Background The Ross procedure, introduced in 1967, transformed cardiac surgery. This study presents one of the first global bibliometric analyses, to the best of our knowledge, mapping research trends, collaborations, and authorship to identify future directions in this field. Methods A global bibliometric analysis of Ross procedure publications (1967–2025) was performed using Scopus and PubMed. Data processed in R (bibliometrix, biblioshiny) explored productivity, collaborations, authorship, and thematic evolution. Future publication trends to 2050 were forecast using a linear extrapolation model with 95% confidence intervals. Results A total of 2370 Ross procedure publications were identified (1967–2025), showing an 8.1% average annual growth rate. Original articles dominated (65%), followed by reviews/meta-analyses (13.9%) and case reports (13.5%). Among 6228 authors (69.5% male), collaboration averaged 4.9 coauthors/document, with 12.6% international partnerships. The USA (32.3%), the Netherlands (19.3%), and Germany (14.5%) led in productivity. Top institutions were Erasmus University Medical Center (4.3%), Mount Sinai Health System (3.0%), and University Heart Center Lübeck (2.2%). Major journals included Annals of Thoracic Surgery (13.5%), Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (12.2%), and European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (7.6%). Faculty surgeons authored 66% of first-author papers. Main research themes involved allograft reintervention, durability, suture technique, failure, and postoperative complications. Linear regression predicted 164 annual publications by 2050. Conclusions This analysis reveals an exponentially increasing and sustained global interest in the Ross procedure, which continues to shape cardiac surgery worldwide. The findings highlight growing research output, robust international collaboration, and a focus on clinical innovation, ensuring ongoing advancements in surgical techniques, patient outcomes, and global cardiovascular surgical excellence.

We report a case of 24-year-old man with single ventricle congenital heart disease and concomitant familial Fabry disease who developed progressive subaortic stenosis 22 years after Fontan procedure. Despite stable ventricular volumes, subaortic stenosis developed due to Fabry disease-related myocardial hypertrophy. He underwent pulmonary arterial trunk reconstruction with valved conduit and Damus–Kaye–Stansel (DKS) anastomosis. Postoperatively, smooth outflow tracts and stable valve function were observed. This case highlights the impact of Fabry disease on ventricular outflow tract obstruction and shows the efficacy of the DKS anastomosis in treating subaortic stenosis.

A five-year-old boy was diagnosed with the ventricular septal rupture and ventricular aneurysm after blunt chest trauma in child abuse. Because of the intractable heart failure, he underwent operation in subacute period. Postoperative course was uneventful. The blunt cardiac injury in children can be caused by mild trauma and can be lethal. Surgical intervention should be considered when the clinical condition is unstable.

In literature, various risk scores have been described to predict in-hospital mortality of patients undergoing surgery for acute type A dissection. We want to evaluate which factors are most correlated with a negative outcome and testing the validity of the current scores in literature analyzing our experience of over 20 years in the surgery of type A aortic dissections. A total of 324 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to 30-day survival or mortality. The preoperative variables analyzed are the parameters necessary for the calculation of scores: Penn Classification, Leipzig Halifax and adjusted Leipzig Halifax score, GERAADA score and EuroSCORE II. Intra- and post-operative mortality were 10.2% and 17.5%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the preoperative predictors of 30-day mortality were age greater than 70 years, low eject fraction levels, visceral and coronary malperfusion. Both GERAADA and EuroSCORE II were statistically significant predictors of 30-day mortality. However, EuroSCORE II underestimates the mortality compared to GERAADA score probably due to the lack of evaluation of fundamental preoperative factors in the course of type A aortic dissection. The study has demonstrated the efficacy of the GERAADA score in predicting the outcome of patients undergoing surgery and the underestimation of the mortality of EuroSCORE II in our population.

Omental artery aneurysm (OAA) is an extremely rare visceral artery aneurysm. Ruptured OAAs are associated with a high mortality rate. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has been used to treat OAA in recent years. However, the risk of omental ischemia due to TAE remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of TAE of OAA as a first-line treatment. Fifteen patients with true aneurysms or pseudoaneurysms who underwent OAA-TAE between 1 April 2010 and 31 December 2022 were included in this study. The technical and clinical outcomes, the incidence of omental infarction after TAE as a major complication, OAA-TAE techniques, radiological findings on computed tomography angiography and angiogram, and patient characteristics were evaluated. Fifteen patients (nine men, six women; age, 69.8 ± 18.59 years) underwent TAE of OAAs (mean aneurysm size of 9.30 ± 6.10 mm) located in the right gastroepiploic (n = 9), left gastroepiploic (n = 1), and epiploic (n = 5) arteries. All patients with ruptured (n = 6) and unruptured (n = 9) OAA successfully underwent TAEs using coils, n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, or gelatin sponges. Hepatic artery thrombosis and coil migration were observed during the procedure; however, these adverse events were manageable. Transfusion of red blood cell units (4.66 ± 1.63 units) was required only in cases with ruptured OAAs after TAE. Additional surgery or TAE due to rupture or rerupture of OAA and omental infarction was not required during the postoperative and follow-up periods. The OAA-TAE can effectively treat ruptured and unruptured OAAs, and the risk of omental infarction after OAA-TAE may not be high.

Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) are relatively rare but are one of the most common peripheral arterial aneurysms. Open popliteal artery aneurysm repair (OPAR) has been the standard, but technological advancements have made endovascular popliteal artery aneurysm repair (EPAR) a promising alternative. The aim of this study is to compare EPAR and OPAR efficacy and outcomes over a 10-year period. This study retrospectively reviewed 72 patient charts who were diagnosed with PAA or popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm and underwent EPAR or OPAR from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019. Endovascular popliteal artery aneurysm repair was used in 37 cases and OPAR in 35 cases. Graft patency <30 days postoperative was 100% in both EPAR and OPAR groups. Graft patency >90 days postoperative was 72.73% in the EPAR group and 82.35% in the OPAR group (p = 0.477). Graft patency >2 years postoperative was 81.25% in the EPAR group and 86.67% in the OPAR group (p = 0.682). Freedom from reoperation 30-day postoperative was 78.38% in the EPAR group and 80% in the OPAR group (p = 0.865). Freedom from amputation 30-day postoperative was 91.43% in the EPAR group and 94.29% in the OPAR group (p = 0.263). The 30-day survival rate was 94.59% in the EPAR group and 100% in the OPAR group. Endovascular repair represents a promising alternative for PAA repair. Our results demonstrate that EPAR has similar outcomes for asymptomatic, acutely symptomatic, and chronic symptomatic patients. Technological advancements of stent properties and refinement of surgical techniques may further improve endovascular techniques.

The vascular division sequence in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung resection is usually determined by the handling difficulty due to the limited surgical view through the scope. However, upfront pulmonary vein division is theoretically desirable to avoid tumor cells spreading by surgical manipulation. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with poor prognosis and an increased number of circulating tumor cells. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of vascular division sequence and EMT on postoperative recurrence. We retrospectively investigated tissue microarrays of 282 lung adenocarcinomas surgically resected between 2001 and 2007. We excluded the cases with segmentectomy, wedge resection, dissemination, insufficient material for staining, or lack of medical records. The effect of vascular division sequence and clinicopathologic factors on recurrence was evaluated in 195 cases. The upfront pulmonary vein division (V-first) was performed in 60 patients, and the upfront pulmonary artery division (A-first) was performed in 135 patients. The recurrence was observed in 67 patients (13 in V-first and 54 in A-first). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition activation was observed in 104 patients. Multivariable analysis with 195 patients revealed that lymph node metastasis and pleural invasion were risk factors for the recurrence. The stratified multivariable analysis showed that vascular division sequence (A-first) was a risk factor only in the EMT-negative group (91 patients). In the EMT-negative subset, the 5-year relapse-free survival rate was significantly lower in the A-first group than the V-first group (72.6% vs. 92.2%, p = 0.0136). The upfront pulmonary artery division might be a risk factor in patients without EMT activation.

A 51-year-old female underwent emergency mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis with an undetermined mass which was attached to the anterior mitral leaflet. Histopathological testing of the excised specimen confirmed the diagnosis of rheumatic mitral disease in combination with a primary rhabdomyosarcoma. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with pazopanib hydrochloride was given. At 10 months of follow-up, repeated computed tomographic screening has not shown any signs of local recurrence or secondary metastases. The potential for the existence of primary rhabdomyosarcomas should be borne in mind when faced with undetermined masses on mitral leaflets, even in the presence of rheumatic disease.

We read with great interest the systematic review from Agarwal and colleagues, comparing the results of sutureless valves versus conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) with aortic root enlargement in patients with aortic stenosis and small aortic annulus. We herein comment on the review trying to highlight some major issues. Based on some recent literature's evidences and on the authors' personal experience, we suggest to consider AVR with mechanical valve as a still viable option, especially in small aortic annulus. Indeed, root enlargement techniques are not always easy to perform and sutureless valve is still burdened by higher rate of PM implantation.