"There's So Much That They're Enduring": Experiences of Older Adults Undergoing Major Elective Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study aimed to explore the psychosocial experience of older adults undergoing major elective surgery from the perspective of both the patient and family caregiver. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Older adults face unique psychological and social vulnerabilities that can increase susceptibility to poor health outcomes. How these vulnerabilities influence surgical treatment and recovery is understudied in the geriatric surgical population. METHODS: Adults aged 65 and older undergoing a high-risk major elective surgery at the University of California, San Francisco and their caregivers were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at three time points: 1-2 weeks before surgery, and at 1- and 3-months following surgery. An inductive qualitative approach was used to identify underlying themes. RESULTS: Twenty-five older adult patients (age range 65-82 years, 60% male) and 11 caregivers (age range 53-78 years, 82% female) participated. Three themes were identified. First, older surgical patients experienced significant challenges to emotional well-being both before and after surgery, which had a negative impact on recovery. Second, older adults relied on a combination of personal and social resources to navigate these challenges. Lastly, both patients and caregivers desired more resources from the healthcare system to address "the emotional piece" of surgical treatment and recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults and their caregivers described multiple overlapping challenges to emotional well-being that spanned the course of the perioperative period. Our findings highlight a critical component of perioperative care with significant implications for the recovery of older surgical patients.

Heritable thoracic aortic disease: a literature review on genetic aortopathies and current surgical management.

Heritable thoracic aortic disease puts patients at risk for aortic aneurysms, rupture, and dissections. The diagnosis and management of this heterogenous patient population continues to evolve. Last year, the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee published diagnosis and management guidelines for aortic disease, which included those with genetic aortopathies. Additionally, evolving research studying the implications of underlying genetic aberrations with new genetic testing continues to become available. In this review, we evaluate the current literature surrounding the diagnosis and management of heritable thoracic aortic disease, as well as novel therapeutic approaches and future directions of research.

Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest With Retrograde Cerebral Perfusion: How Long Is Safe?

BACKGROUND: Cerebral protection strategies during proximal aortic repair remains controversial due to lack of evidence and large patient cohort studies. We herein evaluated our 3-decade experience using hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion (DHCA/RCP) to evaluate for its safety and safe duration during proximal aortic repair. METHODS: All proximal aortic repairs using DHCA/RCP from January 1991 to December 2020 performed at our institution were included in the analyses. Perioperative variables were evaluated for mortality and cerebrovascular accident (CVA; combined stroke and transient ischemic attack). RESULTS: In all, 1429 repairs were performed using DHCA/RCP. Of these, 464 (32%) were acute aortic dissection and 297 (21%) were resternotomy. The median age was 61 years (interquartile range 50-70 years). Operative mortality was 8.9% and CVA occurred in 8.4% (stroke 7.8%, transient ischemic attack 0.6%). There was a linear relationship between the RCP time and the incidence of immediate postoperative CVA. Incidence of CVA was less than 5% when RCP time was less than 20 minutes, 6.3% at 30 minutes, and 11.5% at 60 minutes. Multivariable analysis demonstrated acute type A aortic dissection (odds ratio 2.58, 95% CI1.49-4.48, P = .001) was the only predictor for postoperative CVA but RCP time was not (odds ratio 0.991, 95% CI 0.962-1.02, P = .527). CONCLUSIONS: DHCA/RCA provided satisfactory outcomes after proximal aortic operations. The safe duration of RCP with DHCA was up to 30 minutes in our experience. When the circulatory arrest time is expected to exceed 60 minutes, other adjuncts for cerebral protection should be recommended.

Reappraisal of the role of motor and somatosensory evoked potentials during open distal aortic repair.

OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative motor and somatosensory evoked potentials have been applied to monitor spinal cord ischemia during repair. However, their predictive values remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials on spinal cord ischemia during open distal aortic repair. METHODS: Our group began routine use of both somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials at the end of 2004. This study used a historical cohort design, using risk factor and outcome data from our department's prospective registry. Univariate and multivariable statistics for risk-adjusted effects of motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials on neurologic outcome and model discrimination were assessed with receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Both somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials were measured in 822 patients undergoing open distal aortic repair between December 2004 and December 2019. Both motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials were intact for the duration of surgery in 348 patients (42%). Isolated motor evoked potential loss was observed in 283 patients (34%), isolated somatosensory evoked potential loss was observed in 18 patients (3%), and both motor evoked potential and somatosensory evoked potential loss were observed in 173 patients (21%). No spinal cord ischemia occurred in the 18 cases with isolated somatosensory evoked potential loss. When both signals were lost, signal loss happened in the order of motor evoked potentials and then somatosensory evoked potentials. Immediate spinal cord ischemia occurred in none of those without signal loss, 4 of 283 (1%) with isolated motor evoked potential loss, and 15 of 173 (9%) with motor evoked potential plus somatosensory evoked potential loss. Delayed spinal cord ischemia occurred in 12 of 348 patients (3%) with intact evoked potentials, 24 of 283 patients (8%) with isolated motor evoked potentials loss, and 27 of 173 patients (15%) with motor evoked potentials + somatosensory evoked potentials loss (P < .001). Motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials loss were each independently associated with spinal cord ischemia. For immediate spinal cord ischemia, no return of motor evoked potential signals at the conclusion of the surgery had the highest odds ratio of 15.87, with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.936, whereas motor evoked potential loss had the highest odds ratio of 3.72 with an area under the curve of 0.638 for delayed spinal cord ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials are both important monitoring measures to predict and prevent spinal cord ischemia during and after open distal aortic repairs. Intraoperative motor evoked potential loss is a risk for immediate and delayed spinal cord ischemia after open distal aortic repair, and somatosensory evoked potential loss further adds predictive value to the motor evoked potential.

Endovascular treatment of complicated versus uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to analyze the outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair performed for complicated and uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissections. METHODS: Patients from WL Gore's Global Registry for Endovascular Aortic Treatment who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair for acute type B aortic dissections were included, and data were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of 5014 patients enrolled in the Global Registry for Endovascular Aortic Treatment, 172 underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair for acute type B aortic dissections. Of these repairs, 102 were for complicated acute type B aortic dissections and 70 were for uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissections. There were 46 (45.1%) procedures related to aortic branch vessels versus 15 (21.4%) in complicated type B aortic dissections and uncomplicated type B aortic dissections (P = .002). The mean length of stay was 14.3 ± 10.6 days (median, 11; range, 2-75) versus 9.8 ± 7.9 days (median, 8; range, 0-42) in those with complicated type B aortic dissections versus those with uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissections (P < .001). Thirty-day mortality was not different between groups (complicated type B aortic dissections 2.9% vs uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissections 1.4%, P = .647), as well as aortic complications (8.8% vs 5.7%, P = .449). Aortic event-free survival was 62.9% ± 37.1% versus 70.6% ± 29.3% at 3 years (P = .696). CONCLUSIONS: In the Global Registry for Endovascular Aortic Treatment, thoracic endovascular aortic repair results for complicated type B aortic dissections versus uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissections showed that 30-day mortality and perioperative complications were equally low for both. The midterm outcome was positive. These data confirm that thoracic endovascular aortic repair as the first-line strategy for treating complicated type B dissections is associated with a low risk of complications. Further studies with longer follow-up are necessary to define the role of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in uncomplicated acute type B dissections compared with medical therapy. However, in the absence of level A evidence from randomized trials, results of the uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissection patient cohort treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair from registries are important to understand the related risk and benefit.

Rapid cooling is a safe technique in patients undergoing circulatory arrest for aortic repair.

Objective: To evaluate our institutional experience with rapid cooling for hypothermic circulatory arrest in proximal aortic repair. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 2171 patients who underwent proximal aortic surgery requiring hypothermic circulatory arrest between 1991 and 2020. Cooling times were divided into quartiles and clinical outcome event rates were compared across quartiles using contingency table methods. Incremental effect of cooling time was assessed in the context of other perfusion time variables using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Median age was 61 years (interquartile range, 49-70 years) and 34.1% of patients were women. The procedure was emergent in 33.5% of patients, 22.9% had a previous sternotomy. The median circulatory arrest time was 22 minutes, with retrograde cerebral perfusion used in 94% of cases. Median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 149 minutes, with an aortic crossclamp time of 90 minutes. Patients were cooled to deep hypothermia. The first quartile had cooling times ranging from 5 to 13 minutes, second 14 to 18 minutes, third 19-23 minutes, and fourth 24-81 minutes. Overall, 30-day mortality was 9.4%, and was not significantly different across quartiles. There was a statistically significant trend toward lower rates of postoperative encephalopathy, gastrointestinal complications, and respiratory failure with shorter cooling times (P < .001, .006, and < .001, respectively). There was no significant difference in rates of postoperative stroke or dialysis. Conclusions: Rapid cooling can be performed safely in patients undergoing aortic surgery requiring circulatory arrest without increasing mortality or stroke. There were significantly lower rates of coagulopathy, respiratory failure, and postoperative encephalopathy with shorter cooling times.

In vivo evaluation of a new hybrid graft using retrograde visceral perfusion for thoracoabdominal aortic repair in an animal model.

Objectives: The SPIDER technique for hybrid thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair can avoid thoracotomy and extracorporeal circulation. To improve technical feasibility and safety, the new Thoracoflo graft, consisting of a proximal stent graft connected to a 7-branched abdominal prosthesis, was evaluated in a pig model for technical feasibility testing, before implantation in humans. Methods: Retroperitoneal exposure of the infradiaphragmatic aorta, including visceral and renal arteries, was performed in 7 pigs (75-85 kg). One iliac branch was temporarily attached to the distal aorta to maintain retrograde visceral and antegrade iliac perfusion after deployment of the thoracic stent graft segment (SPIDER technique). The proximal stent-grafted segment was deployed in the thoracic aorta via direct aortic puncture over the wire without fluoroscopy. The graft was deaired before flow via the iliac side branch to the visceral and iliac arteries was established. Visceral, renal, and lumbar arteries were subsequently sutured to the corresponding side branches of the graft. Technical feasibility, operating and clamping time, blood flow, and tissue perfusion in the related organs were evaluated before implantation and after 3 and 6 hours using transit-time flow measurement and fluorescent microspheres. Final angiography or postprocedural computed tomography angiography were performed. Results: Over-the-wire graft deployment was successful in 6 animals without hemodynamic alteration (P = n.s.). In 1 pig, the proximal stent graft section migrated as the guidewire was not removed, as recommended, before release of the proximal fixation wire. Angiography and computed tomography scan confirmed successful graft implantation and transit-time flow measurement confirmed good visceral and iliac blood flow. Fluorescent microspheres confirmed good spinal cord perfusion. Conclusions: Over-the-wire implantation of the Thoracoflo graft using the SPIDER technique is feasible in a pig model. No fluoroscopy was required. For safe implantation, it is mandatory to follow the single steps of implantation.

Extensive cell salvage and postoperative outcomes following thoracoabdominal and descending aortic repair.

OBJECTIVE: Cell salvage (CS) reduces intraoperative blood transfusion. However, it may cause deformity of the red blood cells and loss of coagulation factors, which may lead to unwanted sequelae. Thus, we hypothesized that extensive CS would lead to adverse outcomes after descending/thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (D/TAAA) repair. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2017, 2012 patients undergoing D/TAAA repair were retrospectively reviewed. After we excluded patients without reported intraoperative CS amount, patients were enrolled in the study (N = 1474) and divided into 2 groups: low CS (salvaged units <40, N = 983) and high CS (salvaged units ≥40, N = 491). Analyses were performed to verify the extensive CS as the risk factor for adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Preoperative demographics showed that the high-CS group had a significantly greater incidence of male patients (72% vs 58%), heritable aortic disease (24% vs 17%), redo (27% vs 20%), greater glomerular filtration rate (mL/min/1.73 m2, 75 vs 66) and more extensive aneurysms (TAAA extent II-IV). The high-CS group had significantly more postoperative complications compared with the low-CS group, including respiratory failure, renal failure, cardiac complications, neurologic deficits, bleeding, and 30-day mortality. Multivariable analysis confirmed high CS was an independent risk factor for renal failure along with long bypass time, older age, and extent of repairs. There was an incremental risk of renal failure and 30-day mortality proportional to salvaged cell unit (P < .001 in both). CONCLUSIONS: Increased salvaged cell units were associated with adverse postoperative outcomes after D/TAAA repairs. Risk of renal failure and mortality increased proportionally to the salvaged cell units.

Type A Acute Aortic Dissection Presenting With Cerebrovascular Accident at Advanced Age.

Our aim was to analyze outcomes of patients aged 70 years or above presenting with type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA). A retrospective analysis of the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) was conducted. Patients aged 70 years or above (n = 1449) were stratified according to presence or absence of CVA before surgery (CVA: n = 110, 7.6%). In-hospital outcomes and mortality up to 5 years were analyzed. Additionally, in-hospital outcomes of patients who received medical management were described. No patient presenting with CVA over the age of 87 years underwent surgery. The rates of in-hospital mortality and post-operative CVA were significantly higher in patients presenting with CVA (in-hospital mortality: 32.7% vs 21.7%, P = 0.008; post-operative CVA: 23.4% vs 8.3%, P < 0.001). Presence of CVA was independently associated with significantly increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval 1.35 - 6.60, P = 0.007). In survivors of the hospital stay, presenting CVA had no independent influence on mortality up to 5 years (hazard ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 0.99 - 2.31, P = 0.54). In medically managed patients, exceedingly high rates of in-hospital mortality (71.4%) and CVA (90.9%) were noted. Patients presenting with TAAAD and CVA at ≥ 70 years of age are at significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality, although long-term mortality is not affected in hospital survivors. Medical management is associated with poor outcomes. We believe that surgical management should be offered after critical assessment of comorbidities.

In-hospital outcomes and long-term survival of women of childbearing age with aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we defined the outcomes and effects of pregnancy in a cohort of women of childbearing age with acute aortic dissection (AAD). METHODS: We reviewed our database of AAD to identify all eligible female patients. Women aged <45 years were included. Data on pregnancy timing with respect to the occurrence of dissection, the demographic data, dissection extent, dissection treatment, dissection-related outcomes, overall maternal and fetal mortality, and genetic testing results were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 62 women aged <45 years had presented to us with AAD from 1999 to 2017. Of the 62 women, 37 (60%) had had a history of pregnancy at AAD. Of these 37 patients, 10 (27%) had had a peripartum aortic dissection, defined as dissection during pregnancy or within 12 months postpartum. Of the 10 AADs, 5 were type A and 5 were type B. Three patients had presented with AAD during pregnancy (one in the second and two in the third trimester). Five patients (50%) had developed AAD in the immediate postpartum period (within 3 months) and two (20%) in the late postpartum period. For the immediate postpartum AADs (<3 months), four of the five patients delivered via cesarean section. Of these 10 peripartum AADs, 3 (30%) had occurred in patients with known Marfan syndrome. In-hospital mortality for those with peripartum AAD was 10% (1 of 10). Fetal mortality was 20% (2 of 10). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of aortic dissection in women of childbearing age at our institution was low. However, pregnancy might increase the risk of those young women genetically predisposed to dissection events. From these data, this risk appears to be greatest in the immediate postpartum period, even for those who undergo cesarean section. Close clinical and radiographic surveillance is required for all women with suspected aortopathy, especially in the third trimester and early postpartum period.

Effectiveness of Standard Local Anesthetic Bupivacaine and Liposomal Bupivacaine for Postoperative Pain Control in Patients Undergoing Truncal Incisions: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Liposomal bupivacaine for pain relief is purported to last 3 days compared with 8 hours with standard bupivacaine. However, its effectiveness is unknown in truncal incisions for cardiothoracic or vascular operations. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of single-administration standard bupivacaine vs liposomal bupivacaine in patients undergoing truncal incisions. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial enrolled patients undergoing sternotomy, thoracotomy, minithoracotomy, and laparotomy from a single cardiovascular surgery department in an academic medical center between November 2012 and June 2018. The study was powered to detect a Cohen effect size of 0.35 with a power of greater than 80%. Data analysis was performed from July to December 2018. Intervention: Patients were randomized to standard bupivacaine or liposomal bupivacaine. Main Outcomes and Measures: Pain was assessed over 3 postoperative days by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Adjunctive opioids were converted to morphine equivalents units (MEU). NRS scores were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum (3-day area under the curve) and 2-way nonparametric mixed models (daily scale score) to assess time-by-group interaction. Secondary outcomes included cumulative opioid consumption. Results: A total of 280 patients were analyzed, with 140 in each group (single-administration standard bupivacaine vs liposomal bupivacaine). Mean (SD) age was 60.2 (14.4) years, and 101 of 280 patients (36%) were women. Irrespective of treatment assignment, pain decreased by a mean of approximately 1 point per day over 3 days (ß = -0.87; SE = 0.11; mixed model regression P < .001). Incision type was associated with pain with patients undergoing thoracotomy (including minithoracotomy) reporting highest median (interquartile range [IQR]) pain scores on postoperative days 1 (liposomal vs standard bupivacaine, 6 [4-8] vs 5 [3-7]; P = .049, Wilcoxon rank-sum) and 2 (liposomal vs standard bupivacaine, 5 [4-7] vs 4 [2-6]; P = .003, Wilcoxon rank-sum) but not day 3 (liposomal vs standard bupivacaine, 3 [2-6] vs 3 [1-5]; P = .10, Wilcoxon rank-sum), irrespective of treatment group. Median (IQR) 3-day cumulative NRS was 12.0 (8.0-16.5) for bupivacaine and 13.5 (9.0-17.0) for liposomal bupivacaine (P = .15, Wilcoxon rank-sum) Furthermore, use of opioids was greater following liposomal bupivacaine compared with standard bupivacaine (median [IQR], 41.5 [21.3-73.8] MEU vs 33.0 [17.8-62.5] MEU; P = .03, Wilcoxon rank-sum). On multivariable analysis, no interaction by incision type was observed for mean pain scores or opioid use. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial involving truncal incisions for cardiovascular procedures, liposomal bupivacaine did not provide improved pain control and did not reduce adjunctive opioid use compared with conventional bupivacaine formulation over 3 postoperative days. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02111746.

Resection and replacement of thoracic aortic graft infections.

OBJECTIVES: Thoracic aortic graft infection (TAGI) presents a formidable challenge with high mortality. We evaluated our 22-year experience managing TAGI with extensive debridement, graft replacement, vascularized tissue coverage, and aggressive antibiotics. METHODS: We reviewed all consecutive patients with TAGI from 1991 to 2013. We also compared infected cases versus noninfected reoperative controls using a case-control design. Standard statistical methods were used for descriptive analysis, and Kaplan-Meier for survival analysis. RESULTS: We treated 32 TAGI patients, involving 19 ascending/arch (A/A) and 13 descending/thoracoabdominal (D/TAA) grafts, including 4 endografts. In total, 19 (59.4%) presented with pseudoaneurysm and 11 (34.4%) with aortic fistula. Vascularized tissue (omentum or muscle) coverage was possible in 22 (71.0%) patients. Thirty-day mortality occurred in 3 (9.4%) patients, with no 30-day mortality among those receiving vascularized graft coverage (P = .018). During follow-up, reinfection occurred in 8 patients (25% [4 A/A and 4 D/TAA]). Five-year overall (A/A 45.4% vs D/TAA 28.9%, P = .434) and reinfection-free (A/A 19.2%, D/TAA 27%, P = .409) survival was similar between groups. Long-term mortality was greater after endograft infection (100% vs 25% at 2.5 months, P = .0007) or aortobronchial fistulization (100% vs 37.9% at 6 months, P = .026). Time to reintervention was shorter in infected versus non-infected reoperative cases (31 vs 83 months, P < .0001), but there were no significant differences in long-term mortality after reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: TAGI continues to represent a highly morbid surgical challenge. Prompt antimicrobial coverage, debridement, graft replacement, and vascularized graft coverage, yielded best long-term results. Endograft infection and aortobronchial fistula had very poor prognoses.

Outcomes of open repairs of chronic distal aortic dissection anatomically amenable to endovascular repairs.

OBJECTIVE: To review short-term outcomes and long-term survival and durability after open surgical repairs for chronic distal aortic dissections in patients whose anatomy was amenable to thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: Between February 1991 and August 2017, we repaired chronic distal dissections in 697 patients. Of those patients, we enrolled 427 with anatomy amenable to TEVAR, which included 314 descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAAs) and 105 extent I thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). One hundred eighty-five patients (44%) had a history of type A dissection, and 33 (7.9%) had a previous DTAA/TAAA repair. Variables were assessed with logistic regression for 30-day mortality and Cox regression for long-term mortality. Time-to-event analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was 8.4% (n = 36). In all, 22 patients (5.2%) developed motor deficit (paraplegia/paraparesis), and 17 (4.0%) experienced stroke. Multivariable analysis identified low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; <60 mL/min/1.73 m2), previous DTAA/TAAA repair, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as associated with 30-day mortality. Patients without all 3 risk factors had a 30-day mortality rate of 2.6%. During a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 160 patients died. The survival rate was 81% at 1 year and 61% at 10 years. Cox regression analysis identified preoperative aortic rupture, eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, previous DTAA/TAAA repair, COPD, and age >60 years as predictive of long-term mortality. Forty-five patients required subsequent aortic procedures, including 8 reinterventions to the treated segment. Freedom from any aortic procedures was 85% at 10 years, and aortic procedure-free survival was 45% at 10 years. Hereditary aortic disease was the sole predictor for any aortic interventions (hazard ratio, 3.2; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Open surgical repair provided satisfactory low neurologic complication rates and durable repairs in chronic distal aortic dissection. Patients without low eGFR, redo, and COPD are the low-risk surgical candidates and may benefit from open surgical repair at centers with similar experience to ours. Patients with hereditary aortic disease warrant close surveillance.

Persistent Opioid Use After Open Aortic Surgery: Risk Factors, Costs, and Consequences.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and financial impact of persistent opioid use (POU) after open aortic surgery is undefined. METHODS: Insurance claim data from opioid-naïve patients who underwent aortic root replacement, ascending aortic replacement, or transverse arch replacement from 2011 to 2017 were evaluated. POU was defined as filling an opioid prescription in the perioperative period and between 90 and 180 days postoperatively. Postoperative opioid prescriptions, emergency department visits, readmissions, and health care costs were quantified. Multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors for POU, and quantile regression quantified the impact of POU on postoperative health care costs. RESULTS: Among 3240 opioid-naïve patients undergoing open aortic surgery, 169 patients (5.2%) had POU. In the univariate analysis, patients with POU were prescribed more perioperative opioids (375 vs 225 morphine milligram equivalents, P < .001), had more emergency department visits (45.6% vs 25.4%, P < .001), and had significantly higher health care payments in the 6 months postoperatively ($10,947 vs $7223, P < .001). Independent risk factors for POU in the multivariable logistic regression included preoperative nicotine use and more opioids in the first perioperative prescription (all P < .05). After risk adjustment, POU was associated with a $2439 increase in total health care costs in the 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: POU is a challenge after open aortic operations and can have longer-term impacts on health care payments and emergency department visits in the 6 months after surgery. Strategies to reduce outpatient opioid use after aortic surgery should be encouraged when feasible.

Fewer Cardiopulmonary Complications and Shorter Length of Stay in Anterolateral Thoracolumbar Spine Exposures Using a Small-Incision Specialized Retractor System.

Objectives: One of the challenges of spine surgery is the need for adequate exposure of the anterolateral spinal column. Improved retractor systems with integrated lighting minimize the need for large thoracotomy, flank, or abdominal incisions. In 2013, we began using the NuVasive MaXcess® system via a minimal-access lateral incision for thoracic and thoracolumbar spine exposures. These small-access approaches may not offer adequate exposure when bleeding and other complications arise. We sought to determine the feasibility and outcomes of a minimal-access retractor during anterolateral spine exposures. Methods: An institutional-review-board-approved retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who underwent anterolateral thoracic and lumbosacral spine exposure at an academic hospital between December 1999 and April 2017. Cervical and posterior spine exposures were not included. Information regarding patient demographics, comorbid conditions, operative techniques, exposure, estimated blood loss, length of stay, and intraoperative and postoperative complications was collected. Data for standard exposure vs. minimally invasive exposures were compared. Results: Between December 1999 and April 2017, 223 anterolateral spinal exposures were performed at our institution. Of those, 122 (54.7%) patients had true lateral exposures, with 22 (18%) using the minimally invasive retractor. The mean age of our patient population was 57 years (19-89), with 65 (53%) men and a mean body mass index of 29.0 (17.4-58.6). In the standard exposure group, complications occurred in 22 (22%) patients, whereas only two (9%) complications occurred in the minimal-access group. There were no significant differences in overall intraoperative and postoperative complications, except for cardiopulmonary complications, which were reduced in the minimally invasive group (p < 0.019). Patients with minimally invasive exposure had a significantly shorter length of stay than those with standard exposure (7 vs. 13 days, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Minimal-access techniques using advanced retractor systems are both feasible and safe compared to standard techniques allowing for similar lateral spine exposure, but with smaller incisions, fewer cardiopulmonary complications, and shorter lengths of stay.

Heparin-bonded versus standard polytetrafluoroethylene arteriovenous grafts: A Bayesian perspective on a randomized controlled trial for comparative effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: Heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were marketed to improve hemodialysis access outcomes but are twice the cost of standard polytetrafluoroethylene. We launched a randomized trial of heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene versus standard polytetrafluoroethylene for hemodialysis access to compare patency. Since the trial began, additional studies were published with heterogeneous findings. We performed an interim analysis by Bayesian methods using prior probability from meta-analysis of existing literature. METHODS: NCT01601873 is a randomized, blinded trial of heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene versus standard polytetrafluoroethylene for dialysis access at 5 sites. Planned sample size was 200 with 1-year primary patency as the primary endpoint. At interim analysis (50% of sample size at 1 year), we also performed a meta-analysis for 1-year primary patency with a random effects model to compute summary rate ratio and standard-error estimates. Meta-analysis estimates formed a prior probability for a Bayesian Cox regression model, and trial data were reanalyzed to develop posterior probability of heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene effectiveness at our hypothesized effect size. Futility analysis was conducted using posterior probability estimates. RESULTS: One hundred and five patients were enrolled at the time of interim analysis. One-year primary patency was 34.9% in the heparin-bonded-polytetrafluoroethylene group vs 32.7% in the standard-polytetrafluoroethylene group (P = .884). Summary rate ratio from the meta-analysis (1,209 patients) was 0.87 favoring heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene (P = .33). Posterior hazard ratio from Cox regression was 0.90 (credible interval 0.70-1.13) favoring heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene, which was not significant. Bayesian posterior probability of the a priori hypothesized 20% better patency with heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene was 24%. Sample size to detect superiority with the small observed effect size would require about 3,800 subjects. CONCLUSION: Current evidence does not demonstrate sufficiently large benefit of heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene over standard polytetrafluoroethylene for dialysis access to justify higher cost. Given similar 1-year patency rates, a conclusive finding of superiority was judged to be infeasible, and the trial was stopped for futility.

Feasibility and Durability of the Modified Cabrol Coronary Artery Reattachment Technique.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the feasibility and durability of the modified Cabrol coronary reattachment technique after aortic root replacement. METHODS: The study retrospectively reviewed 370 patients who underwent aortic root replacement, during 1991 and 2018, and who were separated into 2 groups: a modified Carol (mCabrol) group (n = 84), consisting of patients with 1 or both coronary ostia reimplanted using a modified Cabrol technique; and a Carrel group (n = 286), consisting of patients with both coronary ostia reimplanted using the Carrel button technique. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups, except the mCabrol group had higher rates of redo sternotomy (74% vs 16%), chronic aortic dissection (58% vs 19%), and infection (14% vs 3%). In the mCabrol group, 60% had both coronary arteries reattached with the technique, and 40% of the procedures were unilateral. Operative mortality was significantly higher in mCabrol group compared with the Carrel group. However, in the stratified analysis for resternotomy, operative mortality between 2 groups were similar (16% vs 13%; P = .786). The survival rate at 5 years and 10 years was 68 ± 6% and 44 ± 6%, respectively, in the mCabrol group and 87 ± 2% and 80 ± 3%, respectively, in the Carrel group (log-rank P < .001). After propensity adjustment, chronic kidney disease and prior coronary artery bypass grafting, but not the modified Cabrol technique, were independent predictors of both operative mortality and follow-up mortality (operative, P = .518; follow-up, P = .080). A total of 47 (66%) of 71 discharged patients in the mCabrol group had follow-up imaging, and no Cabrol graft was occluded. Two patients in the mCabrol group required interventions related to the reattachment technique: 1 coronary ostial anastomosis stenosis and 1 graft-to-graft anastomosis pseudoaneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Cabrol reattachment technique was not predictive of increased mortality and has excellent patency.