For the second consecutive year, I had the pleasure and honor of coordinating the (fourth) Research Topic of “Case Reports in Heart Surgery” by Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine and Frontiers in Surgery. I am sincerely grateful to the Editors-in-Chief for their renewed trust.
As with the previous edition, the objective for the 2024 Research Topic was to feature unique cases of patients that present with an unexpected diagnosis, treatment outcomes, or clinical courses. Only original Case Reports that will significantly advance the field of cardiac surgery were considered, in my opinion and that of the Reviewers who collaborated with me throughout the manuscript review process. Rare cases with typical features, frequent cases with atypical features, and cases with a convincing response to new treatments were included in the present Research Topic.
The (undeclared) goal was also to match the excellent results achieved by the 2023 edition of the Research Topic, which has received over 26,000 views to date. I am confident! The contributions selected in this 2024 edition are also rare and original clinical cases that could offer readers of Frontiers many points of interest and reflection.
The Research Topic consists of 15 articles written by a total of 80 Authors from seven countries (China, Colombia, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Türkiye, and the United States) spanning four different continents. To date, the Research Topic has already received over 17,000 views.
The main issues addressed in the present Research Topic are
- -
The growing importance of minimally invasive surgery and interventional techniques and technologies (Tian et al., https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1549613,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1486771,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1516152,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1463764,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1507222,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1439263), and, inevitably, of their complications (Tian et al., https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1549613,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395). Obviously, the “minimally invasive” concept should be understood in a broad sense, including minimal, mechanical, and/or biological (humoral and cellular) invasiveness;
- -
The essential need for multimodal imaging for complex cardiovascular lesions (Tian et al., https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1530548,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1498359,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1549613,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1516152,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1463764,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1471686,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1507222,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1439263,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1462557);
- -
The essential need for a multidisciplinary approach to diseases involving multiple organs or systems, including the heart (https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1538389,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1530548,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1549613,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1480363,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1486771,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1516152,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1463764,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1480392,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1471686,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1439263, https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1462557). To improve patient outcomes, in addition to the cardiologist and cardiac surgeon, other healthcare professionals, each within their own area of expertise, should also be involved in the management of complex cardiac patients and/or diseases. This is in accordance with the Latin maxim, “Unicuique suum” (To each his/her own);
- -
The significant role of sometimes neglected (albeit life-threatening) complications such as sternal wound infections (https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1538389,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395,https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1480392) and pericardial effusion (https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395);
Research Topic
of case reports on heart surgery to familiarize cardiac surgeons with endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta and its rare but catastrophic complications involving the mediastinum.I synthesized the main message of each contribution to the present Research Topic inTable 1.
Table 1
| Paper number | First author | Title | Publication date | DOI | Total viewsb | Main findings | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Yunfei Tian | Case Report: Minimally invasive management of suspected active bleeding from intercostal vessel after axillary thoracotomy ventricular septal defect repair: an application of the Foley catheter | May 27, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1511221 | 640 | Injury to the intercostal vessels during an axillary thoracotomy can be a serious complication of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. The Authors reported a case of major bleeding following right axillary thoracotomy that was successfully treated using a Foley catheter inserted through the chest wall. |
Axillary thoracotomy;
Foley catheter; Minimally invasive surgery |
| 2. | Zhaohui Wang | Case Report: Deep sternal wound infection caused by Mycoplasma hominis after cardiac surgery | May 12, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1538389 | 759 | The Authors reported a case of DSWI after cardiac surgery caused by Mycoplasma hominis. | DSWI; Mycoplasma hominis |
| 3. | Chunshui Liang | Successful treatment of massive biventricular thrombi associated with myocarditis: a case report | Apr 28, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1530548 | 797 | In a young man with a stroke, massive bi-ventricular thrombosis associated with myocarditis was successfully treated with drugs alone, according to a multidisciplinary approach. | Massive bi-ventricular thrombosis; Multidisciplinary approach; Myocarditis |
| 4. | Jianggui Shan | Case Report: “Dumbbell” giant right coronary artery ectasia with right atrial fistula | Feb 28, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1498359 | 943 |
Type IV giant ectasia of the right coronary artery, right atrial fistula, epicardial muscle bridge, and functional mitral regurgitation were all successfully repaired in a middle-aged woman.
The Authors discussed the origin and developing stages of this complex cardiac lesion. |
Cardiac fistula; Giant coronary aneurysm |
| 5. | Danping Peng | Aortic endograft infection after thoracic endovascular aortic repair: two case reports and literature review | Feb 25, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1549613 | 919 | Two unresolved cases of late aortic endograft infection complicated by peri-aortic abscess involving the posterior mediastinum were presented by the Authors, who emphasized the role of strict follow-up after TEVAR to prevent late life-threatening complications. A literature review of the topic was also reported. | Mediastinitis; Peri-aortic abscess; TEVAR |
| 6. | Nicolas Nunez-Ordonez | Case Report: A usual procedure in an unusual situation: a patient with a rare Ehlers-Danlos/ osteogenesis imperfecta overlap undergoing aortic valve replacement | Feb 24, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1480363 | 1,071 | A case of Ehlers-Danlos/Osteogenesis Imperfecta Overlap Syndrome undergoing aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation was presented. The Authors emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to managing patients with rare genetic disorders. |
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome;
Multidisciplinary approach; Osteogenesis imperfecta; Overlap syndrome |
| 7. | Muhammad Idu | Case Report: Late presentation of post-coronary artery bypass surgery pericardial effusion heralding mediastinitis with tracheocutaneous fistula | Feb 13, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395 | 1,023 | A case of late post-CABG pericardial effusion, complicated by mediastinitis and tracheocutaneous fistula, was illustrated. | Mediastinitis; Pericardial effusion; Tracheocutaneous fistula |
| 8. | Özge Çetinarslan | Case Report: Staged surgical management in ESRD: off-pump CABG followed by renal transplantation to enhance graft survival | Feb 7, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1486771 | 798 | Two patients scheduled for renal transplantation because of end-stage renal failure underwent uneventful off-pump CABG without blood transfusion. The Authors emphasized the role of off-pump surgery, compared to on-pump surgery, in minimizing blood transfusions, which could eventually increase the risk of graft rejection. | Blood transfusion; Graft rejection; Off-pump CABG; Minimally invasive surgery |
| 9. | Jan Bidovec | Case Report: PCI of the left coronary artery after salvage operation in a comatose patient with an acute type A aortic dissection | Feb 6, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1516152 | 1,128 | A two-stage, hybrid treatment involving ascending aorta plus aortic arch replacement, along with intravascular ultrasound-guided stenting of the left main, was performed on a hemiplegic elderly woman with bilateral carotid artery and right vertebral artery occlusion owing to acute aortic dissection. Since there was no residual neurological deficit, the Authors highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. | Acute aortic dissection; Hybrid treatment; Multidisciplinary approach; Neurological deficit |
| 10. | Jianming Xia | Case Report: Surgery combined with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute type A aortic dissection complicated with acute myocardial infarction | Jan 31, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1463764 | 865 | ECMO was successfully used as a perioperative hemodynamic support measure for three patients with acute aortic dissection complicated by right ventricular myocardial infarction. | Acute aortic dissection; ECMO; Peri-operative management |
| 11. | Jeffrey Rodgers | Case Report: Fusarium falciforme pericardial and sternal wound infection following orthotopic heart transplantation | Jan 6, 2025 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1480392 | 768 | The Authors reported on the successful treatment of Fusarium falciforme mediastinitis in a heart transplant recipient. |
Fusarium falciforme;
Heart transplantation;
Mediastinitis |
| 12. | Yang Yuehang | Aortic valve replacement in a bicuspid aortic valve patient followed by reoperation for ascending aorta rupture: a case report | Dec 11, 2024 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1471686 | 889 | One case of ascending aortic rupture and aortic-right atrial fistula occurred after a replacement of stenotic BAV combined with ascending aortoplasty for mild (43 mm) aortic dilation. Replacement of the ascending aorta was finally performed. Given the increased risk of severe future complications, the Authors raised awareness among the readers about the need to consider a strategy for resolving ascending aortic replacement in the presence of diseased BAV, even with aortic dilation cutoffs lower than 45 mm (as recommended by the most recent guidelines recommendations). | Ascending aortic replacement; Ascending aortic rupture; Ascending aortoplasty; BAV; Guidelines |
| 13. | RN Aigumov | Geometric reconstruction of the left ventricle on a beating heart through a minimally invasive approach from the left anterolateral thoracotomy: case report | Dec 4, 2024 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1507222 | 1,043 |
A post-infarct aneurysm of the LV, complicated by endocavitary thrombosis, was successfully repaired through left anterolateral thoracotomy using the “beating heart” technique.
According to the Authors, this minimally invasive approach is safe and could improve LV geometric reconstruction. |
Beating heart surgery; LV aneurysm; Minimally invasive surgery |
| 14 | Yu Chen | Case Report: 3D imaging-assisted minimally invasive hybrid closure surgery of a complex coronary artery fistula | Nov 22, 2024 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1439263 | 803 | A pediatric case of successful, single-stage hybrid closure of a complex coronary artery fistula was reported. The Authors emphasized the decisive role of preoperative three-dimensional imaging and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. | Complex coronary artery fistula; Hybrid treatment; Minimally invasive surgery; Three-dimensional imaging |
| 15 | Hongjia Ma | Case Report: Surgical management of traumatic giant coronary artery pseudoaneurysm with pericardial patch repair and ostium isolation | Nov 8, 2024 | doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1462557 | 633 | A complex surgical repair of a giant coronary artery pseudoaneurysm caused by trauma was reported. The correct anatomical reconstruction was confirmed with transthoracic echocardiography at one month after surgery. | Cardiac trauma; Giant coronary pseudoaneurysm |
Case reports in heart surgery 2024a.
BAV, bicuspid aortic valve; CABG, coronary artery bypass grafting; DOI, digital object identifier; DSWI, deep sternal wound infection; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenator; LV, left ventricle/ventricular; TEVAR, thoracic endovascular aortic repair.
Case reports are listed in order of publication date.
22 Aug, 2025.
In the 2023 Editorial (1), I stated: “Personally, I am particularly fond of the Case Reports sections of surgical Journals because they often include interesting and innovative contributions. The clinical presentation, diagnostic process and effective surgical treatment of rare conditions offer the reader stimulating food for thought. Sometimes there are reported cases of failure but of great educational value. However, Case Reports sections are increasingly rare nowadays in scientific Journals where more value is placed on large-scale studies such as multicenter studies, randomized controlled trials or meta-analyses. (..) Both for Heart Surgery and Interventional Cardiology, the most advanced frontiers of the disciplines are often glimpsed by analyzing Case Reports!”. [SIC] Today, after reviewing dozens of Case Reports for Frontiers, I agree with myself more than ever.
In closing, I would like to sincerely thank all the valuable Reviewers and Co-editors who helped me with my task. I have certainly learned a great deal from them throughout this experience. In addition, I would like to thank all the members of the Editorial Offices of the two valuable scientific Journals for supporting me at every step of this experience. Thank you again to everyone!
Statements
Author contributions
GG: Formal analysis, Visualization, Investigation, Data curation, Resources, Validation, Software, Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Methodology, Conceptualization.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.
Generative AI statement
The author declares that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
References
1.
Gatti G. Editorial: case reports in heart surgery: 2023. Front Cardiovasc Med. (2024) 11:1527906. 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1527906
Summary
Keywords
left ventricular aneurysm, left ventricular thrombosis, mediastinitis, multidisciplinary approaches, multimodal imaging, case report, heart surgery
Citation
Gatti G (2025) Editorial: Case reports in heart surgery 2024. Front. Cardiovasc. Med. 12:1692834. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1692834
Received
26 August 2025
Accepted
07 October 2025
Published
29 October 2025
Volume
12 - 2025
Edited and reviewed by
Hendrik Tevaearai Stahel, University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland
Updates
Copyright
© 2025 Gatti.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Giuseppe Gatti gius.gatti@gmail.com
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.