Clinical characteristics of functional recovery after coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Japanese octogenarians.

[Purpose] This study aimed to elucidate characteristics of postoperative physical functional recovery in octogenarians undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. [Subjects and Methods] This was a multi-center, retrospective study. Nine hundred and twenty-seven elective isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgeries were evaluated (746 males and 181 females, mean age: 68.6 years, range: 31-86 years). Participants were stratified according to age < 80 years (n = 840; mean age, 67.1; range, 31-79) or > 80 years (n = 87; mean age, 82.2; range, 80-86). Patient characteristics and postoperative physical functional recovery outcomes were compared between groups. [Results] There was no significant difference between groups when considering the postoperative day at which patients could sit on the edge of the bed, stand at bedside, or walk around the bed. The postoperative day at which patients could walk 100 m independently was later in octogenarians, when compared with non-octogenarians (6.1 ± 3.2 days vs. 4.9 ± 3.9 days). In octogenarians, the percentage of patients who could walk 100 m independently within 8 days after surgery was 79.5%. [Conclusion] A postoperative target time in octogenarians for independent walking, following coronary artery bypass grafting, can be set at approximately 6 days.

In-patient step count predicts re-hospitalization after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Clinical significance of in-patient step count after cardiac surgery remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether the number of steps walked during the in-patient stay after cardiac surgery predicts the risk of cardiac re-hospitalization in the following year. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three patients who underwent cardiac surgery were included in this study. The number of steps was assessed using a triaxial accelerometer. One year after surgery, patients completed a postal survey to determine their health condition and occurrence of cardiac re-hospitalization. RESULTS: The mean number of steps walked during the last three in-patient days was 2460 ± 1549 (mean ± standard deviation). Of the 133 patients, there were 16 cases (12.0%) of cardiac re-hospitalization during the 1-year follow-up period. The average step count before discharge was significantly lower in the 16 patients who were re-hospitalized for cardiac causes (1297 ± 1232 versus 2620 ± 1524, p<0.01). The cut-off value that predicted the occurrence of cardiac re-hospitalization on the receiver operating curve was 1308 steps (area under the curve: 0.783, p<0.001, sensitivity: 0.814, specificity: 0.733). Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that the strongest predictor of cardiac re-hospitalization was a low step count prior to discharge (≤1308 steps, hazard ratio: 7.58; 95% confidence interval: 2.04-28.22). CONCLUSIONS: In-patient step count appears to be a risk factor for cardiac re-hospitalization within the first year following cardiac surgery. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of step count both preoperatively and following discharge.

Factors determining achievement of early postoperative cardiac rehabilitation goal in patients with or without preoperative kidney dysfunction undergoing isolated cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the relationship between preoperative kidney function, postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), and postoperative fluid balance (POFB) with the progress of early postoperative cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients undergoing isolated cardiac surgery. METHODS: Four hundred twenty three consecutive patients (137 females, 286 males, aged 66±13 years) who underwent various elective cardiac surgeries in the participating institutes were selected and divided into 5 groups depending on chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage. We evaluated the effects of CKD stage on the progress of early postoperative CR, and analyzed the factors determining the achievement of Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) early postoperative CR guidelines goal. RESULTS: Initiation of sitting (F=7.59, p<0.01) and standing (F=4.83, p<0.01), walking (F=4.40, p<0.01), and 100-m unassisted walk (F=13.09, p<0.01) were related with severity of preoperative CKD stage. The proportion of patients who could not achieve JCS early postoperative CR guideline goal was 15.0% in patients with CKD and 12.9% in patients without CKD. Multivariable analyses identified Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage Kidney (RIFLE) classification (of postoperative AKI) and blood urea nitrogen as factors determining achievement of early postoperative CR goal in patients with CKD; and POFB/preoperative body weight (PBW), RIFLE classification as determinants in patients without CKD. Using the receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis to predict achievement of the early postoperative CR goal, POFB/PBW 4.9% was identified as the cut-off value for achievement of the JCS early postoperative CR guideline goal. CONCLUSION: Preoperative CKD stage correlated significantly with the progress of early postoperative CR after cardiac surgery. Independent determinants of achieving JCS early postoperative CR guideline goal were postoperative AKI in patients with or without CKD, and POFB/PBW only in patients without CKD.