Clinical outcomes of hybrid coronary revascularization versus coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) involves minimally invasive left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending coronary artery grafting combined with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of non-left anterior descending vessels. The safety and efficacy of HCR among diabetic patients are unknown. METHODS: Patients with diabetes were included who underwent HCR at a US academic center between October 2003 and September 2013. These patients were matched 1:5 to similar patients treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using a propensity score (PS)-matching algorithm. Conditional logistic regression and Cox regression stratified on matched pairs were performed to evaluate the association between HCR and inhospital complications, a composite measure of 30-day mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke, and up to 3-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of 618 patients (HCR = 103; CABG = 515) in the PS-matched cohort, the 30-day composite of death, MI, or stroke after HCR and CABG was 4.9% and 3.9% (odds ratio: 1.25; 95% CI [0.47-3.33]; P = .66). Compared with CABG, HCR also had similar need for reoperation (7.6% versus 6.3%; P = .60) and renal failure (4.2% versus 4.9%; P = .76) but required less blood products (31.4% versus. 65.8%; P < .0001), lower chest tube drainage (655 mL [412-916] versus 898 mL [664-1240]; P < .0001), and shorter length of stay (<5 days: 48.3% versus 25.3%; P < .0001). Over a 3-year follow-up period, mortality was similar after HCR and CABG (12.3% versus 14.9%, hazard ratio: 0.94, 95% CI [0.47-1.88]; P = .86). CONCLUSION: Among diabetic patients, the use of HCR appears to be safe and has similar longitudinal outcomes but is associated with less blood product usage and faster recovery than conventional CABG surgery.

Prospective evaluation of elastic restraint to lessen the effects of heart failure (PEERLESS-HF) trial.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) remodeling predicts poor outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. The HeartNet(®) cardiac restraint device (Paracor Medical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) may reduce LV remodeling and improve functional capacity, quality of life, and outcomes in HF patients. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the HeartNet Ventricular Support System in HF patients receiving optimal medical therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial in patients with symptomatic HF and LV ejection fraction ≤35% on optimal medical and device therapy. The primary efficacy end points were changes in peak VO(2), 6-minute walk (6MW) distance, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (MLWHF) quality of life score at 6 months. The primary safety end point was all-cause mortality at 12 months. Because the planned adaptive interim analysis of the first 122 subjects with a completed 6-month follow-up indicated futility to reach the peak VO(2) end point, trial enrollment was suspended. Hence, the results on the 96 treatment and 114 control subjects are reported. Groups were similar at baseline. At 6 months, responder frequency for a prespecified improvement was similar between groups for peak VO(2) (P = .502) and MLWHF score (P = .184) but borderline higher for improvement in 6MW distance in the treatment compared with the control group (33 [38%] vs. 25 [25%]; P = .044). At 6 months, the treatment group had a significantly greater improvement in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) (P < .001) and decrease in LV mass (P = .032), LV end-diastolic diameter (P = .015), LV end-systolic diameter (P = .032), and LV end-diastolic volume (P = .031) as compared with controls. At 12 months, all-cause mortality and responder rates were similar in the 2 groups. Success rate for the HeartNet implantation was 99%. CONCLUSION: Enrollment in the trial was stopped because an interim analysis showed futility of reaching the peak VO(2) end point. However, because of the device safety and favorable signals for LV remodeling and quality of life, further investigation of this device is warranted.

Hybrid coronary revascularization for the treatment of left main coronary stenosis: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of a hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) approach for the treatment of left main (LM) coronary artery stenosis. BACKGROUND: The recommended therapy for significant LM stenosis is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected LM lesions is reserved for patients at high risk for complications with CABG. HCR in LM disease has not been studied. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive patients with LM stenosis >70% underwent staged HCR. Following a robotic or thoracoscopic-assisted minimally invasive left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) coronary bypass, PCI of the LM, and non-LAD targets was performed after angiographic confirmation of LIMA patency. Intravascular ultrasound confirmed optimal stent deployment. Thirty-day adverse outcomes and long term follow up was obtained. RESULTS: In the 22 patients with LM lesions, 6 were ostial, 5 mid, and 11 distal. LIMA patency was FitzGibbon A in all cases. LM stenting was successful in all patients with drug-eluting stents (DES) placed in 21 of 22 cases. Three patients underwent stent implantation in the right coronary artery. There were no 30-day major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events. At a mean of 38.8 ± 22 months postprocedure, 21 patients were alive without reintervention; one death occurred at 454 days. CONCLUSIONS: HCR for LM coronary disease is a feasible alternative to CABG and unprotected LM PCI. This approach combines the long-term durability of a LIMA-LAD bypass with the less invasive option of PCI in non-LAD targets with DES.

Racial disparity persists after on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Race has been shown to be an independent risk factor for operative mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study sought to determine the extent to which race is a risk factor for adverse events, long-term mortality, and whether off-pump surgery (OPCAB) modifies that risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Database at Emory Healthcare affiliated hospitals was queried for all primary isolated CABG records from 1997 to 2007. A propensity score was formulated to balance the patient groups with respect to treatment assignment (OPCAB or CABG on cardiopulmonary bypass). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the impact of black race and OPCAB on in-hospital outcomes (death, stroke, myocardial infarction, and their composite, major adverse cardiac events). Cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier curves determined whether black race affected long-term all-cause mortality. Interaction terms were constructed to test whether OPCAB surgery influences surgical results differently in black patients than in white patients. There were 12 874 consecutive CABG patients, including 2033 (15.8%) blacks and 10 841 (84.2%) whites. Survival at 3, 5, and 10 years for blacks (87.5%, 81.4%, 63.8%) was significantly lower than for whites (90.7%, 85.2%, 67.1%, P<0.001). Blacks (adjusted odds ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.44 to 1.36) and whites (adjusted odds ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.99) who had OPCAB had lower risk-adjusted odds of major adverse cardiac events than their racial counterparts who had CABG on cardiopulmonary bypass. CONCLUSIONS: Short- and long-term outcomes are significantly worse in black than in white patients undergoing primary isolated CABG. OPCAB does not narrow the disparity in outcomes between blacks and whites.

Percutaneous and minimally invasive valve procedures: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Functional Genomics and Translational Biology Interdisciplinary Working Group, and Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group.

The incidence of valvular heart disease is expected to increase over the next several decades as a large proportion of the US demographic advances into the later decades of life. At the same time, the next several years can be anticipated to bring a broad transition of surgical therapy to minimally invasive (minithoracotomy and small port) access and the more gradual introduction of percutaneous approaches for the correction of valvular heart disease. Broad acceptance of these technologies will require careful and sometimes perplexing comparisons of the outcomes of these new technologies with existing standards of care. The validation of percutaneous techniques, in particular, will require the collaboration of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in centers with excellent surgical and catheter experience and a commitment to trial participation. For the near term, percutaneous techniques will likely remain investigational and will be limited in use to patients considered to be high risk or to inoperable surgical candidates. Although current-generation devices and techniques require significant modification before widespread clinical use can be adopted, it must be expected that less invasive and even percutaneous valve therapies will likely have a major impact on the management of patients with valvular heart disease over the next several years.

HVAD: The ENDURANCE Supplemental Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the impact of blood pressure management on stroke rates in patients receiving the HeartWare HVAD System. BACKGROUND: The ENDURANCE trial demonstrated noninferiority of the HeartWare HVAD System versus control (HeartMate II) in patients with advanced heart failure ineligible for heart transplantation. However, stroke was more common in HVAD subjects. Post hoc analyses demonstrated increased mean arterial blood pressure as a significant independent risk factor for stroke. METHODS: The ENDURANCE Supplemental Trial was a prospective, multicenter evaluation of 465 patients with advanced heart failure ineligible for transplantation, randomized 2:1 to HVAD (n = 308) or control (n = 157). The primary endpoint was the 12-month incidence of transient ischemic attack or stroke with residual deficit 24 weeks post-event. Secondary endpoints included the composite of freedom from death, disabling stroke, and need for device replacement or urgent transplantation, as well as comparisons of stroke or transient ischemic attack rates in HVAD cohorts in ENDURANCE Supplemental and ENDURANCE. RESULTS: The enhanced blood pressure protocol significantly reduced mean arterial blood pressure. The primary endpoint was not achieved (14.7% with HVAD vs. 12.1% with control, noninferiority [margin 6%] p = 0.14). However, the secondary composite endpoint demonstrated superiority of HVAD (76.1%) versus control (66.9%) (p = 0.04). The incidence of stroke in HVAD subjects was reduced 24.2% in ENDURANCE Supplemental compared with ENDURANCE (p = 0.10), and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident was reduced by 50.5% (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The ENDURANCE Supplemental Trial failed to demonstrate noninferiority of HVAD versus control regarding the pre-specified primary endpoint. However, the trial confirmed that BP management is associated with reduced stroke rates in HVAD subjects. HVAD subjects, relative to control subjects, more commonly achieved the composite endpoint (freedom from death, disabling stroke, and device replacement or urgent transplantation). (A Clinical Trial to Evaluate the HeartWare™ Ventricular Assist System [ENDURANCE SUPPLEMENTAL TRIAL] [DT2]; NCT01966458).

Evaluation of Hemodynamic Performance of Aortic Valve Bioprostheses in a Model of Oversizing.

BACKGROUND: The risk of patient-prosthesis mismatch drives most surgeons to select the largest bioprosthesis possible during aortic valve replacement, but interactions between the native aortic annulus and valve prosthesis remain poorly defined. We examined the hemodynamic and functional consequences of oversizing contemporary bioprostheses in an in vitro model. METHODS: Three sizes each (21, 23, and 25 mm) of 5 aortic bioprostheses (Magna, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA; Trifecta and Epic, St. Jude, St. Paul, MN; and Mosaic and Hancock II, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) were tested on a mock annulus in a pulsatile aortic simulator. After the annulus was sized to match each valve, the annulus was decreased by 3 mm and then by 6 mm to simulate oversizing. We measured the effective orifice area and the mean pressure gradient. Changes in prosthetic leaflet behavior and geometric orifice area were assessed with slow-motion video. Statistical analysis used mixed-effects models for repeated-measures data, allowing comparison within and between groups. RESULTS: For each valve model and size, oversizing resulted in decreased effective orifice areas and geometric orifice areas and increased pressure gradients. This was more pronounced with smaller valve sizes and higher flow rates but varied between valve types. Slow-motion imaging revealed this change in geometric orifice area was a result of an inward shift of the valve leaflet hinge point. CONCLUSIONS: Bioprosthetic oversizing impairs hemodynamic performance of aortic valve bioprostheses. The magnitude of this effect varies by valve model and size. Clinically, these data suggest that during aortic valve replacement, placing a valve whose internal orifice closely matches the aortic annulus will provide the optimal hemodynamic performance.

Hybrid coronary revascularization versus coronary artery bypass surgery with bilateral or single internal mammary artery grafts.

OBJECTIVE: Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) combines minimally invasive left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-left anterior descending artery (LAD) bypass with percutaneous intervention of non-LAD vessels. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of HCR to conventional coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with single internal mammary artery (SIMA) or bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) grafting. METHODS: Between October 2003 and September 2013, 306 consecutive patients who underwent HCR were compared with 8254 patients who underwent CABG with SIMA (7381; 89.4%) or BIMA (873; 10.6%) at a US academic center. The primary outcome was a composite of 30-day death, myocardial infarction, and stroke (major cerebrovascular and cardiac event [MACCE]). In addition to multiple logistic and linear regression analysis, a propensity score-matched analysis was used to compare HCR with SIMA and with BIMA. RESULTS: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons-predicted risk of mortality was 1.6% for HCR, 2.1% for SIMA, and 1.1% for BIMA (P < .001). Factors associated with HCR use were older age, lower body mass index, history of percutaneous coronary intervention, and 2-vessel disease. In propensity-matched groups, 30-day MACCE rates were comparable (3.3% for HCR vs 1.3% for BIMA [odds ratio (OR), 2.50; P = .12] and vs 3.6% for SIMA [OR, 1.00; P = 1.00]). In-hospital complications were lower after HCR versus SIMA or BIMA (OR, 0.59; P = .033 and OR, 0.55; P = .015, respectively), as was the need for blood transfusion (OR, 0.44; P < .001 and OR, 0.57; P < .001). HCR was associated with shorter hospital stay compared with SIMA (OR, 1.28; P = .038) or BIMA (OR, 1.40; P = .006). No survival difference between matched groups was found at midterm follow-up (HCR vs SIMA: hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-1.38; P = .66; HCR vs BIMA: HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.48-2.29; P = .91). CONCLUSIONS: HCR may represent a safe, less invasive alternative to conventional CABG in carefully selected patients, with similar short-term and midterm outcomes as CABG performed with either SIMA or BIMA grafting.

Comparative Effectiveness of Hybrid Coronary Revascularization vs Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) combines minimally invasive left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending bypass with percutaneous coronary intervention of non-left anterior descending vessels. Its safety and effectiveness compared with conventional CABG have been under studied. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with multivessel disease and/or left main disease who underwent HCR at a US academic center between October 2003 and September 2013 were included. These patients were matched 1:3 to patients treated with CABG using a propensity-score matching algorithm. Conditional logistic regression and Cox regression analyses stratified on matched pairs were performed to evaluate the adjusted association between HCR and short- and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: The 30-day composite of death, MI, or stroke after HCR and CABG was 3.3% and 3.1% (odds ratio = 1.07; 95% CI, 0.52-2.21; p = 0.85) in the matched cohort of 1,224 patients (HCR, n =306; CABG, n = 918). Hybrid coronary revascularization was associated with lower rates of in-hospital major morbidity (8.5% vs 15.5%; p = 0.005), lower blood transfusion use (21.6% vs 46.6%; p < 0.001), lower chest tube drainage (690 mL; 25th to 75th percentile: 485 to 1,050 mL vs 920 mL, 25th to 75th percentile: 710 to 1,230 mL; p < 0.001), and shorter postoperative length of stay (<5-day stay: 52.6% vs 38.1%; p = 0.001). During a 3-year follow-up period, mortality was similar after HCR and CABG (8.8% vs 10.2%; hazard ratio = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.55-1.52; p = 0.72). Subgroup analyses in patients stratified by 2-vessel, 3-vessel, left main disease, and by Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores rendered similar results. CONCLUSIONS: The use of HCR appeared to be safe, with faster recovery and similar outcomes when compared with conventional CABG. These findings were consistent irrespective of anatomic or predicted procedural risk.

Coronary perfusion methods during off-pump coronary artery bypass: results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Several techniques are being used to perform off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) grafting. This three-armed clinical trial was performed to determine whether one OPCAB method of coronary perfusion was superior over the others with respect to myocardial protection and performance. METHODS: Over the course of 11 months, 151 consecutive unselected patients underwent elective first-time OPCAB grafting by sternotomy performed by a single surgeon. Patients were prospectively randomized to receive one of three OPCAB coronary perfusion treatments: (1) no coronary perfusion (NCP), ie, OPCAB using no coronary perfusion during the distal anastomosis or graft perfusion after the distal anastomosis until all the proximal anastomoses were completed; (2) passive coronary perfusion (PCP), providing distal coronary perfusion during the anastomosis and immediate graft perfusion after the distal anastomosis by means of a passive cannula from the aorta; or (3) active coronary perfusion (ACP), providing assisted distal coronary perfusion and graft perfusion by means of an in-line pump (perfusion-assisted direct coronary artery bypass. Hemodynamic and biochemical data were recorded to disc continuously throughout the operation and postoperatively. RESULTS: With no statistically significant differences in the three treatment groups with respect to patient age, left ventricular systolic or diastolic function, and extent and distribution of coronary disease or grafts performed, cardiac performance postoperatively was superior in the active coronary perfusion group compared to the groups receiving either passive coronary perfusion or no coronary perfusion (p < 0.001). In addition, troponin I levels were lower in the coronary perfusion groups (PCP and ACP) (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Providing active coronary perfusion during the anastomosis and after each distal anastomosis by using an in-line pump resulted in superior myocardial protection and performance during OPCAB surgery when compared to either no coronary perfusion or passive coronary perfusion.

Hemodynamic collapse during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: The causes of hemodynamic collapse during off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) remain scarcely defined. We present an analysis of 23 cases of sustained hemodynamic collapse during elective off-pump CABG. METHODS: During a 54-month period, we performed 1420 elective OPCAB procedures through a sternotomy, constituting 71.2% of the total CABG procedures performed. Twenty-three patients (1.6%) experienced hemodynamic collapse intra-operatively requiring immediate cardiopulmonary bypass. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcome were retrospectively reviewed in each patient. RESULTS: In all cases, improvements in intra-operative technique and/or judgment could be made retrospectively. Twenty (20/23) of these patients had an uneventful postoperative course and three (3/23) patients had an unstable course with two deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The causes of hemodynamic collapse during elective OPCAB were ischemic, mechanical, or a combination of both. A detailed review of our five and a half year experience has revealed a number of suggestions for improving the conduct of the operation.

Hybrid robotic coronary artery surgery and angioplasty in multivessel coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Complete surgical revascularization that includes left internal thoracic artery grafting to the left anterior descending coronary artery remains the gold standard of treatment for coronary artery disease. Not all patients are good candidates for sternotomy. Therefore, we sought to identify a strategy that would combine the long-term advantages of internal thoracic artery grafting to lessen surgical trauma while still allowing complete revascularization. METHODS: A total of 54 consecutive patients from four institutions underwent hybrid revascularization combining surgery and angioplasty. All internal thoracic artery grafts were endoscopically harvested with robotic assistance using either the Aesop or Zeus system, and all anastomoses were manually constructed through a 4- to 6-cm anterior thoracotomy incision. Angioplasty was carried out to achieve total revascularization to ungrafted vessels. RESULTS: There were no early or late deaths, myocardial infarctions, strokes, or wound infections. Of the patients, 37 (69%) were extubated in the operating room. Length of stay in the intensive care unit averaged 24.4 hours and hospital stay 3.45 days. In all, 16 patients (29.6%) required transfusion of packed red blood cells. Late complications included 1 patient with stent occlusion at 3 months and 2 patients with in-stent restenosis. Three patients were treated for postpericardiotomy syndrome. Mean follow-up was 11.7 months. Event-free was survival 87.1% and freedom from recurrent angina 98.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid endoscopic atraumatic internal thoracic artery to anterior descending coronary artery graft surgery combined with angioplasty is a reasonable revascularization strategy in multiple vessel coronary artery disease in selected patients. Longer follow-up and more patient data in a randomized study are needed to determine the patient cohort most likely to benefit from this approach.

Off-pump apicoaortic conduit insertion for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, we implanted an apicoaortic conduit off-pump in three high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. METHODS: A muscle-coring device was utilized to create the apical outflow tract followed by insertion of a rigid apical connector. A valved conduit was then connected to the descending thoracic aorta and to the apical connector graft. RESULTS: A stentless porcine bioprosthesis was implanted in two patients and a stented valve in one. The left ventricular (LV)-aortic gradients were reduced from a mean of 66 to 28 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: With modification of an existing technique, apicoaortic conduit insertion can be performed safely off-pump. This technique can be applied to complex forms of LV outflow obstruction and high-risk patients.

Conversion of Endoscopic, Robotically Assisted Coronary Bypass: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcome.

Abstract Background: The clinical and financial consequences of conversion from endoscopic (robotically assisted) atraumatic coronary artery bypass (EndoACAB) to sternotomy (converted EndoACAB) have not been previously reported. This study sought to identify the incidence, causes, predictive factors, and adverse consequences of converted EndoACAB. Methods: Between June 1996 and June 2003, 509 patients underwent EndoACAB, and an additional 20 EndoACAB patients underwent converted EndoACAB. Data from the patients requiring conversion to sternotomy were retrospectively reviewed using multivariate regression and computer matched with data from a cohort of patients who underwent primary sternotomy (SternCAB). Results: The overall rate of conversion was 3.8% (20/509). Causes were: inability to expose the target vessel(s) (9), unsuitable internal mammary artery (7), intrathoracic bleeding (2), and hemodynamic instability (2). There were no statistical differences in mortality or major morbidity between converted EndoACAB patients versus the computer-matched SternCAB patients ( P = not significant). Hospital costs for the converted EndoACAB patients were higher than for the successful EndoACAB patients, but not higher than the computer-matched SternCAB patients. Conclusions: The incidence of conversion of EndoACAB patients to sternotomy was low and often occurred under elective circumstances. The clinical and economic consequences of conversion were minimal.

Effects of obesity on outcomes in endoscopically assisted coronary artery bypass operations.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been shown to be an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes and prolonged hospitalization following conventional coronary artery bypass (CAB). For this reason and because of increased technical challenges, obesity has been considered a relative contraindication for minimally invasive bypass. The purpose of this study was to determine if in fact severe or morbid obesity is an independent risk factor for patients undergoing minimally invasive CAB. METHODS: Outcome data of 350 consecutive endoscopic, atraumatic CAB procedures performed at our institution over a 4-year period were reviewed with respect to patient body mass index (BMI). All operations consisted of thoracoscopic left or right internal mammary artery (IMA) harvesting followed by off-pump grafting of the left anterior descending (with/without diagonal coronary artery) or right coronary artery via a 4-cm thoracotomy. Patients were divided into 4 groups: small (BMI = 24 kg/m2), normal to mild obesity (24 kg/m2 < BMI = 34 kg/m2), severe obesity (34 kg/m2 < BMI = 40 kg/m2), and morbid obesity (BMI >40 kg/m2). RESULTS: Although the BMI >34 kg/m2 groups had a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, there was no statistical difference in operative risk between groups. Thirty-day mortality, conversion to sternotomy, transfusion rate, and wound, pulmonary, neurological, and myocardial complications were not significantly different between groups. The BMI >34 kg/m2 patients required longer IMA harvest times and total operating times, but the intensive care unit length of stay was not significantly different between groups. Hospital length of stay was longer for the BMI =24 kg/m2 group than for the BMI 18 to 34 kg/m2 group (P =.025). CONCLUSION: Despite increased technical difficulty caused by obesity, it is not an independent risk factor for patients undergoing minimally invasive CAB.

CAPS--coronary-assisted perfusion system.

For the past 35 years the use of the extracorporeal bypass circuit has been a mainstay for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in cardiac surgery arena. Since John Gibbon's early design, evolution of the pump has expanded rapidly with new techniques and engineering. The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit has allowed cardiovascular surgeons to perform complete revascularization in a motionless and bloodless field. Presently, there is a new focus on CABGs because of new engineering designs of retractors and stabilizers, robotic techniques, and the monetary issues of cost and length of stay. Surgeons at our hospital perform 70% of CABG procedures off pump. We have developed a coronary-assisted perfusion system called CAPS. This is a simple shunt system that uses existing pump hardware to deliver arterial blood to the myocardium after the completion of the distal anastomosis. Flow is regulated by monitoring a pressure-sensing display either at systemic or suprasystemic pressure. Temperature of the blood is maintained with a Vanguard BCD heat exchanger (COBE Cardiovascular Inc., Arvada, CO) with a built-in temperature probe port. This system is capable of delivering optional agents for coronary vasodilatation, myocardial resuscitation, and performance through a connection to any standard medication infusion pump. The advantages of this system are that it is safe, requires no additional perfusion hardware, cost effective, easy to setup, has a low and rapid prime, has both inflow and outflow pressure monitoring sites, has heat a exchanger with temperature monitor, and has a drug additive port for pharmacologic infusion.

Endoscopic-assisted atraumatic coronary artery bypass.

Minimally invasive operations designed to graft the left anterior descending coronary artery with the left internal mammary artery are either traumatic to the chest wall or technically difficult and expensive. This report describes a novel procedure that is less traumatic and simpler.

The impact of clopidogrel therapy on postoperative bleeding after robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients undergoing robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) on clopidogrel had an increased risk of bleeding complications compared with those not on clopidogrel. METHODS: From 2008 to 2011, 322 patients underwent robotic-assisted CABG either as an isolated procedure or as part of a hybrid coronary revascularization procedure (HCR). Patients were classified according to whether they received clopidogrel within 5 days of surgery or intraoperatively (n = 64) compared with those who never received or who had discontinued clopidogrel therapy >5 days before surgery (n = 258). A propensity analysis using 31 preoperative variables was used to control for confounding variables. In a subgroup analysis, patients undergoing one-stage HCR (clopidogrel load 600 mg in odds ratio (OR) prior to stenting) were compared with patients in the clopidogrel group who underwent two-stage HCR. RESULTS: In the Clopidogrel group, the mean interval between surgery and last dose of clopidogrel was 2.1 ± 1.5 days. Compared with the No Clopidogrel group, the Clopidogrel group had greater 24-h chest tube drainage (1003 ± 572 vs 782 ± 530 ml, P = 0.004) and more blood transfusions (35.9%, 23 of 64 patients vs 20.9%, 54 of 258 patients, P = 0.01). On logistic regression analysis, there was greater 24-h chest tube drainage in the Clopidogrel group (+198 ml, P = 0.02) and a significantly higher incidence of blood transfusion (OR = 2.30, P = 0.01). In the subgroup analysis, patients undergoing one-stage HCR (n = 17) had greater 24-h chest tube drainage compared with patients undergoing two-stage HCR (1262 vs 909 ml, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing robotic-assisted CABG on clopidogrel had more postoperative bleeding and a higher incidence of blood transfusion. Therefore, despite a less invasive approach, surgery should be delayed in these patients when possible.

Comparison of hybrid coronary revascularization versus coronary artery bypass grafting in patients≥65 years with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) combines minimally invasive left internal mammary artery-to-left anterior descending coronary artery grafting with percutaneous coronary intervention of non-left anterior descending coronary arteries. The safety and efficacy of HCR in patients≥65 years of age is unknown. In this study, patients aged≥65 years were included who underwent HCR at an academic center from October 2003 to September 2013. These patients were matched 1:4 to similar patients treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using a propensity-score matching algorithm. Conditional logistic regression and Cox regression stratified on matched pairs were performed to evaluate the association between HCR and CABG, and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (a composite of mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke), periprocedural complications, and 3-year all-cause mortality. Of 715 patients (143 of whom underwent HCR and 572 CABG) in the propensity score-matched cohort, rates of 30-day major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were comparable after HCR and CABG (5.6% vs 3.8%, odds ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 3.27, p=0.36). Compared with CABG, HCR resulted in fewer procedural complications (9.1% vs 18.2%, p=0.018), fewer blood transfusions (28.0% vs 53.3%, p<0.0001), less chest tube drainage (838±484 vs 1,100±579 cm3, p<0.001), and shorter lengths of stay (<5 days: 45.5% vs 27.4%, p=0.001). Over a 3-year follow-up period, mortality rates were similar after HCR and CABG (13.2% vs 16.6%, hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.46 to 1.43, p=0.47). Subgroup analyses in high-risk patients (Charlson index≥6, age≥75 years) rendered similar results. In conclusion, although the present data are limited, we found that in older patients, the use of HCR is safe, has fewer procedural complications, entails less blood product use, and results in faster recovery with similar longitudinal outcomes relative to conventional CABG.