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BACKGROUND: Emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in patients with previous cardiac surgery is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between previous cardiac surgery and outcomes after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection, to appreciate whether emergency surgery can be offered with acceptable risks.METHODS: All patients operated on for acute type A aortic dissection between 2005 and 2014 from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection database were eligible. Patients with previous cardiac surgery were compared with patients without previous cardiac surgery. Univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to identify predictors of 30-day mortality and early major adverse events (a secondary composite endpoint comprising 30-day mortality, perioperative stroke, postoperative cardiac arrest, or de novo dialysis).RESULTS: In all, 1159 patients were included, 40 (3.5%) with previous cardiac surgery. Patients with previous cardiac surgery had higher 30-day mortality (30% vs 17.8%, P = .049), worse medium-term survival (51.7% vs 71.2% at 5 years, log rank P = .020), and higher unadjusted prevalence of major adverse events (52.5% vs 35.7%, P = .030). In multivariable analysis, previous cardiac surgery was not associated with 30-day mortality (odds ratio 0.78; 95% CI, 0.30-2.07; P = .624) or major adverse events (odds ratio 1.07; 95% CI, 0.45-2.55, P = .879).CONCLUSIONS: Major adverse events after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection were more frequent in patients with previous cardiac surgery. Previous cardiac surgery itself was not an independent predictor for adverse events, although the small sample size precludes definite conclusions. Previous cardiac surgery should not deter from emergency surgery.

BACKGROUND: The outcome in patients after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection without replacement of the part of the aorta containing the primary tear is undefined.METHODS: Data of 1122 patients who underwent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in eight Nordic centers from Jan 2005 to Dec 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with primary tear location either unfound, unknown, not confirmed or not recorded (n=243, 21.7%) were excluded from the analysis. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the aortic reconstruction encompassed the portion of the primary tear (TR group, n=730) or not (TNR group, n=149). The restricted mean survival time ratios adjusted for patient characteristics and surgical details between the groups were calculated for all-cause mortality and aortic reoperation-free survival. The median follow-up time was 2.57 (inter-quartile range 0.53-5.30) years.RESULTS: For the majority of the patients in the TR group, the primary tear was located in the ascending aorta (83.6%). The reconstruction encompassed both aortic root and the aortic arch in 7.4% in the TR group as compared with 0.7% in the TNR patients (PCONCLUSIONS: Primary tear resection alone does not determine the mid-term outcome after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Objective To evaluate the incidence and recurrence rate of AF during 1 year after CABG surgery. We also aimed at calculating the AF burden and compare long-term intermittent vs continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. Methods Forty patients scheduled for CABG surgery were equipped with an implantable loop recorder (ILR). After discharge, they carried out handheld ECG 3 times daily during the first 30 postoperative days and during 2 weeks at 3 and 12 months. During hospital stay they were monitored with telemetry. Results Altogether 27 of 40 (68%) patients were diagnosed with AF, 24 during the first month (21 in-hospital and 3 after discharge) and 3 during months 2–12. Three patients progressed into persistent AF. In addition, 17 patients had AF recurrence, 9 of them after the first 30 days. In patients with paroxysmal AF, the AF burden was low, 0.1% (interquartile range [IQR] 0.02%–0.3%). Patients with AF had higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores than non-AF patients: median 4 (IQR 3–4) and 3 (IQR 2–3.5), respectively, P = .006. The handheld ECG identified 45% (9/20) of the patients with AF episodes identified with continuous ECG monitoring with the ILR after discharge from hospital, P = .001. Conclusions Patients with AF during the postoperative hospitalization showed a high likelihood of recurrent AF, usually within 30 days. Continuous ECG monitoring with an ILR was superior to the handheld ECG for detecting patients with AF. The AF burden was low., Graphical abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) using the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection registry. Methods: Patients who underwent ATAAD surgery at 8 Nordic centers from 2005 to 2014 were analyzed for AKI according to the RIFLE criteria. Patients who died intraoperatively, those who had missing baseline or postoperative serum creatinine, and patients on preoperative renal replacement therapy were excluded. Results: AKI occurred in 382 of 941 patients (40.6%), and postoperative dialysis was required for 105 patients (11.0%). Renal malperfusion was present preoperatively in 42 patients (5.1%), of whom 69.0% developed postoperative AKI. In multivariable analysis patient-related predictors of AKI included age (per 10 years; odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.48), body mass index >30 kg/m 2 (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.51-3.09), renal malperfusion (OR, 4.39; 95% CI, 2.23-9.07), and other malperfusion (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.55-2.86). Perioperative predictors were cardiopulmonary bypass time (per 10 minutes; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07) and red blood cell transfusion (OR per transfused unit, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10). Rates of 30-day mortality were 17.0% in the AKI group compared with 6.6% in the non-AKI group (P < .001). In 30-day survivors AKI was an independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 1.86; 95% CI; 1.24-2.79). Conclusions: AKI is a common complication after surgery for ATAAD and independently predicts adverse long-term outcome. Of note one-third of patients presenting with renal malperfusion did not develop postoperative AKI, possibly because of restoration of renal blood flow with surgical repair. Mortality risk persists beyond the perioperative period, indicating that close clinical follow-up of these patients is required.

Aims To provide data guiding long-term antithrombotic therapy after coronar y arter y by-pass grafting (CABG) in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and results From the SWEDEHEART registry, we included all patients, between January 2006 and September 2016, with preoperative AF and CHA2DS2-VASC score >2, undergoing CABG. Based on dispensed prescriptions 12 to 18 months after CABG, patients were divided in 3 groups: use of platelet inhibitors (PI) only, oral anticoagulant (OAC) only or a combination of OAC + PI. Outcomes were: Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE, [all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke]), net adverse clinical events (NACE, [MACCE or bleeding]) and the individual components of NACE. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to adjust for the non-randomized study design. Among 2,564 patients, 1,040 (41%) were treated with PI alone, 1,064 (41%) with OAC alone, and 460 (18%) with PI + OAC. Treatment with PI alone was associated with higher risk for MACCE (adjusted HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.09-1.88), driven by higher risk for stroke and MI, compared with OAC alone. Treatment with PI + OAC, was associated with higher risk for NACE (adjusted HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.06-1.85), driven by higher risk for bleeds, compared with OAC alone. Conclusion In this real-world observational study, a high proportion of patients with AF, undergoing CABG, did not receive a long-term OAC therapy. Treatment with OAC alone was associated with a net clinical benefit, compared with PI alone or PI + OAC. (Am Heart J 2023;257:69-77.) Funding Agencies|Swedish government

OBJECTIVES Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a rare but severe condition, routinely treated with emergent cardiac surgery. Many surgeons have the notion that patients with ATAAD tend to come in clusters, but no studies have examined these observations. This investigation was undertaken to study the potential association between the lunar cycle and the incidence of ATAAD. METHODS We collected information on 2995 patients who underwent ATAAD surgery at centres from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection collaboration. We cross-referenced the time of surgery with lunar phase using a case-crossover design with 2 different definitions of full moon (>99% illumination and the 7-day full moon period). RESULTS The period when the moon was illuminated the most (99% definition) did not show any significant increase in incidence for ATAAD surgery. However, when the full moon period was compared with all other moon phases, it yielded a relative risk of 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–1.17, P = 0.057] and, compared to waxing moon, only the relative risk was 1.11 (95% CI 1.01–1.23, P = 0.027). The peak incidence came 4–6 days after the moon was fully illuminated. CONCLUSIONS This study found an overrepresentation of surgery for ATAAD during the full moon phase. The explanation for this is not known, but we speculate that sleep deprivation during full moon leads to a temporary increase in blood pressure, which in turn could trigger rupture of the aortic wall. While this finding is interesting, it needs to be corroborated and the clinical implications are debateable., The impact our nearest celestial body has on our ecosystem, society and humans has been studied and debated for at least 20 000 years [1] when humans first started to record the lunar cycle.

Background : Post-operative AF (POAF) is the most common complication following cardiac surgery, occurring in 30% to 60% of patients undergoing bypass and/or valve surgery. POAF is associated with longer intensive care unit/hospital stays, increased healthcare utilization, and increased morbidity and mortality. Injection of botulinum toxin type A into the epicardial fat pads resulted in reduction of AF in animal models, and in 2 clinical studies of cardiac surgery patients, without new safety observations. Methods : The objective of NOVA is to assess the use of AGN-151607 (botulinum toxin type A) for prevention of POAF in cardiac surgery patients. This randomized, multi-site, placebo-controlled trial will study one-time injections of AGN-151607 125 U (25 U / fat pad) and 250 U (50 U / fat pad) or placebo during cardiac surgery in ∼330 participants. Primary endpoint: % of patients with continuous AF ≥ 30 s. Secondary endpoints include several measures of AF frequency, duration, and burden. Additional endpoints include clinically important tachycardia during AF, time to AF termination, and healthcare utilization. Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints will be assessed using continuous ECG monitoring for 30 days following surgery. All patients will be followed for up to 1 year for safety. Conclusion : The NOVA Study will test the hypothesis that injections of AGN-151607 will reduce the incidence of POAF and associated resource utilization. If demonstrated to be safe and effective, the availability of a one-time therapy for the prevention of POAF would represent an important treatment option for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is associated with worse short- and long-term outcomes. Although the clinical presentation of POAF varies substantially, almost all studies model it with a dichotomous yes or no variable. We explored potential associations between the clinical course of POAF and long-term outcome.This retrospective, observational, single-center study included 6435 coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve patients between 2010 and 2018. POAF patients were grouped into spontaneous/pharmacologic conversion to sinus rhythm, sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion, and sustained AF at discharge. Multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, type of surgery, comorbidities, and early-initiated oral anticoagulation were used to study associations between the clinical course of POAF and long-term risk for mortality, ischemic stroke, thromboembolic events, heart failure hospitalization, and major bleeding. Median follow-up time was 3.8 years (range, 0-8.3).POAF occurred in 2172 patients (33.8%), 94.9% of whom converted to sinus rhythm before discharge. Of these, 73.6% converted spontaneously or with pharmacologic treatment and 26.4% after electrical cardioversion. Both sustained AF and electrical cardioversion were independently associated with an increased long-term risk for heart failure (adjusted hazard ratio for sustained AF at discharge, 2.55 [95% confidence interval, 1.65-3.93; P.001]; adjusted hazard ratio for electrical cardioversion, 1.28 [95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.65; P = .049]) but not with increased long-term risk for death, thromboembolic complications, or bleeding.A more complicated POAF course is associated with increased long-term risk for heart failure hospitalization but not for all-cause mortality or thromboembolic complications.

INTRODUCTION Finding ways of identifying patients with low levels of physical activity after lung cancer surgery would be beneficial when planning and providing interventions aimed at increasing physical activity. PURPOSE To validate two self-reported physical activity instruments against accelerometer data. METHODS Self-reported physical activity was assessed with the four category One Month Physical Activity Question (OMPAQ) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire modified for the elderly (IPAQ-E). Objective measurement of physical activity was performed with the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer. All measurements were performed three months after lung cancer surgery. RESULTS Three months after surgery, 83 patients provided complete physical activity measurements. There were statistically significant correlations between both of the self-reported physical activity assessed by OMPAQ (r = 0.54, p

Objectives. Acute type-A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is still one of the most challenging diseases that cardiac surgeons encounter. Design. This review is based on the current literature and includes the results from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type-A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) database. It covers different aspects of ATAAD and concentrates on the outcome of surgical repair. Results and conclusions. The diagnosis is occasionally delayed, and ATAAD is usually lethal if prompt repair is not performed. The dynamic nature of the disease, the variation in presentation and clinical course, and the urgency of treatment require significant attentiveness. Many surgical techniques and perfusion strategies of varying complexity have been described, ranging from simple interposition graft to total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk and valve-sparing root reconstruction. Although more complex techniques may provide long-term benefit in selected patients, they require significant surgical expertise and experience. Short-term survival is first priority so an expedited operation that fits in with the surgeon's level of expertise is in most cases appropriate.

OBJECTIVES: Open-distal anastomosis is the preferred technique over clamp-on technique for surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). The aim of this study was to define how outcomes of ATAAD were affected by the use of either technique.METHODS: Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection includes 8 academic cardiothoracic hospitals in 4 Nordic countries. The cohort consisted of 1134 patients, 153 clamp-on and 981 open-distal, from 2005 to 2014.RESULTS: Patients who underwent operation with the clamp-on were younger, more frequently had coronary artery disease, bicuspid aortic valve, hypotension/shock or syncope, and a greater PennClass than open-distal patients. Postoperative cerebral vascular accident occurred less frequently in clamp-on (14/153, 10%) compared with the open-distal group (190/981, 20%). Clamp-on had greater 30-day mortality (39/153, 25%) than the open-distal group (158/981, 16%), and 5-year survival was also worse in clamp-on (61.8% ± 4.4%) compared with the open-distal group (73.0% ± 1.6%). The open-distal technique was used more frequently in greater-volume hospitals but was not independently associated with 30-day mortality. Preoperative condition was an independent risk factor whereas hospital volume and later year of operation were beneficial in regard to short-term outcome. Open-distal was independently associated with improved mid-term survival.CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent operation with the clamp-on were sicker on presentation and had worse short- and mid-term survival compared with the open-distal group. Patients in the open-distal group had greater rates of cerebrovascular complications. The results support the routine use of open-distal anastomosis as the primary operative strategy for ATAAD, although clamp-on can be performed successfully in select cases.

Background The long‐term impact of new‐onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after coronary artery bypass grafting and the benefit of early‐initiated oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with POAF are uncertain. Methods and Results All patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting without preoperative atrial fibrillation in Sweden from 2007 to 2015 were included in a population‐based study using data from 4 national registries: SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence‐based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies), National Patient Registry, Dispensed Drug Registry, and Cause of Death Registry. POAF was defined as any new‐onset atrial fibrillation during the first 30 postoperative days. Cox regression models (adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, and medication) were used to assess long‐term outcome in patients with and without POAF, and potential associations between early‐initiated OAC and outcome. In a cohort of 24 523 patients with coronary artery bypass grafting, POAF occurred in 7368 patients (30.0%), and 1770 (24.0%) of them were prescribed OAC within 30 days after surgery. During follow‐up (median 4.5 years, range 0‒9 years), POAF was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.18 [95% CI, 1.05‒1.32]), any thromboembolism (ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, or peripheral arterial embolism) (aHR 1.16, 1.05‒1.28), heart failure hospitalization (aHR 1.35, 1.21‒1.51), and recurrent atrial fibrillation (aHR 4.16, 3.76‒4.60), but not with all‐cause mortality (aHR 1.08, 0.98‒1.18). Early initiation of OAC was not associated with reduced risk of ischemic stroke or any thromboembolism but with increased risk for major bleeding (aHR 1.40, 1.08‒1.82). Conclusions POAF after coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with negative prognostic impact. The role of early OAC therapy remains unclear. Studies aiming at reducing the occurrence of POAF and its consequences are warranted.

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: The Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial was a non-inferiority trial that compared percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stents with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with de-novo three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease, and reported results up to 5 years. We now report 10-year all-cause death results. METHODS: The SYNTAX Extended Survival (SYNTAXES) study is an investigator-driven extension of follow-up of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial done in 85 hospitals across 18 North American and European countries. Patients with de-novo three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease were randomly assigned (1:1) to the PCI group or CABG group. Patients with a history of PCI or CABG, acute myocardial infarction, or an indication for concomitant cardiac surgery were excluded. The primary endpoint of the SYNTAXES study was 10-year all-cause death, which was assessed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Prespecified subgroup analyses were performed according to the presence or absence of left main coronary artery disease and diabetes, and according to coronary complexity defined by core laboratory SYNTAX score tertiles. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03417050. FINDINGS: From March, 2005, to April, 2007, 1800 patients were randomly assigned to the PCI (n=903) or CABG (n=897) group. Vital status information at 10 years was complete for 841 (93%) patients in the PCI group and 848 (95%) patients in the CABG group. At 10 years, 244 (27%) patients had died after PCI and 211 (24%) after CABG (hazard ratio 1.17 [95% CI 0.97-1.41], p=0.092). Among patients with three-vessel disease, 151 (28%) of 546 had died after PCI versus 113 (21%) of 549 after CABG (hazard ratio 1.41 [95% CI 1.10-1.80]), and among patients with left main coronary artery disease, 93 (26%) of 357 had died after PCI versus 98 (28%) of 348 after CABG (0.90 [0.68-1.20], pinteraction=0.019). There was no treatment-by-subgroup interaction with diabetes (pinteraction=0.66) and no linear trend across SYNTAX score tertiles (ptrend=0.30). INTERPRETATION: At 10 years, no significant difference existed in all-cause death between PCI using first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stents and CABG. However, CABG provided a significant survival benefit in patients with three-vessel disease, but not in patients with left main coronary artery disease. FUNDING: German Foundation of Heart Research (SYNTAXES study, 5-10-year follow-up) and Boston Scientific Corporation (SYNTAX study, 0-5-year follow-up).

OBJECTIVE: Decision-making concerning the extent of the repair of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) includes functional and anatomical assessment of the aortic valve. We hypothesized that bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) does not impact outcome after surgery for ATAAD. We therefore evaluated the outcome after ATAAD surgery in relation to the presence of BAV, acute aortic regurgitation (AR), and surgical approach, using the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection database.METHODS: Eight participating Nordic centers collected data from 1122 patients undergoing ATAAD surgery during the years 2005 to 2014. Early complications, reoperations and survival were compared between patients with BAV and tricuspid aortic valves (TAV) before and after propensity score matching for sex, age, AR, organ malperfusion, hemodynamic instability, and site of the tear. Mean follow-up (range) for patients with TAV and BAV was 3.1 years (0-10.4 years) and 3.2 years (0-9.0 years), respectively.RESULTS: Altogether, 65 (5.8%) of the patients had BAV. Root replacement was more frequently performed in the BAV as compared with the TAV group (60% vs 23%, P < .001). Survival, however, did not differ significantly between patients with BAV or TAV, either before (P = .230) or after propensity score-matching (P = .812). Even so, in cohort as a whole, patients presenting with AR had less favorable survival.CONCLUSIONS: Early and mid-term survival did not differ significantly between patients with BAV and TAV.

Background The long-term risk of stroke after surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation is not well known. We performed an observational cohort study with long follow-up after the "cut-and-sew" Cox-maze III procedure (CM-III), including left atrial appendage excision. The aim was to analyze the incidence of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and the association to preoperative CHA2DS2-VASc (age in years, sex, congestive heart failure history, hypertension history, stroke/TIA, thromboembolism history, vascular disease history, diabetes mellitus) score. Methods Preoperative and perioperative data were collected in 526 CM-III patients operated in four centers 1994 to 2009, 412 men, mean age of 57.1 ± 8.3 years. The incidence of any stroke/TIA was identified through analyses of the Swedish National Patient and Cause-of-Death Registers and from review of individual patient records. The cumulative incidence of stroke/TIA and association with CHA2DS2-VASc score was estimated using methods accounting for the competing risk of death. Results Mean follow-up was 10.1 years. There were 29 patients with any stroke/TIA, including 6 with intracerebral bleedings (2 fatal) and 4 with perioperative strokes (0.76%). The remaining 13 ischemic strokes and six TIAs occurred at a mean of 7.1 ± 4.0 years postoperatively, with an incidence of 0.36% per year (19 events per 5,231 patient-years). In all CHA2DS2-VASc groups, observed ischemic stroke/TIA rate was lower than predicted. A higher risk of ischemic stroke/TIA was seen in patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score 2 or greater compared with score 0 or 1 (hazards ratio 2.15, 95% confidence interval: 0.87 to 5.32) but no difference by sex or stand-alone versus concomitant operation. No patient had ischemic stroke as cause of death. Conclusions This multicenter study showed a low incidence of perioperative and long-term postoperative ischemic stroke/TIA after CM-III. Although general risk of ischemic stroke/TIA was reduced, patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score 2 or greater had a higher risk compared with score 0 or 1. Complete left atrial appendage excision may be an important reason for the low ischemic stroke rate.

The Task Force for the management of atrial fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Developed with the special contribution of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC Endorsed by the European Stroke Organisation (ESO)

Background New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, but the prognostic implications are not settled. In contrast to previous reports, a recent Danish study in coronary bypass surgery (CABG) patients (Butt et al. JAMA Cardiol 2018) did not show any increased risk for thromboembolic complications in POAF patients. Purpose To compare long-term outcome in patients with vs. without POAF after CABG. Methods All CABG patients in Sweden 2005–2015 (n=38040) were included in a retrospective population-based cohort study. Data from the SWEDEHEART registry, the National Patient Registry and the National Population Registry were merged. POAF was defined as any new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) episode up to the 30thpostoperative day. Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting (IPTW) adjusted Cox regression models were used to compare outcome variables after the first 30 postoperative days until the end of follow-up (median 5 years, range 0–10). The models were adjusted for age, gender, CHA2DS2-VASc score, co-morbidity, and medications. Results The mean age of the entire cohort was 68 years, 79% were men and 90% had a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2. The incidence of POAF was 28.5% (10845/38040). During follow-up POAF, patients had a significantly higher adjusted risk for all-cause mortality [Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.16 (95% CI 1.09–1.24)], ischemic stroke [HR 1.19 (1.09–1.30)], transient ischemic attack [HR 1.17 (1.03–1.33)], pulmonary embolism [HR 1.24 (1.01–1.54)], myocardial infarction [HR 1.14 (1.04–1.25)], heart failure hospitalizations [HR.1.46 (1.35–1.59)] and recurrent AF [HR 4.33 (4.09–4.65)]. Conclusions POAF was in this comparatively large study associated with increased risk for mortality and morbidity during long-term follow-up after CABG and is hence not a trivial complication.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is generally performed through a right minithoracotomy, in contrast to the traditional full median sternotomy approach. Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is performed with increasing frequency, and by reducing surgical trauma, several observational studies suggest potential benefits with decreased bleeding and postoperative pain, reduced incidence of sternal wound infections, reduced length of hospital stay and shortened recovery period after surgery. In this review, we present an overview of mitral valve surgery, summarize the available evidence regarding the minimally invasive approach and report our experiences from introducing a minimally invasive mitral valve surgery programme at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

Background Aortic dissection type A requires immediate surgery. In general surgery populations, patients operated on during weekends have higher mortality rates compared with patients whose operations occur on weekdays. The weekend effect in aortic dissection type A has not been studied in detail. Methods The Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) registry includes data for 1,159 patients who underwent type A dissection surgery at 8 Nordic centers during 2005 to 2014. This study is based on data relating to surgery conducted during weekdays versus weekends and starting between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm (“daytime”) versus from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am (“nighttime”), as well as time from symptoms, admittance, and diagnosis to surgery. The influence of timing of surgery on the 30-day mortality rate was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results The 30-day mortality was 18% (204 of 1,159), with no difference in mortality between surgery performed on weekdays (17% [150 of 889]) and on weekends (20% [54 of 270], p = 0.45), or during nighttime (19% [87 of 467]) versus daytime (17% [117 of 680], p = 0.54). Time from symptoms to surgery (median 7.0 hours vs 6.5 hours, p = 0.31) did not differ between patients who survived and those who died at 30 days. Multivariable regression analysis of risk factors for 30-day mortality showed no weekend effect (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 60.67 to 1.60; p = 0.875), but nighttime surgery was a risk factor (odds ratio, 2.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.29 to 4.56; p = 0.006). Conclusions The 30-day mortality in surgical repair of aortic dissection type A was not significantly affected by timing of surgery during weekends versus weekdays. Nighttime surgery seems to predict increased 30-day mortality, after correction for other risk factors.

Objectives To compare effectiveness of warfarin and antiplatelet exposure regarding both thrombotic and bleeding events, following surgical aortic valve replacement with a biological prosthesis(bioSAVR). Methods The study included all patients in Sweden undergoing a bioSAVR during 2008–2014 who were alive at discharge from the index hospital stay. Exposure was analysed and defined as postdischarge dispension of any antithrombotic pharmaceutical, updated at each following dispensions and categorised as single antiplatelet (SAPT), warfarin, warfarin combined with SAPT, dual antiplatelet (DAPT) or no antithrombotic treatment. Exposure to SAPT was used as comparator. Outcome events were all-cause mortality, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, any thromboembolism and major bleedings. We continuously updated adjustments for comorbidities with any indication for antithrombotic treatment by Cox regression analysis. Results We identified 9539 patients with bioSAVR (36.8% women) at median age of 73 years with a mean follow-up of 3.13 years. As compared with SAPT, warfarin alone was associated with a lower incidence of ischaemic stroke (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.70) and any thromboembolism (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.94) but with no difference in mortality (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.13). The incidence of haemorrhagic stroke (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.51) and major bleeding (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.15) was higher during warfarin exposure. As compared with SAPT, DAPT was not associated with any difference in ischaemic stroke or any thromboembolism. Risk-benefit analyses demonstrated that 2.7 (95% CI 1.0 to 11.9) of the ischaemic stroke cases could potentially be avoided per every haemorrhagic stroke caused by warfarin exposure instead of SAPT during the first year. Conclusion In patients discharged after bioSAVR, warfarin exposure as compared with SAPT exposure was associated with lower long-term risk of ischaemic stroke and thromboembolic events, and with a higher incidence of bleeding events but with similar mortality.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Patients presenting with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) and cardiac arrest before surgery are considered to have very poor prognosis, but limited data is available. We used a large database to evaluate the outcome of ATAAD patients with a cardiac arrest before surgery.METHODS: We evaluated 1154 surgically treated ATAAD patients from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) database between 2005 and 2014. Patients with (n = 44, 3.8%) and without preoperative cardiac arrest were compared and variables univariably associated with mortality in the cardiac arrest group were identified. Median follow-up time was 2.7 years (interquartile range 0.5-5.5).RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality in the arrest and non-arrest group was 43.2% and 16.6%, respectively (odds ratio [OR] 3.83, CI 2.06-7.09; P CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality and complications after ATAAD surgery in patients with a preoperative cardiac arrest are high, but mid-term outcome after surviving the initial period is acceptable. Preoperative cardiac arrest should not be considered an absolute contraindication for a surgical ATAAD repair.

Background Female sex is known to have increased perioperative mortality in cardiac surgery. Studies reporting effects of sex on outcome following surgical repair for acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) have been limited by small cohorts of heterogeneous patient populations and have shown diverging results. This study aimed to compare perioperative characteristics, operative management, and postoperative outcome between sexes in a large and well-defined cohort of patients operated for ATAAD. Methods The Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection study included patients with surgical repair of ATAAD at eight Nordic centers between January 2005 and December 2014. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Results Females represented 373 (32%) out of 1,154 patients and were significantly older (65 ± 11 vs. 60 ± 12 years, p Conclusions This study found no association between sex and early mortality following surgery for ATAAD, despite females being older and having more comorbidities, yet also presenting with a less widespread dissection than males.

To study pre- and postoperative atrial fibrillation and its long-term effects in a cohort of aortocoronary bypass surgery patients.Altogether 615 patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass graft surgery in 1999-2000 were studied. Forty-four (7%) had preoperative atrial fibrillation. Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in 165/615 patients (27%) while 406/615 patients (66%) had no atrial fibrillation. After a median follow-up of 15 years, symptoms and medication in survivors were recorded, and cause of death in the deceased was obtained.Death due to cerebral ischaemia was most common in the pre- and postoperative atrial fibrillation groups (7% and 5%, respectively, v. 2% among those without atrial fibrillation, p = .038), as were death due to heart failure (18% and 14%, v. 7%, p = .007) and sudden death (9% and 5%, v. 2%, p = .029). The presence of pre- or postoperative atrial fibrillation was an independent risk factor for late mortality (hazard ratios 1.47 (1.02-2.12) and 1.28 (1.01-1.63), respectively).Patients with pre- or postoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery have increased long-term mortality and risk of cerebral ischemic and cardiovascular death compared with patients in sinus rhythm.

Total endoscopic ablation of atrial fibrillation is an alternative to catheter ablation, but its clinical role needs further evaluation. The aim of this study was to compare total endoscopic ablation with rate control in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation and to examine the effect of endoscopic ablation on heart rhythm, symptoms, physical working capacity and myocardial function during 1 year of follow-up.In a prospective controlled study, 36 patients aged50 years with symptomatic long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation were randomized to either total endoscopic ablation (n = 17, after two drop-outs before ablation n = 15) or rate control therapy (n = 19). In the ablation group, a box lesion encircling the pulmonary veins was performed, using temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy. Loop recorders were implanted in all patients. Echocardiography and quality-of-life assessment were performed at 6 and 12 months, and physical working capacity assessment at 6 months.There was no mortality or thromboembolic event. In the control group, all patients were in permanent atrial fibrillation during 12 months of follow-up. In the ablation group, the proportion of patients in sinus rhythm without antiarrhythmic drugs was 12/15 (80%) at 12 months. The median freedom of atrial fibrillation at 3-12 months was 95% in the ablation group and the proportion of patients with an atrial fibrillation burden of5% at 3-12 months was 8/15 (53%). The left ventricular ejection fraction increased during follow-up in the ablation group compared with the control group (from 53.7 ± 8.6 to 58.8 ± 6.5%, P = 0.003), combined with a reduction in the left atrial area (from 29.2 ± 5.5 to 27.2 ± 6.3 cm(2), P = 0.002). The physical working capacity increased in the ablation group compared with the control group (from 94 ± 21.4 to 102.9 ± 14.4%, P = 0.011). The subjective physical and mental capacity scale also improved during follow-up in the ablation group, but not in the control group (P = 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Total endoscopic ablation in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation significantly reduced atrial fibrillation burden 12 months after intervention compared with controls. The left ventricular function, physical working capacity and subjective physical and mental health were improved. These results need to be confirmed in larger randomized trials.NCT00940056.

Objectives: Physical inactivity is common after lung cancer surgery. Patients undergoing lung cancer surgery are routinely offered physiotherapy. Despite its routine use, any effect on postoperativ ...

OBJECTIVES: Acute aortic dissection type A is a life-threatening condition, warranting immediate surgery. Presentation with sudden chest pain confers a risk of misdiagnosis as acute coronary syndrome resulting in subsequent potent antiplatelet treatment. We investigated the impact of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) on bleeding and mortality using the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) database. METHODS: The NORCAAD database is a retrospective multicentre database where 119 of 1141 patients (10.4%) had DAPT with ASA + clopidogrel (n = 108) or ASA + ticagrelor (n = 11) before surgery. The incidence of major bleeding and 30-day mortality was compared between DAPT and non-DAPT patients with logistic regression models before and after propensity score matching. RESULTS: Before matching, 51.3% of DAPT patients had major bleeding when compared to 37.7% of non-DAPT patients (P = 0.0049). DAPT patients received more transfusions of red blood cells [median 8 U (Q1-Q3 4-15) vs 5.5 U (2-11), P

Patients undergoing lung cancer surgery are routinely offered physiotherapy. Despite its routine use, effects on postoperative physical recovery have yet not been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether physiotherapy could improve postoperative in-hospital physical activity level and physical capacity.Single-blind randomized controlled trial.Thoracic surgery department at a University Hospital.Patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery (n=94) for confirmed or suspected lung cancer were assessed during hospital stay.Daily physiotherapy, consisting of mobilization, ambulation, shoulder exercises and breathing exercises. The control group received no physiotherapy treatment.In-hospital physical activity assessed with the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer, six-minute walk test, spirometry and dyspnea scores.The treatment group reached significantly more accelerometer counts (2010 (1508) vs 1629 (1146), mean difference 495 [95% CI 44 to 1109]), and steps per hour (49 (47) vs 37 (34), mean difference 14 [95% CI 3 to 30]), compared to the control group, during the first three postoperative days. No significant differences in six-minute walk test (percent of preoperative 71% vs 79%, P=0.13), spirometry (FEV1 percent of preoperative 69% vs 69%, P=0.83) or dyspnoea (M-MRC 2 vs 2, P=0.74) between the groups were found.Patients receiving in-hospital physiotherapy showed increased level of physical activity during the first days after lung cancer surgery, compared to an untreated control group. However, no effects on the six-minute walk test or spirometric values were found. The clinical importance of an increased physical activity level during the early postoperative period needs to be further evaluated.NCT01961700.

There are major challenges ahead for clinicians treating patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The population with AF is expected to expand considerably and yet, apart from anticoagulation, therapies used in AF have not been shown to consistently impact on mortality or reduce adverse cardiovascular events. New approaches to AF management, including the use of novel technologies and structured, integrated care, have the potential to enhance clinical phenotyping or result in better treatment selection and stratified therapy. Here, we report the outcomes of the 6th Consensus Conference of the Atrial Fibrillation Network (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), held at the European Society of Cardiology Heart House in Sophia Antipolis, France, 17-19 January 2017. Sixty-two global specialists in AF and 13 industry partners met to develop innovative solutions based on new approaches to screening and diagnosis, enhancing integration of AF care, developing clinical pathways for treating complex patients, improving stroke prevention strategies, and better patient selection for heart rate and rhythm control. Ultimately, these approaches can lead to better outcomes for patients with AF.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of preoperative malperfusion on 30-day and late mortality and postoperative complications using data from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (ATAAD) registry.METHODS: We studied 1159 patients who underwent ATAAD surgery between January 2005 and December 2014 at 8 Nordic centers. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of 30-day and late mortality.RESULTS: Preoperative malperfusion was identified in 381 of 1159 patients (33%) who underwent ATAAD surgery. Thirty-day mortality was 28.9% in patients with preoperative malperfusion and 12.1% in those without. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality included any malperfusion (odds ratio, 2.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.94-3.93), cardiac malperfusion (odds ratio, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.34-4.17), renal malperfusion (odds ratio, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.23-4.61) and peripheral malperfusion (odds ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.26-3.01). Any malperfusion (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.21-2.43), cardiac malperfusion (hazard ratio, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.24-2.87) and gastrointestinal malperfusion (hazard ratio, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.18-4.26) were predictors of late mortality. Malperfusion was associated with significantly poorer survival at 1, 3, and 5 years (95.0% ± 0.9% vs 88.7% ± 1.9%, 90.1% ± 1.3% vs 84.0% ± 2.4%, and 85.4% ± 1.7% vs 80.8% ± 2.7%; log rank P = .009).CONCLUSIONS: Malperfusion has a significant influence on early and late outcomes in ATAAD surgery. Management of preoperative malperfusion remains a major challenge in reducing mortality associated with surgical treatment of ATAAD.

Background: The aim was to determine the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and outcome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: All patients undergoing CABG between January 2010 and June 2013 were identified in the Swedish Heart Surgery Registry. Outcomes studied were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, ischemic stroke, and recurrent AF. Patients with history of AF prior to surgery (preoperative AF) and patients without history of AF but with AF episodes post-surgery (postoperative AF) were compared to patients with no AF using adjusted Cox regression models. Results: Among 9,107 identified patients, 8.1% (n = 737) had preoperative AF, and 25.1% (n = 2,290) had postoperative AF. Median follow-up was 2.2 years. Compared to no AF, preoperative AF was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality, adjusted hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval (HR) 1.76 (1.33–2.33); cardiovascular mortality, HR 2.43 (1.68–3.50); and congestive heart failure, HR 2.21 (1.72–2.84). Postoperative AF was associated with risk of all-cause mortality, HR 1.27 (1.01–1.60); cardiovascular mortality, HR 1.52 (1.10–2.11); congestive heart failure, HR 1.47 (1.18–1.83); and recurrent AF, HR 4.38 (2.46–7.78). No significant association was observed between pre- or postoperative AF and risk for myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 3 patients undergoing CABG had pre- or postoperative AF. Patients with pre- or postoperative AF were at higher risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and congestive heart failure, but not of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke. Postoperative AF was associated with higher risk of recurrent AF.

Background Surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is often complicated by excessive bleeding. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) effectively treats refractory bleeding associated with ATAAD surgery; however, adverse effects of rFVIIa in these patients have not been fully assessed. Here we evaluated rFVIIa treatment in ATAAD surgery using the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) database. Methods This was a multicenter, propensity score–matched, retrospective study. Information about rFVIIa use was available for 761 patients, of whom 171 were treated with rFVIIa. We successfully matched 120 patients treated with rFVIIa with 120 controls. Primary endpoints were in-hospital mortality, postoperative stroke, and renal replacement therapy (RRT). Survival data were presented using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Results Compared with controls, patients treated with rFVIIa received more transfusions of packed red blood cells (median, 9.0 U [4.0-17.0 U] vs 5.0 U [2.0-11.0 U]; P = .008), platelets (4.0 U [2.0-8.0 U] vs 2.0 U [1.0-4.4 U]; P P = .01) underwent reexploration for bleeding more often (31.0% vs 16.8%; P = .014); and had greater 24-hour chest tube output (1500 L [835-2500 mL] vs 990 mL [520-1720 mL]). Treatment with rFVIIa was not associated with significantly increased rates of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34-1.55; P = .487), postoperative stroke (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 0.82-3.91; P = .163), or RRT (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.48-2.92; P = .839). Conclusions In this propensity-matched cohort study of patients undergoing ATAAD surgery, treatment with rFVIIa for major bleeding was not associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke, RRT, or mortality.

OBJECTIVES: Acute Type A aortic dissection remains a life-threatening disease, but there are indications that its surgical mortality is decreasing. The aim of this report was to study how surgical mortality has changed and what influences those changes.METHODS: Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection is a retrospective database comprising 1159 patients (mean age 61.6 ± 12.2 years, 68% male) treated for acute Type A aortic dissection at 8 centres in Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden from 2005 to 2014. Data gathered included demographics, symptoms, type of procedure, complications and 30-day mortality.RESULTS: The annual number of operations increased significantly from 85 in 2005 to 150 in 2014 ( P CONCLUSIONS: Surgical mortality for acute Type A aortic dissection remains high but has decreased significantly over the last decade. This correlated with later year of operation and increased the number of operations performed per year, indicating that cumulative surgical experience contributes significantly to improved surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To report long-term survival and predictors of mortality in patients included in a large, contemporary, multicentre, multinational database: Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD), which consists of 8 centres in 4 Nordic countries.METHODS: Currently, NORCAAD includes 1159 patients operated between 2005 and 2014. In 30-day survivors ( n = 955, 82%), the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard methods were used to analyse medium-term (up to 8 years) survival and relative survival versus a matched normal population. Pre- and intraoperative predictors were expressed as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).RESULTS: Cumulative follow-up was 3514 patient-years with a median of 3.2 years (range 0-10.2 years). Survival was 95% (95% CI 93-96) at 1 year, 86% (95% CI 83-88) at 5 years and 76% (95% CI 72-81) at 8 years. Relative survival versus a matched normal population was 95% (95% CI 94-97) at 1 year, 90% (95% CI 87-93) at 5 years and 85% (95% CI 80-90) at 8 years. In multivariable analysis, increased age (HR 1.05 per year, 95% CI 1.04-1.07), previous abdominal or thoracic aortic repair (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.6-6.4) and chronic renal disease (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.2) were associated with increased medium-term mortality. Open distal anastomosis (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35-0.87) and operation in the 2010-2014 period (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.97) were associated with decreased medium-term mortality.CONCLUSIONS: Medium-term survival after acute Type A aortic dissection in the NORCAAD registry is satisfactory, close to a matched normal population and improved in the later part of the study period. The use of open distal anastomosis was associated with decreased medium-term mortality.

The Task Force for the management of atrial fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Developed with the special contribution of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC Endorsed by the European Stroke Organisation (ESO)

OBJECTIVES: The Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) is a collaborative effort of Nordic cardiac surgery centers to study acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Here we outline the overall objectives and the design of NORCAAD.DESIGN: NORCAAD currently consists of eight centers in Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. Data was collected for patients undergoing surgery for ATAAD from 2005 to 2014. Total of 194 variables were retrospectively collected including demographics, past medical history, preoperative medications, symptoms at presentation, operative variables, complications, bleeding and need for blood transfusions, need for late reoperations, 30-day mortality and long-term survival.RESULTS: Information was gathered in the database for 1159 patients, of which 67.6% were male. The mean age was 61.5 ± 12.1 years. The mean follow-up was 3.1 ± 2.9 years with a total of 3535 patient years.CONCLUSIONS: NORCAAD provides a foundation for close collaboration between cardiac surgery centers in the Nordic countries. Sub-studies in progress include: short-term outcomes, long-term survival, time interval from diagnosis until operation, effects of surgical techniques, malperfusion syndrome, renal failure, bleeding, and neurological complications on outcomes and the rate of late reoperations.