CTSNet Podcasts

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Bart P. van Putte, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein, Netherlands, and the Amsterdam University Medical Center about the excimer laser assisted non-occlusive anastomosis (ELANA) system in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:48 CMS NCD Webinar
02:20 Oral Board AI Simulator
02:57 Podcast Frequency Update
04:09 CTSNet at EACTS 2026
04:44 Bi vs Single IMA Grafting in CABG
06:40 Radial Artery vs Saph Vein Third Conduit
08:37 Right-Sided Min Inv OPCAB
10:17 Right Basilar Transplant w Carinal Reconstr
12:12 Lymph Node Dissection & Chylothorax Analysis
14:11 Type A AD Causing Hematoma & Compression
16:13 Robotic Extended Sympathectomy
17:27 Ross Procedure Child w Bicuspid AV
19:56 Dr. van Putte, ELANA System CABG
34:45 Career Center

They discussed the purpose of the ELANA system, what it is, and how it works. They also reviewed the system’s critical procedural step and explored its potential application in jump grafts. Additionally, they analyzed the clinical cases in which the system was utilized, including the findings. They also outlined the next steps and evaluated the feasibility of implementing this system at other clinical centers.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on midterm outcomes after bilateral vs single internal mammary artery grafting in minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass, a comparison of radial artery and saphenous vein as the third conduit with bilateral internal mammary arteries in coronary bypass surgery, a case report on right basilar segmental autologous lung transplantation with carinal reconstruction in a patient with central lung squamous cell carcinoma, Type A aortic dissection causing pulmonary artery intramural hematoma and compression, and a Society of Thoracic Surgeons general thoracic surgery database analysis of the association between lymph node dissection and chylothorax.

In addition, Joel explores a robotic extended sympathectomy for severe compensatory hyperhidrosis, right-sided minimally invasive off-pump coronary artery bypass, and the Ross procedure for infective endocarditis with extensive aortic root destruction in a child with a bicuspid aortic valve.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.

JANS Items Mentioned

Mid-Term Outcomes After Bilateral Versus Single Internal Mammary Artery Grafting in MIDCAB

Comparison of RA and Saphenous Vein as the Third Conduit With BIMA in Coronary Bypass Surgery

Right Basilar Segmental Autologous Lung Transplantation With Carinal Reconstruction for Central Lung SCC

Type A Aortic Dissection Causing Pulmonary Artery Intramural Hematoma and Compression

An STS General Thoracic Surgery Database Analysis of the Association Between LN Dissection and Chylothorax

CTSNet Content Mentioned

Robotic Extended Sympathectomy for Severe Compensatory Hyperhidrosis

Right-Sided Minimally Invasive Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass

Ross Procedure for Infective Endocarditis With Extensive Aortic Root Destruction in a Child With a Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Other Items Mentioned

The First Prospective Safety and Effectiveness Trial of the Excimer Laser Assisted Nonocclusive Anastomosis System in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Oral Board AI Simulator

The TAVR Heart Team in 2026: Navigating the CMS Decision | A CTSNet Webinar

Career Center

CTSNet Events

 

Disclaimer The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.

In this episode of The Atrium, host Alice Copperwheat speaks with Jessica Donington, Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Section of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Chicago, Illinois, USA, about neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:20 Why CT Surgery?
04:16 History
06:55 Patient Perception
08:42 Function, Why?
12:40 Patient Selection, Who?
18:20 Resectability
25:31 Types of Neoadj Therapy, What?
30:06 Evidence
33:01 Surgeon Responsibility
39:02 Robotics
39:54 Post Op Considerations
41:29 Key Points
43:12 Surgical Training Advice

The discussion emphasizes the importance of being upfront and honest during patient conversations. It explores the benefits of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy, how patients are selected for these treatments, and the various clinical trials on this topic. The conversation also addresses the chemo-radiation route and the clinical assessment of resectability. They also examine how to determine if a tumor is resectable and what factors are assessed during this process. It also highlights the need to consider whether a planned lobectomy might necessitate a pneumonectomy following neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. The conversation also covers chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, outlining what trainees should remember about each. Finally, they address the complexities of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy, key takeaways for trainees, and the importance of working closely with the entire multidisciplinary team throughout the process.

The Atrium is a monthly podcast presenting clinical and career-focused topics for residents and early career professionals across all cardiothoracic surgery subspecialties. Keep an eye out for next month’s episode.  

 

Disclosure

Dr. Donington serves as an advisor, consultant, and speaker for AstraZeneca, BMS, Genentech/Roche, and Merck. Additionally, she acts as a consultant for Biodesix and an advisor for Lilly.  

 

Disclaimer The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Traves Crabtree, Professor and Chair of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Medical Director of the Surgical Skills Laboratory at the Memorial Learning Center at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, USA, about the Oral Board AI Simulator (OBAS) and the benefits it offers for board preparation.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
02:01 CMS NCD on TAVR Heart Team
06:15 JANS 1, Ross Procedure Determinants
08:20 JANS 2, Supra-Annular Perceval Bentall
10:44 JANS 3, Simplified MV Edge-to-Edge
12:35 JANS 4, CT Findings Addition Donors
14:19 JANS 5, Auto Robotic Phlebotomy Device
16:32 Video 1, MVR After MitraClip
18:53 Video 2, VATS Resection 10-cm Mediast Mass
20:04 Video 3, Modified Trapdoor Technique ALCAPA
21:36 Dr. Crabtree, Oral Board AI Simulator
32:28 Upcoming Events

They discussed the origin of the OBAS, its progress on CTSNet, and the feedback received thus far. The conversation also covered the current number of scenarios within OBAS, the importance of user feedback for the program’s expansion, and the future development of the simulator, which includes the integration of imaging and positive feedback mechanisms for participants.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on determinants of long-term durability for the Ross procedure, supra-annular perceval Bentall, real-world outcomes after simplified mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair under sole transesophageal echocardiographic guidance, if the addition of computed tomography findings maintains the predictive performance of an existing radiograph-based donor lung acceptability score, and a multicenter trial on the performance, safety, and patient experience of an autonomous robotic phlebotomy device.

In addition, Joel explores mitral valve repair after MitraClip, VATS resection of a 10-centimeter mediastinal mass with subxiphoid removal, and the modified trapdoor technique for direct reimplantation of ALCAPA.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.

JANS Items Mentioned

The Ross Procedure: Determinants of Long-Term Durability

Supra-Annular Perceval Bentall: From Concept to Patient

Real-World Outcomes After Simplified Mitral Valve Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair Under Sole Transesophageal Echocardiographic Guidance

The Addition of Computed Tomography (CT) Findings Maintains the Predictive Performance of an Existing Radiograph-Based Donor Lung Acceptability Score

Performance, Safety, and Patient Experience of an Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device: A Multicenter Trial

CTSNet Content Mentioned

Mitral Valve Repair After MitraClip

VATS Resection of a 10-Centimeter Mediastinal Mass With Subxiphoid Removal

Modified Trapdoor Technique for Direct Reimplantation of ALCAPA

Other Items Mentioned

Oral Board AI Simulator

The TAVR Heart Team in 2026: Navigating the CMS Decision | A CTSNet Webinar

CTSNet Innovation Video Competition

Career Center

CTSNet Events

 

Disclaimer The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.

In this episode of The Cardiac Recovery Room, moderator Subhasis Chatterjee, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, USA, spoke with J. W. Awori Hayanga, Professor of Surgery at West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA, and Nicholas Teman, an Associate Professor of Surgery from the University of Colorado Anschutz, Boulder, Colorado, USA, about extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Chapters 

00:00 Intro 

01:18 ECMO Broad Picture 

04:28 Deciding ECMO 

07:32 Deciding Cannulation Configuration 

10:13 Sedation De-Escalation 

11:41 Patient Mobilization 

15:34 Other ERAS Steps 

18:00 VA ECMO 

19:44 Closing Remarks 

They explore the evolution of ECMO and its application for bridge-to-transplant and acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. The discussion examines criteria for ECMO candidacy and predicting which patients may need ECMO, cannulation, and body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, they detail strategies for sedation de-escalation, safe patient mobilization protocols, and best practices for center implementing ECMO mobilization. The conversation also addresses veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and preserving mobilization for VA-ECMO patients.

The Cardiac Recovery Room is the place to hear the conversations colleagues are having after the meetings. Each month, a new episode featuring a leadership panel from the ERAS Cardiac Society is released.  

Disclaimer The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with James Cox, Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and Patrick McCarthy, Executive Director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Heller-Sacks Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, USA, about the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Chapters 

00:00 Intro 

01:32 CMS NCD on TAVR Heart Team 

04:22 JANS 1, Tarlatamab Clinical Responses  

05:23 JANS 2, No Stent Hybrid Revasc Robotic TECAB 

06:45 JANS 3, STS Risk Model for SAVR After TAVR 

08:43 JANS 4, Surgical Exposure Bilat Lung Transplant 

10:12 JANS 5, Heart Drug Failure Challenges Theory 

12:53 Video 1, Off-Pump TECAB da Vinci 5 

14:00 Video 2, Aortic Uncrossing, Circumflex Aorta 

14:50 Video 3, Ross Face-Off, Twin Root Replacement 

15:57 Dr. Cox & McCarthy, Atrial Fib Surgery 

27:00 Upcoming Events 

They discussed the vital importance of surgical treatment for AF, the current underutilization of these procedures, the rationale for why AF should be treated, and abating AF. Furthermore, they explored the role of AF as a quality marker, the necessity for surgeons to develop proficiency in these techniques, and the importance of resident training on this procedure. Additionally, they reviewed the benefits of devices for AF, examined arrythmias in general, and their newly published textbook on the subject.

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk model for surgical aortic valve replacement after transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a promising heart drug failing which challenged a long-held theory of disease, clinical responses to tarlatamab among patients with pulmonary carcinoid, hybrid revascularization with robotic totally endoscopic coronary bypass and stents, and the effect of surgical exposure on outcomes in bilateral lung transplantation.

In addition, Joel explores off-pump totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass using the da Vinci 5, aortic uncrossing procedure for circumflex aorta, and a twin root replacement combined with coronary artery bypass after a previous Ross procedure.

Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.

JANS Items Mentioned

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Risk Model for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

A Promising Heart Drug Fails, Challenging a Long-Held Theory of Disease

Clinical Responses to Tarlatamab Among Patients With Pulmonary Carcinoid

Hybrid Revascularization With Robotic Totally Endoscopic Coronary Bypass and Stents: What Are the Outcomes When The Stent Does Not Happen?

Effect of Surgical Exposure on Outcomes in Bilateral Lung Transplantation: Insight From the International Multicenter Extracorporeal Life Support in Lung Transplantation Registry

CTSNet Content Mentioned

Off-Pump Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Using the da Vinci 5: Closed-Chest Stabilizer Technique

Aortic Uncrossing Procedure for Circumflex Aorta

Ross “Face-Off”: Twin Root Replacement

Other Items Mentioned

Oral Board AI Simulator

CTSNet Innovation Video Competition

Career Center

CTSNet Events

 

Disclaimer The information and views presented on CTSNet.org represent the views of the authors and contributors of the material and not of CTSNet. Please review our full disclaimer page here.