With the full implementation of physician workstyle reform in 2024, task sharing in cardiovascular surgery has become increasingly important. This study conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey targeting young cardiovascular surgeons and nurses certified for specified medical acts to investigate the current status and challenges of task sharing in this field. Results revealed that while nurses were actively involved in postoperative care and certain bedside procedures, their participation in intraoperative and emergency tasks remained limited. From the nurses' perspective, concerns were raised regarding career development, compensation, and the lack of structured educational support. These findings suggest that, to ensure sustainable and effective task sharing in cardiovascular surgery, it is essential to establish clear role definitions and implement systemic organizational support for certified nurses.

In poststernotomy redo cardiac surgery, injury to cardiac structures during sternal division can lead to untoward results in the operation. These days, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) such as the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach is becoming popular. By using MICS technique in redo cardiac surgery, it may be possible to reduce the risk of injury to the vital structures because of avoiding full sternotomy with the reduction of the dissection area. Six redo cardiac surgery cases in which innominate vein or bypass graft was in close contact with the sternum were is considered difficult to perform via the right thoracotomy approach. We report the cases in which operations were safely conducted through the lower hemi-sternotomy.

Background: SOLO SMART (SOLO) was introduced in Japan as a new stentless tissue valve in April 2016. Postoperative thrombocytopenia has been reported to occurs after aortic valve replacement (AVR) using SOLO. Methods: The aim of our study was to evaluate the difference in incidence and clinical impact of postoperative thrombocytopenia in patients receiving AVR between SOLO group and stented bioprosthetic valve (Stented) group. We evaluated 67 patients who underwent AVR with bioprosthetic valve for AS between April 2017 and March 2020. Severe thrombocytopenia was defined as the lowest postoperative platelet count of < 5.0×104/μl. We divided patients with AVR into SOLO and Stented groups, and compared the surgical results, prevalence of thrombocytopenia, and changes in platelet count. Results: Postoperative aortic valve area (AVA) and peak pressure gradient (P-PG) were significantly improved in the SOLO group. The lowest postoperative platelet count was significantly lower in the SOLO group. Severe thrombocytopenia was observed in 75% of the patients in the SOLO group and 7% of those in the Stented group. As a factor that causes postoperative thrombocytopenia, use of SOLO, age at surgery, and body surface area (BSA), showed significant differences (p＜0.05). Although the platelet count had the lowest value on the 2nd to 4th day after the operation, then recovered spontaneously, and at 1 month after the operation, the platelet level improved to normal values. However, in the Stented group, the platelet level recovered to the preoperative platelet level 1 week after operation, but in the SOLO group, the preoperative platelet level didn't recover even after 3 months, and as a result, it suggest that platelet recovery was prolonged in the SOLO group. Conclusion: Use of SOLO was an independent risk factor of severe thrombocytopenia after AVR. Although no clinically serious hemorrhagic complication was observed, use of SOLO may prolong postoperative platelet recovery. In consideration of the risk of thrombocytopenia, it was considered to be advantageous to select the SOLO for SAVR in cases with a narrow annulus diameter.