S Macheers

BACKGROUND: It has been established that outcomes for black patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) are inferior to those of their white counterparts. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) whether rates of multiarterial grafting are different among black patients and white patients, and (2) whether racial differences exist in postoperative outcomes after accounting for grafting strategy. METHODS: A retrospective review of black patients (n = 2,810) and white patients (n = 13,569) who underwent isolated, primary CABG from January 2002 to June 2014 at a US academic institution was performed...

BACKGROUND: The role of robotic instruments in mitral valve (MV) surgery continues to evolve. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety, efficacy, and scope of MV surgery using a lateral endoscopic approach with robotics (LEAR) technique. METHODS: From 2006 to 2013, a dedicated LEAR team performed 1,257 consecutive isolated MV procedures with or without tricuspid valve repair or atrial ablation. The procedures were performed robotically through five right-side chest ports with femoral artery or ascending aortic perfusion and balloon occlusion...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether adjunctive use of the bovine serum albumin and glutaraldehyde tissue adhesive BioGlue (BioGlue Surgical Adhesive; CryoLife, Inc) could reduce the rate of anastomotic bleeding in patients undergoing cardiac and vascular repair procedures when compared with a standard repair control. This was a prospective multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted in accordance with the IRB at each participating institution...

Two thousand carotid arteries were evaluated by B-mode real-time ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, carotid phonoangiography, and oculoplethysmography. All patients were referred for evaluation of asymptomatic bruits, transient ischemic attacks, or stroke. Angiography was performed on 760 vessels and operative intervention upon 248 arteries. B-mode correctly identified 123/126 vessels said to be normal by angiography; it identified nonstenotic plaques in 296 vessels where angiography only noted 288 instances of nonstenotic plaque...

Splenic metastases from bronchogenic carcinoma are considered very rare. In most cases, these represent diffuse disease and widespread hematologic dissemination. Reports of isolated splenic metastases are exceedingly rare and essentially unknown in the thoracic literature. A case report of isolated splenic metastases is detailed and a review of the literature provided.