Discussions about the most relevant topics in cardiothoracic surgery from CTSNet, the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network.
Episodes
Jan 22, 2026
Jan 22, 2026
44 min
This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Drs. Jan Vojacek, a cardiac surgeon in the department of cardiac surgery at University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, and president of the Czech Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, and Maral Ouzounian, cardiac surgeon and head of the division of cardiac surgery at the Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto, Canada, and president of the Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons, about the EACTS expert consensus statement on the Ross procedure in adult patients.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:21 JANS 1, ARISE III Stent Graft Enrollment
04:25 JANS 2, Mech vs Biopros Valves in Hemodialysis
07:37 JANS 3, Surgical Sealants After Pulm Resection
09:54 JANS 4, Constrictive Pericarditis Procedures
12:45 Video 1, VATS CO2 Insufflation Technique
14:03 Third Place, Ascending Aortic Stenting Repair-Bridge
15:05 Second Place, Mustard & En Bloc Rotation of Tracts
16:49 First Place, Supracardiac Anomalous Pulm Ven Return
19:43 Drs. Vojacek & Ouzounian, Ross Procedure
42:02 Upcoming Events
42:21 Instructional Video Competition
42:49 Career Center
They discussed the task force and process of getting this statement published, as well as important elements of the guidelines. Additionally, they addressed the significance of shared decision-making with patients, survival rates following the Ross procedure, and overall quality of life. They also compared the Ross procedure to mechanical and biological aortic valve replacements. They explored various surgical techniques related to the Ross procedure, including the native inclusion technique and the prosthetic inclusion technique, emphasizing the importance of technical details, patient selection, and intraoperative management. Furthermore, they discussed the Ross centers of excellence and how to start them.
Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on the ARISE III trial of gore ascending stent graft begins enrollment, mechanical vs bioprosthetic heart valves in hemodialysis patients, an individual patient data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the clinical efficacy of surgical sealants after pulmonary resection, and radical pericardiectomy and use of cardiopulmonary bypass for constrictive pericarditis.
In addition, Joel explores a new approach for thymic pathologies, robotic-assisted repair of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous return, and combined Mustard and en bloc rotation of the outflow tracts. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.
JANS Items Mentioned
1.) ARISE III Trial of Gore Ascending Stent Graft Begins Enrollment
2.) Mechanical Versus Bioprosthetic Heart Valves in Hemodialysis Patients
4.) Radical Pericardiectomy and Use of Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Constrictive Pericarditis
CTSNet Content Mentioned
1.) A New Approach for Thymic Pathologies: VATS CO₂ Insufflation Technique
2.) Robotic-Assisted Repair of Supracardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return
3.) Combined Mustard and En Bloc Rotation of the Outflow Tracts
Other Items Mentioned
1.) EACTS Expert Consensus Statement on the Ross Procedure in Adult Patients
2.) Winners of the 2025 CTSNet Resident Video Competition
3.) Instructional Video Competition
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.
Jan 21, 2026
Jan 21, 2026
25 min
In this episode of The Cardiac Recovery Room, moderator Dr. Daniel Engelman, Medical Director of the Cardiac Surgical Critical Care & Inpatient Services at Baystate Health, Professor of Surgery at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School—Baystate, and President of the ERAS Cardiac Society, spoke with Drs. Kevin Lobdell, Professor and the Director of Regional Cardiovascular and Thoracic Quality, Education, and Research at Atrium Health; Rawn Salenger, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center; Marjan Jahangiri, Professor of Cardiac Surgery at St. George's Hospital, University of London; and Serdar Gunaydin, Head of Department at the University of Health Sciences in Turkey, about the attitudes toward and realities of ERAS across the globe.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:19 ICU & Early Extubation
05:07 Acceptance of ERAS Protocols
09:38 Lead Staff Advocate for ERAS
12:59 Sternotomy Perception
14:43 QoL Data Collection
17:09 Rehabilitation
19:04 Discharged Patients & Monitoring
They discussed the intensive care unit and early extubation, highlighting differences between countries. They also covered the acceptance of the ERAS protocol and the regions that are more hesitant to implement it, as well as its application in cardiac surgery specifically. Additionally, they explored who leads the charge within the team responsible for implementing ERAS and addressed perceptions regarding sternotomy. The conversation also included improving quality of life, reducing complications, and patient-reported outcomes measures, emphasizing the importance of shared decision-making. Furthermore, they discussed rehabilitation, discharging patients, and remote monitoring.
The Cardiac Recovery Room is the place to hear the conversations colleagues are having after the meetings. Each month, a new episode will be released featuring a leadership panel from the ERAS Cardiac Society.
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.
Jan 15, 2026
Jan 15, 2026
46 min
This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Michael Lanuti, Director of Thoracic Oncology in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, and thoracic surgeon and CTSNet Senior Editor Leanne Ashrafian about Dr. Lanuti’s thoughts on the JCOG0802 trial and how he believes the wrong parameters were measured.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:52 JANS 1, ESTS Guidelines
05:09 JANS 2, Resident-Led Operating
06:57 JANS 3, Fasting Impact on Pulm Aspiration
10:02 JANS 4, What Does a Dr Look Like
12:00 Video 1, Robotic Resection & Reconstruction
13:31 Video 2, Neonatal Off-Pump Shunt DORV
15:11 Video 3, Min Inv Bi-IMA OPCAB
16:12 Dr. Lanuti, JCOG0802 Results
44:58 Upcoming Events
45:38 Instructional Video Competition
45:49 Career Center
They discussed local recurrence rates, pulmonary function, and the subtypes of adenocarcinoma. Additionally, they explored how to apply these results to future patients, central and peripheral lesions, and other randomized trials. They also covered the five-year results of the JCOG0802 trial and future studies and the implications for future studies, focusing on the parameters that should be considered. Furthermore, they addressed pulmonary function tests and wedge resection.
Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on European Respiratory Society and European Society of Thoracic Surgeons clinical practice guideline on fitness for curative intent treatment of lung cancer, a 10-year propensity-matched analysis on the impact of resident-led operating on outcomes in adult cardiac surgery, a systematic review and meta-analysis on no association between preprocedural fasting and witnessed pulmonary aspiration, and asking AI what a doctor looks like.
In addition, Joel explores robotic anterolateral approach for left secondary carinal tumor resection and reconstruction, neonatal Blalock-Taussig-Thomas shunt for double outlet right ventricle with RVOTO, and minimally invasive Bi-IMA OPCAB via left thoracotomy. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.
JANS Items Mentioned
4.) What Does a Doctor Look Like? Asking AI
CTSNet Content Mentioned
1.) Robotic Anterolateral Approach for Left Secondary Carinal Tumor Resection and Reconstruction
2.) Neonatal Off-Pump Blalock-Taussig-Thomas Shunt for Double Outlet Right Ventricle With RVOTO
3.) Minimally Invasive Bi-IMA OPCAB Via Left Thoracotomy
Other Items Mentioned
1.) Instructional Video Competition
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.
Jan 8, 2026
Jan 8, 2026
46 min
This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Gavin Wright, thoracic surgeon and Director of Surgical Oncology at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Australia, and thoracic surgeon and CTSNet Senior Editor Leanne Ashrafian about Dr. Wright’s thoughts on the JCOG0802 trial and why he prefers segmentectomy over lobectomy.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:59 JANS 1, Chest Tube Removal Review
05:33 JANS 2, Tricuspid Ann Remodeling
07:53 JANS 3, The Cost of Gender in MV Surgery
09:42 JANS 4, Endo Balloon vs Clamping
11:53 AVR & LIMA to LAD via Bi Minithorac
13:13 Surgical Reimplant ARCAPA
14:14 Editors Picks 2025
20:41 Gavin Wright, Segmentectomy vs Lob
44:33 Upcoming Events
45:56 Instructional Video Competition
46:12 Career Center
46:35 Closing
They discussed the findings of the JCOG0802 trial and compared it to the CALGB 140503 trial. They also covered the use of FEV1 as an assessment tool, the significance of p-values, local recurrence, and Type I errors. Additionally, they reviewed The Lancet paper addressing segmentectomy vs lobectomy. Furthermore, they explored potential future trials, including the debate over wedge resection vs segmentectomy.
Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on a systematic review and meta-analysis on chest tube removal after cardiac surgery in first vs. second postoperative day, tricuspid annular remodeling in tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy with functional tricuspid regurgitation, a propensity-score matched analysis on the silent cost of gender in mitral valve surgery, and endo-aortic balloon occlusion versus transthoracic clamping in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
In addition, Joel explores endoscopic AVR and LIMA to LAD via bilateral minithoracotomy, surgical reimplantation of the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA), and the 2025 CTSNet Editors' Picks. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.
JANS Items Mentioned
3.) The Silent Cost of Gender in Mitral Valve Surgery: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis
CTSNet Content Mentioned
1.) Endoscopic AVR and LIMA to LAD Via Bilateral Minithoracotomy
3.) CTSNet Summarized—Editors’ Picks 2025
Other Items Mentioned
1.) Instructional Video Competition
2.) 2025 CTSNet Recruitment Guide
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.
Jan 2, 2026
Jan 2, 2026
30 min
This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning reflects on the most popular content of 2025 on CTSNet.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:15 Top Interview
03:52 Top Webinar
05:23 Top Clinical Video
06:24 Top JANS Article
07:01 Top Video Series
08:02 Top Contributor
08:59 Top Cardiac Procedures
12:14 Top Podcasts
17:02 JANS 1, Doctor Story
21:28 JANS 2, Ex Vivo Heart Perfusion
22:41 JANS 3, PCI vs CABG
24:04 JANS 4, NEOpredict-Lung
25:29 2026 Plans
He discusses the top interview, the most popular webinar, and reveals the leading CTSNet contributor of the year. He also highlights the most-read JANS article, the most viewed CTSNet series, the top clinical videos in cardiac surgery, and the leading podcast episodes of 2025 from both The Beat and The Atrium. Additionally, he shares key statistics about CTSNet, including website viewership, YouTube subscribers, and listener demographics.
Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on if ex vivo heart perfusion offsets ischemic penalties with six-hour or greater preservation in adult donation after brain death heart transplantation, an impactful article titled “This Man Saved My Life—I Live by His Example,” the long-term outcomes for women with chronic coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention vs coronary artery bypass grafting, and the long-term outcomes of preoperative nivolumab with or without relatlimab in patients with resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NEOpredict-Lung).
In addition, Joel outlines CTSNet’s goals and initiatives to look forward to in 2026. Before closing, he highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.
JANS Items Mentioned
2.) This Man Saved My Life—I Live by His Example
CTSNet Content Mentioned
1.) CTSNet Summarized—Most Popular Content of 2025
2.) CTSNet Summarized—Most Popular Podcast Episodes of 2025
3.) CTSNet Summarized—Top Cardiac Procedure Videos of 2025
Other Items Mentioned
1.) All CTSNet Summarized Content
2.) 2025 CTSNet Recruitment Guide
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.
Dec 26, 2025
Dec 26, 2025
24 min
This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning discusses how to get involved with Pace4Life, a charity he supports that provides reconditioned pacemakers to Ghana. He also previews upcoming podcast episodes and guests, including discussions on the Ross procedure guidelines and more interviews related to the JCOG0802 trial.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:31 JANS 1, Ethiopian Surgeon
07:08 JANS 2, RCA to Cor Sinus Fistula
09:30 JANS 3, Y-Incision Hemodynamics
12:38 JANS 4, Endograft Infection
15:06 Instructional Video Competition
16:01 Career Center
16:40 Video 1, Complications Podcast
19:34 Video 2, Totally Endoscopic Case
21:23 Video 3, Post-Infarction VSD Repair
23:15 Closing, Upcoming Events
Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on a heart surgeon who saved another surgeon’s life as a teen and how they now perform surgeries together, right coronary artery to coronary sinus fistula, a surgical aortic valve replacement with Y-incision aortic annular enlargement provided better hemodynamics than transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and management of endograft infection after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.
In addition, Joel explores totally endoscopic mitral and tricuspid valve repair, ASD with APVR repair, and LAA occlusion, as well as the repair of a post-infarction VSD, and an episode of The Atrium podcast featuring host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaking with Dr. Samer Nashef about complications in cardiothoracic surgery. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.
JANS Items Mentioned
1.) A Heart Surgeon Saved His Life as a Teen. Now They Perform Surgeries Together.
2.) Right Coronary Artery to Coronary Sinus Fistula: A Rare Problem With an Elegant Solution
4.) Management of Endograft Infection After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
CTSNet Content Mentioned
2.) Totally Endoscopic Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Repair, ASD With APVR Repair, and LAA Occlusion
3.) Repair of a Post-Infarction VSD
Other Items Mentioned
3.) Instructional Video Competition
4.) 2025 CTSNet Recruitment Guide
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.
Dec 18, 2025
Dec 18, 2025
48 min
This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Dr. Nasser Altorki, thoracic surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, and thoracic surgeon and CTSNet Senior Editor Leanne Ashrafian about the 10-year results from the JCOG0802 trial.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:56 JANS 1, Re-Repair vs Replacement
05:07 JANS 2, Mini Mitral Multicentre RCT
07:01 JANS 3, PERSEVERE Study
08:54 JANS 4, Parietal Pleurectomy vs Pleural Abrasion
11:38 Career Center
12:33 Video 1, Endoscopic Post-Infarction VSD Repair
14:11 Video 2, 3D Dor Procedure & MVR Huge LV Aneurysm
15:19 Video 3, Non-Cardioplegic Myo Protection Robotic
17:16 Nasser Altorki Interview, JCOG
45:16 Upcoming Events
47:20 Closing
They discuss key aspects of the trial, including the noninferiority primary endpoint. Dr. Altorki shares his overall thoughts on the trial, and they also examine topics such as pulmonary function, lobar vs sublobar resection, and segmentectomy vs wedge resection. Additionally, they explore secondary primary lung cancer, the importance of thoracic surgeons presenting data to patients, and best practices for segmentectomy to ensure patient safety. They also examine good wedge resection vs bad wedge resection, planning for segmentectomy, and the future of lobectomy and segmentectomy.
Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on the outcomes of re-repair vs replacement after failed primary mitral regurgitation repair, minimally invasive thoracoscopically-guided right minithoracotomy vs conventional sternotomy for mitral valve repair, one-year results of novel aortic arch hybrid prosthesis for repair of acute DeBakey Type I dissection with malperfusion, and a meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of parietal pleurectomy vs pleural abrasion in treating spontaneous pneumothorax.
In addition, Joel explores endoscopic post-infarction VSD repair, 3D video-assisted endoscopic Dor procedure and MVR for post-infarction huge LV aneurysm, and non-cardioplegic myocardial protection for robotic mitral surgery. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.
JANS Items Mentioned
CTSNet Content Mentioned
1.) Endoscopic Post-Infarction VSD Repair
3.) Non-Cardioplegic Myocardial Protection for Robotic Mitral Surgery
Other Items Mentioned
1.) Instructional Video Competition
2.) 2025 Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club Video Competition
3.) 2025 CTSNet Recruitment Guide
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.
Dec 17, 2025
Dec 17, 2025
22 min
In this episode of The Cardiac Recovery Room, moderator Vicki Morton, Director of Clinical and Quality Outcomes at Providence Anesthesiology Associates in North Carolina, USA, spoke with Alexander Gregory, a cardiovascular anesthesiologist and assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, and the Libin Cardiovascular Institute at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada, and Dr. V. Seenu Reddy, a cardiothoracic surgeon at HCA’s TriStar Cardiovascular Surgery in Nashville, Tennesee, USA, about the 10 things they hate about Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS).
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:38 Overcomplication
05:29 Simple Barriers
08:54 Change Obstructionists
10:52 Status Quo
12:49 Messing with Protocol
14:21 Giving Up on Protocol
16:48 Need for Patient-Reported Outcomes
19:18 Struggle Into Cardiac Subspecialty
21:30 Takeaways
The goal of this discussion was to identify specific challenges and propose potential solutions. They emphasize the importance of having two leaders—a champion and a co-champion—to effectively guide ERAS initiatives. Additionally, they discuss creating standing orders and issues related to microbarriers and resistance to change. They also highlight the need for customization of protocols, acknowledging the differences between surgeons who utilize ERAS and those who do not, as well as the tendency to maintain the status quo. Patient perspectives are another key focus, with a call to implement changes that enhance tracking and monitoring of patient outcomes. Furthermore, they explore the role of technology designed for patients, as well as applying ERAS principles to surgeries that fall “outside of the box.”
The Cardiac Recovery Room is the place to hear the conversations colleagues are having after the meetings. Each month, a new episode will be released featuring a leadership panel from the ERAS Cardiac Society.
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.
Dec 12, 2025
Dec 12, 2025
42 min
In this episode of The Atrium, host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaks with Dr. Samer Nashef, a consultant cardiac surgeon at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, about complications in cardiothoracic surgery.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:34 Dr. Nashef Background
04:06 Results Monitoring
08:55 Common Complications
14:40 Mentality
19:18 Identifying Room for Improvement
21:25 Pattern of Response
22:47 Long-Term Complications
26:08 Mortality/Morbidity Meetings
28:28 Perfection, Balance
30:33 Coping w Major Complications
35:06 Learning Your Psyche
35:51 Trainee-Consultant Responsibility
37:51 Resilience
39:19 Key Takeaways
41:07 Training Advice
They delve into early complications that trainees experience, approaches to managing acute complications, and nonacute and postoperative complications. They also highlight learning from complications, coping strategies, and the emotional impact involved in cardiothoracic surgery. Additionally, they discuss the concepts of growth, resilience, and strength in cardiothoracic surgery. Furthermore, Dr. Nashef provides advice to trainees currently navigating difficult cases, and general guidance for those in training.
The Atrium is a monthly podcast presenting clinical and career-focused topics for residents and early career professionals across all cardiothoracic surgery subspecialties. Be sure to watch for next month’s episode!
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.
Dec 11, 2025
Dec 11, 2025
36 min
This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Laurens Ceulemans, thoracic surgeon at the University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium, about lung volume reduction.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:41 Right to Repair, Robotics Re-Use
04:53 REPEAT Trial
06:30 JANS 1, PCI After CABG Randomized Trial
08:01 JANS 2, No-Touch vs Conventional Saph Veins
11:04 JANS 3, Sir Terence English & Keyvyn Mohagissi
12:09 CTSNet Recruitment Guide
12:54 Video 1, JCOG0802 Bombshell & Webinar
16:33 Video 2, Endoscopic Cardiac Foreign Body Extraction
17:56 Video 3, First Europe Robotic AVR Perceval Valve
18:42 Video 4, Bilateral VATS Sympathectomy
20:10 Laurens Ceulemans Interview
34:15 Upcoming Events
34:48 Closing
They highlighted key takeaways from the procedure and addressed the issue of air leaks. They also discussed bilateral lung volume reduction and emphasized the importance of a team approach. Additionally, they focused on why surgeons should be selecting the healthiest patients for this operation rather than the most critically ill, as well as the future of lung volume reduction.
Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on a multicenter, randomized trial on the PCI of native coronary artery vs saphenous vein graft after prior bypass surgery, a meta-analysis of randomized trials on the outcomes of no-touch vs conventionally harvested saphenous veins for coronary artery bypass surgery, and the death of transplant pioneer Sir Terence English at 93.
In addition, Joel explores bombshell 10-year JCOG0802 results showing lobectomy is superior to segmentectomy for lung cancer, endoscopic extraction of a cardiac foreign body, the first robotic aortic valve replacement in Europe using a Perceval valve, and bilateral VATS sympathectomy for ventricular tachycardia electrical storm. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.
JANS Items Mentioned
3.) Transplant Pioneer Sir Terence English Dies at 93
CTSNet Content Mentioned
1.) Bombshell 10-Year JCOG0802 Results Show Lobectomy Is Superior to Segmentectomy for Lung Cancer
2.) Military Heart Trauma: Endoscopic Extraction of a Cardiac Foreign Body
3.) First Robotic Aortic Valve Replacement in Europe Using a Perceval Valve
4.) Bilateral VATS Sympathectomy for Ventricular Tachycardia Electrical Storm
Other Items Mentioned
2.) 2025 Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club Video Competition
3.) 2025 CTSNet Recruitment Guide
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.