Thoracic Key

Cardiac Anatomy Pertinent to Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

May 17, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIOLOGY Comments Off on Cardiac Anatomy Pertinent to Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

Most cardiac surgeons do not learn the anatomy that is pertinent to arrhythmia surgery even though cardiac surgical training programs are traditionally steeped in the teaching of anatomy. Indeed, the…

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A History of Cardiac Arrhythmia Surgery

May 17, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIOLOGY Comments Off on A History of Cardiac Arrhythmia Surgery

Perspective Any attempt to describe the historical development of a specific era or discipline in the medical field is ultimately a personal view of that history. This chapter is no…

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Intraoperative Mapping of Atrial Fibrillation

May 17, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIOLOGY Comments Off on Intraoperative Mapping of Atrial Fibrillation

The development of surgical techniques for the treatment of patients with cardiac arrhythmias was paralleled by the development of intraoperative electrophysiologic mapping systems to determine precisely where to place the…

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Principles and Goals That Govern the Interventional Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

May 17, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIOLOGY Comments Off on Principles and Goals That Govern the Interventional Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

The Study of Arrhythmias Using Surgical Scars All tissue, including myocardium, subjected to irreversible damage heals by forming scars that consist of fibrocytes that do not conduct electrical activity. From…

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Atrial Remodeling in Atrial Fibrillation: Atrial Fibrillation Begets Atrial Fibrillation

May 17, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIOLOGY Comments Off on Atrial Remodeling in Atrial Fibrillation: Atrial Fibrillation Begets Atrial Fibrillation

Chapter Outline Atrial Myopathy and the Changing Atrial Substrate, 91 Atrial Remodeling, 92 Electrical Remodeling, 92 Functional Remodeling, 92 Structural Remodeling, 92 The Importance of Atrial Remodeling, 93 Atrial fibrillation…

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Epidemiology and Economics of Atrial Fibrillation

May 17, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIOLOGY Comments Off on Epidemiology and Economics of Atrial Fibrillation

Prevalence and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation Determination of the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a given population depends on cohort selection and the methods used for the identification and…

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Functional single ventricle

Apr 21, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIAC SURGERY Comments Off on Functional single ventricle

Section I: Functional single ventricle: General concepts Definition The term “functional single ventricle” describes a spectrum of congenital cardiac malformations in which the ventricular mass may not readily lend itself…

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Transposition of the great arteries

Apr 21, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIAC SURGERY Comments Off on Transposition of the great arteries

Definition Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a congenital cardiac anomaly in which the aorta arises entirely or largely from the right ventricle (RV) and in which the pulmonary…

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Congenital heart disease in the adult

Apr 21, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIAC SURGERY Comments Off on Congenital heart disease in the adult

Section I: Overview Definition Congenital heart disease in the adult is the presence of unrepaired or repaired congenital heart disease in patients over a certain age, but because physical and…

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Coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch

Apr 21, 2026 by drzezo in CARDIAC SURGERY Comments Off on Coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch

Section I: Coarctation of the aorta Definition Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital cardiovascular malformation in which there is a discrete luminal narrowing of the junction between the aortic…

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