A model for delivery of extracorporeal life support in a stand-alone veterans affairs medical center.

INTRODUCTION: For the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to continue to perform complex cardiothoracic surgery, there must be an established pathway for providing urgent/emergent extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Partnership with a nearby tertiary care center with such expertise may be the most resource-efficient way to provide ECLS services to patients in post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock or respiratory failure. The goal of this project was to assess the efficiency, safety, and outcomes of surgical patients who required transfer for perioperative ECLS from a single stand-alone Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) to a separate ECLS center. METHODS: Cohort consisted of all cardiothoracic surgery patients who experienced cardiogenic shock or refractory respiratory failure at the local VAMC requiring urgent or emergent institution of ECLS between 2019 and 2022. The primary outcomes are the safety and timeliness of transport. RESULTS: Mean time from the initial shock call to arrival at the ECLS center was 2.8 h. There were no complications during transfer. Six patients (86%) survived to decannulation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that complex cardiothoracic surgery can be performed within the VHA system and when there is an indication for ECLS, those services can be safely and effectively provided at an affiliated, properly equipped center.

Rare and complicated functional posterior mediastinal paraganglioma.

Functional mediastinal paragangliomas (PGs) are rare, catecholamine-secreting tumours. Surgical resection is the preferred treatment, but it can be complicated by catecholamine-related symptoms, involvement of cardiac structures and/or tumour supply from major blood vessels. We report a case of a man in his 30s with a subcarinal functional PG complicated by all three factors. The PG had arterial supplies from the right coronary and bronchial arteries, with mass effect on the left atrium. Given the high risk of intraoperative bleeding, catecholamine surges and injury to right coronary artery, we attempted a minimally invasive strategy that incorporates best practices from the few published cases on functional PGs. We show that a multidisciplinary approach involving alpha/beta blockade, preoperative embolisation of tumour blood supply, robotic-assisted tumour mobilisation and, if needed, open resection with cardiopulmonary bypass can be a safe strategy in the treatment of functional mediastinal paragangliomas adherent to cardiac structures.

Robotic-assisted Resection of a Diaphragmatic Metastasis of a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are relatively rare mesenchymal tumors. The treatment of these tumors has drastically changed based on molecular treatment methods, namely tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which have led to impressive survival benefits. While medical management has enhanced patient outcomes, surgery is still the standard of care for stable, completely resectable primary tumors or metastases that are >2 cm. This case presents the resection of a diaphragmatic metastasis of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor-controlled GIST in a 51-year-old male. The surgery was collaboratively approached from both the thoracic and abdominal cavities, utilizing the da Vinci robotic system. Prior data is limited regarding patient outcomes after robotic-assisted resection of GISTs. However, small case series have shown it to be a safe and effective surgical option. Our patient's quick recovery and return to normal function demonstrate the successful use of robotic-assisted surgery for GIST resection.

Improving Surveillance of Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Injuries Repaired with Thoracic Endovascular Graft Placement.

The optimal follow-up protocol for patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for traumatic thoracic aortic injury remains unclear. The objective of this study was to assess follow-up patterns in such patients and present an approach to improve long-term follow-up in this cohort. The University of Louisville Trauma Registry was queried for patients who underwent TEVAR for traumatic thoracic aortic injuries between 2006 and 2016. Demographic, injury-specific, perioperative, and outcome measures were recorded for each patient. Follow-up evaluation and duration of follow-up were captured. Follow-up imaging was reviewed for any evidence of vascular complications. A total of 56 patients underwent TEVAR for traumatic thoracic aortic injury. Median age was 48 (range 18-86). Injury mechanism was largely blunt trauma (55 (98%)). Median injury severity score was 34 (range 17-43). Median length of stay was 12.5 days (range 1-40 days), and 51 patients (91%) survived to discharge. Of these, 30 (54%) made at least one follow-up appointment, and 21 of those 30 (70%) received a follow-up CT scan. Median time to last follow-up was one month (range 0-48 months), with 12 patients (21%) having follow-up beyond two months. No patients demonstrated any evidence of vascular complications on imaging at last follow-up. Despite the increased use of TEVAR to treat traumatic aortic injuries, limited follow-up data exist to predict the long-term outcomes of such interventions. Development of statewide or regional databases may help better track outcomes and identify late complications.

Training in robotic thoracic surgery.

The best way to teach robotic thoracic surgery is still being decided. New trainees, experienced video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) surgeons, and predominantly open surgeons each have different needs when it comes to learning robotic surgery. The data shows that the learning curve and ability to learn robotics initially appears to be shorter and easier than surgeons learning VATS. Though the absolute best method for teaching is still under investigation, multiple centers have started to create systematic methods of teaching robotic surgery that increases resident autonomy while still protecting the patient.

Cost Savings of Standardization of Thoracic Surgical Instruments: The Process of Lean.

BACKGROUND: Our objective is to show the effect that standardization of surgical trays has on the number of instruments sterilized and on cost. METHODS: We reviewed our most commonly used surgical trays with the 3 general thoracic surgeons in our division and agreed upon the least number of surgical instruments needed for mediastinoscopy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, robotic thoracic surgery, and thoracotomy. RESULTS: We removed 59 of 79 instruments (75%) from the mediastinoscopy tray, 45 of 73 (62%) from the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery tray, 51 of 84 (61%) from the robotic tray, and 50 of 113 (44%) from the thoracotomy tray. From January 2016 to December 2016, the estimated savings by procedure were video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (n = 398) $21,890, robotic tray (n = 231) $19,400, thoracotomy (n = 163) $15,648, and mediastinoscopy (n = 162) $12,474. Estimated total savings were $69,412. The weight of the trays was reduced 70%, and the nonsteamed sterilization rate (opened trays that needed to be reprocessed) decreased from 2% to 0%. None of the surgeons requested any of the removed instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Standardization of thoracic surgical trays is possible despite having multiple thoracic surgeons. This process of lean (the removal of nonvalue steps or equipment) reduces the number of instruments cleaned and carried and reduces cost. It may also reduce the incidence of "wet loads" that require the resterilization of instruments.

Emergency Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Indications and Outcomes from 2003 through 2013.

Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with increased in-hospital mortality rates and adverse events. This study retrospectively evaluated indications and outcomes in patients who underwent emergency CABG. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database for a single center (Jewish Hospital) was queried to identify patients undergoing isolated CABG. Univariate analysis was performed. From January 2003 through December 2013, 5,940 patients underwent CABG; 212 presented with emergency status. A high proportion of female patients (28.2%) underwent emergency surgery. Emergency CABG patients experienced high rates of intra-aortic balloon pump support, bleeding, dialysis, in-hospital death, and prolonged length of stay. The proportion of emergency coronary artery bypass grafting declined during years 2008-2013 compared with 2003-2007 (2.2% vs. 4.5%, P < 0.001), but the incidence of angiographic accident (5.3% vs. 29.2%) increased as an indication. Ongoing ischemia remains the most frequent indication for emergency CABG, yet the incidence of angiographic accident has greatly increased. In-hospital mortality rates and adverse events remain high. If we look specifically at emergency CABG cases arising from angiographic accident, we find that 14 (15%) of all 93 emergency CABG deaths occurred in that subset of patients. Efforts to improve outcomes should therefore be focused on this high-risk group.

Feasibility Study of Pulsatile Left Ventricular Assist Device for Prolonged Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion.

BACKGROUND: Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has the potential to increase the donor pool for lung transplantation by facilitating resuscitation and extended evaluation of marginal organs. Current EVLP methodology employs continuous flow (CF) pumps that produce non-pulsatile EVLP hemodynamics. In this feasibility study, we tested the hypothesis that a pulsatile flow (PF) pump will provide better EVLP support than a CF pump through delivery of physiologic hemodynamics. METHODS: Porcine lungs were supported in an EVLP model by centrifugal CF (n = 3) or PF (n = 4) left ventricular assist devices. Lungs were ventilated at 4 to 5 mL/kg, 0.21 fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), and perfused with an acellular, albumin-based solution corrected for osmolarity, acid-base balance, and carbon dioxide pressure (≤20 hours at 30°C) for a minimum of 12 hours support. Prostaglandin E1 and 30% albumin were infused continuously. Hemodynamic, respiratory, and blood gas parameters were continuously monitored and digitally recorded hourly. Parenchymal biopsies were used for quantification of wet to dry weight ratio. RESULTS: All lungs maintained function in the EVLP circuit for a minimum of 12 hours (mean 14.7 ± 1 hours) and demonstrated minimal edema formation. The PF EVLP produced higher pulsatility as demonstrated by greater energy equivalent pressure and surplus hemodynamic energy compared with CF EVLP (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in pulmonary impedance, arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen, wet to dry weight ratio, and peak airway pressure between CF and PF EVLP. CONCLUSIONS: The CF and PF EVLP systems successfully maintained lungs 12+ hours using a modified Steen perfusate (XVIVO Perfusion, Inc, Goteborg, Sweden); however, there were no statistically significant differences between CF and PF groups despite higher pulsatility, suggesting that PF may not offer immediate benefits over CF for prolonged ex vivo lung preservation.

High-Resolution Imaging Using the VisualSonics Vevo 2100 on Isolated, Perfused Porcine Kidneys on Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Despite many improvements in the field of renal transplantation, the key problem that persists is the lack of organs for all the patients who need kidneys. This problem continues despite the addition of extended criteria donors and donation after cardiac death. Compounding this issue is the high discard rate and there are no good means to truly predict renal function using current pretransplantation testing parameters. In an isolated renal perfusion model using porcine kidneys, we tested the proof of principle that a Vevo 2100 high-frequency high-resolution ultrasound system (Fujifilm VisualSonics, Inc., Toronto, Canada) could assess renal parenchymal perfusion and flow in the central renal vessels which could not assess by conventional ultrasound. Images and velocities were easily obtained during these studies. High-frequency ultrasound imaging may be a feasible and reproducible method for assessing renal parenchymal integrity and function pretransplantation. Further studies are required to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this approach in comparison with traditional renal biopsy pretransplantation with the goal of increasing the identification and use of donated kidneys for transplantation.