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Heart to Heart Mission

For more than 20 years, the IPA has performed life-saving heart surgery on over 400 patients in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

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Ecuador Mission

The IPA is working with Harvard / MGH to expand their heart surgery mission program in Ecuador. We have a mission trip planned for October 2026. Stay tuned for more information.

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Your Mission Trip

The IPA will gladly make donations to qualified charitable organizations who perform cardiac surgery mission work for patients in need.

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Help Mend a Heart!

Every member of our team is an unpaid volunteer, so please take comfort in knowing that 100% of all donated funds go directly to patient care. Your generosity is so very welcome and will help save lives!
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— Latest News —

Precision Life Support: VV ECMO Management in the Modern ICU

Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Australia and New Zealand Using GRADE Methodology Series Part 1: Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV ECMO) Indications and Management

This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the use of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) in adult patients with severe respiratory failure. Developed using the GRADE methodology by experts across Australia and New Zealand, it evaluates indications for ECMO, management strategies, proning during ECMO, and ventilation approaches. Evidence suggests ECMO improves short-term survival in severe hypoxic respiratory failure but carries significant risks and resource demands.

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March 7, 2026
Rethinking Cardiopulmonary Bypass Management

Rethinking Cardiopulmonary Bypass Management in the Digital Health Era

Minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery reduce surgical trauma and speed recovery but often require longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times, increasing risks such as renal injury, neurological complications, and systemic inflammation. This review explores how digital health tools—including continuous physiologic monitoring, machine learning analytics, and digital twin simulations—can transform CPB from a static procedural metric into a dynamically optimized variable, enabling personalized perfusion strategies that improve safety and outcomes in modern cardiac surgery.

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March 7, 2026

The Impact of Intraoperative Fibrinogen Replacement Therapy on the Clinical Outcome of Surgical Therapy for Type A Acute Aortic Dissection 

This retrospective study evaluated the role of fibrinogen replacement therapy (FRT) using fibrinogen concentrate during emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Among 87 patients, FRT significantly improved postoperative fibrinogen levels and helped maintain hemostasis without increasing complications. Although intraoperative blood loss was higher in the FRT group due to more severe coagulopathy, postoperative bleeding was similar between groups, suggesting FRT effectively stabilizes coagulation during complex aortic surgery.

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March 6, 2026

A Prospective Observational Study on Role of Intraoperative Renal & Muscle Oxygen Saturation on Post-Operative Serum Creatinine Level in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery on Cardiopulmonary Bypass

This prospective observational study evaluated whether intraoperative renal (SrO₂) and thenar muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂), measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), could predict post-operative increases in serum creatinine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Among 55 patients, a >20% decrease in renal oxygen saturation strongly predicted post-operative creatinine rise, while a 15% decrease in muscle oxygen saturation also showed strong predictive value. Both parameters were significantly correlated. 

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March 5, 2026
Goal-Directed Perfusion Monitoring During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Mini-Compendium on Goal-Directed Perfusion (GDP): Integrating Hemodynamic and Metabolic Determinants of Oxygen Delivery During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

This narrative review presents a mini-compendium on Goal-Directed Perfusion (GDP), a physiology-based strategy for optimizing cardiopulmonary bypass. GDP integrates oxygen delivery, metabolic indicators, and perfusion pressure to maintain tissue oxygenation and prevent organ injury. Key variables such as DO₂i, O₂ extraction, CO₂ production, and MAP are combined with time-dose models to detect oxygen debt early and personalize perfusion management. 

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March 5, 2026
Stepwise Rescue Therapy for Refractory Vasoplegia

Evaluating the Impact of a Standardized Protocol for Managing Refractory Vasoplegia After Cardiopulmonary Bypass

This single-center pre-post study evaluated a standardized stepwise protocol for refractory vasoplegia after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Compared to provider-directed therapy, the protocol—escalating from methylene blue to angiotensin II and hydroxocobalamin—accelerated norepinephrine-equivalent reduction and reduced vasopressor costs by 26% at 48 hours, without worsening hemodynamic or clinical outcomes.

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March 2, 2026
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