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Background: Female sex has been recognized as a risk factor for cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI). The current study sought to evaluate whether female sex is a risk factor for CS-AKI, or modifies the association of peri-operative change in serum creatinine with CS-AKI., Methods: Observational study of adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 2000 and 2019 in a single U.S. center. The main variable of interest was registered patient sex, identified from electronic medical records. The main outcome was CS-AKI within 2 weeks of surgery., Results: Of 58526 patients, 19353 (33%) were female; 12934 (22%) incurred AKI based on ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or ≥ 50% rise in serum creatinine (any AKI), 3320 (5.7%) had moderate to severe AKI, and 1018 (1.7%) required dialysis within 2 weeks of surgery. Female sex was associated with higher risk for AKI in models that were based on preoperative serum creatinine (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.29-1.42), and lower risk with the use of estimated glomerular filtration, (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86-0.95). The risk for moderate to severe CS-AKI for a given immediate peri-operative change in serum creatinine was higher in female compared to male patients (p < .0001 and p < .0001 for non-linearity), and the association was modified by pre-operative kidney function (p < .0001 for interaction)., Conclusions: The association of patient sex with CS-AKI and its direction was dependent on the operational definition of pre-operative kidney function, and differential outcome misclassification due to AKI defined by absolute change in serum creatinine., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Severe gastrointestinal (GI) complications (GICs) after cardiac surgery are associated with poor outcomes. Herein, we characterize the severe forms of GICs and associated risk factors of mortality., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinically significant postoperative GICs after cardiac surgical procedures performed at our institution from January 2010 to April 2017. Multivariable analysis was used to identify predictors for in-hospital mortality., Results: Of 29,909 cardiac surgical procedures, GICs occurred in 1037 patients (3.5% incidence), with overall in-hospital mortality of 14% compared with 1.6% in those without GICs. GICs were encountered in older patients with multiple comorbidities who underwent complex prolonged procedures. The most lethal GICs were mesenteric ischemia (n = 104), hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) dysfunction (n = 139), and GI bleeding (n = 259), with mortality rates of 45%, 27%, and 17%, respectively. In the mesenteric ischemia subset, coronary artery disease (odds ratio [OR], 4.57; P = .002], coronary bypass grafting (OR, 6.50; P = .005), reoperation for bleeding/tamponade (OR, 12.07; P = .01), and vasopressin use (OR, 11.27; P < .001) were predictors of in-hospital mortality. In the HPB complications subset, hepatic complications occurred in 101 patients (73%), pancreatitis in 38 (27%), and biliary disease in 31 (22%). GI bleeding occurred in 20 patients (31%) with HPB dysfunction. In the GI bleeding subset, HPB disease (OR, 10.99; P < .001) and bivalirudin therapy (OR, 12.84; P = .01) were predictors for in-hospital mortality., Conclusions: Although relatively uncommon, severe forms of GICs are associated with high mortality. Early recognition and aggressive treatment are mandatory to improve outcomes., (Copyright © 2021 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aims of this study were to examine interrater agreement of delirium between clinical nurses and a clinical nurse specialist, determine delirium subtype prevalence, and examine associated patient, procedure, and hospital factors., Design: A descriptive cross-sectional design and a convenience sample of nurses and patients on progressive care units were used in this study., Methods: Clinical nurse specialist data were collected on a case report form, and clinician and patient data were obtained from electronic databases. Interrater agreement of delirium prevalence was assessed by κ statistic, and logistic regression models were used to determine patient factors associated with delirium., Results: Of 216 patients, 23 had delirium; clinical nurses identified fewer cases than the clinical nurse specialist: 1.8% versus 10.7%; κ agreement, 0.27 (0.06, 0.49). By delirium subtype, hypoactive delirium was more frequent (n = 10). Factors associated with delirium were history of cerebrovascular disease (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.8 [1.01-7.7]; P = .044), history of mitral valve disease (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.31 [0.09-0.90]; P = .041), and longer perfusion time (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.7 [1.1-2.7]; P = .016). One factor was associated with hypoactive delirium, longer perfusion time (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.2 [1.3-4.2]; P = .008)., Conclusions: Because clinician-clinical nurse specialist delirium agreement was low and hypoactive delirium was common, clinical interventions are needed., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Untreated infectious aneurysms of native coronary artery and aortocoronary bypass grafts are associated with high mortality. Early diagnosis proves difficult given nonspecific presenting symptoms; however, once recognized, early intervention is essential to mitigate complications such as myocardial ischemia or pericardial tamponade. In this case report, we describe the successful surgical management of a patient who presented 2 months after diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with cardiogenic shock from rupture of an infected saphenous vein graft aneurysm resulting in pericardial tamponade., (Copyright © 2021 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The impact of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery on long-term clinical outcomes and costs is not known. This subanalysis of the Veterans Affairs "Randomized On/Off Bypass Follow-up Study" compared 5-year outcomes and costs between patients with and without POAF., Methods: Of the 2203 veterans in the study, 100 with pre-CABG atrial fibrillation (93) or missing data (7) were excluded (4.8%). Unadjusted and risk-adjusted outcomes were compared between new-onset POAF (n = 551) and patients without POAF (n = 1552). Five-year clinical outcomes included mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, comprising mortality, repeat revascularization, and myocardial infarction), MACE subcomponents, stroke, and costs. A stringent P value of ≤.01 was required to identify statistical significance., Results: Patients with POAF were older and had more complex comorbidities. Unadjusted 5-year all-cause mortality was 16.3% POAF versus 11.9% no-POAF, P = .008. Unadjusted cardiac-mortality was 7.4% versus 4.8%, P = .022. There were no differences between groups in any other unadjusted outcomes including MACE or stroke. After risk adjustment, there were no significant differences between groups in 5-year all-cause mortality (POAF odds ratio, 1.19; 99% confidence interval, 0.81-1.75) or cardiac mortality (odds ratio, 1.51, 99% confidence interval, 0.88-2.60). Adjusted first-year post-CABG costs were $15,300 greater for patients with POAF, but 2- through 5-year costs were similar., Conclusions: No 5-year risk-adjusted outcome differences were found between patients with and without POAF after CABG. Although first-year costs were greater in patients with POAF, this difference did not persist in subsequent years., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Early coronary ischemic events are uncommon after cardiac surgery, with little known about their management or associated outcomes. We evaluated clinical outcomes of patients undergoing coronary angiography ± percutaneous coronary intervention or redo coronary artery bypass grafting for suspected coronary ischemia within 3 weeks after index cardiac surgery., Methods: This is a retrospective observational study based on data from 53,287 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at our institution (1996-2017); 180 patients (0.34%) satisfied the inclusion criteria. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. Statistical evaluation involved χ 2 , analysis of variance, Kaplan-Meier, and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses., Results: Most coronary angiography ± percutaneous coronary intervention and redo coronary artery bypass grafting procedures occurred in the first 2 weeks after index cardiac surgery. Patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)/non-STEMI had the lowest 1-year mortality (13.5%), followed by patients with ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (28.1%), and patients with non-ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation arrest or hemodynamic instability alone the worst (38.6%) (χ 2  = 17.3, P = .001). Peak troponin T level after cardiac surgery was strongly predictive of 1-year mortality (area under the curve, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.84; P < .001) but did not predict the presence of coronary compromise. For acute graft failure, 1-year mortality was better with percutaneous coronary intervention (18.2%) than redo coronary artery bypass grafting (23.5%) or no indicated/feasible intervention (29.2%)., Conclusions: Although suspected myocardial ischemia requiring coronary angiography or intervention early after cardiac surgery was rare, mortality was high, particularly in presentations other than STEMI/non-STEMI. In patients with overt signs and symptoms of myocardial ischemia after index cardiac surgery, troponin T was not a reliable marker of underlying coronary or graft obstruction but was a robust predictor of 1-year mortality., (Copyright © 2021 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Failure to rescue (FTR) is gaining popularity as a quality metric. The relationship between patient frailty and FTR after cardiovascular surgery has not been fully explored. This study aimed to utilize a national database to examine the impact of patient frailty on FTR., Methods: Of 5,199,534 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery between 2000 and 2014, 75,851 (1.5%) were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database as frail based on the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty-defining diagnoses indicator. Propensity-score matching was used to adjust for patient- and hospital-level characteristics and comorbidities when comparing frail and nonfrail patients., Results: Frail patients were on average older (68 ± 12 years vs 65 ± 12 years; P < .001) and had more comorbidities including heart failure, and chronic lung, liver, or renal disease. Among 68,472 matched pairs, frail patients had significantly higher rates of FTR (13.4% vs 11.9%; P < .001). This contributed to a $39,796 increase in cost per hospitalization (P < .001). Renal failure, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and sepsis were most commonly associated with FTR in frail patients. When hospitals were stratified by risk-adjusted mortality, low-mortality (1st quintile) centers had significantly lower FTR rates and costs among frail patients when compared to high-mortality (5th quintile) centers., Conclusions: Frailty contributes significantly to FTR after cardiovascular surgery. Frail patients can expect better outcomes with lower costs at cardiac surgical centers of excellence that can adequately manage postoperative outcomes. Preoperative assessment of frailty may better guide risk estimation and identification of patients who would benefit from appropriate prehabilitative interventions to optimize outcomes., (Copyright © 2021 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Microplegia has been studied during isolated coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery but not in more complex operations. Objectives of this study were to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of microplegia relative to Buckberg cardioplegia during these operations., Methods: From January 2012 to January 2017, 242 patients underwent multicomponent operations with simplified microplegia delivered via syringe pump and 10,512 with modified Buckberg cardioplegia. Operations included aortic root, arch, or ascending aorta replacement in 424 (94%) patients, aortic valve surgery in 324 (72%) patients, and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting in 47 (10%) patients. Outcomes were compared in 226 propensity-matched pairs., Results: There was no difference in median postoperative troponin T between groups after adjusting for aortic clamp time. Microplegia patients received significantly less crystalloid with their cardioplegia (mean 27 ± 8.0 mL/operation vs 735 ± 357 mL/operation; P < .001) and had lower peak intraoperative glucose (196 ± 40 mg/dL vs 248 ± 69 mg/dL; P < .001). Microplegia and Buckberg groups had similar in-hospital mortality (2.7% [n = 6] vs 2.2% [n = 5]; P = .8), stroke (2.2% [n = 5] vs 3.6% [n = 8]; P = .4), renal failure (8% [n = 18] vs 5.8% [n = 13]; P = .4), prolonged ventilation (23% [n = 51] vs 24% [n = 54]; P = .7), median postoperative length of stay (both 8.1 days; P > .9), and median red cell units administered to patients requiring transfusion (4 units vs 3 units; P = .14). The mean cost of cardioplegia per case with microplegia was 1/26th that of Buckberg cardioplegia., Conclusions: Our simplified microplegia technique offers several advantages over Buckberg cardioplegia without compromising myocardial protection or safety in complex, multicomponent operations with extended aortic clamp times., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Staphylococcus aureus remains the most common cause of sternal surgical site infections (SSIs). Opinions on the postoperative implications of preoperative methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) colonization currently differ. This study aimed to investigate whether MRSA carriage affects postoperative outcomes and safety of operation., Methods: A total of 1,774,811 cardiac surgical patients from 2009 to 2014 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample database. Among these patients, 5798 (0.33%) were MRSA carriers. Propensity-score matching was used to determine the effect of MRSA colonization on outcomes., Results: MRSA carriers did not differ in age or sex from noncarriers, but they more often presented for urgent surgery (P < .001). Among matched pairs, there was no difference in mortality (P = .76), stroke, SSIs, pneumonia, renal failure, cardiac complications, respiratory failure, or prolonged mechanical ventilation. MRSA infection (P < .001), MRSA septicemia (P = 0.03), and blood transfusion (P = .003) occurred more often among MRSA carriers. There was no increase in cost (P = .12), but the hospital length of stay was longer (P = .005). Predictors of MRSA infection among carriers included age older than 85 years, rural hospital location, and diabetes. Carriers with endocarditis and drug abuse were at highest risk for MRSA infection., Conclusions: MRSA carriers undergoing cardiac surgery are not at higher risk for mortality or SSIs and can expect outcomes similar to those of noncarriers. Higher rates of postoperative MRSA infection and septicemia among carriers, although still very low, support the need for selective preoperative screening and prophylaxis when possible., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The "weekend effect" is a purported phenomenon whereby patients admitted for time-sensitive medical and surgical conditions on a weekend suffer worse outcomes than those admitted on a weekday. There are limited data on the weekend effect for nonelective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)., Methods: We studied outcomes for weekend vs weekday operations for all adult patients in the 2013 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) undergoing nonelective CABG., Results: Of 101,510 patients undergoing nonelective CABG, 12,795 patients (12.6%) underwent CABG on the day of admission (n = 1230 for weekend and 11,565 for weekday admission, respectively). Patients undergoing surgical procedures on a weekend were more likely to have a diagnosis of ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (47.2% vs 20.2%, P < .001), require intraaortic balloon pump support (46.3% vs 23.1%, P < .001), and undergo same-day coronary angiography (66.7% vs 41.8%; P < .001) or same-day percutaneous coronary intervention (11.8% vs 7.1%; P = .01). Weekend admission was associated with increased mortality in unadjusted analysis (6.1% vs 3.2%; odds ratio, 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-3.52; P = .02), but this effect was attenuated in the adjusted model (adjusted odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-2.33; P = .47)., Conclusions: Patients undergoing CABG on a weekend had higher crude mortality but similar risk-adjusted mortality compared with their weekday counterparts. Some of the excess mortality observed for weekend operations is likely attributable to a sicker cohort of patients undergoing CABG on the weekend., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: To compare outcomes of patients treated with inhaled epoprostenol and low tidal volume ventilation during cardiopulmonary bypass with those who did not receive this medication in the operating room at all, and those who received it as a rescue therapy at the end of the case., Methods: Retrospective chart review between 2014 and 2017, follow-up included the entire hospital stay., Results: Seventy-one patients were included, and mean age was 54 years. 78.9% of the patients were male. Procedures included 96% (n = 68) aortic valve replacement, 28% (n = 20) reconstruction of the intravalvular fibrosa, and 13% (n = 9) repair of an endocarditis-related intracardiac fistula. Patients who received epoprostenol (iEpo) (treatment and rescue groups), when compared with the control group had more intra-aortic balloon pump placement (23% vs 2.5%, P = .018), open chest after surgery (32% vs 7.5%, P = .012), and duration of mechanical ventilation (8.3 ± 2.7 vs. 2.4 ± 0.4 days, P = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of extracorporeal circulatory support (6.5% vs 2.5%, P = .577) and hospital death (13% vs 10%, P = .72). In a subanalysis, hospital death and duration of mechanical ventilation were higher in the recue group when compared with the treatment group (P = .004 and .056, respectively)., Conclusions: Prophylactic application of iEpo with low tidal volume ventilation for an anticipated complex endocarditis operation may contribute to favorable outcome when compared with postoperative epoprostenol rescue., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common surgical treatment for ischemic heart disease. Little is known about the long-term costs of conducting the surgery on-pump or off-pump., Methods: As part of the Randomized On/Off Bypass follow-up study, we followed 2,203 participants randomized to on-pump (n = 1,099) and off-pump (n = 1,104) CABG for 5 years using Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicare administrative data. We examined annual costs through 5 years, standardized to 2016 dollars, using multivariate regression models, controlling for site and baseline patient factors., Results: In the first year, including the CABG surgery, annual average costs were $66,599 (SE, $1,946) for the on-pump group and $70,552 (SE, $1,954) for the off-pump group. In years 2 to 5, average costs ranged from $15,000 to $20,000 per year. There was no significant difference between on-pump and off-pump across the 5 years. We explored differences among high-risk subgroups (diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal dysfunction, ejection fraction < 35%, over age 70 years), and found no treatment assignment by time interactions, except for a nonsignificant trend in patients with diabetes., Conclusions: At 5 years, the average costs of off-pump and on-pump CABG patients did not statistically differ. Costs do not favor one approach and the decision should be based on clinical risks, especially in subgroups. Future research is warranted to examine post-CABG costs and outcomes for diabetic patients over time., (Copyright © 2019 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Variation in use of postacute care (PAC), including skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation, accounts for 73% of regional variation in Medicare spending. Studies of hospital variation in PAC use have typically focused on nonsurgical patients or have been limited to Medicare data. Consequently, there is no nationally representative data on how rates of postoperative discharge to PAC differ between hospitals. The purpose of this study was to explore hospital-level variation in PAC utilization after cardiovascular and abdominal surgery., Materials and Methods: We evaluated 3,487,365 patients from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and 60,666 from the Veterans Affairs health system, who had colorectal surgery, hepatectomy, pancreatectomy, coronary bypass, aortic aneurysm repair, and peripheral vascular bypass from 2008 to 2011. For each hospital, we calculated unadjusted and risk-adjusted observed-to-expected ratios for discharge to PAC facilities (skilled nursing or inpatient rehabilitation)., Results: A total of 631,199 (18%) non-veterans and 4744 (8%) veterans were discharged to PAC facilities. For veterans, 32% were ≥70 y old, and 98% were men. For non-veterans, 39% were ≥70, and 60% were men. Hospital rates of discharge to PAC facilities varied from 1% to 36% for veterans hospitals and from 1% to 59% for non-veteran hospitals. Risk-adjusted observed-to-expected ratios ranged from 0.10 to 4.15 for veterans and from 0.11 to 4.3 for non-veteran hospitals., Conclusions: There is substantial variation in PAC utilization and rates of home discharge after abdominal and cardiovascular surgery. To reduce variation, further research is needed to understand health systems factors that influence PAC utilization., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Optimal antiplatelet therapy after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains controversial. This study evaluated the role of dual antiplatelet therapy using aspirin and clopidogrel (DAPT) versus antiplatelet therapy using aspirin only (ASA) on post-CABG clinical outcomes and costs. In the Department of Veterans Affairs Randomized On/Off Bypass (ROOBY) trial, clopidogrel use after CABG was prospectively collected beginning in year 2 of this study to include 1,525 of the 2,203 original ROOBY patients who received aspirin after CABG. Discretionarily, surgeons after CABG administered either DAPT or ASA treatments. The ROOBY trial's primary 30-day composite (mortality or perioperative morbidity), 1-year composite (all-cause death, repeat revascularization, or nonfatal myocardial infarction), and costs were compared for these 2 strategies. Of the 1,525 subjects, 511 received DAPT and 1,014 received ASA. DAPT subjects, compared with ASA subjects, had lower rates of preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥45% (78.8% vs 85.7%, p <0.001), on-pump CABG (36.6% vs 57.1%, p = 0.001), and endoscopic vein harvesting (30.0% vs 42.8%, p <0.001). ASA patients were more likely to have earlier aspirin administration and receive 325 versus 81 mg dosages. The 30-day composite outcome rate was significantly lower for DAPT patients compared with ASA patients (3.3% vs 7.1%, p = 0.003), but the 1-year composite outcome was equal between the 2 groups (12.0% vs12.0%, p = 1.0). At 1 year, there were no cost differences between the 2 groups. Propensity analyses did not significantly alter the results. In conclusion, DAPT appeared safe and was associated with fewer 30-day adverse outcomes than aspirin only and with no 1-year outcome or cost differences., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To compare mitral valve repair (MVRepair) and mitral valve replacement (MVReplace) trends in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Improvement Program., Methods: Trends were compared by bivariate analyses, followed by backward stepwise selection and multivariable logistic modeling to determine the effect of preoperative comorbidities and facility-level factors on MVRepair (vs MVReplace) rate. A subgroup analysis focused on patients who underwent elective surgery for isolated primary degenerative mitral regurgitation. Propensity matching was done in the overall and primary degenerative cohorts., Results: From October 2000 to October 2013, 4165 veterans underwent MVRepair (n = 2408) or MVReplace (n = 1757) for MV disease of any cause at 40 VA medical centers (procedural volume, 0-29/y; median 7/y). The MVRepair percentage increased from 48% in 2001 to 63% in 2013 (P < .001). MVRepair rates varied widely among centers; center volume explained only 19% of this variation after adjustment for case mix (R 2  = 0.19, P = .005). Unadjusted 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were lower after MVRepair than after MVReplace (3.5% vs 4.8%, P = .04; 9.8% vs 12.1%, P = .02). Among the propensity-matched patients (n = 2520), 30-day and 1-year mortality were similar after MVRepair and MVReplace. In the propensity-matched primary degenerative subgroup (n = 664), unadjusted long-term mortality for up to 10 years postoperatively was lower after MVRepair (28% vs 37%, P = .003), as was risk-adjusted long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-1.01)., Conclusions: In the VA Health System, mortality after MV operations is low. Despite the survival advantage associated with MV repair in primary mitral regurgitation, repair is infrequent at some centers, representing an opportunity for quality improvement., (Copyright © 2017 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine the extent to which multiple, sequential complications impacts variation in institutional postoperative mortality rates., Background: Failure to rescue (FTR) has been proposed as an underlying factor in hospital variation in surgical mortality. However, little is currently known about hospital variation in FTR after multiple complications or the contribution of sequential complications to variation., Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 266,101 patients within the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2000-2014) who underwent a subset of high-mortality inpatient general, vascular, or thoracic procedures. The association between number of postoperative complications (0, 1, 2, or ≥3) and 30-day mortality across quintiles of hospital risk-adjusted mortality was evaluated with multivariable, multilevel mixed-effects models., Results: Among patients who had a complication, over half (60.9%) had 1, but those with more than 1 accounted for the majority of the deaths (63.1%). Across hospital quintiles, there were no differences in complications (23.5% very low mortality vs 23.6% very high mortality; trend test P = 0.15). FTR increased significantly (12.0% vs 18.1%; trend test P < 0.001) with an incremental impact as complications accrued (6.7% 1 complication vs 26.1% ≥3, lowest quintile; 11.7% 1 complication vs 33.0% ≥3, highest quintile). However, the risk of FTR associated with increasing complications remained relatively constant across hospital quintiles and was not explained by differences in patients presenting with multiple complications on the index complicated day., Conclusions: FTR occurs predominantly among patients who have more than 1 complication with a dose-response relationship as complications accrue. As this dose-response relationship is observed across hospitals, surgical quality improvement efforts may benefit by shifting focus to broader interventions designed to prevent subsequent complications at all hospitals.

Objective: We attempted to identify predictors of adverse outcomes after traditional open and hybrid zone 0 total aortic arch replacement., Methods: We performed multivariable analysis using 16 variables to identify predictors of adverse outcomes (mortality, permanent neurologic events, and permanent renal failure necessitating hemodialysis) in 319 consecutive patients who underwent total aortic arch replacement in the past 8.5 years and a subgroup analysis in 25 propensity-matched pairs. A total of 274 patients (85.9%) had traditional open repair, and 45 patients (14.1%) had hybrid zone 0 total arch exclusion., Results: Operative mortality was 10.3% (n = 33): 11.1% (n = 5) in the hybrid group and 10.2% (n = 28) in the traditional group (P = .79). A total of 19 patients (5.9%) had permanent stroke (15 traditional [5.5%] vs 4 hybrid [8.9%]; P = .32), and 2 patients (both traditional) had permanent paraplegia (P = 1.00). The hybrid group had more total neurologic events (P = .051) but not more permanent strokes (P = .32). Prior cardiac disease unrelated to the aorta (P = .0033) and congestive heart failure (P = .0053) independently predicted permanent adverse outcome (operative mortality, permanent neurologic event, or permanent renal failure). Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting independently predicted permanent stroke (P = .032), as did previous cerebrovascular disease (P = .032). In multivariable analysis, procedure type (hybrid or traditional) was not an independent predictor of stroke (P = .09). During a median follow-up of 4.5 years (95% confidence interval, 3.9-4.9), survival was 78.7%, with no intergroup difference (P = .14)., Conclusions: Among contemporary cases, both traditional and hybrid total aortic arch replacement had acceptable results. Comparing these 2 different surgical treatment options is challenging, and an individualized approach offers the best results. Permanent adverse outcome was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Procedure type is not an independent predictor of permanent stroke. Prior cardiac disease, past or current smoking, and congestive heart failure predict adverse outcomes for total aortic arch replacement., (Copyright © 2015 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Although numerous reports describe the results of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at specialized centers and in select patient populations, it remains unclear how off-pump CABG affects real-world patient outcomes. We conducted a large, multicenter observational cohort study of perioperative death and morbidity in on-pump (ON) versus off-pump (OFF) CABG. We reviewed Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program data for all patients (N=65,097) who underwent isolated CABG from October 1997 through April 2011 (intention-to-treat data were available from 2005 onward). The primary outcome was perioperative (30-day or in-hospital) death; the secondary outcomes were perioperative stroke, dialysis dependence, reoperation for bleeding, mechanical circulatory support, myocardial infarction, ventilator support ≥ 48 hr, and mediastinitis. Propensity scores calculated from age, 17 preoperative risk factors, and year of surgery were used to match 8,911 OFF with 26,733 ON patients. In the complete cohort, compared with the ON patients (n=53,468), the OFF patients (n=11,629) had less perioperative death (2.02% vs 2.53%, P=0.0012) and lower incidences of all morbidities except perioperative myocardial infarction. In the matched cohort, perioperative death did not differ significantly between OFF and ON patients (1.94% vs 2.28%, P=0.06), but the OFF group had lower incidences of all morbidities except for perioperative myocardial infarction and mediastinitis. A subgroup intention-to-treat analysis yielded similar but smaller outcome differences between the ON and OFF groups. Off-pump CABG might be associated with decreased operative morbidity but did not affect operative death, compared with on-pump CABG. Future studies should examine the effect of off-pump CABG on long-term outcomes.

Background: We examined factors affecting the choice of surgical versus medical treatment of severe aortic stenosis and evaluated associated patient survival., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from all patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis at a Veterans Affairs medical facility between January 1997 and April 2008., Results: Of 345 patients with severe aortic stenosis, 260 (75%) underwent surgical evaluation, and 205 (59%) underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). The patient's decision to decline surgical referral or AVR (n = 47) and severe comorbidities (n = 34) were the top two reasons for medical treatment rather than AVR. The AVR group was younger (69.5 +/- 9.6 years versus 75.7 +/- 8.6 years; p < 0.001) and had a higher prevalence of symptoms (96% versus 71%; p < 0.001) than the medical group. The medical group had a lower cardiac ejection fraction (0.42 +/- 0.15 versus 0.50 +/- 0.12; p < 0.001) and was less likely to be independent in activities of daily living (64% versus 74%). The AVR group had higher survival rates than the medical patients at 1 year (92% versus 65%), 3 years (85% versus 29%), and 5 years (73% versus 16%; log-rank test p < 0.0001). Valve replacement was independently associated with decreased mortality (hazard ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.27; p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: The management of severe aortic stenosis in veterans is sometimes limited to medical evaluation and treatment. Surgeons should be involved in the complex process of risk assessment, to select patients with severe aortic stenosis who would benefit from the survival advantage associated with AVR., (2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We evaluated contemporary outcomes of open thoracic aortic surgery at a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center affiliated with a major academic aortic program and examined the predictive value of 2 established cardiac risk models., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all open thoracic aortic operations performed between April 1998 and April 2008 (n = 100). Both the EuroSCORE and the VA Continuous Improvement in Cardiac Surgery Program (CICSP) scores were evaluated., Results: Procedures included ascending aortic repair (n = 74, 15 with arch repair), descending thoracic repair (n = 11, 1 with arch repair), and thoracoabdominal aortic repair (n = 15). Emergency surgery was necessary in 15 cases, and 19 procedures were reoperations. The patients' logistic EuroSCORE and the CICSP scores were similar (18.7% and 18.2%, respectively), but both scores significantly exceeded the observed operative mortality rate (8.0%, P = .008)., Conclusions: Good outcomes can be achieved when thoracic aortic surgery is performed at an experienced VA center. The cardiac risk models we examined overpredicted operative mortality.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of aprotinin on blood loss in extrapleural pneumonectomy and to identify potential treatment-related complications., Methods: Between March 1, 1999, and July 1, 2004, 27 (52%) of 52 patients who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy received half-dose aprotinin (1 million kallikrein inhibition units load; 250,000 kallikrein inhibition units per hour infusion). A retrospective data review and analysis were performed., Results: The mean age was 59.8 +/- 11 years, and 45 of 52 patients (87%) were male. Indications for extrapleural pneumonectomy were malignant pleural mesothelioma (n = 50) and pleural-based sarcoma (n = 2). The administration of aprotinin had no significant effect on intraoperative blood loss (1,010 +/- 599 versus 1,182 +/- 688 mL; p = 0.34) or units of packed red blood cells transfused intraoperatively (2.0 +/- 1.7 versus 1.9 +/- 1.7 units; p = 0.86). None of the patients who received aprotinin required the use of non-packed red blood cells blood products, but 4 patients (16%) who did not receive aprotinin required such transfusion (p < 0.05). Postoperative chest tube output at 12 and 24 hours was lower in the aprotinin group (381 +/- 195 and 867 +/- 313 mL, respectively) compared with the control group (725 +/- 527 and 1,221 +/- 442 mL, respectively; p < 0.03). There was no significant difference in incidence of postoperative thromboembolic events between the aprotinin and the control group (5 versus 4 patients; p = 1.0), and 2 patients in each group experienced renal insufficiency (p = 1.0)., Conclusions: Half-dose aprotinin did not decrease intraoperative blood loss or packed red blood cells transfusion in extrapleural pneumonectomy. However, use of aprotinin was associated with decreased use of non-packed red blood cells blood products and lower postoperative chest tube output. Aprotinin administration was not associated with an increase in incidence of postoperative complications.

Little is known about the frequency and clinical implications of postoperative atrial fibrillation in military veterans who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We examined long-term survival data, clinical outcomes, and associated risk factors in this population. We retrospectively reviewed baseline, intraoperative, and postoperative data from 1,248 consecutive patients with similar baseline risk profiles who underwent primary isolated CABG at a Veterans Affairs hospital from October 2006 through March 2013. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of postoperative atrial fibrillation. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate long-term survival (the primary outcome measure), morbidity, and length of hospital stay. Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in 215 patients (17.2%). Independent predictors of this sequela were age ≥65 years (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals], 1.7 [1.3-2.4] for patients of age 65-75 yr and 2.6 [1.4-4.8] for patients >75 yr) and body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 (2.0 [1.2-3.2]). Length of stay was longer for patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation than for those without (12.7 ± 6.6 vs 10.3 ± 8.9 d; P ≤0.0001), and the respective 30-day mortality rate was higher (1.9% vs 0.4%; P=0.014). Seven-year survival rates did not differ significantly. Older and obese patients are particularly at risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation after CABG. Patients who develop the sequela have longer hospital stays than, but similar long-term survival rates to, patients who do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]