The Changing Landscape of Tobacco Use

02/18/20 • 15 min

The biggest threat to lung health in the current era is vaping. Shanda H. Blackmon, MD, MPH, moderates a discussion about the changing landscape of tobacco use, which includes vaping as the new gateway to smoking. She and colleagues, J. Robert Headrick, MD, MBA, Matthew A. Steliga, MD, and Keith S. Naunheim, MD, describe the “terrifying” statistics about vaping, why patients are oftentimes afraid to seek help, the use of graphics warnings, and why bringing smoking cessation resources to patients may become more necessary.

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Which Low-Risk Patients Should Receive TAVR?

The FDA recently expanded the indications for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to include patients at low surgical risk, but experts are urging caution about which low-risk patients should undergo TAVR until more information is gathered. In this episode, Joseph E. Bavaria, MD, explored recent clinical trials with Tsuyoshi Kaneko, MD, Michael J. Reardon, MD, and Vinod Thourani, MD. They discussed what these trials mean for cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and the heart team, as well as knowledge gaps about age, bicuspid patients, SYNTAX score, pacemakers, and mechanical valve durability.

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Strategies for Surgeons to Prevent Burnout

Cardiothoracic surgeons are at significant risk of burnout because of long work hours, delayed career gratification, complex health care, intense personality, and poor work-life balance. In fact, recent data show that more than half of cardiothoracic surgeons reported feeling burned out. In this important roundtable discussion, Thomas K. Varghese Jr., MD, MS, gathers tips to avoid burnout from Oliver S. Chow, MD, Michal Hubka, MD, and Susan D. Moffat-Bruce, MD, PhD, MBA. Strategies include building strong networks, bonding with family and friends, meditation, spending time outdoors, and making wellness a goal of the entire health care team.