Predicting Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Adult Heart Transplantation: Clinical Utility of MELD-XI Score.

BACKGROUND: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scoring system excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) has been related with worse outcomes after heart transplantation (HT). However, according to standards in prognostic models research, before implementing a risk score for daily clinical decision-making, its performance and impact on clinical practice/outcomes should be evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the MELD-XI score to predict outcomes in daily clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 190 consecutive adults undergoing HT between 2005-2015. Patients were stratified into low (MELD-XI <12) and high (MELD-XI ≥12) risk cohorts. Mortality rates at 30 days and 1 year were compared between MELD-XI groups. MELD-XI ability to predict 1-year mortality was assessed by the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and compared to that of bilirubin, creatinine, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). RESULTS: Mortality rates at 30 days and 1 year were similar between groups (8% vs 13%; P = .28 and 21% vs 29%; P = .21, respectively). MELD-XI ability to predict 1-year mortality was poor and similar to that of bilirubin, creatinine, and PVR (0.51 vs 0.47 vs 0.50 vs 0.50, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: MELD-XI score utility in HT clinical decision-making is scarce since its discrimination ability is poor and similar to other simple prognostic variables.

Mechanical support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO-VA): Short-term and long-term prognosis after a successful weaning. / Soporte mecánico con membrana de oxigenación extracorpórea veno-arterial (ECMO-VA): evolución a corto y a largo plazo tras la retirada de la asistencia.

OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) affords mechanical circulatory assistance associated to high mortality. However, weaning from such mechanical support may not imply improved short- or long-term survival. This study describes the characteristics and evolution of patients with refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS) subjected to venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) in a hospital with a heart transplant program. DESIGN: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was carried out. SETTING: The cardiovascular ICU of a tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: Forty-six patients consecutively subjected to VA-ECMO over 6 years. INTERVENTIONS: Hospital mortality after weaning from ECMO and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (33%) died with VA-ECMO and 31 (67%) were weaned after 8 days of support (IQR: 5-15). Fourteen patients under went transplantation. Hospital mortality in these patients was 32% (10/31), and was associated to age (P=.001), SAPS II score (P=.009), cannulation bleeding (P=.01) and post-acute myocardial infarction RCS (P=.001). After a median follow-up of 27 months (IQR: 11-49), 91% of the patients discharged from hospital were still alive. Overall survival after weaning from assistance was associated to the type of cardiac disease (P=.002). Patients with RCS after acute myocardial infarction had a poorer prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, VA-ECMO can be used as mechanical assistance in the management of RCS. The technique is associated to high early mortality, though the long-term survival rate after hospital discharge is good.

Ectasia dural y dolor lumbar en pacientes con síndrome de Marfan / Ectasia and lumbar pain associated with marfan syndrome

Objetivo: Evaluar clínica y radiológicamente si la presencia y el volumen de la ectasia dural (ED) se asocia con dolor lumbar en pacientes con Síndrome de Marfan (SM). Material y Método: 92 pacientes diagnosticados de SM según los criterios de Gante fueron estudiados de forma prospectiva durante un año. Se les realizó una historia clínica, pruebas de imagen, incluyendo una resonancia magnética de columna lumbar volumétrica y se les entregaron 3 cuestionarios: SRS 22 (Scoliosis Research Society) y SF 36 v- 2 e Índice de discapacidad de Oswestry en función del que subdividimos la muestra en grupo I (pacientes con dolor lumbar moderado o grave) y grupo II (pacientes sin dolor lumbar). Resultados: Se realizó análisis multivariante de las variables relacionadas con el dolor lumbar, alcanzando la ED significación estadística. Estaba presente en el 75,9% de los pacientes del grupo I, y en el 49,2% del grupo II. La presencia de la ED se asocian con dolor lumbar en pacientes con SM (p= 0,016) y con la presencia de deformidad vertebral (p <0,001). Conclusiones: La presencia y el tamaño de la ED se asocian de forma significativa con dolor lumbar en el SM pero el scalloping no influye en la mayor intensidad del dolor (AU)

Objetive: Evaluate clinically and radiographically whether the presence and size of dural ectasia (ED) is associated with low back pain in patients with Marfan syndrome (MS). Material and method: 92 patients diagnosed with MS according to Ghent criteria were studied prospectively for one year. Underwent a medical history, imaging tests, including a lumbar spine MRI volumetric and 3 questionnaires were given: SRS 22 (Scoliosis Research Society) and SF 36 v-2 and Oswestry Disability Index subdivided according to the sample in group I (patients with moderate lower back pain and / or severe) and group II (patients without pain). Results: Multivariate analysis of variables related to low back pain, the ED reached statistical significance. ED was present in 75.9% of patients in group I, and 49.2% in group II. The presence of ED is associated with low back pain in patients with MS with an OR of 3.24 (1.21 to 8.68) p = 0.016 and the presence of vertebral deformity (scalloping) with an OR of 129, 83 (16.1 to 1047.74) p <0.001. Conclusion: The presence and size of ED was significantly associated with LBP in the SM but the «scalloping» does not affect the increased intensity of pain (AU)

ICU outcomes in adult cardiac surgery patients in relation to ultrafiltration type.

Ultrafiltration (UF) is used to ameliorate the deleterious effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in cardiac surgery patients. There are two different methods; conventional ultrafiltration (CUF), performed during CPB, and modified ultrafiltration (MUF), performed after CPB is finished. It has not been established which is better, and controversy remains regarding the optimal UF strategy. The objective of this study was to evaluate if MUF alone, or combined with CUF, could achieve greater fluid removal and contribute to better postoperative clinical outcomes. Also, the potential technique complications were studied. This was a prospective study which enrolled 125 consecutive adult patients receiving elective cardiac surgery with CPB. We analysed three treatment groups: MUF, CUF and both. Ultrafiltration was performed using a non-pulsatile CPB with a non-occlusive roller pump, Sarns 9000, and a polysulfone ultrafilter, Minntech. We studied pre- and intraoperative data and immediate postoperative clinical outcomes: total amount of drainage, transfusion needs, respiratory outcome, cardiac, renal and neurologic complications. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.0. All three groups were homogeneous and did not have differences in terms of demographic factors, previous history, risk scores, intervention and operative data. Volume of filtrate removal in the group which applied both techniques was larger than in the CUF or MUF groups alone (2569+/-823 vs 1679+/-651 vs 1398+/-353 ml, respectively, p=0.0001); however, despite this difference, there was no difference in the immediate postoperative fluid balances between the groups (596+/-1244 vs 880+/-1054 vs 986+/-1190 ml, p=0.30). Respiratory parameters and postoperative morbidity data analysed (total amount of drainage, transfusion needs, haemoglobin, acute lung injury, time with inotropes, ventricular failure, cardiogenic shock, neurologic complications and renal failure) were similar in all three groups, without statistical differences. Extubation time (10+/-7 vs 8.9+/-3 vs 9.4+/-7.9 hours, p=0.72) and ICU stay (56.6+/-72 vs 66.5+/-109 vs 44.2+/-25 hours, p=0.43) also were similar between the groups. We did not find any technique complication associated with any patient. In the present study, with adult patients receiving elective cardiac surgery, the combined ultrafiltration group had a larger fluid removal. However, neither type of ultrafiltration nor amount of filtered volume was accompanied by different postoperative ICU clinical outcomes. Ultrafiltration was considered a safe and reliable technique, with no related complications.

Case-control study of risk factors for mediastinitis after cardiovascular surgery.

We report results of a case-control study in which we evaluated 41 risk factors potentially associated with the development of postsurgical mediastinitis. There were 163 case patients and 326 control patients. Independent risk factors kept in the final multivariate logistic regression model were obesity (defined as a body mass index of greater than 30), diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, preoperative stay longer than 1 week, pulmonary hypertension, perioperative myocardial infarction, and reoperation.

[Results of aortic valve replacement surgery in patients over 75 years of age]. / Resultados en la cirugía de sustitución valvular aórtica de la población mayor de 75 años.

UNLABELLED: The increase in the mean populational age has increased the number of elderly people eligible for cardiac surgery. The aortic pathology represents the most common valvular pathology, mainly of degenerative etiology. The efficiency of the aortic valve replacement in people aged over 75 years was studied, with evaluation of hospital mortality, survival and functional class (NYHA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 51 patients (25 males and 26 females, mean age 76.4 years [range: 75-83]) underwent aortic valve replacement from October 1989 to February 1997. The most common condition was aortic stenosis (62.7%), followed by aortic insufficiency (19%) and double aortic lesion (17%). Moreover, 31.3% of patients required also coronary surgery with a mean of 1.1 grafts per patient. In 13.7% of cases surgery on mitral valve was performed (1 commissurotomy, 1 mitral prosthesis, 5 valve prostheses). In 10% of patients the procedure had to be performed on an emergency basis. The functional class of patients prior to surgery was NYHA grade III for 37% and grade IV for 10% of cases. The clinical symptoms corresponded to angor in 15 cases (29.4%) and syncope in four cases (7.8%). In nine patients the left ventricular ejection fraction prior to surgery was below 50%. Aortic bioprostheses were implanted in 86.2% of cases. RESULTS: The hospital fatality rate was 13.7% (7 cases). In the univariate analysis the following mortality risk factors reached statistical significance: left ventricular ejection fraction prior to surgery below 50%, associated surgery and size of aortic prosthesis. In the multivariate analysis the following risk factors were significant: left ventricular ejection fraction prior to surgery below 50% and associated mitral surgery. The follow-up was performed in 100% of patients, with a mean time of 29.6 months. One patient died during follow-up. The functional class was NYHA grade I in 95.2% of cases. The actuarial survival, including hospital mortality, was 84.2% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a higher mortality in the aortic valve replacement surgery in patients aged over 75 years compared with general population, results, long-term survival and life quality of patients, renders surgery a non refusable first option as therapy for aortic valve pathology in this age group. Nevertheless, avoiding the deterioration of preoperative left ventricular function is imperative, mainly in those cases with concomitant mitral pathology, as both factors significantly contribute to an increase in mortality in this group.

[Extracorporeal circulation in pregnancy: report of a case. Update and review of the literature]. / Circulación extracorpórea durante el embarazo: a propósito de un caso. Actualización y revisión de la literatura.

Parameters of flow, temperature and perfusion, and modifications in body fluids secondary to surgery with extracorporeal circulation do not imply an increase in maternal risk during pregnancy but they eventually considerably increase fetal morbimortality. We present the case of a 22 week pregnant woman with severe aortic stenosis who underwent extracorporeal surgery for valve replacement without fetal mortality during the procedure. Literature about the use of extracorporeal surgery in the treatment of valve pathology in pregnancy, the parameters in which the reduction of fetal morbimortality is based and alternative treatments are broadly reviewed.