Impact of concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing pericardiectomy: A 33-year experience.

Objective: Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and pericardiectomy (PC) can be a technically challenging operation. We sought to study the outcomes of patients undergoing concomitant PC and CABG. Methods: Between July 1983 and August 2016, 70 patients (median age, 67 years; 88% males) underwent concomitant PC and CABG (PC + CABG group). Multivariable analysis was used to identify predictors of mortality. Matched patients who underwent isolated PC (PC group) were identified, and postoperative outcomes and long-term survival in the 2 groups were compared. Results: Compared with the PC group, cardiopulmonary bypass time was significantly longer in the PC + CABG group (82 minutes vs 61 minutes; P < .001). In-hospital mortality was 4% in the PC group and 7% in the PC + CABG group (P = .380). Multivariable analysis identified peripheral vascular disease (hazard ratio [HR], 2.67; 95% CI, 1.06-6.76; P = .04) as a predictor of increased morbidity or mortality and a borderline association with New York Heart Association functional classes III and IV (HR, 2.41; 95% CI, 0.99-5.86; P = .05) with increased morbidity and mortality in the PC + CABG group. Kaplan-Meier estimates demonstrated similar late mortality rates in the 2 groups at a 15-year follow-up (P = .700). Conclusions: Concomitant PC and CABG is not associated with increased morbidity or mortality compared with isolated PC. Thus, CABG should not be denied at the time of PC.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Octogenarians-Risks, Outcomes, and Trends in 1283 Consecutive Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the risks, outcomes, and trends in patients older than 80 years undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: We retrospectively studied 1283 consecutive patients who were older than 80 years and underwent primary isolated CABG from January 1, 1993, to October 31, 2019, in our clinic. Kaplan-Meier survival probability and quartile estimates were used to analyze patients' survival. Logistic regression models were used for analyzing temporal trends in CABG cases and outcomes. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was developed to study risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: Operative mortality was overall 4% (n=51) but showed a significant decrease during the study period (P=.015). Median follow-up was 16.7 (interquartile range, 10.3-21.1) years, and Kaplan-Meier estimated survival rates at 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years were 90.2%, 67.9%, 31.1%, and 8.2%, respectively. Median survival time was 7.6 years compared with 6.0 years for age- and sex-matched octogenarians in the general US population (P<.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified older age (P<.001), recent atrial fibrillation or flutter (P<.001), diabetes mellitus (P<.001), smoking history (P=.006), cerebrovascular disease (P=.04), immunosuppressive status (P=.01), extreme levels of creatinine (P<.001), chronic lung disease (P=.02), peripheral vascular disease (P=.02), decreased ejection fraction (P=.03) and increased Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk score (P=.01) as significant risk factors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Although CABG in octogenarians carries a higher surgical risk, it may be associated with favorable outcomes and increase in long-term survival. Further studies are warranted to define subgroups benefiting more from surgical revascularization.

Post-infarction ventricular septal defect with cardiogenic shock: peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator as a bridge to surgery.

We present a patient with post-infarction posterior ventricular septal defect complicated by cardiogenic shock who was transferred after percutaneous coronary revascularization. A peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator was placed as a bridge to definite treatment to stabilize his condition. Patch closure of the ventricular septal defect and tricuspid valve replacement were performed successfully with right atrial approach 3 days after the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) placement and 11 days after the myocardial infarction. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenator was successfully weaned off intraoperatively and the patient was discharged without complications.

Comparative Effectiveness of Mechanical Valves and Homografts in Complex Aortic Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: The ideal surgical reconstruction of the aortic root in patients with complex endocarditis is controversial. We compared the short- and long-term outcomes between mechanical valves, bioprostheses, and homografts. METHODS: We identified all patients undergoing an operation for active complex aortic endocarditis at our institution between 2003 and 2017. We grouped patients according to those who received a mechanical valve, bioprosthesis, or homograft. We used multiple logistic regression and proportional hazards models. To minimize confounding by indication, we used marginal risk adjustment to simulate that every patient would undergo (contrary to fact) all 3 operations. RESULTS: Of 159 patients with complex active endocarditis, 48 (30.2%) had a valve plus patch reconstruction, and 85 (53.4%) had a root replacement. Of all, 50 (31.5%) had a mechanical valve, 56 (35.2%) had a bioprosthesis, and 53 (33.3%) had a homograft. The groups were similar in age, sex, body mass index, comorbid conditions, organism, abscess location, and mitral involvement (all P > .05). However, patients receiving mechanical reconstructions were more likely to have native valve endocarditis (46% vs 37.5% vs 17%; P = .005) and less likely to undergo root replacement (32% vs 28.6% vs 100%; P < .001). Marginal risk-adjusted operative mortality was lowest for mechanical valves (4.8%) and highest for homografts (16.9%; P = .041). Long-term survival after root replacement was worse with homografts than with mechanical valve conduits (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.9; P = .045). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with complex endocarditis, mechanical valves are associated with similar, if not better, short- and long-term outcomes compared with homografts, even after adjusting for important baseline characteristics and limiting the analysis to root replacements only.

ECMO as a Bridge to Reoperative Cardiac Surgery in a Patient with Cardiogenic Shock and Severe Aortic Insufficiency Due to an Acute Aortic Valve Homograft Failure.

We report a 62-year-old male who had severe aortic insufficiency after a homograft root replacement, requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation prior to surgery due to profound cardiogenic shock. Severe aortic insufficiency is a contraindication for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, but we were able to stabilize the patient and successfully perform an urgent reoperative surgery.

Isolated Supravalular Aortic Stenosis with Infective Endocarditis presenting as Pyrexia of Unknown Origin.

Supravalvular aortic stenosis is a less common form of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO); commonest being the valvular aortic stenosis followed by valvular and subvalvular forms respectively. Most of the supravalvular aortic stenosis is associated with Williams syndrome; isolated supravalvular aortic stenosis is further rarer. We present a case of isolated SVAS with infective endocarditis (1.6) as the cause of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO).

Open Surgical Repair Remains the Gold Standard for Treating Aortic Arch Pathology.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular arch repair technology is driven in large part by the assumption that open arch operations are high-risk. We wanted to evaluate the clinical results of open arch reconstruction in the modern era in a large group practice. METHODS: From October 2003 to June 2014, 567 patients underwent aortic arch operations: hemiarch repair was performed in 429 patients (75.7%; group A), total arch repair in 129 (22.7%; group B), and patch repair in the remaining 9 (1.6%). The procedure was an emergency in 88 patients (20.5%) in group A and in 41 patients (31%) in group B. Redo sternotomy after a previous aortic operation was performed in 35 patients (8.2%) in group A and in 28 patients (22%) in group B. RESULTS: Permanent neurologic deficits were diagnosed in 12 patients (2.8%) in group A and in 3 patients (2.4%) in group B. No spinal cord injuries occurred. Mortality at 30 days was 4% (17 patients) in group A and 5.4% (7 patients) in group B. Patients in group A were younger than in group B (mean age, 61.3 vs 63.6 years; p = 0.06). Older age (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.09; p = 0.0087) and extracorporeal circulation time (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1 to 1.01; p < 0.001) were predictors of perioperative 30-day mortality. Age (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.08; p = 0.006) was the only predictor for neurologic dysfunction. Survival at 2, 6, and 8 years was 90%, 80%, and 69%, respectively, for group A, and 85%, 70% and 62%, respectively, for group B. CONCLUSIONS: These results set a standard against which endovascular technology needs to be compared.

Repeated Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Insertion.

Transcatheter aortic valves may develop structural valve deterioration. With that development the issue arises of repeated transcatheter aortic valve insertion. There are, unfortunately, limited data about repeated transapical valve insertion, with only a single case report in the literature. We report an additional successful case.

The application of European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation II (EuroSCORE II) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk-score for risk stratification in Indian patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To validate European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation II (EuroSCORE II) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk-score for predicting mortality and STS risk-score for predicting morbidity in Indian patients after cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EuroSCORE II and STS risk-scores were obtained pre-operatively for 498 consecutive patients. The patients were followed for mortality and various morbidities. The calibration of the scoring systems was assessed using Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The discriminative capacity was estimated by area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The mortality was 1.6%. For EuroSCORE II and STS risk-score C-statics of 5.43 and 6.11 were obtained indicating satisfactory model fit for both the scores. Area under ROC was 0.69 and 0.65 for EuroSCORE II and STS risk-score with P values of 0.068 and 0.15, respectively, indicating poor discriminatory power. Good fit and discrimination was obtained for renal failure, long-stay in hospital, prolonged ventilator support and deep sternal wound infection but the scores failed in predicting risk of reoperation and stroke. Mortality risk was correctly estimated in low (< 2%) and moderate (2-5%) risk patients, but over-estimated in high-risk (> 5%) patients by both scoring systems. CONCLUSIONS: EuroSCORE II and STS risk-scores have satisfactory calibration power in Indian patients but their discriminatory power is poor. Mortality risk was over-estimated by both the scoring systems in high-risk patients. The present study highlights the need for forming a national database and formulating risk stratification tools to provide better quality care to cardiac surgical patients in India.