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Objectives: Previous reports suggest that betablockers appear non-beneficial after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). This study aims to clarify the associations between betablockers and long-term outcome after SAVR., Methods: All patients with isolated SAVR due to aortic stenosis in Sweden between 2006 and 2020, alive at six months after surgery, were included. Patients were identified in the SWEDEHEART registry and records were merged with data from three other mandatory national registries. Association between dispensed betablockers and MACE (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke) was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, with time-updated data on medication and adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities at baseline., Results: In total, 11849 patients were included (median follow-up 5.4 years [range 0-13.5]). Betablockers were prescribed to 79.7% of patients at baseline, decreasing to 62.2% after 5 years. Continuing treatment was associated with higher risk of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio 1.14 [95% confidence interval 1.05-1.23]). The association was consistent over subgroups based on age, sex, and comorbidities except atrial fibrillation (HR 1.05 [95% CI 0.93-1.19]). A sensitivity analysis including time-updated data on comorbidites attenuated the difference between the groups (HR 1.04 [95% CI 0.95-1.14, p = 0.33])., Conclusions: Treatment with betablockers did not appear to be associated with inferior long-term outcome after SAVR, when adjusting for new concomitant diseases. Thus, it is likely that it is the underlying cardiac diseases that are associated with MACE rather than betablocker treatment., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.)

Objective: Previous studies indicate an increased long-term risk for incident cancer and cancer-specific mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We compared the risk for incident cancer and cancer-specific mortality between patients and matched control subjects from the general population., Methods: All patients (n = 127,119) undergoing first-time coronary artery or heart valve surgery in Sweden during 1997-2020 were included in a population-based observational cohort study based on individual data from the SWEDEHEART registry and 4 other mandatory national registries. The patients were compared with an age-, sex-, and place of residence-matched control population (n = 415,287) using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and socioeconomic factors. A propensity score-matched analysis with 81,522 well-balanced pairs was also performed., Results: Median follow-up was 9.2 (range, 0-24) years. A total of 31,361/127,119 patients (24.7%) and 102,959/415,287 control subjects (24.8%) developed cancer during follow-up. The crude event rates were 2.75 and 2.83 per 100 person-years, respectively. The adjusted risk for cancer and cancer-specific mortality was lower in patients (adjusted hazard ratios 0.86 [95% CI, 0.85-0.88] and 0.64 [95% CI, 0.62-0.65], respectively). The propensity score-matched analysis showed similar results (hazard ratios, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.86-0.90] and 0.65 [95% CI, 0.63-0.68], respectively). The results were consistent in subgroups based on sex, age, and comorbidities., Conclusions: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery have lower risk for cancer and cancer-specific mortality than matched control subjects., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement Dr Jeppsson has received fees for advisory boards and/or lectures from AstraZeneca, LFB Biotechnologies, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, and Werfen, outside the present work. Dr Skyttä has received fees for lectures, testimonies, and/or advisory board from AstraZeneca, BMS, MSD, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, and Faron, outside the present work. All other authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background . Surgery for acute type A aortic dissection confers a risk for significant bleeding. We analyzed the impact of massive bleeding on complications after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. Methods . Patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection from the retrospective multicenter Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) database 2005-2014 were eligible. Massive bleeding was defined according to the Universal Definition of Perioperative Bleeding. The primary outcome measure was early mortality and secondary outcome measures were perioperative stroke, mechanical ventilation more than 48 h, new-onset dialysis, and intensive care unit stay. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for differences in covariates. Results . Nine hundred ninety-seven patients were included, of whom 403 (40.4%) had massive bleeding. In the propensity score-matched cohort (344 pairs), patients with massive bleeding had higher 30-day mortality (17.2 versus 7.6%, p  < .001), mechanical ventilation more than 48 h (52.8 versus 22.6%, p  < .001), perioperative stroke (24.3 versus 14.8%, p  = .002), new-onset dialysis (22.5 versus 4.9%, p  < .001), and longer intensive care unit stay (6 versus 3 days, p  < .001), compared with patients without massive bleeding. Risk factors for massive bleeding were previous cardiac surgery, preoperative clopidogrel or ticagrelor therapy, DeBakey type I dissection, and localized or generalized malperfusion. Conclusions . Massive bleeding in surgery for acute type A aortic dissection is associated with a markedly increased risk for severe complications as well as early death. Further improvement of surgical technique and pharmacological optimization of coagulation is paramount to possibly improve outcomes in acute type A aortic dissection repair.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between guideline-conforming as compared to shorter than recommended withdrawal period of P2Y12 receptor inhibitors prior to isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the incidence of severe bleeding and ischaemic events. Randomized controlled trials are lacking in this field., Methods: We searched PUBMED, Embase and other suitable databases for studies including patients on P2Y12 receptor inhibitors undergoing isolated CABG and reporting bleeding and postoperative ischaemic events from 2013 to March 2024. The primary outcome was incidence of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 4 (BARC-4) bleeding defined as any of the following: perioperative intracranial bleeding, reoperation for bleeding, transfusion of ≥5 units of red blood cells, chest tube output of ≥2 l. The secondary outcome was postoperative ischaemic events according to the Academic Research Consortium 2 Consensus Document. Patient-level data provided by each observational trial were synthesized into a single dataset and analysed using a 2-stage IPD-MA., Results: Individual data of 4837 patients from 7 observational studies were synthesized. BARC-4 bleeding, 30-day mortality and postoperative ischaemic events occurred in 20%, 2.6% and 5.2% of patients. After adjusting for EuroSCORE II and cardiopulmonary bypass time, guideline-conforming withdrawal was associated with decreased BARC-4 bleeding risk in patients on clopidogrel [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.48; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.28-0.81; P = 0.006] and a trend towards decreased risk in patients on ticagrelor (adjusted OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.22-1.05; P = 0.067). Guideline-conforming withdrawal was not significantly associated with 30-day mortality risk (clopidogrel: adjusted OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.30-1.61; ticagrelor: adjusted OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.37-2.18) but with decreased risk of postoperative ischaemic events in patients on clopidogrel (clopidogrel: adjusted OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.30-0.82; ticagrelor: adjusted OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.45-1.37). BARC-4 bleeding was associated with 30-day mortality risk (adjusted OR 4.76; 95% CI 2.67-8.47; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Guideline-conforming preoperative withdrawal of ticagrelor and clopidogrel was associated with a 50% reduced BARC-4 bleeding risk when corrected for EuroSCORE II and cardiopulmonary bypass time but was not associated with increased risk of 30-day mortality or postoperative ischaemic events., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.)

Objective: To investigate the incidence and mortality risk associated with postdischarge major bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and relate this to the incidence of, and mortality risk from, postdischarge myocardial infarction., Methods: All patients undergoing first-time isolated CABG in Sweden in 2006-2017 and surviving 14 days after hospital discharge were included in a cohort study. Individual patient data from the SWEDEHEART Registry and five other mandatory nationwide registries were merged. Piecewise Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate associations between major bleeding, defined as hospitalisation for bleeding, with subsequent mortality risk. Similar Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the association between postdischarge myocardial infarction and mortality risk., Results: Among 36 633 patients, 2429 (6.6%) had a major bleeding event and 2231 (6.1%) had a myocardial infarction. Median follow-up was 6.0 (range 0-11) years. Major bleeding was associated with higher mortality risk <30 days (adjusted HR (aHR)=20.2 (95% CI 17.3 to 23.5)), 30-365 days (aHR=3.8 (95% CI 3.4 to 4.3)) and >365 days (aHR=1.8 (95% CI 1.7 to 2.0)) after the event. Myocardial infarction was associated with higher mortality risk <30 days (aHR=20.0 (95% CI 16.7 to 23.8)), 30-365 days (aHR=4.1 (95% CI 3.6 to 4.8)) and >365 days (aHR=1.8 (95% CI 1.7 to 2.0)) after the event., Conclusions: The increase in mortality risk associated with a postdischarge major bleeding after CABG is substantial and is similar to the mortality risk associated with a postdischarge myocardial infarction., Competing Interests: Competing interests: AJ has received fees for consultancy from AstraZeneca, Werfen and LFB Biotechnologies, all unrelated to the present work., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Importance: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in approximately 30% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It is unknown whether early recurrence is associated with worse outcomes., Objective: To test the hypothesis that early AF recurrence in patients with POAF after CABG is associated with worse outcomes., Design, Setting, and Participants: This Swedish nationwide cohort study used prospectively collected data from the SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) registry and 3 other mandatory national registries. The study included patients who underwent isolated first-time CABG between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2020, and developed POAF. Data analysis was performed between March 6 and September 16, 2023., Exposure: Early AF recurrence defined as an episode of AF leading to hospital care within 3 months after discharge., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke, any thromboembolism, heart failure hospitalization, and major bleeding within 2 years after discharge. The groups were compared with multivariable Cox regression models, with early AF recurrence as a time-dependent covariate. The hypothesis tested was formulated after data collection., Results: Of the 35 329 patients identified, 10 609 (30.0%) developed POAF after CABG and were included in this study. Their median age was 71 (IQR, 66-76) years. The median follow-up was 7.1 (IQR, 2.9-9.0) years, and most patients (81.6%) were men. Early AF recurrence occurred in 6.7% of patients. Event rates (95% CIs) per 100 patient-years with vs without early AF recurrence were 2.21 (1.49-3.24) vs 2.03 (1.83-2.25) for all-cause mortality, 3.94 (2.92-5.28) vs 2.79 (2.56-3.05) for heart failure hospitalization, and 3.97 (2.95-5.30) vs 2.74 (2.51-2.99) for major bleeding. No association between early AF recurrence and all-cause mortality was observed (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.17 [95% CI, 0.80-1.74]; P = .41). In exploratory analyses, there was an association with heart failure hospitalization (AHR, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.32-2.45]; P = .001) and major bleeding (AHR, 1.92 [1.42-2.61]; P < .001)., Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of early AF recurrence after POAF in patients who underwent CABG, no association was found between early AF recurrence and all-cause mortality. Exploratory analyses showed associations between AF recurrence and heart failure hospitalization, oral anticoagulation, and major bleeding.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between statin use after surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and long-term risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in a large population-based, nationwide cohort., Methods: All patients who underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement due to aortic stenosis in Sweden 2006-2020 and survived 6 months after discharge were included. Individual patient data from 5 nationwide registries were merged. Primary outcome is MACE (defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction or stroke). Multivariable Cox regression model adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, valve type, operation year and secondary prevention medications is used to evaluate the association between time-updated dispense of statins and long-term outcome in the entire study population and in subgroups based on age, sex and comorbidities., Results: A total of 11 894 patients were included. Statins were dispensed to 49.8% (5918/11894) of patients at baseline, and 51.0% (874/1713) after 10 years. At baseline, 3.6% of patients were dispensed low dose, 69.4% medium dose and 27.0% high-dose statins. After adjustments, ongoing statin treatment was associated with a reduced risk for MACE [adjusted hazard ratio 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.71-0.83). P < 0.001], mainly driven by a reduction in all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratio, 0.70 (0.64-0.76)], P < 0.001. The results were consistent in all subgroups., Conclusions: The results suggest that statin therapy might be beneficial for patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to establish causality between statin treatment and improved outcome., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The optimal medical therapy after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for aortic stenosis remains unknown. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors could potentially improve cardiac remodelling and clinical outcomes after SAVR., Methods: All patients undergoing SAVR due to aortic stenosis in Sweden 2006-2020 and surviving 6 months after surgery were included. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; all-cause mortality, stroke or myocardial infarction). Secondary endpoints included the individual components of MACE and cardiovascular mortality. Time-updated adjusted Cox regression models were used to compare patients with and without RAS inhibitors. Subgroup analyses were performed, as well as a comparison between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)., Results: A total of 11 894 patients (mean age, 69.5 years, 40.4% women) were included. Median follow-up time was 5.4 (2.7-8.5) years. At baseline, 53.6% of patients were dispensed RAS inhibitors, this proportion remained stable during follow-up. RAS inhibition was associated with a lower risk of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.87 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.93), p<0.001), mainly driven by a lower risk of all-cause death (aHR 0.79 (0.73 to 0.86), p<0.001). The lower MACE risk was consistent in all subgroups except for those with mechanical prostheses (aHR 1.07 (0.84 to 1.37), p for interaction=0.040). Both treatment with ACE inhibitors (aHR 0.89 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.97)) and ARBs (0.87 (0.81 to 0.93)) were associated with lower risk of MACE., Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that medical therapy with an RAS inhibitor after SAVR is associated with a 13% lower risk of MACE and a 21% lower risk of all-cause death., Competing Interests: Competing interests: AJ has received fees for consultancy from AstraZeneca, Werfen and LFB Biotechnologies, all unrelated to the present work., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Current recommendations regarding the use of surgical left atrial appendage (LAA) closure to prevent thromboembolisms lack high-level evidence. Patients undergoing open-heart surgery often have several cardiovascular risk factors and a high occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF)-with a high recurrence rate-and are thus at a high risk of stroke. Therefore, we hypothesized that concomitant LAA closure during open-heart surgery will reduce mid-term risk of stroke independently of preoperative AF status and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score., Methods: This protocol describes a randomized multicenter trial. Consecutive participants ≥18 years scheduled for first-time planned open-heart surgery from cardiac surgery centers in Denmark, Spain, and Sweden are included. Both patients with a previous diagnosis of paroxysmal or chronic AF, as well as those without AF, are eligible to participate, irrespective of their CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. Patients already planned for ablation or LAA closure during surgery, with current endocarditis, or where follow-up is not possible are considered noneligible. Patients are stratified by site, surgery type, and preoperative or planned oral anticoagulation treatment. Subsequently, patients are randomized 1:1 to either concomitant LAA closure or standard care (ie, open LAA). The primary outcome is stroke, including transient ischemic attack, as assigned by 2 independent neurologists blinded to the treatment allocation. To recognize a 60% relative risk reduction of the primary outcome with LAA closure, 1,500 patients are randomized and followed for 2 years (significance level of 0.05 and power of 90%)., Conclusions: The LAACS-2 trial is likely to impact the LAA closure approach in most patients undergoing open-heart surgery., Trial Registration: NCT03724318., Competing Interests: Disclosures All authors declare that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial or nonfinancial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Current clinical guidelines have no specific recommendations regarding medical therapy after surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR). We studied the association between medical therapy with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, statins and β-blockers and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events., Methods: All patients undergoing valve replacement due to AR between 2006 and 2017 in Sweden and alive 6 months after discharge were included. Time-dependent multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, patient characteristics, comorbidities, other medications and year of surgical aortic valve replacement were used. Primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke. Subgroup analyses based on age, sex, heart failure, low ejection fraction, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension were performed., Results: A total of 2204 patients were included [median follow-up 5.0 years (range 0.0-11.5)]. At baseline, 68% of the patients were dispensed RAS inhibitors, 80% β-blockers and 35% statins. Dispense of RAS inhibitors and β-blockers declined over time, especially during the first year after baseline, while dispense of statins remained stable. Treatment with RAS inhibitors or statins was associated with a reduced risk of the primary outcome [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57-0.87 and aHR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.99, respectively]. The results were consistent in subgroups based on age, sex and comorbidities. β-Blocker treatment was associated with an increased risk for the primary outcome (aHR 1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.70)., Conclusions: The results indicate a potential beneficial association of RAS inhibitors and statins as part of a secondary preventive treatment regime after aortic valve replacement in patients with AR. The role of β-blockers needs to be further investigated., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.)

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., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

We aimed to investigate a hypothesised association between daily mean temperature and the risk of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). For the period of 1 January 2005 until 31 December 2019, we collected daily data on mean temperatures and date of 2995 operations for ATAAD at 10 Nordic cities included in the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) collaboration. Using a two-stage time-series approach, we investigated the association between hot and cold temperatures relative to the optimal temperature and the rate of ATAAD repair in the selected cities. The relative risks (RRs) of cold temperatures (≤-5°C) and hot temperatures (≥21°C) compared to optimal temperature were 1.47 (95% CI: 0.72-2.99) and 1.43 (95% CI: 0.67-3.08), respectively. In line with previous studies, we observed increased risk at cold and hot temperatures. However, the observed associations were not statistically significant, thus only providing weak evidence of an association.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of statin use after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and long-term adverse events in a large population-based, nationwide cohort., Methods: All 35,193 patients who underwent first-time isolated CABG in Sweden from 2006 to 2017 and survived at least 6 months after surgery were included. Individual patient data from the Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies (SWEDEHEART) and 4 other nationwide registries were merged. Multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and time-updated treatment with other secondary preventive medications were used to evaluate the associations between statin treatment and outcomes. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Median follow-up time to MACE was 5.3 (interquartile range, 2.5-8.2) years., Results: Statins were dispensed to 95.7% of the patients six months after discharge and to 78.9% after 10 years. At baseline, 1.4% of patients were prescribed low-, 57.6% intermediate-, and 36.7% high-dose statins. Ongoing statin treatment was associated with markedly reduced risk of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.56 [95% CI, 0.53-0.59]), all-cause mortality (aHR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.50-0.56]), cardiovascular death (aHR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.50-0.59]), myocardial infarction (aHR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.55-0.69]), stroke (aHR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.59-0.73]), new revascularization (aHR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.70-0.88]), new angiography (aHR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.74-0.88]), and dementia (aHR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.65-0.85]; all P &lt; .01), irrespective of the statin dose., Conclusions: Ongoing statin use was associated with a markedly reduced incidence of adverse events and mortality after CABG. Initiating and maintaining statin medication is essential in CABG patients., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Previous studies have demonstrated that environmental and temporal factors may affect the incidence of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Here, we aimed to investigate the hypothesis that national holidays and weekends influence the incidence of surgery for ATAAD. For the period 1st of January 2005 until 31st of December 2019, we investigated a hypothesised effect of (country-specific) national holidays and weekends on the frequency of 2995 surgical repairs for ATAAD at 10 Nordic cities included in the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) collaboration. Compared to other days, the number of ATAAD repairs were 29% (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.54-0.94) lower on national holidays and 26% (RR 0.74; 95% CI 0.68-0.82) lower on weekends. As day of week patterns of symptom duration were assessed and the primary analyses were adjusted for period of year, our findings suggest that the reduced surgical incidence on national holidays and weekends does not seem to correspond to seasonal effects or surgery being delayed and performed on regular working days., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Aims: Beta blockers are associated with improved outcomes for selected patients with cardiovascular disease. We assessed long-term utilization of beta blockers after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and its association with outcome., Methods and Results: All 35 184 patients in Sweden who underwent first-time isolated CABG between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2017 and were followed for at least 6 months were included in a nationwide observational study. Multivariable Cox regression models using time-updated data on dispensed prescriptions were used to assess associations between different types of beta blockers and outcomes. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), a composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI). Subgroup analyses were performed in patients with and without previous MI, heart failure, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Median follow-up was 5.2 years (range 0-11). At baseline, 33 159 (94.2%) patients were dispensed beta blockers, 30 563 (92.2%) of which were cardioselective beta blockers. After 10 years, the dispensing of cardioselective beta blockers had declined to 73.7% of all patients. Ongoing treatment with cardioselective beta blockers was associated with a slight reduction in MACEs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89-0.98, P = 0.0063]. The reduction was largely driven by a reduced risk of MI (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.92, P = 0.0003), while there was no significant reduction in all-cause mortality (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.93-1.05) and stroke (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.87-1.05). The reduced risk for MI was consistent in all the investigated subgroups., Conclusion: Ongoing treatment with cardioselective beta blockers after CABG is associated with a reduction in MACEs, mainly because of reduced long-term risk for MI. The association between cardioselective beta blockers and MI was consistent in patients with and patients without previous MI, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or reduced LVEF., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

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 8 Nordic centers from January 2005 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with primary tear location unfound, unknown, not confirmed, or not recorded (n = 243, 21.7%) were excluded from the analysis. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the aortic reconstruction encompassed the portion of the primary tear (tear resected [TR] group, n = 730) or not (tear not resected [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 (interquartile 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 the aortic root and the aortic arch in 7.4% in the TR group as compared with 0.7% in the TNR patients (P < .001). There were no significant differences in all-cause mortality (adjusted restricted mean survival time ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.12; P = .799) or reoperation-free survival (adjusted restricted mean survival time ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.95-1.02; P = .436) between the TR and TNR groups., Conclusions: Primary tear resection alone does not determine the midterm outcome after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection., (Copyright © 2022 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Patients with endocarditis requiring urgent valvular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass are at a high risk of developing systemic inflammatory response syndrome and septic shock, necessitating intensive use of vasopressors after surgery. The use of a cytokine hemoadsorber (CytoSorb, CytoSorbents Europe GmbH, Germany) during cardiac surgery has been suggested to reduce the risk of inflammatory activation. The study authors hypothesized that adding a cytokine adsorber would reduce cytokine burden, which would translate into improved hemodynamic stability., Design: A randomized, controlled, nonblinded clinical trial., Setting: At a university hospital, tertiary referral center., Participants: Nineteen patients with endocarditis undergoing valve surgery., Intervention: A cytokine hemoadsorber integrated into the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit., Measurements and Main Results: The accumulated norepinephrine dose in the intervention group was half or less at all postoperative time points compared to the control group, although it did not reach statistical significance; at 24 and 48 hours (median 36 [25-75 percentiles; 12-57] μg v 114 [25-559] μg, p = 0.11 and 36 [12-99] μg v 261 [25-689] μg, p = 0.09). There was no significant difference in chest tube output, but there was a significantly lower need for the transfusion of red blood cells (285 [0-657] mL v 1,940 [883-2,148] mL, p = 0.03)., Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to vasopressor use after surgery for endocarditis with the use of a cytokine hemoadsorber during cardiopulmonary bypass. Additional, larger randomized controlled trials are needed to definitely assess the potential effect., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To explore the currently unknown association between history of cancer at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and long-term survival., Methods: All patients (n = 82,137) undergoing isolated first-time CABG in Sweden during 1997-2015 were included in this retrospective population-based cohort study. Individual patient data from the SWEDEHEART registry and 4 other mandatory nationwide health care registries were merged. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression and competing risk models adjusted for age and gender were used to assess associations between history of cancer, and long-term all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality. Median follow-up was 9.0 years (interquartile range, 4.8-13.1)., Results: Altogether, 6819 (8.3%) of the patients had a history of cancer. The annual prevalence increased from 3.8% in 1997 to 14.8% in 2015. Patients with a history of cancer were older (72 vs 66 years; P < .001) and had more comorbidities. Long-term all-cause mortality was significantly greater in patients with a history of cancer (45.7% vs 22.9% at 10 years; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-1.38, P < .001). According to the competing risk models, history of cancer was associated with an increased risk for cancer death (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.45; 95% CI, 2.28-2.63, P < .001) but not cardiovascular death (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.94, P < .001)., Conclusions: The proportion of patients undergoing CABG with a history of cancer has increased over time. History of cancer at the time of surgery is associated with increased cancer deaths over time but not cardiovascular deaths. The same cardiovascular prognosis after CABG can be expected regardless of cancer history., (Copyright © 2020 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is no consensus on the choice of aortic valve prosthesis for patients with end-stage renal failure. We analyzed short- and long-term complications in dialysis patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with either a biological (bAVR) or a mechanical (mAVR) prosthesis., Methods: All patients on dialysis who underwent bAVR or mAVR in Sweden from 1995 to 2017 (n=335) were included in a nationwide, population-based, observational, cohort study. Short and long-term complications were compared. Long-term mortality was compared with multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and a propensity score-matched model. Median follow-up was 2.8 (range, 0-16) years., Results: Biological and mechanical valves were implanted in 253 (75.5%) and 82 (24.5%) patients, respectively. The bAVR patients were older and had more comorbidities. There was no significant difference in early complication rate. Thirty-day mortality was 9.1% in bAVR and 7.3% in mAVR patients (P=0.62). The multivariable Cox regression model did not show significant difference in mortality risk between bAVR and mAVR patients [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.33; 95% CI: 0.84-2.13; P=0.22]. The results were confirmed in the propensity-score matched model. The rate of aortic valve reoperations did not differ significantly between the bAVR and mAVR group., Conclusions: The short- and long-term complication rate is high, and the expected life expectancy limited, in dialysis patients undergoing AVR, without significant difference between biological and mechanical prostheses. The results suggest that biological valve prosthesis, avoiding systemic anticoagulation, is appropriate in most dialysis patients., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-21-1410/coif). AJ reports personal fees from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Werfen, Alexion, Baxter, and LFB Biomedicaments, research grants from Swedish state, Swedish Heart Lung Foundation, Västra Götaland Region and Winberg Foundation, and he was a member of the Clinical Guideline Committee for the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery, outside the submitted work. ECH reports personal fees from AstraZeneca and Boehringer-Ingelheim, outside the submitted work. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)

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 Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.)

Importance: Guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the evidence for these recommendations is weak., Objective: To compare midterm outcomes after CABG in patients with ACS treated postoperatively with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and ticagrelor or with ASA monotherapy., Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used merged data from several national registries of Swedish patients who were diagnosed with ACS and subsequently underwent CABG. All included patients underwent isolated CABG in Sweden between 2012 and 2017 with an ACS diagnosis less than 6 weeks before the procedure, survived 14 days after discharge from hospital, and were treated postoperatively with ASA plus ticagrelor or ASA monotherapy. A multivariable Cox regression model was used for the main analysis, and propensity score-matched models were performed as sensitivity analysis. Data were analyzed between May and September 2020., Exposures: Postoperative antiplatelet treatment, defined as filled prescriptions, with either ASA and ticagrelor or ASA only., Main Outcomes and Measures: Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke, and major bleeding, at 12 months and at the end of follow-up., Results: A total of 6558 patients (5281 [80.5%] men; mean [SD] age at surgery, 67.6 [9.3] years) were included; 1813 (27.6%) were treated with ASA plus ticagrelor and 4745 (72.4%) were treated with ASA monotherapy. Crude MACE rate was 3.0 per 100 person years (95% CI, 2.5-3.6 per 100 person years) in the ASA plus ticagrelor group and 3.8 per 100 person years (95% CI, 3.5-4.1 per 100 person years) in the ASA group. After adjustment, there was no significant difference in MACE risk between ASA plus ticagrelor vs ASA only, neither during the first 12 months (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.58-1.21; P = .34) or during total follow-up (aHR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.71-1.11; P = .29). The use of ASA plus ticagrelor was associated with a significantly increased risk for major bleeding during the first 12 months (aHR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.16-3.13; P = .011). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the results., Conclusions and Relevance: In patients with ACS who survived 2 weeks after CABG, no significant difference in the risk of death or ischemic events could be demonstrated between ASA plus ticagrelor and patients treated with ASA only, while the risk for major bleeding was higher in patients treated with ASA plus ticagrelor. Sufficiently powered prospective randomized trials comparing different antiplatelet therapy strategies after CABG are warranted.

Introduction: We examined the long-term risk of dementia after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in relation to age and sex., Methods: All CABG patients in Sweden 1992-2015 (n = 111,335), and matched controls (n = 222,396) were included in a population-based study. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for all-cause dementia, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's disease were calculated., Results: There was no difference in the risk for all-cause dementia between CABG patients and control subjects (aHR 0.98 [95% confidence interval 0.95 to 1.02]). CABG patients <65 years and 65 to 74 years had higher risk (aHR 1.29 [1.17-1.42] and 1.08 [1.02-1.13], respectively), and patients ≥75 years had lower risk (aHR 0.76 [0.71-0.81]). The highest risk was observed in women <65 years (aHR 1.64 [1.31-2.05])., Discussion: Overall, the long-term risk for all-cause dementia does not differ between CABG patients and the general population. Younger patients have a higher risk, while older patients have a lower risk, compared to controls., (© 2020 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)

Objective: The objectives of the present study were to determine whether there was any association between the grade of heart failure, as expressed by preoperative levels of brain natriuretic peptide and Ross score, and the preoperative coagulation status in patients with non-restrictive ventricular shunts and determine whether there were any postoperative disturbances of the coagulation system in these patients, as measured by thromboelastometry and standard laboratory analyses of coagulation., Design: Perioperative coagulation was analysed with laboratory-based coagulation tests and thromboelastometry before, 8 hours after, and 18 hours after cardiac surgery. In addition, brain natriuretic peptide was analysed before and 18 hours after surgery., Patients: 40 children less than 12 months old with non-restrictive congenital ventricular or atrio-ventricular shunts scheduled for elective repair of their heart defects., Results: All coagulation parameters measured were within normal ranges preoperatively. There was a significant correlation between brain natriuretic peptide and plasma fibrinogen concentration preoperatively. There was no statistically significant correlation between brain natriuretic peptide and INTEM-MCF, FIBTEM-MCF, plasma fibrinogen, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, or platelet count at any other time point, either preoperatively or postoperatively. Postoperatively, fibrinogen plasma concentration and FIBTEM-MCF decreased significantly at 8 hours, followed by a large increase at 18 hours to higher levels than preoperatively., Conclusions: There was no evidence of children with non-restrictive shunts having coagulation abnormalities before cardiac surgery. Brain natriuretic peptide levels or Ross score did not correlate with coagulation parameters in any clinically significant way.

Background: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors are recommended postoperatively to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients with reduced left ventricular function, diabetes, hypertension or previous myocardial infarction, but not to remaining patients. The aim of the study was to assess the long-term utilization of RAS inhibitors after CABG in patients with and without indication for treatment, and its association with outcome., Methods: All patients (n = 28,782) not meeting exclusion criterion in Sweden who underwent isolated first time CABG from 2006 to 2015 were included using nationwide registries. The association between treatment and outcome was assessed using adjusted Cox regression models with time-updated data on medications. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as all-cause mortality, stroke and/or myocardial infarction., Results: At baseline 26,284 (91.3%) of the patients had at least one indication for RAS inhibition while 2498 (8.7%) had not. RAS inhibitors were dispensed to 77.0% and 29.7% of patients with and without indication respectively. Dispense declined over time. RAS inhibition was associated with a reduction in MACE in the whole study population (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.83-0.93, p < 0.0001), and in patients with (aHR 0.87 95% CI: 0.82-0.93, p < 0.0001) and without indication (aHR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58-0.98, p = 0.034)., Conclusions: RAS inhibition is underutilized after CABG. The use of RAS inhibitors was associated with a reduction in MACE, both in patients with and without indication for treatment. The results suggest that RAS inhibition is beneficial for all CABG patients. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm this hypothesis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

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., (Copyright © 2021 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Stroke is a serious complication in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Previous studies investigating stroke in ATAAD patients have been limited by small cohorts and have shown diverging results. We sought to identify risk factors for stroke and to evaluate the effect of stroke on outcomes in surgical ATAAD patients., Methods: The Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection database included patients operated for ATAAD at 8 Scandinavian Hospitals between 2005 and 2014., Results: Stroke occurred in 177 (15.7%) out of 1128 patients. Patients with stroke presented more frequently with cerebral malperfusion (20.6% vs 6.3%, P < 0.001), syncope (30.6% vs 17.6%, P < 0.001), cardiogenic shock (33.1% vs 20.7%, P < 0.001) and pericardial tamponade (25.9% vs 14.7%, P < 0.001) and more often underwent total aortic arch replacement (10.7% vs 4.7%, P = 0.016), compared to patients without stroke. In the 86 patients presenting with cerebral malperfusion, 38.4% developed stroke. Thirty-day and 5-year mortality in patients with and without stroke were 27.1% vs 13.6% and 42.9% vs 25.6%, respectively. Stroke was an independent predictor of early- [odds ratio 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-3.05; P < 0.001] and midterm mortality (hazard ratio 1.68, 95% CI 1.27-2.23; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Stroke in ATAAD patients is associated with increased early- and midterm mortality. Preoperative cerebral malperfusion and impaired haemodynamics, as well as total aortic arch replacement, were more frequent among patients who developed stroke. Importantly, a large proportion of patients presenting with cerebral malperfusion did not develop a permanent stroke, indicating that signs of cerebral malperfusion should not be considered a contraindication for surgery., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To evaluate the long-term use of secondary prevention medications [statins, β-blockers, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, and platelet inhibitors] after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the association between medication use and mortality., Methods and Results: All patients who underwent isolated CABG in Sweden from 2006 to 2015 and survived at least 6 months after discharge were included (n = 28 812). Individual patient data from SWEDEHEART and other mandatory nationwide registries were merged. Multivariable Cox regression models using time-updated data on dispensed prescriptions were used to assess associations between medication use and long-term mortality. Statins were dispensed to 93.9% of the patients 6 months after discharge and to 77.3% 8 years later. Corresponding figures for β-blockers were 91.0% and 76.4%, for RAAS inhibitors 72.9% and 65.9%, and for platelet inhibitors 93.0% and 79.8%. All medications were dispensed less often to patients ≥75 years. Treatment with statins [hazard ratio (HR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.52-0.60], RAAS inhibitors (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.73-0.84), and platelet inhibitors (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.69-0.81) were individually associated with lower mortality risk after adjustment for age, gender, comorbidities, and use of other secondary preventive drugs (all P < 0.001). There was no association between β-blockers and mortality risk (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.90-1.06; P = 0.54)., Conclusion: The use of secondary prevention medications after CABG was high early after surgery but decreased significantly over time. The results of this observational study, with inherent risk of selection bias, suggest that treatment with statins, RAAS inhibitors, and platelet inhibitors is essential after CABG whereas the routine use of β-blockers may be questioned., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Objectives. To evaluate the distribution and impact of ABO blood groups on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Design . A total of 1144 surgical ATAAD patients from eight Nordic centres constituting the Nordic consortium for acute type A aortic dissection (NORCAAD) were analysed. Blood group O patients were compared to non-O subjects. The relative frequency of blood groups was assessed with t-distribution, modified for weighted proportions. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Cox regression analyses were performed for assessing independent predictors of late mortality. Results. There was no significant difference in the proportions of blood group O between the study populations in the NORCAAD registry and the background population (40.6 (95% CI 37.7-43.4)% vs 39.0 (95% CI 39.0-39.0)%). ABO blood group was not associated with any significant change in risk of 30-day or late mortality, with the exception of blood group A being an independent predictor of late mortality. Prevalence of postoperative complications was similar between the ABO blood groups. Conclusions. In this large cohort of Nordic ATAAD patients, there were no associations between ABO blood group and surgical incidence or outcomes, including postoperative complications and survival.

Background Low income and short education have been found to be independently associated with inferior survival after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), whereas the use of secondary prevention medications is associated with improved survival. We investigated whether underusage of secondary prevention medications contributes to the inferior long-term survival in CABG patients with a low income and short education. Methods and Results Patients who underwent CABG in Sweden between 2006 to 2015 and survived at least 6 months after discharge (n=28 448) were included in a population-based cohort study. Individual patient data from 5 national registries, including the SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) registry, covering dispensing of secondary prevention medications (statins, platelet inhibitors, β-blockers, and RAAS inhibitors), socioeconomic factors, patient characteristics, comorbidity, and long-term mortaity were merged. All-cause mortality risk was estimated using multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for patient characteristics, baseline comorbidities, time-updated secondary prevention medications, and socioeconomic status. Long-term mortality was higher in patients with a low income and short education. Statins and platelet inhibitors were dispensed less often to patients with a low income, both at baseline and after 8 years. The decline in dispensing over time was steeper for low-income patients. Short education was not associated with reduced dispensing of any secondary prevention medication. Use of statins (adjusted hazard ratio=0.57 [95% CI, 0.53-0.61]), RAAS inhibitors (adjusted hazard ratio=0.78 [0.73-0.84]), and platelet inhibitors (adjusted hazard ratio=0.74 [0.68-0.80]) were associated with reduced long-term mortality irrespective of socioeconomic status. Conclusions Secondary prevention medications are dispensed less often after CABG to patients with low income. Underusage of secondary prevention medications after CABG is associated with increased mortality risk independently of income and extent of education.

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., (Copyright © 2019 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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 < 0.001). In the nine patients with ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation when cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated, five died intraoperatively and one died after 65 days. In patients surviving the operation, stroke was significantly more common in the arrest group (48.4% vs 18.2%; OR 4.21, CI 2.05-8.67; P < 0.001). In total, 50.0% (22/44) of the arrest patients survived to the end of follow-up. Non-survivors in the arrest group more often had DeBakey type I dissection, cardiac tamponade, cardiac malperfusion and higher preoperative serum lactate (all P < 0.05)., 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., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Our goal was to compare short- and midterm outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using 2 different revascularization strategies., Methods: A total of 6895 patients were included who had CABG in Sweden from 2009 to 2015 using the left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery and either a single sequential saphenous vein graft connecting the left and right coronary territories to the aorta (snake graft, n = 2122) or separate vein grafts to both territories (n = 4773). Data were obtained from the Swedish Web System for Enhancement of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies (SWEDEHEART) and the Swedish Patient Registry. The groups were compared using adjusted logistic regression for short-term (30-day) and Cox regression and flexible parametric survival models for midterm outcomes. Primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), reangiography and new revascularization. The median follow-up time was 35 months., Results: At 30 days, the incidences of the composite end point [odds ratio (OR) 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.68; P = 0.03] and reangiography (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.07-2.14; P = 0.02) were higher in the snake group. There was also a trend towards higher mortality (OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.97-2.22; P = 0.07). The event rates during the complete follow-up period were 6.5 (5.9-7.2) and 5.7 (5.3-6.1) per 100 person-years for the snake group and the separate vein group, respectively. At the midterm follow-up, no significant difference between the groups could be shown for the composite end point [hazard ratio (HR) 1.08, 95% CI 0.95-1.22; P = 0.24], mortality (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.79-1.14; P = 0.56), MI (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.88-1.41; P = 0.39) or new revascularization (HR 1.19, 95% CI 0.94-1.50; P = 0.15), whereas reangiography remained more common in the snake group (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05-1.48; P = 0.01)., Conclusions: Snake grafts were associated with a higher rate of early postoperative complications, possibly reflecting a more demanding surgical technique, whereas midterm outcomes were comparable. Based on these data, one strategy cannot be recommended over the other., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

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., (Copyright © 2019 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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 < 0.0001] and platelets [4 U (2-8) vs 2 U (1-4), P = 0.0001]. Crude 30-day mortality was 19.3% vs 17.0% (P = 0.60). After matching, major bleeding remained significantly more common in DAPT patients, 51.3% vs 39.3% [odds ratio (OR) 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-2.51; P = 0.028], but mortality did not significantly differ (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.51-1.50; P = 0.63). Major bleeding was associated with increased 30-day mortality (adjusted OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.72-3.46; P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: DAPT prior to acute aortic dissection repair was associated with increased bleeding and transfusions but not with mortality. Major bleeding per se was associated with a significantly increased mortality. Correct diagnosis is important to avoid DAPT and thereby reduce bleeding risk, but ongoing DAPT should not delay surgery., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

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., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: Preoperative testing of platelet function predicts bleeding risk in cardiac surgery patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy, but the value of postoperative platelet function testing, reflecting both preoperative antiplatelet therapy and perioperative changes in platelet function, has not been evaluated., Methods: Seventy-four patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with acetylsalicylic acid and ticagrelor within 5 days before cardiac surgery were included in a prospective observational study. Platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate, arachidonic acid and thrombin receptor-activating peptide was assessed with multiple electrode impedance aggregometry immediately before surgery and 2 h after weaning off cardiopulmonary bypass. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine any association between platelet aggregation and severe bleeding according to the universal definition of perioperative bleeding in adult cardiac surgery., Results: Severe bleeding occurred in 25 of 74 patients (34%). Preoperative and postoperative adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregations were associated with bleeding, with comparable areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve [0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.65-0.89) vs 0.75 (0.62-0.87)]. Postoperative arachidonic acid- and thrombin receptor-activating peptide-induced aggregation had markedly smaller areas under the curve. There were significant correlations between preoperative and postoperative platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (r2 = 0.77, P <  0.001), arachidonic acid (r2 = 0.24, P  <  0.001) and thrombin receptor-activating peptide (r2 = 0.21, P  < 0.001) but with large interindividual variations., Conclusions: Poor postoperative platelet function was associated with severe bleeding, with accuracy comparable to that of preoperative platelet function. There was a correlation between preoperative and postoperative platelet function, but the predictability in an individual patient was limited., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

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., (Copyright © 2018 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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  < 0.001), had lower body mass index (25.8 ± 5.4 vs. 27.2 ± 4.3 kg/m 2 , p  < 0.001), and had more often a history of hypertension (59% vs. 48%, p  = 0.001) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8% vs. 4%, p  = 0.033) compared with males. More females presented with DeBakey class II as compared with males with dissection of the ascending aorta alone (33.4% vs. 23.1%, p  = 0.003). Hypothermic cardiac arrest time (28 ± 16 vs. 31 ± 19 minutes, p  = 0.026) and operation time (345 ± 133 vs. 374 ± 135 minutes, p  < 0.001) were shorter among females. There was no difference between the sexes in unadjusted intraoperative death (9.1% vs. 6.7%, p  = 0.17) or 30-day mortality (17.7% vs. 17.4%, p  = 0.99). In a multivariable analysis including perioperative factors influencing mortality, no difference was found between females and males in 30-day mortality (odds ratio: 0.92, 95% confidence interval: 0.62-1.38, p  = 0.69)., 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., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this article., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Objectives: To describe the relationship between the extent of primary aortic repair and the incidence of reoperations after surgery for type A aortic dissection., Methods: A retrospective cohort of 1159 patients treated for type A aortic dissection at eight Nordic low- to medium-sized cardiothoracic centers from 2005 to 2014. Data were gathered from patient records and national registries. Patients were separately divided into 3 groups according to the distal anastomoses technique (ascending aorta [n = 791], hemiarch [n = 247], and total arch [n = 66]), and into 2 groups for proximal repair (aortic root replacement [n = 285] and supracoronary repair [n = 832]). Freedom from reoperation was estimated with cumulative incidence survival and Fine-Gray competing risk regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for reoperation., Results: The median follow-up was 2.7 years (range, 0-10 years). Altogether 51 out of 911 patients underwent reoperation. Freedom from distal reoperation at 5 years was 96.9%, with no significant difference between the groups (P = .22). Freedom from proximal reoperation at 5 years was 97.8%, with no difference between the groups (P = .84). Neither DeBakey classification nor the extent of proximal or distal repair predicted freedom from a later reoperation. The only independent risk factor associated with a later proximal reoperation was a history of connective tissue disease., Conclusions: Type A aortic dissection repair in low- to medium-volume centers was associated with a low reoperation rate and satisfactory midterm survival. The extent of the primary repair had no significant influence on reoperation rate or midterm survival., (Copyright © 2018 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Excessive perioperative bleeding remains a substantial problem. Factor XIII (FXIII) contributes to clot stability, and it has therefore been suggested that supplementation with FXIII concentrate may improve perioperative hemostasis. We evaluated the effects of increasing doses of FXIII, alone or in combination with fibrinogen or platelet concentrate, in blood samples from 2 considerably different groups of surgical patients: cardiac and scoliosis surgery patients. Whole-blood samples were collected immediately after operation from cardiac and scoliosis surgery patients. The samples were supplemented with 3 clinically relevant doses of FXIII concentrate (+20%, +40%, and +60%), alone or in combination with a fixed dose of fibrinogen concentrate (+1.0 g/L) or fresh apheresis platelets (+92 × 10 9 /L). Clot formation was assessed with rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). When the highest dose of FXIII concentrate was added, EXTEM clotting time was shortened by 10% in both cardiac and scoliosis surgery patients (95% confidence intervals: 2.4%-17% and 3.3%-17%, respectively), and FIBTEM maximum clot firmness was increased by 25% (9.3%-41%) in cardiac patients, relative to baseline. When fibrinogen was added, the dose-dependent effect of FXIII on clot stability was maintained, but the total effect was markedly greater than with FXIII alone, +150% (100%-200%) and +160% (130%-200%) for the highest FXIII dose in cardiac and scoliosis patients, respectively. Ex vivo supplementation with clinically relevant doses of FXIII improved clot formation moderately in blood samples from cardiac and scoliosis surgery patients, both alone and when given in combination with fibrinogen or platelet concentrate.

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 < 0.001). Chest pain was present in 85% of patients, 24% were hypotensive on presentation and 28% had malperfusion syndrome. Open distal anastomosis technique under hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 85% of cases and its use increased significantly throughout the study. The 30-day mortality decreased from 24% in 2005 to 13% in 2014 (P = 0.003). Independent predictors for 30-day mortality were preoperative cardiac arrest, malperfusion syndrome, Penn Class C, Penn Class B and C and cardiopulmonary bypass time, whereas later calendar year and higher hospital operative volumes predicted improved survival., 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., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

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 <.001), and fresh frozen plasma (8.0 U [4.0-18.0 U] vs 5.5 U [2.0-10.3 U]; 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., (Copyright © 2017 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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 Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: E.C.H. has received speaker's honoraria from AstraZeneca. A.J. has received speaker's honoraria from AstraZeneca and Roche Diagnostics; honorarium for advisory boards from Roche Diagnostics, The Medicines Company, and AstraZeneca; and support from AstraZeneca for investigator-initiated studies.

Objective: Dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor and aspirin is associated with an increased risk of perioperative bleeding complications. Current guidelines recommend therefore discontinuation of ticagrelor 5 days before surgery to allow sufficient recovery of platelet function. It is not known how the time to recovery varies between individual patients after discontinuation of ticagrelor., Methods: Twenty-five patients accepted for urgent coronary artery bypass surgery and treated with ticagrelor and aspirin were included in a prospective observational study. Platelet aggregation was evaluated with impedance aggregometry at five timepoints 12-96 h after discontinuation of ticagrelor. In a subset of patients ( n  = 15), we also tested the ex vivo efficacy of platelet concentrate supplementation on platelet aggregation., Results: There was a gradual increase in mean adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation after discontinuation of ticagrelor. After 72 h, mean aggregation was 38 ±23 aggregation units (U), which is above a previously suggested cut-off of 22 U, when patients can be operated without increased bleeding risk. However, there was a large interindividual variability (range 4‒88 U at 72 h) and 6/24 patients (25%) had <22 U after 72 h. Ex vivo administration of platelet concentrate did not improve adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation at any timepoint after ticagrelor discontinuation., Conclusions: Adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation was acceptable after 72 h in the majority of patients but with a large interindividual variability. Due to the large variability, platelet function testing may prove to be a valuable tool in timing of surgery in patients with ongoing or recently stopped ticagrelor treatment. Adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation was not improved by addition of platelet concentrate., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

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. A total of 194 variables were retrospectively collected including demographics, past medical history, preoperative medications, symptoms at presentation, operative variables, complications, bleeding and 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. Substudies 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.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with acetylsalicylic acid and a P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel, ticagrelor, or prasugrel) reduces thrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but it is also associated with an increased risk of bleeding complications. Excessive bleeding in cardiac surgery patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and high costs. In this review, different aspects of platelet inhibition in cardiac surgery patients will be discussed, including direct effects on bleeding and transfusion requirements, discontinuation and reinstitution of antiplatelet drugs before and after surgery, and the use of perioperative platelet function testing.

Background: Treatment with P2Y12 receptor antagonists increases the risk for perioperative bleeding, but there is individual variation in the antiplatelet effect and time to offset of this effect. We investigated whether preoperative platelet function predicts the risk of bleeding complications in ticagrelor-treated cardiac surgery patients., Methods: Ninety patients with ticagrelor treatment within <5 days of surgery were included in a prospective observational study. Preoperative platelet aggregation was assessed with impedance aggregometry using adenosine diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid (AA), and thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP) as initiators. Severe bleeding complications were registered using a new universal definition of perioperative bleeding. The accuracy of aggregability tests for predicting severe bleeding was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, which also identified optimal cut-off values with respect to sensitivity and specificity, based on Youden's index., Results: The median time from the last ticagrelor dose to surgery was 35 (range 4-108) h. The accuracy of platelet function tests to predict severe bleeding was highest for ADP [area under the ROC curve 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.63-0.84, P<0.001); TRAP 0.61 (0.49-0.74); AA 0.53 (0.40-0.66)]. The optimal cut-off for ADP-induced aggregation was 22 U. In subjects with ADP-induced aggregation below the cut-off value, 24/38 (61%) developed severe bleeding compared with 8/52 (14%) when aggregation was at or above the cut-off value (P<0.001). The positive and negative predictive values for this cut-off value were 63 and 85%, respectively., Conclusions: Preoperative ADP-induced platelet aggregability predicts the risk for severe bleeding complications in ticagrelor-treated cardiac surgery patients., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Aims: Excessive bleeding impairs outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Current guidelines recommend withdrawal of clopidogrel and ticagrelor 5 days (120 h) before elective surgery. Shorter discontinuation would reduce the risk of thrombotic events and save hospital resources, but may increase the risk of bleeding. We investigated whether a shorter discontinuation time before surgery increased the incidence of CABG-related major bleeding complications and compared ticagrelor- and clopidogrel-treated patients., Methods and Results: All acute coronary syndrome patients in Sweden on dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticagrelor (n = 1266) or clopidogrel (n = 978) who underwent CABG during 2012-13 were included in a retrospective observational study. The incidence of major bleeding complications according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium-CABG definition was 38 and 31%, respectively, when ticagrelor/clopidogrel was discontinued <24 h before surgery. Within the ticagrelor group, there was no significant difference between discontinuation 72-120 or >120 h before surgery [odds ratio (OR) 0.93 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.53-1.64), P = 0.80]. In contrast, clopidogrel-treated patients had a higher incidence when discontinued 72-120 vs. >120 h before surgery (OR 1.71 (95% CI 1.04-2.79), P = 0.033). The overall incidence of major bleeding complications was lower with ticagrelor [12.9 vs. 17.6%, adjusted OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.56-0.92), P = 0.012]., Conclusion: The incidence of CABG-related major bleeding was high when ticagrelor/clopidogrel was discontinued <24 h before surgery. Discontinuation 3 days before surgery, as opposed to 5 days, did not increase the incidence of major bleeding complications with ticagrelor, but increased the risk with clopidogrel. The overall risk of major CABG-related bleeding complications was lower with ticagrelor than with clopidogrel., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)