Prognostic Impacts of Increases in Amino Transaminases Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting on Mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic impacts of postoperative increases in serum amino transaminases on 1-year mortality in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis. SETTING: A tertiary care university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,950 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase ratios were calculated as the ratio between the peak aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase within the first 5 post-operative days and their respective upper limit of normal values. A ratio of 2.0 was seen to be the minimum for which a difference in 1-year mortality could be detected in univariate analysis, when considering simultaneously both aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase ratios. Multivariable analysis showed an association between an aspartate amino transaminase ratio > 2.0 and increased 1-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-5.05, P = 0.002), and also between both an aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase ratio > 2.0 and increased 1-year mortality (HR 3.90, 95% CI 1.87-8.14, P < 0.001). However, increases in alanine amino transaminase only above the upper limit of normal were not associated with increased 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative increases in aspartate amino transaminase only and increases in both aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase greater than twice the upper limit of normal were associated with increased 1-year mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft.

Effect of Exogenous Albumin on the Incidence of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery with a Preoperative Albumin Level of Less Than 4.0 g/dl.

BACKGROUND: Hypoalbuminemia may increase the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). The authors investigated whether the immediate preoperative administration of 20% albumin solution affects the incidence of AKI after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: In this prospective, single-center, randomized, parallel-arm double-blind trial, 220 patients with preoperative serum albumin levels less than 4.0 g/dl were administered 100, 200, or 300 ml of 20% human albumin according to the preoperative serum albumin level (3.5 to 3.9, 3.0 to 3.4, or less than 3.0 g/dl, respectively) or with an equal volume of saline before surgery. The primary outcome measure was AKI incidence after surgery. Postoperative AKI was defined by maximal AKI Network criteria based on creatinine changes. RESULTS: Patient characteristics and perioperative data except urine output during surgery were similar between the two groups studied, the albumin group and the control group. Urine output (median [interquartile range]) during surgery was higher in the albumin group (550 ml [315 to 980]) than in the control group (370 ml [230 to 670]; P = 0.006). The incidence of postoperative AKI in the albumin group was lower than that in the control group (14 [13.7%] vs. 26 [25.7%]; P = 0.048). There were no significant between-group differences in severe AKI, including renal replacement therapy, 30-day mortality, and other clinical outcomes. There were no significant adverse events. CONCLUSION: Administration of 20% exogenous albumin immediately before surgery increases urine output during surgery and reduces the risk of AKI after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with a preoperative serum albumin level of less than 4.0 g/dl.

Does remote ischaemic preconditioning with postconditioning improve clinical outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery? Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning with Postconditioning Outcome Trial.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) combined with remote ischaemic postconditioning (RIPostC) improves the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: From June 2009 to November 2010, 1280 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery were randomized into the RIPC with RIPostC group or the control group in the morning of the surgery. In the RIPC with RIPostC group, four cycles of 5-min ischaemia and 5-min reperfusion were administered twice to the upper limb-before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or coronary anastomoses for RIPC and after CPB or coronary anastomoses for RIPostC. The primary endpoint was the composite of major adverse outcomes, including death, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, stroke, coma, renal failure or dysfunction, respiratory failure, cardiogenic shock, gastrointestinal complication, and multiorgan failure. Remote ischaemic preconditioning with RIPostC did not reduce the composite outcome compared with the control group (38.0 vs. 38.1%, respectively; P = 0.998) and there was no difference in each major adverse outcome. The intensive care unit and hospital stays were not different between the two groups. However, in the off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery subgroup, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that RIPC with RIPostC was related to increased composite outcome (odds ratio: 1.54; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.30; P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Remote ischaemic preconditioning with RIPostC by transient upper limb ischaemia did not improve clinical outcome in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.

Effects of a fall prevention exercise regimen on physical and psychosocial outcomes in elderly community dwellers: a randomized comparative study.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for comprehensive programs that address both the physical and psychosocial aspects of fall prevention for the elderly. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the efficacy of the exercise regimen on various health metrics for elderly community dwellers. METHODS: Forty-four participants were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group adhered to a 9-step core exercise regimen for fall prevention, practicing three times a week for 30 minutes across 10 weeks, while the control group maintained their regular daily activities without any specific exercise program. Before and after the intervention, participants underwent the timed up-and-go t est to evaluate the physical function, the berg balance scale (BBS) and one-legged stance test (OLST) for balance assessment, the activity-specific balance confidence scale for fall-related self-efficacy, and measures for health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Participants in the experimental group showed significant improvements in physical function (p = .04, Cohen's effect size (d) = 0.2). and balance ability on BBS (p < .01, d = 0.2) and OLST (p < .01, d = 1.3) compared to the control group. Furthermore, there was a notable enhancement in the quality of life indicators for this group, especially in areas such as physical function (p = .04, d = 0.2), physical-role limitation (p = .04, d = 0.2), mental health (p = .01, d = 0.3), vitality (p = .02, d = 0.4), body pain (p = .04, d = 0.5), and general health (p = .04, d = 0.4). CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the potential of the fall prevention exercise program in improving physical health aspects, but its influence on specific psychosocial elements remains to be determined.

Prognostic implications of preoperative E/e' ratio in patients with off-pump coronary artery surgery.

BACKGROUND: The ratio of early transmitral flow velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e') correlates with left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. In particular, an E/e' ratio more than 15 is an excellent predictor of increased LV filling pressure. The authors evaluated the prognostic implications of preoperative estimated LV filling pressure, assessed by E/e' ratio, in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: This observational study investigated 1,048 consecutive adults undergoing elective off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The primary outcome was occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of death, myocardial infarction, malignant ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac dysfunction, or need for new revascularization. Logistic regression and survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: An E/e' ratio more than 15 was independently associated with 30-day MACE (odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-3.9, P = 0.001) and 1-yr MACE (hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1, P = 0.001), irrespective of underlying LV ejection fraction. MACE free 1-yr survival rate was significantly decreased in patients with E/e' >15, irrespective of underlying LV ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: Increased LV filling pressure, assessed by E/e' ratio, is an independent predictor of 30-day and 1-yr MACE in patients who undergo elective off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. These findings indicate that measurements of E/e' may assist in preoperative risk stratification of these patients.

Pain on injection with microemulsion propofol.

AIMS: To evaluate the incidence and severity of injection pain caused by microemulsion propofol and lipid emulsion propofol in relation to plasma bradykinin generation and aqueous free propofol concentrations. METHODS: Injection pain was evaluated in 147 patients. Aqueous free propofol concentrations in each formulation, and in formulation mixtures containing agents that reduce propofol-induced pain, were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasma bradykinin concentrations in both formulations and in their components mixed with blood sampled from six volunteers were measured by radioimmunoassays. Injection pain caused by 8% polyethylene glycol 660 hydroxystearate (PEG660 HS) was evaluated in another 10 volunteers. RESULTS: The incidence of injection pain [visual analogue scale (VAS) >30 mm] caused by microemulsion and lipid emulsion propofol was 69.7 and 42.3% (P < 0.001), respectively. The median VAS scores for microemulsion and lipid emulsion propofol were 59 and 24 mm, respectively (95% confidence interval for the difference 12.5, 40.0). The aqueous free propofol concentration of microemulsion propofol was seven times higher than that of lipid emulsion propofol. Agents that reduce injection pain did not affect aqueous free propofol concentrations. Microemulsion propofol and 8% PEG660 HS enhanced plasma bradykinin generation, whereas lipid emulsion propofol and lipid solvent did not. PEG660 HS did not cause injection pain. CONCLUSIONS: Higher aqueous free propofol concentrations of microemulsion propofol produce more frequent and severe pain. The plasma kallikrein-kinin system may not be involved, and the agents that reduce injection pain may not act by decreasing aqueous free propofol concentrations.

Focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening improves adult hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function in a cholinergic degeneration dementia rat model.

BACKGROUND: The persistence of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is sharply decreased in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The neuropathologies of AD include the presence of amyloid-ß deposition in plaques, tau hyperphosphorylation in neurofibrillary tangles, and cholinergic system degeneration. The focused ultrasound (FUS)-mediated blood-brain barrier opening modulates tau hyperphosphorylation, the accumulation of amyloid-ß proteins, and increases in AHN. However, it remains unclear whether FUS can modulate AHN in cholinergic-deficient conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of FUS on AHN in a cholinergic degeneration rat model of dementia. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48; 200-250 g) were divided into control (phosphate-buffered saline injection), 192 IgG-saporin (SAP), and SAP+FUS groups; in the two latter groups, SAP was injected bilaterally into the lateral ventricle. We applied FUS to the bilateral hippocampus with microbubbles. Immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling, an acetylcholinesterase assay, and the Morris water maze test were performed to assess choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, neural proliferation, and spatial memory, respectively. Statistical significance of differences in between groups was calculated using one-way and two-way analyses of variance followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test to determine the individual and interactive effects of FUS on immunochemistry and behavioral analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Cholinergic degeneration in rats significantly decreased the number of choline acetyltransferase neurons (P < 0.05) in the basal forebrain, as well as AHN and spatial memory function. Rats that underwent FUS-mediated brain-blood barrier opening exhibited significant increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; P < 0.05), early growth response protein 1 (EGR1) (P < 0.01), AHN (P < 0.01), and acetylcholinesterase activity in the frontal cortex (P < 0.05) and hippocampus (P < 0.01) and crossing over (P < 0.01) the platform in the Morris water maze relative to the SAP group after sonication. CONCLUSIONS: FUS treatment increased AHN and improved spatial memory. This improvement was mediated by increased hippocampal BDNF and EGR1. FUS treatment may also restore AHN and protect against neurodegeneration, providing a potentially powerful therapeutic strategy for AD.

Neural Stem Cell Differentiation Using Microfluidic Device-Generated Growth Factor Gradient.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple nervous system cell types. During embryonic development, the concentrations of soluble biological molecules have a critical role in controlling cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis. In an effort to find optimal culture conditions for the generation of desired cell types in vitro, we used a microfluidic chip-generated growth factor gradient system. In the current study, NSCs in the microfluidic device remained healthy during the entire period of cell culture, and proliferated and differentiated in response to the concentration gradient of growth factors (epithermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor). We also showed that overexpression of ASCL1 in NSCs increased neuronal differentiation depending on the concentration gradient of growth factors generated in the microfluidic gradient chip. The microfluidic system allowed us to study concentration-dependent effects of growth factors within a single device, while a traditional system requires multiple independent cultures using fixed growth factor concentrations. Our study suggests that the microfluidic gradient-generating chip is a powerful tool for determining the optimal culture conditions.

Long-term clinical outcomes of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning and Postconditioning Outcome (RISPO) trial in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischemic conditioning has been shown to confer myocardial protection. However, there is still no sufficient data on its long-term clinical outcomes. We analyzed the long-term results of the Remote Ischemic Preconditioning and Postconditioning Outcome (RISPO) trial in cardiac surgery patients. METHODS: In the RISPO trial, 1280 patients were randomized to receive remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) with postconditioning (RIPostC, upper arm ischemia by four cycles of 5-min inflation followed by 5-min deflation of a pneumatic cuff, N=644) or sham (N=636) during cardiac surgery. Patient follow-up data were collected by review of medical records, telephone interviews, and from the National Statistical Office. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE; a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and revascularization), and the secondary endpoints were the individual components of the primary endpoint. RESULTS: At completion of follow-up (mean 44months), there was no difference in MACCE between the groups (90 [14.0%] versus 101 [15.9%] in the RIPC with RIPostC versus control groups; hazard ratio [HR], 0.893; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.672-1.187; P=0.435). However, MI was reduced to half in the RIPC with RIPostC group (10 [1.6%] versus 23 [3.6%]; HR, 0.468; 95% CI, 0.222-0.984; P=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Remote ischemic preconditioning with RIPostC did not improve long-term MACCE after cardiac surgery. However, MI was reduced in the RIPC with RIPostC group compared with the control group during the follow-up period. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT00997217.

Monitored anesthesia care with dexmedetomidine in transfemoral percutaneous trans-catheter aortic valve implantation: two cases report.

Percutaneous trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is recommended for inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis at high risk for conventional aortic valve replacement. Originally, TAVI was mostly performed under general anesthesia. Here we describe two cases of transfemoral TAVI performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with dexmedetomidine. Dexmedetomidine provides sedation, analgesia with minimal respiratory depression. Although MAC during transfemoral TAVI has limitations, such as unexpected patient movement and difficulty in intra-procedural use of transesophageal echocardiography, MAC with dexmedetomidine is feasible with close monitoring, fluoroscopic guidance and the participation of experienced anesthesiologists.

The analgesic efficacy and safety of nefopam in patient-controlled analgesia after cardiac surgery: A randomized, double-blind, prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy and side-effects of nefopam were prospectively compared with those of fentanyl for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) following cardiac surgery. METHODS: Patients scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery were randomly assigned between three PCA groups (nefopam, fentanyl or nefopam + fentanyl). Pain was assessed at rest and during movement at 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h after surgery using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Total infused PCA volume, number of rescue drug injections, duration of intubation and length of stay in the intensive care unit were recorded. The incidence of adverse effects was noted at 48 h postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no significant between-group differences in VAS score, total PCA infusion volume or number of rescue injections (n = 92 per group). Nausea was significantly more common in the fentanyl group compared with both other groups. CONCLUSIONS: PCA with nefopam alone provides suitable postoperative analgesia after cardiac surgery.

Nutrient intake and food restriction in children with atopic dermatitis.

This study was performed to investigate the status of food restriction and the list of restricted foods in children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), and to find out the effect of food restriction on the changes in nutrient intake and the severity of the disease. Sixty two patient children aged 12 months to 13 years presenting AD with a SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index between 20 and 50 were enrolled. The presence of food limitation, and list of restricted foods were surveyed through the caretakers and the patients were divided into 3 groups by the number of restricted food: non-restricted group, one to three restricted group, and more than three restricted group. Dietary intake was assessed for 3 months using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Half of the subjects restricted foods. The restriction was higher in the order of soda, food additives, walnut, peanut, and other nuts as a single food item; and shellfish and crustacean group, processed foods, nuts, milk & dairy products, and meats as a food group. More than three restricted group ingested more fruits and less fish and meats, resulting in high consumption of vitamin C (p = 0.027). No significant difference in the ratio of nutrient intake by the number of restricted foods was observed in other nutrients. Significant improvement of AD symptom was observed in non-restricted group (p = 0.036) and one to three restricted group (p = 0.003). It is necessary to provide proper nutrition information and systematic and continuous nutrition management for balanced nutrient intake and disease improvement in children with AD.

Impact of the time of coronary angiography on acute kidney injury after elective off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that early surgery after coronary angiography may be associated with the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. However, the effect of coronary angiography on the risk of AKI after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCABG) remains uncertain. METHODS: We assessed preoperative and perioperative data in 1,364 consecutive adult patients who underwent elective OPCABG surgery after coronary angiography. Acute kidney injury was defined by Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria based on changes in serum creatinine within the first 48 hours after OPCABG. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association of the time interval between coronary angiography and OPCABG with postoperative AKI. RESULTS: Acute kidney injury occurred in 391 patients (28.7%). The unadjusted and adjusted rates of AKI according to the length of time between coronary angiogram and OPCABG did not show any increasing or decreasing trend (p = 0.86 and p = 0.33 for trends of unadjusted and adjusted AKI rates, respectively), and early OPCABG after coronary angiography was not related to postoperative AKI. Results were the same in high-risk patients with preoperative renal insufficiency, low ejection fraction, or who received an ionic contrast agent or a high dose of contrast agent. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of postoperative AKI was not related to the time between coronary angiography and OPCABG. These findings suggest that delaying elective OPCABG after coronary angiography owing to the sole concern for renal function may be unnecessary.

Effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on cognitive function after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown in animal models that remote ischemic preconditioning (rIPC) has a neuroprotective effect. However, a randomized controlled trial in human subjects to investigate the neuroprotective effect of rIPC after cardiac surgery has not yet been reported. Therefore, we performed this pilot study to determine whether rIPC reduced the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) surgery. METHODS: Seventy patients who underwent OPCAB surgery were assigned to either the control or the rIPC group using a computer-generated randomization table. The application of rIPC consisted of four cycles of 5 min ischemia and 5 min reperfusion on an upper limb using a blood pressure cuff inflating 200 mmHg before coronary artery anastomosis. The cognitive function tests were performed one day before surgery and again on postoperative day 7. We defined postoperative cognitive dysfunction as decreased postoperative test values more than 20% of the baseline values in more than two of the six cognitive function tests that were performed. RESULTS: In the cognitive function tests, there were no significant differences in the results obtained during the preoperative and postoperative periods for all tests and there were no mean differences observed in the preoperative and postoperative scores. The incidences of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the control and rIPC groups were 28.6% (10 patients) and 31.4% (11 patients), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: rIPC did not reduce the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction after OPCAB surgery during the immediate postoperative period.

Comparison of the renal safety between carbon dioxide absorbent products under sevoflurane anesthesia: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The chemical reaction of carbon dioxide absorbent and sevoflurane is known to produce compound A. However, carbon dioxide absorbents are not controlled by the Food and Drug Administration, but are treated as industrial products in some nations. Moreover, carbon dioxide absorbents differ in their capacities to produce compound A, because their chemical compositions differ. In this study, we compared the renal safety between carbon dioxide absorbent products in patients under sevoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: Eighty patients with no preexisting renal disease undergoing elective gynecologic surgery were randomly assigned to receive sevoflurane or isoflurane anesthesia with one of four carbon dioxide absorbent products (Sodasorblime®, Sodalyme®, Sodasorb®, Spherasorb®) at the same fresh gas flow of 2 L/min. The renal safety was evaluated by changes of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and urine N-acetyl-b-glucoseaminidase (NAG)-creatinine ratio at 24 hours and 72 hours after surgery from preoperative level. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the renal safety indicators between carbon dioxide absorbents during sevoflurane anesthesia (P > 0.05). However, the BUN and urine NAG-creatinine ratios at 72 hours after surgery were higher in isoflurane anesthesia in some carbon dioxide absorbent groups (P = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We could not find significant differences of renal safety indicators with carbon dioxide absorbents. Although the adverse effect of carbon dioxide absorbents on renal function was not proved, consideration should be given to their contol by the regulation on their efficacy and safety because carbon dioxide absorbents can produce compound A.

Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is a major risk factor for acute kidney injury following off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between preoperative low serum albumin level and acute kidney injury (AKI) after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) METHOD: We assessed preoperative and perioperative risk factors, and preoperative serum albumin concentration in 1,182 consecutive adult patients with preoperative normal renal function who underwent OPCAB surgery. Each patient was categorized by maximal Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria based on creatinine changes within the first 48 h after OPCAB. Logistic regression and propensity analyses were performed to evaluate the association between preoperative low serum albumin level and postoperative AKI. RESULTS: Of the 1,182 patients, 334 (28.3%) developed AKI. Risk factors for AKI were old age, diabetes mellitus, maximal cardiovascular component of the sequential organ failure assessment score, perioperative transfusion, and postoperative C-reactive protein concentration. The risk of AKI was negatively correlated with the volume of crystalloid infused during surgery. A preoperative serum albumin level of <4.0 g/dl was independently associated Ith postoperative AKI [multivariable logistic analysis: odds ratio (OR) 1.83, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.27-2.64; P = 0.001; propensity analysis: OR 1.62, 95 % CI 1.12-2.35; P = 0.011). AKI was associated with prolonged stay in the intensive care unit and hospital and a high mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative low serum albumin level is an independent risk factor for AKI, and postoperative AKI is associated with poor outcomes after OPCAB in patients with preoperative normal renal function.

Preoperative treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker has no beneficial effect on the development of new-onset atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated whether preoperative angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use affected the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB). HYPOTHESIS: Preoperative use of ACEI or ARB was related to POAF in patients undergoing OPCAB. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, cohort study involved 1050 patients who underwent OPCAB from January 2006 to December 2009. RESULTS: ACEI or ARB, ACEI alone, and ARB alone did not exert beneficial effect on the occurrence of POAF, and ACEI or ARB use was rather associated with an increased incidence of POAF (ACEI or ARB: odds ratio [OR]: 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-2.62, P = 0.03; ACEI alone: OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.57-2.97, P = 0.53; ARB alone: OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 0.93-2.64, P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: ACEI or ARB, ACEI alone, and ARB alone did not favorably influence the occurrence of POAF in patients undergoing OPCAB.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: early experience in Korea.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was recently introduced in Korea. The present report describes the experience of early TAVI cases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between March, 2010 and October, 2011, 48 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) were screened at the Asan Medical Center to determine their suitability for surgical intervention. Of these, 23 were considered unsuitable and underwent TAVI. Procedural success rates, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes were evaluated in the TAVI patients. RESULTS: Transfemoral (n=20) or transapical (n=3) TAVI was performed. The mean age of patients was 75.9±5.4 years and 57% were females. The mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation was 25.6±5.1%. Implantation was successful in 22 patients (19 transfemoral, three transapical). After successful implantation, the mean aortic valve area increased from 0.68±0.14 cm(2) to 1.45±0.33 cm(2). There were no procedure-related complications or mortality. The patients showed no paravalvular aortic regurgitation with ≥ moderate degree and remained stable without progression during follow-up. During follow-up (interquartile range, 1.1-12.9), all patients were alive without any occurrence of valve failure. CONCLUSION: TAVI procedure is feasible in patients with inoperative symptomatic AS leading to hemodynamic and clinical improvement. With accumulation of experience, proper patient selection and development of device technologies, TAVI should decrease adverse events and expand the indications in the near future.