Cardiac Biomarkers and Prediction of Early Outcome After Heart Valve Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: Circulating cardiac biomarkers may improve the prediction of long-term outcomes after cardiac surgery. The authors sought to assess if cardiac biomarkers also help better predict short-term morbidity. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Single academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 250 patients undergoing aortic or mitral valve surgery with or without associated coronary artery bypass grafts. INTERVENTION: None MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Relationships between preoperative plasma concentrations of four cardiac biomarkers (sST2, Galectin-3, GDF-15, and NT-proBNP) and postoperative outcome were assessed using logistic regressions and Cox proportional hazards models. The primary outcome was a composite of 30-day mortality, an inotropic support longer than 48 hours and an initial length of stay in the intensive care >five days. Secondary outcome measures were postoperative acute kidney injury, inotropic support duration, lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stays, and 30-day and one-year mortality. No association was observed between any of the four cardiac biomarkers and the primary outcome. The preoperative levels of Galectin-3 (hazard ratio = 1.2; p < 0.001) and sST2 (hazard ratio = 1.01, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with one-year survival, and their addition to the EuroSCORE II significantly improved the prediction of one-year mortality (p < 0.001). Similarly, Galectin-3 was associated with postoperative acute kidney injury (odds ratio = 1.15, p = 0.001) and improved the prediction of this complication when added to the EuroSCORE II (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the ability of cardiac biomarkers to predict short-term outcome after cardiac surgery, though of interest, appears limited. Conversely, cardiac biomarkers may have the potential to refine the prediction of long-term outcome. Admittedly, all positive results were obtained on secondary outcomes and must be regarded with caution.

The Edmonton Frail Scale Improves the Prediction of 30-Day Mortality in Elderly Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), a multidimensional frailty assessment tool, improves the prediction of 30-day or in-hospital mortality over the use of the European System for Cardiac Outcome Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II alone. DESIGN: Single-center prospective observational study. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 75 years or older undergoing cardiac surgery between February 2014 and May 2017. INTERVENTION: No intervention was performed. The EFS was administered the day before surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary endpoint was 30-day or in-hospital mortality. Secondary endpoints were times to discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) and from the hospital, discharge to a health care facility, and ability to return home by postoperative day 30. The EFS had a good discriminative ability for 30-day mortality (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-0.82). Adding frailty, defined by an EFS ≥8, to the EuroSCORE II significantly improved the prediction of 30-day (p = 0.04) mortality. The integrated discrimination index was 0.03 (95% CI, 0.01-0.06, p = 0.01), meaning that the difference in predicted risk between patients who died and those who survived increased by 3% due to the addition of frailty determined by the EFS to the EuroSCORE II. Frailty also was associated significantly with a decreased cumulative probability of discharge from the ICU (p = 0.02) and an increased incidence of discharge to a health care facility (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The EFS has a good predictive ability for 30-day mortality after cardiac surgery in elderly patients and improves the prediction of 30-day mortality over the use of the EuroSCORE II.

Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Adult Cardiac Surgery: Predictive Value of Peak Systolic Global Longitudinal Strain.

BACKGROUND: Peak systolic global longitudinal strain (GLS) is increasingly used to quantify left ventricular systolic function. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether GLS obtained during intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram, performed before cardiopulmonary bypass, improves the prediction of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) after adult cardiac surgery. METHODS: GLS from 275 patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery was calculated retrospectively using two-dimensional- speckle tracking echocardiography (aCMQ module from Qlab software version 10.5, Philips Medical, Brussels, Belgium). LCOS was defined as the need for inotropic or mechanical circulatory support for >24 hours postoperatively. Patient and procedure characteristics associated with LCOS at the univariable level (P ≤ .05) were entered into a forward stepwise logistic regression to create a first predictive model. A second model was created by adding GLS. The 2 models were compared using the likelihood-ratio test, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the integrated discrimination index. The optimal cutoff value of GLS associated with LCOS was determined by maximizing the Youden index of the ROC curve. Secondary outcomes included time until complete weaning from inotropes, discharge from the intensive care unit and from the hospital, and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: GLS was significantly associated with LCOS (P < .001) at the univariable level. Predictors of LCOS retained in the first model were cardiopulmonary bypass duration, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, mitral valve surgery, and New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. Adding the GLS value improved the prediction of LCOS (P = .02). However, the area under the ROC curve did not differ between the 2 models (0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-0.99 vs 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.90; P = .15). The integrated discrimination index associated with addition of GLS was 0.02 (P = .046), meaning that the difference in predicted risk between patients with and without LCOS increased by 2% after adding GLS. A GLS cutoff value of -17% (95% CI, -18.8% to -15.3%) was found to best identify LCOS. After adjusting for covariates included in model 1, a lower GLS value was significantly associated with a lower cumulative probability of weaning from inotropes postoperatively (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.97; P = .01). No association was found between GLS and other secondary outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: GLS is an independent predictor of LCOS after on-pump cardiac surgery. Its incremental value over other established risk factors for postoperative LCOS is, however, limited.

Efficacy of the RemoweLL cardiotomy reservoir for fat and leucocyte removal from shed mediastinal blood: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Re-transfusion of lipid particles and activated leucocytes with shed mediastinal blood (SMB) can aggravate cardiopulmonary bypass-associated inflammation and increase the embolic load. This study evaluated the fat and leucocyte removal capacity of the RemoweLL cardiotomy reservoir. METHODS: Forty-five patients undergoing elective on-pump cardiac surgery were randomly allocated to filtration of SMB using the RemoweLL or the Admiral cardiotomy reservoir. The primary outcome was a drop in leucocytes and lipid particles obtained with the two filters. The effect of the filters on other blood cells and inflammatory mediators, such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), was also assessed. RESULTS: The RemoweLL cardiotomy filter removed 16.5% of the leucocytes (p<0.001) while no significant removal of leucocytes was observed with the Admiral (p=0.48). The percentage reductions in lipid particles were similar in the two groups (26% vs 23%, p=0.2). Both filters similarly affected the level of MPO (p=0.71). CONCLUSION: The RemoweLL filter more effectively removed leucocytes from SMB than the Admiral. It offered no advantage in terms of lipid particle clearance.

Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 and the Risk of Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether using hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 as a pump prime and for intraoperative fluid therapy is associated with postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) after adult cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: University hospital, single center. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred six adult patients who underwent on-pump cardiac surgery between April 2013 and June 2014 were included. INTERVENTIONS: Until July 2013, balanced HES 130/0.4 (Volulyte(®), Fresenius Kabi AG, Bad Homburg, Germany) was used both as a pump prime (1,500 mL) and for intraoperative fluid therapy (1,000 mL). From August 2013, HES was replaced entirely by a balanced crystalloid solution (Plasma-Lyte A, Baxter, Lessines, Belgium). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative AKI during the first 48 postoperative hours, determined using the Acute Kidney Injury Network classification. Secondary outcomes included kidney function at postoperative day 7, postoperative dialysis or hemofiltration, postoperative pulmonary complications, lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stays, postoperative fluid balance and urinary output, surgical revision for bleeding, and 30-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. AKI occurred in 9.5% of crystalloid patients and in 21.5% of HES patients. Patients who received HES were about twice as likely to develop postoperative AKI as those treated with crystalloids (adjusted OR 2.26; 95% CI, 1.40-3.80; p = 0.02). HES patients also had a significantly more positive fluid balance and a lower urinary output during the first 48 postoperative hours. The incidence of surgical revision for bleeding was greater in the HES group (4.6% v 1.4%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that using balanced HES 130/0.4 as a pump prime and for intraoperative fluid therapy in adult patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery was associated with a greater incidence of AKI during the early postoperative period.

Incidence and outcomes of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery using either criteria of the RIFLE classification.

BACKGROUND: Adult cardiac surgery is significantly associated with the development of acute kidney injury (AKI). Still, the incidence and outcomes of AKI vary according to its definition. Our retrospective monocentric study comparatively investigates the yield of RIFLE definition, which is based on the elevation of serum creatinine levels (SCr) or the reduction of urine output (UO), taking into account only one or both criteria. Pre- and per-operative risk factors for post-operative AKI were evaluated. METHODS: All adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with or without cardiopulmonary bypass, from April 2008 to March 2009 were included. Clinical, biological and surgical features were recorded. Baseline serum creatinine was determined as its value on day 7 before surgery. Post-operative AKI was diagnosed and scored based upon the highest serum creatinine and/or the lowest urine output. RESULTS: 443 patients (Male/Female ratio, 2.3; median age, 69y) were included, with 221 (49.9%) developing postoperative AKI. Elevated serum creatinine (AKISCr) and oliguria (AKIUO) was observed in 9.7% and 40.2%, respectively. AKI patients had a significantly higher BMI and baseline SCr. In comparison to AKIUO, AKISCr mostly occurred in patients with co-morbidities, and was associated with an increased mortality at 1-year post surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The use of standard RIFLE definition of AKI in a cohort of 443 patients undergoing cardiac surgery resulted in an incidence reaching 50%. Still, significant discrepancies were found between AKISCr and AKIUO regarding the incidence and outcomes. In line with previous reports, our data questions the utility of urine output as a criterion for AKI diagnosis and management after cardiac surgery.

Impact of 6 % hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 on the correlation between standard laboratory tests and thromboelastography (TEG®) after cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyethyl starches (HES) affect the results of thromboelastography (TEG®). We sought to determine whether using HES rather than crystalloids for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) prime and intraoperative fluid therapy changes the TEG cutoff values best identifying patients with a low platelet count or a low fibrinogen level after CPB. METHODS: Data from 96 patients who had on-pump cardiac surgery, a TEG® (kaolin-heparinase) and standard investigations of blood clotting performed after separation from CPB and protamine administration were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were assigned to the HES or crystalloid group according to whether balanced 6% HES 130/0.4 or balanced crystalloids were used for intraoperative fluid therapy and pump prime. Mutlivariable linear regression models with computation of the standardized regression coefficients were used to identify independent associations between the four main TEG parameters (R time, alpha angle, K time and MA) and the type of fluid used, the INR, the aPTT, the fibrinogen level and the platelet count. Receiver-operating-characteristic curves were used to assess the effect of HES on the ability of TEG parameters to identify patients with a platelet count<80.000µl(-1) or a fibrinogen level<1.5 gr l(-1) and on the cutoff values best identifying these patients. RESULTS: The type of fluid used significantly affected the MA (P<0.001), the K time (P<0.001) and the alpha angle (P<0.001) regardless of the results of the standard clotting tests. According to standardized ß regression coefficients the platelet count and the type of fluid used were stronger predictors of the MA, the alpha angle and the K time than the fibrinogen level. MA better predicted platelets<80.000µl(-1) than K time and alpha angle (P=0.023). The best cutoff value of MA identifying patients with platelets<80.000µl(-1) was 62mm in the crystalloid group and 53mm in the HES group. MA, K time and alpha angle were poor predictors of the postoperative fibrinogen level. CONCLUSION: HES significantly changes the cutoff value of TEG® MA best identifying patients<80.000µl(-1) after on-pump cardiac surgery.

The effect of intraoperative 6% balanced hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.4) during cardiac surgery on transfusion requirements.

OBJECTIVES: To compare transfusion requirements in adult cardiac surgery patients when balanced hydroxyethyl starches (HES) (130/0.4) or balanced crystalloids is used for pump prime and intraoperative fluid therapy. DESIGN: Data were obtained retrospectively from medical records and perfusion charts. Matching based on propensity scores was used to adjust for potential confounders. SETTING: A university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS: Allocation to one of the study groups according to whether balanced HES or balanced crystalloids was used for pump prime and intraoperative fluid therapy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 240 propensity-matched patients were retained for final analyses. Forty-eight patients (40%) of the colloid group and 28 patients (23.3%) of the crystalloid group received blood products, with an odd ratio (95% CI) of 2.1(1.2-3.8 (P=0.009). After bypass HES patients had lower hemoglobin levels (8.4 [1.3] gr/dL vs 9.6 [2] gr/dL; P<0.001) and a higher cumulative chest drain output after 3 hours (180 [210] mL vs 140 [100] mL, P<0.001]. Heparinase thromboelastogram (TEG®) showed longer K times (2.5[1.1] vs 1.6[0.8], P<0.001) and lower maximal amplitudes (55.1[12.5] vs 63.4[9.8], P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: HES patients required more transfusions, owing to greater hemodilution, HES-induced clotting disturbances, and bleeding.

Increased cerebral functional connectivity underlying the antinociceptive effects of hypnosis.

The neural mechanisms underlying the antinociceptive effects of hypnosis are not well understood. Using positron emission tomography (PET), we recently showed that the activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (midcingulate area 24a') covaries with the hypnosis-induced reduction of affective and sensory responses to noxious thermal stimulation [Faymonville et al., Anesthesiology 92 (2000) 1257-1267]. In the present study, we assessed changes in cerebral functional connectivity related to the hypnotic state, compared to simple distraction and the resting state. Nineteen highly hypnotizable right-handed volunteers were studied using H2(15)O-PET. The experimental conditions were hot noxious or warm non-noxious stimulation of the right hand during resting state, mental imagery and hypnotic state. Using a psychophysiological interaction analysis, we identified brain areas that would respond to noxious stimulations under the modulatory action of the midcingulate cortex in, and only in, the hypnotic state. Hypnosis, compared to the resting state, reduced pain perception by 50%. Pain perception during rest and mental imagery was not significantly different. Analysis of PET data showed that the hypnotic state, compared to normal alertness (i.e., rest and mental imagery), significantly enhanced the functional modulation between midcingulate cortex and a large neural network encompassing bilateral insula, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, pre-supplementary motor area, right prefrontal cortex and striatum, thalamus and brainstem. These findings point to a critical role for the midcingulate cortex in the modulation of a large cortical and subcortical network underlying its influence on sensory, affective, cognitive and behavioral aspects of nociception, in the specific context of hypnosis.