CTSNet Podcasts

In this month’s episode of The Atrium, host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaks with Dr. Jose Fernandes from the Department of Clinical Perfusion at Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK, about extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:47 History

04:46 Basics

09:58 Circuit

14:09 Cannulation

22:44 Indications for Use

28:14 VV ECMO

32:18 VA ECMO

36:44 Monitoring

42:31 Complications

47:03 ECMO CPR

49:17 Trai...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang, the Surgical Director of Mitral Valve and Heart Failure Therapies at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Edgewood, Kentucky, USA, about totally endoscopic cardiac surgery.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:17 Minimal Access Bedside Cardiac

04:37 Lung Cancer, Histological Subtype

09:29 TAVR vs SAVR, AS & CAD

12:22 Biopros TVR Outcomes

15:48 Mitral Annula...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning examines the first-ever transcontinental uniportal thoracic surgery.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:26 100th Episode, Future

03:01 Transcontinental Uniportal Robotics

09:52 Infective Endo in Octogenerians

12:39 Kidney Replacement Therapy, Cardiac Outcomes

15:50 Stenotic Lesions Simulation

18:59 One-Lung Ventilation, Difficult Airway

21:06 Simplified Approach to Bentall Procedure

2...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Professor Robert Sneyd, Vice Chair of Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland, about the charity’s dedication to promoting awareness of aortic dissection.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:52 RLAAO Isolated MR Study

09:07 Early Outcomes Reop Aortic Root

11:39 Fallot and Its Variants

16:55 Low-Dose Warfarin, Mech AV

22:02 AVR w LIMA-LAD & AAR

23:40 Pulm Thromboend...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Dr. Salim Aziz, thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon and clinical professor at George Washington University, about computed tomography (CT) scan-negative type A dissection.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:57 Dr. Aziz Preview

02:01 Bringing International Colleagues to Centers

07:01 Ambulation Protocol ECMO

09:12 COPD Severity, Aortic Aneurysm

11:37 Robotic Mitral Repair L...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning recaps two presentations delivered at the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland Annual Meeting 2025.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:57 "Teamship," Sir Woodward

09:23 Virtual Surgery Training, Dr. Ahmed

12:55 Upcoming Lung Surgery Trials

14:48 Needle Aspiration & Forceps Biopsy

17:26 Approaches to Clinical Trial Designs

22:10 Noninvasive Ventilation Ca...

In this month’s episode of The Atrium, host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaks with Dr. Thomas D'Amico about VATS lobectomy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:47 Background

04:11 Indications

04:51 Preoperative Assessment

07:12 Setup

08:21 Patient Positioning

11:26 Basics

13:36 D'Amico's Port Placement

16:46 Uniportal

22:03 Steps

22:44 Anterior-Posterior Order

25:45 Anatomy

26:45 Instruments

30:54 Pleural Dissection

31:33 Inferior Pulmonary ...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning examines future cardiothoracic surgery robotic systems.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:05 SCTS 2025

02:50 Intuitive Single-Port System

10:00 Other Robotics in Development

12:49 Medtronic Innovations

15:53 Tumor Air Spaces Spread

18:21 Virtual Reality Effect on Patients

19:58 MR for Isolated Leaflet Lesion

21:48 Post-Surgery Proning Obese ARS Syndrome

23:31 Robotic Bi Ortho Lung Tr...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning examines how to prevent adverse publicity by patients on social media.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:01 Patient-Social Media Interaction

11:56 Lung Cancer Screening Recommendations

15:29 Perc vs Surg Revasc, SWEDEHEART Registry

18:06 Down Syndrome Patient Outcomes

19:20 Nighttime Cardiovascular Staffing Impact

23:42 Samurai Cannulation

28:30 Off-Pump AAD Via Upper Ministernotomy

...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning examines surgical staplers. He explores the history of surgical staplers, the evolution of surgical staplers, and discusses the company that created the first automated minimally invasive surgical stapler—United States Surgical Corporation (USSC). He also discusses details about the AutoSuture Premium Poly stapler and why it is still being created. Joel also shares details ...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Dr. Mujtaba Mubashir, CTSNet JANS editor and surgical resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, about being a JANS editor. They discuss what JANS is, their favorite part about JANS, and their favorite articles. They also explore highlights from the 61st Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting, including how to manage chest tubes after surgery and the...

In this month’s episode of The Atrium, host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaks with Dr. David Taggart about internal mammary artery harvesting. They discuss indications, patient preparation, internal thoracic artery anatomy, and key steps—sternotomy, free parietal pleura, incised endothoracic fascia, cutting of IMA, and more. They also discuss the pedicled technique, the skeletonized technique, and complications.  

The Atrium is a monthl...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Dr. Husam Balkhy, Professor of Surgery and the Director of Robotic and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at University of Chicago Medicine and President of The International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS), about robotic totally endoscopic cardiac surgery procedures. They discuss potential ways to get the world to perform more rob...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning speaks with Tom D’Amico, professor and vice chairman of surgery and chief medical officer of the Duke Cancer Institute, about oligometastatic disease. They discuss the current updates of oligometastatic disease, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) guidelines on the surgical management of oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer, and the importance of choosing the right...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning spoke with Dr. Vinay Badhwar, the current vice president of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), about his groundbreaking achievement in combining robotic aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) through a single small incision. They discuss the background and premise of this technique, the process of taking this technique from an idea to...

In this month’s episode of The Atrium, host Dr. Alice Copperwheat speaks with Dr. Kim Thompson about cardiopulmonary bypass. They discuss cardiopulmonary bypass setup, the equipment—cannulas, reservoir container, pumps, heat exchangers, oxygenators, cardioplegia, adjuncts—preparation, priming, and heparinization. They also discuss cannulation, going on bypass, maintenance of bypass, coming off bypass, and complications.  

The Atriu...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning recaps The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. He discusses Dr. Jennifer Romano’s presidential address, remarks from incoming STS president, Dr. Joseph F. Sabik III, and the keynote addresses by Dr. Jennifer A. Dounda and photographer, filmmaker, and educator Ami Vitale. Joel also shares his top presentation picks from the meeting, including “B...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning explores the balance between the risks and benefits of holding The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. He discusses Dr. Jennifer Romano’s address on the STS 2025 meeting, the ongoing fires in LA, and potential ways to support the city. Dunning also emphasizes the importance of hosting annual meetings, explores alternative options for the event,...

This week on The Beat, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief Joel Dunning dives into the best resources available for cardiothoracic surgery professionals. He highlights key websites, including The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), and CTSNet, offering valuable insights into each platform’s offerings. Joel also explores some lesse...