The journal of cardiovascular computed tomography: A year in review: 2022.

This review aims to summarize key articles published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (JCCT) in 2022, focusing on those that had the most scientific and educational impact. The JCCT continues to expand; the number of submissions, published manuscripts, cited articles, article downloads, social media presence, and impact factor continues to grow. The articles selected by the Editorial Board of the JCCT in this review highlight the role of cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT) to detect subclinical atherosclerosis, assess the functional relevance of stenoses, and plan invasive coronary and valve procedures. A section is dedicated to CCT in infants and other patients with congenital heart disease, in women, and to the importance of training in CT. In addition, we highlight key consensus documents and guidelines published in JCCT last year. The Journal values the tremendous work by authors, reviewers, and editors to accomplish these contributions.

Challenges and opportunities in improving left ventricular remodelling and clinical outcome following surgical and trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.

Over the last half century, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has evolved to offer a durable and efficient valve haemodynamically, with low procedural complications that allows favourable remodelling of left ventricular (LV) structure and function. The latter has become more challenging among elderly patients, particularly following trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Precise understanding of myocardial adaptation to pressure and volume overloading and its responses to valve surgery requires comprehensive assessments from aortic valve energy loss, valvular-vascular impedance to myocardial activation, force-velocity relationship, and myocardial strain. LV hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis remains as the structural and morphological focus in this endeavour. Early intervention in asymptomatic aortic stenosis or regurgitation along with individualised management of hypertension and atrial fibrillation is likely to improve patient outcome. Physiological pacing via the His-Purkinje system for conduction abnormalities, further reduction in para-valvular aortic regurgitation along with therapy of angiotensin receptor blockade will improve patient outcome by facilitating hypertrophy regression, LV coordinate contraction, and global vascular function. TAVI leaflet thromboses require anticoagulation while impaired access to coronary ostia risks future TAVI-in-TAVI or coronary interventions. Until comparable long-term durability and the resolution of TAVI related complications become available, SAVR remains the first choice for lower risk younger patients.

Controversies in Diagnostic Imaging of Patients With Suspected Stable and Acute Chest Pain Syndromes.

There has been a tremendous growth quantity of high-quality imaging evidence in the area of acute and stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD). A number of recent comparative effectiveness trials have spurned significant controversies in the field of cardiovascular imaging. The result of this evidence is that many health care policies and national guidelines have undergone significant revisions. With all of this evidence, many challenges remain and the optimal evaluation strategy for evaluation of patients presenting with chest pain remains ill-defined. This paper enlisted the guidance of numerous experts in the field of cardiovascular imaging to garner their perspective on available imaging research in chest pain syndromes. Each of these vignettes represent editorial perspectives and diverse opinions as to which, if any, should be the primary test in the evaluation of stable chest pain. These perspectives are not meant to be all inclusive but to highlight many of the commonly discussed controversies in the evaluation of chest pain symptoms. These perspectives are presented as a pre-amble to an upcoming American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical practice guideline that is undergoing revision from the previous report published in 2012. The evidence has changed considerably since the 2012 SIHD guideline, and the current perspectives represent the diversity of available evidence as to the optimal imaging strategy for evaluation of the symptomatic patient.

To fly as a pilot after cardiac surgery.

Aircrew are responsible for safe and reliable aircraft operations. Cardiovascular disease accounts for 50% of all pilot licences declined or withdrawn for medical reasons in Western Europe and is the most common cases of sudden incapacitation in flight. Aircrew retirement age is increasing (up to age 65) in a growing number of airlines and the burden of subclinical, but potentially significant, coronary atherosclerosis is unknown in qualified pilots above age 40. Safety considerations are paramount in aviation medicine, and the most dreaded cardiovascular complications are thromboembolic events and rhythm disturbances due to their potential for sudden incapacitation. In aviation, the current consensus risk threshold for an acceptable level of controlled risk of acute incapacitation is 1% (for dual pilot commercial operations), a percentage calculated using engineering principles to ensure the incidence of a fatal air accident is no greater than 1 per 107 h of flying. This is known as the '1% safety rule'. To fly as a pilot after cardiac surgery is possible; however, special attention to perioperative planning is mandatory. Choice of procedure is crucial for license renewal. Licensing restrictions are likely to apply and the postoperative follow-up requires a tight scheduling. The cardiac surgeon should always liaise and communicate with the pilot's aviation medicine examiner prior to and following cardiac surgery.