Neighborhood socioeconomic status is associated with differences in operative management and long-term survival after coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize differences in operative management and surgical outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting associated with the socioeconomic context in which a patient lives. METHODS: We used a validated index of 17 variables derived from the US Census Bureau to assign socioeconomic status at the block group level to patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting at a single institution over a 16-year period. Operative mortality, stroke, renal failure, prolonged ventilation, sternal wound infection, reoperation, composite morbidity or mortality, long-term survival, and use of arterial conduits were the outcomes assessed. RESULTS: This study was composed of 6751 patients. Lower socioeconomic status was significantly associated with increased rates of stroke, renal failure, prolonged ventilation, and composite morbidity or mortality in a multivariable analysis. Low socioeconomic status was significantly associated with poorer long-term adjusted survival (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.55). Finally, lower socioeconomic status was significantly associated with decreased use of more than 1 arterial conduits in a multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The socioeconomic context in which a patient lives is significantly associated with short- and long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting. There may also be variation in operative management, demonstrated by decreased use of arterial conduits. Lower rates of arterial revascularization among socioeconomically disadvantaged patients who undergo coronary artery revascularization may provide a target for intervention.

Proposal for a trial of early left ventricular venting during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiogenic shock.

Objective: Patients with profound cardiogenic shock may require venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for circulatory support most commonly via the femoral vessels. The rate of cardiac recovery in this population remains low, possibly because peripheral VA-ECMO increases ventricular afterload. Whether direct ventricular unloading in peripheral VA-ECMO enhances cardiac recovery is unknown, but is being more frequently utilized. A randomized trial is warranted to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of percutaneous left ventricle venting to enhance cardiac recovery in the setting of VA-ECMO. Methods: We describe the rationale, design, and initial testing of a randomized controlled trial of VA-ECMO with and without percutaneous left ventricle venting using a percutaneous micro-axial ventricular assist device. Results: This is an ongoing prospective randomized controlled trial in adult patients with primary cardiac failure presenting in cardiogenic shock requiring peripheral VA-ECMO, designed to test the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous left ventricle venting in improving the rate of cardiac recovery. Conclusions: The results of this nonindustry-sponsored trial will provide critical information on whether left ventricle unloading in peripheral VA-ECMO is safe and effective.

Recurrent aortic insufficiency after emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection with aortic root preservation.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with acute type A aortic dissection demonstrate a wide range of aortic insufficiency. Outcomes after valve resuspension and root repair are not well studied in the long term. We evaluated the long-term effects of preoperative aortic insufficiency in patients undergoing emergency root-preserving surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: From 2002 to 2017, 558 of 776 patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent native aortic valve resuspension and root reconstruction. Patients were stratified into 4 groups by preoperative aortic insufficiency grade (n = 539): aortic insufficiency less than 2+ (n = 348), aortic insufficiency = 2+ (n = 72), aortic insufficiency = 3+ (n = 49), and aortic insufficiency = 4+ (n = 70). Multivariable ordinal longitudinal mixed effects and multi-state transition models were used to assess risk factors for recurrent aortic insufficiency. RESULTS: The prevalence of cardiogenic shock in patients presenting with preoperative aortic insufficiency less than 2+, 2+, 3+, and 4+ was 53 of 348 (15.2%), 12 of 72 (16.7%), 10 of 49 (20.4%), and 24 of 70 (34.3%), respectively (P = .002). Postoperatively, 94.0% of patients had aortic insufficiency 1+ or less at discharge. Operative mortality was 34 of 348 (9.8%), 10 of 72 (13.9%), 6 of 49 (12.2%), and 12 of 70 (17.1%) (P = .303). In an ordinal mixed effects model, preoperative aortic insufficiency was associated with more severe postoperative aortic insufficiency. The multi-state transition model demonstrated that severe aortic insufficiency was associated with progression from no to mild aortic insufficiency (hazard ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-3.38), and progression from mild to moderate aortic insufficiency (hazard ratio, 5.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.88-17.30). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative aortic insufficiency is an important predictor of recurrent aortic insufficiency in patients undergoing valve resuspension with root reconstruction for emergency acute type A aortic dissection repair. Increased echocardiographic surveillance for recurrent aortic insufficiency may be warranted in this cohort.

Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Patients With Return of Spontaneous Circulation After Cardiac Arrest Owing to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to determine the survival to hospital discharge of patients who were treated with venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for respiratory failure after cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 21 patients. INTERVENTIONS: Implementation of VV ECMO in patients with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest owing to respiratory insufficiency. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The most common etiology of arrest was pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (8/21 [38%]). Overall, 12/21(57%) patients survived to hospital discharge. Two of 12 (17%) patients required hemodialysis upon discharge. CONCLUSION: VV ECMO may be an appropriate alternative to venoarterial ECMO in select patients with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest owing to profound respiratory failure.

Direct innominate artery cannulation: An alternate technique for antegrade cerebral perfusion during aortic hemiarch reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: We describe an alternate technique for establishing antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) during hypothermic circulatory arrest via direct, central cannulation of the innominate artery. METHODS: From 2009 to 2015, 100 elective hemiarch reconstructions for proximal aortic aneurysms were performed under moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA). Cerebral perfusion was instituted with ACP via direct cannulation of the innominate artery. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 63 ± 13 years (72 men; 72%). Mean MHCA temperature was 27.3°C ± 1.0°C (median, 28°C). Mean ACP time was 17 ± 4 minutes and mean crossclamp time was 134 ± 42 minutes. Proximal reconstruction included root replacement with composite valved graft (n = 47), valve sparing root reimplantation (n = 16), and aortic valve replacement (n = 19). In-hospital 30-day mortality (n = 1; 1%), stroke (1; 1%), reversible ischemic neurologic deficit (n = 1; 1%), coma (n = 0), and renal failure (n = 1; 1%) rates were low. There was no incidence of injury or dissection of the innominate artery. CONCLUSIONS: Direct, central innominate artery cannulation for ACP yields excellent outcomes. This technique is safe, provides excellent cerebral protection during circulatory arrest and simplifies the circulatory management strategy for elective ascending aortic and hemiarch reconstruction.

Longitudinal lipid screening and use of lipid-lowering medications in pediatric type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Because cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and dyslipidemia is an important CVD risk factor, we investigated dyslipidemia and its treatment in children with T1D. STUDY DESIGN: Subjects had T1D (n = 360), repeated lipid measurements (n = 1095; mean, 3.04 +/- 0.94; range, 2 to 11), and were seen between 1994 and 2004. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL) were categorized on the basis of published guidelines. Age, diabetes duration, sex, body mass index, HbA1c, and lipid-lowering medication use were recorded. Predictors of TC, HDL, and non-HDL were determined. RESULTS: Sustained abnormalities existed for TC > or = 200 mg/dL (16.9%); HDL < 35 mg/dL (3.3%); and non-HDL > or = 130 mg/dL (27.8%), > or = 160 mg/dL (10.6%), and > or = 190 mg/dL (3.3%). Lipid-lowering medications were started on 23 patients. In mixed model longitudinal data analyses, HbA1c was significantly related to TC and non-HDL. Body mass index z-score was inversely related to HDL. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective, longitudinal study of pediatric patients with T1D with repeated lipid measurements, sustained abnormal levels for TC, HDL, and non-HDL were present. Prospective longitudinal data for dyslipidemia in youth with T1D are needed.