Markers of Tissue Perfusion as Predictors of Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. / Marcadores de Perfusão Tecidual como Preditores de Desfechos Adversos em Pacientes com Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda Submetidos à Revascularização Miocárdica (Bypass Coronário).

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery patients may be exposed to tissue hypoperfusion and anaerobic metabolism. OBJECTIVE: To verify whether the biomarkers of tissue hypoperfusion have predictive value for prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay in patients with left ventricular dysfunction who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: After approval by the institution's Ethics Committee and the signing of informed consent, 87 patients with left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 50%) undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were enrolled. Hemodynamic and metabolic biomarkers were collected at five time points: after anesthesia, at the end of the surgery, at ICU admission, and at six and twelve hours after. An analysis of variance for repeated measures followed by a Bonferroni post hoc test was used for repeated, continuous variables (hemodynamic and metabolic variables) to determine differences between the two groups over the course of the study period. The level of statistical significance adopted was 5%. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (43.7%) who presented adverse outcomes were older, higher Euro score (p<0.001), and elevated ΔpCO2 as analyzed 12 hours after ICU admission (p<0.01), while increased arterial lactate concentration at 6 hours postoperatively was found to be a negative predictive factor (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Euro SCORE, six-hour postoperative arterial lactate, 12-hour postoperative ΔPCO2, and eRQ are independent predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after cardiac surgery.

FUNDAMENTO: Pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca podem estar expostos à hipoperfusão tecidual e metabolismo anaeróbico. OBJETIVO: Verificar se os biomarcadores de hipoperfusão tecidual têm valor preditivo para permanência prolongada na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) em pacientes com disfunção ventricular esquerda submetidos à cirurgia de bypass da artéria coronária. MÉTODOS: Após aprovação pelo comitê de ética institucional e assinatura do termo de consentimento, 87 pacientes com disfunção ventricular esquerda (fração de ejeção <50%) submetidos à cirurgia de bypass coronário foram incluídos. Biomarcadores hemodinâmicos e metabólicos foram coletados em cinco momentos: após anestesia, ao final da cirurgia, na admissão na UTI, e a seis e 12 horas depois. Uma análise de variância para medidas repetidas seguida de um teste post-hoc de Bonferroni foi usado para variáveis contínuas repetidas (variáveis metabólicas e hemodinâmicas) para determinar diferenças entre os dois grupos ao longo do estudo. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. RESULTADOS: Trinta e oito pacientes (43,7%) que apresentaram desfechos adversos eram mais velhos, apresentaram um Euroscore mais alto (p<0,001), e gradiente venoarterial de CO2 (ΔPCO2) elevado, analisados 12 horas após a admissão na UTI (p<0,01), enquanto uma concentração de lactato arterial aumentada seis horas após a cirurgia foi um fator preditivo negativo (p<0,01). CONCLUSÕES: EuroSCORE, lactato arterial seis horas após a cirurgia, ΔPCO212 horas após a cirurgia e QRe são preditores independentes de desfechos adversos em pacientes com disfunção ventricular esquerda após cirurgia cardíaca.

Additional improvement in regional myocardial ischemia after intracardiac injection of bone marrow cells during CABG surgery.

Background: Post-procedure residual ischemia is associated with worse prognosis in patients with coronary artery diasease (CAD). Objective: We evaluated whether autologous bone marrow-derived cells (BMC) contribute to additional reduction in regional stress-induced myocardial ischemia (SIMI) in patients undergoing incomplete coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled 143 patients (82% men, 58 ± 11 years) with stable CAD and not candidates for complete CABG. They received 100 million BMC (n = 77) or placebo (n = 66) injected into ischemic non-revascularized segments during CABG. The primary outcome was improvement on SIMI quantified as the area at risk in injected segments assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) 1, 6, and 12 months after CABG. Results: The reduction in global SIMI after CABG was comparable (p = 0.491) in both groups indicating sustained beneficial effects of the surgical procedure over 12 month period. In contrast, we observed additional improvement in regional SIMI in BMC treated group (p = 0.047). Baseline regional SIMI values were comparable [18.5 (16.2-21.0) vs. 18.5 (16.5-20.7)] and reached the lowest values at 1 month [9.74 (8.25; 11.49) vs. 12.69 (10.84; 14.85)] for BMC and placebo groups, respectively. The ischemia's improvement from baseline represented a 50% difference in regional SIMI in favor of the BMC transplanted group at 30 days. We found no differences in clinical and LVEF% between groups during the 12 month follow-up period. The 1 month rate of major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events (MACCE) (p = 0.34) and all-cause mortality (p = 0.08) did not differ between groups 1 month post intervention. Conclusion: We provided evidence that BMC leads to additional reduction in regional SIMI in chronic ischemic patients when injected in segments not subjected to direct surgical revascularization. This adjuvant therapy deserves further assessment in patients with advanced CAD especially in those with microcirculation dysfunction. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT01727063.

Endovascular therapeutic hypothermia adjunctive to percutaneous coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction: realistic simulation as a game changer.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular therapeutic hypothermia (ETH) reduces the damage by ischemia/reperfusion cell syndrome in cardiac arrest and has been studied as an adjuvant therapy to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). New available advanced technology allows cooling much faster, but there is paucity of resources for training to avoid delays in door-to-balloon time (DTB) due to ETH and subsequently coronary reperfusion, which would derail the procedure. The aim of the study was to describe the process for the development of a simulation, training & educational protocol for the multidisciplinary team to perform optimized ETH as an adjunctive therapy for STEMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed an optimized simulation protocol using modern mannequins in different realistic scenarios for the treatment of patients undergoing ETH adjunctive to PCI for STEMIs starting from the emergency room, through the CathLab, and to the intensive care unit (ICU) using the Proteus® Endovascular System (Zoll Circulation Inc™, San Jose, CA, USA). The primary endpoint was door-to-balloon (DTB) time. We successfully trained 361 multidisciplinary professionals in realistic simulation using modern mannequins and sham situations in divisions of the hospital where real patients would be treated. The focus of simulation and training was logistical optimization and educational debriefing with strategies to reduce waste of time in patient's transportation from different departments, and avoiding excessive rewarming during transfer. Afterwards, the EHT protocol was successfully validated in a trial randomizing 50 patients for 18 minutes cooling before coronary recanalization at the target temperature of 32 ± 1.0 ∘C or PCI-only. A total of 35 patients underwent ETH (85.7% [30/35] in 90 ± 15 minutes), without delays in the mean door-to-balloon time for primary PCI when compared to 15 control group patients (92.1 minutes versus 87 minutes, respectively; p = 0.509). CONCLUSIONS: Realistic simulation, intensive training and educational debriefing for the multidisciplinary team propitiated feasible endovascular therapeutic hypothermia as an adjuvant therapy to primary PCI in STEMI. CLINICALTRIALS: gov: NCT02664194.

Multivessel Woven Coronary Artery Disease.

Woven coronary disease is a rare pathology with unknown etiology. Although initially considered benign, recent publications report myocardial ischemia caused by the affected vessel. Since most patients are asymptomatic, long-term follow-up to understand its behavior is mandatory. We report a multivessel woven disease case with documented ischemia that was submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting and remained asymptomatic for two years of follow-up.

Multivessel woven coronary artery disease

Abstract Woven coronary disease is a rare pathology with unknown etiology. Although initially considered benign, recent publications report myocardial ischemia caused by the affected vessel. Since most patients are asymptomatic, long-term follow-up to understand its behavior is mandatory. We report a multivessel woven disease case with documented ischemia that was submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting and remained asymptomatic for two years of follow-up.

Correction: Mortality risk prediction in high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: Are traditional risk scores accurate?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255662.].

Mortality risk prediction in high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: Are traditional risk scores accurate?

BACKGROUND: The performance of traditional scores is significantly limited to predict mortality in high-risk cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of STS, ESII and HiriSCORE models in predicting mortality in high-risk patients undergoing CABG. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis in the international prospective database of high-risk patients: HiriSCORE project. We evaluated 248 patients with STS or ESII (5-10%) undergoing CABG in 8 hospitals in Brazil and China. The main outcome was mortality, defined as all deaths occurred during the hospitalization in which the operation was performed, even after 30 days. Five variables were selected as predictors of mortality in this cohort of patients. The model's performance was evaluated through the calibration-in-the-large and the receiver operating curve (ROC) tests. RESULTS: The mean age was 69.90±9.45, with 52.02% being female, 25% of the patients were on New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV and 49.6% had Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class 4 angina, and 85.5% had urgency or emergency status. The mortality observed in the sample was 13.31%. The HiriSCORE model showed better calibration (15.0%) compared to ESII (6.6%) and the STS model (2.0%). In the ROC curve, the HiriSCORE model showed better accuracy (ROC = 0.74) than the traditional models STS (ROC = 0.67) and ESII (ROC = 0.50). CONCLUSION: Traditional models were inadequate to predict mortality of high-risk patients undergoing CABG. However, the HiriSCORE model was simple and accurate to predict mortality in high-risk patients.

Pericardial-Peritoneal Window as an Alternative Treatment for Large and Recurrent Pericardial Effusion Post-Pericardiotomy

Abstract Introduction: The presence of mild to moderate pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery is common and oral medical therapy is usually able to treat it. Larger effusions are less frequent and surgical intervention is usually necessary. However, there are some rare cases of large effusions that are recurrent even after intervention and become challenging to treat. Methods: We describe the case of a patient submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) without any intraoperative complications, who was regularly discharged from the hospital. She was referred to our emergency department twice after surgery with large pericardial effusion that was drained. Even after those two interventions and with adequate oral medication, the large effusion recurred. Results: During follow-up, the patient had her symptoms resolved, with no need for further hospital admission. Her echocardiograms after the last intervention showed no pericardial effusion. The present surgical technique demonstrated to be easy to perform, thus it should be considered as a treatment option for these rare cases of large and repetitive effusions, which do not respond to the traditional methods. Conclusions: In challenging cases of recurrent and large pericardial effusions, the pericardial-peritoneal window is an alternative surgical technique that brings clinical improvement and diminishes the risk of cardiac tamponade.

Pericardial-Peritoneal Window as an Alternative Treatment for Large and Recurrent Pericardial Effusion Post-Pericardiotomy.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of mild to moderate pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery is common and oral medical therapy is usually able to treat it. Larger effusions are less frequent and surgical intervention is usually necessary. However, there are some rare cases of large effusions that are recurrent even after intervention and become challenging to treat. METHODS: We describe the case of a patient submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) without any intraoperative complications, who was regularly discharged from the hospital. She was referred to our emergency department twice after surgery with large pericardial effusion that was drained. Even after those two interventions and with adequate oral medication, the large effusion recurred. RESULTS: During follow-up, the patient had her symptoms resolved, with no need for further hospital admission. Her echocardiograms after the last intervention showed no pericardial effusion. The present surgical technique demonstrated to be easy to perform, thus it should be considered as a treatment option for these rare cases of large and repetitive effusions, which do not respond to the traditional methods. CONCLUSIONS: In challenging cases of recurrent and large pericardial effusions, the pericardial-peritoneal window is an alternative surgical technique that brings clinical improvement and diminishes the risk of cardiac tamponade.

The Role of the Heart Team in Patients with Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: In patients eligible for coronary artery bypass grafting, no data assess the importance of the Heart Team in programming the best surgical strategy for patients with diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aims to determine the contribution of the Heart Team in predicting the feasibility of coronary artery bypass graft and angiographic surgical success in these patients based on visual angiographic analysis. METHODS: Patients with diffuse and severe CAD undergoing incomplete coronary artery bypass graft surgery were prospectively included. One-year postoperative coronary angiograms were obtained to evaluate graft occlusion. Two clinical cardiologists, two cardiovascular surgeons, and one interventional cardiologist retrospectively analyzed preoperative angiograms. A subjective scale was applied at a single moment to quantify the chance of successful coronary artery bypass grafting for each coronary territory with anatomical indication for revascularization. Based on individual scores, the Heart Team's and the specialists' scores were calculated and compared. RESULTS: The examiners evaluated 154 coronary territories, of which 85 (55.2%) were protected. The Heart Team's accuracy for predicting the angiographic success of the surgery was 74.9%, almost equal to that of the surgeons alone (73.2%). Only the interventional cardiologist predicted left anterior descending territory grafting success. The Heart Team had good specificity and reasonable sensitivity, and the surgeons had high sensitivity and low specificity in predicting angiographic success. CONCLUSION: The multispecialty Heart Team achieved good accuracy in predicting the angiographic coronary artery bypass graft success in patients with diffuse CAD, with a high specificity and reasonable sensitivity.

Coronary artery bypass graft during the covid-19 pandemic

Abstract Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in March 2020, the number of people infected with COVID-19 worldwide increases continuously. Brazil is being followed with great concern in the international media, as it can, very soon, be the epicenter of the pandemic. Initial surgical data suggest that patients who acquire COVID-19 in the perioperative period are prone to a higher morbidity and mortality, however, evidence in cardiac surgery is still scarce. This article aims to aggregate to the growing evidence suggesting that perioperative infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 contributes to a more morbid evolution of the case.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in March 2020, the number of people infected with COVID-19 worldwide increases continuously. Brazil is being followed with great concern in the international media, as it can, very soon, be the epicenter of the pandemic. Initial surgical data suggest that patients who acquire COVID-19 in the perioperative period are prone to a higher morbidity and mortality, however, evidence in cardiac surgery is still scarce. This article aims to aggregate to the growing evidence suggesting that perioperative infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 contributes to a more morbid evolution of the case.

Hypotheses, rationale, design, and methods for prognostic evaluation of a randomized comparison between patients with coronary artery disease associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy who undergo medical or surgical treatment: MASS-VI (HF).

BACKGROUND: Ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe left ventricular dysfunction are well established to represent the main determinants of poor survival and premature death compared with preserved ventricular function. However, the role of myocardial revascularization as a therapeutic alternative is not known to improve the long-term prognosis in this group of patients. This study will investigate whether myocardial revascularization contributes to a better prognosis for patients compared with those treated with drugs alone and followed over the long term. METHODS: The study will include 600 patients with coronary artery disease associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy. The surgical or drug therapy option will be randomized, and the events considered for analysis will be all-cause mortality, nonfatal infarction, unstable angina requiring additional revascularization, and stroke. The events will be analyzed according to the intent-to-treat principle. Patients with multivessel coronary disease and left ventricular ejection fraction measurements of less than 35% will be included. In addition, myocardial ischemia will be documented by myocardial scintigraphy. Markers of myocardial necrosis will be checked at admission and after the procedure. DISCUSSION: The role of myocardial revascularization (CABG) in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure is not clearly established. The surgical option of revascularizing the myocardium is a procedure designed to reduce the load of myocardial hibernation in patients with heart failure caused by coronary artery disease. On the other hand, the assessment of myocardial viability is frequently used to identify patients with left ventricular ischemic dysfunction in which CABG may add survival benefit. However, the effectiveness of this option is uncertain. The great difficulty in establishing the efficacy of surgical intervention is based on the understanding of viability without ischemia. Thus, this study will include only patients with viable and truly ischemic myocardium to correct this anomaly. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Evaluation of a randomized comparison between patients with coronary artery disease associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy submitted to medical or surgical treatment: MASS-VI (HF), ISRCTN77449548, Oct 10th, 2019 (retrospectively registered).

Analysis of >100. 000 Cardiovascular Surgeries Performed at the Heart Institute and a New Era of Outcomes / Análise de >100. 000 Cirurgias Cardiovasculares Realizadas no Instituto do Coração e a Nova Era com Foco nos Resultados

Abstract Background: The current challenge of cardiovascular surgery (CVS) is to improve the outcomes in increasingly severe patients. In this respect, continuous quality improvement (CQI) programs have had an impact on outcomes. Objective: To assess the evolution of the incidence and mortality due to CVS, as well as the current outcomes of the Hospital das Clínicas Heart Institute of the University of São Paulo Medical School (InCor-HCFMUSP). Methods: An outcome analysis of CVSs performed at the InCor, between January 1984 and June 2019. We observed the surgical volume and mortality rates in 5 time periods: 1st (1984-1989), 2nd (1990-1999), 3rd (2000-2007), 4th (2008-2015) and 5th (2016-2019). The CQI program was implemented between 2015 and 2016. The analysis included the total number of surgeries and the evolution of the most frequent procedures. Results: A total of 105,599 CCVs were performed, with an annual mean of 2,964 procedures and mortality of 5,63%. When comparing the 4th and the 5th periods, the average global volume of surgeries was increased from 2,943 to 3,139 (p = 0.368), bypass graft (CABG), from 638 to 597 (p = 0.214), heart valve surgery, from 372 to 465 (p = 0.201), and congenital heart disease surgery, from 530 to 615 (p = 0.125). The average global mortality went from 7.8% to 5% (p < 0.0001); in CABG surgery, from 5.8% to 3.1% (p < 0.0001); in heart valve surgery, from 14% to 7.5% (p < 0.0001) and in congenital heart disease surgery, from 12.1% to 9.6% (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In spite of a recent trend towards increased surgical volume, there was a significant decrease in operative mortality in the groups studied. After the implementation of the CQI program, the mortality rates were closer to international standards.

Resumo Fundamento: O desafio atual da cirurgia cardiovascular (CCV) é melhorar resultados em pacientes cada vez mais graves. Nesse sentido, Programas de Melhoria Contínua da Qualidade (PMCQ) tem impactado os resultados. Objetivo: Avaliar a evolução da incidência e mortalidade das CCV, assim como os resultados atuais do Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor). Métodos: Análise dos resultados das CCV realizadas no InCor entre jan-1984 e jun-2019. Foram observadas as tendências dos volumes cirúrgicos e da mortalidade em 5 períodos 1º (1984-1989), 2º (1990-1999), 3º (2000-2007), 4º (2008-2015) e 5º (2016-2019). O PMCQ foi estabelecido entre 2015-2016. A análise incluiu o total de cirurgias e a evolução dos procedimentos mais frequentes. Resultados: Foram realizadas 105.599 CCV, com uma média anual de 2.964 procedimentos e mortalidade de 5,63%. Comparando o 4º com o 5º período, o volume global médio de cirurgias foi de 2.943 para 3.139 (p = 0,368), cirurgias de revascularização miocárdica (CRM) de 638 para 597 (p = 0,214), valvas cardíacas de 372 para 465 (p = 0,201) e cardiopatias congênitas de 530 para 615 (p = 0,125). A mortalidade média global passou de 7,8% para 5% (p < 0,0001), nas cirurgias de revascularização miocárdica de 5,8% para 3,1% (p < 0,0001), nas cirurgias valvares de 14% para 7,5% (p < 0,0001) e nas cirurgias de cardiopatias congênitas de 12,1% para 9,6% (p < 0,0001). Conclusão: Embora haja uma tendência recente ao aumento dos volumes cirúrgicos, houve uma diminuição significativa da mortalidade cirúrgica nos grupos analisados. Após o estabelecimento do PMCQ, as taxas de mortalidade se aproximaram a dos padrões internacionais.

Analysis of >100,000 Cardiovascular Surgeries Performed at the Heart Institute and a New Era of Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The current challenge of cardiovascular surgery (CVS) is to improve the outcomes in increasingly severe patients. In this respect, continuous quality improvement (CQI) programs have had an impact on outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To assess the evolution of the incidence and mortality due to CVS, as well as the current outcomes of the Hospital das Clínicas Heart Institute of the University of São Paulo Medical School (InCor-HCFMUSP). METHODS: An outcome analysis of CVSs performed at the InCor, between January 1984 and June 2019. We observed the surgical volume and mortality rates in 5 time periods: 1st (1984-1989), 2nd (1990-1999), 3rd (2000-2007), 4th (2008-2015) and 5th (2016-2019). The CQI program was implemented between 2015 and 2016. The analysis included the total number of surgeries and the evolution of the most frequent procedures. RESULTS: A total of 105,599 CCVs were performed, with an annual mean of 2,964 procedures and mortality of 5,63%. When comparing the 4th and the 5th periods, the average global volume of surgeries was increased from 2,943 to 3,139 (p = 0.368), bypass graft (CABG), from 638 to 597 (p = 0.214), heart valve surgery, from 372 to 465 (p = 0.201), and congenital heart disease surgery, from 530 to 615 (p = 0.125). The average global mortality went from 7.8% to 5% (p < 0.0001); in CABG surgery, from 5.8% to 3.1% (p < 0.0001); in heart valve surgery, from 14% to 7.5% (p < 0.0001) and in congenital heart disease surgery, from 12.1% to 9.6% (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In spite of a recent trend towards increased surgical volume, there was a significant decrease in operative mortality in the groups studied. After the implementation of the CQI program, the mortality rates were closer to international standards.

Activation of Interleukin-1 Beta in Arterialized Vein Grafts and the Influence of the -511C/T IL-1ß Gene Polymorphism.

The interleukin-1 family is associated with innate immunity and inflammation. The latter has been linked to the genesis of cardiovascular diseases. We, therefore, investigated whether interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) is activated during arterialization of vein grafts. First, we examined the activation of IL-1ß using the rat arterialized jugular vein serially sampled for up to 90 days. IL-1ß expression increased 18 times on day 1 in the arterialized rat jugular vein and remained five times above nonarterialized vein levels for up to 90 days. Similarly, IL-1ß expression increased early (1-5 days) in human vein graft autopsy samples compared with late phases (1-4 years). Activation was also detected in ex vivo arterialized human saphenous veins. Upon stratification of the results, we uncovered a T allele promoter attenuating effect in IL-1ß activation in response to hemodynamic stress. Altogether, the results show that IL-1ß is activated during arterialization of vein grafts in rats and humans, and this response is modulated by -511C/T IL-1ß gene polymorphism. It is tempting to speculate that the activation of IL-1ß, and consequently local inflammation, modulates early vascular remodeling and that the gene polymorphism may be useful in predicting outcomes or assisting in interventions.

Perioperative management of the diabetic patient referred to cardiac surgery

Abstract Currently there is a progressive increase in the prevalence of diabetes in a referred for cardiovascular surgery. Benefits of glycemic management (< 180 mg/dL) in diabetic patients compared to patients without diabetes in perioperative cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study is to present recommendations based on international evidence and adapted to our clinical practice for the perioperative management of hyperglycemia in adult patients with and without diabetes undergoing cardiovascular surgery. This update is based on the latest current literature derived from articles and guidelines regarding perioperative management of diabetic patients to cardiovascular surgery.