Blood group AB is associated with reduced blood loss but also elevated cardiovascular mortality in aortocoronary bypass surgery.

Patient blood group (BG) is predictive for von-Willebrand-factor (VWF) and Factor VIII variation. The clinical impact of this ABO-effect on blood loss, cardiovascular complications and outcome has been described for several patient cohorts. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of patient BG on blood loss and outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Patient records, intraoperative data and perioperative transfusion records of 5713 patients receiving an on-pump CABG procedure between 05/2004 and 12/2018 were analyzed. A logistic regression model for death due to perioperative myocardial ischaemia (PMI) was developed from initially 24 variables by using an univariate and multivariate selection process. BG AB patients required less blood transfusions as compared to the other blood groups, especially in case of emergency operations. However, BG AB patients also had a higher mortality which was due to secondary cardiovascular complications. The impact of blood type on the rate of cardiovascular mortality was confirmed in the logistic regression model. BG AB patients have a worse outcome after CABG surgery due to an increased incidence of fatal cardiovascular complications. As perioperative myocardial ischemia due to graft occlusion appears to be the most likely explanation, stricter anticoagulation for BG AB patients should be discussed.

"Piggyback Pigtails": Simplifying secondary transradial access for TAVR.

Minimalist approaches have evolved for TAVR over the last years with impact on in-hospital stay and patient safety. As part of this concept, transradial secondary arterial access is capable of reducing vascular and bleeding complications. Yet, steering of the marker pigtail catheter in the descending aorta might by fluoroscopic imaging sometimes be challenging. In our manuscript, we present a very simple "piggyback" technique, simplifying management of transradial secondary access in transfemoral TAVR.

Follow-Up and Outcome after Coronary Bypass Surgery Preceded by Coronary Stent Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines on myocardial revascularization define recommendations for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Only little information exists on long-term follow-up and quality of life (QoL) after CABG preceded by PCI. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of prior PCI on outcome and QoL in patients with stable coronary artery disease who underwent CABG. METHODS: In our retrospective study, CABG patients were divided in: CABG preceded by PCI: PCI-first (PCF), and CABG-only (CO) groups. The PCF group was further divided in guideline-conform (GCO) and guideline nonconform (GNC) subgroups, according to the SYNTAX score (2014 European Society of Cardiology [ESC]/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery [EACTS] guidelines). Thirty days mortality, major adverse cardiac events, and QoL using the European Quality-of-Life-5 Dimensions were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 997 patients were analyzed, of which 784 underwent CABG without (CO), and 213 individuals with prior PCI (PCF). The latter group consisted of 67 patients being treated in accordance (GCO), and 24 in discordance (GNC) to the 2014 ESC/EACTS guidelines. Reinfarction (PCF: 3.8% vs. CO: 1.0%; p = 0.024), re-angiography (PCF: 17.6% vs. CO: 9.0%; p = 0.004), and re-PCI (PCF: 10.4% vs. CO: 3.0%; p < 0.001) were observed more frequently in PCF patients. Also, patients reported better health status in the CO compared to PCF group (CO: 72.48 ± 19.31 vs. PCF: 68.20 ± 17.86; p = 0.01). Patients from the guideline nonconform subgroup reported poorer health status compared to the guideline-conform group (GNC: 64.23 ± 14.56 vs. GCO: 73.42 ± 17.66; p = 0.041) and were more likely to require re-PCI (GNC: 18.8% vs. GCO: 2.4%; p = 0.03). Also, GNC patients were more likely to have left main stenosis (GCO: 19.7% vs. GNC: 37.5%; p < 0.001) and showed higher preinterventional SYNTAX score (GCO: 18.63 ± 9.81 vs. GNC: 26.67 ± 5.07; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PCI preceding CABG is associated with poorer outcomes such as reinfarction, re-angiography, and re-PCI, but also worse health status and higher rehospitalization. Nevertheless, results were better when PCI was guideline-conformant. This data should impact the Heart Team decision.

Comparison of Perioperative High-Sensitive Troponin T and Troponin I Assays in Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Troponin measurements are among the standard parameters for monitoring perioperative myocardial ischaemia after cardiosurgical procedures. As high-sensitive assays continue to replace older analytic parameters with lower sensitivity, this study aimed to compare perioperative profiles of a high-sensitive troponin T assay (hsTnT, Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) with a troponin I assay (sTnI, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Eschborn, Germany). METHODS: A total of 287 consecutive patients undergoing a typical spectrum of cardiac procedures from August 2017 to March 2018 monitored with the hsTnT assay were compared with a propensity-matched collective analysed with the sTnI assay. For side-by side comparison, the peak troponin (Tmax) values were scaled to a z-score distribution before comparison. RESULTS: Despite absolute postoperative hsTnT and sTnI values differing by an order of magnitude, parameters could be scaled to a common distribution with kernel density curves overlapping 92%. Both parameters showed equal behaviour in subgroup analyses regarding relevant perioperative factors, such as type of procedure, cross-clamping time, and type of cardioplegic solution. However, there were some differences regarding pre-existing renal impairment between both parameters. In both groups, renal failure patients with chronic kidney disease stages IV or V as well as patients on haemodialysis exhibited a marked Tmax increase of >100% compared with normal kidney function (hsTnT, +121%; 2,383.5 vs 1,078.8 ng/L; p=0.0006; and sTnI, +149%; 27.3 ng/mL vs 11.0 ng/mL; p=0.009). However, in patients with moderately impaired renal function, those in the hsTnT group, but not in the sTnI cohort, showed significantly increased Tmax values (CKD stages II or III, 1,233.5 ng/L [+14%] and 1,314.1 ng/L [+22%] vs 1,078.8 ng/L; p=0.01 and p=0.03). In these patients, the postoperative interval until Tmax was reached was also significantly increased (14.4 and 19.0 hrs vs 12.4 hrs for chronic kidney disease stages II and III; p=0.0038 and p<0.001), indicating a higher rate of accumulation in the hsTnT parameter. CONCLUSION: In the context of cardiac surgery, this study found that both parameters behaved in a similar manner under most relevant circumstances. Despite significant difference in the absolute serum concentration, hsTnT and sTnI can be scaled to virtually identical distributions. However, renal impairment did affect both parameters differently with troponin T but not troponin I, showing evidence of accumulation in moderately impaired renal disease.

The German Aortic Valve Score II.

OBJECTIVES: The German Aortic Valve Score (GAVS) was developed for national quality assurance regarding the in-hospital mortality rate of patients following isolated aortic valve replacement. The goal of this work was the recalibration of the GAVS in the context of increased numbers of transcatheter aortic valve implantations. METHODS: In 2011 and 2012, 36 183 cases were documented who had either surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (45%). All cases were randomly assigned to the study or to the validation group. All items of the data set were checked for significance by developing a multiregression risk model using iterative backward elimination. Calibration was ascertained using the Hosmer-Lemeshow method. To define the quality of discrimination, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (C-statistic) was calculated. RESULTS: The randomized study cohort comprised 18 054 patients. After modelling with multiple regression algorithms, 18 of the initial 28 risk factors entered the risk model. When applied to the validation group, the newly developed GAVS II showed good calibration with a P-value of 0.411 in the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and good discrimination with a C-statistic of 0.741. CONCLUSIONS: The GAVS II is a new risk model that is applicable to cohorts having surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures.

Severe mitral regurgitation in Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy.

Severe emotional or physical stress precedes Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) which is characterized by transient left ventricular impairment in absence of coronary artery disease. In this case we report from a female patient presenting with characteristic features of TTC after examination of upper gastrointestinal. Additionally, severe mitral regurgitation due to acute rupture of the posteromedial papillary muscle was present. Normal left ventricular function was documented before surgical valve repair was performed. TTC is reported to be associated with several complications. This is the first report of TTC accompanied by severe mitral valve regurgitation due to rupture of a papillary muscle.

Sympathoadrenergic overstimulation in Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by physical and emotional stress.

Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) which is usually precipitated by profound emotional stress has been widely reported in the past. Recently, several co-morbidities have been found to be associated with this new cardiac entity. In this case we report from a female patient suffering from both, physical and emotional stress. After a persistent episode of severe abdominal pain due to acute cholecystitis and recurrent events of emotional stress, characteristic features of TTC could be documented. Histopathological analysis documented characteristic structural alterations including contraction band necrosis. Thus, this case confirms the hypothesis of an overstimulated sympthatoadrenergic system in TTC resulting from both, severe physical and emotional stress.