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Aims Previous studies have examined risk factors for the development of heart failure (HF) subsequent to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Our study seeks to clarify the clinical variables that best characterize patients who remain free from HF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery for ACS to determine novel biological factors favouring freedom from HF in prospective translational studies. Methods and results Nova Scotia residents (1995–2012) undergoing CABG within 3 weeks of ACS were included. The primary outcome was freedom from readmission to hospital due to HF. Descriptive statistics were generated, and a Cox proportional hazards model assessed outcome with adjustment for clinical characteristics. Of 11 936 Nova Scotians who underwent isolated CABG, 3264 (27%) had a recent ACS and were included. Deaths occurred in 210 (6%) of subjects prior to discharge. A total of 3054 patients were included in the long-term analysis. During follow-up, HF necessitating readmission occurred in 688 (21%) subjects with a hazard ratio of 12% at 2 years. The adjusted Cox model demonstrated significantly better freedom from HF for younger, male subjects without metabolic syndrome and no history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal insufficiency, atrial fibrillation, or HF. Conclusions Our findings have outlined important clinical variables that predict freedom from HF. Furthermore, we have shown that 12% of patients undergoing CABG after ACS develop HF (2 years). Our findings support our next phase in which we plan to prospectively collect blood and tissue specimens from ACS patients undergoing CABG in order to determine novel biological mechanism(s) that favour resolution of post-ACS inflammation.

Purpose Serum troponin (cTnT) levels, a commonly measured biomarker of myocardial injury, has rarely been considered in risk models after cardiac surgery. Materials and methods Retrospective study of patients undergoing any cardiac surgery between 2004 and 2012. Patients with a history of recent myocardial injury ( P value approach was used to determine categories of peak cTnT associated with in-hospital death. A multivariable analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of mortality. Results A total of 5318 patients without evidence of preoperative ischemia underwent a number of cardiac surgical interventions ranging from isolated coronary revascularization to combined valve coronary artery bypass grafting. The unadjusted in-hospital mortality rate was 3.3% (n = 175 patients). Four categories of peak cTnT were identified using the minimum P value approach: less than or equal to 0.6 ng/mL, 0.7 to 1.9 ng/mL, 2.0 to 3.1 ng/mL, and greater than 3.1 ng/mL with unadjusted mortality rates of 1.0%, 3.6%, 10.1%, and 33.1%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that all peak cTnT levels greater than 0.6 ng/mL were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions We demonstrate that in patients without preoperative myocardial ischemia, the demonstration of myocardial injury (>0.6 ng/mL) in the postoperative period is highly predictive of in-hospital death.

This study sought to evaluate if the presence of endocarditis was independently associated with increased perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing aortic valve replacements (AVR) with aortic regurgitation.This was a retrospective study.Large Canadian tertiary care hospital.Six hundred sixty-two consecutive patients with aortic regurgitation score of 3 or higher undergoing AVR from 1995 to 2012.No interventions were performed in this retrospective study.After REB approval, data were obtained from a center-specific database. Univariate analysis was performed to identify variables that may be associated with transfusion of any allogeneic blood product perioperatively. A multivariate logistic regression was generated to identify independent predictors of perioperative transfusion. Unadjusted transfusion rates in patients with no endocarditis and with endocarditis were 32% and 70% (p0.001), respectively. Independent predictors of any transfusion were moderate-to-severe preoperative anemia, preoperative renal failure, non-isolated AVR, age70, urgent/emergent surgery, BMI25, and female sex. Endocarditis was not an independent predictor of transfusion (OR = 0.748; 95% CI = 0.35-1.601).In patients undergoing AVR, unadjusted perioperative transfusion rates were higher when endocarditis was present. However, after adjustment, aortic valve endocarditis was not independently associated with blood transfusion. The authors' observation could be explained by the higher prevalence of many independent predictors of transfusion, such as comorbidities or more complex surgery, within the endocarditis group. Thus, AV endocarditis, in the absence of other risk factors, was not associated with increased perioperative transfusion risk.

Hospital-acquired infections have been suggested to affect patients' outcomes and raise health care costs. However, research regarding the change in rates and types of infections over time remains limited.All patients who underwent cardiac surgical procedures from 1995 to 2012 at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center in Halifax, Canada were identified. The prevalence of superficial surgical site infection (sSSI), deep surgical site infection (dSSI), urinary tract infection, sepsis, pneumonia, and leg site infection was examined to determine trends in infections over time. Nonparsimonious logistic regression models were created to identify independent preoperative predictors of length of stay and infection onset.A total of 19,333 consecutive patients underwent cardiac surgical procedures, of whom 2,726 (14%) contracted at least one postoperative infection. The incidence of infections increased from 8% to 20% during the 17-year span (p0.0001). The overall prevalence of infection types, from highest to lowest, was pneumonia (6%), urinary tract infection (6%), sepsis (3%), sSSI (2%), leg infection (2%), and dSSI (1%). After adjusting for clinical differences, postoperative infection was found to be an independent predictor of length of stay longer than 9 days. In turn, independent predictors for contracting a postoperative infection included operative era, advanced age of patients, and complex procedures.The incidence of infection increased nearly threefold since 1995 independent of patient- or procedure-related variables and was found to affect hospital length of stay significantly. Our findings highlight that efforts to monitor only rates of hospital-acquired infections may not in isolation help affect patient care.

The use of 1 or more mediastinal chest tubes has traditionally been routine for all cardiac surgery procedures to deal with bleeding. However, it remains unproven whether multiple chest tubes offer a benefit over a single chest tube.All consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery (2005-2010) received at least 1 chest tube at the time of surgery based on surgeon preference. Patients were grouped into those receiving a single chest tube (SCT) and those receiving multiple chest tubes (MCT). The primary outcome was return to the operating room for bleeding or tamponade.A total of 5698 consecutive patients were assigned to 2 groups: 3045 to the SCT and 2653 to the MCT group. Patients in the SCT group were older, more often female and less likely to undergo isolated coronary artery bypass graft than those in the MCT group. Unadjusted outcomes for SCT and MCT, respectively, were return to the operating room for bleeding or tamponade (4.7% v. 5.0%; p = 0.50), intensive care unit stay longer than 48 hours (25.5% v. 27.9%; p = 0.041, postoperative stay9 days (31.5% v. 33.1%; p = 0.20) and mortality (3.8% v. 4.6%; p = 0.16). Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for clinical differences between groups, showed that the number of chest tubes was not associated with return to the operating room for bleeding or tamponade.The use of multiple mediastinal chest tubes after cardiac surgery confers no advantage over a single chest tube in preventing return to the operating room for bleeding or tamponade.De tout temps, lors de chirurgies cardiaques, on a posé 1 ou plusieurs drains thoraciques médiastinaux pour gérer les saignements. Or, il n’a pas été démontré que la pose de plusieurs drains plutôt que d’un seul confère un avantage.On a posé au moins un drain thoracique à tous les patients consécutifs soumis à une chirurgie cardiaque (2005–2010) au moment de l’intervention, selon la préférence des chirurgiens. Les patients ont été regroupés selon qu’on leur avait posé un seul drain thoracique (SDT) ou plusieurs (PDT). Le paramètre principal était le retour au bloc opératoire pour hémorragie ou tamponnade.En tout 5698 patients consécutifs ont été scindés en 2 groupes : 3045 dans le groupe SDT et 2653 dans le groupe PDT. Les patients du groupe SDT étaient plus âgés, plus souvent de sexe féminin et moins susceptibles de subir un pontage aortocoronarien isolé comparativement au groupe PDT. Les paramètres non ajustés pour les groupes SDT et PDT, respectivement, ont été retour au bloc opératoire pour hémorragie ou tamponnade (4,7 % c. 5,0 %;La pose de plusieurs drains thoraciques plutôt que d’un seul après la chirurgie cardiaque ne confère aucun avantage en ce qui concerne le retour au bloc opératoire pour hémorragie ou tamponnade.De tout temps, lors de chirurgies cardiaques, on a posé 1 ou plusieurs drains thoraciques médiastinaux pour gérer les saignements. Or, il n’a pas été démontré que la pose de plusieurs drains plutôt que d’un seul confère un avantage.On a posé au moins un drain thoracique à tous les patients consécutifs soumis à une chirurgie cardiaque (2005–2010) au moment de l’intervention, selon la préférence des chirurgiens. Les patients ont été regroupés selon qu’on leur avait posé un seul drain thoracique (SDT) ou plusieurs (PDT). Le paramètre principal était le retour au bloc opératoire pour hémorragie ou tamponnade.En tout 5698 patients consécutifs ont été scindés en 2 groupes : 3045 dans le groupe SDT et 2653 dans le groupe PDT. Les patients du groupe SDT étaient plus âgés, plus souvent de sexe féminin et moins susceptibles de subir un pontage aortocoronarien isolé comparativement au groupe PDT. Les paramètres non ajustés pour les groupes SDT et PDT, respectivement, ont été retour au bloc opératoire pour hémorragie ou tamponnade (4,7 % c. 5,0 %;La pose de plusieurs drains thoraciques plutôt que d’un seul après la chirurgie cardiaque ne confère aucun avantage en ce qui concerne le retour au bloc opératoire pour hémorragie ou tamponnade.

Background Complete revascularization (CR) has been suggested to provide benefits to both early and long-term outcomes, but the magnitude of the benefit and frequency of incomplete revascularization (IR) after coronary artery bypass graft operations is rarely explored and is the subject of the present study. Methods All patients who underwent isolated bypass operations (March 1995 to September 2007) at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center (Halifax, NS, Canada) were identified. Revascularization was considered complete if each significantly diseased territory received at least 1 graft. Clinical characteristics of the CR and IR groups were examined to determine barriers of CR. A nonparsimonious Cox proportion model and survival curves were constructed to examine the association of CR and death after adjusting for clinically relevant covariates. Results A total of 8,570 patients underwent isolated nonredo bypass operations. IR, based on our strict definition, occurred in 19% of the patients. The territories most commonly affected were the right coronary and circumflex coronary territories. After adjustment for relevant clinical differences, IR was a significant independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 1.3). IR was also a significant independent predictor of hospital readmission for cardiac reasons after discharge (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 1.3). Conclusions Despite advances in surgical revascularization, IR can occur in up to 19% of patients. IR significantly affects long-term death and readmission to hospital for cardiac reasons, and avoiding IR should therefore be a priority for surgeons during preoperative planning.

Objectives Precursor events are undesirable events that can lead to a subsequent adverse event and have been associated with postoperative mortality. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether precursor events are associated with a composite endpoint of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (death, acute renal failure, stroke, infection) in a low- to medium-risk coronary artery bypass grafting, valve, and valve plus coronary artery bypass grafting population. These events might be targets for strategies aimed at quality improvement. Methods The present study was a retrospective cohort design performed at the Queen Elizabeth Health Science Centre. Low- to medium-risk patients who had experienced postoperative MACE were matched 1:1 with patients who had not experienced postoperative MACE. The operative notes, for both groups, were scored by 5 surgeons to determine the frequency of 4 precursor events: bleeding, difficulty weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, repair or regrafting, and incomplete revascularization or repair. A univariate comparison of ≥1 precursor events in the matched groups was performed. Results A total of 311 MACE patients (98.4%) were matched. The primary outcome occurred more frequently in the MACE group than in the non-MACE group (33% vs 24%; P = .015). The incidence of the individual events of bleeding and difficulty weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass was significantly higher in the MACE group. Those patients with a precursor event in the absence of MACE also appeared to have a greater prevalence of other important postoperative outcomes. Conclusions Patients undergoing cardiac surgery who are exposed to intraoperative precursor events were more likely to experience a postoperative MACE. Quality improvement techniques aimed at mitigating the consequences of precursor events might improve the surgical outcomes for cardiac surgical patients.

Aims Previous studies have examined risk factors for the development of heart failure (HF) subsequent to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Our study seeks to clarify the clinical variables that best characterize patients who remain free from HF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery for ACS to determine novel biological factors favouring freedom from HF in prospective translational studies. Methods and results Nova Scotia residents (1995–2012) undergoing CABG within 3 weeks of ACS were included. The primary outcome was freedom from readmission to hospital due to HF. Descriptive statistics were generated, and a Cox proportional hazards model assessed outcome with adjustment for clinical characteristics. Of 11 936 Nova Scotians who underwent isolated CABG, 3264 (27%) had a recent ACS and were included. Deaths occurred in 210 (6%) of subjects prior to discharge. A total of 3054 patients were included in the long‐term analysis. During follow‐up, HF necessitating readmission occurred in 688 (21%) subjects with a hazard ratio of 12% at 2 years. The adjusted Cox model demonstrated significantly better freedom from HF for younger, male subjects without metabolic syndrome and no history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal insufficiency, atrial fibrillation, or HF. Conclusions Our findings have outlined important clinical variables that predict freedom from HF. Furthermore, we have shown that 12% of patients undergoing CABG after ACS develop HF (2 years). Our findings support our next phase in which we plan to prospectively collect blood and tissue specimens from ACS patients undergoing CABG in order to determine novel biological mechanism(s) that favour resolution of post‐ACS inflammation.

ObjectivePatients who undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) commonly receive fewer bypass grafts and are more often incompletely revascularized compared with those receiving conventional coronary artery bypass (CCAB) recipients. Because this can compromise survival, we sought to determine whether patients undergoing OPCAB are incompletely revascularized and whether this affects long-term survival and freedom from cardiac events.MethodsOPCAB cases (n = 411) performed from January 1, 1997 to June 30, 2003 were considered for inclusion and matching with 874 randomly selected, contemporary CCAB cases. After propensity matching, 308 OPCAB cases and 308 CCAB cases were included in the final analysis. We compared the number of bypass grafts and the completeness of revascularization by coronary territory. Survival and readmission for cardiac causes were monitored for up to 10 years postoperatively, with a median follow-up period of 5.9 years.ResultsOn average, the patients undergoing OPCAB received significantly fewer distal anastomoses than did those undergoing CCAB (mean ± standard deviation, 2.6 ± 0.9 vs 3.0 ± 1.0, P

Objective The objective of this study was to examine the effect of arterial grafting on long-term coronary artery bypass grafting mortality. Methods Consecutive coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries performed at a single tertiary care center between 1995 and 2007 were reviewed. Long-term survival was compared among patients according to the type of arterial grafts used: no internal thoracic artery, single internal thoracic artery, single internal thoracic artery with other arterial graft, or bilateral internal thoracic artery. Cox proportional hazard models were generated to examine the association of arterial grafting with mortality. Results A total of 8264 isolated coronary artery bypass grafting operations were performed and followed for a median time of 4.7 years (interquartile range, 2.1–7.5). A single internal thoracic artery was used in the majority of patients (79%), multiple arterial grafts were used in 24% of patients, and bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts were used in 13% of patients. Patients who received multiple arterial grafts were more likely to be younger, to be male, and to undergo non-urgent surgery. After adjusting for these differences, patients who received bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts were found to have a significant survival advantage when compared with all other patients, including those who received a single internal thoracic artery plus other arterial grafts (hazard ratio, 0.818; confidence interval, 0.672–0.996). Survival at 10 years was 71% for patients with bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts compared with 66% for patients with single internal thoracic artery grafts and 58% for patients with no internal thoracic artery graft. Patients with bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts had significantly better freedom from readmission for acute coronary syndrome (hazard ratio, 0.802; confidence interval, 0.668–0.963). Conclusions After adjusting for relevant clinical differences, only multiple arterial grafting using the bilateral internal thoracic artery was able to offer a long-term survival advantage over single internal thoracic artery grafting in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives. Comprehension of risks, benefits, and alternative treatment options has been shown to be poor among patients referred for cardiac interventions. Patients’ values and preferences are rarely explicitly sought. An increasing proportion of frail and older patients are undergoing complex cardiac surgical procedures with increased risk of both mortality and prolonged institutional care. We sought input from patients and caregivers to determine the optimal approach to decision making in this vulnerable patient population. Methods. Focus groups were held with both providers and former patients. Three focus groups were convened for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), Valve, or CABG +Valve patients ≥ 70 y old (2-y post-op, ≤ 8-wk post-op, complicated post-op course) (n = 15). Three focus groups were convened for Intermediate Medical Care Unit (IMCU) nurses, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists and cardiac intensivists (n = 20). We used a semi-structured interview format to ask questions surrounding the informed consent process. Transcribed audio data was analyzed to develop consistent and comprehensive themes. Results. We identified 5 main themes that influence the decision making process: educational barriers, educational facilitators, patient autonomy and perceived autonomy, patient and family expectations of care, and decision making advocates. All themes were influenced by time constraints experienced in the current consent process. Patient groups expressed a desire to receive information earlier in their care to allow time to identify personal values and preferences in developing plans for treatment. Both groups strongly supported a formal approach for shared decision making with a decisional coach to provide information and facilitate communication with the care team. Conclusions. Identifying the barriers and facilitators to patient and caretaker engagement in decision making is a key step in the development of a structured, patient-centered SDM approach. Intervention early in the decision process, the use of individualized decision aids that employ graphic risk presentations, and a dedicated decisional coach were identified by patients and providers as approaches with a high potential for success. The impact of such a formalized shared decision making process in cardiac surgery on decisional quality will need to be formally assessed. Given the trend toward older and frail patients referred for complex cardiac procedures, the need for an effective shared decision making process is compelling.

Background and aim: We sought to evaluate the long-term impact of post-cardiac surgery atrial fibrillation on the risk of stroke and survival. Methods: Patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery from April 1, 1995 to March 31, 2007 were identified (n = 8058). Long-term stroke data were compiled using Cox modeling adjusted for clinical characteristics comparing patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (NwAfib) and those without. Results: NwAfib developed in 2214 patients (27.5%). Overall in-hospital mortality was 2.4% and was not different between groups. Unadjusted in-hospital outcomes suggest patients with NwAfib were more likely to suffer a permanent stroke (1% vs 2.5%; p

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify and examine ICD utilization in a large group of eligible coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients with impaired left ventricular function. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of ICD eligible patients who had previously undergone CABG surgery between March 1, 1995 and June 30, 2008 at a single tertiary care institution. All patients with a pre-operative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% were considered ICD eligible. The events of interest were ICD implantation and mortality, based on administrative data linkage. Results: A total of 1,169 out of 11,931 CABG patients operated on during the same period had LVEF ≤ 35% and were defined as ICD eligible (mean EF = 27.3% +/- 6.4%). Of these eligible patients, only 101 received an ICD during follow-up (8.6%). The median time to implant was 255 days (14-1078). The single variable that independently predicted eventual ICD implantation was a history of arrhythmia (OR = 7.4; CI, 4.4-12.2). The variables that predicted not having an ICD implanted during follow-up included the need for urgent CABG (OR = 0.5; CI, 0.2-0.9), age > 70 years (OR = 0.5; CI, 0.3-0.8), female gender (OR = 0.2; CI,0.1-0.6), or having chronic obstructive lung disease (OR = 0.5; CI,0.3-0.8). As a data validation step, a series of consecutive patient records were reviewed (n=80) showing that fewer than 23% underwent appropriate follow-up EF assessment post revascularization. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CABG patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy have low rates of ICD utilization. This is particularly evident among females and elderly patients. Furthermore our data suggests that few patients post-revascularization undergo follow-up EF assessment despite current guidelines likely contributing to the low rates of ICD utilization.

The impact of admission serum glucose (SG) level on outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is unknown. The present study sought to determine whether elevated admission SG level is associated with adverse outcomes following CABG surgery.Patients undergoing CABG surgery between January 2000 and December 2005 at a single centre were identified (n=2856). Admission SG levels of less than 9.2 mmol/L and 9.2 mmol/L or greater were chosen to divide patients into two groups based on the 75th percentile of SG distribution. A logistic regression model was generated to determine the impact of admission SG level on a composite outcome of any one or more of in-hospital mortality, stroke, perioperative myocardial infarction, sepsis, deep sternal wound infection, renal failure, requirement for postoperative inotropes and prolonged ventilation.In total, 76.3% of patients had an admission SG level of less than 9.2 mmol/L (group A) and 23.7% had an admission SG level of 9.2 mmol/L or greater (group B). Group B patients were more likely to be female, have diabetes, have preoperative renal failure, have an ejection fraction of less than 40%, experience myocardial infarction within 21 days before surgery, and have triple vessel or left main disease (P0.05). Univariate analysis revealed no difference in in-hospital mortality between group A (2.2%) and group B (3.2%) (P=0.12); however, the composite outcome was more likely to occur in group B (40.8%) versus group A (27.9%) (P=0.0001). After multivariable adjustment, admission SG level of 9.2 mmol/L or greater remained an independent predictor of composite outcome (OR=1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.7, P=0.02, receiver operating characteristic = 78%).Admission SG level of 9.2 mmol/L or greater is associated with significant morbidity in patients undergoing CABG surgery.

Background Utilization of the irreversible antiplatelet agent clopidogrel is increasing in the treatment acute coronary syndrome patients. Consequently, more patients are presenting for urgent cardiac surgery with an irreversible defect in platelet function. The objective of this study was to determine whether recent clopidogrel administration predicts transfusion and hemorrhagic complication in cardiac surgery patients. Methods This retrospective study included all patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), isolated valve, or CABG plus valve at a single center between 2004 and 2008. The outcomes of interest were transfusion and hemorrhagic complication. Clopidogrel stop interval was defined as the time between last dose and presentation to the operating room, and was examined in daily increments from 0 to 5 days, more than 5 days, and not receiving clopidogrel preoperatively. By logistic regression, the association of clopidogrel stop interval with transfusion and with hemorrhagic complication was examined after adjusting for other risk factors. Results Of 3,779 patients included in this study, 26.4% (999) received clopidogrel preoperatively. The overall rates of transfusion and hemorrhagic complication were 34.1% and 4.1%, respectively. Clopidogrel use within 24 hours was an independent predictor of transfusion (odds ratio 2.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.8 to 3.3) and of hemorrhagic complication (odds ratio 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 3.6). Conclusions Patients receiving clopidogrel within 24 hours of surgery are at increased risk for transfusion and hemorrhagic complication. Timing of surgery for patients receiving clopidogrel should take into account the interval from the last dose.

Background Wait times for cardiac surgery are well established but may not reflect the total wait time patients experience. Methods The Maritime Heart Center (Halifax, Nova Scotia) cardiac surgery database was used to identify all consecutive patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery between 2002 and 2005 from a single urgency queue. The provincial physician billing database provided a timeline record of dates, physician visits, and diagnoses or procedures performed for each patient. This information was used to assess total and component wait times leading to cardiac surgery. Results A total of 705 consecutive patients were included and stratified based on geographical location: urban Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM; n=222), urban non-HRM (n=220) and rural (n=263). Patients from all regions did not differ in age, sex, comorbidities or ventricular function. Using a traditional definition of wait time (time listed), patients waited a median of 56 days (interquartile range [IQR] 38 to 77 days). In comparison, the total wait times based on the time from presentation to surgery were a median of 109 days (IQR 56 to 184 days) for HRM, a median of 121 days (IQR 77 to 184 days) for urban non-HRM and a median of 123 days (IQR 79 to 169 days) for rural patients (P-value nonsignificant). Two modes of presentation emerged that were not influenced by a patient's geographical location. Patients who presented to the emergency department (n=229) waited a median of 73 days. This was significantly less than patients who presented to their family physician (n=476), who waited a median of 135 days (P Conclusion The present pilot study demonstrated that total patient wait times for cardiac care and surgery in Nova Scotia are significantly longer (more than twofold) than traditionally reported wait times for surgery alone.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between preoperative atrial fibrillation and early and late clinical outcomes following cardiac surgery. Methods: A retrospective cohort including all consecutive coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve surgery patients between 1995 and 2005 was identified (n = 9796). No patient had a concomitant surgical AF ablation. The association between preoperative atrialfibrillation and inhospitaloutcomeswasexamined.Wealsodeterminedlatedeathandcardiovascular-relatedre-hospitalizationbylinkingtoadministrativehealth databases. Median follow-up was 2.9 years (maximum 11 years). Results: The prevalence of preoperative atrial fibrillation was 11.3% (n = 1105), ranging from 7.2% in isolated CABG to 30% in valve surgery. In-hospital mortality, stroke, and renal failure were more common in atrial fibrillation patients (allp < 0.0001), although the association between atrial fibrillation and mortality was not statistically significant in multivariate logistic regression. Longitudinal analyses showed that preoperative atrial fibrillation was associated with decreased event-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio 1.55, 95% confidence interval 1.42—1.70, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Preoperative atrial fibrillation is associated with increased late mortality and recurrent cardiovascular events post-cardiac surgery. Effective management strategies for atrial fibrillation need to be explored and may provide an opportunity to improve the long-term outcomes of cardiac surgical patients. # 2009 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background: Hemisternotomy has been suggested as a way to reduce morbidity by limiting the invasiveness of surgical interventions but it is often limited to aortic valve disease. This study reviews the experience of one center employing hemisternotomy and compares patient outcomes, both in-hospital and post-discharge, with a matched group of full sternotomy patients. Methods: Propensity scores were used to match all hemisternotomy valve cases (Hemi) to full sternotomy valve cases (Full) (1:2). An in-hospital composite outcome (COMP) was defined as mortality, stroke, deep sternal wound infection, sepsis, or return to operating room (OR) for bleeding or valve dysfunction. Provincial administrative health databases were used to determine freedom from mortality and hospital readmission for cardiac cause. Results: During the study period, 70 patients received hemisternotomy for various cardiac surgical interventions with only 38 patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement. Examining valve surgery exclusively, 65 Hemi were matched to 130 Full. In-hospital complications were low in both groups, with 1.0% mortality and a non-significant trend toward COMP in the Full group (Hemi = 4.6%; Full = 8.5%; p = 0.39). Ventilation time was significantly decreased in Hemi (median four vs. six hours; p = 0.002). At two years follow-up, survival was excellent for both (Hemi = 95.0%; Full = 93.6%) and freedom from cardiac morbidity (Hemi = 76.8%, Full = 73.2%) was comparable. Conclusion: Hemisternotomy appears to be a safe, effective, and versatile alternative for many cardiac surgical interventions. With a median follow-up of four years, this study represents the longest cardiac morbidity follow-up for hemisternotomy patients. However, we were unable to conclusively show a morbidity benefit with this incision.

Transit-time flowmetry enables immediate intraoperative assessment of blood flow parameters in coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG). The present study assesses the predictive value of measured graft flows on early and medium-term outcomes. All cardiac surgery patients with measured graft flows were included. The last intraoperative flow measurements recorded using the Medtronic Butterfly Flowmetry system were used for analysis. Patients were separated into two groups: patients with normal flow in all grafts or patients with abnormal flowor =1 graft. Any pulsatility index (pulsatility index=min-max flow/mean flow)or =5 was determined to be normal flow. The study population included 985 patients. Nineteen percent of patients had abnormal flow inor =1 graft. Overall in-hospital mortality was 4.7% and not significant between the two groups. After adjusting for covariates, the in-hospital composite outcome for adverse cardiac events was more prevalent in the abnormal flow group (31% vs. 17%; P0.0001) with an odds ratio of 1.7 (CI 1.1-2.7). Survivors to discharge had a mean follow-up of 1.8 years. However, abnormal flow was not an independent predictor of the medium-term mortality and readmission to hospital for cardiac reason following discharge. Our findings suggest that abnormal flows measured intraoperatively are independently associated with short-term in-hospital adverse outcome.

A new generation of coating extracorporeal circuitry with biocompatible polymers has entered the North American perfusion market. This new biomimetic coating process uses synthetic phosphorylcholine (PC) containing polymers to bond covalently to the surface of the Sorin Monolyth oxygenator, under the brand name of Mimesys. In part one of a three-part investigation, 160 Mimesys-coated oxygenators were randomly evaluated against 36 uncoated oxygenators for blood flow, hemodynamic resistance, and pressure differentials. In part two, retrospective analysis of platelet data collected in this study was compared with platelet data collected from a previous investigation using uncoated Monolyth oxygenators with albumin and crystalloid perfusates. Part three examined the risk-adjusted clinical outcomes of 71 patients treated with Mimesys-coated oxygenators, compared with 71 case-matched patients treated with uncoated oxygenators. There was no difference found in the Mimesys-coated group, when compared to the control group, with regard to pressure differentials or hemodynamic resistance. However, we conclude that platelet protection with PC-coated Monolyth's using crystalloid perfusates, was similar to platelet protection with albumin perfusates, and significantly better than uncoated Monolyths using crystalloid perfusates.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the long-term outcomes of all patients requiring prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay following coronary bypass surgery (CABG) surgery.All patients undergoing CABG surgery between 1998 and 2002 were reviewed. Prolonged ICU stay was defined as more than 48 hours. Short-term (in-hospital) and long-term (postdischarge) outcomes were evaluated using available databases.Of 3139 patients who underwent CABG surgery, 598 required an ICU stay of more than 48 hours (19%). The in-hospital mortality for patients requiring prolonged ICU stay was 10.0% as compared with 1.2% for the remainder of patients (P.0001). The median length of hospitalization for patients requiring prolonged stay was 11 days (IQR 7-18) as compared to 6 days (IQR 5-7). The median follow-up of patients who survived to discharge was 31 months with a 100% follow-up. Using Cox proportional hazard ratio, patients who required a prolonged ICU stay were found to have a significant lower survival and freedom from cardiac readmission to the hospital. Prolonged ICU stay was an independent predictor of composite outcome (death + readmission) with a hazard ratio of 1.8 (1.5-2.1).Prolonged ICU stay following CABG resulted in increased early and late mortality and lower freedom from readmission to hospital for cardiac reasons.

Background Despite the proposed advantages of off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, some controversy remains as to its advantages compared with on-pump CABG. The present study evaluates medium-term outcomes from patients that have been randomized to CABG surgery performed on pump versus off pump. Methods All consecutive patients enrolled into a previously completed randomized trial comparing CABG surgery performed on (n = 150) versus off (n = 150) pump were included. The analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis. The outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and readmission to hospital for cardiac reason. Results The in-hospital outcomes were excellent in both groups with a mortality rate of 0.7% in the on-pump versus 1.3% in the off-pump group ( P = .56). Median follow-up was 3.8 years (interquartile range, 3.4-4.4 years) with 1 patient lost to follow-up (99% complete). There were 12 late deaths, 8 in the off-pump group and 4 in the on-pump group, which were not statistically different between groups ( P = .23) and resulted in a greater than 90% survival at 4 years. Freedom from readmission to hospital for cardiac cause was not statistical different between the 2 groups with 70% event-free survival at 4 years. Multivariate analysis failed to identify the type of procedure (on vs off pump) as an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular event (mortality + readmission to hospital). Conclusions We have shown that in patients randomized to CABG surgery performed on pump versus off pump, excellent medium-term results can be obtained with either technique. We have been unable to demonstrate that one technique is superior to the other.

Background: The impact of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (NAF) on in-hospital mortality (IHM) following cardiac surgery is unknown. Methods: All patients without preoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and concomitant CABG and valve surgery were identified (n = 7,347). The association between NAF and IHM was determined using logistic regression modeling. Also, propensity score analysis was used to create two matched subgroups of patients with and without NAF (n = 2,015 in each group). The secondary outcomes examined were stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), intra-aortic balloon pump use, GI complications, deep sternal wound infection (DSWI), septicemia, renal failure, and length of stay. Results: NAF developed in 2,047 patients (27.9%). NAF was not an independent predictor of IHM (odds ratio, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.6 to 1.2; p=0.3). In multivariate analysis, NAF was associated with age ≥ 60 years, combined procedures, preoperative MI within 7 days of surgery, COPD, cerebrovascular disease, and male gender. Propensity-adjusted results revealed no difference in IHM between NAF vs no-NAF patients (2.9% vs 3.5%, respectively; Bonferroni-corrected p=0.99). However, GI complications (4.2% vs 2.1%), DSWI (1.3% vs 0.4%), septicemia (4.0% vs 1.1%), renal failure (7.6% vs 4.3%), and length of stay (8 days vs 6 days) were significantly increased in patients with NAF. Conclusion: NAF following cardiac surgery is not associated with increased IHM.

Background This study evaluated preoperative predictors of in-hospital death for the surgical treatment of patients with acute type A aortic dissection (Type A) and created an easy-to-use scorecard to predict in-hospital death. Methods We reviewed retrospectively all consecutive patients who underwent operations for acute Type A between 1996 and 2011 at 2 tertiary care institutions. A logistic regression model was created to identify independent preoperative predictors of in-hospital death. The results were used to create a scorecard predicting operative risk. Results Emergency operations were performed in 534 consecutive patients for acute Type A. Mean age was 61 ± 14 years and 36.3% were women. Critical preoperative state was present in 31% of patients and malperfusion of one or more end organs in 36%. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was 18.7% and not significantly different between institutions. Independent predictors of in-hospital death were age 50 to 70 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.8; p = 0.001), age older than 70 years (OR, 2.8; p = 0.03), critical preoperative state (OR, 3.2; p p = 0.003), and coronary artery disease (OR, 2.2; p = 0.006). Age younger than 50 years (OR, 0.3; p = 0.01) was protective for early survival. Using this information, we created an easily usable mortality risk score based on these variables. The patients were stratified into four risk categories predicting in-hospital death: less than 10%, 10% to 25%, 25% to 50%, and more than 50%. Conclusions This represents one of the largest series of patients with Type A in which a risk model was created. Using our approach, we have shown that age, critical preoperative state, and malperfusion syndrome were strong independent risk factors for early death and could be used for the preoperative risk assessment.

Increasingly, patients are being referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for management of symptoms after prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this study, we assessed the impact of prior PCI on inhospital mortality after CABG.Perioperative data were collected on patients who underwent first-time CABG at 2 surgical centers. Patients who underwent PCI and CABG during the same admission were excluded. Patients with prior PCI were compared with patients with no prior PCI, and the risk-adjusted impact of prior PCI on inhospital mortality after CABG was determined using both multivariate techniques and propensity score matching techniques.Six thousand thirty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Patients with prior PCI were less likely to be between the ages of 70 and 80 (P.0001), to have an ejection fraction0.40 (P.0001), and to have 3-vessel/left main disease (P.0001). They were, however, more likely to have Canadian Cardiovascular Society class IV symptoms (P.0001) and to have an urgent status (P = .02). Rates of inhospital mortality after CABG were higher in patients with prior PCI (3.6% vs 2.3%, P = .02). Using multivariate techniques, prior PCI emerged as an independent predictor of postoperative inhospital mortality (odds ratio 1.93, P = .003). When patients with prior PCI were matched to patients with no prior PCI using propensity scores, inhospital mortality remained higher among patients with prior PCI (3.6% vs 1.7%, P = .01).Patients with prior PCI presented for CABG with less comorbidity and diminished coronary disease; yet, they had more advanced symptoms and greater urgency. After adjusting for these differences, prior PCI emerged as an independent predictor of inhospital mortality after CABG.

Background: Significant controversy remains over how urgently coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) should be scheduled, particularly for patients with stenosis of the left main coronary artery. Our main objective was to evaluate the safety of waiting for CABG among patients with left main coronary artery disease using a standardized triage system. Methods: We identified 561 consecutive patients with stenosis of the left main coronary artery who were scheduled to undergo CABG between Apr. 1, 1999, and Mar. 31, 2003. Using standardized triage criteria, patients were assigned to 1 of 4 waiting queues: “emergent,” “in-hospital urgent,” “out-of-hospital semi-urgent A” and “out-of-hospital semi-urgent B.” Postoperative outcome measures were in-hospital death from any cause and a composite outcome measure of in-hospital death from any cause, a prolonged requirement for postoperative mechanical ventilation (> 24 h) and a prolonged postoperative hospital stay (> 9 d). Waiting-time variables included the specific queue, whether patients waited longer than the standard time established for each queue and whether patients were upgraded to a more urgent queue. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of the composite outcome; propensity scores (probability of being assigned to a specific queue) were entered into the model to adjust for patient variability among queues. Results: Of the 561 patients, 65 (11.6%) were assigned to the emergent group, 343 (61.1%) to the in-hospital urgent group, 91 (16.2%) to the semi-urgent A queue and 62 (11.1%) to the semi-urgent B queue. Four patients (0.7%) died while waiting for surgery. The median waiting times were as follows: emergent group, 0 days; in-hospital urgent group, 2 days; 30 days in the semi-urgent A group and 49 days in the semi-urgent B group. A total of 52 patients (9.3%) were upgraded to a more urgent queue, and 147 patients (26.2%) waited longer than the standard times for their respective queue. The overall in-hospital mortality was 5.5% ( n = 31), and the composite outcome was 32.6% ( n = 183). Independent predictors of the composite outcome were myocardial infarction within 7 days before surgery, preoperative renal failure, ejection fraction of less than 40%, age greater than 70 years and stenosis of left main coronary artery greater than 70%. Waiting-time variables were associated with neither a significantly higher mortality nor morbidity outcome. Interpretation: For selected patients with stenosis of the left main coronary artery, waiting for CABG did not appear to be associated with increased mortality or morbidity.

Objective: Unstable angina (UA) is characterized by a state of coronary artery vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Statins mitigate inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and decrease mortality associated with percutaneous interventions for UA. We determined whether preoperative statin use is associated with decreased mortality and morbidity following coronary artery bypassGvalve surgery for UA. Methods: Patients with CCS Class IV angina having CABGGvalve surgery were identified (nZ1706). A logistic regression model determined the association of preoperative statin use with in-hospital mortality (IHM). Propensity score analysis was used to match two sub-groups of patients (GrpI, on statins, nZ534; GrpII, not on statins, nZ534) on factors known to affect outcomes. Outcomes were IHM, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use, perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI), prolonged (O24 h) ventilation (p-vent), stroke, and a composite outcome (comp) defined as any one or more of the above. Results: Of the 1706 patients, 1075 were on statins and 631 were not. Patients on statins were more likely to have isolated CABG, EFO40%, and be on a b-blocker (PZ0.0001); and less likely to have renal failure, MI!7 days, CHF, and undergoing urgent/emergent surgery (PZ0.0001). Unadjusted rates of IHM (9 vs. 5%, PZ0.001), stroke (4.4 vs. 2.3%, PZ0.015), p-vent (28.4 vs. 19%, PZ0.0001), and comp (32.5 vs. 22.8%, PZ0.0001) were lower in patients receiving statins. After adjustment, statin use was not associated with a reduction in IHM (ORZ1.0, 95% CIZ0.6‐1.5, PZ0.85) or comp (ORZ1.1, 95% CIZ0.8‐1.4, PZ0.69). No significant differences were found in any of the propensity-adjusted outcomes for GrpI vs. GrpII: IHM (7.1 vs. 6.4%), PMI (2.8 vs. 1.7%), IABP use (3 vs. 3.8%), stroke (3.8 vs. 3.9%), p-vent (26.4 vs. 23.8%), comp (31.5 vs. 27.5%). Conclusions: Preoperative statin use is not associated with a reduction in IHM or major morbidity following CABGGvalve surgery in patients with UA. Q 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Although octogenarians are being referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with increasing frequency, contemporary outcomes have not been well described. We examined data from 4 Canadian centres to determine outcomes of CABG in this age group.Data for the years 1996 to 2001 were examined in a comparison of octogenarians with patients less than 80 years of age. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for preoperative factors and to generate adjusted rates of mortality and postoperative stroke.A total of 15,070 consecutive patients underwent isolated CABG during the study period. Overall, 725 (4.8%) were 80 years of age or older, the proportion increasing from 3.8% in 1996 to 6.2% in 2001 (p for linear trend = 0.03). The crude rate of death was higher among the octogenarians (9.2% v. 3.8%; p0.001), as was the rate of stroke (4.7% v. 1.6%, p0.001). The octogenarians had a significantly greater burden of comorbid conditions and more urgent presentation at surgery. After adjustment, the octogenarians remained at greater risk for in-hospital death (odds ratio [OR] 2.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95-3.57) and stroke (OR 3.25, 95% CI 2.15-4.93). Mortality declined over time for both age groups (p for linear trend0.001 for both groups), but the incidence of postoperative stroke did not change (p for linear trend = 0.61 [age80 years] and 0.08 [ageor = 80 years]). Octogenarians who underwent elective surgery had crude and adjusted rates of death (OR 1.31, 95% CI 0.60-2.90) and stroke (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.57-4.44) that were higher than but not significantly different from those for non-octogenarians who underwent elective surgery.In this study, rates of death and stroke were higher among octogenarians, although the adjusted differences in mortality over time were decreasing. The rate of adverse outcomes in association with elective surgery was similar for older and younger patients.

Objective: Pre-operative dialysis-dependent renal failure (DDRF) is a predictor of morbidity and mortality following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). Whether this is due in part to a more diffuse coronary atherosclerotic burden in these patients is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare coronary atherosclerotic disease burden in patients with and without pre-existing DDRF undergoing CABG. Methods: From a retrospective analysis of a single-centre cardiac surgical database, consecutive DDRF patients undergoing isolated CABG ðn ¼ 35Þ were matched to 70 non-dialysis-dependent (NDD) patients without renal failure by procedure, age, sex, functional status, ejection fraction, number of diseased vessels, and diabetes. Pre-operative angiograms were analyzed by a single, blinded adjudicator using a modification of a previously published coronary diffuseness score (range: 0 ‐ 45). Angiographic scores and baseline and outcome characteristics were compared using x 2 tests, Fisher’s Exact tests, and t-tests as appropriate. Results: No statistical differences were found among pre-operative characteristics between the two groups. The mean angiographic coronary diffuseness scores for the dialysis and non-dialysis groups were 18.2 and 20.6, respectively ðp ¼ 0:13Þ. Transfusion was more frequent (77 vs. 23%, p , 0:0001) and median length of stay longer (9 vs. 7 days, p ¼ 0:02) in the DDRF group. There were no differences in the number of distal anastomoses performed in the two groups. Low rates of peri-operative myocardial infarction, stroke, re-operation, and in-hospital mortality were observed in both groups. Conclusions: Objective quantification revealed that patients with DDRF undergoing CABG did not have a greater coronary artery atherosclerosis disease burden than matched controls who did not have pre-operative DDRF. This may be due to pre-operative patient selection bias. The increased morbidity and mortality of CABG in patients with DDRF is more likely to be due to the multiple adverse systemic effects of renal failure and dialysis on the cardiovascular system as opposed to diffuseness of distal coronary disease. q 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Objectives: The increasing cost of intensive care unit (ICU) care and limited resources lead us to evaluate predictors of ICU readmission in a large group of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) at one institution. Methods: Two thousand one hundred and seventeen consecutive patients undergoing CABG surgery between January 1999 and August 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. The reasons for readmission were determined by reviewing the physician’s progress notes, the nurse’s progress notes and the discharge summary. Results: A total of 75 patients were readmitted to ICU during the study period for a readmission rate of 3.6%. Eight of these were readmitted a second time, and three a third time, for a total of 86 readmissions. Forty-seven patients died, for a mortality of 2% among patients that were not readmitted to the ICU, compared to 17% among those who were readmitted (P , 0:0001). Median hospital length of stay was 6 days for patients not readmitted and 23 days for those readmitted (P , 0:0001). The most common reason for readmission was respiratory failure, accounting for 47% of readmissions (n ¼ 40). Multivariate analysis using a stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative renal failure (odds ratio 2.13; CI 1.03–4.41) and prolonged mechanical ventilation of .24 h (odds ratio 10.52; CI 6.18–17.91) were the only independent predictors for readmission to the ICU after CABG. Conclusions: Identification of patients that have preoperative renal failure or that required initial ventilation for more than 24 h after CABG may help to identify patients at risk of ICU readmission. Preemptive strategies designed to optimize these high-risk patients may improve outcomes. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Objective: Surgical repair of mitral insufficiency is most commonly performed through a left atriotomy via the inter-atrial groove or transatrial (septal) approach. While the dome of the left atrium approach has been described for mitral replacement concerns have been raised about its adequacy for complex repairs. We report our experience with mitral valve repair carried out through the dome of the left atrium, in comparison with more standard approaches. Methods: One hundred and thirty-one consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve repair for regurgitation were reviewed retrospectively between 1995 and 2001. Three groups were created based on their surgical approach: inter-atrial groove group ðn ¼ 43Þ, trans-atrial group ðn ¼ 18Þ, and dome of the left atrium group (between the superior vena cava and the ascending aorta; n ¼ 70). Results: The three groups were similar in terms of pre-operative variables except for significantly older patients in the interatrial groove group ðP , 0:001Þ. The etiology of MR was 24% ischemic (P ¼ ns between groups) and 52% of patients had a concomitant procedure, most commonly coronary artery bypass grafting ðP ¼ nsÞ. Valve repairs were achieved using Carpentier techniques including: ring annuloplasty ðn ¼ 130Þ, isolated posterior leaflet resection ðn ¼ 69Þ, isolated anterior leaflet ðn ¼ 11Þ, or bi-leaflet repair ðn ¼ 19Þ. The overall mortality was 4% with a median length of hospitalization of 7 days and these did not differ significantly between groups. However, longer CPB times ðP , 0:01Þ and requirement for prolonged mechanical ventilation ðP ¼ 0:002Þ were more frequent in the inter-atrial groove group. Conclusion: We report a simple, alternative approach for mitral valve repair via the dome of the left atrium that provides similar outcome to other commonly used approaches. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Background Advances in cardiac surgical care have allowed for successful surgery in high-risk elderly patients. Advances in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) techniques and expanded indications for PCI have resulted in a decrease in referrals for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Our objective was to document changes in practice patterns and outcomes in a single tertiary cardiac surgery centre serving a large geographic area. Methods For all cardiac surgery cases performed from 2001-2010 we examined its use, patient clinical characteristics, and outcomes. Frailty was assessed using a measure we have previously demonstrated to be associated with adverse outcomes. Results During the study period, annual case volume decreased by 13%. The number of isolated CABG cases declined, and valve surgery and other complex procedures increased. The proportion of patients aged ≥ 80 years rose from 7%-12%, and the proportion of frail patients increased from 4%-10%. Although unadjusted in-hospital mortality remained relatively unchanged, intensive care unit (ICU) stays and prolonged institutional care increased. Older age and frailty were associated with mortality, prolonged ICU stays, prolonged institutional care, and a composite of mortality and major morbidities. Conclusions Our findings showed a decline in CABG, an increase in more complex operations, and an increase in prolonged ICU stays and prolonged institutional care. The proportion of frail and elderly patients increased over time and these patient groups were at higher risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. Particular attention is required in the decision for surgery and perioperative management of these patients.

Background Women undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality. Factors responsible for this observation include smaller coronary size and delayed presentation. To date, no studies have examined the effect of the degree of myocardium at risk (MAR) on the relationship between female sex and adverse postoperative events. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing first-time isolated CABG at a single institution from 2002-2007 were identified. MAR was calculated using the weighted Duke Index and was categorized as low, moderate, or high. Multivariable logistic regression models were created to compare the impact of MAR on adverse clinical events. Results We identified 3741 patients, 3325 (89%) of whom had complete angiographic data. Women (n = 755) were older (P = 0.0001) and presented more often with hypertension (P = 0.0001), diabetes (P = 0.0001), heart failure (P = 0.0001), and an urgent/emergent situation ( P = 0.002). After surgery, women experienced greater rates of adverse events (15.2% vs 9.3 %; P = 0.0001). In a fully adjusted logistic regression model, the nested interaction of sex in MAR showed that women had a significantly greater risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) when MAR was high (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.6; P = 0.0004). Greater severity of MAR emerged as an independent predictor of adverse events among women (high: OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-7.3; moderate: OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 0.8-5.7; low: OR, 1.0), but not among men. Conclusions MAR was independently associated with higher rates of adverse events among women but not in men undergoing CABG. This finding may help explain differences in outcomes seen between women and men after revascularization.

Background Marked variation exists concerning the utilization of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The objective of this study was to examine differences in predictors of mode of revascularization across 3 provincial jurisdictions. Methods All patients who underwent PCI and isolated CABG in British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia between 1996 and 2007 were considered. Age- and sex-standardized rates of PCI and CABG per 100,000 population and PCI to CABG ratios were calculated by year and province. Logistic regression models were constructed to identify independent predictors of mode of revascularization in each province. Results A total of 32,190 and 69,409 patients underwent CABG and PCI, respectively, during the study period. Significant increases in the age- and sex-adjusted PCI to CABG ratios were observed in all 3 provinces, but these ratios differed between provinces. Across all 3 jurisdictions, female sex and diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome favoured increased PCI vs CABG, and increased age, left main, or 3-vessel disease occurring before myocardial infarction, and diabetes favoured lower PCI vs CABG. After adjusting for clinical and angiographic factors, there remained a significant variation in choice of PCI vs CABG between the 3 provinces over time. Conclusions Significant interprovincial variability in PCI to CABG ratios was observed. Though certain patient-related factors predictive of either PCI or CABG were identified, factors beyond clinical presentation played a role in the choice of revascularization approach.

Background. Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy is an important and well-recognized salutary effect of aortic valve replacement. The earliest evidence of left ventricular mass regression after aortic valve replacement and the influence of prosthesis type are not well known, and were the focus of this study. Methods. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to measure left ventricular mass index preoperatively and before discharge in 57 consecutive patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement (with or without coronary artery bypass grafting). Results. Three patients were excluded from the study because of inability to obtain accurate M-mode echocardiographic images for left ventricular mass measurement preoperatively (1) or postoperatively (2). Of the remaining 54 patients, mechanical bileaflet valves were used in 19, stented tissue bioprostheses were implanted in 15, and a stentless porcine bioprosthesis was chosen for 20. Postoperative echocardiograms were obtained 4.9 ± 2.3 days after aortic valve replacement (range, 2 to 9 days). A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated a significant reduction of left ventricular mass index before discharge (preoperative 141.4 ± 45.2 g/m 2 , postoperative 127.5 ± 32.8 g/m 2 ; p = 0.0005) but no differences between prostheses. Conclusions. Left ventricular mass regression begins early after aortic valve replacement, probably because of reduction of transvalvular gradients and left ventricular wall stress. At least in the very early postoperative period, the type of prosthesis does not influence the extent of mass regression.

Background. The economic impact of health care reforms may result in waiting lists for coronary artery bypass grafting. This study was designed to examine the clinical results of patients with left main stenosis who were placed on a triaged wait list for operation. Methods. Data were collected prospectively on 2,145 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between 1989 and 1994. Critical left main stenosis (LMS, 50% or more stenosis) was present in 281 patients, and 1,864 patients had no left main disease, or a left main stenosis of less than 50% (no LMS). Results. The average time from angiography to operation was shorter in patients with LMS (LMS 38 ± 46 days versus no LMS 84 ± 71 days; p = 0.0001). Two patients in the LMS group died; they had declined operation. Four patients suffered non-Q wave myocardial infarctions, all of whom subsequently underwent operation with no perioperative complications. The presence of LMS did not influence operative mortality (LMS 2.8% versus no LMS 1.3%), the incidence of low output syndrome (LMS 8.3% versus no LMS 5.4%), or the incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction (LMS 3.8% versus no LMS 4.2%). To examine the effect of waiting time on outcomes, patients with LMS were divided into early (operation 10 days or less after angiography) and late revascularization groups (more than 10 days). Operative mortality, low output syndrome, and myocardial infarction were similar in the early and late groups. Patients in the early group were more likely to have New York Heart Association functional class IV symptoms (64% versus late 22%; p p p Conclusions. Carefully selected patients with significant left main stenosis can safely wait for operation with a low risk of complications. Early surgical intervention is allocated to patients with severe symptoms or recent preoperative myocardial infarction.

Although small body size and coronary artery diameter are recognized as major contributors to the increased risk of coronary artery bypass grafting in women, few studies have established the independent influence of body size and gender on outcome. We studied 7025 consecutive patients (5694 men, 1331 women) undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between 1990 and 1994. Women were older, had higher preoperative prevalences of urgent operation because of unstable angina, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, and single-vessel coronary artery disease (p < 0.0001), and a lower prevalence of left ventricular ejection fraction 40% or less (p < 0.0001). The prevalences of operative mortality (men, 1.8%; women, 3.5%), low-output syndrome (men, 6.6%; women, 14.8%), and myocardial infarction (men, 2.8%; women, 5.5%) were higher in women (p < 0.0001). Patients were divided into quartiles for body surface area, weight, height, and body mass index. For both men and women, there was no difference in operative mortality between the highest and lowest quartiles of body size. Women, however, had a higher prevalence of operative mortality than men in the lower quartiles of body surface area, height, and weight and in the higher quartiles of body mass index. Among men, the prevalence of low-output syndrome increased p < 0.0001) with decreasing body surface area, weight, and body mass index, suggesting that body size did influence the prevalence of low-output syndrome. However, women had a higher prevalence of low-output syndrome than men in every category and quartile of body size (p < 0.0001). Multivariable analysis identified gender as a significant determinant of operative mortality (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.27 to 2.64) and low-output syndrome (odds ratio 2.52, 95% confidence interval 2.05 to 3.11). When multivariable adjustments were made for body size and preoperative risk factors, gender remained a predictor of both operative mortality and low-output syndrome. Multivariable assessment of risk for men and women separately identified that urgent operation was a predictor of operative mortality (odds ratio 2.52, 95% confidence interval 1.32 to 5.61) and low-output syndrome (odds ratio 1.57, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 2.17) in women but not men. In conclusion, the increased risk of coronary artery bypass grafting in women may be explained in part by dramatic differences in preoperative risk factors between men and women. In both men and women, small body size did not increase the risk of operative mortality, but may have contributed to the risk of low-output syndrome. After adjusting for preoperative risk variables and body size, gender remains a significant independent predictor of operative mortality and low-output syndrome. (J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1995;110:1344-58)

We sought to evaluate the long-term impact of post-cardiac surgery atrial fibrillation on the risk of stroke and survival.Patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery from April 1, 1995 to March 31, 2007 were identified (n = 8058). Long-term stroke data were compiled using Cox modeling adjusted for clinical characteristics comparing patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (NwAfib) and those without.NwAfib developed in 2214 patients (27.5%). Overall in-hospital mortality was 2.4% and was not different between groups. Unadjusted in-hospital outcomes suggest patients with NwAfib were more likely to suffer a permanent stroke (1% vs 2.5%; p0.001) require prolonged mechanical ventilation (p0.001) and prolonged stay in hospital (p0.001). After discharge patients were followed for a mean of 5.7 years. Stroke was reported in 268 (12.1%) patients in the NwAfib group compared to others (8.4%). After adjustment NwAfib was independently associated with a higher risk for stroke with a hazard ratio of 1.26 (1.08-1.47; p = 0.0034) and a higher risk of death with a hazard ratio of 1.2 (1.08-1.32; p = 0.0007).Patients with NwAfib perioperatively have increased risk of stroke and early death after discharge independent of other clinical risk factors.

The present study generated a risk model and an easy-to-use scorecard for the preoperative prediction of in-hospital mortality for patients undergoing redo cardiac operations.All patients who underwent redo cardiac operations in which the initial and subsequent procedures were performed through a median sternotomy were included. A logistic regression model was created to identify independent preoperative predictors of in-hospital mortality. The results were then used to create a scorecard predicting operative risk.A total of 1,521 patients underwent redo procedures between 1995 and 2010 at a single institution. Coronary bypass procedures were the most common previous (58%) or planned operations (54%). The unadjusted in-hospital mortality for all redo cases was higher than for first-time procedures (9.7% vs. 3.4%; p0.001). Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were a composite urgency variable (odds ratio [OR], 3.47), older age (70-79 years, OR, 2.74; ≥80 years, OR, 3.32), more than 2 previous sternotomies (OR, 2.69), current procedure other than isolated coronary or valve operation (OR, 2.64), preoperative renal failure (OR, 1.89), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (OR, 1.55); all p0.05. A scorecard was generated using these independent predictors, stratifying patients undergoing redo cardiac operations into 6 risk categories of in-hospital mortality ranging from5% risk to40%.Reoperation represents a significant proportion of modern cardiac surgical procedures and is often associated with significantly higher mortality than first-time operations. We created an easy-to-use scorecard to assist clinicians in estimating operative mortality to ensure optimal decision making in the care of patients facing redo cardiac operations.

Objective: Many studies have reported higher rates of adverse outcomes in women than men following CABG surgery. To date, the mechanism has not been elucidated. We studied a large group of CABG patients for whom detailed angiographic data were available and investigated the impact of myocardium at risk (MAR) on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in men and women post-CABG. Methods: For patients undergoing isolated primary CABG, a Duke Index score was calculated from angiographic data. Duke Index is a validated score that quantifies MAR using distribution and severity of coronary artery disease. Categories of MAR were defined as Low, Moderate and High based on number of diseased vessels as well as location of disease, with proximal lesions conferring a higher weight than distal stenoses. The post-CABG outcome was in-hospital MACE (1 or more of mortality, low cardiac output, stroke, MI, sepsis, deep sternal wound infection, ventilation >48 hrs or return to ICU). Logistic regression was used to examine the impact of MAR as a predictor of MACE in women and in men, after adjusting for clinical comorbidities. Results: Of 3744 CABG patients, 70% (2614) had complete angiographic data and were included in the analysis; 23% (607 of 2614) were women. Compared with men, women undergoing CABG had similar Duke Index scores but were older and more likely to have diabetes, hypertension, vascular disease, disabling angina, and require urgent surgery. Completeness of revascularization did not differ between men and women. Prevalence of MACE was higher in women than in men: 19.9% (121 of 607) versus 13.0% (262 of 2007), p=0.0001. In a logistic regression model fully adjusted for comorbidities, there was a significant interaction between female sex and increased MAR as predictors of MACE. In separate logistic regression models for each sex, increasing MAR was an independent predictor of MACE for women (High MAR: OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.6, Moderate MAR: OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0-6.2), but not for men (High MAR: OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.6-1.7, Moderate MAR: OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6-1.8). Conclusions: Myocardium at risk impacts post-CABG outcome differently for women than for men. This novel finding suggests that CABG surgery may not provide the same potential for recovery of ischemic myocardium for women compared with men.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of complete vs. incomplete revascularization in CABG surgery on long-term mortality. The secondary objective of this study was to examine the effect of variable grafting strategies on long-term mortality. Methods: All consecutive CABG surgeries performed at a single tertiary care center between 1995-2007 were reviewed. Long-term survival rates were compared among patients based on completeness of revascularization, the use of no arterial graft (all saphenous vein), single arterial graft, and multiple arterial grafts. Groups were also stratified based on the type of arterial grafts used (bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMA) vs. multiple arterial grafts with only one IMA). Cox proportional Hazards ratio models were generated to adjust for differences in clinical presentation between the CABG groups. Results: A total of 8977 isolated CABG operations were preformed at our institution during that period. These patients were followed for a median time of 3.5 years (IQR=1.1-6.4). In this patient population, incomplete revascularization predicted an increased risk of mortality (HR=1.25; CI=1.12-1.39). A single arterial graft was performed in the majority of patients (63%; n=5637) with 28% of patients (n=2532) receiving multiple arterial grafts. Patients who received multiple arterial grafts were more likely to be younger, male, and undergo non-urgent surgery. After adjusting for these differences, patients who received an arterial graft (LIMA, RIMA, or radial) were shown to have improved survival when compared to patients who did not (HR=0.74; CI=0.65-0.83). Among patients who received multiple arterial grafts, percent survival for patients with BIMA grafts at 10 years was 70.4% compared to 66.1% for patients with single arterial grafts. Furthermore, patients who received BIMA grafts had the lowest predicted mortality among arterial graft patients when compared to patients who did not receive an arterial graft (HR=0.63; CI=0.51-0.77). Conclusions: We were able to show that after adjusting for differences in clinical presentation, both completeness of revascularization and BIMA grafting are strong independent predictors of long-term survival among CABG patients.

Background Delirium is a common neurologic complication after cardiac surgery, and may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Research has focused on potential causes of delirium, with little attention to its sequelae. Methods Perioperative data were collected prospectively on all isolated cases of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) performed from 1995 to 2006 at a single center. The definition of delirium used in the study was that of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Characteristics of patients who became delirious postoperatively were compared with those of patients who did not. The outcomes of interest were long-term all-cause mortality, hospital admission for stroke, and in-hospital mortality, examined in all three cases through multivariate analysis. Results Of 8,474 patients who underwent CABG within the defined period, 496 (5.8%) developed postoperative delirium and 229 (2.7%) died while in the hospital. At baseline, patients who developed delirium were more likely to be older and to have a greater burden of comorbid illness. Delirium was an independent predictor of perioperative stroke (odds ratio [OR]; 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22 to 3.16), but was not associated with in-hospital mortality (OR, 0.81; 95%CI, 0.49 to 1.34). Delirious patients had a median postoperative hospital stay of 12 days (interquartile range [IQR], 8 to 21 days) versus 6 days (IQR, 5 to 8 days) for those who were nondelirious. Delirium was identified as an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95%CI, 1.29 to 1.78) and hospitalization for stroke (HR, 1.54; 95%CI, 1.10 to 2.17). Conclusions There was an association between delirium and adverse outcomes after CABG that persisted beyond the immediate perioperative period. Patients with delirium after CABG appear to have an increased long-term risk of death and stroke. The advancing age and rising rates of delirium in the CABG population make it necessary to address the prevention and management of delirium in this population.

In light of the concerns about the safety of aprotinin, we wanted to determine if aprotinin use during cardiac surgery was associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity compared with the use of tranexamic acid (TXA). We hypothesized that use of aprotinin is associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes than use of TXA in our patient population. In this retrospective study at a single surgical centre, we examined primary in-hospital outcomes of postoperative mortality, new acute renal failure, and perioperative blood transfusion, and we also investigated secondary outcomes of stroke, infection, and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). The effect of the type of antifibrinolytic on outcome was evaluated for aprotinin cases matched 1:1 with TXA cases using propensity score. This study included 3,340 patients who received antifibrinolytics during cardiac surgery (376 patients received aprotinin and 2,964 patients received TXA). Patients who received aprotinin were more often elderly and female; they were more commonly presented with congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, renal failure, and lower hemoglobin, and they underwent complex and/or urgent surgery. In the matched sample, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the aprotinin group (10.9%) compared with the TXA group (5.9%), and ICU stay >72 hr was significantly increased in the aprotinin group (30.0%) compared with the TXA group (21.7%). There was no significant difference in blood product administration between the two groups. Aprotinin was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality and morbidity following cardiac surgery, and aprotinin was not associated with a decrease in blood product requirements. Continued use of aprotinin in cardiac surgery should follow careful consideration, weighing the demonstrated risks and potential advantages compared with other TXA.

We sought to evaluate the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).Postoperative outpatient utilization of ACE inhibitors, statins, and β-blockers was assessed in a cohort of 3,718 patients after CABG 65 years and older. The primary outcome was freedom from a composite of all-cause mortality or hospital readmission for cardiac events or procedures.Use of all 3 medication classes increased significantly over the study period. Female patients and patients with a history of myocardial infarction, diabetes, and poor left ventricular function were independently associated with ACE inhibitor use on multivariate analysis (all P.05). At a median follow-up of 3 years, postoperative therapy with an ACE inhibitor had no effect on death or rehospitalization for cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.12, 95% CI 0.96-1.30, P = .16). However, statins (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.57-0.74, P.0001) and β-blockers (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74-0.93, P = .001) were associated with a significantly improved event-free survival.Among patients after CABG 65 years or older, ACE inhibitors had no independent effect on mortality or recurrent ischemic events in the midterm after CABG, although a benefit was observed for statins and β-blockers.

Objectives: Sequential anastomoses in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) offer theoretical advantages including increased graft flow and more complete revascularisation. However, published studies concerning the safety and efficacy of this technique are not definitive. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of sequential anastomoses on outcomes following CABG. Methods: Perioperative data were prospectively collected on all patients with triple-vessel disease who underwent first-time, isolated, on-pump CABG between 1995 and 2005 at a single centre. Patients with a left internal mammary artery graft to the anterior wall and saphenous vein grafts to the lateral and posterior walls were included. Results: Compared to patients without sequential anastomoses (n = 1108), patients with sequential anastomoses (n = 1246) were more likely to have an ejection fraction (EF) < 40% (14.9% vs 10.8%, p = 0.004), a recent myocardial infarction (19.3% vs 14.3%, p = 0.001) and an urgent/emergent operative status (19.6% vs 14.4%, p = 0.0008). Median follow-up was 78 months. After adjusting for clinical covariates, sequential grafting was not an independent predictor of in-hospital adverse events (odds ratio (OR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88—1.50, p = 0.31) or long-term mortality and/or readmission to hospital (hazard ratio (HR) 0.98, 95% CI 0.86—1.12, p = 0.74). Sequential grafting was an independent predictor of receiving greater than three distal anastomoses (OR 9.26, 95% CI; 6.27—13.67, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Patients undergoing sequential grafting presented with greater acuity and worse systolic function. After adjusting for baseline differences, sequential grafting was not found to be an independent predictor of adverse events. These results support the safety of sequential anastomoses in patients undergoing CABG. # 2010 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We sought to develop a predictive model based exclusively on preoperative factors to identify patients at risk for PrlICULOS following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing isolated CABG at a single center between June 1998 and December 2002. PrlICULOS was defined as initial admission to ICU exceeding 72 h. A parsimonious risk-predictive model was constructed on the basis of preoperative factors, with subsequent internal validation. Of 3483 patients undergoing isolated CABG between June 1998 and December 2002, 411 (11.8%) experienced PrlICULOS. Overall in-hospital mortality was higher among these patients (14.4% vs. 1.2%, P

Background The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) is a widely used risk assessment tool in patients with severe aortic stenosis to determine operability and to select patients for alternative therapies such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of the EuroSCORE in predicting mortality following aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods The logistic EuroSCORE was determined for all consecutive patients that underwent conventional AVR between 1995 and 2005 at our institution. Provincial Vital Statistics were used to determine all-cause mortality. The accuracy of the prognostic risk prediction provided by logistic EuroSCORE was assessed by comparing observed and expected operative mortality. Results During the study period, a total of 1,421 patients underwent AVR including 237 patients (16.7%) that had a logistic EuroSCORE > 20. Among these patients, the mean predicted operative mortality was 38.7% (SD = 18.1). The actual mortality of these patients was significantly lower than that predicted by EuroSCORE (11.4% vs. 38.7%, observed/expected ratio 0.29, 95% CI 0.15–0.52, P < 0.05). The EuroSCORE overestimated mortality within all strata of predicted risk. Although medium-term mortality is significantly higher among patients with EuroSCORE > 20 (log rank P = 0.0001), approximately 60% are alive at five years. Conclusion Actual operative mortality in patients undergoing AVR is significantly lower than that predicted by the logistic EuroSCORE. Additionally, medium-term survival following AVR is acceptable in high-risk patients with EuroSCORE > 20. More accurate risk prediction models are needed for risk-stratifying patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Background Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest (EVH) decreases leg wound infections and improves cosmesis after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Recent data, however, suggest that EVH may be associated with reduced graft patency rates. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of EVH on short-term and midterm outcomes after CABG. Methods Data were prospectively collected on all first-time isolated CABG and combined valve/CABG with saphenous vein graft between 1998 and 2007 at a single center. Patients having traditional "open" vein harvest (OVH) were compared with patients having EVH. Multivariate models were used to examine the risk-adjusted impact of EVH on postoperative leg infection, composite in-hospital adverse events, and individual and composite midterm adverse events. Results The study included 5,825 patients, of whom 2,004 (34.4%) had EVH. Patients having EVH were more likely to have ejection fraction less than 50% (32.0% versus 29.3%, p = 0.04), recent myocardial infarction (24.2% versus 18.3%, p p = 0.0009). Median follow-up was 2.6 years. After risk adjustment, EVH was associated with reduced rates of leg infection (odds ratio 0.48, p = 0.003) but had no association with either in-hospital (odds ratio 0.93, p = 0.56) or midterm adverse outcomes (hazard ratio 0.93, p = 0.22). Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest was associated with reduced readmission to hospital for unstable angina (odds ratio 0.74, p = 0.01). Conclusions Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest is associated with a lower rate of leg infection and is not an independent predictor of in-hospital or midterm adverse outcomes. Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest is a safe alternative to OVH for patients undergoing CABG with saphenous vein.

Patients referred for cardiac surgery are increasingly older, but chronological age does not always capture biological age. This study assessed frailty, as a functional parameter of biological age, as a predictor of mortality or prolonged institutional care. Functional measures of frailty and clinical preoperative data were collected for all cardiac surgery patients at a single center (2004 –2007). Based on the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living, frailty was defined as any impairment in feeding, bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, continence, or ambulation, or dementia. The impact of frailty on in-hospital mortality or institutional discharge (other hospital or nursing facility) was assessed with multivariate logistic regression. The interaction of frailty and age was examined, with non-frail patients age Results: Of 3096 patients, 133 (4.3%) were frail. Frail patients were older, more likely to be female, have COPD, CHF, EF