The ability of the logistic EuroSCORE to predict long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) predicts in-hospital mortality for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Many variables associated with increased surgical mortality persist postoperatively. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the logistic EuroSCORE to long-term survival after coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively for all patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) at a single center between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Data submitted to NICOR were used for EuroSCORE and in-hospital outcomes; longer-term, all-cause mortality from NHS digital Personal Demographic Service. Low (<3), intermediate (3-6), and high-risk (>6) logistic EuroSCORE groups were identified and analyzed using the appropriate statistical methodology, with p values less than .05 being taken as significant. RESULTS: Six hundred and sixty-three patients underwent isolated CABG procedures during the study. The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 97.6%, 94.3%, 89.3%, and 73.5%, respectively. Comparing survival outcomes between low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups showed that the logistic EuroSCORE was able to predict long-term outcomes (p < .05). In addition, poor left ventricular ejection fraction, serum creatinine above 200 ml, chronic pulmonary disease, extracardiac arteriopathy, and pulmonary hypertension were identified as independent predictors of long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the logistic EuroSCORE predicted long-term outcomes following CABG surgery. This finding can inform patients of the long-term risks of CABG surgery and guide MDT decision-making.

Clinical outcomes after implantation of a sutureless aortic bioprosthesis with concomitant mitral valve surgery: the SURE-AVR registry.

BACKGROUND: Early treatment of aortic valve stenosis is recommended in eligible symptomatic patients with severe aortic valve stenosis who would otherwise have a poor prognosis. The sutureless aortic valve bioprosthesis offers an alternative to standard aortic valve replacement with a sutured valve, but limited data are available in patients who have undergone multiple valve procedures involving the new, sutureless technology. We sought to investigate outcomes in high operative risk patients with previous or concomitant valve surgery who were implanted with a sutureless valve. METHODS: SURE-AVR is an ongoing, prospective, multinational registry of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. In-hospital and post-discharge outcomes up to 5 years were collected. RESULTS: The study population comprised 78 patients (mean ± SD: age 73.6 ± 7.6 years, logistic EuroSCORE 18.0 ± 17.5) enrolled at 13 sites who presented for concomitant or previous mitral valve repair (n = 45) or replacement (n = 33), with or without additional concomitant procedures, and were implanted with a sutureless valve. Mean ± SD overall aortic cross-clamp time was 109 ± 41 min and cardiopulmonary bypass time was 152 ± 49 min. Mean ± SD aortic pressure gradients decreased from 37.6 ± 17.7 mmHg preoperatively to 13.0 ± 5.7 mmHg at hospital discharge, and peak aortic pressure gradient from 61.5 ± 28.7 to 23.4 ± 10.6 mmHg. Early events included 1 death, 1 transient ischaemic attack, and 1 bleed (all 1.3%); a permanent pacemaker implantation was required in 6 patients (7.7%), and 2 reoperations (not valve related) (2.6%) took place. Over a median follow-up of 55.5 months (Q1 13.4, Q3 68.6), 12 patients died (6 cardiovascular and 6 non-cardiovascular, both 2.1% per patient-year). Five-year survival was 81.3%. Late paravalvular leak occurred in 2 patients (0.7% per patient-year) and permanent pacemaker implantation was required in 3 patients (0.1% per patient-year). There was no apparent rise in mean or peak aortic pressure gradient over the study. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the sutureless implant is a technically feasible procedure during mitral surgery and is associated with good clinical outcomes.

Minimally invasive versus conventional sternotomy for Mitral valve repair: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (UK Mini Mitral).

INTRODUCTION: Numbers of patients undergoing mitral valve repair (MVr) surgery for severe mitral regurgitation have grown and will continue to rise. MVr is routinely performed via median sternotomy; however, there is a move towards less invasive surgical approaches.There is debate within the clinical and National Health Service (NHS) commissioning community about widespread adoption of minimally invasive MVr surgery in the absence of robust research evidence; implementation requires investment in staff and infrastructure.The UK Mini Mitral trial will provide definitive evidence comparing patient, NHS and clinical outcomes in adult patients undergoing MVr surgery. It will establish the best surgical approach for MVr, setting a standard against which emerging percutaneous techniques can be measured. Findings will inform optimisation of cost-effective practice. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: UK Mini Mitral is a multicentre, expertise based randomised controlled trial of minimally invasive thoracoscopically guided right minithoracotomy versus conventional sternotomy for MVr. The trial is taking place in NHS cardiothoracic centres in the UK with established minimally invasive mitral valve surgery programmes. In each centre, consenting and eligible patients are randomised to receive surgery performed by consultant surgeons who meet protocol-defined surgical expertise criteria. Patients are followed for 1 year, and consent to longer term follow-up.Primary outcome is physical functioning 12 weeks following surgery, measured by change in Short Form Health Survey (SF-36v2) physical functioning scale. Early and 1 year echo data will be reported by a core laboratory. Estimates of key clinical and health economic outcomes will be reported up to 5 years.The primary economic outcome is cost effectiveness, measured as incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year gained over 52 weeks following index surgery. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: A favourable opinion was given by Wales REC 6 (16/WA/0156). Trial findings will be disseminated to patients, clinicians, commissioning groups and through peer reviewed publication. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN13930454.

Acute Neurological Care in the COVID-19 Era: The Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium Pathway.

The management of acute neurological conditions, particularly acute ischemic stroke, in the context of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is of importance, considering the risk of infection to the healthcare workers and patients and emerging evidence of the neuroinvasive potential of the virus. There are variations in expert guidelines further complicating the picture for clinicians in acute settings. In this light, there is a compelling need for further formulation of recommendations that compile these variations seen in the numerous guidelines present. Health system protocols for managing ongoing acute neurological care and intervention need consideration of safety and well-being of the frontline healthcare workers and the patients. We examine existing pathways and their efficacy to mitigate viral exposure to the healthcare workers and patients and synthesize a systemic approach to manage patients with acute neurological conditions in the COVID-19 scenario. Early experiences with a COVID-19 positive stroke patient treated with endovascular thrombectomy is presented to highlight the urgent need for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) during acute neuro-interventional procedures.

Mannose-binding lectin deficiency offers protection from acute graft rejection after heart transplantation.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency (or the common opsonic defect) has been reported as a risk factor for several immunologically controlled conditions, including infection and graft rejection. However, the effects of MBL deficiency on acute rejection after heart transplantation are unknown. Ninety heart transplant recipients were included in this study. Plasma MBL quantification was performed using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Acute rejection was diagnosed via endomyocardial biopsy and histologic assessment. MBL concentration was controlled for demographics, immunosuppression and anti-viral therapy. Individuals with dysfunctional MBL had significantly fewer rejection episodes (6.3 +/- 3.8%) than those with functional MBL (12.9 +/- 11.6%) (p = 0.016). We found no significant difference between MBL concentrations among those with (1,232 +/- 58 ng/ml) and those without (1,216 +/- 161 ng/ml) GCAD (p = 0.841). There was also no significant difference between the incidence of GCAD in those with "normal" concentrations (p = 0.782). Heart transplant recipients with MBL deficiency had fewer acute graft rejection episodes compared to patients with functional MBL. This suggests the lectin pathway of complement activation is an important process in graft rejection. Furthermore, functional MBL may indicate a greater likelihood of rejection.