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Restoring ventricular restoration: A call to re‐evaluate a surgical therapy considered ineffective
Author(s) -
Doenst Torsten,
Velazquez Eric J.,
Michler Robert E.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of cardiac surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1540-8191
pISSN - 0886-0440
DOI - 10.1111/jocs.15316
Subject(s) - medicine , ejection fraction , heart failure , population , selection (genetic algorithm) , surgery , intensive care medicine , cardiology , environmental health , artificial intelligence , computer science
The technique of surgical restoration of postischemically dilated left ventricles (SVR) has almost disappeared from operating theaters after the Surgical Treatment of IsChemic Heart failure (STICH) Trial demonstrated no treatment effect in patients with CAD and ejection fraction below 35%. Criticism on the trial was expressed stating that surgical expertise and patient selection (i.e., almost no aneurysm patients included) may have been inadequate to test the procedure s potential. Gaudino and colleagues now propose to conduct an analysis comparing the STICH patient population to a group of comparable SVR patients treated by a center with documented specific expertise for this technique. We here address the background of the trial and the following controversy and suggest a rationale why the suggested analysis has the potential to add valuable information to the field.