Elective intraaortic balloon counterpulsation for high-risk off-pump coronary artery bypass operations.

BACKGROUND: Dislocations of the heart required for exposure and construction of distal anastomoses often produce hemodynamic instability when performing coronary artery revascularization without using cardiopulmonary perfusion (OPCAB). We report our early experience with elective intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) to enable and facilitate selected high-risk patients to undergo OPCAB. METHODS: Sixteen high-risk patients undergoing multivessel OPCAB using elective IABP are reported. The patients were believed to be at increased risk because of the presence of severe proximal multivessel coronary artery obstruction, ventricular dysfunction, recent acute myocardial infarction, cardiomegaly-cardiomyopathy, and documented cerebral vascular disease. The presence of significant comorbid disease also made the avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass desirable, if at all possible, in all patients. RESULTS: The IABP appeared to facilitate the intraoperative management of our series of patients. This was evidenced by improved hemodynamic stability and virtual elimination of the need for inotropic support during the dislocations of the heart needed for exposure and construction of distal anastomoses. There were no complications related to use of IABP. There was one death. CONCLUSIONS: We believe this strategy to use IABP selectively can allow surgeons to safely extend the benefits of OPCAB procedures to high-risk patients and avoid dangerous hemodynamic instability that otherwise, often occurs.

Influence of concomitant CABG and urgent/emergent status on mitral valve replacement surgery.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes and resource utilization of patients undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR) with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were reviewed. METHODS: Data for 1,844 patients undergoing isolated primary MVR at Emory University Hospitals between 1980 and 1997 were recorded prospectively in a computerized database. RESULTS: The four groups included patients undergoing elective MVR with (n = 360) or without CABG (n = 1332) and urgent/emergent MVR with (n = 66) or without CABG (n = 86). Length of stay was significantly higher in patients undergoing elective MVR with CABG (15 days) than in those without CABG (11 days) but was not significantly different in patients undergoing urgent/emergent MVR with CABG (17 days) than in those without CABG (19 days). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher for patients undergoing elective (14%) or urgent/emergent (41%) MVR with CABG than in those undergoing MVR without CABG (elective:6%; urgent/emergent:20%). The 19-year survival rate was 32% for patients undergoing elective MVR with CABG compared with 51% for those without CABG and 28% for patients undergoing urgent/emergent MVR with CABG compared with 46% for those without CABG. Multivariate correlates of long-term mortality included older age, concomitant CABG, and urgent/emergent status. Hospital costs were significantly higher for patients undergoing elective MVR with ($33,216) than for those without ($23,890) CABG. No significant difference in cost were noted between patients undergoing urgent/emergent MVR with ($40,535) and without ($31,981) CABG. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of CABG or urgent/emergent status to patients undergoing MVR significantly increases morbidity, mortality, and costs. Careful scrutiny of the benefits versus resource utilization is required for patients undergoing high risk MVR.

Ten-year trends in heart valve replacement operations.

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing concern in recent years about the quality and cost of heart valvular replacement procedures. The purpose of this study is to examine the profile of patients undergoing valvular operations during the past decade, and to look at trends in outcome and resource utilization over that period. METHODS: Clinical and procedural data of 2,972 patients undergoing heart valve replacement at Emory University Hospitals between 1988 and 1997 were recorded prospectively on standardized forms by trained medical personnel and entered into a computerized database. RESULTS: There were 1,802 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR), 966 undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR), and 204 undergoing combined aortic and mitral valve procedures (AVR + MVR). No patients were excluded. There was a statistically significant trend for patients undergoing AVR, MVR, or AVR + MVR over time to be older and sicker by multiple criteria. Nonetheless, procedural outcome and inhospital mortality for patients undergoing AVR remained unchanged. Cost and length of stay increased from 1988 to 1992 when a concerted effort to decrease resource utilization began. Between 1992 and 1997 for AVR, length of stay decreased from 13.4 to 8.0 days and cost from $37,047 to $21,856. Similarly, between 1992 and 1997 for MVR, length of stay decreased from 15.6 to 8.1 days and cost from $45,072 to $21,747. The net result over the time period from 1988 to 1997 was an average decline in the cost of operation of $785 a year, adjusted for other factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that outcome of valvular replacement during the period from 1988 to 1997 has remained constant despite the patients becoming older and sicker during the same period. This constant outcome has been accomplished, but length of stay has decreased significantly. Hospital costs increased during the first years of the study period, but then decreased to levels in 1997 that were equal to or significantly less than 1988 levels.

Stroke after coronary artery operation: incidence, correlates, outcome, and cost.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major complication of coronary operation, with reported rates of postoperative cerebral dysfunction ranging from 0.4% to 13.8%. In this report, the incidence, correlates, outcomes, and costs of stroke in coronary operation were evaluated at Emory University between 1988 and 1996. METHODS: Data were entered prospectively into a dedicated computerized database at Emory University and analyzed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilized where appropriate. RESULTS: Data from 10,860 patients undergoing primary coronary operation between 1988 and 1996 were analyzed. There were 250 patients not entered into the database. Stroke occurred in 244 (2.2%). Univariate predictors of stroke (p<0.05) included age, female gender, hypertension, diabetes, prior stroke, prior transient ischemic attack (TIA), and carotid bruits. Multivariate correlates included age (odds ratio 1.07) previous TIA (odds ratio 2.2), and carotid bruits (odds ratio 1.9), although the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was only 0.69, suggesting limited ability to predict stroke. One and 5 year survival rates were 64% and 44% with stroke, and 94% and 81% without stroke, respectively. Among the stroke group, 23% of the patient population died before hospital discharge. The stroke group had a significantly longer length of hospital stay, as well as higher costs. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke is a devastating complication of coronary operation, significantly increasing morbidity, mortality, and cost. Three independent variables were identified for predicting stroke, including age, previous TIA, and carotid bruits. Patients should be carefully screened for cerebrovascular disease to help prevent stroke and its associated morbidity.

Treatment of moderate mitral regurgitation and coronary disease by coronary bypass alone: late results.

BACKGROUND: In cases of moderate mitral regurgitation and coronary artery disease operative strategy continues to be debated between coronary artery bypass grafting alone and concomitant valve replacement or repair. We previously reported on 58 patients with moderate mitral regurgitation who had coronary artery bypass grafting between 1977 and 1983. We present the late results for this original cohort (test group), and a matched control group of coronary artery bypass grafting patients without mitral regurgitation (n = 58). METHODS AND RESULTS: In the original cohort, the hospital mortality rate was 3.4% (2 of 58), and 80.4% (45 of 56) of hospital survivors were alive at the time of initial follow-up (mean, 4.3+/-2.3 years). Hospital mortality in the control group was 6.9% (4 of 58 patients). Follow-up was 98.2% (108 of 110 patients) complete, with a mean follow-up time of 10.3+/-5.5 years. Kaplan-Meier curves for hospital survivors showed similar 5- and 10-year survival rates between the two groups (p = 0.59). On multivariate analysis, age 65 years or more, congestive heart failure class III or IV, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure more than 17 mm Hg were significant (p < 0.05) independent predictors of diminished survival in the test group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with moderate mitral regurgitation and coronary artery disease treated solely with coronary artery bypass grafting had acceptable early and late results. Moderate mitral regurgitation at the time of revascularization does not always warrant operative correction.

Influence of diabetes mellitus on early and late outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is an established independent risk factor for significant morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: The impact of diabetes on short- and longterm follow-up after coronary artery bypass grafting was studied by comparing the outcomes between 9,920 patients without diabetes mellitus and 2,278 patients with diabetes from 1978 to 1993. RESULTS: Compared with nondiabetic patients, the group with diabetes was older (62+/-10 years versus 60+/-10 years), comprised more women (31% versus 19%), had a greater incidence of hypertension (61% versus 44%) and previous myocardial infarction (51% versus 48%), had class III-IV angina more commonly (69% versus 63%), showed a higher incidence of congestive heart failure (11% versus 5%) or triple-vessel or left main disease (60% versus 50%), and had lower ejection fractions (0.54 versus 0.57) (all, p< or =0.05). Diabetic patients had a higher incidence of postoperative death (3.9% versus 1.6%) and stroke (2.9% versus 1.4%) (both, p< or =0.05), but not Q wave myocardial infarction (1.8% versus 2.9%). Diabetics had lower survival (5 years, 78% versus 88%; 10 years, 50% versus 71%; both, p< or =0.05) and lower freedom from percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (5 years, 95% versus 96%; 10 years, 83% versus 86%; latter, p< or =0.05), but diabetics did not have lower freedom from either myocardial infarction (5-years, 92% versus 92%; 10-years, 80% versus 84%) or additional coronary artery bypass grafting (5-years, 98% versus 99%; 10-years, 90% versus 91%). Multivariate correlates of long-term mortality were diabetes, older age, reduced ejection fraction, hypertension, congestive heart failure, number of vessels diseased, and urgent or emergent operation. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetics have a worse hospital and longterm outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting. The increased risk in such patients can only partially be explained by other demographic characteristics.

601 octogenarians undergoing cardiac surgery: outcome and comparison with younger age groups.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) are being applied with increasing frequency in patients 80 years of age and older. METHODS: Six hundred one consecutive patients older than 80 years, undergoing cardiac surgery between 1976 and 1994 (CABG with saphenous vein graft, 329 [54.7%]; CABG with left internal mammary artery, 101 [16.8%]; CABG + valve, 80 [13.3%]; isolated aortic valve replacement, 71 [11.8%]; isolated mitral valve replacement, 18 [3.0%]), were studied retrospectively to assess short- and long-term survival. They were compared with 11,386 patients aged 60 to 69 years and 5,698 patients aged 70 to 79 years undergoing similar procedures during the same time interval. RESULTS: In comparison with patients 60 to 69 years old, more octogenarians were women (44.4% versus 25.6%, p<0.0001), had class IV angina (54.1% versus 38.9%, p<0.0001), and had congestive heart failure class IV (4.9% versus 3.0%, p = 0.0001). In-hospital death rates (9.1% versus 3.4%, p<0.0001) and stroke (5.7% versus 2.6%, p<0.0001) reflected these adverse clinical risk factors. However, Q-wave infarction tended to be less frequent (1.5% versus 2.6%, p = 0.102). Interestingly, hospital mortality (9.1% versus 6.7%, p = 0.028) was only slightly increased, and stroke (5.7% versus 4.7%, p = 0.286) was not more common in octogenarians than in patients 70 to 79 years old. Late-survival curves have similar slopes for the first 5 years in all clinical subgroups. However, after 5 years there is a more rapid decline in octogenarians than in younger age groups. Median 5-year survival was 55% for patients older than 80 years, 69% for patients 70 to 79 years, and 81% for patients 60 to 69 years old. CONCLUSIONS: When appropriately applied in selected octogenarians, cardiac surgery can be performed with acceptable mortality and excellent 5-year survival.

Improving cost and outcome of coronary surgery.

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing interest in improving the outcome of coronary surgery while also seeking to minimize cost. It was the purpose of the present study to determine changes in the outcome and cost of CABG between 1988 and 1996. METHODS AND RESULTS: The outcome and costs for 12,266 patients undergoing CABG were evaluated. Clinical data were gathered from the Emory Cardiovascular Database, and financial data were obtained from the UB92 formulation of the hospital bill. Charges were reduced to cost through the use of departmental cost-to-charge ratios. Costs were inflated to 1996 costs by using the medical care inflation rate. The patients became sicker, especially with increased incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and prior myocardial infarctions and a decrease in ejection fraction over the study period. Mortality rates tended to decrease from 4.7% to 2.7% (P = 0.07). After accounting for increasing indexes of severity of disease over the period, there was a significant decrease in death (OR, 0.90/y; P = 0.0001). Q-wave myocardial infarction rate fell from 4.1% to 1.3% (P < 0.0001). Mean hospital cost decreased from $22,689 to $15,987. Length of stay after surgery decreased from 9.2 to 5.9 days. After accounting for other variables, cost decreased by $1118 per year, and annual length of stay decreased by 0.55 day. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of CABG continues to improve with declines in mortality rate and Q-wave myocardial infarction. This was accomplished while decreasing costs and length of stay. Whether these favorable trends will continue remains to be seen.

Outcome of coronary bypass surgery versus coronary angioplasty in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare the outcome of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (n = 834) and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) (n = 1805) in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary disease from an observational database. BACKGROUND: There is concern about selection of revascularization in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively and entered into a computerized database. Follow-up was by letter or telephone or additional events resulting in readmission. RESULTS: After CABG there were more in-hospital deaths (0.36% vs. 4.99%, p < 0.0001) and a trend toward more Q wave myocardial infarctions than after PTCA. Five- and 10-year survival rates were 78% and 45% after PTCA and 76% and 48% after CABG, respectively (p = 0.47). At 5 and 10 years, insulin-requiring patients had lower survival rates of 72% and 31% after PTCA and 70% and 48% after CABG, respectively (p = 0.54). Multivariate correlates of long-term mortality were older age, low left ventricular ejection fraction, heart failure and hypertension. In the total group, insulin requirement was a correlate of long-term mortality. For the total group, choice of therapy had a multivariate hazard ratio close to 1. In the insulin-requiring subgroup, the multivariate hazard ratio was 1.35 (95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.79) for PTCA versus CABG. Corrected for baseline differences, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 68% and 36% after PTCA and 75% and 47% after CABG, respectively, in the insulin-requiring subgroup. Nonfatal events were more common after PTCA, especially additional revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a high incidence of events in diabetic patients and raises further questions about angioplasty in insulin-requiring diabetic patients with multivessel disease.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the long-term survival and control of angina in patients with coronary artery disease and sequentially decreased ejection fractions (EF) after first-time coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: Between 1981 and 1995, 156 (1.3%) patients with an EF less than 0.25 (group 1), 588 (5%) patients with an EF of 0.25 to 0.34 (group 2), 2,438 (20.6%) patients with an EF of 0.35 to 0.49 (group 3), and 8,648 (73.1%) patients with an EF equal to or greater than 0.50 (group 4) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. The EFs were determined by uniplanar or biplanar left ventriculography. For each group, the clinical and angiographic characteristics and the operative and outcome data were compared. Survival curves were derived and compared for each group. Correlates of angina, and of early (30-day) and long-term mortality, for all groups were analyzed. RESULTS: For all groups the mean age was approximately 60+/-10 years. Group 1 had the highest percentage of patients who were men (88%), had congestive heart failure (34%), had hypertension (53%), and had left main coronary artery disease (24%). Groups 1 through 3, compared with group 4, had a lower percentage of complete revascularization (p < 0.0001), a lower percentage of internal mammary artery grafts (p < 0.0001), and a greater use of intraaortic balloon pump (p < 0.0001), but had similar cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times, number of grafts, incidences of myocardial infarction, and stroke. Hospital mortality for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 3.8% (n = 6), 3.4% (n = 20), 3% (n = 72), and 1.6% (n = 134), respectively. Groups 1 through 3, compared with group 4, had similar incidences of angina during follow-up (31% to 40% versus 33%, respectively; p < 0.06). Survival was greatest for group 4 compared with groups 1 through 3 at 1, 5, and 10 years (p < 0.0001). Patients in group 1 had 1-, 5-, and 7-year survivals of 90%, 64%, and 49%. Multivariate correlates of early mortality were advanced age, female sex, decreased EF, hypertension, diabetes, and emergency operation. Multivariate correlates of long-term mortality included severity of preoperative angina class, congestive heart failure, number of diseased vessels, and incomplete revascularization. The strongest correlates of angina at follow-up were younger age, female sex, previous myocardial infarction, lower ejection fraction, and incomplete revascularization. The absence of an internal mammary artery graft did not predict the occurrence of angina or influence long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: In the long term there is a higher mortality in patients with sequentially decreased left ventricular function undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, although more than 60% of patients with an EF less than 0.25 were alive and had good control of angina at 5 years despite having a higher percentage of risk factors, poorer functional status, and more complex coronary disease. Failure of symptom control and survival beyond 5 years appeared to be influenced by preexisting medical conditions and factors that affect the ability to completely revascularize the myocardium. These results suggest that in selected patients with ischemia and poor left ventricular function, coronary artery bypass grafting may preserve remaining viable myocardium, provide relief of symptoms, and offer survival greater than 60% at more than 5 years.

Late survival after valve operation in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular dysfunction is a predictor of hospital mortality after cardiac valve operation. We evaluated late survival in a large cohort of these patients. METHODS: From 1980 to 1993, 257 patients with a preoperative ejection fraction of 0.40 or less underwent aortic (n = 177), mitral (n = 72), or combined (n = 8) valve operation, with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 12.5%. Follow-up was 98% complete. Logistic regression analysis showed that an ejection fraction of less than 0.30, mitral regurgitation, concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, emergency operation, and reoperation were independent correlates of hospital mortality (all at p < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the 220 hospital survivors showed a 65% 5-year survival. Multivariate analysis revealed preoperative use of diuretics, male sex, reoperation, age exceeding 60 years, and aortic regurgitation to be independent predictors of poor late outcome (all at p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The liability of left ventricular dysfunction with regard to diminished long-term survival is not completely reversed by valve operation. If operation is not performed before left ventricular dysfunction develops, postoperative medical treatment of these dilated, remodeled ventricles should be considered.

Effect of cardiac surgery patient characteristics on patient outcomes from 1981 through 1995.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated increased risk in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), but the effect of this increasing risk on outcomes has not been well documented. The purposes of this study were (1) to evaluate patients who had CABG from 1993 to 1995 (group III) and compare them with patients from 1981 through 1987 (group I) and 1988 through 1992 (group II) to determine if the trend toward higher-risk patients continued and (2) to evaluate what effect risk had on in-hospital outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were collected prospectively on patients undergoing CABG. Patients from the three time periods were compared by use of univariate and multivariate statistics. Risk models for mortality were developed by use of logistic regression. Significant changes were noted in the three time periods, with risk increasing over time. Increased risk was associated with increased mortality in group II, but mortality declined in group III despite the continued increase in patient risk. Group II had an increase in complications, with little change in group III. The actual mortality rate was lower than predicted in group III. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing CABG are increasingly high risk. In-hospital mortality rates declined during the period from 1993 through 1995 and were lower than predicted despite the increase in risk. This decreased mortality rate may reflect greater experience in providing care to high-risk patients and improved myocardial protection and surgical and anesthetic techniques. Although continued analysis of patient risk and benefit is needed, researchers must be cognizant of the rapid changes in technology and knowledge and should correlate changes in the process of care with outcomes.

Angioplasty or surgery for multivessel coronary artery disease: comparison of eligible registry and randomized patients in the EAST trial and influence of treatment selection on outcomes. Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial Investigators.

The Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial (EAST) showed that multivessel patients eligible for both percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary bypass surgery (CABG) had equivalent 3-year outcomes regarding survival, myocardial infarction, and major myocardial ischemia. Patients eligible for the trial who were not randomized because of physician or patient refusal were followed in a registry. This study compares the outcomes of the randomized and registry patients. Of the 842 eligible patients, 450 did not enter the trial. Their baseline features closely resembled those of the randomized patients and follow up was performed using the same methods. In the registry there was a bias toward selecting CABG in patients with 3-vessel disease (84%) and PTCA in patients with 2-vessel disease (54%). Three-year survival for the registry patients was 96.4%, which was better than the randomized patients, 93.4% (p = 0.044). Angina relief in the registry was equal for CABG and PTCA patients and was better for the PTCA registry (12.4%) than PTCA randomized patients (19.6%) (p = 0.079). Thus, the registry confirms that EAST is representative of all eligible patients and does not represent a low-risk subgroup. Since baseline differences were small, improved survival in the registry may be due to treatment selection. Physician judgment, even in patients judged appropriate for clinical trials, remains a potentially important predictor of outcomes.

Outcome of reoperative coronary bypass surgery versus coronary angioplasty after previous bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: The immediate and long-term outcomes of reoperative coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) (n = 1561) and catheter-based coronary intervention (angioplasty) (n = 2613) were compared in patients from Emory University Hospitals who had previous CABG. METHODS AND RESULTS: The surgical and angioplasty procedures and statistical methods were standard. Data were collected prospectively and entered into a computerized database. Followup was by letter, telephone, or additional events resulting in readmission. In the angioplasty group, 2.9% required in-hospital CABG. Hospital mortality was 1.2% after angioplasty versus 6.8% after repeat CABG (P < .0001). Recurrent angina was noted frequently at about 4 years and was more common after angioplasty. One-, 5-, and 10-year mortalities were 11%, 24%, and 49% after CABG versus 6%, 22%, and 38% after angioplasty. Survival corrected for baseline differences did not vary with the choice of procedure. There were more additional procedures after angioplasty. Patients undergoing angioplasty may be divided into those with procedures only in native coronary arteries (n = 1545), only in vein grafts (n = 869), and a mixture (n = 199), with respective 10 year survivals of 66%, 56%, and 65% (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These patients have a high incidence of events both in-hospital and in the long term. Although initial mortality was higher after CABG, after baseline differences were accounted for, there was no difference in the long term. Patients more frequently have additional procedures after angioplasty. Choice of therapy should consider clinical and angiographic suitability and patient preference.

Clinical significance of perioperative Q-wave myocardial infarction: the Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The primary end point of the Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial was a composite of three events: death, Q-wave infarction, and a new large defect on 3-year postoperative thallium scan. This study examines the clinical significance of Q-wave infarction in the surgical cohort (194 patients) of the Emory trial. METHODS: Twenty patients (10.3%) with Q-wave infarctions were identified: 13 patients had inferior Q-wave infarctions and seven patients had anterior, lateral, septal, or posterior Q-wave infarctions (termed anterior Q-wave infarctions). RESULTS: In the inferior Q-wave infarction group, postoperative cardiac catheterization (at 1 year or 3 years) in 11 patients revealed normal ejection fraction (ejection fraction >55%) in 10 (91%), no wall motion abnormalities in 10 (91%), and all grafts patent in 10 (91%). In the anterior Q-wave infarction group, postoperative catheterization in six patients revealed normal ejection fractions in five (83%), no wall motion abnormalities in three (50%), and all grafts patent in three (50%). Average peak postoperative creatine kinase MB levels were as follows: no Q-wave infarction (n = 174) 37 +/- 43 IU/L, inferior Q-wave infarction 40 +/- 27 IU/L, and anterior Q-wave infarction 58 +/- 38 IU/L. Mortality in the 20 patients with Q-wave infarctions was 5% (1/20) at 3 years; in patients without a Q-wave infarction it was 6.3% (11/174) (p = 0.64). Of 17 patients with a Q-wave infarction who underwent postoperative catheterization, 11 (65%) had a normal ejection fraction, normal wall motion, and all grafts patent with an uneventful 3-year postoperative course. CONCLUSIONS: The core laboratory screening of postoperative electrocardiograms, particularly in the case of inferior Q-wave infarctions, appears to identify a number of patients as having a Q-wave infarction with minimal clinical significance. Q-wave infarction identified in the postoperative period seems to be a weak end point with little prognostic significance and therefore not valuable for future randomized trials.

Third-time coronary artery bypass operations: surgical strategy and results.

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, patients are returning for a second, third, and even fourth coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure. METHODS: This report reviews the in-hospital and long-term outcomes for 102 patients undergoing a third or fourth CABG at Emory University from December 1977 to April 1994. RESULTS: The mean interval from the first to second CABG was 5.2 +/- 3.5 years and from the second to the third CABG 6.8 +/- 4.1 years. The mean age was 6 +/- 9 years, 91% were male, 33% had hypertension, 16% diabetes, 86% class III or IV angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society), 4.4% congestive failure (New York Heart Association), and 73% three-vessel disease. The in hospital mortality rate was 9.8%, with a perioperative myocardial infarction rate of 8.8% and a stroke rate of 1.9%. CONCLUSIONS: These perioperative mortality and myocardial infarction rates are several times higher than those reported for initial revascularizations or first-time redo CABG operations. However, the 5- and 10-year survival rates of 79% and 59%, respectively, and a myocardial infarction-free survival of 62% at 5 years, the benefits of a third-time CABG procedure are apparent for this high-risk group of patients.

The effect of temperature management during cardiopulmonary bypass on neurologic and neuropsychologic outcomes in patients undergoing coronary revascularization.

Several studies suggest that normothermic ("warm") bypass techniques may improve myocardial outcomes for patients undergoing cardiac operations. Normothermic temperatures during cardiopulmonary bypass may, however, decrease the brain's tolerance to the ischemic insults that accompany all cardiac procedures. To assess the effect of bypass temperature management strategy on central nervous system outcomes in patients undergoing coronary revascularization, 138 patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: (1) hypothermia (n = 70), patients cooled to a temperature less than 28 degrees C during cardiopulmonary bypass, or (2) normothermia (n = 68), patients actively warmed to a temperature of at least 35 degrees C. Patients underwent detailed neurologic examination before the operation, on postoperative days 1 to 3 and 7 to 10, and at approximately 1 month after operation. In addition, a battery of five neuropsychologic tests was administered before operation, on postoperative days 7 to 10, and at the 4- to 6-week follow-up visit. Patients in the normothermic treatment group were older (65 +/- 10 vs 61 +/- 11 years in the hypothermic group), had statistically less likelihood of preexisting cerebrovascular disease, and had higher bypass blood glucose values (276 +/- 100 mg/% vs. 152 +/- 66 mg/% in the hypothermic group). All other patient characteristics and intraoperative variables were similar in the two treatment groups. Seven of 68 patients in the normothermic group were found to have a central neurologic deficit, compared with none of the patients cooled to 28 degrees C (p = 0.006). Performance on at least one neuropsychologic test deteriorated in the immediate postoperative period in more than one half of all patients in both treatment groups but returned to preoperative levels approximately 1 month after the operation in most (85%). This pattern was not related to bypass temperature management strategy. We conclude that active warming during cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain systemic temperatures > or = 35 degrees C increases the risk of perioperative neurologic deficit in patients undergoing elective coronary revascularization.

Cold and warm myocardial protection techniques.

Cold cardioplegia techniques are effective and reliable in most circumstances requiring cardiac operations. The cold oxygenated crystalloid technique used in our institution provides superior exposure of distal anastomoses and excellent protection when the heart is metabolically intact at the onset of the cross-clamp interval. If the heart is metabolically compromised before the cross-clamp interval, blood cardioplegia techniques appear to have a distinct advantage in the restoration of this compromised muscle. The clinical results from Toronto and our own experimental studies strongly suggest that continuous aerobic cardioplegic techniques are superior to intermittent cold blood techniques in the resuscitation of ischemic myocardium. As normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and normothermic cardioplegic techniques were introduced in our institution, an increased rate of adverse neurologic outcomes was observed. Modification of the warm blood technique to allow mildly hypothermic, or tepid, cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia temperatures along with prevention of hyperglycemia has reduced the stoke rate with continuous aerobic cardioplegia techniques to the level observed with our other methods of myocardial protection. Tepid continuous aerobic cardioplegia may be the superior technique available in 1994 for the resuscitation of ischemic or metabolically compromised myocardium during the performance of cardiac operations.

In-hospital and long-term outcome after reoperative coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: Increasingly over the past several years, patients have returned after coronary surgery for reoperative procedures, and the experience has become substantial. In this report, we describe immediate- and long-term outcomes after reoperative coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: The source of data was the clinical database at Emory University. The surgical procedure and statistical methods were standard. Data were collected prospectively and entered into a computerized database. Follow-up was by letter, telephone, or hospital records documenting additional events resulting in readmission. In-hospital correlates of survival were determined by logistic regression, and long-term correlates were determined by Cox model analysis. There were 2030 patients with a mean age of 61 and a mean of 7.8 +/- 4.1 years since the first surgery. The mean ejection fraction was close to 50%, and the majority had three-vessel or left main disease. Urgent or emergency surgery was required in 16.6%. The internal mammary was used in 60.1%. Q-wave myocardial infarctions occurred in just over 5%. Neurological events increased from 1.2% at less than age 50 to 4.1% at more than age 70. The hospital mortality increased from 5.7% at less than age 50 to 10% at more than age 70, with an overall rate of 7.0%. Mortality was 5.7% for elective, 10.9% for urgent, and 16.4% for emergency cases. Angina was noted at follow-up in 41.3%. Urgent or emergency surgery, reduced ejection fraction, hypertension, older age, and female sex were univariate and multivariate correlates of in-hospital death. Diabetes was a univariate correlate only. Five- and 10-year survival rates were 76% and 55%, respectively. Five- and 10-year myocardial infarction-free survival rates were 63% and 40%, respectively. By 12 years, few patients were free of cardiac events. The univariate and multivariate correlates of long-term mortality were older age, reduced ejection fraction, hypertension, diseased vessels, presence of diabetes, congestive failure, and emergency surgery, with a strong trend for female sex. The use of the internal mammary artery was not a correlate for long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing reoperative procedures have higher mortality initially and at long term than patients undergoing a first procedure. Expected mortality based on covariates may help in the decision of whether to perform reoperative coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients after failure of intracoronary stenting.

BACKGROUND: Intracoronary stents are being used to treat acute and threatened closure after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and to prevent restenosis. METHODS: The outcomes of 68 patients having coronary artery bypass grafting after stent placement were reviewed. The mean age was 60.5 +/- 9.7 years, and 71% were male. Thirty-seven percent had hypertension, 13% had diabetes, 62% had class III or IV angina, 60% had multivessel disease, and 40% had sustained a prior myocardial infarction. Fifty-three patients underwent emergency operation, 22 with hemodynamic collapse immediately after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and 7 others required urgent revascularization within 24 hours of angioplasty. Seventeen underwent coronary artery bypass grafting for acute closure of the stented vessel several days after the angioplasty procedure. RESULTS: There was no correlation between urgency of the procedure, previous infarction, or previous coronary artery bypass grafting with successful procedure. The in-hospital mortality was 4.4%, 21% had a Q-wave myocardial infarction, and 1.5% sustained a stroke. Ejection fraction was the only correlate of long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery injury for which stents are placed for acute or threatened occlusion or to prevent restenosis but then fail, thus necessitating coronary artery bypass grafting, can be treated successfully. Although the rate of Q-wave myocardial infarction is substantial and related to the initial ischemic insult, the long-term survival and event rates are excellent with prompt surgical revascularization.