Numerical biomechanics modelling of indirect mitral annuloplasty treatments for functional mitral regurgitation

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is a common valvular heart disease where an improper closure leads to leakage from the left ventricle into the left atrium. There is a need for less-invasive treatments such as percutaneous repairs for a large inoperable patient population. The aim of this study is to compare several indirect mitral annuloplasty (IMA) percutaneous repair techniques by finite-element analyses. Two types of generic IMA devices were considered, based on coronary sinus vein shortening (IMA-CS) to reduce the annulus perimeter and based on shortening of the anterior–posterior diameter (IMA-AP). The disease, its treatments, and the heart function post-repair were modelled by modifying the living heart human model (Dassault Systèmes). A functional MR pathology that represents ischaemic MR was generated and the IMA treatments were simulated in it, followed by heart function simulations with the devices and leakage quantification from blood flow simulations. All treatments were able to reduce leakage, the IMA-AP device achieved better sealing, and there was a correlation between the IMA-CS device length and the reduction in leakage. The results of this study can help in bringing IMA-AP to market, expanding the use of IMA devices, and optimizing future designs of such devices.

Preoperative radiation as part of a multidisciplinary strategy for a medically inoperable patient with a bleeding colon cancer

An 84-year-old man with a history of deep vein thrombosis on warfarin and coronary artery disease presented with haematochezia and was diagnosed with an ascending colon cancer. He was short of breath with lower extremity oedema at the initial surgical consultation. Evaluation revealed an acute exacerbation of congestive heart failure, and further workup and treatment were recommended by the cardiology team. After multidisciplinary discussion, he underwent radiation for the control of bleeding, followed by cardiac catheterisation and placement of a bare metal stent. The patient subsequently underwent robotic-assisted right hemicolectomy. Pathology demonstrated a complete response, and the patient recovered uneventfully. He is alive swith no evidence of disease recurrence 12 months after surgery and 18 months after initial diagnosis.

Non-surgical management of early-stage lung cancer

As low-dose computed tomography screening of ‘high-risk’ smokers is occurring with increasing frequency, the incidental discovery of solitary pulmonary nodules is becoming more frequent, and lung cancer multidisciplinary teams are now often faced with balancing risk and benefit when making decisions regarding the radical treatment of patients with a clinical diagnosis of early lung cancer but borderline fitness. Surgery offers the best prospect of cure but is associated with significant mortality and morbidity; the elderly and frail experience more toxicity and a greater impact on the quality of life. This chapter reviews the criteria for assessing surgical fitness and examines the evidence for minimally invasive and ablative techniques for the treatment of early peripheral lung cancer in the medically inoperable patient.