Stop trivializing MD workforce problems.
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Canada↗
Biomedical subjects
Hugh E Scully
Publications and source records attributed to Hugh E Scully.
Reoperative mitral valve replacement: importance of preservation of the subvalvular apparatus.
BACKGROUND: Preservation of the subvalvular apparatus has been demonstrated to be beneficial during first-time mitral valve replacement (MVR), but has not been fully examined in reoperative (redo) MVR. The purpose of this study was to analyze outcomes in a large cohort of redo MVR patients, focusing on the effect of subvalvular preservation on mortality. METHODS: We undertook a review of prospectively gathered data on patients undergoing MVR, with or without concomitant cardiac procedures, at our institution from 1990 to 1999. Predictors of mortality were determined by stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1,521 consecutive MVR patients were analyzed, of which, 513 (34%) had undergone one or more previous MV procedures. In-hospital mortality occurred in 6.9% of first-time MVR patients versus 9.0% in redo patients (p = 0.13). The number of prior MV operations ranged from one to five in redo MVR patients, with 115 patients (22% of redos) having two or more. In redo MVR patients, preservation of the native posterior subvalvular apparatus was performed in 103 patients (21%), whereas native anterior and posterior preservation was performed in 31 patients (6%). Gore-Tex neochordal construction was performed in 135 redo MVR patients (26%). Perioperative mortality occurred in 3.6% of redo MVR patients with a preserved subvalvular apparatus (native tissue and/or Gore-Tex reconstruction) versus 13.3% of redo patients without preservation (p < 0.001). Independent predictors of mortality in redo MVR patients were (in decreasing order of magnitude) failure to preserve the subvalvular apparatus, preoperative renal failure, previous stroke/transient ischemic attack, left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction <40%), and urgent timing. CONCLUSIONS: Redo MVR can be performed with an acceptable risk of mortality. Although preservation of the subvalvular apparatus may increase operative complexity, we recommend subvalvular preservation in order to decrease the risk of early mortality.
Adult↗
We're all right Jack?
"Planning for Canada's Health Workforce: Looking Back, Looking Forward" is a readable overview that presents a pastiche of data collected by a number of organizations. The paper deals with a policy area of immense importance to the future sustainability of Canada's health system and therefore warrants attention. In the remarks that follow, we would like to amplify the following points: There is a major disconnect between the tenor of the invited essay and the profound sense of urgency in addressing the emerging shortages of health human resources (HHR) that are evident both nationally and internationally. There has been, in fact, very little progress in the comprehensive measurement of the health workforce since the 1964 Hall report. Perhaps most important, there is an absolute need to involve the practising community more in the collection and analysis of health information.
Canada↗
Prosthetic heart valves with silver-coated sewing cuff fabric: early morphological features in two patients.
BACKGROUND: The current generation of prosthetic heart valves are excellent examples of engineering that work well, for long periods of time. Unfortunately, host-related problems and consequent valve failure continue to occur, including infective endocarditis. St Jude Medical Inc introduced a new model of mechanical heart valve prosthesis with silver-treated fabric to try to reduce the incidence of infective endocarditis. Two cases of failure of this prosthesis, with a clinical diagnosis of infective endocarditis, are presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 176 St Jude Medical Silzone-coated prostheses implanted, two were explanted in the first half of 1998. The clinical status of the patients was reviewed, and a detailed gross, histological and stereomicroscopic examination of the prosthetic valves was undertaken. RESULTS: Clinically, both patients developed symptoms of infective endocarditis. The first patient developed features of a stroke and two months later underwent a second valve replacement. The prosthesis showed pannus and thrombus. A paravalvular leak was revealed in the second patient, who underwent a second valve replacement six months after the initial surgery. Blood and tissue cultures were negative in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: The new model St Jude Medical Silzone mechanical heart valve prosthesis, designed to prevent infective endocarditis, was associated with clinical features of endocarditis in these two cases. Significant pannus and thrombus were seen on both prostheses, which likely led to emboli and stroke in the first case. The cause of the paravalvular abscess in the second case has not yet been established. The early failure of these prostheses suggests that patients with this prosthesis be followed up carefully.
Endocarditis, Bacterial↗