The EuroSCORE as predictor for prolonged hospital and intensive care stay after cardiac surgery?

OBJECTIVE: Validation of the EuroSCORE as predictor for a prolonged hospital and intensive care stay after CABG vs. institution-specific scoring systems. METHODS: For the evaluation of a prolonged hospital stay, 3359 patients were included in the analysis of EuroSCORE vs. the CORRAD morbidity score. For a prolonged intensive care stay, 1638 patients were included in the analysis of the EuroSCORE vs. the PICUS score. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in hospital stay between the three different EuroSCORE risk groups. The difference in hospital stay between the high-risk and low-risk groups, identified by the CORRAD morbidity score, was significant (6.9 vs.11.2 days). For a prolonged intensive care stay, the patients identified as high risk by the EuroSCORE and by the PICUS score also had a significantly longer intensive care stay; however, the discriminatory power was low. CONCLUSION: The EuroSCORE is not of value as a predictive system for a prolonged hospital stay. There is a relation between the high-risk patients identified by the EuroSCORE and a prolonged intensive care stay.

Predictors of neurological morbidity after coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the postoperative neurological complications after myocardial revascularization. METHODS: We analyzed the pre-, peri- and postoperative data of 3834 patients who underwent a primary isolated bypass grafting between January 1987 and December 1995. Postoperative neurological complications (A) were divided into mild complications (B) and major complications (C). RESULTS: The incidence of A increased, from 1.4% to 3.0%. Unifactor risk analysis identified: age > 75 years, peripheral vascular atherosclerosis, neurological pathology, aorta-pathology and perioperative myocardial infarction as risk factors for A. Perioperative myocardial infarction and neurological pathology for B; age > 75 years, peripheral vascular atherosclerosis, neurological pathology, perioperative myocardial infarction and aorta pathology for C. Multifactor risk regression analysis identified peripheral vascular atherosclerosis, neurological pathology, aorta-pathology, perioperative myocardial infarction and the time cohort 1993-1995 as independent predictors for A; perioperative myocardial infarction and the time cohort 1993-1995 for B; neurological pathology, aorta-pathology and perioperative myocardial infarction for C. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral vascular atherosclerosis, neurological pathology, aorta-pathology, the occurrence of a perioperative myocardial infarction and the time cohort 1993-1995 are identified as independent risk factors for neurological complications.

Myocardial revascularization in patients < or = 45 years old: evaluation of cardial and functional capacity, and return to work.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether patients < or = 45 years old benefit from myocardial revascularization, measured by New York Heart classification, functional status and return to work. METHODS: The data of 188 consecutive patients 45 years old and younger, and who were undergoing primary isolated aortocoronary bypass operation, were studied. Follow-up information was obtained from our follow-up databank. A cross-sectional follow-up was conducted and an additional functional evaluation by the Duke Activity Status Index and the work situation. RESULTS: The follow-up, was complete for 98.2% of patients and showed a survival rate of 99% at 12 and 86.1% at 120 months. Eight patients died during follow-up. There was a significant improvement of NYHA classification. The Dukes Activity Status Index showed a good correlation with the NYHA class; however, only 47% of the patients returned to work.

Coronary bypass surgery: what is changing? Analysis of 3834 patients undergoing primary isolated myocardial revascularization.

OBJECTIVE: The patient population undergoing myocardial revascularization has changed during the last few years. Knowledge of these changes, and of the subsequent influence on morbidity and/or mortality is important, not only for up-dating quality control, but also to support decision-making in financial and economical aspects, and in further research concerning coronary artery surgery. METHODS: Pre-, per- and postoperative data of 3834 primary isolated coronary bypass operations, January 1987 December 1995 were analyzed. The total group was divided into three time cohorts. Group A: 1987 1989 (n = 1292); group B: 1990-1992 (n = 1130); and group C: 1993-1995 (n = 1412). RESULTS: Mean age increased from 60.4 +/- 9.0 (S.D.) years in group A to 62.9 +/- 9.9 (S.D.) years in group C (P < 0.0005). Patients with insulin-dependent diabetic (P = 0.005), uro-nefrological (P = 0.002), pulmonary (P < 0.0005)and neurological (P = 0.003) pathology increased significantly, and there was a significant increase in the use of arterial grafts (P < 0.05). Postoperative, hospital mortality remained stable (+/- 2.5%). However, there was a significant increasing percentage of patients with pulmonary (P = 0.04), neurological (P = 0.02) and uro-nefrological (P < 0.0005) problems. CONCLUSION: During the last few years there has been a trend in myocardial revascularization of older patients, with more coexisting disease. Despite the fact that hospital mortality seems stable, there is an increase in major postoperative morbidity.

Bronchopulmonary sequestration associated with an aneurysm of the aberrant artery.

We describe a patient with an intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration of the right lower lobe associated with a true aneurysm of the aberrant artery. Both findings were suspected before operation. The patient was treated successfully by resection of the right lower lobe with the sequestered lung tissue and aneurysm.

Experience and early results of second reoperations for coronary artery disease. Should patent vein grafts be replaced during reoperation?

Reoperation for coronary artery disease has become a routine procedure; however, a second reoperation is exceptional. In this report we describe our experience with 16 patients undergoing a second reoperation for coronary atherosclerosis. The absence of operative mortality is certainly related to the patient selection. The number of patients is still too small to draw major conclusions. Striking, however, is that the first reoperation was usually done for angina because of progression of atherosclerosis in the native coronary system and the second reoperation was done because of graft failure. This experience supports the idea that the replacement of old, even patent, venous grafts and the choice of the best available conduits are of great importance at the first reoperation and may prevent a second reoperation.

A solitary metastasis in the heart from Ewing's sarcoma.

We present a patient with a solitary metastasis in the heart 8 years after treatment for Ewing's sarcoma. Exploratory thoracotomy was performed and biopsies were taken. Despite high dose ifosfamide, the patient died a few weeks after surgery.

Early results with bilateral internal mammary artery grafting in coronary reoperations.

In recent years, use of the internal mammary artery (IMA) as first graft of choice has been expanded with bilateral and sequential grafts in primary myocardial revascularization. The use of bilateral IMA grafts in reoperation has seldom been reported. The experience and early results with bilateral IMA grafting in 47 patients undergoing coronary reoperation are described. Hospital mortality was 6.3%. Four patients had postoperative signs of low cardiac output, and 4 had a perioperative myocardial infarction. At follow-up (18 +/- 18 months), 2 cardiac-related, late deaths were noted. Thirteen patients (29%) improved 1 New York Heart Association class, and 28 (63%) improved > 1 class. In 1 of 44 surviving patients, operation did not result in a decrease in angina. On the basis of the early results, the bilateral use of the IMA in coronary reoperation appears justified.