Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A for the Prevention of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Epicardial injection of botulinum toxin may suppress POAF. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the safety and efficacy of AGN-151607 for the prevention of POAF after cardiac surgery. METHODS: This phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessed the safety and efficacy of AGN-151607, 125 U and 250 U vs placebo (1:1:1), for the prevention of POAF after cardiac surgery. Randomization was stratified by age (<65, ≥65 years) and type of surgery (nonvalvular/valve surgery). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of continuous AF ≥30 seconds. RESULTS: Among 312 modified intention-to-treat participants (placebo, n = 102; 125 U, n = 104; and 250 U, n = 106), the mean age was 66.9 ± 6.8 years; 17% were female; and 64% had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) only, 12% had CABG + valve, and 24% had valve surgery. The primary endpoint occurred in 46.1% of the placebo group, 36.5% of the 125-U group (relative risk [RR] vs placebo: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.58-1.10; P = 0.16), and 47.2% of the 250-U group (RR vs placebo: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.79-1.37; P = 0.78). The primary endpoint was reduced in the 125-U group in those ≥65 years (RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43-0.94; P = 0.02) with a greater reduction in CABG-only participants ≥65 years (RR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.27-0.87; P = 0.01). Rehospitalization and rates of adverse events were similar across the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in the rate of POAF with either dose compared with placebo; however, there was a lower rate of POAF in participants ≥65 years undergoing CABG only and receiving 125 U of AGN-151607. These hypothesis-generating findings require investigation in a larger, adequately powered randomized clinical trial. (Botulinum Toxin Type A [AGN-151607] for the Prevention of Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation in Adult Participants Undergoing Open-chest Cardiac Surgery [NOVA]; NCT03779841); A Phase 2, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Ranging Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A [AGN 151607] Injections into the Epicardial Fat Pads to Prevent Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Open-Chest Cardiac Surgery; 2017-004399-68).

Sex Bias in Prediction and Diagnosis of Cardiac Surgery Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Female sex has been recognized as a risk factor for cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI). The current study sought to evaluate whether female sex is a risk factor for CS-AKI, or modifies the association of peri-operative change in serum creatinine with CS-AKI. Methods: Observational study of adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 2000 and 2019 in a single U.S. center. The main variable of interest was registered patient sex, identified from electronic medical records. The main outcome was CS-AKI within 2 weeks of surgery. Results: Of 58526 patients, 19353 (33%) were female; 12934 (22%) incurred AKI based on ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or ≥ 50% rise in serum creatinine (any AKI), 3320 (5.7%) had moderate to severe AKI, and 1018 (1.7%) required dialysis within 2 weeks of surgery. Female sex was associated with higher risk for AKI in models that were based on preoperative serum creatinine (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.29-1.42), and lower risk with the use of estimated glomerular filtration, (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86-0.95). The risk for moderate to severe CS-AKI for a given immediate peri-operative change in serum creatinine was higher in female compared to male patients (p < .0001 and p < .0001 for non-linearity), and the association was modified by pre-operative kidney function (p < .0001 for interaction). Conclusions: The association of patient sex with CS-AKI and its direction was dependent on the operational definition of pre-operative kidney function, and differential outcome misclassification due to AKI defined by absolute change in serum creatinine.

Hemodynamic Determinants of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

OBJECTIVES: Examine the: 1) relative role of hemodynamic determinants of acute kidney injury (AKI) obtained in the immediate postcardiac surgery setting compared with established risk factors, 2) their predictive value, and 3) extent mediation via central venous pressure (CVP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. The main outcome of the study was moderate to severe AKI, per kidney disease: improving global outcomes, within 14 days of surgery. SETTING: U.S. academic medical center. PATIENTS: Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January 2000 and December 2019 (n = 40,426) in a single U.S.-based medical center. Pulmonary artery catheter measurements were performed at a median of 102 minutes (11, 132) following cardiopulmonary bypass discontinuation. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 67 years (58, 75), and 33% were female; 70% had chronic hypertension, 29% had congestive heart failure, and 3% had chronic kidney disease. In a multivariable model, which included comorbidities and traditional intraoperative risk factors, CVP (p < 0.0001), heart rate (p < 0.0001), cardiac index (p < 0.0001), and MAP (p < 0.0001), were strong predictors of AKI, and superseded factors such as surgery type and cardiopulmonary bypass duration. The cardiac index had a significant interaction with heart rate (p = 0.026); a faster heart rate had a differentiating effect on the relationship of cardiac index with AKI, where a higher heart rate heightened the risk of AKI primarily in patients with low cardiac output. There was also significant interaction observed between CVP and MAP (p = 0.009); where the combination of elevated CVP and low MAP had a synergistic effect on AKI incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic factors measured within a few hours of surgery showed a strong association with AKI. Furthermore, determinants of kidney perfusion, namely CVP and arterial pressure are interdependent; as are constituents of stroke volume, that is, cardiac output and heart rate.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes Associated With Permanent Pacemaker Implantation Following Tricuspid Valve Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation following tricuspid valve surgery (TVS) are limited. We sought to evaluate its incidence, risk factors, and outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Medicare beneficiaries who underwent TVS from 2013 to 2020 were identified. Patients who underwent TVS for endocarditis were excluded. The primary exposure of interest was new PPM after TVS. Outcomes included all-cause mortality and readmission with endocarditis or heart failure on follow-up. Among the 13 294 patients who underwent TVS, 2518 (18.9%) required PPM placement. Risk factors included female sex (relative risk [RR], 1.26 [95% CI, 1.17-1.36], P<0.0001), prior sternotomy (RR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.02-1.23], P=0.02), preoperative second-degree heart block (RR, 2.20 [95% CI, 1.81-2.69], P<0.0001), right bundle-branch block (RR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.03-1.41], P=0.019), bifascicular block (RR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.06-1.93], P=0.02), and prior malignancy (RR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.01-1.49], P=0.04). Tricuspid valve (TV) replacement was associated with a significantly higher risk of PPM implantation when compared with TV repair (RR, 3.20 [95% CI, 2.16-4.75], P<0.0001). After a median follow-up of 3.1 years, mortality was not different in patients who received PPM compared with patients who did not (hazard ratio [HR], 1.02 [95% CI, 0.93-1.12], P=0.7). PPM placement was not associated with a higher risk of endocarditis but was associated with a higher risk of heart failure readmission (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.14-1.43], P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PPM implantation frequently occurs after TVS, notably in female patients and patients undergoing TV replacement. Although mortality is not increased, it is associated with higher rates of heart failure rehospitalization.

Sex-Specific Prognosis of Left Ventricular Size and Function Following Repair of Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have demonstrated worse long-term outcomes for women after surgery for severe mitral regurgitation (MR). The current Class I indications for surgery for severe degenerative MR use cutoffs of left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) that do not account for known sex-related differences. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to assess long-term mortality following mitral valve repair in women compared with men on the basis of preoperative left ventricular systolic dimensions and EF. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent isolated mitral valve repair for degenerative MR at a single institution between 1994 and 2016 were screened. Adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality were compared according to baseline LVESD, LVESD indexed to body surface area (LVESDi), and EF for men and women. RESULTS: Among 4,589 patients, 1,825 were women (40%), and after a median follow-up period of 7.2 years, 344 patients (7.5%) had died. The risk for mortality for women increased from the baseline hazard at an LVESD of 3.6 cm, whereas an inflection point for increased risk with LVESD was not evident in men. Regarding LVESDi, the risk for women increased at 1.8 cm/m2 compared with 2.1 cm/m2 in men. For EF, women and men had a similar inflection point (58%); however, mortality was higher for women as EF decreased. CONCLUSIONS: After mitral valve repair, women have a higher risk for all-cause mortality at lower LVESD and LVESDi and higher EF. These results support consideration of sex-specific thresholds for LVESDi in surgical decision making for patients with severe MR.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 2023 clinical practice guidelines for the surgical management of atrial fibrillation incorporate the most recent evidence for surgical ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion in different clinical scenarios. Substantial new evidence regarding the risks and benefits of surgical left atrial appendage occlusion and the long-term benefits of surgical ablation has been produced in the last five years. In comparison to the 2017 clinical practice guideline, the current update has an emphasis on surgical ablation in first-time, non-emergent cardiac surgery and its long-term benefits, an extension of the recommendation to perform surgical ablation in all patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing first-time, non-emergent cardiac surgery and a new class I recommendation for left atrial appendage occlusion in all patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing first-time, non-emergent cardiac surgery. Further guidance is provided for patients with structural heart disease and atrial fibrillation being considered for transcatheter valve repair or replacement, as well as patients in need of isolated left atrial appendage management who are not candidates for surgical ablation. The importance of a multidisciplinary team assessment, treatment planning, and long-term follow-up are reiterated in this clinical practice guideline with a class I recommendation, along with the other recommendations from the 2017 guidelines which remained unchanged in their class of recommendation and level of evidence.

Predictors and outcomes of discharge to long-term acute care facilities after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: An increasing number of patients with significant comorbidities present for complex cardiac surgery, with a subgroup requiring discharge to long-term acute care facilities. We aim to examine predictors and mortality after discharge to a long-term acute care facility. METHODS: From January 1, 2015, to April 30, 2021, all adult cardiac surgeries were queried and patients discharged to long-term acute care facilities were identified. Baseline characteristics, procedures, and in-hospital complications were compared between long-term acute care facility and non-long-term acute care facility discharges. Random forest analysis was conducted to establish predictors of discharge to long-term acute care facilities. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to determine probability of survival over 7 years. Multivariate regression modeling was used to establish predictors of death after long-term acute care facility discharge. RESULTS: Of 29,884 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, 324 (1.1%) were discharged to a long-term acute care facility. The long-term acute care facility group had higher rates of urgent/emergency operation (54% vs 23%; 10% vs 3%, P < .001) and longer mean cardiopulmonary bypass (167 vs 110 minutes, P < .001). By random forest analysis, emergency/urgent status, longer cardiopulmonary bypass duration, redo surgery, endocarditis, and history of dialysis were the most predictive of discharge to a long-term acute care facility. Although the non-long-term acute care facility group demonstrated greater than 95% survival at 6 months, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed 28% 6-month mortality in the long-term acute care facility cohort. Random forest analysis demonstrated that chronic lung disease and postoperative respiratory complications were significant predictors of death at 6 months after discharge to a long-term acute care facility. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic lung and kidney disease undergoing prolonged procedures are at higher risk to be discharged to long-term acute care facilities after surgery with worse survival. Efforts to minimize postoperative respiratory complications may reduce mortality after discharge to long-term acute care facilities.

Echocardiography Versus Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quantification and Novel Algorithm for Isolated Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the first-line tool to evaluate isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) but it has limitations and its TR quantification compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been studied infrequently. We compared isolated severe TR quantification by TTE against MRI and developed a novel TTE-based algorithm. Isolated TR patients graded severe by TTE and who underwent MRI January 2007 to June 2019 were studied. The TTE and MRI measurements were analyzed by correlation, area under receiver-operative characteristics curve (AUC), and classification and regression tree algorithm of TTE parameters to best identify MRI-derived severe TR (regurgitant volume ≥45 ml and/or fraction ≥50%). A total of 108 of 262 (41%) that were graded as severe TR by TTE also had severe TR by MRI. There were moderate correlations between TTE and MRI in the quantification of TR severity and right atrial size (Pearson r = 0.428 to 0.645) but none to modest correlations between them in right ventricle quantification. The key TTE parameters to identify MRI-derived severe TR in the decision tree regression algorithm were right atrial volume indexed ≥47 ml/m2 and effective regurgitant orifice area ≥0.45 cm2 and especially if there is right ventricle free wall strain ≥ -9.5%. This novel algorithm has an AUC of 0.76% and 79% agreement to detect severe TR by MRI, which higher than the American Society of Echocardiography criteria with AUC 0.68% and 66% agreement (p = 0.006 and p <0.001, respectively). In conclusion, TTE-derived TR and right atrial quantification had moderate correlation and discrimination of severe TR by MRI, from which a novel TTE algorithm was derived, which had incrementally a higher accuracy than contemporary guidelines' criteria alone.

What determines outcomes in multivalve reoperations? Effect of patient and surgical complexity.

OBJECTIVE: Patient characteristics, risks, and outcomes associated with reoperative multivalve cardiac surgery are poorly characterized. Effect of patient variables and surgical components of each reoperation were evaluated with regard to operative mortality. METHODS: From January 2008 to January 2022, 2324 patients with previous cardiac surgery underwent 2352 reoperations involving repair or replacement of multiple cardiac valves at Cleveland Clinic. Mean age was 66 ± 14 years. Number of surgical components representing surgical complexity (valve procedures, aortic surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, and atrial fibrillation procedures) ranged from 2 to 6. Random forest for imbalanced data was used to identify risk factors for operative mortality. RESULTS: Surgery was elective in 1327 (56%), urgent in 1006 (43%), and emergency in 19 (0.8%). First-time reoperations were performed in 1796 (76%) and 556 (24%) had 2 or more previous operations. Isolated multivalve operations comprised 54% (1265) of cases; 1087 incorporated additional surgical components. Two valves were operated on in 80% (1889) of cases, 3 in 20% (461), and 4 in 0.09% (2). Operative mortality was 4.2% (98 out of 2352), with 1.7% (12 out of 704) for elective, isolated multivalve reoperations. For each added surgical component, operative mortality incrementally increased, from 2.4% for 2 components (24 out of 1009) to 17% for ≥5 (5 out of 30). Predictors of operative mortality included coronary artery bypass grafting, surgical urgency, cardiac, renal dysfunction, peripheral artery disease, New York Heart Association functional class, and anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Elective, isolated reoperative multivalve surgery can be performed with low mortality. Surgical complexity coupled with key physiologic factors can be used to inform surgical risk and decision making.

Risk of Surgical Mitral Valve Repair for Primary Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Risk estimation for surgical intervention is an essential component of heart team shared decision-making. However, current mitral valve (MV) surgery risk models used in practice lack etiologic or procedural specificity. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to establish a comprehensive method for assessment of operative risk of MV repair of primary mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: A novel etiology and procedure-specific algorithm identified 53,462 consecutive (July 2014 to June 2020) intention-to-treat MV repair patients with primary MR from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. Risk models were fit for 30-day operative mortality, mortality and/or major morbidity, and conversion-to-replacement (CONV). As-treated mortality and morbidity models were derived separately. RESULTS: Event rates for mortality (n = 619; 1.16%), mortality plus morbidity (n = 4,746; 8.88%), and CONV (n = 3,399; 6.36%) were low. Mortality was higher in CONV patients vs repair (3.18% vs 1.02%). All event rates were lower with increasing program volumes. The mortality risk model had excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.807) and calibration and confirmed very low mortality risk for isolated MV repair for primary MR, with mean mortality risk of 1.16% and median of 0.55% (IQR: 0.30%-1.17%) with 90th and 95th percentiles 2.48% and 3.99%, respectively. The mortality risk was <0.5% in patients <65 years of age, with 97% of the total population across age groups having a risk of <3%. Only 1 in 4 patients age 75 or older had >3% estimated risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This etiologic and procedure-specific risk model establishes that the contemporary mortality risk of MV repair for primary MR is <1% for the vast majority of patients.

Risk of Surgical Mitral Valve Repair for Primary Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Risk estimation for surgical intervention is an essential component of heart team shared decision-making. However, current mitral valve (MV) surgery risk models used in practice lack etiologic or procedural specificity. The purpose of this study was to establish a comprehensive method for assessment of operative risk of MV repair of primary mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: A novel etiology and procedure-specific algorithm identified 53,462 consecutive (July 2014 to June 2020) intention-to-treat MV repair patients with primary MR from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. Risk models were fit for 30-day operative mortality, mortality and/or major morbidity, and conversion-to-replacement (CONV). As-treated mortality and morbidity models were derived separately. RESULTS: Event rates for mortality (n = 619; 1.16%), mortality plus morbidity (n = 4746; 8.88%), and CONV (n = 3399; 6.36%) were low. Mortality was higher in CONV patients vs repair (3.18% vs 1.02%). All event rates were lower with increasing program volumes. The mortality risk model had excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.807) and calibration and confirmed very low mortality risk for isolated MV repair for primary MR, with mean mortality risk of 1.16% and median of 0.55% (interquartile range: 0.30%-1.17%) with 90th and 95th percentiles 2.48% and 3.99%, respectively. The mortality risk was <0.5% in patients <65 years of age, with 97% of the total population across age groups having a risk of <3%. Only 1 in 4 patients age 75 or older had >3% estimated risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This etiologic and procedure-specific risk model establishes that the contemporary mortality risk of MV repair for primary MR is <1% for the vast majority of patients.

Quantitative Echocardiographic Assessment and Optimal Criteria for Early Intervention in Asymptomatic Tricuspid Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with poor outcome and high operative mortality resulting from late presentation. Yet, the optimal timing for intervention is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of echocardiographic parameters to inform early intervention in asymptomatic TR. METHODS: Using the Cleveland Clinic echocardiography database 2004 to 2018, the authors identified a consecutive cohort of asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe (3+) or severe (4+) TR. Quantitative TR and right heart parameters were retrospectively determined, and their prognostic utility for all-cause mortality was assessed. RESULTS: In 325 asymptomatic patients (mean age: 67.9 years; 79.4% female) with at least 3+ TR, there were 132 deaths (40.6%), with a median survival time of 9.9 years (95% CI: 7.9-12.7 years). By contrast, the median survival time in an age- and sex-matched cohort of symptomatic TR patients was 4.4 years (95% CI: 2.8-5.9 years). Among all the echocardiographic parameters evaluated, right ventricle free wall strain (RVFWS) and tricuspid regurgitant volume (RVol) were the strongest predictors of mortality in asymptomatic TR. The optimal discriminatory thresholds for these parameters were RVFWS <-19% and RVol >45 mL. The 5-year survival rates by number of risk factors (RF) were 93% (95% CI: 86%-96%), 65% (95% CI: 55%-74%), and 38% (95% CI: 26%-49%) for no RF, 1 RF, and both RFs, respectively. Compared with symptomatic TR, mortality was lower for asymptomatic TR with no RF (HR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.04-0.29) or 1 RF (HR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.14-0.58), but similar for asymptomatic TR with both RFs (HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.56-2.19). CONCLUSIONS: RVFWS and RVol are key prognostic markers that can be serially monitored to inform optimal timing of intervention for severe asymptomatic TR.

Novel Multi-Parametric Mitral Annular Calcification Score Predicts Outcomes in Mitral Valve Dysfunction.

The objective of the study was to construct a multi-parametric mitral annular calcification (MAC) score using computed tomography (CT) features for prediction of outcomes in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. We constructed a multi-parametric MAC score, which ranges between 2 and 12, and consists of Agatston calcium score (1 point: <1000 Agatston units (AU); 2 points: 1000-<3000 AU; 3 points: 3000-5000 AU; 4 points: >5000 AU), quantitative MAC circumferential angle (1 point: <90°; 2 points: 90-<180°; 3 points: 180-<270°; 4 points: 270-360°), involvement of trigones (1 point: 1 trigone; 2 points: both trigones), and 1 point each for myocardial infiltration and left ventricular outflow tract extension/involvement of aorto-mitral curtain. The association between MAC score and clinical outcomes was evaluated. The study cohort consisted of 334 patients undergoing mitral valve surgery (128 mitral valve repairs, 206 mitral valve replacements) between January 2011 and September 2019, who had both non-contrast gated CT scan and evidence of MAC. The mean age was 72 ± 11 years, with 58% of subjects being female. MAC score was a statistically significant predictor of total operation time (P<0.001), cross-clamp time (P = 0.001) and in-hospital complications (P = 0.003). Additionally, MAC score was a significant predictor of time to all-cause death (P = 0.046). A novel multi-parametric score based on CT features allowed systematic assessment of MAC, and predicted clinical outcomes in patients with mitral valve dysfunction undergoing mitral valve surgery.

Early surgery is associated with improved long-term survival compared to class I indication for isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery has higher mortality compared with other single-valve operations. The optimal timing and indications remain controversial, and earlier surgery before the development of class I surgical indications may improve outcomes. We aimed to compare the characteristics and outcomes of surgery for isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR), based on class I indication versus an earlier operation. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing isolated TV surgery for TR without other concomitant valve surgery at our center during 2004 to 2018 were studied. Indications were divided into class I versus earlier surgery (asymptomatic severe TR with right ventricular dilation and/or dysfunction) for comparative analyses of characteristics and outcomes. The primary outcome was mortality. RESULTS: The study included 159 patients (91 females [57.2%]; 115 for class I, 44 for early surgery), with a mean age of 59.7 ± 15.6 years, 119 (74.8%) with surgical repairs, and a mean follow-up of 5.1 ± 4.0 years. Overall operative mortality was 5.1% (8 patients) (class I, 7.0%; early surgery, 0.0%; P = .107), and class I had a higher composite morbidity than early surgery (35.7% [n = 41] vs 18.2% [n = 8]; P = .036). On Cox proportional hazard model analysis, class I versus early surgery (hazard ratio [HR], 4.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-19.7; P = .04), age (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07; P = .046), and diabetes (HR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.13-5.55; P = .024) were independently associated with higher mortality during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with class I indication for isolated TV surgery had worse survival compared with those undergoing earlier surgery before reaching class I indication. Earlier surgery may improve outcomes in these high-risk patients.

Public reporting for coronary artery bypass graft surgery: The quest for the optimal scorecard.

OBJECTIVE: A number of publicly available rating algorithms are used to assess hospital performance in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, concerns remain that these algorithms fail to correlate with each other and inadequately capture the case complexity of individual center practices. METHODS: Composite star ratings for isolated CABG from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons public reporting database were extracted for 2018-2019. U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals was used to extract CABG ratings as well as overall cardiology and heart surgery ranking, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Compare was used to extract CABG volume and 30-day mortality. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess possible relationships. Expert opinion on risk adjustment and program evaluation was incorporated. RESULTS: Correlations between Society of Thoracic Surgeons star rating and U.S. News & World Report overall ranking in cardiology and heart surgery (r = 0.15) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 30-day mortality (r = -0.27) were poor. Society of Thoracic Surgeons star rating correlated weakly with U.S. News & World Report CABG ratings (r = 0.33) and with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CABG volume (r = 0.32), whereas the latter 2 correlated moderately (r = 0.52) with each other. Of the 75 centers with accredited cardiac surgery training programs, 13 (17%) did not participate in Society of Thoracic Surgeons public reporting. Important gaps were identified in risk assessment, and potential solutions are proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Correlations between current CABG public reporting systems are weak. Further work is needed to refine and standardize CABG rating systems to more adequately capture the scope and complexity of an individual center's clinical practice and to better inform patients.

Trends in surgical ablation at the time of cardiac surgery among patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The 2017 American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) guidelines support surgical ablation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) owing to a reduction in early mortality and improved overall safety. We explored practice patterns changes and outcomes in patients undergoing concomitant surgical ablation following the guideline change. Methods: We identified 19,246 patients with preoperative AF who underwent cardiac surgery between 2016 and 2019 from the Florida and Maryland State Inpatient Databases. Rates of surgical ablation by procedure type were temporally trended across years. Secondary outcomes included complications, inpatient mortality, and hospital readmissions. Using multivariable logistic regression, we identified patient variables associated with concomitant surgical ablation. Results: A total of 2738 patients (14.3%) with AF underwent a concomitant surgical ablation. The rate of surgical ablation increased from 2.1% to 17.4% (P < .001) from 2016 to 2017 but remained unchanged thereafter. Postoperative mortality was lower in the surgical ablation cohort (2.7% vs 3.7%; P = .006), although with a higher rate of pacemaker insertion (11.8% vs 7.2%; P < .0001). Patients with a high-risk Elixhauser score (odds ratio [OR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.95), lower income (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57-0.75), or African American or Hispanic race/ethnicity (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.96 and OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.96, respectively) had lower odds of undergoing concomitant surgical ablation. Conclusions: Despite a class I-2a recommendation by the AATS, surgical ablation continues to be underutilized in clinical practice, especially in patients with high-risk comorbidities, with lower incomes, or from minority populations. Surgeons should be mindful of guideline-directed AF management in these vulnerable populations.