RECENT PUBLICATIONS
The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery has published 144 PubMed indexed papers over the past year. This productivity was driven by the work within the sections that make up the division: Adult Cardiac, Critical Care, Pediatrics, Thoracic, and Translational Science.
Check out more of our research publications.
INVESTIGATOR HIGHLIGHT
Brian Mitzman, MD has helped put together a new collaboration with the Huntsman Cancer Biostatistics Center for Thoracic Oncology health services research. There are already two manuscripts completed, pending submission.
Dr. Mitzman’s research interests have yielded six publications in the past year and details can be found in our division’s research link.
Collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Medical College of Georgia on a new randomized control trial in educational research. Studies have demonstrated that peer coaching, in terms of continuing professional development, have not only improved performance in the operating room, but aided in the prevention of physician burnout. A video-based review, when paired with one-on-one coaching, can identify areas for improvement, assess performances, and give an innovative effective approach to improving quality, safety, and outcomes. However, few studies have focused on the benefits of coaching within residency training, and there is limited single center data.
The University of Utah has developed a multi-institutional randomized controlled trial to evaluate video-based one-on-one coaching versus standard intraoperative feedback with three other major institutions on the East Coast, with Drs. Brian Mitzman and Brigitte Smith as Co-PIs. Dr. Andrea Williamson, one of our general surgery residents, will spend her Research and Career Development Years leading the trail while obtaining her Master of Health Professions Education.
STUDY HIGHLIGHT
PI: Craig Selzman, MD
Project: A prospective, randomized, active (warfarin) controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial to determine if patients with an On-X aortic valve can be maintained safely and effectively on the factor Xa inhibitor apixaban.
Background: There is an unmet clinical need for an alternative to warfarin, such as a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), as anticoagulation in patients with an aortic mechanical prosthetic valve. The primary objective is to determine if apixaban is superior to warfarin (INR 2.0-3.0) for patients with an On-X mechanical heart valve for the primary outcome of valve thrombosis and valve-related thromboembolism.
Study Design: Participants are eligible if they are at least 18 years of age, at least 3 months out from an On-X aortic valve implantation, and currently managing their anticoagulation with warfarin. If enrolled, they will be followed for 2 years. Participants will be randomized to either continue warfarin or switch to apixaban.
Participants randomized to apixaban will receive 5 mg twice daily (BID), or apixaban 2.5mg BID in participants with 2 or 3 of the following characteristics:
- age ≥ 80 years
- weight ≤ 60 kilograms
- creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg/dL (133 micromol/L)
For participants randomized to apixaban, INR testing will be performed on the current warfarin dose with the following algorithm to initiate apixaban:
- INR < 2; stop warfarin and start apixaban
- INR 2.0 to 3.0; hold warfarin for 2 days, start apixaban on day 3
- INR > 3.0 to 4.0; hold warfarin for 4 days, start apixaban on day 5
- INR > 4.0; hold warfarin for 2 days, recheck INR, refer to steps 1, 2, or 3
For more information:
- Contact the study coordinator, chloe.skidmore@hsc.utah.edu
- NCT: 04142658
DID YOU KNOW?
CT Surgery Research encompasses:
- Adult Cardio
- Pediatric Cardio (Primary Children’s)
- Huntsman team (Huntsman Cancer Institute)
- Animal Lab Research
- Perfusion
Don’t see your publication or research highlight? Want to share new updates or projects in the works? Please contact Margaret to reflect in the next newsletter.