Predictors of Quality of Life Improvement after 2 Years of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim was to examine the predictors of improvement of quality of life after 2 years of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: In all, 208 patients who underwent the elective CABG at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases Dedinje in Belgrade were contacted and examined 2 years after the surgery. All patients completed Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire part one. RESULTS: Two years after CABG, quality of life (QOL) in patients was significantly improved in all sections compared to preoperative period. Independent predictors of QOL improvement after 2 years of CABG were found to be serious angina under sections of physical mobility [p = 0.003, odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-2.55], energy (p = 0.01, OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.11-2.38), sleep (p = 0.005, OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.16-2.35), pain (p <0.001, OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.57-3.77), absence of hereditary load in energy section (p = 0.002, OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18-0.68), male sex in the sleep section (p = 0.03, OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20-0.93), and absence of diabetes in pain section (p = 0.006, OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.10-0.68). CONCLUSION: Predictors of improvement of QOL after 2 years of CABG are serious angina, absence of hereditary load, male sex, and absence of diabetes.

Consecutive Observational Study to Validate EuroSCORE II Performances on a Single-Center, Contemporary Cardiac Surgical Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and validate the original EuroSCORE risk stratification models with the renewed EuroSCORE II model in a contemporary cardiac surgical practice. DESIGN: A consecutive observational study to validate EuroSCORE II performances, conducted as retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTING: A tertiary university institute for cardiovascular diseases. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January and December 2012. METHODS: One thousand eight hundred sixty-four consecutive patients were scored preoperatively using additive and logistic EuroSCORE as well as EuroSCORE II. The discriminative power of the EuroSCORE models was tested by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The calibration of the models was assessed by Hosmer-Lemeshow statistics and with observed-to-expected mortality ratio. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The in-hospital overall mortality was 3.65%, with predicted mortalities according to additive EuroSCORE, logistic EuroSCORE, and EuroSCORE II of 5.14%, 6.60%, and 3.51%, respectively. The observed-to-expected (O/E) mortality ratio confirmed good calibration for the entire cohort only for EuroSCORE II (1.05, 95% confidence interval 0.81 - 1.29). Hosmer-Lemeshow test confirmed overall good calibration only for additive EuroSCORE (p = 0.129). The EuroSCORE II confirmed very good discriminatory power for a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay of>2 days and>5 days (AUCs>0.75). Acceptable discriminatory power was confirmed for a prolonged postoperative stay of>7 days and>12 days (AUCs>0.70). CONCLUSION: EuroSCORE II confirmed very good discriminatory capacity, good calibration ability (O/E mortality ratio), and good capability to predict prolonged ICU and postoperative stays in a contemporary patient cohort undergoing cardiac surgery.

Quality of Life in Patients of Different Age Groups before and after Coronary Artery By-Pass Surgery.

PURPOSE: The study evaluates the changes in quality of life (QOL) six months after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) related to the patients' age. METHODS: The total of 243 consecutive patients completed the Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire part 1 before and six months after CABG. Postoperative questionnaire was completed by 226 patients. Patients were divided into four examined groups (<50, 50-59, 60-69 and ≥70 years), according to their age. RESULTS: Six months after CABG, the quality of life in different sections has been significantly improved in most patients.The analysis of the relation between the age and the changes in QOL of patients six months after CABG showed a significant correlation among the patients' age and the improvement of QOL in the sections of physical mobility (r = 0.18, p = 0.008), social isolation (r = 0.17, p = 0.01) and energy ( r = 0.21, p = 0.002). The most prominent improvement was found in older patients. The age was not an independent predictor of QOL deterioration after CABG. CONCLUSIONS: The most noticeable improvement of QOL six months after CABG was found in older patients. Age is not the independent predictor of deterioration of QOL after CABG.

Procalcitonin-based therapeutic strategy to reduce antibiotic use in patients after cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a thyroid gland prohormone, and its serum concentration is elevated in systemic bacterial infections. The diagnostic cut-off value of PCT in patients early after cardiac surgery remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether procalcitonin-guidance could reduce antibiotic usage safely. METHODS: The prospective study included 205 patients who underwent open heart surgery. The patients were randomly assigned for procalcitonin-guided antibiotic treatment (PCT-group; n = 102) or standard care (standard group; n = 103). On the basis of serum procalcitonin concentrations, usage of antibiotics was encouraged (PCT > or = 0.5 ng/mL) or discouraged. RESULTS: A relative risk of antibiotic exposure in the standard group compared with the PCT-group was 3.81 (95% CI = 2.03-7.17; p < 0.0001). The mean cost of antibiotics per patient in procalcitonin group was Euro 193.3 +/- 636.6 vs. Euro 372.1 +/- 841.1 (p = 0.206) in the standard group, while the mean cost per hospital day was Euro 8.0 +/- 18.4 vs. Euro 17.8 +/- 36.3 (p = 0.028). We found that non-infectious complications occurred in 40/102 vs. 41/103 (p = 0.592) while infections appeared in 5/102 vs. 22/103 (p = 0.001) cases. A statistically significant difference was observed in the treatment of urinary infections between PCT-group and standard group; 1/102 vs. 9/103 (p = 0.016). In the PCT-group, the ICU stay was 5.74 +/- 11.49 days and in the standard group 6.97 +/- 11.61 (p = 0.812). The hospital stay was 12.08 +/- 11.28 vs. 12.93 +/- 10.73 (p > 0.05) days, respectively. Mortality rates were equal in both groups of patients (p = 0.537). CONCLUSION: Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic treatment is safe and can significantly reduce the cost of postoperative care. Additionally, the antibiotic use during immediate postoperative course should be timely controlled and limited to documented bacterial infections.

[Tumours of the heart: diagnostic dilemma].

INTRODUCTION: Mitral annular calcification is a degenerative process of the fibrosus support structure of the mitral apparatus, usually spreading over the posterior mitral leaflet. CASE OUTLINE: A 66-year-old woman with shortness of breath and palpitations was referred to our institution. Echocardiography showed a round, echo-dense mass, resembling a tumour, in the posterior mitral annulus, with the third degree mitral regurgitation. Based on the findings, surgical treatment was suggested involving removal of the tumour and correction of mitral valve insufficiency. During surgery the posterior annulus was incised, whitish caseous material was aspirated and the developed cavity was closed. A bioprosthetic valve was placed in the mitral position.The aspirated material was sent to bacteriological and histological analysis. Eight days after surgery control echocardiography and CT scan of the heart showed absence of the mass. Pathohistological finding was nonspecific. Bacteriology showed Staphylococus spp. Thirteen days after surgery the patient was discharged in stabile condition. CONCLUSION: Mitral annular calcification is a common degenerative disorder particularly in elderly persons. As the diagnosis very often remains unrecognised imitating a tumor formation, precise diagnostics is necessary before possible surgery.

Quality of life in patients related to gender differences before and after coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The different aspects of quality of life (QOL) in patients of different sex structure have been examined as well as the presumption that sex structure could be a predictor of QOL changes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: The study included 243 consecutive patients who underwent an elective CABG. The QOL analysis was performed by using structured interviews with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaire part 1. RESULTS: Compared to men, women had worse preoperative QOL (in all sections except the section of sleep) and worse postoperative QOL (in all sections). Six months after CABG the QOL statistically improved in men and in women. Multivariate analysis showed that being female was an independent predictor of QOL worsening in section of pain [P=0.001, odds ratio (OR)=3.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.74-8.88]. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to men, women have worse preoperative and postoperative QOL. Female sex was an independent predictor of QOL worsening six months after CABG.

Predictors of worsening of patients' quality of life six months after coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: The possibility to predict the change in (the) quality of life after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) being unclear, the aim was to evaluate the change of quality of life and predictors of worsening of quality of life in patients six months after CABG. METHODS: We studied 208 consecutive patients, who underwent elective CABG. The Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire part 1 was used as the model for quality of life determination. The questionnaire contains 38 subjective statements divided into six sections: physical mobility, social isolation, emotional reaction, energy, pain, and sleep. We distributed the questionnaire to all patients before CABG and six months after CABG. One hundred ninety-two patients filled in the postoperative questionnaire. RESULTS: The comparison between mean preoperative and postoperative scores showed an improvement in all sections of quality of life (p < 0.001). New York Heart Association functional class was significantly improved after CABG (2.23 +/- 0.65 vs. 1.58 +/- 0.59, p<0.001). Independent predictors of patients worsened by CABG were as follows: female gender in the pain section (p = 0.002; OR = 4.27; CI 1.74-10.47), diabetes mellitus in the physical mobility section (p = 0.003; OR = 8.09; CI 2.04-32.09), low ejection fraction in the physical mobility (p = 0.047; OR = 0.73; CI 0.56-0.95) and emotional reaction (p = 0.03; OR = 0.86; CI 0.60-0.93) sections, and postoperative complications in the social isolation (p = 0.002; OR = 4.63; CI 1.79-11.99), sleep (p = 0.03; OR = 2.71; CI 1.12-6.51), and pain (p = 0.005; OR = 3.39; CI 1.45-7.97) sections. CONCLUSION: The predictive factors for quality of life worsening six months after CABG are female gender, diabetes mellitus, low ejection fraction, and the presence of postoperative complications.

The fate of the radial artery conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced coronary artery disease. CABG surgery has been demonstrated to improve symptoms and, in specific subgroups of patients, to prolong life. Despite its success, the long-term outcome of coronary bypass surgery is strongly influenced by the fate of the vascular conduits used. Impressive long-term disease-free patency rate of the left internal thoracic artery-left anterior descending coronary artery (LITA-LAD) graft, coupled with proven long-term survival benefits, has led to its becoming a 'golden standard' of CABG. Previous long-term studies have also shown unsatisfactory patency of saphenous vein grafts used for myocardial revascularization, compared with internal thoracic artery grafts. Thus, the use of arterial conduits has expanded beyond the internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) to include the right gastroepiploic artery, the inferior epigastric artery, and the radial artery. The assumption is that although the performance of one or two arterial ITA graft is superb, more arterial grafts should perform better in the long-term follow-up. Several studies concerning the use of the radial artery bypass grafts have documented excellent clinical results and satisfactory short-term as well as mid-term patency rates at restudy angiography, supporting its continued use as a bypass conduit. However, a note of caution concerning radial artery conduit patency rate have appeared in few recent reports. Thus, in this paper, we summarize the current evidence about the radial artery as a conduit in CABG surgery, with special emphasis on the clinical results.

Severity of angina as a predictor of quality of life changes six months after coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Although the fact that chest pain has a negative influence on the quality of life is well known, it is not completely clear whether the preoperative severity of angina can be a predictor of the quality of life change after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: We studied 243 consecutive patients who underwent elective CABG. The Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire part 1 was used as the model for determination of quality of life. We distributed the questionnaire to all patients before and six months after coronary artery bypass surgery. Two hundred and twenty-six patients filled in the postoperative questionnaire. Severity of angina was estimated by Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification of angina. RESULTS: Quality of life (before and after CABG surgery) in all sections was significantly worse in patients with higher CCS angina class (p < 0.001). The CCS angina class was 1.89 +/- 0.97 at baseline and improved to 0.46 +/- 0.75 (p < 0.001) after CABG. Six months after the operation, quality of life significantly improved in patients with all classes of angina (p < 0.01). The improvement in quality of life was related to higher CCS angina class in sections of physical mobility (r = 0.4, p < 0.001), energy (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), and pain (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). High CCS angina class before CABG was an independent predictor of quality of life improvement after coronary artery bypass surgery in sections of physical mobility (p = 0.005; odds ratio [OR] = 2.11; confidence interval [CI] 1.25 to 3.55), energy (p = 0.021; OR = 1.77; CI 1.09 to 2.87), and pain (p < 0.001; OR = 3.99; CI 2.2 to 7.22). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with higher CCS angina class had worse preoperative and postoperative quality of life. Patients with preoperative higher CCS angina class had greater improvement in sections of physical mobility, energy, and pain. High CCS angina class before CABG was the independent predictor of quality of life improvement six months after CABG.

[Estrogen and ischemic heart disease in females].

INTRODUCTION: Although ischemic heart disease (IHD) develops in both genders under the influence of the same risk factors, it is much less frequent among female population, which is mostly assigned to favorable effects of estrogen. OBJECTIVE Since latest investigations have pointed to higher incidence of disease in female population, the objective of our study was to examine the relation between estrogen and other clinical and biochemical parameters significant for its manifestation. METHOD: The relation between estrogen levels and frequency of obesity, diabetes, hypertension as well as the levels of total, HDL, LDL i VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, Lp(a), apoprotein A i B i PAl-1 was analyzed in 50 (25 pre- and postmenopausal) patients, treated due to IHD in the Health Center, Krusevac, in 2002 year. RESULTS: Low concentration of estrogen was found in 22 (44%) patients. In addition, frequency of diabetes, obesity and risky levels of high atherogenic lipid fractions (total and LDL cholesterol, Lp(a), apoprotein B) was insignificantly higher, whereas the concentrations of PAI 1, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were lower, with significant correlation between estrogen level and PAI-1 (T = 0.32, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite all past investigations, numerous questions related to high incidence of IHD among premenopausal women, have remained open - whether it occurs as a consequence of reduced estrogen synthesis, lower expression of estrogen receptors, their modified function or maybe concomitant influence of other risk factors, not necessarily connected with sex, that eliminate protective effects of this hormone.

The relationship between EuroSCORE preoperative risk prediction and quality of life changes after coronary artery by-pass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between preoperative risk prediction and the quality of life (QOL) changes six months after coronary artery by-pass surgery (CABG). METHODS: From February to May 2002, we prospectively studied 243 consecutive patients, who underwent elective CABG. The Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire (NHP) part 1 was used as the model for QOL determination. We distributed the questionnaire to all patients before CABG and six months after CABG. Two hundred and twenty-six patients filled in the postoperative questionnaire. We calculated the preoperative risk of death using the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE). RESULTS: Eighty-nine out of 243 (37%) patients were in low risk group, 108/243 (44%) were in medium risk group and 46/243 (19%) were in high risk group. Prior to CABG, higher EuroSCORE was related to poorer quality of life of the examinees (r=0.23, P<0.001). Six months after the operation, the improvement in QOL was related to higher EuroSCORE in section of energy (r=0.19, P=0.005). To determine the preoperative factors influencing the changes of QOL scores after CABG, we performed logistic regression, first by univariate analysis, and then by multivariate analysis. We analyzed 26 examined variables with potential influence on postoperative QOL. EuroSCORE was not the predictor of the QOL changes six months after CABG. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with higher EuroSCORE risk of death had worse preoperative QOL. Patients with higher EuroSCORE had greater improvement of QOL in section of energy. EuroSCORE was not the predictor of QOL changes after CABG.