Never too early: the impact of a shadowing programme in paediatric and congenital cardiac surgery for undergraduate college students.

PURPOSE: Diversification of the medical and cardiothoracic surgical workforce represents an ongoing need. A congenital cardiac surgery shadowing programme for undergraduate students was implemented at the University of Florida Congenital Heart Center. METHODS: Students shadowing in the Congenital Heart Center from 17 December 2020 through 20 July 2021 were sent a survey through Qualtrics to evaluate the impact of their shadowing experience. The main objectives of the survey were to determine the personal relationship(s) of the students to physicians prior to shadowing, how the presence or absence of physicians in the family of a given student related to the exposure of the student to a medical setting prior to shadowing, and the interest of the students in medicine and cardiothoracic surgery prior to and after the shadowing experience. Survey responses included "Yes/No" questions, scaled responses using a Likert scale, selection lists, and free text responses. When applicable, t-tests were utilised to assess differences between student groups. RESULTS: Of the 37 students who shadowed during the study period, 26 (70%) responded. Most students were female (58%, n = 15), and the mean age was 20.9 ± 2.4 years. Students spent a mean duration of 95 ± 138 hours shadowing providers as part of the shadowing programme. Likert scale ratings of interest in the professions of medicine, surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery all increased after the shadowing experience (p < 0.01). Students with a family member in medicine had more clinical exposure prior to the shadowing programme (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A surgical shadowing programme at a Congenital Heart Center may have an important formative impact on the views of undergraduate students regarding potential careers in surgery and medicine. Additionally, students without family members in medicine tend to have less prior exposure to medicine and could likely benefit more from this type of shadowing programme.

Syphilitic ostial coronary artery occlusion treated with percutaneous coronary intervention: Case series and literature review.

Introduction: Non-atherosclerotic causes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are important contributors to a substantial number of acute ischemic coronary events. Syphilitic aortitis is a rare complication of tertiary cardiovascular syphilis that may result in ostial coronary artery stenosis, aortic insufficiency, and ascending aortic aneurysm. Methods: In this manuscript, we present two Case Reports of patients with bilateral syphilitic coronary artery ostial occlusion, and we review the associated literature. The immunofluorescent test was positive for syphilis in both patients. Results: Diagnostic coronary angiography revealed bilateral occlusions of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and right coronary artery (RCA), which were successfully treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bare metal stents (BMS). After deployment of the stents, arterial blood flow was re-established with TIMI flow grade 3. Discussion: The angiographic finding of bilateral coronary ostial lesions in young patients should raise the suspicion of cardiovascular syphilis. Options for revascularization should be discussed amongst the patient and the Heart Team. PCI may be an option for treatment of isolated syphilitic coronary stenosis in the setting of acute hemodynamic instability or chronic inflammation.