Train early and with deliberate practice: simple coronary surgery simulation platform results in fast increase in technical surgical skills in residents and students.

Objectives: The amount of intense and focused training with the specific goal to improve performance (i.e. deliberate practice) is a predictor of expert-level performance in multiple domains of psychomotor skill learning.

A new tool for an explantation strategy of HeartMate 3™ left ventricular assist device.

Although rare, recovery of cardiac function after mechanical support of the left ventricle is the most desirable therapeutic goal in the treatment of end-stage heart failure.Herein, we present a novel implantable device for explantation of the HeartMate 3™ left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in patients, following cardiac recovery, avoiding (re-) sternotomy.This article demonstrates the feasibility of applying this novel device, which fits into the sewing ring of the LVAD.

The influence of less invasive ventricular assist device implantation on renal function.

Background: End-stage heart failure is associated with severe after-effects such as heart valve insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias or end-organ dysfunctions. Renal failure or 'cardiorenal syndrome' is a critical end-organ disorder associated with advanced heart failure, which occurs due to low-output failure. Drug therapy or surgical interventions involving left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation may impede the progress of heart insufficiency and its after-effects including renal failure.

Left ventricular assist device exchange for the treatment of HeartMate II pump thrombosis.

Background: Pump thrombosis is the most severe and acute complication of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy and treatment remains challenging. Whilst lysis therapy is often not successful, the exchange of the occluded LVAD is currently the most applied therapeutic treatment for this event. With this study we examine the effects of minimal-invasive LVAD exchange on the rate re-thrombosis and outcomes as well as adverse events in the study group.

Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillators following Cardiac Surgery-A Single-Center Experience.

Background: A wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) can terminate ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardias via electrical shock and thus give transient protection from sudden cardiac death. We investigated its role after cardiac surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who were discharged with a WCD from cardiac surgery department.