Recurrent Seizures Following Cardiac Surgery: Risk Factors and Outcomes in a Historical Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk factors for and outcomes after recurrent seizures (RS) in patients following cardiac surgery. DESIGN: A historical cohort study. SETTING: A single-center university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Cardiac surgery patients from April 2003 to September 2010 experiencing postoperative seizures. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were divided into an isolated seizure group and an RS group. Risk factors for RS were determined using logistic regression. Intermediate-term follow-up was conducted by phone. Of 7,280 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery, 61 (0.8%) experienced postoperative seizure and 36 (59%) of those experienced at least 1 recurrence. Of these, 32 (89%) experienced RS within 24 hours of the first seizure, and 29 (81%) had grand mal seizures. Preoperative creatinine ≥120 µmol/L (p = 0.02), time until first seizure occurred (≤4 hours; p = 0.01), and procedures involving the thoracic aorta were associated with RS (R(2) = 0.53, p<0.05). Patients with RS had longer intensive care unit stays (5.3 v 2.9 days, p = 0.03) and longer mechanical ventilation duration (53.3 v 15.0 hours, p = 0.01). At a median follow-up of 21 months for the RS group and 16 months for the isolated seizure group, restrictions, anticonvulsant use, morbidity, and mortality were similar between patients with isolated versus recurrent seizures. CONCLUSIONS: Higher preoperative creatinine, thoracic aortic surgery, and early seizure onset were associated with RS after cardiac surgery. When compared to isolated seizures, recurrence per se was not associated with significantly increased long-term morbidity or mortality.

Bioprosthetic heart valves of the future.

Glutaraldehyde-fixed bioprosthetic heart valves (GBHVs), derived from pigs or cows, undergo structural valve deterioration (SVD) over time, with calcification and eventual failure. It is generally accepted that SVD is due to chemical processes between glutaraldehyde and free calcium ions in the blood. Valve companies have made significant progress in decreasing SVD from calcification through various valve chemical treatments. However, there are still groups of patients (e.g., children and young adults) that have accelerated SVD of GBHV. Unfortunately, these patients are not ideal patients for valve replacement with mechanical heart valve prostheses as they are at high long-term risk from complications of the mandatory anticoagulation that is required. Thus, there is no "ideal" heart valve replacement for children and young adults. GBHVs represent a form of xenotransplantation, and there is increasing evidence that SVD seen in these valves is at least in part associated with xenograft rejection. We review the evidence that suggests that xenograft rejection of GBHVs is occurring, and that calcification of the valve may be related to this rejection. Furthermore, we review recent research into the transplantation of live porcine organs in non-human primates that may be applicable to GBHVs and consider the potential use of genetically modified pigs as sources of bioprosthetic heart valves.

Clinical outcomes of minimally invasive endoscopic and conventional sternotomy approaches for atrial septal defect repair.

BACKGROUND: Concerns remain that minimally invasive atrial septal defect (ASD) repair may compromise patient outcomes. We compared clinical outcomes of adult patients undergoing ASD repair via a minimally invasive endoscopic approach versus a "gold standard" sternotomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical outcomes of consecutive patients who underwent ASD patch repair at our institution between 2002 and 2012. We compared in-hospital/30-day mortality, postoperative complications, length of stay in hospital and in the intensive care unit and blood product requirements between patients who underwent right mini-thoracotomy (MT) and those who underwent conventional sternotomy. RESULTS: During the study period, 73 consecutive patients underwent ASD patch repair at our institution: 51 (age 47 ± 16 yr, 66.7% women) in the MT group and 22 (age 46 ± 21 yr, 59.1% women) in the sternotomy group. In-hospital mortality was similar between the 2 groups (MT 0% v. sternotomy 4.5%, p = 0.30). There were no significant differences in any postoperative complications or blood product requirements. No patients in the MT group suffered stroke, retrograde aortic dissection or leg ischemia. Mean intensive care unit (MT 1.2 ± 1.2 d v. sternotomy 1.7 ± 2.2 d, p = 0.26) and hospital length of stays (MT 5.1 ± 2.2 d v. sternotomy 6.3 ± 3.6 d, p = 0.17) were similar between the groups; however, there was a trend toward fewer patients requiring prolonged hospital stays (> 10 d) in the MT group (3.9% v. 18.2%, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Repair of ostium secundum and sinus venosus ASD can be performed safely via MT endoscopic approach with similar outcomes as sternotomy. Patient preference for a more cosmetically appealing incision may be considered without concern of compromised outcomes.

CONTEXTE: Des inquiétudes persistent au sujet des résultats potentiellement négatifs chez les patients soumis à une intervention de réparation de communication interauriculaire (CIA) minimalement effractive. Nous avons comparé les résultats cliniques chez des patients adultes soumis à une réparation de CIA par approche endoscopique minimalement effractive ou par sternotomie classique ­ « l'étalon-or ¼. MÉTHODES: Nous avons passé en revue de manière rétrospective les résultats cliniques chez des patients consécutifs qui ont subi un traitement d'occlusion de leur CIA dans notre établissement, entre 2002 et 2012. Nous avons comparé la mortalité en cours d'hospitalisation et à 30 jours, les complications postopératoires, la durée des séjours à l'hôpital et aux soins intensifs et le recours aux produits sanguins chez les patients selon qu'ils avaient subi une mini-thoracotomie (MT) ou une sternotomie classique. RÉSULTATS: Durant la période de l'étude, 73 patients consécutifs ont subi un traitement d'occlusion de leur CIA dans notre établissement : 51 (âge 47 ± 16 ans, 66,7 % femmes) dans le groupe MT et 22 (âge 46 ± 21 ans, 59,1 % femmes) dans le groupe sternotomie. La mortalité perhospitalière a été similaire entre les 2 groupes (MT 0 % c. sternotomie 4,5 %, p = 0,30). On n'a noté aucune différence significative quant aux complications postopératoires et aux besoins en produits sanguins. Aucun patient du groupe MT n'a subi d'AVC, de dissection aortique rétrograde ou d'ischémie à la jambe. La durée moyenne des séjours aux soins intensifs (MT 1,2 ± 1,2 j c. sternotomie 1,7 ± 2,2 j, p = 0,26) et à l'hôpital (MT 5,1 ± 2.2 j c. sternotomie 6,3 ± 3,6 j, p = 0,17) a été similaire entre les groupes; toutefois, on a noté une tendance à un nombre moindre de patients nécessitant une hospitalisation prolongée (> 10 j) dans le groupe MT (3,9 % c. 18,2 %, p = 0,06). CONCLUSION: La réparation de la CIA au niveau de l'ostium secundum et du sinus veineux peut se faire de manière sécuritaire par approche endoscopique MT, avec des résultats similaires à ceux de la sternotomie. On peut tenir compte de la préférence des patients pour une incision plus acceptable au plan esthétique sans crainte de compromettre les résultats.

Porcine bioprosthetic heart valves: The next generation.

There have been significant advances in organ xenotransplantation (cross-species transplantation), especially in the development of genetically engineered pigs, but clinical trials of solid organ transplants are still a time away. However, there is a form of pig-to-human xenotransplantation that has been taking place since the 1960s-bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV) replacement. Recently, there has been increasing evidence that, despite glutaraldehyde fixation of BHVs, there is a significant immune reaction to the valves, leading to calcification, rapid structural deterioration, and failure, particularly in young patients who have a more vigorous immune system and metabolism than the elderly. However, it is the young patients who would most benefit from such BHVs because these avoid the complications associated with the lifelong anticoagulation required with mechanical valves. In this review, we examine pathologic and immunohistochemical reports of failed BHVs that suggest that there is an immune response to these valves. Small animal studies that link the development of calcification and BHV failure to the immune response are reviewed. We draw parallels between the problems of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue xenotransplantation and those currently being faced in live organ xenotransplantation. Finally, we discuss the advances being made in the production of genetically modified pigs and the evidence that these pigs may become a source of BHVs that can be used worldwide to treat valvular heart disease in children and young adults (for whom there is no ideal valve replacement in existence today). The design of a BHV that is resistant to the host's immune response would be a major step forward in cardiac surgery.

The acutely occluded left main coronary artery culprit in cardiogenic shock and initial percutaneous coronary intervention: a substudy of the Manitoba "no option" left main PCI registry.

We aim to describe the in-hospital outcomes of the first reported Canadian cohort of patients with cardiogenic shock and acute myocardial infarction (MI) due to acute and total occlusion of the left main coronary artery, treated with initial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Acute left main thromboses with cardiogenic shock were identified (N = 8) from a retrospective consecutive cohort of high risk left main PCI (N = 56) performed at our institution from 2004-2009. The mean age was 62.3 ± 13.2 years, with 6 (75%) male patients. Successful PCI was performed in all patients, with thrombectomy utilized in 4 patients (50%), stenting in 7 patients (88%), and intra-aortic balloon pump augmentation in 7 patients (88%). Two patients (25%) required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and 2 other patients required ventricular assist devices. Post-PCI coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed for 2 patients (25%). The mean SYNTAX score was 26.6 ± 10.5. The mean logistic EuroSCORE was 30.4 ± 12.6%. In-hospital mortality occurred in 3 patients (38%). Acute left main occlusion is a rare but devastating presentation of myocardial infarction, invariably with cardiogenic shock. Emergent PCI may be an effective method to acutely revascularize this subset of patients; however, aggressive post-PCI care including ECMO, CABG, and ventricular support may be required to improve patient survival.

Seizures following cardiac surgery: the impact of tranexamic acid and other risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Seizures after cardiac surgery are a serious complication. The antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid (TA), which has known proconvulsant properties, may be associated with postoperative seizures. We sought to determine the association between TA and other risk factors for seizures after cardiac surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed a database of consecutive cardiac surgery patients (April 2003 to December 2009) using multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess for seizure risk factors. Seizures occurred in 56 of 5,958 patients (0.94%). TA use was associated with an increased risk of seizures (odds ratio 7.4, 95% confidence interval 2.8-19.3; P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the following factors were significantly associated with seizures: TA exposure; Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score > 20; preoperative cardiac arrest; preoperative neurological disease; open chamber surgery; cardiopulmonary bypass time > 150 min; and previous cardiac surgery. Seizures occurred at a median of 5.3 hr (interquartile range 2.4-15.1 hr) after the end of surgery. In all, 58.1% were grand mal, 14.5% were associated with a stroke, and 58.1% recurred in hospital. Altogether, 48.3% of the patients were able to discontinue anticonvulsant medications prior to discharge. Compared to the non-seizure group, seizure patients had an increased rate of postoperative neurological complications, defined as delirium and/or stroke (3.2% vs 19.6%, P < 0.001), increased intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (1.0 vs 4.7 days, P < 0.001), and increased ICU mortality (1.4 % vs 9.7 %, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that multiple risk factors, including TA, are associated with seizures after cardiac surgery. Thus, the TA dose may be a readily modifiable risk factor for postoperative seizures.

Early Rehospitalization After Prolonged Intensive Care Unit Stay Post Cardiac Surgery: Outcomes and Modifiable Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged intensive care unit length of stay (prICULOS) following cardiac surgery (CS) in older adults is increasingly common but rehospitalization characteristics and outcomes are understudied. We sought to describe the rehospitalization characteristics and subsequent non-institutionalized survival of prICULOS (ICULOS ≥5 days) patients and identify modifiable risk factors to decrease 30-day rehospitalization. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2011 were analyzed utilizing linked clinical and administrative databases. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with 30-day rehospitalization. Out of 9210 consecutive patients discharged from the hospital alive, 596 (6.5%) experienced prICULOS. Cumulative incidence of rehospitalization for the prICULOS cohort at 30 and 365 days was 17.5% and 45.6% versus 11.4% and 28.1% for non-prICULOS (P<0.01). Over 40% of rehospitalizations for the entire cohort occurred within 30 days of discharge costing over $12 million. The most common reasons for rehospitalization were heart failure (in prICULOS) and infection (in non-prICULOS). Rehospitalization within 30 days was associated with a 2.29-fold risk of poor 1-year noninstitutionalized survival for the entire cohort. Potentially modifiable factors affecting 30-day rehospitalization included lack of physician visits within 30 days of discharge (odds ratio 2.11; P=0.01), and preoperative anxiety diagnosis (odds ratio 2.20; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PrICULOS patients have high rates of rehospitalization that is associated with an increased rate of poor noninstitutionalized survival. Addressing modifiable risk factors including early postdischarge access to physician services, as well as access to mental health services may improve patient outcomes.

Outcomes of octogenarians discharged from the hospital after prolonged intensive care unit length of stay after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Octogenarians offered complex cardiac surgery frequently experience a prolonged intensive care unit length of stay; however, minimal data exist on the outcomes of these patients. We sought to determine the rates and predictors of 1-year noninstitutionalized survival ("functional survival") and rehospitalization for octogenarian patients with prolonged intensive care unit length of stay after cardiac surgery and who were discharged from hospital. METHODS: The outcomes of discharged patients aged 80 years or more who underwent cardiac surgery with prolonged intensive care unit length of stay (≥5 consecutive days) from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2011, were examined retrospectively from linked clinical and administrative provincial databases. Regression analysis was used to determine predictors of 1-year functional survival and rehospitalization after discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: A total of 80 of 683 (11.7%) discharged octogenarian patients had prolonged intensive care unit length of stay. Functional survival at 1 year was 92% and 81% for those with nonprolonged and prolonged intensive care unit lengths of stay, respectively (P < .01). Lack of outpatient physician visits within 30 days of discharge (hazard ratio, 5.18; P < .01) was a significant predictor of poor 1-year functional survival. The 1-year rehospitalization rates were 38% and 48% for those with nonprolonged and prolonged intensive care unit lengths of stay, respectively, with 41% of all rehospitalizations occurring within 30 days of initial discharge. A rural residence (hazard ratio, 1.82; P < .01) and nosocomial pneumonia during patients' operative admissions (hazard ratio, 2.74; P < .01) were associated with rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Octogenarians with prolonged intensive care unit length of stay have acceptable functional survival at 1 year but have high rates of early rehospitalization. Access to health services may influence functional survival and early rehospitalizations. These data suggest that close follow-up of these vulnerable patients after hospital discharge is warranted.

Predictors of survival, functional survival, and hospital readmission in octogenarians after surgical aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze outcomes and predictors of functional survival (personal care home admission and mortality) and hospital readmission in patients aged ≥80 years who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in a Manitoba hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥80 years who underwent SAVR with or without coronary artery bypass grafting in Manitoba between 1995 and 2014. Data from the Manitoba Adult Cardiac Surgery database and the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy were used. Kaplan-Meier estimates of outcomes and Cox multivariate regression analysis of risk factors were performed. Survival was compared with that of age- and sex-matched life expectancy. RESULTS: A total of 1872 patients were aged ≥50 years and 378 were aged ≥80 years, 55% of whom (n = 208) underwent concurrent coronary artery bypass grafting. Compared with younger patients, octogenarians had higher in-hospital mortality (8.5%; P <.001), longer median intensive care unit stay (47.2 hours; P <.001), and longer median in-hospital stay (13 days; P <.001). The median follow-up was 5.2 years. Functional survival was 82.4% at 1 year and 56.5% at 5 years, and freedom from hospital readmission was 61.5% at 1 year and 28.4% at 5 years. Survival approximated the age- and sex-matched life expectancy at 1 year (83.8%) and 5 years (60.8%). Preoperative atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease, female sex, postoperative acute kidney injury, and blood transfusion were associated with adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In eligible octogenarians, SAVR has acceptable 1- and 5-year functional survival and hospital readmission rates, but significant perioperative mortality and morbidity.

Analysis of Short- and Long-term Outcomes of Patients With Surgically Treated Left-sided Infective Endocarditis: A 5-Year Longitudinal Follow-up Study.

This study aims to analyze survival, repeat hospitalization, and risk factors for surgically treated left-sided endocarditis. Retrospective review of all 166 (114 native and 52 prosthetic) patients operated between January 2004 and March 2015 was performed. Long-term survival and repeat hospitalization data for 134 of 166 patients were obtained via linked clinical databases with the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival and hospital readmission and Cox multivariable regression analysis of factors influencing outcomes were performed. Survival at 1 and 5 years was 91% and 80%, respectively, and major adverse prosthesis-related event repeat hospitalization rates were 12% and 21%, respectively. Repeat hospitalization because of endocarditis was 7% and 11% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. Survival and repeat hospitalization were similar for aortic and mitral valves. Survival after surgically treated endocarditis was similar to survival for age-, sex-, and valve-matched surgical valve replacements for noninfectious indications (P = 0.53). Viridans Streptococci was the most common organism in native valve endocarditis, and culture negative endocarditis was most common in prosthetic valves. Prosthetic valve endocarditis (P < 0.01) and preoperative renal dysfunction (P < 0.01) were risk factors for in-hospital mortality and major postoperative adverse events. Diabetes and renal dysfunction were associated with poor long-term survival, functional survival, and repeat hospitalization. This analysis suggests that surgery remains a very effective tool in management of these complex patients in terms of survival and major adverse prosthesis-related event repeat hospitalization.

Long-Term Outcome and Predictors of Noninstitutionalized Survival Subsequent to Prolonged Intensive Care Unit Stay After Cardiac Surgical Procedures.

BACKGROUND: There are minimal data on long-term functional survival (alive and not institutionalized) in patients undergoing cardiac operations who require a prolonged intensive care unit length of stay (prICULOS). We sought to describe 1- and 5-year functional survival in patients who had a prICULOS (ICULOS ≥ 5 days) and determine predictors of functional survival at 1 year. METHODS: Data were obtained from linked clinical and administrative databases from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2011 to conduct this retrospective single-region analysis. Logistic regression was used to develop a model predicting functional survival at 1 year for patients who had a prICULOS after cardiac operations. RESULTS: There were 9,545 admissions to the ICU after cardiac operations; of these patients, 728 (7.6%) experienced a prICULOS. There was an increasing trend in patients who had a prICULOS over this study period. The functional survival at 1 and 5 years from the surgical procedure for the non-prICULOS versus the prICULOS cohort was 1 year (94.9% versus 73.9%) and 5 years (84.9% versus 53.8%) (p < 0.001). Factors associated with lower rates of functional survival at 1 year were age 80 years or older, female sex, peripheral vascular disease, preoperative renal dysfunction, cerebrovascular disease, preoperative infection, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation/ventricular assist device (ECMO/VAD) after cardiotomy, number of days on mechanical ventilation, and number of days in the ICU beyond 5 days (area under the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve = 0.766). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients who had a prICULOS experienced successful functional survival up to 5 years after cardiac operations. Identification of risk factors for poor functional survival may be of assistance to clinicians, patients, and families for prognostication and decision making.

Association of Pre-hospital ECG Administration With Clinical Outcomes in ST-Segment Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Delays in reperfusion for patients with myocardial ischemia leads to increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of this review was to identify, evaluate, and critically appraise the evidence on whether pre-hospital electrocardiography (ECG) reduces patient mortality and improves post-ST-segment myocardial infarction patient-oriented outcomes. METHODS: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (1990-2015) for controlled clinical studies. We also searched conference proceedings, trial registries, and reference lists of narrative and systematic reviews. Two reviewers independently identified and extracted data from studies that compared pre-hospital ECG with standard of care in patients with suspected myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Internal validity was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: We screened 21,197 citations and included 63 unique studies (plus 22 companion publications). Most studies were of moderate quality. Pre-hospital ECG was associated with significantly fewer deaths (relative risk, 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.74; 45 studies; 71,315 patients; I2, 0%), reduced time to reperfusion (mean difference, -35.32 minutes; 95% CI, -44.02 to -26.61; 26 studies; 27,524 patients; I2, 97%), shorter hospital stays (mean difference, -0.63 days; 95% CI, -1.05 to -0.20; 10 studies; 39,275 patients; I2, 39%), and more patients had first medical contact to device time < 90 minutes than standard of care (relative risk, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.52-2.07; 11 studies; 20,991patients; I2, 93%). CONCLUSIONS: Use of pre-hospital ECG is associated with decreased mortality and overall better patient outcomes.

Analysis of the learning curve in telerobotic, beating heart coronary artery bypass grafting: a 90 patient experience.

BACKGROUND: Recent articles have commented on the "learning curve" in robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting. We systematically studied this phenomenon using standard statistical and cumulative sum (CUSUM) failure methods. METHODS: Ninety patients underwent internal thoracic artery (ITA) takedown and an attempt at ITA to coronary bypass on the beating heart using the Zeus telerobotic system from September 1999 to December 2001. The rates of mortality and 11 predefined major complications were compared in five quintiles of 18 consecutive patients each and a CUSUM curve was generated for the entire cohort. RESULTS: All patients but one underwent successful endoscopic ITA takedown. Thirteen patients had a totally endoscopic anastomosis, whereas in 61 a small mini-thoracotomy or mini-sternotomy was used. Sixteen patients (17.8%) were converted electively to a sternotomy: 11 patients underwent off-pump and 5 patients on-pump surgery. There were no deaths; 13 patients (14.4%) incurred one or more of the 11 major complication(s), including 5, 1, 2, 3, and 2 in each of the five quintiles (p = 0.39). Standard statistical analyses identified a significant decrease in operating room time (p < 0.0001), as well as a decrease in the incidence of an occluded graft or wrong vessel grafted from quintiles 1 to 5 (p = 0.03). On CUSUM analysis, the failure curve was steep for the first 18 to 20 patients, before moderating its slope for the remainder of the experience. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic ITA to coronary bypass on the beating heart has a moderately steep learning curve, which is mitigated by further experience. CUSUM analysis complimented standard statistical methods in detecting a cluster of suboptimal results during the early experience with this procedure.

Extracorporeal femoral to carotid artery perfusion in selective brain cooling for a giant aneurysm. Case report.

Giant partially thrombosed intracranial aneurysms are a challenge to treat surgically, and they are also unsuitable for coil embolization. The current options for treatment include extracranial-intracranial bypass followed by parent artery occlusion or direct surgical occlusion in which deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is used. The authors report the use of another approach in the treatment of a giant anterior circulation aneurysm: selective brain cooling accomplished by extracorporeal perfusion. This facilitated direct surgery on a 4.2-cm, partially thrombosed aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). A brain temperature of 22 degrees C was achieved after 20 minutes of perfusion with blood cooled using an extracorporeal technique of femoral-common carotid artery perfusion. This was followed by a 20-minute period of surgical trapping of the MCA, then evacuation and clip occlusion of the aneurysm. During the period of selective brain cooling the patient's core body temperature was maintained above 35 degrees C. This technique of selective brain cooling may be a useful alternative to currently available surgical and endovascular methods of treatment for giant aneurysms.

Hybrid approach for minimally-invasive operative therapy of arrhythmias.

The failure of linear radiofrequency lesions to effectively replace operative therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) is largely related to the inability to produce complete lines of conduction block. While pulmonary vein ablation enjoys success in patients with paroxysmal AF, patients with persistent AF and permanent AF fair less well. As such, a minimally-invasive, preferably "off pump" robotically-assisted procedure for complex arrhythmias like AF remains highly desirable. The shift to access from a mini-thoracotomy or port access will limit visualization and direct access to the ablation target. For the most part, the tools to overcome these limitations are not yet developed. As these develop, it is critical for the electrophysiologic effects of the delivered lesions to be assessed. With the development of non-fluoroscopic mapping systems and advances in imaging, a hybrid operative, electrophysiology (EP) suite can be equipped to provide full support for the surgeon and electrophysiologist. This will provide the opportunity to assess the efficacy and safety of ablation lesions, ideally with direct feedback to the surgeon. A hybrid approach will provide the opportunity to gain insights into the success and failure of specific ablation tools, approaches and lesions. This step will be crucial in understanding why specific procedures ultimately fail to cure AF and other complex arrhythmias.

Robotic Surgery, the First 100 Cases: Where Do We Go from Here?

Abstract Background: Since the robot-assisted cardiac surgery program at this center was initiated in September 1998 the results have been regularly critically evaluated. We report a retrospective review of the first 100 robotic procedures and their evolution. Methods: Between September 1998 and May 2001, 146 patients underwent robot-assisted procedures. All procedures were performed using the Aesop robotically controlled camera or the Zeus robotic system. A harmonic scalpel was used for all internal thoracic artery (ITA) dissections whether the dissections were performed manually or with the Zeus robotic system. Results: There were 123 closed-heart and 23 open-heart procedures, which included 8 atrial-septal defect repairs, 11 mitral valve repairs, 4 mitral valve replacements, 57 Aesop ITA takedowns, 68 Zeus ITA takedowns, and 13 totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafts. Graft patency in Aesop and Zeus ITA takedown groups was 96%. All the patients were New York Heart Association class I after their procedures. Conclusion: With the development of surgical robots, it has been possible to perform endoscopic cardiac surgery for selected cases. Future directions will be demonstrated, including telementoring, telesurgery, and Zeus-assisted initiatives in cardiac surgery and other surgical disciplines.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of rheumatic heart disease prevention strategies.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), secondary to group A streptococcal infection is endemic in the developing as well as parts of the developed world with significant costs to the patient, and to the healthcare system. We briefly review the prevalence and cost of RHD in developed and developing nations. We subsequently develop a Markov model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three strategies (vs standard no prevention) for preventing RHD in a developing world country: primary prophylaxis (throat swab to detect and subsequently treat group A streptococci as needed); primary prophylaxis (antibiotic prophylaxis for all) with benzathine penicillin G once monthly to all patients (ages 5-21 years) regardless of evidence of infection; and secondary prophylaxis with monthly only to those with echocardiographic evidence of early RHD. Our model suggests that echocardiographic screening and secondary prophylaxis is the best strategy although the strategies change depending on parameters used.

Longer in-hospital wait times do not result in worse outcomes for patients requiring urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: In certain health care systems, patients wait for non-emergency services. Although waiting may not be considered acceptable, the delay may allow for patient optimization, such as giving time for "toxic" agents to be cleared, that could improve outcomes. We sought to determine the relationship between wait times and outcomes in in-hospital patients undergoing urgent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospectively collected database of consecutive, medically urgent, but clinically stable patients undergoing CABG surgery from 1995 to 2007, was analyzed. A total of 3067 patients with need for urgent CABG surgery with various in-hospital wait times (n = 440, 0-2 days; n = 799, 3-5 days; n = 1317, 6-10 days; n = 511, 11-15 days) were included. There were no differences in mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) or post-surgery hospital length of stay (LOS) among the patient groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that wait time was not associated with mortality (P = 0.625). Due to changes in the nonsurgical management of coronary artery disease, a separate analysis of patients, from 2002 to 2007, was also performed to explore contemporary results. In the latter subset, 1495 patients (n = 175, 341, 720, 259, in the same 4 respective wait-time groups) were included; the 0-2 days patient group underwent more blood transfusions (50% vs 38%; P = 0.01), prolonged ventilation (6% vs 2%; P = 0.05), post-operative dialysis (2% vs 0%; P = 0.08), and longer ICU LOS (26 vs 23 hours; P = 0.02) compared with the 3-5 days patient group. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons mortality risk scores of the 0-2 days and 3-5 days groups were the same (1.5%). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that increased wait time was associated with fewer patients requiring blood transfusion (P < 0.05) for CABG surgery. CONCLUSION: Waiting for in-hospital urgent CABG surgery does not lead to worse patient outcomes and may, in fact, reduce the procedural and medical risks of postoperative blood transfusions, prolonged ventilation, dialysis, and shorten ICU LOS.