Features and outcomes of female and male patients requiring postcardiotomy extracorporeal life support.

OBJECTIVES: Although cardiogenic shock requiring extracorporeal life support after cardiac surgery is associated with high mortality, the impact of sex on outcomes of postcardiotomy extracorporeal life support remains unclear with conflicting results in the literature. We compare patient characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and overall survival between females and males requiring postcardiotomy extracorporeal life support. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter (34 centers), observational study included adults requiring postcardiotomy extracorporeal life support between 2000 and 2020. Preoperative, procedural, and extracorporeal life support characteristics, complications, and survival were compared between females and males. Association between sex and in-hospital survival was investigated through mixed Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: This analysis included 1823 patients (female: 40.8%; median age: 66.0 years [interquartile range, 56.2-73.0 years]). Females underwent more mitral valve surgery (females: 38.4%, males: 33.1%, P = .019) and tricuspid valve surgery (feamales: 18%, males: 12.4%, P < .001), whereas males underwent more coronary artery surgery (females: 45.9%, males: 52.4%, P = .007). Extracorporeal life support implantation was more common intraoperatively in feamales (females: 64.1%, females: 59.1%) and postoperatively in males (females: 35.9%, males: 40.9%, P = .036). Ventricular unloading (females: 25.1%, males: 36.2%, P < .001) and intra-aortic balloon pumps (females: 25.8%, males: 36.8%, P < .001) were most frequently used in males. Females had more postoperative right ventricular failure (females: 24.1%, males: 19.1%, P = .016) and limb ischemia (females: 12.3%, males: 8.8%, P = .23). In-hospital mortality was 64.9% in females and 61.9% in males (P = .199) with no differences in 5-year survival (females: 20%, 95% CI, 17-23; males: 24%, 95% CI, 21-28; P = .069). Crude hazard ratio for in-hospital mortality in females was 1.12 (95% CI, 0.99-1.27; P = .069) and did not change after adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that female and male patients requiring postcardiotomy extracorporeal life support have different preoperative and extracorporeal life support characteristics, as well as complications, without a statistical difference in in-hospital and 5-year survivals.

Impact of COVID-19 on incidence and outcomes of post-infarction mechanical complications in Europe.

OBJECTIVES: Post-acute myocardial infarction mechanical complications (post-AMI MCs) represent rare but life-threatening conditions, including free-wall rupture, ventricular septal rupture and papillary muscle rupture. During the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, an overwhelming pressure on healthcare systems led to delayed and potentially suboptimal treatments for time-dependent conditions. As AMI-related hospitalizations decreased, limited information is available whether higher rates of post-AMI MCs and related deaths occurred in this setting. This study was aimed to assess how COVID-19 in Europe has impacted the incidence, treatment and outcome of MCs. METHODS: The CAUTION-COVID19 study is a multicentre retrospective study collecting 175 patients with post-AMI MCs in 18 centres from 6 European countries, aimed to compare the incidence of such events, related patients' characteristics, and outcomes, between the first year of pandemic and the 2 previous years. RESULTS: A non-significant increase in MCs was observed [odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85-1.57; P = 0.364], with stronger growth in ventricular septal rupture diagnoses (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 0.95-2.18; P = 0.090). No significant differences in treatment types and mortality were found between the 2 periods. In-hospital mortality was 50.9% and was higher for conservatively managed cases (90.9%) and lower for surgical patients (44.0%). Patients admitted during COVID-19 more frequently had late-presenting infarction (OR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.24-4.92; P = 0.010), more stable conditions (OR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.27-5.35; P = 0.009) and higher EuroSCORE II (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06; P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: A non-significant increase in MCs incidence occurred during the first year of COVID-19, characterized by a significantly higher rate of late-presenting infarction, stable conditions and EuroSCORE-II if compared to pre-pandemic data, without affecting treatment and mortality.

Permanent pacemaker implantation after valve and arrhythmia surgery in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Among patients referred for cardiac surgery, atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common comorbidity and a risk factor for postoperative arrhythmias (eg, sinus node dysfunction, atrioventricular heart block), including those requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and long-term survival of postoperative PPM implantation in patients with preoperative AF who underwent valve surgery with or without concomitant procedures. METHODS: Presented analysis pertains to the HEIST (HEart surgery In atrial fibrillation and Supraventricular Tachycardia) registry. During the study period, 11,949 patients underwent valvular (aortic, mitral, or tricuspid valve replacement or repair) surgery and/or surgical ablation (SA) and were stratified according to postoperative PPM status. RESULTS: PPM implantation after surgery was necessary in 2.5% of patients, with significant variation depending on the type of surgery (from 1.1% in mitral valve repair to 3.3% in combined mitral and tricuspid valve surgery). In a multivariate logistic regression model, tricuspid intervention (P <.001), cardiopulmonary bypass time (P = .024), and endocarditis (P = .014) were shown to be risk factors for PPM. Over long-term follow-up, PPM was not associated with increased mortality compared to no PPM (hazard ratio 0.96; 95% confidence interval 0.77-1.19; P = .679). SA was not associated with PPM implantation. However, SA improved survival regardless of PPM status (log rank P <.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with preoperative AF, the need for PPM implantation after valve surgery or SA is not an infrequent outcome, with SA not affecting its prevalence but actually improving long-term survival.

Transition from Simple V-V to V-A and Hybrid ECMO Configurations in COVID-19 ARDS.

In SARS-CoV-2 patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (V-V ECMO) was shown to provide valuable treatment with reasonable survival in large multi-centre investigations. However, in some patients, conversion to modified ECMO support forms may be needed. In this single-centre retrospective registry, all consecutive patients receiving V-V ECMO between 1 March 2020 to 1 May 2021 were included and analysed. The patient cohort was divided into two groups: those who remained on V-V ECMO and those who required conversion to other modalities. Seventy-eight patients were included, with fourteen cases (18%) requiring conversions to veno-arterial (V-A) or hybrid ECMO. The reasons for the ECMO mode configuration change were inadequate drainage (35.7%), inadequate perfusion (14.3%), myocardial infarction (7.1%), hypovolemic shock (14.3%), cardiogenic shock (14.3%) and septic shock (7.1%). In multivariable analysis, the use of dobutamine (p = 0.007) and a shorter ICU duration (p = 0.047) predicted the conversion. The 30-day mortality was higher in converted patients (log-rank p = 0.029). Overall, only 19 patients (24.4%) survived to discharge or lung transplantation. Adverse events were more common after conversion and included renal, cardiovascular and ECMO-circuit complications. Conversion itself was not associated with mortality in the multivariable analysis. In conclusion, as many as 18% of patients undergoing V-V ECMO for COVID-19 ARDS may require conversion to advanced ECMO support.

Thoraflex Graft in an Inverted Position for Post-Dissection Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm.

We present the off-label use of a Thoraflex Hybrid Plexus prosthesis (Vascutek, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK) to treat a post-dissection type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) in a high-risk patient previously treated with a thoracic stent-graft for a chronic type B aortic dissection. The Thoraflex graft was used in a "reversed frozen elephant trunk" fashion: the stent graft portion deployed in the previously placed thoracic stent, and the branched portion used to revascularize visceral arteries and lower limbs. Our off-label use of the Thoraflex graft was technically successful. Further experiences are required to confirm the safety of this technique in high-risk patients.

Bilateral Internal Mammary Artery Bypass Grafting: Sternal Wound Infection in High-Risk Population. Should Sternal Infection Scare Us?

BACKGROUND: Bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMAs) remain underused in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), especially in elderly, diabetic, and obese patients. This study investigated incidence of sternal wound infection (SWI), sternal instability (SI), and reintervention for bleeding (RIB) in this high-risk population. METHODS: A single-center retrospective observational study was performed in "Grand Hôpital de Charleroi, Gilly, Belgium." A total of 319 patients undergoing CABG from December 2011 to December 2015 were included. Three main outcome measures (SWI, SI, and RIB) were investigated in obese vs nonobese, diabetic vs nondiabetic, and elderly vs younger patients. RESULTS: In all, 14 SWI, 11 SI, and 6 RIB were discounted. Death rate was as follows: SWI: 2/14 vs 17/305 (P = .178), SI: 2/11 vs 17/308 (P = .081), and RIB: 2/6 vs 17/313 (P = .004). In obese (n = 113) vs nonobese (n = 206) patients, there was no difference for SWI (P = .263), SI (P = .565), and RIB (P = .332). In diabetic (n = 118) vs nondiabetic (n = 201) patients, there was no difference for SWI (P = .642), SI (P = .497), and RIB (P = .298). In elderly (n = 62) vs younger (n = 257) patients, there was no difference for SWI (P = .619), SI (P = .915), and RIB (P = .385). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, age, and diabetes treated by insulin (or not) do not seem to be risk factors for developing SWI, SI, or RIB in patients receiving a CABG using BIMA. Nevertheless, mortality was higher in RIB group.