An efficient Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) method for typing autolytic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains.

Species of lactic acid bacteria, due to their versatile metabolism, are commonly used in food and feed products, both as technological starters and as health- and welfare-promoting agents. Correct strain identification in microbe-containing products is vital, and the Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) typing method is considered the 'gold standard' for this purpose. This typing technique is widely used in molecular epidemiology, especially for the early detection of emerging isolates with food-safety implications, for outbreak surveillance, and for infection control. The autolytic behavior that we encountered when typing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains using the PFGE technique led us to modify the current method used for typing lactic acid bacteria. This study describes a PFGE method for the molecular typing of autolytic members of the lactic acid bacteria.•An efficient method for overcoming DNA degradation during PFGE analysis for typing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains is described.•The method described herein could be considered for typing autolytic lactic acid bacteria.

Streptomyces lasalocidi sp. nov. (formerly 'Streptomyces lasaliensis'), an actinomycete isolated from soil which produces the polyether antibiotic lasalocid.

Strain ATCC 31180T was isolated from soil collected in Hyde Park, Massachusetts (USA), and found to produce the polyether antibiotic lasalocid. The name 'Streptomyces lasaliensis' has been in common use since 1974, without a recognized taxonomic description. The most closely related type cultures determined by rRNA gene sequence similarity were Streptomyces longwoodensis DSM 41677T (100 %) and Streptomyces galbus DSM 40089T (100 %). OrthoANI values with S. longwoodensis and S. galbus were 95.50 and 94.41 %, respectively. Chemotaxonomic characteristics supported inclusion within the genus Streptomyces. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, and the major whole-cell sugars were glucose and ribose. Polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified lipid and one unidentified glycolipid. The major menaquinones detected were MK9(H4), MK9(H6) and MK9(H8). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 1. Its DNA had a G+C content of 72.6 %. Differentiation of ATCC 31180T from the closely related species was evident from digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of 61.80 and 56.90 % for S. longwoodensis and S. galbus respectively. Significant differences were seen in the polyphasic phenotypic analyses. ATCC 31180T produced lasalocid, grew from 10 to 45 °C, pH4-8 and in the presence of 0-10 % NaCl, 0.01 % NaN3 and 1 % phenol. Melanin was produced; H2S and indole were not. Nitrate was not reduced. Spore chains were retinaculum-apertum and spore surfaces were smooth. Spore colour, mycelia colour and soluble pigment production were medium-dependent. The proposed name is Streptomyces lasalocidi sp. nov.; the type strain being ATCC 31180T (=NRRL 3382T=DSM 46487T).

Permanent work disability in patients ≤50 years old after percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting (the CRAGS study).

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of permanent working disability (PWD) in young patients after percutaneous or surgical coronary revascularization. Methods and Results: The study included 1035 consecutive patients ≤50 years old who underwent coronary revascularization [910 and 125 patients in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) groups, respectively] between 2002 and 2012 at 4 Finnish hospitals. The median follow-up time was 41 months. The overall incidence of PWD was higher after CABG compared to PCI (at 5 years, 34.8 vs. 14.7%, P < 0.001). Freedom from PWD in the general population aged 45 was 97.2% at 4 years follow-up. Median time to grant disability pension was 11.6 months after CABG and 24.4 months after PCI (P = 0.018). Reasons for PWD were classified as cardiac (35.3 vs. 36.9%), psychiatric (14.7 vs. 14.6%), and musculoskeletal (14.7 vs. 15.5%) in patients undergoing CABG vs. PCI. Overall freedom from PWD was higher in patients without major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) (at 5 years, 85.6 vs. 71.9%, P < 0.001). Nevertheless, rate of PWD was high also in patients without MACCE and patients with preserved ejection fraction during follow-up. Conclusions: Although coronary revascularization confers good overall survival in young patients, PWD is common especially after CABG and mostly for cardiac reasons even without occurrence of MACCE. Supportive measures to preserve occupational health are warranted concomitantly with coronary revascularization at all levels of health care.

Immediate outcome after sutureless versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

The aim of this study was to compare the immediate outcome of patients undergoing transcatheter (TAVI) versus surgical aortic valve replacement with the sutureless Perceval bioprosthesis (SU-AVR). This is a retrospective multicenter analysis of 773 patients who underwent either TAVI (394 patients, mean age, 80.8 ± 5.5 years, mean EuroSCORE II 5.6 ± 4.9 %) or SU-AVR (379 patients, 77.4 ± 5.4 years, mean EuroSCORE II 4.0 ± 3.9 %) with or without concomitant myocardial revascularization. Data on SU-AVRs were provided by six European institutions (Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy and Sweden) and data on TAVIs were provided by a single institution (Catania, Italy). In-hospital mortality was 2.6 % after SU-AVR and 5.3 % after TAVI (p = 0.057). TAVI was associated with a significantly high rate of mild (44.0 vs. 2.1 %) and moderate-severe paravalvular regurgitation (14.1 vs. 0.3 %, p < 0.0001) as well as the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (17.3 vs. 9.8 %, p = 0.003) compared with SU-AVR. The analysis of patients within the 25th and 75th percentiles interval of EuroSCORE II, i.e., 2.1-5.8 %, confirmed the findings of the overall series. One-to-one propensity score-matched analysis resulted in 144 pairs with similar baseline characteristics and operative risk. Among these matched pairs, in-hospital mortality (6.9 vs. 1.4 %, p = 0.035) was significantly higher after TAVI. SU-AVR with the Perceval prosthesis in intermediate-risk patients is associated with excellent immediate survival and is a valid alternative to TAVI in these patients.

Predictors of permanent work disability among ≤50-year-old patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the incidence and periprocedural predictors of permanent work disability (PWD) pension among patients ≤50 years old who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Patient records of 910 consecutive patients undergoing PCI at four Finnish hospitals in 2002-2012 were reviewed for baseline and procedural data and late adverse events. Data on permanent work disability (PWD) pension allocation were acquired from the Finnish Centre for Pensions, which governs the statutory pension security in Finland. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 41 [standard deviation (SD) 31] months. Altogether 103/910 (11.3%) of patients were on PWD by the end of follow-up, 60 (58.3%) for cardiac diagnoses (cumulative freedom from PWD 81% at 7 years). Independent predictors of PWD were post procedural stroke [hazard ratio (HR) 4.7, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.8-11.9], post procedural myocardial infarction (MI) (HR 3.3, 95% CI 1.8-6.0), diabetes (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.7), discharge diuretics (HR 3.5, 95% CI 2.1-5.9), and increasing age (HR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3). Predictors of PWD for cardiac diagnoses were post procedural stroke and MI, discharge diuretics, and use of calcium-channel blockers, diabetes and older age. CONCLUSIONS: Patients ≤50 years old undergoing PCI are at a high risk for subsequent permanent disability for cardiac diagnoses. This finding underscores the need for reinforcing adherence to secondary prevention by cardiac rehabilitation and early collaboration with occupational health care professionals.

Clinical significance and determinants of the universal definition of perioperative bleeding classification in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the clinical significance and identified the predictors of the universal definition of perioperative bleeding (UDPB) classes in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Data on antithrombotic medication, perioperative bleeding, blood transfusion, and adverse events were available for 2764 patients who had undergone isolated CABG. RESULTS: The Papworth risk score correlated significantly with the UDPB classes (rate of UDPB class 3-4 and Papworth risk score of 0, 12.1%; 1, 23.9%; 2, 37.5%; and 3, 45.0%; P<.0001). Ordinal regression showed that increased age, female sex, low body mass index, low estimated glomerular filtration rate, low hemoglobin, dialysis, urgent or emergency operation, critical status, on-pump surgery, potent antiplatelet drug pause of <5 days, and warfarin pause of <2 days were independent predictors of high UDPB classes. These risk factors also predicted UDPB classes 3-4 in logistic regression analysis. Increasing UDPB classes were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (P=.002), stroke (P=.023), low cardiac output (P<.0001), prolonged use of inotropes (P<.0001), renal replacement therapy (P<.0001), length of stay in the intensive care unit (P<.0001), and late mortality (P<.0001) as assessed by multilevel propensity score-adjusted analysis. Similar findings were observed in the propensity score-adjusted analysis for the most severe grades of perioperative bleeding (ie, UDPB class 3-4). CONCLUSIONS: High UDPB classes were associated with significantly poorer immediate and late outcomes. The UDPB classification seems to be a valuable research tool to estimate the severity of bleeding and its prognostic impact affect after coronary surgery.

Meta-analysis on the performance of the EuroSCORE II and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Scores in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of the EuroSCORE II (ESII) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) scores in surgical (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). DESIGN: Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. SETTING: University hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Studies reporting data on the performance of ESII and STS scores in patients undergoing SAVR or TAVR. INTERVENTIONS: SAVR or TAVR. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Ten studies validated these scores in 13,856 patients who underwent either TAVR or SAVR. Operative mortality was 5.9% (SAVR 3.1%; TAVR 9.6%). ESII-expected mortality was 5.1% (O/E ratio: 1.15, SAVR, O/E ratio 0.94; TAVR, O/E ratio 1.23) and STS-expected mortality was 6.3% (O/E ratio: 0.94, SAVR, O/E ratio 0.84; TAVR, O/E ratio 1.13). The area under the ROC curve for ESII was 0.70 and for STS was 0.70 (SAVR patients: 0.73 for ESII and 0.75 for STS; TAVR patients; 0.66 for ESII and 0.63 for STS). The difference between observed/expected mortality was not significant for ESII (Peto's OR 0.99, p = 0.88) and was significant for STS (Peto's OR 0.86, p = 0.008). ESII (Peto's OR 1.35, p<0.00001) and STS (Peto's OR 1.23, p<0.00001) significantly underestimated the mortality risk in TAVR patients. The STS (Peto's OR 0.74, p<0.0001) and, to a lesser extent, the ESII (Peto's OR 0.86, p = 0.0.04) overestimated the mortality risk in SAVR patients. CONCLUSIONS: The ESII and STS scores have good O/E ratios for either TAVR or SAVR patients, but both scores significantly underpredicted the risk of TAVR patients. ESII seemed to be accurate in predicting the risk of SAVR patients.

Comparison of 30-day and 5-year outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting in patients aged≤50 years (the Coronary aRtery diseAse in younG adultS Study).

Data on the outcome of young patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are scarce. Data on 2,209 consecutive patients aged≤50 years who underwent CABG or PCI were retrospectively collected from 15 European institutions. PCI and CABG had similar 30-day mortality rates (0.8% vs 1.4%, p=0.27), late survival (at 5 years, 97.8% vs 94.9%, p=0.082), and freedom from stroke (at 5 years, 98.0% and 98.0%, p=0.731). PCI was associated with significantly lower freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (at 5 years, 73.9% vs 85.0%, p<0.0001), repeat revascularization (at 5 years, 77.6% vs 92.5%, p<0.0001), and myocardial infarction (at 5 years, 89.9% vs 96.6%, p<0.0001) compared with CABG. These findings were confirmed in propensity score-adjusted and matched analyses. Freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after PCI was particularly low in diabetics (at 5 years, 58.0% vs 75.9%, p<0.0001) and in patients with multivessel disease (at 5 years, 63.6% vs 85.1%, p<0.0001). PCI in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction was associated with significantly better 5-year survival (97.5% vs 88.8%, p=0.001), which was driven by its lower 30-day mortality rate (1.5% vs 6.0%, p=0.017). In conclusion, patients aged≤50 years have an excellent immediate outcome after either PCI or CABG with similar long-term survival when used according to the current clinical practice. PCI was associated with significantly lower freedom from myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization.

Prognosis and disease progression in patients under 50 years old undergoing PCI: the CRAGS (Coronary aRtery diseAse in younG adultS) study.

OBJECTIVE: Young patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are generally considered at low procedural risk, but the potentially aggressive nature of coronary artery disease and long expectancy of life expose them to a high risk of recurrent coronary events. The extent and determinants of disease progression in this patient subset remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate general risk factors for late outcomes among patients ≤50 years old who underwent PCI. METHODS: Coronary aRtery diseAse in younG adults (CRAGS) is a multicenter European retrospective registry that enrolled 1617 patients (age ≤50 years) who underwent PCI over the years 2002-2012. The median follow-up was 3.0 years. RESULTS: The majority of patients were smokers who were nevertheless prescribed adequate secondary prevention medication, including statins, aspirin, beta blockers and/or ACE inhibitors/AT blockers. At 5 years, survival was 97.8%, while freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was 74.1%, from repeat revascularization 77.8% and from myocardial infarction 89.9%. Altogether 13.5% of patients exhibited disease progression that indicated a need for repeat revascularization. Other indications for repeat revascularization were restenosis (7.1%) and stent thrombosis (2.1%) at the 5-year follow-up. Independent post-PCI predictors of disease progression were multivessel disease, diabetes and hypertension. CONCLUSION: PCI is associated with excellent survival in patients ≤50 years old. Nevertheless, despite guideline-adherent medication, every eighth patient underwent repeat revascularization due to disease progression diagnosed at the median follow-up of three years, underscoring the need for more effective secondary prevention than currently available.

Early and intermediate outcome after aortic valve replacement with a sutureless bioprosthesis: Results of a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of aortic valve replacement with the sutureless Perceval S aortic valve bioprosthesis (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Saluggia, Italy). METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 314 patients (mean age, 77.9 ± 5.0 years, mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II, 9.0% ± 7.6%) who underwent aortic valve replacement with the Perceval S valve with (94 patients) or without (220 patients) concomitant coronary artery bypass surgery at 5 European centers. RESULTS: The Perceval S valve was successfully implanted in all but 1 patient (99.7%). The mean aortic crossclamping time was 43 ± 20 minutes (isolated procedure, 39 ± 15 minutes; concomitant coronary surgery, 52 ± 26 minutes). Severe paravalvular leak occurred in 2 patients (0.6%). In-hospital mortality was 3.2% (1.4% after isolated procedure and 7.4% after concomitant coronary surgery). In-hospital mortality was 2.8% and 4.0% among patients with a European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II less than 10% and 10% or greater, respectively (P = .558). Octogenarians had slightly higher in-hospital mortality (5.2% vs 2.0%, P = .125; after isolated procedure: 2.7% vs 0.7%, P = .223; after concomitant coronary surgery: 9.5% vs 5.8%, P = .491) compared with younger patients. Full sternotomy did not increase the in-hospital mortality risk compared with ministernotomy or minithoracotomy access (1.3% vs 1.4%, when adjusted for baseline covariates: P = .921; odds ratio, 0.886; 95% confidence interval, 0.064-12.346). One-year survival was 90.5%. Freedom from valve-related mortality, stroke, endocarditis, and reoperation was 99.0%, 98.1%, 99.2%, and 98.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sutureless Perceval S valve is associated with excellent early survival in high-risk patients, particularly among those undergoing an isolated procedure. Further studies are needed to prove the durability of this bioprosthesis.

First-time, isolated surgical aortic valve replacement after prior coronary artery bypass surgery: results from the RECORD multicenter registry.

BACKGROUND: This multicenter study was undertaken to determine the immediate and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing a primary surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) who had a previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery with patent grafts. METHODS: One hundred and thirteen consecutive patients (mean EuroSCORE II, 10.3 ± 7.7%, median 8.0%) who underwent first-time isolated AVR after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were the subjects of this multicenter study. The procedure was performed through a full sternotomy in 95.7% of cases, a patent internal mammary artery graft was clamped in 76.6% of patients. The temperature of cardioplegia was ≤12 °C in 62.8% of patients and systemic temperature was <32 °C in 23.9% of patients. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was 4.4%. Stroke was observed in 8.0% of patients, low cardiac output syndrome in 14.1%, prolonged tracheal intubation in 20.8%, and intensive care unit stay was longer than five days in 19.5% of patients. Among patients with a patent internal mammary graft (91 patients), clamping of this graft (5.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.57) was associated with a nonsignificant trend toward increased 30-day mortality. One-, three- and five-year survival rates were 91.5%, 90.4%, and 88.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing isolated AVR after prior CABG have a good immediate and late survival. A history of prior CABG should not be considered an absolute indication for transcatheter AVR.

Determinants of outcome after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting in patients aged ≤50 years (from the Coronary aRtery diseAse in younG adultS study).

This study was planned to identify the determinants of outcome after coronary artery bypass (CABG) in young patients. Data on 592 patients aged ≤50 years who underwent CABG from 9 European institutions were collected retrospectively. Twenty-eight percent of patients received at least 2 arterial grafts. Clopidogrel was used at discharge in 16.2% and statins in 67.2% of patients. Freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 1, 3, and 5 years was 93.8%, 90.1%, and 85.0%; survival rate was 98.3%, 96.3%, and 94.9%; freedom from myocardial infarction was 96.3%, 95.1%, and 92.5%; and freedom from repeat revascularization was 96.3%, 95.1%, and 92.5%, respectively. Neither types of grafts nor medication at discharge had any impact on the late outcome. Age <40 years (relative risk [RR] 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17 to 4.11), diabetes (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.88), estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (RR 2.44, 95% CI 1.26 to 4.72), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction/ST-elevation myocardial infarction (RR 2.12, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.55), emergency procedure (RR 2.34, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.88), and left ventricular ejection fraction <30% (RR 3.18, 95% CI 1.41 to 7.16) were independent predictors of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <30% had a particularly poor survival rate (at 5 years 67.7% vs 96.1%; adjusted analysis RR 14.01, 95% CI 5.16 to 38.03). Poor left ventricular function, myocardial infarction, diabetes, renal failure, and age <40 years are major determinants of late outcome after CABG in young patients. In conclusion, data from this real-world registry indicate that multiple arterial grafts and statin treatment are largely underutilized in these patients.

Frequency of and determinants of stroke after surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with previous cardiac surgery (from the Multicenter RECORD Initiative).

Surgical aortic valve replacement (S-AVR) after previous cardiac surgery is expected to be associated with a high rate of adverse events. The aim of this study was to estimate the rate and identify the determinants of postoperative stroke in these patients. This is a multicenter study including 741 patients who underwent S-AVR after previous cardiac surgery. Forty-eight patients (6.5%; after isolated AVR, 6.0%) suffered stroke and 10 of them died during the in-hospital stay (20.8%). At multivariate analysis, women (10.2% vs 4.4%, odds ratio [OR] 2.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36 to 4.86), emergency procedure (15.1% vs 4.8%, OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.12 to 5.78), perioperative use of intra-aortic balloon pump (22.9% vs 5.3%, OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.15 to 6.19), cardiopulmonary bypass time of >210 minutes (15.7% vs 5.0%, OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.71), blood products transfusion (9.3% vs 0.8%, OR 7.75, 95% CI 1.83 to 32.93), and reexploration for bleeding (24.0% vs 5.2%, OR 4.84, 95% CI 2.18 to 10.77) were independent predictors of postoperative stroke. These findings were confirmed by a regression model including CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥2, which itself was predictive of stroke (8.2% vs 1.6%, OR 4.52, 95% CI 1.34 to 15.28). Survival at 3 years in patients with postoperative stroke was 51.9%, whereas it was 85.0% in control patients (adjusted analysis: relative risk 2.97 and 1.86 to 4.72, respectively). In conclusion, the risk of postoperative stroke after S-AVR in patients with previous cardiac surgery is high and has an impact on the immediate and late mortality. Excessive bleeding requiring blood transfusion and/or reexploration, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, and use of intra-aortic balloon pump were associated with an extremely high rate of stroke.

Off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in patients aged 80 years and older: institutional results and meta-analysis.

Patients aged ≥80 years are at high risk of adverse events after coronary artery bypass grafting. This study was performed to evaluate whether off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) is superior to conventional surgery (CCAB) in these high-risk patients. The outcome of 185 patients aged ≥80 years who underwent OPCAB or CCAB at our institution was reviewed and a meta-analysis on this issue was performed. Similar immediate postoperative results were observed after OPCAB and CCAB at our institution, despite significantly different operative risk (mean logistic EuroSCORE, OPCAB 20.3% vs CCAB 13.4%, P = 0.003). Among 56 propensity score matched pairs a trend toward lower postoperative stroke (0%, 95% CI 0-0 vs 3.6%, 95% CI 0-10.0, P = 0.50) was observed after OPCAB. No significant differences were observed in the other outcome end points. Five-year survival was 81.0% after OPCAB and 78.1% after CCAB (P = 0.239). Pooled analysis of eight studies including 3416 patients showed a significantly higher risk of postoperative stroke after CCAB (pooled rates: 4.2%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.4-7.1 vs 1.5%, 95% CI 0.9-2.5, risk ratio (RR) 2.15, 95% CI 1.17-3.96, P = 0.01). A trend toward higher immediate postoperative mortality was observed after CCAB (15 studies including 4409 patients, pooled rates: 6.5%, 95% CI 5.2-8.0 vs 5.6%, 95% CI 4.2-7.4, RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.86-1.93, P = 0.21). Generic inverse variance analysis showed similar intermediate survival after CCAB and OPCAB (RR 1.31, 95% CI 0.85-2.01, P = 0.22). At 2 years, survival was 82.8% (95% CI 76.4-89.2) after CCAB and 88.3% (95% CI 82.9-93.7) after OPCAB. Current results indicate that OPCAB compared with CCAB in patients aged ≥80 years is associated with significantly lower postoperative stroke and with a trend toward better early survival. However, suboptimal quality of the available studies, particularly the lack of comparability of the study groups, prevents conclusive results on this controversial issue.

Individual surgeon's impact on the risk of re-exploration for excessive bleeding after coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Excessive bleeding requiring re-exploration is a severe complication that may affect the outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting. The authors hypothesized that surgeon performance may contribute significantly to such a complication. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Tertiary referral center in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand one patients. INTERVENTIONS: Isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS: Re-exploration for bleeding was performed in 113 patients (5.3%). Re-exploration was performed ≥3 days after surgery in 11 patients. The surgical site of bleeding was identified in 83 patients (73.5%). Rates of re-exploration for excessive bleeding ranged from 1.4% to 11.7% according to different surgeons (p < 0.0001). When adjusted for the additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation, re-exploration for bleeding was associated with increased risks of low-cardiac-output syndrome (odds ratio [OR] 2.239, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.328-3.777), prolonged need for inotropes (OR 1.894, 95% CI 1.198-2.994), and an intensive care unit stay ≥5 days (OR 2.129, 95% CI 1.202-3.770). Logistic regression showed that an individual surgeon (p < 0.0001), preoperative body mass index <25 kg/m(2) (OR 2.733, 95% CI 2.145-3.481), and estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (OR 3.891, 95% CI 1.669-9.076) were independent predictors of re-exploration for excessive bleeding. An individual surgeon also was an independent predictor of a postoperative blood loss ≥1,600 mL. CONCLUSIONS: An individual surgeon has a major impact on postoperative bleeding, and a meticulous surgical technique is expected to decrease significantly such a severe complication.

Validation of EuroSCORE II in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II (EuroSCORE II) has been recently developed to improve the performance of the original EuroSCORE. Herein we evaluated its discriminatory ability in predicting the immediate and late outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Complete data on 1,027 patients who underwent isolated CABG were available for validation of EuroSCORE II and to compare its discriminatory ability with the original EuroSCORE and its Finnish modified version. RESULTS: EuroSCORE II performed somewhat better (area under the curve [AUC] 0.852, Brier score 0.031) than the original logistic EuroSCORE (AUC 0.838, Brier score 0.034) and its Finnish modified version (AUC 0.825, Brier score 0.034) in predicting operative mortality. The overall expected-to-observed operative mortality ratio for the original logistic EuroSCORE was 1.8, for its Finnish modified version was 0.6, and for EuroSCORE II was 1.2. EuroSCORE II showed expected-to-observed ratios ranging from 1.05 to 1.17 in its highest third quintiles. The best cutoff of EuroSCORE II in predicting operative postoperative mortality was 10% (21.5% vs 1.6%, p<0.0001; sensitivity 91.5%, specificity 60.5%, negative predictive value 98.4%, accuracy of 90.3%). The EuroSCORE II was predictive of de novo dialysis (AUC 0.805), prolonged use of inotropes (AUC 0.748), and intensive care unit stay 5 days or greater (AUC 0.793). The risk of late mortality significantly increased across increasing quintiles of EuroSCORE II (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The EuroSCORE II performs better than its original version in predicting operative mortality and morbidity after isolated CABG. Its ability to predict 30-day mortality in high-risk patients is of particular importance. The EuroSCORE II is also a good predictor of late postoperative survival.

Impact of ascending aortic wall thickness and atherosclerosis on the intermediate survival after coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the prognostic impact of atherosclerosis and wall thickness of the ascending aorta in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: A series of 781 patients who underwent CABG and in whom epiaortic ultrasound was performed to assess the status of the ascending aorta and to measure the thickness of its anterior and lateral walls were the subjects of the present analysis. RESULTS: At multivariate analysis, thickness of the ascending aortic wall, but not atherosclerosis, was an independent predictor of all-cause intermediate mortality [relative risk (RR): 1.628; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.219-2.176]. Five-year overall survival rates in patients with an aortic wall thickness ≥1.8 mm and less were 82.2 and 92.6%, respectively (log-rank test: P < 0.0001). Ascending aortic wall thickness (RR: 1.629; 95% CI: 1.135-2.339), but not atherosclerosis, was also an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. Aortic wall thickness ≥1.8 mm combined with the presence of atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta was associated with a rather dismal overall survival compared with patients with normal findings at epiaortic ultrasound (at 5 years, 77.0 vs. 93.2%; adjusted analysis: P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Ascending aortic wall thickness, but not the presence of atherosclerosis of any extent, is an independent predictor of intermediate all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Thickened aortic wall is associated with significantly higher hazard of all cause and cardiovascular mortality and can be considered an important surrogate marker of aggressive atherosclerosis.

Use of blood products and risk of stroke after coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: The impact of blood transfusion on the development of post-operative stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is not well established. We, therefore, investigated this issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Complete data on peri-operative blood transfusion were available for 2,226 patients who underwent CABG in three Finnish hospitals. RESULTS: Stroke occurred post-operatively in 53 patients (2.4%). Logistic regression showed that pre-operative creatinine (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.000-1.006), extracardiac arteriopathy (OR 2.344, 95% CI 1.133-4.847), pre-operative atrial fibrillation (OR 2.409, 95% CI 1.149-5.052), and the number of packed red blood cell units transfused (OR 1.121, 95% CI 1.065-1.180) were significantly associated with post-operative stroke. When the various blood product transfusions instead of transfused units were included in the multivariable analysis, solvent/detergent treated plasma (Octaplas) transfusion (OR 2.149, 95% CI 1.141-4.047), but not red blood cell transfusion, was significantly associated with postoperative stroke. Use of blood products ranging from no transfusion (stroke rate 1.6%) to combined transfusion of red blood cells, platelets and Octaplas was associated with a significant increase in post-operative stroke incidence (6.6%, adjusted analysis: OR 1.727, 95% 1.350-2.209). Patients who received >2 units of red blood cells, >4 units of Octaplas units and >8 units of platelets had the highest stroke rate of 21%. CART analysis showed that increasing amount of transfused Octaplas, platelets and history of extracardiac arteriopathy were significantly associated with post-operative stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Transfusion of blood products after CABG has a strong, dose-dependent association with the risk of stroke. The use of Octaplas and platelet transfusions seem to have an even larger impact on the development of stroke than red blood cell transfusions.

Estimating the risk of complications related to re-exploration for bleeding after adult cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of re-exploration for bleeding after cardiac surgery on the immediate postoperative outcome. METHODS: Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of data on re-exploration for bleeding after adult cardiac surgery were performed. RESULTS: The literature search yielded eight observational studies reporting on 557,923 patients and were included in the present analysis. Patients requiring re-exploration were significantly older, more frequently males, had a higher prevalence of peripheral vascular disease and preoperative exposure to aspirin, and more frequently underwent urgent/emergency surgery. Re-exploration was associated with significantly increased risk ratio (RR) of immediate postoperative mortality (RR 3.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.44-4.37), stroke, need of intra-aortic balloon pump, acute renal failure, sternal wound infection, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. The pooled analysis of four studies (two being propensity score-matched pairs analysis) reporting adjusted risk for mortality led to an RR of 2.56 (95%CI 1.46-4.50). Studies published during the last decade tended to report a higher risk of re-exploration-related mortality (RR 4.30, 95%CI 3.09-5.97) than those published in the 1990s (RR 2.75, 95%CI 2.06-3.66). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that re-exploration for bleeding after cardiac surgery carries a significantly increased risk of postoperative mortality and morbidity.

Timing of preoperative aspirin discontinuation and outcome after elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Whether aspirin should be discontinued before coronary artery bypass grafting is controversial. The potential benefits and harms associated with late use of aspirin (no discontinuation or discontinuation <3 days before surgery) were investigated in this retrospective, multicenter study. DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter study. SETTING: Two university hospitals and one central hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive series of 859 patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting from January 2008 through December 2010. INTERVENTIONS: Aspirin (100 mg/day) was used <3 days before surgery in 240 patients and was discontinued >3 days before surgery in 619 patients. RESULTS: In the overall series, similar in-hospital mortality, amount of postoperative blood loss, rate of re-exploration for excessive bleeding, and use of blood products were observed in the study groups. However, aspirin discontinuation >3 days before surgery tended to be associated with a higher postoperative stroke rate (1.9% v 0.4%, p = 0.13). Such a trend was observed after off-pump (1.9% v 0%, p = 0.58) and on-pump (2.0% v 0.6%, p = 0.46) surgery. Among 153 pairs matched by the propensity score, patients with aspirin discontinued >3 days before surgery had a significantly higher rate of postoperative stroke (5.9% v 0.7%, p = 0.02) and tended to have a higher risk of the composite adverse outcome endpoint (19.6% v 12.4%, p = 0.09). The postoperative release of troponin I was similar in the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Late or no discontinuation of low-dose aspirin before coronary artery bypass grafting may decrease the risk of postoperative stroke without increased postoperative bleeding and need for blood transfusion. These findings and the risk of cardiovascular events possibly occurring at the time of its discontinuation suggest that the use of aspirin until the day of elective coronary surgery may be beneficial.