Pathological findings associated with the updated European Society of Cardiology 2022 guidelines for preoperative cardiac testing: an observational cohort modelling study.

BACKGROUND: In 2022, the European Society of Cardiology updated guidelines for preoperative evaluation. The aims of this study were to quantify: (1) the impact of the updated recommendations on the yield of pathological findings compared with the previous guidelines published in 2014; (2) the impact of preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) use for risk estimation on the yield of pathological findings; and (3) the association between 2022 guideline adherence and outcomes. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of MET-REPAIR, an international, prospective observational cohort study (NCT03016936). Primary endpoints were reduced ejection fraction (EF<40%), stress-induced ischaemia, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The explanatory variables were class of recommendations for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), stress imaging, and guideline adherence. We conducted second-order Monte Carlo simulations and multivariable regression. RESULTS: In total, 15,529 patients (39% female, median age 72 [inter-quartile range: 67-78] yr) were included. The 2022 update changed the recommendation for preoperative TTE in 39.7% patients, and for preoperative stress imaging in 12.9% patients. The update resulted in missing 1 EF <40% every 3 fewer conducted TTE, and in 4 additional stress imaging per 1 additionally detected ischaemia events. For cardiac stress testing, four more investigations were performed for every 1 additionally detected ischaemia episodes. Use of NT-proBNP did not improve the yield of pathological findings. Multivariable regression analysis failed to find an association between adherence to the updated guidelines and MACE. CONCLUSIONS: The 2022 update for preoperative cardiac testing resulted in a relevant increase in tests receiving a stronger recommendation. The updated recommendations for TTE did not improve the yield of pathological cardiac testing.

Factors affecting adherence to recommendations on pre-operative cardiac testing: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac risk evaluation prior to noncardiac surgery is fundamental to tailor peri-operative management to patient's estimated risk. Data on the degree of adherence to guidelines in patients at cardiovascular risk in Europe and factors influencing adherence are underexplored. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this analysis was to describe the degree of adherence to [2014 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) guidelines] recommendations on rest echocardiography [transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)] and to stress imaging prior to noncardiac surgery in a large European sample and to assess factors potentially affecting adherence. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study (MET-REPAIR). SETTING: Twenty-five European centres of all levels of care that enrolled patients between 2017 and 2020. PATIENTS: With elevated cardiovascular risk undergoing in-hospital elective, noncardiac surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (Non)adherence to each pre-operative TTE and stress imaging recommendations classified as guideline-adherent, overuse and underuse. We performed descriptive analysis. To explore the impact of patients' sex, age, geographical region, and hospital teaching status, we conducted multivariate multinominal regression analysis. RESULTS: Out of 15 983 patients, 15 529 were analysed (61% men, mean age 72 ±â€Š8 years). Overuse (conduction in spite of class III) and underuse (nonconduction in spite of class I recommendation) for pre-operative TTE amounted to 16.6% (2542/15 344) and 6.6% (1015/15 344), respectively. Stress imaging overuse and underuse amounted to 1.7% (241/14 202) and 0.4% (52/14 202) respectively. Male sex, some age categories and some geographical regions were significantly associated with TTE overuse. Male sex and some regions were also associated with TTE underuse. Age and regions were associated with overuse of stress imaging. Male sex, age, and some regions were associated with stress imaging underuse. CONCLUSION: Adherence to pre-operative stress imaging recommendation was high. In contrast, adherence to TTE recommendations was moderate. Both patients' and geographical factors affected adherence to joint ESC/ESA guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03016936.

Long-term outcomes of perioperative myocardial infarction/injury after non-cardiac surgery.

AIMS: Perioperative myocardial infarction/injury (PMI) following non-cardiac surgery is a frequent cardiac complication. Better understanding of the underlying aetiologies and outcomes is urgently needed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aetiologies of PMIs detected within an active surveillance and response programme were centrally adjudicated by two independent physicians based on all information obtained during clinically indicated PMI work-up including cardiac imaging among consecutive high-risk patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery in a prospective multicentre study. PMI aetiologies were hierarchically classified into 'extra-cardiac' if caused by a primarily extra-cardiac disease such as severe sepsis or pulmonary embolism; and 'cardiac', further subtyped into type 1 myocardial infarction (T1MI), tachyarrhythmia, acute heart failure (AHF), or likely type 2 myocardial infarction (lT2MI). Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including acute myocardial infarction, AHF (both only from day 3 to avoid inclusion bias), life-threatening arrhythmia, and cardiovascular death as well as all-cause death were assessed during 1-year follow-up. Among 7754 patients (age 45-98 years, 45% women), PMI occurred in 1016 (13.1%). At least one MACE occurred in 684/7754 patients (8.8%) and 818/7754 patients died (10.5%) within 1 year. Outcomes differed starkly according to aetiology: in patients with extra-cardiac PMI, T1MI, tachyarrhythmia, AHF, and lT2MI 51%, 41%, 57%, 64%, and 25% had MACE, and 38%, 27%, 40%, 49%, and 17% patients died within 1 year, respectively, compared to 7% and 9% in patients without PMI. These associations persisted in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: At 1 year, most PMI aetiologies have unacceptably high rates of MACE and all-cause death, highlighting the urgent need for more intensive treatments. STUDY REGISTRATION: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02573532.

Autoreactive T cells targeting type II pneumocyte antigens in COVID-19 convalescent patients.

BACKGROUND: The role of autoreactive T cells on the course of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) remains elusive. Type II pneumocytes represent the main target cells of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Autoimmune responses against antigens highly expressed in type II pneumocytes may influence the severity of COVID-19 disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate autoreactive T cell responses against self-antigens highly expressed in type II pneumocytes in the blood of COVID-19 patients with severe and non-severe disease. METHODS: We collected blood samples of COVID-19 patients with varying degrees of disease severity and of pre-pandemic controls. T cell stimulation assays with peptide pools of type II pneumocyte antigens were performed in two independent cohorts to analyze the autoimmune T cell responses in patients with non-severe and severe COVID-19 disease. Target cell lysis assays were performed with lung cancer cell lines to determine the extent of cell killing by type II PAA-specific T cells. RESULTS: We identified autoreactive T cell responses against four recently described self-antigens highly expressed in type II pneumocytes, known as surfactant protein A, surfactant protein B, surfactant protein C and napsin A, in the blood of COVID-19 patients. These antigens were termed type II pneumocyte-associated antigens (type II PAAs). We found that patients with non-severe COVID-19 disease showed a significantly higher frequency of type II PAA-specific autoreactive T cells in the blood when compared to severely ill patients. The presence of high frequencies of type II PAA-specific T cells in the blood of non-severe COVID-19 patients was independent of their age. We also found that napsin A-specific T cells from convalescent COVID-19 patients could kill lung cancer cells, demonstrating the functional and cytotoxic role of these T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that autoreactive type II PAA-specific T cells have a protective role in SARS-CoV-2 infections and the presence of high frequencies of these autoreactive T cells indicates effective viral control in COVID-19 patients. Type II-PAA-specific T cells may therefore promote the killing of infected type II pneumocytes and viral clearance.

Analgesic efficacy of systemic lidocaine using lean body mass based dosing regime versus placebo in bariatric surgery: a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous lidocaine is used as an adjuvant analgesic agent in perioperative settings. It has been investigated in various patient populations and surgical interventions, but there are limited data on its efficacy, particularly for patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Obese patients are at high risk of postoperative respiratory complications and can be expected to benefit from anaesthetic techniques that minimise opioid administration. METHODS: We studied administration of lidocaine hydrochloride 1% i.v. to general anaesthesia at a dose of 1.5 mg kg-1 (lean body mass×1.28) or placebo in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Subjects randomly assigned to each group were surveyed for 48 h after surgery for experienced pain (primary outcome), and administered opioids, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), resumption of bowel function, and length of hospital stay (secondary outcomes). RESULTS: We recruited and randomised 140 subjects to either the lidocaine or placebo group; 137 completed the study. Subjects with pain numeric rating scale (NRS) >3 within the first 4 h postoperatively were similar in both groups (proportion of any NRS >3 within first 4 h lidocaine group: 47/68 (69%) vs placebo group: 44/69 (63%), P=0.507; within first h P=0.177, within second h P=0.513, within third h P=0.145, within fourth h P=0.510). There was no difference in maximal pain score, opioid consumption, recovery of bowel function, incidence of PONV, or length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine does not improve postoperative pain scores, analgesia, or any secondary outcomes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03667001.

Risk assessment for major adverse cardiovascular events after noncardiac surgery using self-reported functional capacity: international prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines endorse self-reported functional capacity for preoperative cardiovascular assessment, although evidence for its predictive value is inconsistent. We hypothesised that self-reported effort tolerance improves prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) after noncardiac surgery. METHODS: This is an international prospective cohort study (June 2017 to April 2020) in patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery at elevated cardiovascular risk. Exposures were (i) questionnaire-estimated effort tolerance in metabolic equivalents (METs), (ii) number of floors climbed without resting, (iii) self-perceived cardiopulmonary fitness compared with peers, and (iv) level of regularly performed physical activity. The primary endpoint was in-hospital MACE consisting of cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and congestive heart failure requiring transfer to a higher unit of care or resulting in a prolongation of stay on ICU/intermediate care (≥24 h). Mixed-effects logistic regression models were calculated. RESULTS: In this study, 274 (1.8%) of 15 406 patients experienced MACE. Loss of follow-up was 2%. All self-reported functional capacity measures were independently associated with MACE but did not improve discrimination (area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic [ROC AUC]) over an internal clinical risk model (ROC AUCbaseline 0.74 [0.71-0.77], ROC AUCbaseline+4METs 0.74 [0.71-0.77], ROC AUCbaseline+floors climbed 0.75 [0.71-0.78], AUCbaseline+fitnessvspeers 0.74 [0.71-0.77], and AUCbaseline+physical activity 0.75 [0.72-0.78]). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of self-reported functional capacity expressed in METs or using the other measures assessed here did not improve prognostic accuracy compared with clinical risk factors. Caution is needed in the use of self-reported functional capacity to guide clinical decisions resulting from risk assessment in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03016936.

Guideline adherence to statin therapy and association with short-term and long-term cardiac complications following noncardiac surgery: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Peri-operative complications are common and associated with high morbidity and mortality. Optimising the use of statins might be of important benefit in peri-operative care and reduce morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate adherence to current guideline recommendations regarding statin therapy and its association with peri-operative and long-term cardiac complications. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Multicentre study with enrolment from October 2014 to February 2018. PATIENTS: Eight thousand one hundred and sixteen high-risk inpatients undergoing major noncardiac surgery who were eligible for the institutional peri-operative myocardial injury/infarction (PMI) active surveillance and response program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Class I indications for statin therapy were derived from the current ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines during the time of enrolment. PMI was prospectively defined as an absolute increase in cTn concentration of the 99th percentile in healthy individuals above the preoperative concentration within the first three postoperative days. Long-term cardiac complications included cardiovascular death and spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) within 120 days. RESULTS: The mean age was 73.7 years; 45.2% were women. Four thousand two hundred and twenty-seven of 8116 patients (52.1%) had a class I indication for statin therapy. Of these, 2440 of 4227 patients (57.7%) were on statins preoperatively. Adherence to statins was lower in women than in men (46.9 versus 63.9%, P  < 0.001). PMI due to type 1 myocardial infarction/injury (T1MI; n  = 42), or likely type 2 MI (lT2MI; n  = 466) occurred in 508 of 4170 (12.2%) patients. The weighted odds ratio in patients on statin therapy was 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 1.31, P  = 0.036]. During the 120-day follow-up, 192 patients (4.6%) suffered cardiovascular death and spontaneous MI. After multivariable adjustment, preoperative use of statins was associated with reduced risk; weighted hazard ratio 0.59 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.86, P  = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Adherence to guideline-recommended statin therapy was suboptimal, particularly in women. Statin use was associated with an increased risk of PMI due to T1MI and lT2MI but reduced risk of cardiovascular death and spontaneous MI within 120 days. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02573532.

Dynamics of disease characteristics and clinical management of critically ill COVID-19 patients over the time course of the pandemic: an analysis of the prospective, international, multicentre RISC-19-ICU registry.

BACKGROUND: It remains elusive how the characteristics, the course of disease, the clinical management and the outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) worldwide have changed over the course of the pandemic. METHODS: Prospective, observational registry constituted by 90 ICUs across 22 countries worldwide including patients with a laboratory-confirmed, critical presentation of COVID-19 requiring advanced organ support. Hierarchical, generalized linear mixed-effect models accounting for hospital and country variability were employed to analyse the continuous evolution of the studied variables over the pandemic. RESULTS: Four thousand forty-one patients were included from March 2020 to September 2021. Over this period, the age of the admitted patients (62 [95% CI 60-63] years vs 64 [62-66] years, p < 0.001) and the severity of organ dysfunction at ICU admission decreased (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment 8.2 [7.6-9.0] vs 5.8 [5.3-6.4], p < 0.001) and increased, while more female patients (26 [23-29]% vs 41 [35-48]%, p < 0.001) were admitted. The time span between symptom onset and hospitalization as well as ICU admission became longer later in the pandemic (6.7 [6.2-7.2| days vs 9.7 [8.9-10.5] days, p < 0.001). The PaO2/FiO2 at admission was lower (132 [123-141] mmHg vs 101 [91-113] mmHg, p < 0.001) but showed faster improvements over the initial 5 days of ICU stay in late 2021 compared to early 2020 (34 [20-48] mmHg vs 70 [41-100] mmHg, p = 0.05). The number of patients treated with steroids and tocilizumab increased, while the use of therapeutic anticoagulation presented an inverse U-shaped behaviour over the course of the pandemic. The proportion of patients treated with high-flow oxygen (5 [4-7]% vs 20 [14-29], p < 0.001) and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (14 [11-18]% vs 24 [17-33]%, p < 0.001) throughout the pandemic increased concomitant to a decrease in invasive mechanical ventilation (82 [76-86]% vs 74 [64-82]%, p < 0.001). The ICU mortality (23 [19-26]% vs 17 [12-25]%, p < 0.001) and length of stay (14 [13-16] days vs 11 [10-13] days, p < 0.001) decreased over 19 months of the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Characteristics and disease course of critically ill COVID-19 patients have continuously evolved, concomitant to the clinical management, throughout the pandemic leading to a younger, less severely ill ICU population with distinctly different clinical, pulmonary and inflammatory presentations than at the onset of the pandemic.

Interleukin-6 Is an Early Plasma Marker of Severe Postoperative Complications in Thoracic Surgery: Exploratory Results From a Substudy of a Randomized Controlled Multicenter Trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative complications in surgery are a significant burden, not only for the patients but also economically. While several predicting factors have already been identified, it is still not well known if increased levels of inflammatory markers in the immediate perioperative phase correlate with a higher incidence of postoperative complications. This study aimed to evaluate which patient characteristics and intraoperative parameters correlate with increased plasma values of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) of thoracic surgery patients. A second goal was to explore whether MCP-1 and IL-6 are associated with the incidence of postoperative complications. We hypothesized that there is a positive association between inflammatory markers and the occurrence of complications within 6 months after surgery. METHODS: This is a substudy of a recent randomized controlled trial, which defined the effect of desflurane versus propofol anesthesia on morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. MCP-1 and IL-6 were determined in plasma obtained before and 30 minutes after 1-lung ventilation, 6 hours after surgery, and on postoperative days 1 and 2. Complications were recorded for 6 months. Mixed linear models were used to examine factors associated with MCP-1 and IL-6 levels. Logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the association between MCP-1 and IL-6 and postoperative complications. RESULTS: In the original study, 460 patients were included, MCP-1 and IL-6 levels were determined in 428 patients. MCP-1 was positively associated with the duration of surgery (P = .016), whereas IL-6 levels increased with both the length (P < .001) and invasiveness of lung surgery (thoracoscopic wedge resection or lobectomy versus open lobectomy, P = .005; thoracoscopic wedge resection or lobectomy versus pneumonectomy, P = .021). In an exploratory approach, elevated IL-6 plasma peaks were associated with the occurrence of severe complications defined as Clavien-Dindo score grade ≥IVa during the postoperative phase up to 6 months after thoracic surgery (P = .006). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this substudy reveals factors, which correlate with high MCP-1 and IL-6 values. Moreover, higher IL-6 seems to be associated with postoperative severe complications. Perioperative IL-6 monitoring might be helpful for risk estimation in the perioperative setting of patients after lung surgery.

Relationship Between Propofol Target Concentrations, Bispectral Index, and Patient Covariates During Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Internationally, propofol is commonly titrated by target-controlled infusion (TCI) to maintain a processed electroencephalographic (EEG) parameter (eg, bispectral index [BIS]) within a specified range. The overall variability in propofol target effect-site concentrations (CeT) necessary to maintain adequate anesthesia in real-world conditions is poorly characterized, as are the patient demographic factors that contribute to this variability. This study explored these issues, hypothesizing that the variability in covariate-adjusted propofol target concentrations during BIS-controlled anesthesia would be substantial and that most of the remaining interpatient variability in drug response would be due to random effects, thus suggesting that the opportunity to improve on the Schnider model with further demographic data is limited. METHODS: With ethics committee approval and a waiver of informed consent, a deidentified, high-resolution, intraoperative database consisting of propofol target concentrations, BIS values, and vital signs from 13,239 patients was mined to identify patients who underwent general endotracheal anesthesia using propofol (titrated to BIS), fentanyl, remifentanil, and rocuronium that lasted at least 1 hour. The propofol target concentrations and BIS values 30 minutes after incision (CeT30 and BIS30) were considered representative of stable intraoperative conditions. The data were plotted and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Confidence intervals were computed using a bootstrap method. A linear model was fit to the data to test for correlation with factors of interest (eg, age and weight). RESULTS: A total of 4584 patients met inclusion criteria and were entered into the analysis. Of the propofol target concentrations, 95% were between 1.5 and 3.5 µg·mL-1. Higher BIS30 values were correlated with higher propofol concentrations. Except for age, all the patient-related variables analyzed entered the regression model linearly. Only 10.2% of the variability in CeT30 was explained by the patient factors of age and weight combined. CONCLUSIONS: Our hypothesis was confirmed. The variability in covariate-adjusted propofol CeT30 titrated to BIS in real-world conditions is considerable, and only a small portion of the remaining variability in drug response is explained by patient demographic factors. This finding may have important implications for the development of new pharmacokinetic (PK) models for propofol TCI.

Postoperative High-Sensitivity Troponin and Its Association With 30-Day and 12-Month, All-Cause Mortality in Patients Undergoing On-Pump Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Troponin T is a predictor of cardiac morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery with most data examining fourth generational troponin T assays. We hypothesize that postoperative high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) measured in increments of the upper limit of the norm independently predicts 30-day all-cause mortality. METHODS: We included consecutive patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery from February 2010 to March 2012 in a prospective cohort that measured hsTnT at 0600 of the first and second postoperative day. Our primary end point was 30-day, all-cause mortality. The secondary end point was 12-month, all-cause mortality in patients surviving the first 30 days. We divided hsTnT into 5 predetermined categorizes based on the upper limit of the norm (ULN). We used Cox regression to examine an association of hsTnT independent of the EuroSCORE II at both 30 days as well as at 12 months in patients surviving the first 30 days. We assessed the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve and the net reassignment improvement for examining the benefit of adding of hsTnT to the EuroSCORE II for prognostication and restratification of 30-day, all-cause mortality. RESULTS: We included 1122 of 1155 eligible patients (75% male; mean age 66 ± 11 years). We observed 58 (5.2%) deaths at 30 days and another 35 (3.4%) deaths at 12 months in patients surviving 30 days. HsTnT categorized by ULN exhibited a graded response for the mortality. Furthermore, hsTnT remained an independent predictor of all-cause mortality at 30 days (adjusted hazard ratio 1.019 [1.014-1.024] per 10-fold increase in ULN) as well as at 12 months (adjusted hazard ratio 1.019 [1.007-1.032]) in patients surviving the first 30 days. The addition of hsTnT to the EuroSCORE II significantly increased the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (area under curve: 0.816 [95% confidence interval, 0.754-0.878] versus area under curve: 0.870 [95% confidence interval, 0.822-0.917], respectively; P = .012). Finally, adding hsTnT to the EuroSCORE II improved restratification by the net reassignment improvement, primarily by improving rule-out of events. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that, similar to previous assays, higher postoperative concentrations of hsTnT are independently associated with all-cause mortality in patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery.

Absolute Postoperative B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations, but Not Their General Trend, Are Associated With 12-Month, All-Cause Mortality After On-Pump Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a predictor of mortality after on-pump cardiac surgery. However, previous limited and heterogeneous studies have focused on peak concentrations at 3 to 5 days after surgery and may not offer clinicians much help in early decision-making. After confirming the predictive value of first-postoperative-day BNP in a preliminary analysis, we explored the association between isolated second-postoperative-day BNP concentrations, second-day BNP concentrations in conjunction with first-day BNP concentrations, and the change in BNP (ie, ΔBNP) from the first to the second postoperative day and 12-month, all-cause mortality. METHODS: We included consecutive patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery in this observational, secondary analysis of prospectively collected data. We analyzed biomarkers on the first and second postoperative day. ΔBNP was defined as BNP on the second postoperative day minus BNP on the first postoperative day. The primary end point was 12-month, all-cause mortality. The secondary end point was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 12 months and/or all-cause mortality at 12 months. MACE was defined as nonfatal cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure. The association between BNP and outcomes was examined by receiver operating characteristic curves, as well as univariate and multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for the EuroSCORE II, cross-clamp time, and first-postoperative-day troponin T. RESULTS: We included 1199 patients in the preliminary analysis focused on BNP on postoperative day 1. In the analyses examining BNP variables requiring second-postoperative-day BNP measurement (n = 708), we observed 66 (9.3%) deaths, 48 (6.8%) MACE, and 104 (14.7%) deaths and/or MACE. Both first- and second-postoperative-day BNP were significant independent predictors of all-cause, 12-month mortality per 100 ng/L increase (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.040 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.019-1.065] and 1.064 [95% CI, 1.031-1.105], respectively). When used in conjunction with one another, first-day BNP was not significant (aOR, 1.021 [95% CI, 0.995-1.048]), while second-day BNP remained significant (aOR, 1.046 [95% CI, 1.008-1.091]). The ΔBNP per 100 ng/L increase was not associated with 12-month, all-cause mortality in the univariable (OR, 0.977 [95% CI, 0.951-1.007]) or multivariable analysis (aOR, 0.989 [95% CI, 0.962-1.021]). CONCLUSIONS: Both absolute concentrations of first- and second-postoperative-day BNP are independent predictors of 12-month, all-cause mortality. When modeled together, second-postoperative-day BNP is more predictive of 12-month, all-cause mortality. Although intuitively appealing, the change in BNP from the first to the second postoperative day is a complex variable and should not routinely be used for prognostication.

Significance of new Q waves and their location in postoperative ECGs after elective on-pump cardiac surgery: An observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of new pathological Q waves after on-pump cardiac surgery is uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether or not either the occurrence per se or the location of new pathological Q waves after on-pump cardiac surgery is associated with 12-month, all-cause mortality and/or major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Single university hospital from January 2007 to October 2010. PATIENTS: Consecutive adult patients undergoing elective on-pump cardiac surgery with MACE-free survival until at least the 7th postoperative day and available ECGs both preoperatively and on the 7th postoperative day (n = 1464). We conducted a subgroup analysis in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 740). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Our primary endpoint was 12-month, all-cause mortality and/or MACE, defined as acute coronary syndrome, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure or re-vascularisation at 12 months. Using logistic regression, we examined the prognostic value of new pathological Q waves according to the Minnesota ECG Code, adjusting for the EuroSCORE II, cardiopulmonary bypass time and peak postoperative troponin T concentrations. RESULTS: We included 1464 patients (74% men; mean ±â€ŠSD age 66 ±â€Š10 years) and observed 103 (7.0%) all-cause deaths and/or MACEs at 12 months. A total of 236 patients (16.1%) had definite or probable new pathological Q waves according to the Minnesota ECG Code. The occurrence of new pathological Q waves per se was not associated with our primary endpoint [adjusted odds ratio, 0.970 (95% confidence interval, 0.540 to 1.648)]. However, the occurrence of a new pathological Q wave in V1 to V5 (anterior) was a strong independent predictor for poor outcome [adjusted odds ratio, 3.461 (95% confidence interval, 1.501 to 7.242)]. CONCLUSION: The current analysis suggests that for patients undergoing elective on-pump cardiac surgery, only new pathological Q waves in V1 to V5 (anterior) in the 7th postoperative day ECG are associated with 12-month, all-cause mortality and/or MACE. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00468598.

Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Perioperative coagulation management is becoming increasingly frequent in the daily routine of the anesthesiologist and with the plethora of new substances on the market also increasingly complex. The perioperative setting poses unique challenges requiring an individualized evaluation and management of antithrombotic therapy. This review shall summarize the newest developments in this domain. RECENT FINDINGS: New data in patients with atrial fibrillation have led to a paradigm change in the perioperative management of antithrombotics. The role of bridging therapy has been downgraded in the guidelines, which only foresee bridging in patients with high thromboembolic risk. Furthermore, direct oral anticoagulants are now a cornerstone in antithrombotic therapy, calling for specific perioperative management. The new reversal agents idarucizumab, and potentially in the future andexanet alfa and ciraparantag, will play an increasingly important role in the treatment of major bleeding in this group of patients. SUMMARY: With the new evidence and treatment options available, perioperative coagulation management is experiencing a Renaissance, opening many interesting new doors, but also presenting the clinician with new challenges.

Which Anesthesia Regimen Is Best to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality in Lung Surgery?: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: One-lung ventilation during thoracic surgery is associated with hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in the deflated and subsequently reventilated lung. Numerous studies have reported volatile anesthesia-induced attenuation of inflammatory responses in such scenarios. If the effect also extends to clinical outcome is yet undetermined. We hypothesized that volatile anesthesia is superior to intravenous anesthesia regarding postoperative complications. METHODS: Five centers in Switzerland participated in the randomized controlled trial. Patients scheduled for lung surgery with one-lung ventilation were randomly assigned to one of two parallel arms to receive either propofol or desflurane as general anesthetic. Patients and surgeons were blinded to group allocation. Time to occurrence of the first major complication according to the Clavien-Dindo score was defined as primary (during hospitalization) or secondary (6-month follow-up) endpoint. Cox regression models were used with adjustment for prestratification variables and age. RESULTS: Of 767 screened patients, 460 were randomized and analyzed (n = 230 for each arm). Demographics, disease and intraoperative characteristics were comparable in both groups. Incidence of major complications during hospitalization was 16.5% in the propofol and 13.0% in the desflurane groups (hazard ratio for desflurane vs. propofol, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.22; P = 0.24). Incidence of major complications within 6 months from surgery was 40.4% in the propofol and 39.6% in the desflurane groups (hazard ratio for desflurane vs. propofol, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.28; P = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first multicenter randomized controlled trial addressing the effect of volatile versus intravenous anesthetics on major complications after lung surgery. No difference between the two anesthesia regimens was evident.