Validation of Blood Transfusion Risk Scores (TRACK and TRUST) in a Cardiac Surgery Service in Brazil

ABSTRACT Introduction: Transfusion of red blood cells is recurrent in cardiac surgery despite the well-established deleterious effects. Identifying patients with higher chances of requiring blood transfusion is essential to apply strategic preventive measures to reduce such chances, considering the restricted availability of this product. The most used risk scores to predict blood transfusion are the Transfusion Risk and Clinical Knowledge (TRACK) and Transfusion Risk Understanding Scoring Tool (TRUST). However, these scores were not validated for the Brazilian population. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of TRACK and TRUST scores in estimating the need for postoperative transfusion of red blood cell concentrates (TRBCC) after cardiac surgery. Methods: A clinical retrospective study was conducted using the database of a Brazilian reference service composed of patients operated between November 2019 and September 2021. Scores were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test assessed calibration of the scores. Accuracy was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). All analyses considered a level of significance of 5%. The study was approved by the research ethics committee (CAAE 55577421.4.0000.5201). Results: This study assessed 498 patients. Only the TRACK score presented good calibration (P=0.238; TRUST P=0.034). AUC of TRACK was 0.678 (95% confidence interval 0.63 to 0.73; P<0.001), showing a significant accuracy. Conclusion: Between the scores analyzed, only the TRACK score showed a good calibration, but low accuracy, to predict postoperative TRBCC after cardiac surgery.

Early Outcomes of Modified De Vega Annuloplasty for Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation at a Brazilian Hospital

Abstract Background: Right valve diseases are not benign, the tricuspid regurgitation has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality of patients. Objectives: This study aimed to report the short-term results of tricuspid annuloplasty using the De Vega technique modified by Manuel Antunes. Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was performed to evaluate the results of the tricuspid valvuloplasty performed at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira between 2012 and 2017. Data were collected by reviewing charts and databases of the Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery of the institution. Those with rheumatic diseases or infective endocarditis with tricuspid valve involvement, or reoperation of the tricuspid valve were excluded. Student's t-test and McNemar's were used for statistical analysis. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 87 patients were studied, most of them were women (56.3%). The most associated heart valve diseases were mitral regurgitation (27.6%) and aortic regurgitation (20.7%). There was a significant decrease in the degree of tricuspid regurgitation in the postoperative period, with 83.3% of patients with none or mild regurgitation and only 1.1% with severe regurgitation (p = 0.0077). Conclusions: In the current study, tricuspid valve annuloplasty using the modified De Vega technique was shown to be effective in the short term. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term results.

Embolization by Bullet Dislodged from the Heart

Abstract Embolization by a dislodged projectile is a rare complication that may occur in cases of gunshot cardiac injuries. We report a case of a firearm projectile cardiac injury that evolved, with dislocation of the projectile during cardiac surgery, into embolization of the right external carotid artery.

Cefazolin concentration in the mediastinal adipose tissue of patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: To measure the concentration of cefazolin in the anterior mediastinal adipose tissue of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, determining the variation of cefazolin concentration. Methods: Two samples of approximately 1g of subcutaneous tissue were collected from 19 patients who underwent surgery in December 2015: the first sample was collected right after sternotomy and the second one, before sternal synthesis with steel wires. Antibiotic dosage was administered through high performance liquid chromatography. Results: We observed a positive and statistically significant correlation between time 1 and cefazolin concentration (r=0.489 and P=0.039). For time 2 and cefazolin concentration, there was a negative and statistically significant correlation between both variables (r=-0.793 and P<0.001). A negative correlation was also observed between body mass index and cefazolin concentration at time 2 (r=-0.510 and P=0.031). The regression model showed that every 1-minute increase in time 1 corresponded to an increase of 0.240 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration, whereas every 1-minute increase in time 2 corresponded to a reduction of 0.046 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration. As for body mass index, every 1 kg/m2 increase corresponded to a reduction of about 0.510 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration. Conclusion: There was a positive and significant correlation between the initial time of surgery and cefazolin level in the first dosage. The evaluation of the second dosage showed a negative and significant correlation between cefazolin level and the second time of dosage. The concentration of cefazolin is under the influence of body mass index.

O stent descoberto não promove reações em artérias renais e parênquima renal em suínos / Uncovered stent does not provoke reactions in renal arteries and renal parenchyma in swines

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações histológicas da aorta, artéria renal e parênquima renal, em suínos, induzidos pelo stent metálico descoberto implantado em localização transrenal na aorta abdominal. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 10 suínos com peso médio de 86,6 quilos e idade média de 6 meses, submetidos a implante de stent metálico posicionado na aorta, no nível das artérias renais, após 100 dias do implante. Os stents foram liberados por auto-expansão com laparotomia. Foram realizadas análises anatômicas e histológicas da aorta abdominal, artérias renais e parênquima renal. Os cortes histológicos foram realizados nos seguintes locais: 1) transição entre a aorta normal e aorta contendo stent; 2) porção contendo os óstios das artérias renais, 3) parênquima renal. As lâminas foram coradas pela técnica da hematoxilina e eosina e analisadas conforme protocolo de análise histológica aplicada na prática clínica dos laboratórios de patologia. RESULTADOS: Os achados macroscópicos revelaram espessamento da parede aórtica; artérias renais pérvias; estrutura anatômica renal normal. Análises microscópicas, próximas aos stents, evidenciaram espessamento da parede vascular, artérias renais sem alterações e parênquima renal preservado. CONCLUSÃO: O stent de aço inoxidável descoberto produziu importante reação inflamatória com espessamento da parede da aorta. No entanto, as artérias renais permaneceram pérvias e o parênquima renal sem alterações isquêmicas ou embólicas.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the histological changes of the aorta, the renal arteries and the renal parenchyma in swine, induced by a metalic uncovered stent implanted in transrenal position in the abdominal aorta. METHODS: Ten pigs with a mean weight of 86.6 kg and mean age of 6 months underwent implantation of metal stent graft placed in the aorta at the level of the renal arteries after 100 days of implantation. The self-expanding stents were released by laparotomy. Anatomic and histological analyses of the abdominal aorta, the renal arteries and the renal parenchyma were performed. Histological slices were performed in the following sites: 1) transitional zone between the aorta with and without stent graft; 2) portion of the renal arteries ostia; 3) renal parenchyma. The slices were stained through the hematoxylin and eosin stain technique and analyzed according the protocol of histological analyses applied in the clinical practice of pathology labs. RESULTS: The macroscopic findings showed thickening of the aortic wall; patent renal arteries; and normal anatomic renal structures. Microscopic analyses, close to the stents, showed thickening of the vascular wall, renal arteries without changes, and preserved renal parenchyma. CONCLUSION: The uncovered stainless steel stent caused a significant inflammatory reaction with thickening of the aortic wall. However, the renal arteries remained patent and the renal parenchyma did not present embolic or ischemic changes.

Dupla artéria torácica esqueletizada versus convencional na revascularização do miocárdio sem CEC em diabéticos / Double skeletonized internal thoracic artery vs. double conventional internal thoracic artery in diabetic patients submitted to OPCAB

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência da técnica utilizada na dissecção das artérias torácicas na evolução de pacientes diabéticos submetidos a revascularização sem CEC. MÉTODOS: Setenta pacientes diabéticos submetidos a revascularização sem CEC com duas artérias torácicas foram avaliados. No grupo A, as artérias torácicas foram dissecadas de modo convencional, enquanto no grupo B foram esqueletizadas. RESULTADOS: A idade média do grupo A foi de 52,14±7,35 anos contra 55,71±8,1 anos no grupo B (p=0,057). No grupo A, seis (17,1%) pacientes eram diabéticos insulinodependentes contra nove (25,7%) no grupo B (p=0,561). O EUROSCORE foi de 3,97±2,49 para o grupo A contra 4,14±3,06 no grupo B (p=0,879). O número médio de anastomoses distais no grupo A foi de 3±0,77 contra 3,03±0,89 para o grupo B (p=0,981). Três (8,57%) dos pacientes do grupo A apresentaram mediastinite contra nenhum do grupo B (p=0,239). A diabetes insulino-dependente foi o único fator estatisticamente significativo (p=0,008) para mediastinite. Neste grupo, a utilização de artéria torácica interna esqueletizada diminuiu significativamente a incidência de mediastinite (p=0,044). CONCLUSÃO: A incidência de mediastinite foi menor no grupo onde ambas as artérias torácicas foram dissecadas de forma esqueletizada, apesar de, devido ao baixo número de casos, não apresentar diferença estatística. Nos portadores de diabetes insulino-dependente, 50 por cento dos pacientes do grupo em que a artéria torácica foi obtida de forma convencional apresentaram mediastinite, sendo que a utilização de artéria torácica esqueletizada diminuiu significativamente a incidência de mediastinite.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the technique used in the dissection of thoracic arteries in the evolution of diabetic patients submitted to OPCAB. METHODS: Seventy diabetic patients submitted to OPCAB using bilateral thoracic arteries were evaluated. In Group A, thoracic arteries were dissected as a pedicle, while in Group B they were skeletonized. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in Group A was 52.14 ± 7.35 years old versus 55.71 ± 8.1 years for Group B (p=0.057). In Group A, six patients (17.1%) were insulin dependent against nine (25.7%) in Group B (p = 0.561). The EUROSCORE was 3.97 ± 2.49 for Group A opposed to 4.14 ± 3.06 for Group B (p = 0.879). The number of distal anastomoses in Group A was 3 ± 0.77 versus 3.03 ± 0.89 in Group B (p = 0.981). Three patients (8.57%) from Group A presented with mediastinitis. Insulin dependence was the only significant risk factor (p=0.008) for mediastinitis. In this group the use of skeletonized internal thoracic arteries significantly decreased the incidence of mediastinitis (p = 0.044). Conclusion: The incidence of mediastinitis was lower in the group for which mammary arteries were dissected using skeletonization. Among insulin-dependent diabetics, 50 percent of the patients from the group in which the pedicled internal thoracic artery was utilized presented with mediastinitis; the utilization of skeletonized internal thoracic arteries significantly decreases the incidence of mediastinitis.

Reação histopatológica da parede da aorta abdominal ao stent não recoberto / Histopathological reaction of the abdominal aorta wall to non-covered stents

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a reação histopatológica da parede aorta abdominal, em suínos, no nível das artérias renais, na presença de stent metálico não recoberto. MÉTODO: Foi estudada histopatologicamente a aorta abdominal de 10 suínos, com peso médio de 86,6 quilos e idade média de 6 meses, submetidos a implante de stent metálico posicionado na aorta, no nível das artérias renais, após 100 dias do implante. Os stents foram liberados por auto-expansão com laparotomia. Os cortes histológicos foram realizados nos seguintes locais: 1) transição entre a aorta normal e aorta contendo stent; 2) aorta contendo o stent; 3) porção contendo os óstios das artérias renais, 4) linfonodos periaórticos e, 5) parênquima renal. As lâminas foram coradas pela técnica da hematoxilina e eosina. RESULTADOS: Os achados macroscópicos revelaram: linfonodomegalia periaórtica; espessamento da parede aórtica; artérias lombares e renais pérvias; estrutura anatômica renal normal. Análises microscópicas, próximas aos stents, evidenciaram espessamento da parede vascular, secundário à fibrose intimal e camada média comprometida com fibrose intersticial. Medidas micrométricas da parede aórtica com o stent, comparada à aorta sem o stent, apresentaram aumento da espessura da parede (75,9 por cento) por hiperplasia da camada íntima secundária à proliferação de fibroblastos; depósitos de colágeno com infiltrado inflamatório e granulomas do tipo corpo estranho. CONCLUSÃO: O stent de aço inoxidável descoberto, implantado na aorta de suínos, produziu importante reação inflamatória, com fibrose nas camadas média e íntima, evidenciada pelas análises histopatológicas e a sua presença não comprometeu o estado pérvio da aorta e dos ramos lombares e renais.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the histopathological reaction of the abdominal aorta wall in pigs' renal arteries to the presence of non-covered stainless steel stents. METHODS: The abdominal aorta of ten pigs (6 months old and weighing 86.6 kg on average) was histopathologically studied 100 days after the implant to a stainless steel stents in the abdominal aorta, with one segment of the stent inplanted in the renal artery. Self-expanding non-covered stents were released by laparotomy. The histological slices were made at the transition from the normal aorta and the aorta containing the stent; the aorta portion containing the stent; the portion with the ostia of renal arteries; periaortic lymph nodes and renal parenchyma. The samples were stained by hematoxylin and eosin technique. RESULTS: Macroscopic findings showed periaortic lymphadenopathy, thickened aortic wall, patency of lumbar and renal arteries and normal renal anatomical structure. Microscopic analyses near the stents revealed thickening of vessel wall, secondary to the intima fibrosis, and media layer affected by interstitial fibrosis. Micrometric measurements of aorta wall with the stent, compared to the aortic portion without it, presented a 75.90 percent increasein the total thickness of the wall by thickening of the intima layer secondary to fibroblast proliferation, collagen deposits with lymphocitary inflammatory infiltrate and foreign body-type granulomas. CONCLUSION: The non-covered stainless steel stent in pigs' aortas produced a significant inflammatory reaction with fibrosis in the media and intima layers evidenced by histopathological analyses; their presence did not interfere in the patency of the abdominal aorta or the renal and lumbar arteries.