Vein graft preservation with an endothelial damage inhibitor in isolated coronary artery bypass surgery: an observational propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Preservation solutions may be used intraoperatively during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to flush and preserve vein grafts. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of DuraGraft, an endothelial damage inhibitor (EDI) preservation solution on major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) after CABG. Methods: We conducted an observational, prospective, longitudinal, single-center study that included patients who underwent isolated CABG. The cohort treated with an EDI was matched 1:1 with a control group treated with conventional vein preservation, and matching was adjusted for possible confounding factors through propensity score (PS) matching. Three years follow-up was conducted, and the occurrence of MACE [defined as all cause-death, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and new unplanned revascularization] was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The study included 180 patients, 90 in each group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics across study groups. The EDI group had a significantly better event-free survival at 3 years (89% vs. 78%, log-rank test P=0.035), with an incidence rate ratio of 0.41 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16-0.96]. In the pre-specified subgroups analysis, the use of an EDI was associated with a significantly better event-free survival in diabetic patients (log-rank test P=0.041) and those with two or more saphenous vein grafts (log-rank test P=0.015). Conclusions: The utilization of an EDI for vein flushing and storage after vein harvest in CABG procedures has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of MACE at 3 years post-surgery. This protective effect is particularly notable in diabetic patients and in individuals who have multiple vein grafts.

Long-term prognosis after surgery for infective endocarditis: Distinction between predictors of early and late survival / Pronóstico a largo plazo tras cirugía cardiaca en la endocarditis infecciosa: diferencias entre predictores de supervivencia precoz y tardía

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgery is a life-saving procedure in patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis (IE). There are several validated risk scores developed to predict early-mortality; nevertheless, long-term survival has been less investigated. The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of IE-specific risk factors for early and long-term mortality. METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted that included all patients who underwent surgery for IE from 2002 to 2016. Median follow-up time after surgery was 53.2 months (IQI 26.2-106.8 months). In-hospital mortality was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Long-term survival was analyzed after one, two and five years. Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to identify risk factors related to long-term mortality. RESULTS: Of the 180 patients underwent cardiac surgery, 133 were discharged alive (in-hospital mortality was 26.11%). 6 variables were identified as independent factors associated with in-hospital mortality, most of them closely related to the severity of IE: age, multivalvular involvement, critical preoperative status, preoperative mechanical ventilation, abscess and thrombocytopenia. Long-term survival in patients discharged alive was 89.1%, 87.4% and 77.6% after one, two and five years. Long-term mortality was independent of specific IE factors and 86.51% of deaths were not related to cardiovascular or infectious diseases. CONCLUSION: Despite the high perioperative mortality rate after surgical treatment for active IE, long-term survival after hospital discharge was acceptable, regardless of the severity of the endocarditis episode. Although in-hospital survival depended mainly on several IE factors, long-term survival was not related to the severity of endocarditis baseline affection

OBJETIVOS: La cirugía cardíaca es un procedimiento fundamental en pacientes diagnosticados de endocarditis infecciosa (EI). Existen varias escalas de riesgo para predecir la mortalidad temprana; sin embargo, la supervivencia a largo plazo ha sido menos estudiada. El objetivo es analizar el impacto de los factores de riesgo específicos de EI en la mortalidad temprana y a largo plazo. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional retrospectivo que incluyó a todos los pacientes operados por EI entre 2002 y 2016. La mediana del tiempo de seguimiento fue de 53,2 meses (IQI: 26,2-106,8 meses). La mortalidad intrahospitalaria se analizó mediante regresión logística múltiple. La supervivencia se analizó a uno, 2 y 5 años. Los factores de riesgo de mortalidad tardía se analizaron mediante regresión de Cox. RESULTADOS: De los 180 pacientes operados, 133 sobrevivieron al postoperatorio inmediato (26,11% de mortalidad intrahospitalaria). Encontramos 6 factores asociados a la mortalidad hospitalaria: edad, afectación multivalvular, estado preoperatorio crítico, ventilación mecánica preoperatoria, absceso y trombopenia. La supervivencia a largo plazo fue del 89,1, 87,4 y 77,6% después de uno, 2 y 5 años. La mortalidad a largo plazo fue independiente de factores específicos de la EI, y el 86,51% no se relacionó con enfermedades cardiovasculares o infecciosas. CONCLUSIÓN: A pesar de la alta tasa de mortalidad peri-operatoria tras cirugía, la supervivencia a largo plazo fue aceptable, independientemente de la gravedad del episodio de endocarditis. Aunque la supervivencia intrahospitalaria guardó relación con factores específicos de endocarditis, y la supervivencia a largo plazo no se correlacionó con la gravedad de la afectación inicial

Long-term prognosis after surgery for infective endocarditis: Distinction between predictors of early and late survival.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgery is a life-saving procedure in patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis (IE). There are several validated risk scores developed to predict early-mortality; nevertheless, long-term survival has been less investigated. The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of IE-specific risk factors for early and long-term mortality. METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted that included all patients who underwent surgery for IE from 2002 to 2016. Median follow-up time after surgery was 53.2 months (IQI 26.2-106.8 months). In-hospital mortality was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Long-term survival was analyzed after one, two and five years. Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to identify risk factors related to long-term mortality. RESULTS: Of the 180 patients underwent cardiac surgery, 133 were discharged alive (in-hospital mortality was 26.11%). 6 variables were identified as independent factors associated with in-hospital mortality, most of them closely related to the severity of IE: age, multivalvular involvement, critical preoperative status, preoperative mechanical ventilation, abscess and thrombocytopenia. Long-term survival in patients discharged alive was 89.1%, 87.4% and 77.6% after one, two and five years. Long-term mortality was independent of specific IE factors and 86.51% of deaths were not related to cardiovascular or infectious diseases. CONCLUSION: Despite the high perioperative mortality rate after surgical treatment for active IE, long-term survival after hospital discharge was acceptable, regardless of the severity of the endocarditis episode. Although in-hospital survival depended mainly on several IE factors, long-term survival was not related to the severity of endocarditis baseline affection.

Mortality risk prediction in infective endocarditis surgery: reliability analysis of specific scores.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the prognostic utility of risk scores in surgery for infective endocarditis (IE) to evaluate their reliability in mortality risk prediction. METHODS: An observational retrospective study was developed to include all patients who underwent surgery for active IE from 2002 to 2016. Classical and endocarditis-specific risk scores were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were included in the study. The 30-day mortality rate was 26.82% [95% confidence interval (CI) 20.26-33.20%]. Classical risk scores were confirmed to have a suboptimal prognostic ability. Therefore, 4 IE-specific risk scores were calculated. Discrimination was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. It was 0.76 (95% CI 0.68-0.82) for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons-IE (STS-IE) score; 0.68 (95% CI 0.58-0.76) for the De Feo-Cotrufo score; 0.73 (95% CI 0.66-0.79) for the PALSUSE score and 0.65 (95% CI 0.57-0.72) for the Costa score. The STS-IE score had higher discrimination when compared with the De Feo-Cotrufo score (P = 0.055) and the Costa score (P = 0.024); however, there was no significant difference when we compared the STS-IE score with the PALSUSE score (P = 0.58). Calibration was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test; an adequate calibration was confirmed in all 4 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Specific risk scores had better prognostic performance than classical risk scores. The STS-IE score had the highest discrimination and was adequately calibrated. The PALSUSE score also showed optimal discrimination and calibration. The De Feo-Cotrufo score had a lower discrimination in our sample; however, the De Feo-Cotrufo score is recommended in the current guidelines. The Costa score had the lowest discrimination.