High-dose adenosine versus saline-induced cardioplegic arrest in coronary artery bypass grafting: A randomized double-blind clinical feasibility trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In this clinical trial, we evaluated if a short-acting nucleoside, adenosine, as a high-dose bolus injection with blood cardioplegia induces faster arrest and provides better myocardial performance in patients after bypass surgery for coronary artery disease. METHODS: Forty-three patients scheduled for elective or urgent coronary artery bypass grafting were prospectively recruited in two-arm 1:1 randomized parallel groups to either receive 20 mg of adenosine (in 21 patients) or saline (in 22 patients) into the aortic root during the first potassium-enriched blood cardioplegia infusion. The main outcomes of the study were ventricular myocardial performance measured with cardiac index, right ventricular stroke work index, and left ventricular stroke work index at predefined time points and time to asystole after a single bolus injection of adenosine. Conventional myocardial biomarkers were compared between the two groups at predefined time points as secondary endpoints. Electrocardiographic data and other ad hoc clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Compared with saline, adenosine reduced the time to asystole (68 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 37-100) versus 150 (95% CI = 100-210) seconds, p = 0.005). With myocardial performance, the results were inconclusive, since right ventricular stroke work index recovered better in the adenosine group (p = 0.008), but there were no significant overall differences in cardiac index and left ventricular stroke work index between the groups. Only the post-cardiopulmonary bypass cardiac index was better in the adenosine group (2.3 (95% CI = 2.2-2.5) versus 2.1 (95% CI = 1.9-2.2) L/min/m2, p = 0.016). There were no significant differences between the groups in cardiac biomarker values. CONCLUSIONS: A high dose adenosine bolus at the beginning of the first cardioplegia infusion resulted in significantly faster asystole in coronary artery bypass grafting patients but enhanced only partially the ventricular performance.EudraCT number: 2014-001382-26. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2014-001382-26/FI.

Early postoperative statin administration does not affect the rate of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative atrial fibrillation is the most frequent complication after cardiac surgery, and the use of statins in preventing them is being extensively studied. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a pause in the administration of statins affects the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery in a prospective randomized and controlled setting. METHODS: A total of 301 patients without chronic atrial fibrillation with prior statin medication scheduled for elective or urgent cardiac surgery involving the coronary arteries and/or heart valves were prospectively recruited and randomized for statin re-initiation on either the first (immediate statin group) or the fifth (late statin group) postoperative day, using the original medication and dosage. The immediate statin group comprised 146 patients and the late statin group 155 patients. Except for a somewhat higher rate of males (85% vs 73%, P = 0.016) in the immediate statin group, the baseline characteristics and the distribution of procedures performed within the groups were comparable. The occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation and the clinical course of the patients were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The incidence of atrial fibrillation was 46% and the median delay after surgery before the onset of atrial fibrillation was 3 days in both groups (P = NS). No differences were observed in the frequency of the arrhythmia in any subgroup analyses or in other major complications or clinical parameters. No adverse effects related to early statin administration were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Early re-initiation of statins does not appear to affect the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT)-2016-001655-44.

Incidence, presentation and risk factors of late postoperative pericardial effusions requiring invasive treatment after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Occurrence and risk factors of late postoperative pericardial effusions requiring invasive treatment, i.e. pretamponade and tamponade, following cardiac surgery are incompletely described in current literature. The purpose of this study was to define the incidence and presentation of late pretamponade and tamponade as well as to outline significant predisposing factors. METHODS: A cohort of 1356 consecutive cardiac surgery patients treated in a tertiary academic centre between January 2013 and December 2014 was followed up for 6 months after surgery. Pericardial effusion was considered late when presenting after the 7th postoperative day. The incidence, timing and risk factors, as well as symptoms and clinical findings associated with late pretamponade and tamponade in patients surviving at least 7 days was analysed. RESULTS: Of 1308 patients included in the analysis, 81 (6.2%) underwent invasive treatment for late postoperative pericardial effusion, 27 (2.1%) for pretamponade and 54 (4.1%) for tamponade, respectively, with a median delay of 11 (range 8-87) days after the primary operation. Haemodynamic instability was present in 34.6%, signs of cardiac chamber compression in 54.3% and subjective symptoms, mostly dyspnoea, in 56.8% of patients, respectively. Treated patients were younger, had lower EuroSCORE-II rating, less coronary disease, better cardiac function, higher preoperative haemoglobin values and had mostly undergone elective surgery involving cardiac valves. In multivariable analysis, independent risk factors were single valve surgery and high preoperative haemoglobin level, whereas age 60-69 years was associated with lower risk. CONCLUSIONS: Younger, generally healthier patients undergoing valve surgery are at greatest risk for developing late tamponade or pretamponade.