CTSNet Podcasts

David Jablons moderates this live event, which presented data about the development of a molecular assay based on resected tumor RNA expression from simple paraffin-fixed tissue samples. This is integrated into an algorithm that can assign a risk score for recurrence. This molecular risk score is fully independent of standard TNM staging and does not rely on any other clinical parameters. The assay has been widely validated in thousands of patients and demonstrates both significant prognostic information and the predictive benefit of adjuvant platinum based chemotherapy in high risk patients, as identified by this assay.

In this Giants of Cardiothoracic Surgery interview, Jessica Luc speaks with Lars G. Svensson of the Cleveland Clinic about his career in cardiac surgery. They discuss the elephant trunk procedure, the modified David reimplantation procedure, and the "J" incision, as well as Dr Svensson's tips for mentorship and leadership.

This Beat episode, hosted by Joel Dunning, MD, includes part I of a two-part discussion on vaccines. Dr Dunning reviews three papers on the three COVID-19 vaccines currently available.

For more information on this episode's topics, links are provided:

1. Baden LR, El Sahly HM, Essink B, Kotloff K, Frey S, Novak R, et al. Efficacy and safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. N Engl J Med. Dec 30, 2021.
2. Voysey M, Clemens SAC, Madhi SA, Weckx LY, Folegatti PM, Aley PK, et al. Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK. Lancet. Dec 8, 2020.
3. Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Kitchin N, Absalon J, Gurtman A, Lockhart S, et al. Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2020;383:2603-2615.

In this Giants of Cardiothoracic Surgery interview, Joel Dunning speaks with Patrick M. McCarthy, executive director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern in Chicago, Illinois. They discuss Dr McCarthy's training and mentorship, his techniques with mitral valve surgery, and how the field has changed over the course of his career.

Leanne Harling, MD, of the Imperial College, London, UK, and Jessica Luc, MD, of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, moderate a discussion on the global experience of how to make the most of one's training and successfully transition to practice. They are joined by an international panel of guests, and this discussion spans cardiac surgery and general thoracic surgery. This Resident Corner also covers specific tips and lessons learned in the realm of resident education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this CTSNet roundtable, Dawn Hui of UT Health San Antonio, Texas, moderates a discussion on advocacy within the cardiothoracic surgery specialty. She is joined by Keith Naunheim of Saint Louis University in Missouri, John H. Calhoon of the UT Health San Antonio, Texas, Ourania Preventza of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, Seth Wolf of the University of Vermont, and Courtney Yohe, director of government relations for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in Washington, D.C. They discuss what advocacy means to them, the impact of advocacy on the specialty, and ways cardiothoracic surgeons can have a direct impact on federal policy.

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In this Beat episode, hosted by Joel Dunning of the James Cook University Hospital, UK, current topics include the mitraclip MR repair study by Pat McCarthy, Easy-AS study, MARS-2 trial, study on segmentectomy vs. lobectomy, lawsuits against surgical stapler manufactures, MAVRIC trial, and the UK mini mitral trial. For more information on this episode's topics, links are provided:

Mitraclip MR repair study by Pat McCarthy https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04198870 Easy AS Study https://www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk/themes/cardiovascular/novel-cardiovascular-therapeutic-interventions/easy-as/ MARS-2 trial https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-trial-looking-at-surgery-for-mesothelioma-mars-2 CALGB study 140503 on segmentectomy versus lobectomy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30442588/ Lawsuits against surgical stapler manufacturers https://www.druganddevicewatch.com/2020/05/15/lawsuits-surge-surgical-stapler-manufacturers/ MAVRIC trial by Mr Enoch Akowuah https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31097171/ UK Mini Mitral trial by Mr Enoch Akowuah https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/cardiothoracic-services/cardiothoracic-research/uk-mini-mitral-trial/

Joel Dunning, Moishe Liberman, and Eric Goudie discuss Dr Liberman's method of dividing pulmonary vessels using an energy device and the multi-center study Dr Liberman and Mr Goudie are running to evaluate energy sealing on pulmonary arteries.

This Beat episode, featuring Dr Brian Mitzman, General Thoracic Surgeon with the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, as the host, discusses recent highlights submitted to CTSNet, along with a look at a new esophagogastric anastomosis simulator in this month's JTCVS. 

This Beat episode, featuring Dr Jessica Luc, cardiovascular surgery resident from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, as the host, discusses highlights from the CTSNet COVID-19 portal, including the subspecialty guidance statements on cardiac, thoracic, and congenital patient triage, followed by education and ethical considerations during the pandemic.