Aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo) is a relatively recent advancement in surgical AV replacement. Data on its performance beyond the short term are limited. We assessed the mid-term outcomes in patients undergoing AVNeo, focusing on feasibility, perioperative details, and its role in AV pathology treatment.

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is the treatment for patients with chronic thromboembolic disease. In the immediate postoperative period, some patients may still experience life-threatening complications such as reperfusion lung injury, airway bleeding, and persistent pulmonary hypertension with consequent right ventricular dysfunction. These issues may require support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to recovery or lung transplantation. This study aims to analyze our series of PTEs that require ECMO.

We established a novel surgical procedure for resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which involves resection of the affected lobe and regional lymph nodes without separation, namely en bloc surgery. We introduced the technical details and early and late outcomes by comparing them with those of conventional surgery.

Regardless of the devastating outcomes of pulmonary resection for metastases from gastric cancer, a handful of patients survive long after pulmonary metastasectomy. This study aimed to identify a good candidate for pulmonary resection for metastases from gastric cancer.

In totally endoscopic off-pump left atrial appendage (LAA) closure and surgical ablation, securing the operative field is sometimes difficult in some patients because of a narrow working space caused by an elevated diaphragm or ventricles. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a method that facilitates securing the operative field using an artificial pneumothorax.

Unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery (UAPA) is an uncommon congenital anomaly. Among the rarer conditions, UAPA with lung cancer has been previously reported in 13 cases; however, there remains controversy regarding the surgical approach and precautions. Herein, we present a case study of a 56-year-old female patient who was incidentally diagnosed with a nodule in the right lower lobe of the lung during a routine physical examination and subsequently found to have an absent right pulmonary artery upon preoperative evaluation. A wedge resection of the right lower lobe was performed as treatment. Postoperative pathology confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma (pT1N0M0). We provide a narrative review of existing literature on these patients and discuss optimal surgical management strategies.

This meta-analysis aimed to examine the prognosis of patients with acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease (AE-ILD) treated with lung transplantation compared to those with stable interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare, aggressive cancer originating from the intimal layer of the pulmonary artery (PA), often mistaken for pulmonary thromboembolism. This case report underscores the complex management of PAS and the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis and treatment. A 52-year-old woman with PAS was diagnosed using imaging and therapeutic tests to distinguish it from pulmonary embolism. Primary treatment included surgical resection of the pulmonary trunk, valve, and tumor, followed by reconstruction. Complete resection was impossible due to extensive endocardial infiltration in the right ventricle, precluding cardiac transplant. The patient underwent adjuvant radiotherapy; however, the disease recurred, and she died 3 years post-diagnosis. This case highlights the rarity of an extensive right ventricle invasion, the absence of clear PAS management guidelines, and the limited evidence on the effectiveness of adjuvant therapies. It concludes that multidisciplinary teams are vital for decision-making and stresses the need for further research to establish effective treatment protocols.

Lipid pneumonia is exceedingly rare, with only a few reported cases to date. A 46-year-old woman with a history of left breast cancer underwent a left-modified radical mastectomy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Despite no known exposure to lipids, she presented with chronic non-productive cough and general malaise. Follow-up chest computed tomography revealed progressive ground-glass opacities in the left lower lung, initially suspected to be lobar bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. Surgical intervention was performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, confirming the lesion as lipid pneumonia upon pathological examination, revealing the presence of foamy histiocytes.

Although the clinical outcomes of on-pump (ONCAB) and off-pump CABG (OPCAB) are well established, their metabolomic impacts remain underexplored. This study aims to compare the metabolic profiles of ONCAB and OPCAB to identify differential metabolites associated with clinical outcomes.

Mitral annular calcifications have been known to increase complexity during mitral valve replacement (MVR). Standard procedure requires decalcification followed by reconstruction of the mitral annulus prior to placing the prosthesis. While this is the ideal technique, it is not feasible in every patient due to the associated risks. The mere attempt at valve replacement without proper annular decalcification has been associated with a high incidence of periprosthetic leak which complicates the postoperative course and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. With the advances in transcatheter therapy, postoperative periprosthetic regurgitation can be managed with devices and primary transcatheter valve implantation could be alternative to standard valve replacement; however, these alternate strategies are not without its own limitations and drawbacks. In the current report, we present a novel strategy to be used in a select group of patients with severe but non-circumferential annular calcifications to prevent/minimize periprosthetic regurgitation during MVR. This involves placing a patch over the posteriorly located calcium bar, thus minimizing tension on the posterior suture line and contain any periprosthetic regurgitation if to develop. This modification has been performed in a total of nine cases with acceptable early results.

We aimed to elucidate the efficacy of conventional cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with lung cancers harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation.

This meta-analysis aimed to compare the prognosis of lung transplantation recipients based on donor age.

There is limited evidence concerning the computed tomography (CT) follow-up interval to detect recurrence and second primary cancers after surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of CT interval on survival after surgery.

Esaxerenone, a mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, attenuates global ischemia-induced myocardial damage and coronary endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to determine whether esaxerenone exerted cardioprotective effects against cardioplegic arrest in Wistar rat hearts.

Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) is defined as a hematoma that gradually expands over months to years. An 82-year-old female underwent proton radiotherapy for left upper lobe lung cancer 10 years previously. Two years after the therapy, a hematoma developed from the left 3rd to 5th dorsal rib fractures and gradually expanded, causing contraction of the left shoulder. Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed; however, the hematoma continued to expand with thrombocytopenia, and the platelet was decreased to 4.2 × 10/μL. Computed tomography showed a 17.2 × 14.0 × 10.0 cm mass between the left scapula and left dorsal ribs. The CEH of the thorax was completely excised with combined resection of the 3rd to 5th ribs, while the brachial plexus was preserved. Postoperatively, the platelet completely recovered and she could raise her left arm. A complete excision with surrounding organs preserved is the strategy used in the treatment of CEH of the thorax.

In this review, we summarize the modifications made in the Japanese Classification of Esophageal Cancer 12th edition, identify several issues, and discuss the prospects for the next 13th edition.

This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transfemoral (TF)-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in low-risk aortic stenosis (AS) patients.

Clinically, postoperative complications are occasionally observed in lung cancer patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The increased risk of postoperative complications in DM patients has been reported in other fields. This study aims to identify risk factors for severe postoperative complications in lung cancer patients with DM.

The underlying mechanism why segmentectomy has demonstrated the non-inferiority to lobectomy in several randomized trials remains unclear. Computed tomography (CT)-measured pulmonary artery (PA) enlargement reflects PA pressure and predicts the prognosis of certain respiratory diseases. We compared the preoperative and postoperative PA diameter to the ascending aorta diameter (PA/A) ratio, investigating its impact on right ventricular function in lung resection.