Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion.

OBJECTIVES: Mechanisms of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) differ as CABG provides surgical collateralization and may prolong life by preventing future myocardial infarctions (MIs). However, evidence for CABG in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) has not been fully elucidated and the impact of PCI is discussed controversially. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of studies comparing outcomes in patients with/without multivessel disease undergoing CABG or PCI for CTO. The primary outcome was long-term all-cause mortality (≥5 years). Secondary outcomes were MIs, repeat revascularization, cardiac mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, and stroke, as well as short-term mortality (30 days/in-hospital) and stroke. A pooled Kaplan-Meier survival curve after reconstruction analysis was generated. Random-effects models were used. RESULTS: Six studies totaling 12,504 patients were included. In the pooled Kaplan-Meier analysis, PCI showed a significantly higher risk of death in the follow-up compared with CABG (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.88-2.38, p < 0.01). During the observation period, PCI was also associated with higher rates of MI (odds ratio [OR]: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.82-4.48, p < 0.01) and more repeat revascularization (OR: 4.88, 95% CI: 1.99-11.91, p = 0.0005). The other outcomes did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: CABG is associated with superior survival to PCI over time in patients with CTO who are eligible for both PCI and CABG. This survival advantage is associated with fewer events of MI and repeat revascularization.

Contemporary outcomes of open repair of acute complicated type B aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Open repair of acute complicated type B aortic dissection (ACTBAD), required when endovascular repair is not possible, is historically considered high-risk. We analyze our experience with this high-risk cohort compared with the standard cohort. METHODS: We identified consecutive patients undergoing descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair from 1997 to 2021. Patients with ACTBAD were compared with those having surgery for other reasons. Logistic regression was used to identify associations with major adverse events (MAEs). Five-year survival and competing risk of reintervention were calculated. RESULTS: Of 926 patients, 75 (8.1%) had ACTBAD. Indications included rupture (25/75), malperfusion (11/75), rapid expansion (26/75), recurrent pain (12/75), large aneurysm (5/75), and uncontrolled hypertension (1/75). The incidence of MAEs was similar (13.3% [10/75] vs 13.7% [117/851], P = .99). Operative mortality was 5.3% (4/75) vs 4.8% (41/851) (P = .99). Complications included tracheostomy (8%, 6/75), spinal cord ischemia (4%, 3/75), and new dialysis (2.7%, 2/75). Renal impairment, urgent/emergent operation, forced expiratory volume in 1 second ≤50%, and malperfusion were associated with MAEs, but not ACTBAD (odds ratio: 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.20-1.16], P = .1). At 5 and 10 years, there was no difference in survival (65.8% [95% CI: 54.6-79.2] vs 71.3% [95% CI: 67.9-74.9], P = .42, and 47.3% [95% CI: 34.5-64.7] vs 53.7% [95% CI: 49.3-58.4], P = .29, respectively) or 10-year reintervention (12.5% [95% CI: 4.3-25.3] vs 7.1% [95% CI: 4.7-10.1], P = .17, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In an experienced center, open repair of ACTBAD can be performed with low rates of operative mortality and morbidity. Outcomes similar to elective repair are achievable even in high-risk patients with ACTBAD. In patients unsuitable for endovascular repair, transfer to a high-volume center experienced in open repair should be considered.

Single versus multiple arterial grafting in diabetic patients at 10 years: the Arterial Revascularization Trial.

AIMS: To evaluate the impact of multiple arterial grafting (MAG) vs. single arterial grafting (SAG) in a post hoc analysis of 10-year outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Arterial Revascularization Trial (ART). METHODS AND RESULTS: The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and the secondary endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 10-year follow-up. Patients were stratified by diabetes status (non-DM and DM) and grafting strategy (MAG vs. SAG). A total of 3020 patients were included in the analysis; 716 (23.7%) had DM. Overall, 55.8% non-DM patients received MAG and 44.2% received SAG, while 56.6% DM patients received MAG and 43.4% received SAG. The use of MAG compared with SAG was associated with lower 10-year mortality for both non-DM [17.7 vs. 21.0%, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-1.06] and DM patients (21.5 vs. 29.9%, adjusted HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.48-0.89; P for interaction = 0.12). For both groups, the rate of 10-year MACE was also lower for MAG vs. SAG. Overall, deep sternal wound infections (DSWIs) were uncommon but more frequent in the MAG vs. SAG group in both non-DM (3.3 vs. 2.1%) and DM patients (7.9 vs. 4.8%). The highest rates of DSWI were in insulin-treated patients receiving MAG (9.6 vs. 6.3%, when compared with SAG). CONCLUSION: In this post hoc analysis of the ART, MAG was associated with substantially lower mortality rates at 10 years after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with DM. Patients with DM receiving MAG had a higher incidence of DSWI, especially if insulin dependent.

A new technique to adjust the length of artificial chordae during mitral anterior leaflet repair.

BACKGROUND: Length measurement of artificial chordae remains a critical step during mitral valve repair (MVr). The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a new length measuring technique. METHODS: All consecutive patients with anterior leaflet prolapse/flail who underwent MVr using the described method between January 2020 and January 2022 at our institution were included in the analysis. Clinical and transesophageal echocardiography data were collected postoperatively and at 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome was freedom from mitral regurgitation (MR). Secondary outcomes were presentation with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class <2 and leaflet coaptation length ≥10 mm. RESULTS: Of 25 patients, 16 (64%) were males. A total of 15 (60%) had isolated anterior leaflet disease, while 10 (40%) had concomitant posterior involvement. Twenty patients with isolated MR (80%) underwent right anterior mini-thoracotomy, while 5 (20%) with associated valvular or coronary disease underwent sternotomy. The median number of chordae implanted was 2 [1-4]. Postrepair intraoperative MR grade was 0 in 23 patients (92%) and 1 in 2 (8%). Thirty-day mortality was 0%. De novo atrial fibrillation was 20%. At follow-up, mortality was 0%. No patients presented with moderate or severe MR. A total of 22 patients (88%) were in NYHA class I, while 3 (12%) in class II. The coaptation length was 11 ± 1 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term outcomes of the described technique are good with adequate leaflet coaptation in all treated patients. Long-term results are needed to assess the stability and durability of this repair technique.

Association of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy With Ticagrelor With Vein Graft Failure After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: The role of ticagrelor with or without aspirin after coronary artery bypass graft surgery remains unclear. Objective: To compare the risks of vein graft failure and bleeding associated with ticagrelor dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) or ticagrelor monotherapy vs aspirin among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to June 1, 2022, without language restriction. Study Selection: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of ticagrelor DAPT or ticagrelor monotherapy vs aspirin on saphenous vein graft failure. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Individual patient data provided by each trial were synthesized into a combined data set for independent analysis. Multilevel logistic regression models were used. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary analysis assessed the incidence of saphenous vein graft failure per graft (primary outcome) in RCTs comparing ticagrelor DAPT with aspirin. Secondary outcomes were saphenous vein graft failure per patient and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding events. A supplementary analysis included RCTs comparing ticagrelor monotherapy with aspirin. Results: A total of 4 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, involving 1316 patients and 1668 saphenous vein grafts. Of the 871 patients in the primary analysis, 435 received ticagrelor DAPT (median age, 67 years [IQR, 60-72 years]; 65 women [14.9%]; 370 men [85.1%]) and 436 received aspirin (median age, 66 years [IQR, 61-73 years]; 63 women [14.5%]; 373 men [85.5%]). Ticagrelor DAPT was associated with a significantly lower incidence of saphenous vein graft failure (11.2%) per graft than was aspirin (20%; difference, -8.7% [95% CI, -13.5% to -3.9%]; OR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.35 to 0.74]; P < .001) and was associated with a significantly lower incidence of saphenous vein graft failure per patient (13.2% vs 23.0%, difference, -9.7% [95% CI, -14.9% to -4.4%]; OR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.35 to 0.74]; P < .001). Ticagrelor DAPT (22.1%) was associated with a significantly higher incidence of BARC type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding events than was aspirin (8.7%; difference, 13.3% [95% CI, 8.6% to 18.0%]; OR, 2.98 [95% CI, 1.99 to 4.47]; P < .001), but not BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding events (1.8% vs 1.8%, difference, 0% [95% CI, -1.8% to 1.8%]; OR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.37 to 2.69]; P = .99). Compared with aspirin, ticagrelor monotherapy was not significantly associated with saphenous vein graft failure (19.3% vs 21.7%, difference, -2.6% [95% CI, -9.1% to 3.9%]; OR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.58 to 1.27]; P = .44) or BARC type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding events (8.9% vs 7.3%, difference, 1.7% [95% CI, -2.8% to 6.1%]; OR, 1.25 [95% CI, 0.69 to 2.29]; P = .46). Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, adding ticagrelor to aspirin was associated with a significantly decreased risk of vein graft failure. However, this was accompanied by a significantly increased risk of clinically important bleeding.

Surgical repair of a giant coronary artery aneurysm.

We present a rare case of a giant coronary aneurysm of the circumflex artery measuring 4.8 × 4.2 × 7.2 cm in a 67-year-old man, recently diagnosed with type B aortic dissection. Surgical management was successfully performed by proximal end ligation and bypass of the dual-ostium distal end with a reverse saphenous vein graft.

Thorax support vest to prevent sternal wound infections in cardiac surgery patients-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Midline sternotomy is the main surgical access for cardiac surgeries. The most prominent complication of sternotomy is sternal wound infection (SWI). The use of a thorax support vest (TSV) that limits thorax movement and ensures sternal stability has been suggested to prevent postoperative SWI. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate differences in clinical outcomes with and without the use of TSV after cardiac surgery in randomized trials. The primary outcome was deep SWI (DSWI). Secondary outcomes were superficial SWI, sternal wound dehiscence, and hospital length of stay (LOS). A trial sequential analysis was performed. Fixed (F) and random effects (R) models were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 4 studies (3820 patients) were included. Patients who wore the TSV had lower incidence of DSWI [odds ratio (OR) = F: 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.13-0.43, P < 0.01; R: 0.24, 0.04-1.59, P = 0.08], sternal wound dehiscence (OR = F: 0.08, 95% CI, 0.02-0.27, P < 0.01; R: 0.10, 0.00-2.20, P = 0.08) and shorter hospital LOS (standardized mean difference = F: -0.30, -0.37 to -0.24, P < 0.01; R: -0.63, -1.29 to 0.02, P = 0.15). There was no difference regarding the incidence of superficial SWI (OR = F: 0.71, 95% CI, 0.34-1.47, P = 0.35; R: 0.64, 0.10, 4.26, P = 0.42). The trial sequential analysis, however, showed that the observed decrease in DSWI in the TSV arm cannot be considered conclusive based on the existing evidence. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that the use of a TSV after cardiac surgery could potentially be associated with a reduction in sternal wound complications. However, despite the significant treatment effect in the available studies, the evidence is not solid enough to provide strong practice recommendations.

Association between overweight and obesity with coronary artery bypass graft failure: an individual patient data analysis of clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES: The association between obesity and graft failure after coronary artery bypass grafting has not been previously investigated. METHODS: We pooled individual patient data from randomized clinical trials with systematic postoperative coronary imaging to evaluate the association between obesity and graft failure at the individual graft and patient levels. Penalized cubic regression splines and mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: Six trials comprising 3928 patients and 12 048 grafts were included. The median time to imaging was 1.03 (interquartile range 1.00-1.09) years. By body mass index (BMI) category, 800 (20.4%) patients were normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), 1668 (42.5%) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9), 983 (25.0%) were obesity class 1 (BMI 30-34.9), 344 (8.8%) were obesity class 2 (BMI 35-39.9) and 116 (2.9%) were obesity class 3 (BMI 40+). As a continuous variable, BMI was associated with reduced graft failure [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97-0.99)] at the individual graft level. Compared to normal weight patients, graft failure at the individual graft level was reduced in overweight [aOR 0.79 (95% CI 0.64-0.96)], obesity class 1 [aOR 0.81 (95% CI 0.64-1.01)] and obesity class 2 [aOR 0.61 (95% CI 0.45-0.83)] patients, but not different compared to obesity class 3 [aOR 0.94 (95% CI 0.62-1.42)] patients. Findings were similar, but did not reach significance, at the patient level. CONCLUSIONS: In a pooled individual patient data analysis of randomized clinical trials, BMI and obesity appear to be associated with reduced graft failure at 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Deep Sternal Wound Infection and Mortality in Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a rare but severe complication after cardiac surgical procedures and has been associated with increased early morbidity and mortality. Studies reporting long-term outcomes in patients with DSWI have shown contradictory results. We performed a study-level meta-analysis evaluating the impact of DSWI on short- and long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies comparing short- and long-term outcomes of patients submitted to cardiac surgical procedures who developed DSWI and patients who did not. The primary outcome was overall mortality. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, follow-up mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization. Postoperative outcomes were also investigated. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies totaling 407 829 patients were included. Overall, 6437 (1.6%) patients developed DSWI. Mean follow-up was 3.5 years. DSWI was associated with higher overall mortality (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.99; 95% CI, 1.66-2.38; P < .001), in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.88-5.81; P < .001), follow-up mortality (IRR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.39-2.94; P = .001), and major adverse cardiovascular events (IRR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.60-2.59; P < .001). No differences in myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization were found, but limited studies reported those outcomes. DSWI was associated with longer postoperative hospitalization, stroke, myocardial infarction, and respiratory and renal failure. Sensitivity analyses on isolated coronary artery bypass grafting studies and by adjustment method were consistent with the main analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with patients who did not develop DSWI, patients with DSWI after cardiac surgical procedures had increased risk of death as well as short- and long-term adverse clinical outcomes.

Five-Year Hospital Readmission After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery and the Association With Off-Pump Surgery and Sex.

Background Limited data exist on long-term readmission and its association with patient and procedural characteristics after coronary artery bypass grafting. We aimed to investigate 5-year readmission after coronary artery bypass grafting and specifically focus on the role of sex and off-pump surgery. Methods and Results We performed a post hoc analysis of the CORONARY (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting [CABG] Off or On Pump Revascularization) trial, involving 4623 patients. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission, and the secondary outcome was cardiac readmission. Cox models were used to investigate the association of outcomes with sex and off-pump surgery. Hazard function for sex was studied over time using a flexible, fully parametric model, and time-segmented analyses were performed accordingly. Rho coefficient was calculated for the correlation between readmission and long-term mortality. Median follow-up was 4.4 years (interquartile range, 2.9-5.4 years). The cumulative incidence rates of all-cause and cardiac readmission were 29.4% and 8.2% at 5 years, respectively. Off-pump surgery was not associated with either all-cause or cardiac readmission. The hazard for all-cause readmission in women over time was constantly higher than the hazard for men (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21 [95% CI, 1.04-1.40]; P=0.011). Time-segmented analyses confirmed the higher risk for all-cause (HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.05-1.40]; P<0.001) and cardiac (HR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.03-1.69]; P=0.033) readmission in women after the first 3 years of follow-up. All-cause readmission was strongly correlated with long-term all-cause mortality (Rho, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.48-0.66]), whereas cardiac readmission was strongly correlated with long-term cardiovascular mortality (Rho, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.13-0.86]). Conclusions Readmission rates are substantial at 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting and are higher in women but not with off-pump surgery. Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/; Unique identifier: NCT00463294.

Operative Outcomes of Women Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in the US, 2011 to 2020.

Importance: It has been reported that women undergoing coronary artery bypass have higher mortality and morbidity compared with men but it is unclear if the difference has decreased over the last decade. Objective: To evaluate trends in outcomes of women undergoing coronary artery bypass in the US from 2011 to 2020. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study at hospitals contributing to the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons included 1 297 204 patients who underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass from 2011 to 2020. Exposure: Coronary artery bypass. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was operative mortality. The secondary outcome was the composite of operative mortality and morbidity (including operative mortality, stroke, kidney failure, reoperation, deep sternal wound infection, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and prolonged hospital stay). The attributable risk (the association of female sex with coronary artery bypass grafting outcomes) for the primary and secondary outcomes was calculated. Results: Between 2011 and 2020, 1 297 204 patients underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting with a mean age of 66.0 years, 317 716 of which were women (24.5%). Women had a higher unadjusted operative mortality (2.8%; 95% CI, 2.8-2.9 vs 1.7%; 95% CI, 1.7-1.7; P < .001) and overall unadjusted incidence of the composite of operative mortality and morbidity compared with men (22.9%; 95% CI, 22.7-23.0 vs 16.7%; 95% CI, 16.6-16.8; P < .001). The attributable risk of female sex for operative mortality varied from 1.28 in 2011 to 1.41 in 2020, with no significant change over the study period (P for trend = 0.38). The attributable risk for the composite of operative mortality and morbidity was 1.08 in both 2011 and 2020 with no significant change over the study period (P for trend = 0.71). Conclusions and Relevance: Women remain at significantly higher risk for adverse outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting and no significant improvement has been seen over the course of the last decade. Further investigation into the determinants of operative outcomes in women is urgently needed.

Gender Disparities in Cardiac Surgery Trials: Leadership, Authorship, and Patient Enrollment.

BACKGROUND: Studies have highlighted the paucity of women-led randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in cardiovascular medicine. Whether this finding also applies to cardiac surgery has not been evaluated. In this study, we evaluate women authorship, leadership, and women enrollment in cardiac surgery RCTs. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify RCTs comparing 2 or more adult cardiac surgical procedures published from 2000 to 2022. Women-led RCTs were defined as those with a woman as either a first or last author. Linear regression and correlation analyses were used. RESULTS: Of 58 RCTs, 8 (13.8%) were women-led; 17 (29.3%) RCTs had no women authors. Overall, 17.9% of all authors were women, but only 1.2% of all authors were women cardiac surgeons and only 19% of the RCTs had a women cardiac surgeon among the authors. The median proportion of women authors was 14.3% by RCT, which was significantly higher in women-led compared with men-led RCTs (28.6% vs 11.8%; P = .01). No significant change in the proportion of women authors was observed during the study period. North American RCTs had a higher proportion of women authors compared with other geographic regions (28.6% vs 12.5%; P = .01). No correlation was found between the proportion of women authors and the proportion of women participants enrolled in individual RCTs. CONCLUSIONS: During the last 2 decades, only a minority of cardiac surgery RCTs were women-led, and no significant increase in women authorship occurred. There are important geographic differences in women authorship.

The VEST External Support for Saphenous Vein Grafts in Coronary Surgery: A Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) are the most frequently used conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but their higher rate of occlusion compared to arterial conduits remains a concern. Previous studies have shown that SVG failure is mainly driven by intimal hyperplasia, an adaptative response to higher pressures of the arterial circulation. The VESTTM device (Vascular Graft Solutions, Tel Aviv, Israel), an external support designed to mitigate intimal hyperplasia in SVGs, has been tested in few clinical trials (RCTs). Herein, we descriptively evaluated the randomized evidence on the VEST device.

External Stenting for Saphenous Vein Grafts in Coronary Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The external stenting of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been proven to reduce intimal hyperplasia (IH) in animal models, paving the way for human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to be conducted. Herein, we performed a study-level meta-analysis to assess the impact of the Venous External SupporT (VEST) device, an external stent, on the outcomes of SVGs. A systematic search was conducted to identify all RCTs comparing VEST-stented to non-stented SVGs in patients undergoing CABG. The primary outcome was graft occlusion. The main secondary outcomes were repeat revascularization, SVG IH area, and intimal-medial thickness. Two RCTs totaling 407 patients were included. At a mean follow-up of 1.5 years, there was no difference in graft occlusion between groups (incidence rate ratio: 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80-1.53). The rate of repeat revascularization was also similar (odds ratio: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.27-1.64). The IH area (standardized mean difference (SMD): -0.45; 95% CI: -0.79 to -0.10) and intimal-medial thickness (SMD: -0.50; 95% CI: -0.90 to -0.10) were significantly reduced in the VEST group. Our findings show that significant reductions in the IH area and the intimal-medial thickness in VEST-stented SVGs do not currently translate into a lesser need for repeat revascularization or less graft occlusion events compared to non-stented SVGs at 1.5 years after CABG.

The Effect of Posterior Pericardiotomy on the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery-Extended Follow-Up study (PALACS-EF): rationale and design.

Aims: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common complication of cardiac surgery and has been associated with increased postoperative morbidity and hospital costs. The Posterior left pericardiotomy for the prevention of AtriaL fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery (PALACS) trial found that posterior pericardiotomy significantly reduced the incidence of POAF (17% vs. 32%, P < 0.001). We present the protocol for The Effect of Posterior Pericardiotomy on the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery-Extended Follow-Up study (PALACS-EF): a prospective, extended follow-up of the original PALACS trial. The aim of PALACS-EF is to gain more data regarding the effect of posterior pericardiotomy on postdischarge clinical outcomes. The primary outcome is the time to the first occurrence of the composite of all-cause mortality or hospital cardiovascular readmission. The key secondary outcome is the time to the first occurrence of the composite of all-cause mortality and all-cause hospital readmission. Hospital readmission, myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischaemic attack, heart failure, systemic embolism, or new arrhythmias with onset since 30-day follow-up will also be recorded. Methods and results: All 420 patients enrolled in the PALACS trial will be included; extended follow-up will be conducted via telephone by blinded research personnel utilizing a standardized script to ensure uniformity and completeness of follow-up. If an event has occurred, documentation will be obtained, and an independent adjudication committee blinded to group assignment will adjudicate outcome events. Results will be reported when a median follow-up of 5 years is achieved. Conclusion: PALACS-EF will provide data to answer the question of whether posterior pericardiotomy improves postdischarge outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and it will provide information on the relationship between POAF and adverse postdischarge outcomes including mortality, hospitalization, heart failure, and stroke. Registration: PALACS: NCT02875405, PALACS-EF: NCT05903222.

Characteristics of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation and the Effect of Posterior Pericardiotomy.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent complication of cardiac surgery. However, only a few detailed descriptions of the arrhythmia have been reported. We aim to describe the characteristics, outcomes, and variables associated with POAF and to evaluate how posterior pericardiotomy (PP) affects POAF characteristics. METHODS: In this post hoc analysis of the Posterior left pericardiotomy for the prevention of AtriaL fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery (PALACS) trial, we describe POAF characteristics based on continuous in-hospital telemetry data. RESULTS: Of 420 patients, 103 (24.5%) developed POAF. Median time to onset was 50.3 hours; 70.9% of events occurred within 3 days. Hemodynamic instability and rapid ventricular response occurred in 8.7% and 51.5% of cases, respectively. Most POAF patients received antiarrhythmics (97.1%), 22.3% electrical cardioversion, and 40.8% systemic anticoagulation. Median POAF duration was 24.0 hours; 70.9% of cases resolved within 36 hours. Median POAF burden was 15.9%. All patients were in sinus rhythm at follow-up. POAF was associated with longer hospitalization (7 vs 6 days; P < .001), but not increased mortality or morbidity. PP reduced POAF incidence (17.7% vs 31.3%; P = .001), especially after postoperative day 2 (time to POAF onset 41.9 vs 57.1 hours; P = .01). Age was associated with POAF. Female sex, coronary artery bypass grafting, beta blockers, and PP were inversely associated. CONCLUSIONS: POAF remains frequent after cardiac surgery. Hemodynamic instability is rare, although rapid ventricular response and need for electrical cardioversion are frequent. POAF burden is significant, and the arrhythmias resolve within 30 days. PP reduces POAF especially after postoperative day 2.

Percutaneous coronary intervention versus repeat surgical revascularization in patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Repeat coronary artery bypass grafting (RCABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are both used for the treatment of symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease and prior CABG, but the optimal treatment strategy remains unknown. We sought to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare operative and follow-up outcomes following RCABG versus PCI in patients with prior CABG. Methods: Medline and Embase were searched for studies comparing RCABG versus PCI. The primary outcome was follow-up mortality, and secondary outcomes were follow-up repeat revascularization, operative mortality, periprocedural stroke, and myocardial infarction. Time-to-event outcomes were summarized as incidence rate ratios, whereas operative outcomes were summarized as odds ratios. A random effect meta-analysis was performed. Individual patient survival data was extracted from available survival curves and reconstructed using restricted mean survival time. Results: Among 2982 articles, 7 studies (9945 patients) were included. In the aggregated data meta-analysis, there was no difference in follow-up survival between RCABG and PCI (incidence rate ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.83-1.25); however, restricted mean survival time analysis of individual data showed a survival benefit for RCABG over PCI (0.7 years; 95% CI, 0.23-1.19 years; P = .004). PCI was found to have a higher incidence rate of follow-up need for repeat revascularization (incidence rate ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.16-2.23), but lower odds for operative mortality and stroke. No difference in the odds for myocardial infarction was found. Conclusions: In patients with prior CABG, PCI is associated with better operative outcomes, but RCABG is associated with better survival and freedom from repeat revascularization at follow-up.

Effect of posterior pericardiotomy in cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Posterior pericardiotomy (PP) has been shown to reduce the incidence of pericardial effusion and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery. However, the procedure and the totality of its effects are poorly known in the cardiac surgery community. We performed a study-level meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the impact of PP in cardiac surgery patients. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on three medical databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Cochrane Library) to identify RCTs reporting outcomes of patients that received a PP or no intervention after cardiac surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence of POAF. Key secondary outcomes were operative mortality, incidence of pericardial and pleural effusion, cardiac tamponade, length of stay (LOS), pulmonary complications, amount of chest drainage, need for intra-aortic balloon pump, and re-exploration for bleeding. Results: Eighteen RCTs totaling 3,531 patients were included. PP was associated with a significantly lower incidence of POAF (odds ratio [OR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32-0.64, P < 0.0001), early (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.10-0.34, P < 0.0001) and late pericardial effusion (incidence rate ratio 0.13, 95% CI 0.06-0.29, P < 0.0001), and cardiac tamponade (risk difference -0.02, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.01, P = 0.001). PP was associated with a higher incidence of pleural effusion (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.06-1.90, P = 0.02), but not pulmonary complications (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.56-1.19; P = 0.38). No differences in other outcomes, including operative mortality, were found. Conclusions: PP is a safe and effective intervention that significantly decreases the incidence of POAF and pericardial effusion following cardiac surgery. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=261485, identifier: CRD42021261485.

Posterior left pericardiotomy for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

The posterior left pericardiotomy is a surgical procedure for the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. It comprises a 4- to 5-cm longitudinal incision parallel and posterior to the phrenic nerve, extending from the left inferior pulmonary vein to the diaphragm. The pericardiotomy allows for prolonged drainage of dependent blood and pericardial fluid into the left pleural space, which is thought to be irritating to the left atrium, leading to postoperative atrial fibrillation. In this brief video tutorial, we demonstrate our technique for performing a posterior pericardiotomy.