This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning shares insights from his recent trip to Ghana.

Chapters

00:00 Intro 

02:18 Ghana Mission Trip 

04:35 Failures of a Heart Surgeon  

09:27 JANS 1, Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity  

12:57 JANS 2, Utility of GERAADA Score  

14:41 JANS 3, Aortic Valve Neocuspidization  

17:33 JANS 4, Procedural Planning in Thoracoscopic Segmentectomy 

19:09 JANS 5, The Outlet Orifice Diameter  

22:28 Video 1, Clampless Aortic Valve Replacement  

24:01 Video 2, Multiportal Robot-Assisted Extended LLS S6 

25:13 Video 3, The Atrium 

26:00 EACTS 2025 & Upcoming Events 

27:35 Footage From Ghana 

He discusses the various procedures that he and his team performed during their visit, as well as his overall experience collaborating with the local surgeons. The episode also features surgical footage from his time in Ghana and includes discussion with several surgeons about their work. Additionally, Joel addresses a recent news story from the UK regarding the failures of a heart surgeon that have contributed to multiple patient deaths. He provides an overview of the circumstances surrounding these events and emphasizes the critical importance of teamwork in surgical practice.  

Joel also highlights recent JANS articles on an analysis of the UK mini mitral randomized controlled trial for accelerometer-measured physical activity after mitral valve surgery, the utility of GERAADA score for predicting long-term survival following surgical repair of aortic dissection, early to mid-term results of aortic valve neocuspidization for rheumatic aortic valve disease, a systematic review and meta-analysis for three-dimensional reconstruction and virtual simulation of patient-specific anatomy for procedural planning in thoracoscopic segmentectomy, and the outlet orifice diameter of surgical bioprosthetic aortic stented valves is predominantly much smaller than the inlet orifice diameter. 

In addition, Joel explores a clampless aortic valve replacement in a partial porcelain aorta with aortic root enlargement and CABG with two grafts, multiportal robot-assisted extended lower left segmentectomy, and an episode of The Atrium podcast featuring host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaking with Dr. John D. Puskas about proximal coronary anastomosis. Before closing, Joel highlights upcoming events in CT surgery.   

JANS Items Mentioned 

1.) Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity After Mitral Valve Surgery: An Analysis of the UK Mini Mitral Randomized Controlled Trial 

2.) Utility of GERAADA Score for Predicting Long-Term Survival Following Surgical Repair of Aortic Dissection 

3.) Early to Mid-Term Results of Aortic Valve Neocuspidization for Rheumatic Aortic Valve Disease 

4.) Three-Dimensional Reconstruction and Virtual Simulation of Patient-Specific Anatomy for Procedural Planning in Thoracoscopic Segmentectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 

5.) The Outlet Orifice Diameter of Surgical Bioprosthetic Aortic Stented Valves Is Predominantly Much Smaller Than the Inlet Orifice Diameter  

CTSNet Content Mentioned 

1.) Clampless Aortic Valve Replacement in a Partial Porcelain Aorta With Aortic Root Enlargement and CABG With Two Grafts 

2.) Multiportal Robot-Assisted Extended Lower Left Segmentectomy: Superior Segment S6 With Lateral S9 Resection 

3.) The Atrium: Proximal Coronary Anastomosis  

Other Items Mentioned 

1.) Joel Dunning YouTube Channel | The Arrhythmia Alliance Hearts of Ghana Mission 2025  

2.) Heart Surgeon’s Failures Contributed to Multiple Deaths  

3.) The 10 Commandments for Proximal Anastomosis During CABG: Techniques and Technologies for Vein and Arterial Grafts 

4.) Perfecting TAVR Removal | Skills Sharpening With Vince Gaudiani 

5.) Career Center  

6.) CTSNet Events Calendar 

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