furthermore, following diagnosis it can be effectively treated using a surgical approach.

Emergency cardiac surgery for patients on NOACs in the NOAC era - Perspective.

Excessive bleeding is an important cause of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. Bleeding after cardiac surgery is multifactorial. Adherence to the proverbial 6 Ps remains the cornerstone of any strategy for management of postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery. Recent years have seen a surge in the number of patients who have been prescribed novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic events. This phenomenon has significant repercussions particularly for patients presenting for emergency cardiac surgery. The published evidence guiding management of such patients is limited and in the form of expert consensus. Plasma levels of NOAC >30 ng/ml necessitate specific therapeutic interventions to tackle excessive bleeding attributed to NOAC intake. Current recommendation is to consider using specific reversal agent if available. Otherwise, use of prothrombin complex concentrates is recommended.