This book on cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) features three sections, Fundamental Science, Pre-Clinical and Translational Science, and Clinical Applications. In the Fundamental Science section, we will cover the spectrum of basic ECM science from ECM's role in development, biomechanical properties, cardiac ECM influence of cardiomyocyte biology, pathophysiology of ECM in heart disease, and ECM in tissue engineering. Section two, Preclinical and Translational Science, will discuss cardiac ECM technologies in the clinical pipeline including approaches to ECM as a therapeutic, animal models of cardiac research, tracking and imaging methods of cardiac ECM, and cGMP manufacturing and regulatory considerations for ECM based therapeutics. Finally, the third section, Clinical Applications, will highlight the clinical experience around cardiac ECM including therapeutic strategies targeting scar tissue in the heart, Clinical trial design and regulatory considerations, current human clinical trials in cardiovascular medicine and the role of pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the commercialization of ECM technologies for cardiovascular indications. This book provides a comprehensive review for basic and translational researchers as well as clinical practitioners and those involved in commercialization, regulatory and entrepreneurial activities.

Interstitial lung diseases are a diverse group of acute and chronic pulmonary disorders characterized by a variable amount of inflammation and/or fibrosis. In Interstitial Lung Disease: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment, the authors explore the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases, as well as develop new diagnostic modalities and identify novel therapeutic targets. This compilation goes on to discuss acute infiltrative lung disease, a heterogeneous group of lung disorders characterized by diffuse parenchymal lung involvement. This group of infiltrative lung diseases may result in five histopathological presentations: diffuse alveolar damage, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, immunoallergic pneumonia, acute organizing pneumonia and acute eosinophilic pneumonia. High-resolution computed tomography is proposed as a more sensitive and accurate method in diagnosing interstitial lung disease through specific patterns which are highly suggestive of a subtype of interstitial pneumonia. High-resolution computed tomography is also proposed for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease which involves the lungs in more than 90% of cases. It is one of the leading causes of interstitial involvement in lung diseases, and its diagnosis is based on compatible clinical, biological, imaging and anatomopathological features. The closing chapter aims to identify diagnostic procedures for the early diagnosis of cardio-pulmonary complications, delineate a proper methodology to monitor complications, and define therapeutic guidelines.

This issue of Thoracic Surgery Clinics of North America, guest edited by Dr. Brian E. Louie, is devoted to Innovations in the Management of Foregut Disease. Dr. Louie has assembled expert authors to review the following topics: Endoscopic approaches to cricopharyngeal myotomy and pyloromyotomy; Options for the challenging hiatus during paraesophageal hernia repair; Endoluminal therapies for esophageal perforations and leaks; Extraluminal approaches to GERD; Advanced endoluminal technologies for Barrett's esophagus - focus on OCT and CLE; Mucosal ablation techniques for Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal cancer; Best practices for training, education and introduction of new techniques for foregut disease management into clinical practice; Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for Achalasia; Endoscopic resection of tumors of the esophagus; The role of the functional probe in esophageal disease; Enhance the detection of Barrett's esophagus; Endoluminal approaches to GERD; The role of functional fluorescence imaging during esophagectomy; and more!

This issue of Thoracic Surgery Clinics of North America, guest edited by Drs. Jean Deslauriers, Farid Shamji, and Bill Nelems, is the second of two devoted to Fundamentals of Airway Surgery. The editors have assembled expert authors to review the following topics: From Open to Bedside Percutaneous Tracheostomy; Anterior Mediastinal Tracheostomy: Past, Present, and Future; Extended Sleeve Resections; Bronchoplasties at the Segmental Level; Challenges of Carinal Resection and Reconstruction; Carinal Pneumonectomy; Management of Post-Pneumonectomy Broncho-Pleural Fistula: From Thoracoplasty to Trans-Sternal Closure; Tracheal Transplantation: State of the Art and Key Role of Blood Supply in its Success; Autologous Tracheal Replacement; Pathophysiology and Predictors of Bronchial Complications After Lung Transplantation; Management of Bronchial Complications After Lung Transplantation and Late Sequelae; Experiences with Prosthetic Airway Replacement: From the Use of Marlex Meshes to Tissue Engineering; Management of Acquired Benign Tracheo-Esophageal Fistulas; Strategies in the Treatment of Malignant Tracheoesophageal Fistulas; Recognition and Management of Life-Threatening Tracheo-Vascular Fistulae and How to Prevent Them; Principles of Urgent Management of Acute Airway Obstruction; Tracheo-Bronchial Injuries Secondary to Blunt Chest Trauma; Cricothyroid Approach for Emergency Access to the Airway; Use of Silicone Tubes in the Management of Complex Airway Problems; Management of the Airway after Tracheal Reconstruction; Importance of a Team Effort in the Success of Airway Surgery; and more!

This book on cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) features three sections, Fundamental Science, Pre-Clinical and Translational Science, and Clinical Applications. In the Fundamental Science section, we will cover the spectrum of basic ECM science from ECM's role in development, biomechanical properties, cardiac ECM influence of cardiomyocyte biology, pathophysiology of ECM in heart disease, and ECM in tissue engineering. Section two, Preclinical and Translational Science, will discuss cardiac ECM technologies in the clinical pipeline including approaches to ECM as a therapeutic, animal models of cardiac research, tracking and imaging methods of cardiac ECM, and cGMP manufacturing and regulatory considerations for ECM based therapeutics. Finally, the third section, Clinical Applications, will highlight the clinical experience around cardiac ECM including therapeutic strategies targeting scar tissue in the heart, Clinical trial design and regulatory considerations, current human clinical trials in cardiovascular medicine and the role of pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the commercialization of ECM technologies for cardiovascular indications. This book provides a comprehensive review for basic and translational researchers as well as clinical practitioners and those involved in commercialization, regulatory and entrepreneurial activities.

Robotic surgery is currently devoid of adequate didactic material necessary to facilitate daily application in cardiothoracic surgical practice. This book represents the definitive atlas that will lead both the practicing and new cardiothoracic surgeons in these methods. It will define the operative pathway of each procedure, from beginning to end, for surgeons who wish to be a complete robotic cardiac surgeon and include hints and procedural pitfalls derived from the experiences of chapter contributors. The book will be illustrated with high quality illustrations and color photographs from surgical operations where appropriate. Leading surgeons have contributed to the book and provided sample illustrations for their respective chapters. Anesthetic and cardiopulmonary support preparation for each operation will be included and selected references will be provided to emphasize evidence-based outcomes.

Fundamentals of Congenital Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery is a first of its kind, fully-illustrated guide that is solely dedicated to the most diffused congenital minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures. It provides detailed, step-by-step descriptions of surgical maneuvers to underline each aspect of the procedures along with full color drawings and operative pictures to enhance understanding. Each chapter fully describes the preoperative setting, the needed materials and the required technical skills that make specific congenital heart defects amenable to minimally invasive surgical treatment. This is the perfect go-to reference for pediatric and congenital cardiac surgeons, and is also a must-have guide for residents in cardiac surgery who are looking to review the technical aspects and outcomes of utilizing a minimally invasive approach for cardiac surgery.

The field of structural heart disease interventions is experiencing a stage of rapid growth with the development of percutaneous mitral valve repair therapies and percutaneous aortic valve replacement therapies. The MitraClip represents a new therapeutic frontier for mitral regurgitation and is expected to revolutionize repair of the mitral valve. For the first time in the world, physicians now have the capability to repair the mitral valve percutaneously without the need for a sternotomy or cardiopulmonary bypass. However, as with all new endeavors, there is a steep learning curve, not just for the individual operator but also for the entire field. The MitraClip technology and technique is technically complex and is guided by echocardiography and fluoroscopy. It is an imaging intensive procedure that requires deep 3-dimensional understanding of normal and abnormal cardiac anatomy. Not all mitral regurgitation cases are suitable and not all cases are straightforward. It is therefore crucially important for physicians in this specialty to communicate their experience, successes, failures and complications with each other. Written by the leaders in this breakthrough field, the Atlas of Percutaneous Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair is the first of its kind for the new percutaneous MitraClip procedure. The Editors have designed the book to be a comprehensive reference manual and to provide cardiologists with true examples of basic and complex cases of percutaneous mitral valve repair using the technology. In addition, this book provides step-by-step guides to the procedure and complications as well as steps to recover from them are discussed. The Atlas is anticipated to be a very valuable reference for both novice and experienced interventional cardiologists and echocardiologists. As percutaneous valve repair becomes more common it will also be of great interest to general cardiologists and surgeons.

There are growing questions regarding the safety, quality, risk management, and costs of PCC teams, their training and preparedness, and their implications on the welfare of patients and families. This innovative book, authored by an international authorship, will highlight the best practices in improving survival while paving a roadmap for the expected changes in the next 10 years as healthcare undergoes major transformation and reform. An invited group of experts in the field will participate in this project to provide the timeliest and informative approaches to how to deal with this global health challenge. The book will be indispensable to all who treat pediatric cardiac disease and will provide important information about managing the risk of patients with pediatric and congenital cardiac disease in the three domains of: the analysis of outcomes, the improvement of quality, and the safety of patients.

This book is a fully updated and revised second edition of a highly successful text in which a new concept of knowledge mining, based on explication and transfer of interventional knowledge of experts, has been implemented. The dedicated training program that is set out will serve the needs of all interventional operators, whether cardiologists, vascular surgeons, vascular specialists, or radiologists, enabling them to achieve a consistent expert level across the entire broad spectrum of catheter-based interventions. Operator skills - and in particular decision-making and strategic skills - are the most critical factors for the outcome of catheter-based cardiovascular interventions. Currently, such skills are commonly developed by the empirical trial and error method only. The explicit teaching, training, and learning approach adopted in this book permits the rapid transfer of interventional knowledge and enables individual operators to negotiate steep learning curves and acquire complex skills in a highly efficient manner. It will thereby offer invaluable assistance in meeting successfully the challenges of modern cardiovascular care.

This thesis addresses computation fluid dynamics modelling of aortic dissection (AD), in order to generate in silico diagnostic information and assess 'virtual surgery' outcomes. The thesis introduces several important advances in the modelling of aortic dissection and lays essential groundwork for further development of this technology. The work thesis represents a unique and major step forward in our understanding of AD using a patient-specific, systematic and coherent simulation approach, and is currently the most advanced work available on AD.

This issue of Thoracic Surgery Clinics, guest edited by Dr. Henning A. Gaissert, is devoted to The Chest Wall. Dr. Gaissert has assembled expert authors to review the following topics: Acute Infections of the Chest Wall; Chronic Infections of the Chest Wall; Thoracoplasty for TB in the 21st Century; Chest Wall Trauma: Conservative Management and Surgical Reconstruction; Minimally Invasive Repair of the Pectus Excavatum/Carinatum; Surgical Implications of the Straight Back Syndrome; Management of Primary Soft Tissue Tumors of the Chest Wall; Management of Lung Cancer Invading the Superior Sulcus; Management of Breast Cancer Invading the Chest Wall; Chest Wall Reconstruction without Prosthetic Material; Surgical Management of the Radiated Chest Wall and its Complications; Surgical Management of Primary Tumors of the Osseous Chest Wall; Surgical Management of Lung Cancer Involving the Chest Wall; Prosthetic Reconstruction of the Chest Wall, and more!

This book provides an up-to-date review of current management techniques for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. It addresses all of the latest issues that have been raised by the discovery of oncogenic drivers and the improvement of diagnosis and therapeutic methods, including new radiotherapy techniques and anticancer strategies like immunotherapy. New strategies for patients with molecular alterations and the management of particular types of cases are also highlighted. Written by recognized experts in their field, the book represents a unique and valuable resource in the field of lung cancer, both for those currently in training and for those already in clinical or research practice.

This book covers the fundamentals of tissue engineering for the heart, starting with the basics of organ generation, sensors in tissue and organ fabrication, and the current state-of-the-art in stem cell engineering for the heart. With this foundation in place, the remaining chapters focus on specific aspects of the cardiovascular system, starting with heart muscle, then biological pumps, followed by bioartificial ventricles, and finally, bioartificial hearts. Throughout the course of this book, twenty-two in-depth case studies are presented. Each case study has been selected to illustrate specific design schemes for tissue and organ fabrication. This is an ideal book for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students studying tissue engineering and organ regeneration, especially those focused on cardiac regeneration. This book also: Includes twenty-two case studies that illustrate specific design schemes for engineering the heart Provides open-ended discussion questions at the end of each chapter as well as a detailed reference list to encourage further research and reading Covers the basics of organ fabrication as well as sensor technology and genetic engineering as they relate to tissue and organ fabrication

Advances in surgical technique and broadening indications for complex gastrointestinal procedures, surgical management of thoracic, hepato-pancreato-biliary, and colorectal diseases continues to evolve, but morbidity continues to be a persistent problem. This book provides a comprehensive, state-of-the art, definitive reference for the diagnosis and management of difficult-to-manage complications following advanced gastrointestinal surgery. All chapters are written by experts in their field and include the most up-to-date clinical information from national and world leaders in their respective discipline. The text provides a practical, clinically useful guide that reviews risk factors for these complications and offers key information on how to avoid potentially high morbidity events in the peri-operative period. It also discusses the management of these problems when they do occur. With its helpful guidelines and "tricks of the trade" to avoid potential complications, this book is essential to all medical professions treating such patients. Gastrointestinal Surgery: Management of Complex Perioperative Complications is of great value and utility for general surgeons, thoracic surgeons, upper gastrointestinal surgeons, colorectal surgeons, hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeons, surgical oncology fellows, thoracic surgery fellows and upper level residents in general surgery.

This book describes the current applications of the robotic system in general surgery, focusing on the technical aspects of the procedures most commonly performed by this means. It provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in robotic surgery and presents the most recently available evidence as documented in the literature. The opening chapters review robotic platforms, discuss the general advantages, limitations, and strategies of robotic surgery, and identify challenges and critical elements when setting up a robotic program. The full range of applications of the robotic system is then covered, encompassing thoracic, esophageal, gastric, hepatobiliopancreatic, splenic, colorectal, endocrine, and transplantation surgery. Detailed attention is also paid to innovative applications and future trends in the robotic platform, with inclusion of a special chapter on fluorescence imaging during robotic procedures. The book closes by considering aspects related to credentialing and privileging, such as mentoring, proctoring, and teaching modules for residents and fellows. Against the background of increasing acceptance of the robotic surgery system across the globe, this book will be invaluable for all general surgeons. There is no doubt that within general surgery the system will continue to flourish on account of its undoubted technical advantages, which minimize most of the intrinsic shortcomings of laparoscopy.

This issue of the Interventional Cardiology Clinics, edited by Dr. Sahil Parikh, is entitled "Coronary and Endovascular Stents" and covers a wide array of topics. Subjects covered include, but are not limited to, a historical review of stent development; the rationale for stenting; principles of stent design; the role of stent composition and surface modification; endovascular drug delivery and drug elution systems; design and clinical considerations for BRS and endovascular stent grafts; the pathology of endovascular stents, and stent failures.

This book focuses on how ventricular assist devices (VADs) can help provide destination therapy for patients with terminal heart failure, one of the most serious diseases in the world today because of the tremendous number of patients, the high mortality rate, and the cost of care. One means of providing cardiological support for patients suffering from heart failure is with VADs, and more than 10,000 patients worldwide have now been implanted with these devices. Half of them already have lived more than one year, and 2,000 patients more than two years, after surgery. This improved survival means that we have reached a point where VADs can be used for destination therapy, not just for bridge-to-recovery or bridge-to-transplant. In view of the increasing number of patients with advanced-stage heart failure and the availability and longevity of transplanted hearts, VADs can solve many problems. In addition to providing information about the devices themselves, this book includes vital guidelines on long-term management and support of VAD-implanted patients' everyday lives.

The treatment of end-stage heart failure with advanced surgical therapies has evolved significantly over the last several years and is a dynamic subspecialty within cardiac surgery. Surgical Treatment for Advanced Heart Failure describes the surgical management of advanced heart failure, including coronary artery revascularization, mitral valve repair, aortic valve replacement, ventricular remodeling, cardiac resynchronization, mechanical circulatory support with short-term devices for acute stabilization, long-term mechanical support as a bridge to transplant and for destination therapy, left ventricular assist devices, complete cardiac replacement with the total artificial heart, and cardiac transplantation. With contributions from a distinguished group of heart failure cardiologists and transplant surgeons, it is an authoritative resource for cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, and surgeons.

This book presents the most recent developments in oncologic breast surgery and takes full account of diagnostic, pathologic, and radiologic inputs. It is divided into three parts, the first of which discusses the premises underlying the modern surgical approach to breast cancer. The second part is devoted to what might be termed the conservative program, i.e., breast conservation and oncoplastic surgery, conservative mastectomy, and sentinel node biopsy and axillary dissection. The final part of the book covers different forms of surgery and other treatments in particular settings. Topics include plastic and reconstructive surgery, DCIS surgery, radio-guided surgery, adjuvant systemic therapy, intraoperative radiotherapy, and the role of surgery in locally advanced and metastatic disease. The detailed descriptions of techniques are accompanied by numerous high-quality illustrations. This book will be of value to both experienced practitioners and surgical trainees.    ​

Surgical Management of Benign Esophageal Disorders: The "Chicago Approach" covers all stages of the diagnosis and treatment of the most common benign esophageal disorders in a concise and easy-to-read format.Indications, patient preparation, operative techniques, and strategies for avoiding and managing complications are included and based both on evidence-based data and the experience of the most famous esophageal surgeons in the United States and abroad. Each chapter includes a summary of the current management strategy for the disease process, and a review of current state of the art techniques provided by world leaders on esophageal disease, surgeons and gastroenterologists alike. A special emphasis is given to emerging procedures in laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, and endoscopy. Surgical Management of Benign Esophageal Disorders: The "Chicago Approach" is illustrated throughout with line diagrams that depict fundamental anatomic or technical principles and is a valuable resource for surgeons and gastroenterologists in residence and training.

This book describes the molecular mechanisms of lung cancer development and progression that determine therapeutic interventions in the era of genomics, when the rapid evolution in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment necessitates critical review of new results to integrate advances into practice. The text opens with background and emerging information regarding the molecular biology of lung cancer pathogenesis. Updated results regarding lung cancer prevention and screening are discussed, followed by chapters on diagnostic techniques and pathological evaluation. This leads on to a detailed presentation of treatment modalities, from surgery and radiation therapy to standard chemotherapy and targeted agents. The coverage includes resistance to therapy and the emergence of immunotherapy for lung cancer; in addition, the current evidence in respect of small cell lung cancer is summarized. The book presents insights from experts across disciplines to emphasize the importance of collaborative care. Advances in our understanding of issues in geriatric oncology and palliative care complete the comprehensive discussion of lung cancer.