Perioperative management of the diabetic patient referred to cardiac surgery

Abstract Currently there is a progressive increase in the prevalence of diabetes in a referred for cardiovascular surgery. Benefits of glycemic management (< 180 mg/dL) in diabetic patients compared to patients without diabetes in perioperative cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study is to present recommendations based on international evidence and adapted to our clinical practice for the perioperative management of hyperglycemia in adult patients with and without diabetes undergoing cardiovascular surgery. This update is based on the latest current literature derived from articles and guidelines regarding perioperative management of diabetic patients to cardiovascular surgery.

Predictive performance of six mortality risk scores and the development of a novel model in a prospective cohort of patients undergoing valve surgery secondary to rheumatic fever.

BACKGROUND: Mortality prediction after cardiac procedures is an essential tool in clinical decision making. Although rheumatic cardiac disease remains a major cause of heart surgery in the world no previous study validated risk scores in a sample exclusively with this condition. OBJECTIVES: Develop a novel predictive model focused on mortality prediction among patients undergoing cardiac surgery secondary to rheumatic valve conditions. METHODS: We conducted prospective consecutive all-comers patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) referred for surgical treatment of valve disease between May 2010 and July of 2015. Risk scores for hospital mortality were calculated using the 2000 Bernstein-Parsonnet, EuroSCORE II, InsCor, AmblerSCORE, GuaragnaSCORE, and the New York SCORE. In addition, we developed the rheumatic heart valve surgery score (RheSCORE). RESULTS: A total of 2,919 RHD patients underwent heart valve surgery. After evaluating 13 different models, the top performing areas under the curve were achieved using Random Forest (0.982) and Neural Network (0.952). Most influential predictors across all models included left atrium size, high creatinine values, a tricuspid procedure, reoperation and pulmonary hypertension. Areas under the curve for previously developed scores were all below the performance for the RheSCORE model: 2000 Bernstein-Parsonnet (0.876), EuroSCORE II (0.857), InsCor (0.835), Ambler (0.831), Guaragna (0.816) and the New York score (0.834). A web application is presented where researchers and providers can calculate predicted mortality based on the RheSCORE. CONCLUSIONS: The RheSCORE model outperformed pre-existing scores in a sample of patients with rheumatic cardiac disease.

Perioperative Management of the Diabetic Patient Referred to Cardiac Surgery.

Currently there is a progressive increase in the prevalence of diabetes in a referred for cardiovascular surgery. Benefits of glycemic management (< 180 mg/dL) in diabetic patients compared to patients without diabetes in perioperative cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study is to present recommendations based on international evidence and adapted to our clinical practice for the perioperative management of hyperglycemia in adult patients with and without diabetes undergoing cardiovascular surgery. This update is based on the latest current literature derived from articles and guidelines regarding perioperative management of diabetic patients to cardiovascular surgery.

Surgical Thrombectomy of Mechanical Valve Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The study aim was to review the authors' experience with the surgical thrombectomy of mechanical valve thrombosis at the Heart Institute of the Medical School of São Paulo University, Brazil. METHODS: Between January 1993 and March 2014, a total of 21 patients (16 females, five males; mean age 48.2 years) with mechanical valve thrombosis was treated surgically. Of these patients, 70% were in NYHA class IV, including two in cardiogenic shock; 71% of the patients had inadequate anticoagulation levels. The median period between the initial valve replacement and valve thrombosis was 105 months. Thrombosis occurred in the mitral position in 12 patients (57%) and in the aortic position in nine (43%). Clinical and surgical data were collected from hospital records. RESULTS: The major surgical finding was thrombus (57.1%), and pannus formation was found in 42.9% of patients. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 90 min, and aortic cross-clamp time 63 min. Operative complications occurred in three patients (14%): two patients required revisions for bleeding and one patient needed ventricular assistance and hemodialysis. The operative mortality rate was 19% (n = 4). Two of these deaths occurred in patients who had been transferred to the operating room with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, one death was due to prolonged mechanical ventilator support and sepsis, and one was due to cardiac tamponade. The 11-year actuarial survival rate was 69.3 ± 12.9%, and the actuarial rate freedom from reintervention was 85.7 ± 13.2% during an 11-year follow up period. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical intervention is a safe and effective treatment in patients with mechanical valve thrombosis.

Novas perspectivas no tratamento cirúrgico da estenose aórtica / New perspectives in the surgical treatment of aortic stenosis

A estenose aórtica degenerativa é a doença valvar adquirida mais comum em adultos, acometendo principalmente os idosos. A cirurgia de substituição da valva aórtica é o tratamento de escolha nos pacientes com estenose aórtica importante sintomática. Seus resultados são reproduzíveis e bem estabelecidos. Porém, cerca de um terço dos pacientes são considerados inoperáveis devido ao risco cirúrgico inaceitável. Em consequência, nos últimos anos, novas alternativas de tratamento intervencionista foram introduzidas na prática clínica, com resultados iniciais favoráveis. Atualmente, as opções englobam a cirurgia de troca da valva aórtica, o implante da valva aórtica transcateter e, mais recentemente, a cirurgia de troca valvar aórtica sem sutura. Técnicas cirúrgicas minimamente invasivas não demonstraram diferença na mortalidade, porém chamam a atenção pelo resultado similar à esternotomia clássica, melhor resultado estético e menor tempo de hospitalização. Além disso, para evitar a utilização de próteses, técnicas de reconstrução valvar têm sido descritas. No implante de valva transcateter, o treinamento de equipe multidisciplinar é mandatório para a criteriosa seleção dos pacientes e da via de acesso. Os acessos transapical e transaórtico evoluíram como opções eficazes e vantajosas nos pacientes não candidatos para a via femoral. A familiaridade dos cirurgiões com essas abordagens tem contribuído para os bons resultados descritos. Um centro que seja capaz de oferecer todas essas alternativas de tratamento poderá selecionar a técnica mais apropriada, considerando a preferência do paciente e avaliando características fundamentais como idade, comorbidades, fragilidade e anatomia. Experiente "Heart Team" será capaz de fazer a escolha mais adequada.

Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common acquired valvular disease in adults, affecting mainly the elderly. Surgical aortic valve replacement is the treatment of choice in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Its results are reproducible and well established. However, about one third of patients are considered inoperable because of unacceptable surgical risk. Therefore, in the past few years, new alternative interventional treatments were introduced in clinical practice, with favorable initial results. Currently, the options include surgical aortic valve replacement, transcatheter aortic valve implantation and more recently, sutureless aortic valve replacement. Minimally invasive surgical techniques showed no difference in mortality, but caIl attention for similar result to the classic sternotomy, better cosmetic effect and shorter length of hospital stay. Furthermore, to avoid the use of prostheses, valve reconstruction techniques have been described. In transcatheter valve implantation, training multidisciplinary team is mandatory for careful selection of patients and access routes. The transapical and transaortic approaches evolved as effective and advantageous options in patients not candidates for transfemoral access. The familiarity of surgeons with these routes has contributed to the good results described. A center that is able to offer ali of these therapeutic alternatives can select the most appropriate technique, considering the patient' s preferences and evaluating crucial characteristics such as age, comorbidities, frailty and anatomy. An experienced "Heart Team" will be able to make the most adequate choice.

Can tricuspid annuloplasty of the donor heart reduce valve insufficiency following cardiac transplantation with bicaval anastomosis?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of tricuspid valve insufficiency after orthotopic cardiac transplantation with bicaval anastomosis and prophylactic donor heart annuloplasty. METHODS: At present, our cardiac transplantation experience includes 478 cases. After January 2002, we included 30 consecutive patients in this study who had undergone orthotopic cardiac transplantation and survived >6 months. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group I, 15 patients who underwent transplantation with prophylactic tricuspid annuloplasty on the donor heart with the De Vega technique; and group II, 15 patients who underwent transplantation without this procedure. Their preoperative clinical characteristics were the same. During the late postoperative follow-up, the degree of tricuspid insufficiency was evaluated by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and assessed according to the Simpson scale: 0, absent; 1, mild; 2, moderate; and 3, severe. Hemodynamic parameters were evaluated invasively by means of a Swan-Ganz catheter during routine endomyocardial biopsies. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 26.9 +/- 5.4 months (range, 12-36 months). In group I, 1 patient (6.6%) died from infection in the 18th month after the operation; the death was not related to the annuloplasty. In group II, 1 death (6.6%) occurred after 10 months because of rejection (P > .05). After the 24-month follow-up, the mean degree of tricuspid insufficiency was 0.4 +/- 0.5 in group I and 1.7 +/- 0.9 in group II (P < .05). Similarly, the 2 groups were significantly different with respect to the right atrium pressure, which was higher in group II. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic tricuspid annuloplasty on the donor heart was able to reduce significantly the degree of valvular insufficiency, even in cardiac transplantation with bicaval anastomosis; however, it did not modify significantly the hemodynamic performance of the allograft during the investigation period. It is very important to extend the observation period and casuistics to verify other benefits that this technique may offer.