This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Dr. David Kalfa, the incoming Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Co-Director of the Heart Institute at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, about allogeneic mitral valve transplants.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:46 Interview Preview

02:54 MV Surgery After Failed Intervention

07:46 Tears Predict Outcomes After Hemi-Arch

10:32 Pain Catastrophizing Scale

14:27 ARR w Stentless Biopros, Sex Difference

16:38 Open Implant TAV via Redo Sternotomy

19:05 Repeat Sternotomy w Completion Unifocaliz

21:07 Direct Aortic Impella 5.5 in PC Shock

25:16 Dr. Kalfa Interview, AMV Transplant

39:58 Upcoming Events

41:26 Closing

They discuss methods for obtaining a mitral valve for transplantation, and topics such as immunosuppression, aortic coagulation, and the progress that has been made in this field. They also explore how to perform a living allogeneic heart valve transplant and the future of this technique.  

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on mitral valve surgery after failed transcatheter intervention for mitral regurgitation, whether distal anastomotic new entry tears predict long-term outcomes after hemiarch repair for DeBakey I aortic dissection, using a pain catastrophizing scale as a predictor for acute postoperative pain following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy, and sex difference in aortic root replacement with a stentless bioprosthesis. 

In addition, Joel explores an open implantation of a transcatheter aortic valve via redo sternotomy, mitral valve replacement, and tricuspid valve repair in a high-risk patient, repeat sternotomy with completion unifocalization and extensive pulmonary arterial reconstruction in ToF/PA/MAPCAs, and direct aortic Impella 5.5 in post-cardiotomy shock. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

JANS Items Mentioned 

1.) Mitral Valve Surgery After Failed Transcatheter Intervention for Mitral Regurgitation: Techniques, Challenges, and Outcomes 

2.) Distal Anastomotic New Entry Tears Predict Long-Term Outcomes After Hemi-Arch Repair for DeBakey I Aortic Dissection 

3.) Pain Catastrophizing Scale as a Predictor for Acute Postoperative Pain Following Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Lobectomy 

4.) Sex Difference in Aortic Root Replacement With a Stentless Bioprosthesis 

CTSNET Content Mentioned 

1.) Open Implantation of a Transcatheter Aortic Valve via Redo Sternotomy, Mitral Valve Replacement, and Tricuspid Valve Repair in a High-Risk-Patient 

2.) Challenging Pulmonary Arterial Reconstruction: Repeat Sternotomy With Completion Unifocalization and Extensive Pulmonary Arterial Reconstruction in ToF/PA/MAPCAs  

3.) Direct Aortic Impella 5.5 in Post-Cardiotomy Shock 

Other Items Mentioned 

1.) Allogeneic Mitral Valve Transplant: Historical Precedent, Current Considerations, and Future Implementation 

2.) Cardiac Surgical Arrest—An International Conversation, Part 1 

3.) Winners of the 2025 CTSNet Instructional Video Competition 

4.) Career Center  

5.) CTSNet Events Calendar 

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