Volume 63, Issue 2, February 2023

Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and its incidence has increased over the past 2 decades [1].

The standard surgical procedure has been lobectomy for resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for a long time [1].

Thoracic surgery has been facilitated by anaesthesiologic techniques enabling one-lung ventilation (OLV).

Recent developments in high-resolution, low-dose computed tomography (CT) have improved the detection of early-stage lung cancer.

The first successful shunt palliation in a patient with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) was performed in 1944, the first successful right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dilatation and pulmonary valvotomy were reported around 1948 and the first successful intracardiac repair was achieved in 1954 [1–3].

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly, occurring in 1 in 300 000 live births.

The Glenn procedure, i.e. superior cavopulmonary anastomosis, is currently positioned as an intermediate palliative procedure prior to the Fontan procedure for patients with single-ventricle physiology [1].

Delayed sternal closure (DSC) is a temporizing measure used to address coagulopathy or haemodynamic instability after cardiac surgery [1–5].

Degenerative mitral valve (MV) disease may affect the posterior leaflet, both leaflets or least commonly the anterior leaflet as an isolated entity, leading to leaflet prolapse and associated elongation or rupture of the native chordae [1, 2].

The tendency of patients to avoid the long-life anticoagulation and the introduction of transcatheter valve-in-valve techniques for treating degenerated surgical bioprostheses has led to an increased use of tissue valves for patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and a renewed interest in their long-term durability [1].

In recent guidelines, individualization of prosthetic valve type in the aortic position has been recommended for patients in the age group 50–70 years [1], and the use of bioprosthetic valves has increased to approximately 65% [2–4].

Valve-sparing aortic root surgery is the alternative to valve replacement in patients with aortic root dilatation with or without aortic insufficiency.

Durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is part of the standard care in patients with end-stage heart failure with reduced ejection fraction [1].

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become the mainstay of management of end-stage heart failure in children waiting for heart transplant and their use has yielded a significant reduction in the waiting list mortality [1].

Over the past 2 decades, fast-track (FT) concepts have been successfully implemented in cardiac surgery in up to 45% of cases, primarily in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), with no significant increases in morbidity and mortality [1–3].

Congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is today considered to be a valvulo-aortopathy, in view of the remarkable increase in the risk of both aortic valve disease and aortic aneurysm development that it implies [1].

A 56-year-old male patient with type A dissection underwent aortic root replacement with a mechanical conduit and total arch repair using the frozen elephant technique (FET).

Modern mitral valve repair techniques [1–3], albeit comprehensive and validated, may not be entirely objective, allow space for speculation on where to pass the neo-cords and may leave out fine nuances of the pathology, such as asymmetry of the neighbouring scallops, clefts or incisures or commissural lesions.

Mitral valve (MV) repair techniques have largely been described by Carpentier, which formed the foundation of MV surgery for decades.

First described in May of 1988, Harlequin syndrome was named after the English Folklore character ‘the harlequin’, for the similar appearance.