Protected cardiac surgery: strategic mechanical circulatory support to improve postcardiotomy mortality.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine the evolving landscape of cardiac surgery, focusing on the increasing complexity of patients and the role of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in managing perioperative low cardiac output syndrome (P-LCOS). RECENT FINDINGS: P-LCOS is a significant predictor of mortality in cardiac surgery patients. Preoperative risk factors, such as cardiogenic shock and elevated lactate levels, can help identify those at higher risk. Proactive use of MCS, rather than reactive implementation after P-LCOS develops, may lead to improved outcomes by preventing severe organ hypoperfusion. The emerging concept of "protected cardiac surgery" emphasizes early identification of these high-risk patients and planned MCS utilization. Additionally, specific MCS strategies are being developed and refined for various cardiac conditions, including AMI-CS, valvular surgeries, and pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. SUMMARY: This paper explores the shifting demographics and complexities in cardiac surgery patients. It emphasizes the importance of proactive, multidisciplinary approaches to identify high-risk patients and implement early MCS to prevent P-LCOS and improve outcomes. The concept of protected cardiac surgery, involving planned MCS use and shared decision-making, is highlighted. The paper also discusses MCS strategies tailored to specific cardiac procedures and the ethical considerations surrounding MCS implementation.

Impact of Age of Heart Transplant Program on Patient Survival and Post-Transplant Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between age of a heart transplant (HT) program and outcomes has not been explored. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing database of all adult HTs between 2009 and 2019. For each patient, we created a variable that corresponded to program age: new (<5), developing (≥5 but <10) and established (≥10) years. RESULTS: Of 20 997 HTs, 822 were at new, 908 at developing, and 19 267 at established programs. Patients at new programs were significantly more likely to have history of cigarette smoking, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and prior sternotomy. These programs were less likely to accept organs from older donors and those with a history of hypertension or cigarette use. As compared to patients at new programs, transplant patients at established programs had less frequent rates of treated rejection during the index hospitalization (HR 0.43 [95% CI, 0.36-0.53] p < 0.001) and at 1 year (HR 0.58 [95% CI, 0.49-0.70], p < 0.001), less frequently required pacemaker implantations (HR 0.50 [95% CI, 0.36-0.69], p < 0.001), and less frequently required dialysis (HR 0.66 [95% CI, 0.53-0.82], p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in short- or long-term survival between the groups (log-rank p = 0.24). CONCLUSION: Patient and donor selection differed between new, developing, and established HT programs but had equivalent survival. New programs had increased likelihood of treated rejection, pacemaker implantation, and need for dialysis. Standardized post-transplant practices may help to minimize this variation and ensure optimal outcomes for all patients.

Intra-operative Risk Factors Affecting Mortality after Heart Transplantation: A Referral Center Experience in Iran.

Background: Heart transplantation is the preferred treatment for end-stage heart failure. This study investigated the intra-operative risk factors affecting post-transplantation mortality. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study examined 239 heart transplant patients over eight years, from 2011-2019, at the oldest dedicated cardiovascular center, Shahid Rajaee Hospital (Tehran, Iran). The primary evaluated clinical outcomes were rejection, readmission, and mortality one month and one year after transplantation. For data analysis, univariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: In this study, 107 patients (43.2%) were adults, and 132 patients (56.8%) were children. Notably, reoperation due to bleeding was a significant predictor of one-month mortality in both children (OR=7.47, P=0.006) and adults (OR=172.12, P<0.001). Moreover, the need for defibrillation significantly increased the risk of one-month mortality in both groups (children: OR=38.00, P<0.001; adults: OR=172.12, P<0.001). Interestingly, readmission had a protective effect against one-month mortality in both children (OR=0.02, P<0.001) and adults (OR=0.004, P<0.001). Regarding one-year mortality, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was associated with a higher risk in both children (OR=7.64, P=0.001) and adults (OR=12.10, P<0.001). For children, reoperation due to postoperative hemorrhage also increased the risk (OR=5.14, P=0.020), while defibrillation was a significant risk factor in both children and adults (children: OR=22.00, P<0.001; adults: OR=172.12, P<0.001). The median post-surgery survival was 22 months for children and 24 months for adults. Conclusion: There was no correlation between sex and poorer outcomes. Mortality at one month and one year after transplantation was associated with the following risk factors: the use of ECMO, reoperation for bleeding, defibrillation following cross-clamp removal, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay. Readmission, on the other hand, had a weak protective effect.

Assessing the effectiveness of ACS surgical risk calculator versus P-POSSUM in predicting mortality and morbidity for major hepatobiliary surgery: An observational study.

Risk assessment is difficult yet would provide valuable data for both the surgeons and the patients in major hepatobiliary surgeries. An ideal risk calculator should improve workflow through efficient, timely, and accurate risk stratification. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) surgical risk calculator (SRC) and Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and Morbidity (P-POSSUM) are surgical risk stratification tools used to assess postoperative morbidity. In this study, preoperative data from 300 patients undergoing major hepatobiliary surgeries performed at a single tertiary university hospital were retrospectively collected from electronic patient records and entered into the ACS-SRC and P-POSSUM systems, and the resulting risk scores were calculated and recorded accordingly. The ACS-NSQIP-M1 (C-statistics = 0.725) and M2 (C-statistics = 0.791) models showed better morbidity discrimination ability than P-POSSUM-M1 (C-statistics = 0.672) model. The P-POSSUM-M2 (C-statistics = 0.806) model showed better differentiation success in morbidity than other models. The ACS-NSQIP-M1 (C-statistics = 0.888) and M2 (C-statistics = 0.956) models showed better mortality discrimination than P-POSSUM-M1 (C-statistics = 0.776) model. The P-POSSUM-M2 (C-statistics = 0.948) model showed better mortality differentiation success than the ACS-NSQIP-M1 and P-POSSUM-M1 models. The use of ACS-SRC and P-POSSUM calculators for major hepatobiliary surgeries offers quantitative data to assess risks for both the surgeon and the patient. Integrating these calculators into preoperative evaluation practices can enhance decision-making processes for patients. The results of the statistical analyses indicated that the P-POSSUM-M2 model for morbidity and the ACS-NSQIP-M2 model for mortality exhibited superior overall performance.

Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients undergoing cardiac transcatheter or surgical interventions usually is correlated with poor outcomes. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been developed as a therapy choice for inoperable, high-, or intermediate-risk surgical patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of DM and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) on outcomes and survival after TAVI. METHODS: Five hundred and fifty-two symptomatic severe AS patients who underwent TAVI, of whom 164 (29.7%) had DM, were included in this retrospective study. Follow-up was performed after 30 days, six months, and annually. RESULTS: The device success and risks of procedural-related complications were similar between patients with and without DM, except for acute kidney injury, which was more frequent in the DM group (2.4% vs. 0%, P=0.021). In-hospital and first-year mortality were similar between the groups (4.9% vs. 3.6%, P=0.490 and 15.0% vs. 11.2%, P=0.282, respectively). There was a statistical difference between HbA1c ≥ 6.5 and HbA1c ≤ 6.49 groups in total mortality (34.4% vs. 15.8%, P<0.001, respectively). The only independent predictors were Society of Thoracic Surgeons score (hazard ratio [HR] 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.51; P=0.003) and HbA1c level ≥ 6.5 (HR 10.78, 95% CI 2.58-21.50; P=0.003) in multivariable logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: In this study, we conclude that DM was not correlated with an increased mortality risk or complication rates after TAVI. Also, it was shown that mortality was higher in patients with HbA1c ≥ 6.5, and it was an independent predictor for long-term mortality.

Lymphocyte Levels and Morbidity and Mortality in Cardiovascular Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

INTRODUCTION: A year ago, in a sample of 113 patients, our research group found that a high number of lymphocytes in the immediate postoperative period was correlated to a poor prognosis in cardiovascular surgeries. This study is an expansion of the initial study in order to confirm this finding. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 338 consecutive patients submitted to cardiovascular surgeries with cardiopulmonary bypass performed at Hospital Universitário Ciências Médicas (Belo Horizonte/Brazil) from 2015 to 2017. We analyzed 39 variables with the outcomes death, hospital stay, and intensive care unit stay. RESULTS: The value of lymphocytes in the immediate postoperative period > 2175.0/mm³ was an indicator of poor prognosis in this sample (P<0.001). The variables female sex, age, high level of European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II, increased stay in the intensive care unit and in the ward, elevation of creatinine in the preoperative period and at intensive care unit discharge, elevation of the percentage of immediate postoperative period segmented neutrophils, high immediate postoperative period neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, fasting hyperglycemia, preoperative critical condition, reintubation, mild or transient acute renal failure, surgical infection, cardiopulmonary bypass, and aortic cross-clamping and mechanical ventilation durations also had an impact on the mortality outcome. CONCLUSION: The value of lymphocytes in the immediate postoperative period > 2175.0/mm3 was an indicator of poor prognosis in cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Ct-based diagnosis of sarcopenia as a prognostic factor for postoperative mortality after elective open-heart surgery in older patients: a cohort-based systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiac open-heart surgery, which usually involves thoracotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass, is associated with a high incidence of postoperative mortality and adverse events. In recent years, sarcopenia, as a common condition in older patients, has been associated with an increased incidence of adverse prognosis. Methods: We conducted a search of databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane, with the search date up to January 1, 2024, to identify all studies related to elective cardiac open-heart surgery in older patients. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the certainty of evidence. Results: A total of 12 cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis for analysis. This meta-analysis revealed that patients with sarcopenia had a higher risk of postoperative mortality. Furthermore, the total length of hospital stay and ICU stay were longer after surgery. Moreover, there was a higher number of patients requiring further healthcare after discharge. Regarding postoperative complications, sarcopenia patients had an increased risk of developing renal failure and stroke. Conclusion: Sarcopenia served as a tool to identify high-risk older patients undergoing elective cardiac open-heart surgery. By identifying this risk factor early on, healthcare professionals took targeted steps to improve perioperative function and made informed clinical decisions.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023426026.

Sex-specific aspects on prognosis after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis: a SWEDEHEART registry study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare long-term cardiovascular (CV) outcomes between men and women with aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) by the type of valve implant. METHODS: The study population consisted of 14 123 non-selected patients with AS undergoing first-time AVR and included in the Swedish Web system for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-based care in Heart disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies (SWEDEHEART) registry during 2008-2016. Comparisons were made between men and women and type of valve implant (ie, surgical implantation with a mechanical (mSAVR) (n=1 966) or biological valve (bioSAVR) (n=9 801)) or by a transcatheter approach (TAVR) (n=2 356). Outcomes included all-cause mortality, ischaemic stroke, major bleeding, thromboembolic events, heart failure and myocardial infarction, continuously adjusted for significant comorbidities and medical treatment. RESULTS: In the mSAVR cohort, there were no significant sex differences in any CV events. In the bioSAVR cohort, a higher risk of death (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.26, p=0.007) and major bleeding (HR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.69, p<0.001) was observed in men. In the TAVR cohort, men suffered a higher risk of death (HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.45, p=0.005), major bleeding (HR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.82, p=0.022) and thromboembolism (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.82, p=0.047). CONCLUSION: No significant long-term difference in CV events was noted between men and women undergoing AVR with a mechanical aortic valve. In both the bioSAVR and TAVR cohort, mortality was higher in men who also had an increased incidence of several other CV events.

A high-volume study on the impact of diabetes mellitus on clinical outcomes after surgical and percutaneous cardiac interventions.

BACKGROUND: Type I and type II diabetes mellitus (DM) patients have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, as well as a higher mortality risk of cardiovascular diseases and interventions. This study provides an update on the impact of DM on clinical outcomes, including mortality, complications and reinterventions, using data on percutaneous and surgical cardiac interventions in the Netherlands. METHODS: This is a retrospective, nearby nationwide study using real-world observational data registered by the Netherlands Heart Registration (NHR) between 2015 and 2020. Patients treated for combined or isolated coronary artery disease (CAD) and aortic valve disease (AVD) were studied. Bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between DM and clinical outcomes both unadjusted and adjusted for baseline characteristics. RESULTS: 241,360 patients underwent the following interventions; percutaneous coronary intervention(N = 177,556), coronary artery bypass grafting(N = 39,069), transcatheter aortic valve implantation(N = 11,819), aortic valve replacement(N = 8,028) and combined CABG and AVR(N = 4,888). The incidence of DM type I and II was 21.1%, 26.7%, 17.8%, 27.6% and 27% respectively. For all procedures, there are statistically significant differences between patients living with and without diabetes, adjusted for baseline characteristics, at the expense of patients with diabetes for 30-days mortality after PCI (OR = 1.68; p <.001); 120-days mortality after CABG (OR = 1.35; p <.001), AVR (OR = 1.5; p <.03) and CABG + AVR (OR = 1.42; p =.02); and 1-year mortality after CABG (OR = 1.43; p <.001), TAVI (OR = 1.21; p =.01) and PCI (OR = 1.68; p <.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with DM remain to have unfavourable outcomes compared to nondiabetic patients which calls for a critical reappraisal of existing care pathways aimed at diabetic patients within the cardiovascular field.

The impact of intraoperative hypotension on postoperative acute kidney injury, mortality and length of stay following off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) presents distinct hemodynamic characteristics, yet the relationship between intraoperative hypotension and short-term adverse outcomes remains clear. Our study aims to investigate association between intraoperative hypotension and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), mortality and length of stay in OPCABG patients. METHODS: Retrospective data of 494 patients underwent OPCABG from January 2016 to July 2023 were collected. We analyzed the relationship between intraoperative various hypotension absolute values (MAP > 75, 65 < MAP ≤ 75, 55 < MAP ≤ 65, MAP ≤ 55 mmHg) and postoperative AKI, mortality and length of stay. Logistic regression assessed the impacts of exposure variable on AKI and postoperative mortality. Linear regression was used to analyze risk factors on the length of intensive care unit stay (ICU) and hospital stay. RESULTS: The incidence of AKI was 31.8%, with in-hospital and 30-day mortality at 2.8% and 3.5%, respectively. Maintaining a MAP greater than or equal 65 mmHg [odds ratio (OR) 0.408; p = 0.008] and 75 mmHg (OR 0.479; p = 0.024) was significantly associated with a decrease risk of AKI compared to MAP less than 55 mmHg for at least 10 min. Prolonged hospital stays were linked to low MAP, while in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality were not linked to IOH but exhibited correlation with a history of myocardial infarction. AKI showed correlation with length of ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: MAP > 65 mmHg emerges as a significant independent protective factor for AKI in OPCABG and IOH is related to length of hospital stay. Proactive intervention targeting intraoperative hypotension may provide a potential opportunity to reduce postoperative renal injury and hospital stay. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2400082518. Registered 31 March 2024. https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=225349 .

Preoperative risk factors for 90-day postoperative mortality outcome in patients with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia.

PURPOSE: The mortality rate for non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia remains high even after patients survive the acute postoperative period with tremendous treatment efforts, including emergency surgery, which is challenging. The aim of this study was to explore the preoperative risk factors for 90-day postoperative mortality in patients with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia who underwent emergency surgery between August 2014 and January 2023. All patients were divided into survival-to-discharge and mortality outcome groups at the 90-day postoperative follow-up. Preoperative factors, including comorbidities, preoperative status of vital signs and consciousness, blood gas analysis, blood test results, and computed tomography, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Twenty patients were eligible, and 90-day mortality was observed in 10 patients (50%). The mortality outcome group had significantly lower HCO3- (20.9 vs. 14.6, p = 0.006) and higher lactate (4.4 vs. 9.4, p = 0.023) levels than did the survival outcome group. The median postoperative time to death was 19 [2-69] days, and five patients (50%) died after postoperative day 30, mainly because hemodialysis was discontinued because of hemodynamic instability in patients requiring hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Low preoperative HCO3- and high lactate levels may be preoperative risk factors for 90-day postoperative mortality in patients with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia. However, patients on hemodialysis die from discontinuing hemodialysis even after surviving the acute postoperative phase. Therefore, indications for emergency surgery in patients with risk factors for postoperative mortality should be carefully determined.

Morbidity and Mortality After Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy and Totally Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy to Treat Gastric Cancer: An Interim Report: A Phase III Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Trial (The KLASS-07 Trial).

PURPOSE: We conducted a randomized prospective trial (KLASS-07 trial) to compare laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for gastric cancer. In this interim report, we describe short-term results in terms of morbidity and mortality. METHODS AND METHODS: The sample size was 442 participants. At the time of the interim analysis, 314 patients were enrolled and randomized. After excluding patients who did not undergo planned surgeries, we performed a modified per-protocol analysis of 151 and 145 patients in the LADG and TLDG groups, respectively. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics, including comorbidity status, did not differ between the LADG and TLDG groups. Blood loss was somewhat higher in the LADG group, but statistical significance was not attained (76.76±72.63 vs. 62.91±65.68 mL; P=0.087). Neither the required transfusion level nor the operation or reconstruction time differed between the 2 groups. The mini-laparotomy incision in the LADG group was significantly longer than the extended umbilical incision required for specimen removal in the TLDG group (4.79±0.82 vs. 3.89±0.83 cm; P<0.001). There were no between-group differences in the time to solid food intake, hospital stay, pain score, or complications within 30 days postoperatively. No mortality was observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term morbidity and mortality rates did not differ between the LADG and TLDG groups. The KLASS-07 trial is currently underway. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03393182.

30-day morbidity and mortality of revisional bariatric surgery - An international multi-centre collaborative (BROAD) study.

INTRODUCTION: Revisional bariatric surgery (RBS) for insufficient weight loss/weight regain or metabolic relapse is increasing worldwide. There is currently no large multinational, prospective data on 30-day morbidity and mortality of RBS. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the 30-day morbidity and mortality of RBS at participating centres. METHODS: An international steering group was formed to oversee the study. The steering group members invited bariatric surgeons worldwide to participate in this study. Ethical approval was obtained at the lead centre. Data were collected prospectively on all consecutive RBS patients operated between 15th May 2021 to 31st December 2021. Revisions for complications were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 65 global centres submitted data on 750 patients. Sleeve gastrectomy (n = 369, 49.2 %) was the most common primary surgery for which revision was performed. Revisional procedures performed included Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in 41.1 % (n = 308) patients, One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) in 19.3 % (n = 145), Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) in 16.7 % (n = 125) and other procedures in 22.9 % (n = 172) patients. Indications for revision included weight regain in 615(81.8 %) patients, inadequate weight loss in 127(16.9 %), inadequate diabetes control in 47(6.3 %) and diabetes relapse in 27(3.6 %). 30-day complications were seen in 80(10.7 %) patients. Forty-nine (6.5 %) complications were Clavien Dindo grade 3 or higher. Two patients (0.3 %) died within 30 days of RBS. CONCLUSION: RBS for insufficient weight loss/weight regain or metabolic relapse is associated with 10.7 % morbidity and 0.3 % mortality. Sleeve gastrectomy is the most common primary procedure to undergo revisional bariatric surgery, while Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most commonly performed revision.

Volatile Anesthetic Use Versus Total Intravenous Anesthesia for Patients Undergoing Heart Valve Surgery: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have suggested that volatile anesthetic use may improve postoperative outcomes after cardiac surgery compared to total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) owing to its potential cardioprotective effect. However, the results were inconclusive, and few studies have included patients undergoing heart valve surgery. METHODS: This nationwide population-based study included all adult patients who underwent heart valve surgery between 2010 and 2019 in Korea based on data from a health insurance claim database. Patients were divided based on the use of volatile anesthetics: the volatile anesthetics or TIVA groups. After stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), the association between the use of volatile anesthetics and the risk of cumulative 1-year all-cause mortality (the primary outcome) and cumulative long-term (beyond 1 year) mortality were assessed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 30,755 patients included in this study, the overall incidence of 1-year mortality was 8.5%. After stabilized IPTW, the risk of cumulative 1-year mortality did not differ in the volatile anesthetics group compared to the TIVA group (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-1.07; P = .602), nor did the risk of cumulative long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.93-1.04; P = .579) at a median (interquartile range) follow-up duration of 4.8 (2.6-7.6) years. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TIVA, volatile anesthetic use was not associated with reduced postoperative mortality risk in patients undergoing heart valve surgery. Our findings indicate that the use of volatile anesthetics does not have a significant impact on mortality after heart valve surgery. Therefore, the choice of anesthesia type can be based on the anesthesiologists' or institutional preference and experience.

Driving pressure association with mortality in post-lung transplant patients: A prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between driving pressure (ΔP) and 90-day mortality in patients following lung transplantation (LTx) in patients who developed primary graft dysfunction (PGD). METHODS: This prospective, observational study involved consecutive patients who, following LTx, were admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2022 to January 2023. Patients were separated into two groups according to ΔP at time of admission (i.e., low, ≤15 cmH2O or high, >15 cmH2O). Postoperative outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: In total, 104 patients were involved in the study, and of these, 69 were included in the low ΔP group and 35 in the high ΔP group. Kaplan-Meier analysis of 90-day mortality showed a statistically significant difference between groups with survival better in the low ΔP group compared with the high ΔP group. According to Cox proportional regression model, the variables independently associated with 90-day mortality were ΔP and pneumonia. Significantly more patients in the high ΔP group than the low ΔP group had PGD grade 3 (PGD3), pneumonia, required tracheostomy, and had prolonged postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) time, postoperative ventilator time, and ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: Driving pressure appears to have the ability to predict PGD3 and 90-day mortality of patients following LTx. Further studies are required to confirm our results.

The evolution of TAVI performance overtime: an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a well-established treatment for high and intermediate-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Recent studies have demonstrated non-inferiority of TAVI compared to surgery in low-risk patients. In the past decade, numerous literature reviews (SLRs) have assessed the use of TAVI in different risk groups. This is the first attempt to provide an overview of SRs (OoSRs) focusing on secondary studies reporting clinical outcomes/process indicators. This research aims to summarize the findings of extant literature on the performance of TAVI over time. METHODS: A literature search took place from inception to April 2024. We searched MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library for SLRs. SLRs reporting at least one review of clinical indicators were included. Subsequently, a two-step inclusion process was conducted: [1] screening based on title and abstracts and [2] screening based on full-text papers. Relevant data were extracted and the quality of the reviews was assessed. RESULTS: We included 33 SLRs with different risks assessed via the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score. Mortality rates were comparable between TAVI and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) groups. TAVI is associated with lower rates of major bleeding, acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence, and new-onset atrial fibrillation. Vascular complications, pacemaker implantation, and residual aortic regurgitation were more frequent in TAVI patients. CONCLUSION: This study summarizes TAVI performance findings over a decade, revealing a shift to include both high and low-risk patients since 2020. Overall, TAVI continues to evolve, emphasizing improved outcomes, broader indications, and addressing challenges.

Morbidity and mortality following hiatal hernia repair in geriatric patients: a multicenter research network study.

BACKGROUND: Hiatal hernia is a common surgical pathology. Such hernias can be found incidentally and patients may opt for an initial nonoperative approach though many will pursue surgery after symptom progression. Data on the effects of age on the outcomes of hiatal hernia repair may help inform this decision-making process. METHODS: The TriNetX database was queried for all adult patients undergoing hiatal hernia repair from 2000 to 2023. Patients were divided into elective and emergent cohorts on the basis of diagnosis codes indicating obstruction or gangrene. Patients aged 80-89 were compared against those aged 65-79 in unadjusted analysis. Logistic regression models controlling for additional health history covariates were created to calculate odds ratios for primary outcomes. RESULTS: There were 2310 octogenarians and 15,295 seniors who underwent elective hiatal hernia repair, and 406 octogenarians and 1462 seniors who underwent emergent repair during the study period. The vast majority of patients in both groups underwent minimally invasive operations. In the elective cohort, octogenarians had higher rates of mortality, malnutrition, sepsis, respiratory failure, pneumonia, DVT, blood transfusion, and discharge to nursing facility. In the emergent cohort, octogenarians had higher rates of mortality, malnutrition, sepsis, and respiratory failure. The odds ratios for mortality in the elective and emergent cohorts were 3.9 (95% CI 3.1-5.0) and 3.5 (95% CI 2.1-5.6), respectively. CONCLUSION: Octogenarians are at a meaningfully increased risk for mortality and morbidity after both elective and emergent hiatal hernia repair compared to senior-aged patients. Greater consideration should be given to surgical repair prior to the 8th decade of life.

Primary surgical repair of tetralogy of fallot at the Uganda Heart Institute: a ten-year review of 30day mortality and morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) worldwide. It accounts for 7% of CHD cases in Uganda and leads to fatal outcomes in the long term without surgery. Surgery is often delayed in developing countries like Uganda due to limited resources. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the early surgical outcomes of patients with TOF who underwent primary intracardiac repair at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) and to identify factors associated. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective chart review evaluated outcomes of primary TOF repair patients at UHI from February 2012 to October 2022. Patient outcomes were assessed from surgery until 30 days post-operation. RESULTS: Out of the 104 patients who underwent primary TOF repair at UHI, records of 88 patients (84.6%) were available for review. Males accounted for 48.9% (n = 43). The median age at the time of operation was 4 years (with an interquartile range of 2.5-8.0 years), ranging from 9 months to 16 years. Genetic syndromes were present in 5/88 (5.7%). These included 2 patients with trisomy 21, 2 with Noonan's, and 1 with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Early postoperative outcomes for patients included: residual ventricular septal defects in 35/88 (39.8%), right ventricular dysfunction in 33/88 (37.5%), residual pulmonary regurgitation in 27/88 (30.7%), residual right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 27/88 (30.0%), pleural effusion in 24/88 (27.3%), arrhythmias in 24/88(27.3%), post-operative infections in 23/88(26.1%) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in 9/88 (10.2%). Out of the children who underwent surgery after one year of age, 8% (7 children) died within the first 30 days. There was a correlation between mortality and post-operative ventilation time, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, aortic cross-clamp time, preoperative oxygen saturations, RV and LV dysfunction and the operating team. CONCLUSION: The most frequent outcomes after surgery were residual ventricular septal defects and right ventricular failure. In our study, the 30-day mortality rate following TOF repair was 8%. Deceased patients had lower pre-operative oxygen levels, longer CPB and cross-clamp times, longer post-operative ventilation, RV/LV dysfunction, and were more likely operated by the local team.

A novel nomogram model to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection after surgery.

BACKGROUND: Acute type A aortic dissection is a dangerous disease that threatens public health. In recent years, with the progress of medical technology, the mortality rate of patients after surgery has been gradually reduced, leading that previous prediction models may not be suitable for nowadays. Therefore, the present study aims to find new independent risk factors for predicting in-hospital mortality and construct a nomogram prediction model. METHODS: The clinical data of 341 consecutive patients in our center from 2019 to 2023 were collected, and they were divided into two groups according to the death during hospitalization. The independent risk factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and the nomogram was constructed and verified based on these factors. RESULTS: age, preoperative lower limb ischemia, preoperative activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), preoperative platelet count, Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) independently predicted in-hospital mortality of patients with acute type A aortic dissection after surgery. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the nomogram was 0.844. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis verified that the model had good quality. CONCLUSION: The new nomogram model has a good ability to predict the in-hospital mortality of patients with acute type A aortic dissection after surgery.

Differential impacts of clinical, anatomical, and procedural factors on early and late mortality following open thoracoabdominal aortic repair: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The operative outcomes of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) are challenged by high operative mortality and disabling complications. This study aimed to explore the baseline clinical, anatomical, and procedural risk factors that impact early and late outcomes following open repair of TAAAs. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 290 patients who underwent open repair of TAAAs between 1992 and 2020 at a tertiary referral center. Determinants of early mortality (within 30 days or in hospital) were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models, while those of overall follow-up mortality were explored using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and landmark analyses. RESULTS: The rates of early mortality and spinal cord deficits were 13.1% and 11.0%, respectively, with Crawford extent II showing the highest rates. In the logistic regression models, older age (P < 0.001), high cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (P < 0.001), and low surgical volume of the surgeon (P < 0.001) emerged as independent factors significantly associated with early mortality. During follow-up (median, 5.0 years; interquartile range, 1.1-7.6 years), 82 late deaths occurred (5.7%/patient-year). Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated that older age (P < 0.001) and low hemoglobin level (P = 0.032) were significant risk factors of overall mortality, while the landmark analyses revealed that the significant impacts of low surgical volume (P = 0.017), high CPB time (P = 0.002), and Crawford extent II (P = 0.017) on mortality only remained in the early postoperative period, without significant late impacts (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There were differential temporal impacts of perioperative risk variables on mortality in open repair of TAAAs, with older age and low hemoglobin level having significant impacts throughout the postoperative period, and low surgical volume, high CPB time, and Crawford extent II having impacts in the early postoperative phase.