Early outcomes of the Bentall procedure after previous cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the early outcomes of patients undergoing a Bentall procedure after previous cardiac surgery. METHODS: From 1990 to 2014, 473 patients underwent a Bentall procedure after previous cardiac surgery with a composite valve graft at a single institution: composite valve graft with a mechanical prosthesis (n = 256) or composite valve graft with a bioprosthesis (n = 217). Patients were excluded if their index operation was less than 30 days before the reoperation. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The secondary outcome was a composite of major morbidity and operative mortality: stroke, renal failure, prolonged mechanical ventilation, deep sternal infection, or reoperation during the same admission. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with the primary and secondary outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Median age was 57 (interquartile range, 44-67) years, and 349 patients (74%) were male. Median time between index surgery and reoperation was 13 (interquartile range, 8-21) years. A total of 178 patients (38%) underwent urgent or emergency intervention, 61 patients (13%) had active endocarditis/abscess, 87 patients (19%) had left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, and 262 patients (55%) had undergone more than 1 previous operation. Previous operations (not mutually exclusive) included coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 58, 12%), aortic valve/root replacement (n = 376, 80%) or repair (n = 36, 8%), and other surgical interventions (n = 245, 52%). Ninety-six patients (20%) had undergone coronary reimplantation during the previous operation, which consisted of a Bentall procedure in 81 patients, a Ross operation in 8 patients, a valve-sparing root replacement in 4 patients, and an arterial switch in 3 patients. At the time of the reoperative Bentall, both coronary arteries were reimplanted directly in 357 patients (77%), whereas 79 patients (17%) received at least 1 interposition graft. In 26 patients (5%), at least 1 of the native coronary arteries was oversewn and a vein graft bypass was performed. Thirty-day mortality occurred in 37 patients (7.8%), and 152 patients (32%) had major morbidity and operative mortality. On multivariable analysis, risk factors associated with increased 30-day mortality included older age and coronary reimplantation by a technique other than direct anastomosis. Indirect coronary reimplantation was also associated with a higher incidence of major morbidity and operative mortality, as were more than 1 previous cardiac operation and preoperative New York Heart Association functional class III/IV or greater. CONCLUSIONS: In the largest reported cohort of aortic root replacement after previous cardiac surgery, the reoperative Bentall procedure was associated with a significant operative risk. The need for complex coronary reimplantation techniques was an important factor associated with adverse perioperative events.

Renal replacement therapy in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: There is an increased risk of mortality in patients in whom acute kidney injury and fluid accumulation develop after cardiothoracic surgery, and the risk is especially high when renal replacement therapy is needed. However, renal replacement therapy remains an essential intervention in managing these patients. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for mortality in surgical patients requiring renal replacement therapy in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients requiring renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury or fluid accumulation after cardiothoracic surgery between January 2009 and December 2017. Survivors and nonsurvivors were compared with respect to multiple variables, and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: The mortality rate for the cohort was 75%. Nonsurvivors were younger (nonsurvivors: 0.8 years; interquartile range, 0.1-8.2; survivors: 14.6 years; interquartile range, 4.2-19.7; P = .002) and had a lower weight-for-age z-score (nonsurvivors: -1.5; interquartile range, -3.1 to -0.4; survivors: -0.5; interquartile range, -0.9 to 0.3; P = .02) compared with survivors. There was no difference with respect to fluid accumulation. In multivariable analysis, a longer duration of stage 3 acute kidney injury before initiation of renal replacement therapy was independently associated with mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.83; P = .021). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality in patients requiring renal replacement therapy after congenital heart disease surgery is high. A longer duration of acute kidney injury before renal replacement therapy initiation is associated with increased mortality.

Predictors of mortality in patients over 70 years-old undergoing CABG or valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors in septuagenarians and octogenarians submitted to cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Per-operative variables of 265 patients over 70 years of age were analyzed. 248 (93.6%) were septuagenarians and 17 (6.4%) octogenarians. RESULTS: Overall mortality did not differ between the groups, nor did the type of procedure (CABG or valvular) (P=0.545). Pre-operative variables did not increase the death risk, nor did the use of arterial or venous grafts (P=0.261), or the number of grafts per patient (P=0.131). CPB and cross-clamp time are associated with higher mortality. The survivors' group had an average CPB time of 70 ± 27 minutes while the non-survivors group 88.8 ± 25.4 minutes (P<0.001). Cross-clamp time in the survivors was 55.5 ± 20 minutes, while 64.9 ± 16 minutes in the non-survivors (P=0.014). Using multivariate logistic regression, CPB time is associated with death (Pearson's chi square= 0.0056). CPB time over 75 minutes presents an increased risk of death of 3.2 times (CI 95%: 1.3-7.9) over those with CPB time < 75 minutes. Post-operative variables associated with increased death rates: mechanical ventilation > 12 hours (P<0.001); ICU stay (P=0.033); re-exploration (P=0.001); inotropic support > 48 hours (P<0.001); use of blood components (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Overall mortality justifies the interventions. CPB time greater than 75 minutes, mechanical ventilation over 12 hours, length of ICU stay, need for reoperation, inotropic drug support over 48 hours, and use of blood components are associated with a higher mortality rate.

Preditores de mortalidade em pacientes acima de 70 anos na revascularização miocárdica ou troca valvar com circulação extracorpórea / Predictors of mortality in patients over 70 years-old undergoing CABG or valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJETIVO: Identificar fatores de risco em septuagenários e octogenários submetidos à cirurgia cardiovascular com circulação extracorpórea (CEC). MÉTODOS: Avaliadas variáveis peri-operatórias de 265 pacientes com mais de 70 anos; desses, 248 (93,6%) eram septuagenários e 17 (6,4%) eram octogenários. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença de mortalidade entre eles, com mortalidade global de 22 (8,3%) pacientes. Não houve diferença em relação ao tipo de procedimento (revascularização ou tratamento valvar) (P=0,545). As variáveis pré-operatórias não aumentaram o risco de morte. Enxerto arterial ou venoso (P=0,261) e número de enxertos utilizados por paciente (P=0,131) não aumentaram a mortalidade. O grupo de sobreviventes apresentou tempo médio de CEC de 70 ± 27 minutos e o grupo óbito, 88,8 ± 25,4 minutos, com significância estatística (P<0,001). O tempo de isquemia no grupo de sobreviventes foi de 55,5 ± 20 minutos e no grupo óbito, 64,9 ± 16 minutos, com significância (P=0,014). Na regressão logística multivariada, o tempo de CEC é a variável que se associa a morte, com qui-quadrado de Pearson =0,0056. Tempo de CEC > 75 minutos apresenta 3,2 vezes (IC 95%: 1,3 - 7,9), maior chance de óbito do que os pacientes com tempo de CEC < 75 minutos. Variáveis pós-operatórias: tempo de ventilação mecânica > 12 horas (P< 0,001), tempo de internação na UTI (P=0,033), reoperação (P=0,001), suporte inotrópico > 48 horas (P<0,001) e necessidade de hemoderivados (P<0,001) aumentam a mortalidade. CONCLUSÃO: A mortalidade global justifica a intervenção. CEC > 75 minutos, tempo de ventilação mecânica superior a 12 horas, de internação em UTI, reoperação, suporte inotrópico por período superior a 48 horas e uso de hemoderivados estão associados a maior mortalidade.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors in septuagenarians and octogenarians submitted to cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Per-operative variables of 265 patients over 70 years of age were analyzed. 248 (93.6%) were septuagenarians and 17 (6.4%) octogenarians. RESULTS: Overall mortality did not differ between the groups, nor did the type of procedure (CABG or valvular) (P=0.545). Pre-operative variables did not increase the death risk, nor did the use of arterial or venous grafts (P=0.261), or the number of grafts per patient (P=0.131). CPB and cross-clamp time are associated with higher mortality. The survivors' group had an average CPB time of 70 ± 27 minutes while the non-survivors group 88.8 ± 25.4 minutes (P<0.001). Cross-clamp time in the survivors was 55.5 ± 20 minutes, while 64.9 ± 16 minutes in the non-survivors (P=0.014). Using multivariate logistic regression, CPB time is associated with death (Pearson's chi square= 0.0056). CPB time over 75 minutes presents an increased risk of death of 3.2 times (CI 95%: 1.3-7.9) over those with CPB time < 75 minutes. Post-operative variables associated with increased death rates: mechanical ventilation > 12 hours (P<0.001); ICU stay (P=0.033); re-exploration (P=0.001); inotropic support > 48 hours (P<0.001); use of blood components (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Overall mortality justifies the interventions. CPB time greater than 75 minutes, mechanical ventilation over 12 hours, length of ICU stay, need for reoperation, inotropic drug support over 48 hours, and use of blood components are associated with a higher mortality rate.

Postoperative mediastinitis in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. Analysis of 1038 consecutive surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: To report the incidence of mediastinitis in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. METHODS: The records of all 1038 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgical procedures between May/2007 and June/2009 were reviewed. All operations were performed in Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE. RESULTS: The complication occurred within, on average, 13 days after operation, in total of 25 (2.4%), eight (32%) deaths occurred. Several risk factors mediastinitis were identified: 56% diabetes, 56% smokers, 20% obeses, 16% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 8% of chronic renal failure. Mediastinitis were reported in 21 (84%) cases of patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting, being associated to major risk of infection development (IC 3.448.30, P=0.0001). High rates of complications were observed: respiratory insufficiency (44%), stroke (16%), cardiogenic shock (12%), acute renal failure (28%), pulmonary infection (36%), multiple organs failure (16%) and esternal deiscence (48%). Bacterial cultures of exudates were positive in 84% of patients; Staphylococcus aureus was the most responsible pathogen (28.8%). CONCLUSION: Mediastinitis stays a serious surgical complication and difficult management in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. The disease stays with low incidence, but still with high lethality. Coronary bypass was associated to major risk of infection development.

Mediastinite no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardiovascular: análise de 1038 cirurgias consecutivas / Mediastinitis in cardiovascular surgery postoperation: analysis of 1038 consecutive surgeries

OBJETIVO: Relatar a incidência de mediastinite no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardiovascular. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados os prontuários de 1038 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardiovascular entre maio/ 2007 e junho/2009. Todas as operações foram realizadas na Divisão de Cirurgia Cardiovascular do Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE. RESULTADOS: A mediastinite ocorreu, em média, 13 dias após a cirurgia, num total de 25 (2,4 por cento) casos, com taxa de letalidade 32,0 por cento (n=8). Vários fatores de risco foram identificados: 56 por cento diabéticos, 56 por cento tabagistas, 20 por cento obesos, 16 por cento portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e 8 por cento com insuficiência renal crônica. A maioria (n=21; 84,0 por cento) dos casos foi observada em pacientes submetidos à revascularização do miocárdio, sendo esta associada a maior risco de desenvolvimento da infecção (IC 3.44-8.30, P=0,0001). Observou-se alto índice de complicações: insuficiência respiratória (44 por cento), acidente vascular cerebral (16 por cento), choque cardiogênico (12 por cento), insuficiência renal aguda (28 por cento), infecção pulmonar (36 por cento), falência de múltiplos órgãos (16 por cento) e deiscência de esterno (48 por cento). A cultura do exsudato foi positiva em 84 por cento dos casos, sendo o Staphylococcus aureus o patógeno mais observado (28,8 por cento). CONCLUSÕES: A mediastinite continua como complicação cirúrgica bastante grave e de difícil manuseio no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardiovascular. A doença permanece como de baixa incidência, entretanto, ainda com alta letalidade. A cirurgia de revascularização está associada a maior risco de desenvolvimento da infecção.

OBJECTIVE: To report the incidence of mediastinitis in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. METHODS: The records of all 1038 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgical procedures between May/2007 and June/2009 were reviewed. All operations were performed in Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE. RESULTS: The complication occurred within, on average, 13 days after operation, in total of 25 (2.4 percent), eight (32 percent) deaths occurred. Several risk factors mediastinitis were identified: 56 percent diabetes, 56 percent smokers, 20 percent obeses, 16 percent with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 8 percent of chronic renal failure. Mediastinitis were reported in 21 (84 percent) cases of patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting, being associated to major risk of infection development (IC 3.448.30, P=0.0001). High rates of complications were observed: respiratory insufficiency (44 percent), stroke (16 percent), cardiogenic shock (12 percent), acute renal failure (28 percent), pulmonary infection (36 percent), multiple organs failure (16 percent) and esternal deiscence (48 percent). Bacterial cultures of exudates were positive in 84 percent of patients; Staphylococcus aureus was the most responsible pathogen (28.8 percent). CONCLUSION: Mediastinitis stays a serious surgical complication and difficult management in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. The disease stays with low incidence, but still with high lethality. Coronary bypass was associated to major risk of infection development.

Do popular media and internet-based hospital quality ratings identify hospitals with better cardiovascular surgery outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Several popular media and Internet-based hospital quality rankings have become increasingly publicized as a method for patients to choose better hospitals. It is unclear whether selecting highly rated hospitals will improve outcomes after cardiovascular surgery procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Using 2005 to 2006 Medicare data, we studied all patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, coronary artery bypass, aortic valve repair, and mitral valve repair (n = 312,813). Primary outcomes included risk-adjusted mortality, adjusting for patient characteristics and surgical acuity. We compared mortality at "Best Hospitals," according to US News and World Report and HealthGrades, with all other hospitals. We adjusted for hospital volume to determine whether hospital experience accounts for differences in mortality. RESULTS: Risk-adjusted mortality was considerably lower in US News and World Report's "Best Hospitals" for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair only (odds ratio [OR] = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.94). Risk-adjusted mortality was considerably lower in HealthGrades' "Best Hospitals" after all 4 procedures: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (OR = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.97), coronary artery bypass (OR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.89), aortic valve repair (OR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.85), and mitral valve repair (OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.99). Accounting for hospital volume, risk-adjusted mortality was not substantially lower at the US News and World Report's "Best Hospitals," while risk-adjusted mortality was lower at HealthGrades' "Best Hospitals" after coronary artery bypass and aortic valve repair mortality rates were adjusted for hospital volume (OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.92 and OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Popular hospital rating systems identify high-quality hospitals for cardiovascular operations. However, patients can experience equivalent outcomes by seeking care at high-volume hospitals.

Stratification of complexity improves the utility and accuracy of outcomes analysis in a Multi-Institutional Congenital Heart Surgery Database: Application of the Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) and Aristotle Systems in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database.

Quality-of-care evaluation must take into account variations in "ase mix."This study reviewed the application of two case-mix complexity-adjustment tools in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database: the Aristotle Basic Complexity (ABC) score and the Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) method. The 2006 STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database Report, the first STS report to incorporate both methods, included 45,635 operations from 47 centers. Each operation was assigned an ABC score in a range from 1.5 (lowest complexity) to 15 (highest complexity), an ABC level in a range from 1 (lowest complexity) to 4 (highest complexity), and a RACHS-1 category in a range from 1 (lowest risk) to 6 (highest risk). The overall discharge mortality was 3.9% (1,222/31,719 eligible cardiac index operations). Of the eligible cardiac index operations, 85.8% (27,202/31,719) were eligible for analysis by the RACHS-1 method, and 94.0% (29,813/31,719) were eligible for analysis by the ABC approach. With both RACHS-1 and ABC, as complexity increases, discharge mortality also ncreases. The ABC approach allows classification of more operations, whereas the RACHS-1 discriminates better at the higher end of complexity. Complexity stratification is a useful method for analyzing the impact of case mix on pediatric cardiac surgical outcomes. Both the RACHS-1 and ABC methods facilitate complexity stratification in the STS database.

Elimination of daily routine chest radiographs does not change on-demand radiography practice in post-cardiothoracic surgery patients.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the effect of elimination of daily routine chest radiographs on chest radiographic practice in cardiothoracic surgery patients in the intensive care unit and the post-intensive care unit ward. METHODS: We used a prospective, comparative study design with an intervention in a 28-bed intensive care unit/post-intensive care unit ward (including a 4-bed medium-care unit) in a university hospital. Cardiothoracic surgery patients were admitted to the intensive care unit during a period of 6 months (3 months before intervention and 3 months after intervention). Daily routine chest radiographs in the intensive care unit were eliminated; all chest radiographs required a clinical indication. Routine chest radiographs were not performed in the post-intensive care unit ward, both before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Before intervention, in the intensive care unit 353 daily routine chest radiographs and 261 on-demand chest radiographs were obtained in 175 patients; after intervention, 275 on-demand chest radiographs were obtained in 163 patients. Before intervention, in the post-intensive care unit ward 413 on-demand chest radiographs were obtained in 167 patients; after intervention, 445 on-demand chest radiographs were obtained in 161 patients. In the intensive care unit the number of chest radiographs per patient day decreased from 1.8 +/- 0.6 to 1.1 +/- 0.6. In the post-intensive care unit ward the number of chest radiographs per patient per day was 0.4 +/- 0.2, both before and after the intervention. Slightly more unexpected abnormalities were found in the on-demand chest radiographs after the intervention. No negative influence on chest radiography timing, length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital, and readmission rate was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Elimination of daily routine chest radiographs led to a decrease of the total number of chest radiographs obtained per patient per day in the intensive care unit and did not change chest radiography practice in the post-intensive care unit ward.

Determinants of early and late outcome for reoperations of the proximal aorta.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cause of ascending aorta and aortic arch reoperations and to identify determinants of early and late outcome. METHODS: Between January 1991 and March 2003 we repaired aneurysms of the proximal aorta in 597 patients. Of these patients, 104 had reoperations for replacement of the ascending aorta, aortic root, or transverse aortic arch. Previous surgery was defined as any previous cardiac or proximal aortic repair. Median age was 60 years, and 29 of the patients (28%) were female. Indications for reoperation and replacement of the proximal aorta included acute type A dissection in 6 patients (5.8%), aneurysm with chronic dissection in 60 (57.7%), progression of aneurysm in 23 (22.1%), infection in 12 (1.5%), inflammatory disease in 2 (1.9%), and atheromatous disease in 1 (1.0%). Reoperations included aortic root replacement in 20 patients (19.2%), total arch replacement with elephant trunk in 28 (26.7%), ascending and proximal arch in 39 (37.5%), and ascending aorta in 27 (26.0%). The median interval between operations was 69 months. Retrograde cerebral perfusion was used in 80 (77%) cases. RESULTS: Chronic dissection was the most common indicator for reoperation in our population, followed by progression of aneurysm and infection. Thirty-day and in-hospital mortality was 13.5% (14 of 104) and 15.4% (16 of 104), respectively. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal dysfunction, and increased pump time were risk factors for mortality. Median follow-up was 5.02 years. Eight patients died during that period. Estimated survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 83%, 80%, and 62%, respectively. Freedom from second proximal reoperations was 97.1% (10 of 104). Freedom from subsequent distal thoracic aortic repair was 84.6% (8 of 104). CONCLUSIONS: Reoperations of the ascending aorta and aortic arch can be performed safely with good long-term results. Patients with previous proximal aortic dissection repair need long-term surveillance. Renal dysfunction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease must be carefully considered before reoperations of the proximal aorta.

Results of continual devaluation of cardiothoracic surgical codes by the HCFA between 1984 and 1999.

BACKGROUND: The devaluation of surgical procedural services by Medicare began in 1989 as a result of the federal government's adoption of the Resource Based Relative Value Scale, a method of redistribution of payments to physicians from surgical to primary care services. This method gave to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) effective and complete control of Medicare payments to physicians for the first time. The resultant decrease in the nominal dollar value is well understood, but the effect of changes in inflation frequently is not calculated into the reported loss. METHODS: A method of determining the true extent of this devaluation using the nominal dollar decrease plus the effect of inflation was presented in 1995. RESULTS: Since then, repeated devaluation by the HCFA and other third parties plus continual inflation has further eroded the remuneration for cardiothoracic surgical services. Three different sets of data are used to determine the devaluation of five cardiothoracic operations. One set shows the change between 1988 and 1998; one the change between 1988 and 1999; and one the change between 1984 and 1999. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the geographic location, it appears that the remuneration for pulmonary procedures between 1988 and 1999 decreased 35% to 60%. Similarly, depending on the years reviewed (between 1984 and 1999) and the geographic location, the fee for cardiac procedures decreased 46% to 69%.

Empirical comparison of DRG variants using cardiovascular surgery data: initial results of a project at 18 German hospitals.

In 2000, the responsibility for selecting a DRG variant for use in Germany was assigned to a body comprising representatives of hospitals and insurers called the Self-Administration Board (or Board in this paper). To help the Board, we applied cardiac surgery data from 18 German hospitals to eight different DRG variants. The error caused by bad coding quality could be minimized this way, since all diagnoses and procedures in cardiac surgery must be recorded for quality assurance purposes. To match the German code to the appropriate code required by the DRG variant, we created mapping tables whenever needed. As far as cardiac surgery is concerned, the Australian AR-DRG and the French GHM variants provided the best medical relevance, while the AR-DRG variant considered the level of severity better. Other variants would have to be updated to better reflect the level of medical complexity. Three main causes for wrong grouping could be identified for all systems: incomplete mapping, not enough reference to multidisciplinary treatments, and system construction problems.