The Use of Bilateral Internal Mammary Artery Grafting in Different Degrees of Obesity.

Background Obesity is a limiting factor for the use of bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMAs). Therefore, we assessed the safety of their use in different degrees of obesity. Patients and Methods We studied two groups of patients with obesity using propensity matching. The first group received single internal mammary artery and saphenous vein grafts (SIMA group, 526 patients) and the second group received bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMA group, 526 patients). Patients were classified further according to their body mass index (BMI) into overweight (BMI = 25-29.9 kg/m2), obese (BMI = 30-34.9 kg/m2), and severely obese (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2). Results Preoperative data were similar regarding age (62.78 ± 9.96 vs. 62.98 ± 9.66 years; p = 0.734), female sex (17.5 vs. 18.6%; p = 0.631), diabetes mellitus (26.3 vs. 27.2%; p = 0.74), EuroSCORE (3.21 ± 2.23 vs. 3.18 ± 2.41; p = 0.968), and COPD (16 vs. 16%; p = 1). No significant differences were noticed between the two groups regarding the number of peripheral anastomoses (3.09 ± 0.84 vs. 3.12 ± 0.83; p = 0.633), myocardial infarction (1.7 vs. 1.7%; p = 1), reexploration (1.3 vs. 2.1%; p = 0.34), deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) (2.1 vs. 2.9%; p = 0.43), and 30-day mortality (0.8 vs. 1.1%; p = 0.53). Multivariate analysis identified BMI and intensive care unit stay as independent predictors for DSWI. However, postoperative blood loss (694.56 ± 631.84 vs. 811.67 ± 688.73 mL; p < 0.001) and the incidence of pneumothorax (1 vs. 2.7%; p = 0.037) were higher in BIMA group. Conclusion Patients with obesity can benefit from BIMA grafting. However, postoperative blood loss and the incidence of pneumothorax can be higher using this technique.

Telemedicine-guided, very low-dose international normalized ratio self-control in patients with mechanical heart valve implants.

AIM: To study in patients performing international normalized ratio (INR) self-control the efficacy and safety of an INR target range of 1.6-2.1 for aortic valve replacement (AVR) and 2.0-2.5 for mitral valve replacement (MVR) or double valve replacement (DVR). METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 1304 patients undergoing AVR, 189 undergoing MVR and 78 undergoing DVR were randomly assigned to low-dose INR self-control (LOW group) (INR target range, AVR: 1.8-2.8; MVR/DVR: 2.5-3.5) or very low-dose INR self-control once a week (VLO group) and twice a week (VLT group) (INR target range, AVR: 1.6-2.1; MVR/DVR: 2.0-2.5), with electronically guided transfer of INR values. We compared grade III complications (major bleeding and thrombotic events; primary end-points) and overall mortality (secondary end-point) across the three treatment groups. FINDINGS: Two-year freedom from bleedings in the LOW, VLO, and VLT groups was 96.3, 98.6, and 99.1%, respectively (P = 0.008). The corresponding values for thrombotic events were 99.0, 99.8, and 98.9%, respectively (P = 0.258). The risk-adjusted composite of grade III complications was in the per-protocol population (reference: LOW-dose group) as follows: hazard ratio = 0.307 (95% CI: 0.102-0.926; P = 0.036) for the VLO group and = 0.241 (95% CI: 0.070-0.836; P = 0.025) for the VLT group. The corresponding values of 2-year mortality were = 1.685 (95% CI: 0.473-5.996; P = 0.421) for the VLO group and = 4.70 (95% CI: 1.62-13.60; P = 0.004) for the VLT group. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine-guided very low-dose INR self-control is comparable with low-dose INR in thrombotic risk, and is superior in bleeding risk. Weekly testing is sufficient. Given the small number of MVR and DVR patients, results are only valid for AVR patients.

Are aortic valve reoperations after primary replacement with stentless heart valve prostheses more demanding than after stented biological prostheses?

OBJECTIVE: Reoperations after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with stentless valve prostheses are believed to be surgically more difficult than after stented prostheses. METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2006, 1,340 of 3,785 patients with AVR in a single institution received a stentless valve prosthesis in aortic position (Medtronic Freestyle, Medtronic GmbH, Meerbusch, Germany). Reoperations after stentless AVR occurred in 27 patients (2.0%). Twenty-four of these patients were compared with another 24 patients having redo surgery after a primary stented bioprosthesis after carrying out propensity score matching. RESULTS: After matching, stentless valve redo patients had a similar preoperative risk profile regarding EuroSCORE (stentless 10 ± 3 points/stented 11 ± 3 points; p = 0.37), preoperative active endocarditis (stentless 37.5%/stented 16.7%; p = 0.081), and amount of concomitant procedures (stentless 37.5%/stented 16.7%; p = 0.222). Thirty-day mortality after reoperation was 20.8% (5 patients) in the stentless and 4.2% (1 patient) in the stented group (p = 0.081), and reintubation rate was 16.7% in the stentless and 0% in the stented group (p = 0.037). Aortic clamping time (stentless 90 ± 25 min/stented 86 ± 34 min; p = 0.208) and extracorporeal circulation time (stentless 151 ± 59 min/stented 132 ± 52 min; p = 0.55) were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our data do not show that the technical difficulty of reoperations after stentless AVR is higher than that of reoperations after stented AVR. The clinically visible, but not statistically significant, higher early mortality rate of our stentless group is mainly due to more active valve prosthesis endocarditis cases and a higher amount of concomitant procedures.

72 hours standby time of wet-primed cardiopulmonary bypass circuits: a microbiological quality assurance study.

In a microbiological sample study of 15 wet-primed cardiopulmonary bypass circuits in standby mode for 72 hours under regular clinical conditions, no contamination of the priming fluid or the connectors could be detected. Hand contact surfaces of the machines demonstrated environmental microorganisms. These findings indicate the safe use of primed cardiopulmonary bypass circuits in standby mode for 72 hours. A surface disinfection of hand contact surfaces immediately before use is recommended.

The impact of socio-demographic factors on health-related quality of life after coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To achieve a beneficial impact on long-term outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the goal of the present study was the early identification of patients at risk of impaired postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQoL), particularly evaluating the significance of socio-demographic variables. METHODS: In this prospective, single-centre cohort study of patients having an isolated CABG (January 2004-December 2014), preoperative socio-demographic (preSOC) and preoperative medical variables as well as 6-month follow-up data including the Nottingham Health Profile were analysed in 3,237 patients. RESULTS: All preSOC (gender, age, marriage and employment) and follow-up (chest pain, dyspnoea) variables proved to have significant influence on HRQoL (P < 0.001), male patients below 60 years being particularly impaired. The effects of marriage and employment on HRQoL are modulated by age and gender. The significance of the predictors of reduced HRQoL differs between the 6 Nottingham Health Profile domains. Multivariable regression analyses revealed explained proportions of variance amounting to 7% for preSOC and 4% for preoperative medical variables. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of patients at risk of impaired postoperative HRQoL is decisive for providing additional support. This study reveals that the assessment of 4 preoperative socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, marriage, employment) is more predictive of HRQoL after CABG than are multiple medical variables.

Process review of a departmental change from conventional coronary artery bypass grafting to totally arterial coronary artery bypass and its effects on the incidence and severity of postoperative stroke.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the process of changing from conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to totally arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass (TOPCAB) at a single heart center in Germany. METHODS: We (1) used multivariate statistical methods to assess real-time monitoring of OPCAB effects, (2) conducted a case review to assess preventable deaths and identify areas of improvement, (3) conducted a team survey, and (4) evaluated benchmarking results. RESULTS: All surgeons and assistants (n = 18) at this center were involved and were guided by the department head and one of the consultants, who was trained in this procedure in 2004 at the Leuven OPCAB school. The frequency of OPCAB operations increased abruptly in 2005 from 5% to 43% and then increased gradually to 67% (n = 546) by 2008 (total, 1781 OPCAB cases and 1563 on-pump cases). The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates for OPCAB surgeries (n = 10 [0.6%] and 21 [1.2%], respectively) were lower than for on-pump surgeries (n = 27 [1.7%] and 26 [1.7%], respectively). Stroke rates were also lower for OPCAB surgeries (7 cases [0.4%] versus 15 cases [1%]). The lower risk of stroke in the OPCAB group was significant (P < .05) after risk adjustment. Monitoring curves and case reviews demonstrated a preventable death percentage of at least 30%. The attitude of the team was mostly positive because of the promising results (eg, fewer strokes, increasing TOPCAB popularity, and a top national rank). CONCLUSIONS: The change from conventional CABG to TOPCAB was effective in decreasing the incidence and severity of stroke, in developing a team routine and a positive team attitude, and in producing excellent benchmarking results. The presence of a training and communication deficiency at the beginning of the study suggested an area for further improvement. After 6 years TOPCAB had largely replaced conventional CABG.

Conventional cardiac surgery in patients with end-stage coronary artery disease: yesterday and today.

Surgical therapy of combined coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure, also referred to as end-stage CAD, has evolved throughout the years and patients are currently being offered traditional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), with or without surgical ventricle restoration (SVR), interventions for ischemic mitral valve regurgitation, heart transplantation or implantation of mechanical cardiovascular support systems. Among surgical methods, operative myocardial revascularization (with or without ventricle restoration) is still playing an important role, aiming at restoration of proper myocardial perfusion, especially if heart muscle viability is present. Facing the donor shortage, CABG may constitute a valuable alternative to transplantation in selected patients. In individuals considered not suitable for surgical revascularization, implantation of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) not only appears as a salvage procedure, but also allows for reevaluation of future therapy directions. This article aims at providing an overview of evolving and current surgical practices in patients with end-stage CAD.

The late impact of surgical skills and training on the subcoronary implantation of the Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Recent data have demonstrated an impact of higher postoperative mean pressure gradient (MPG) across the subcoronary Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis on the mid-term quality of life, but not on that of survival. Thus, the question remains that, with a prolonged follow up, would an effect on duration of survival also evolve? METHODS: Between 1996 and 2006, a total of 939 patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis with the Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis, using the subcoronary technique. A follow up was conducted by mailed questionnaires, and completed by telephone interviews in September 2008. The follow up was 99% complete and totaled 3,468 patient-years (pt-yr); the mean follow up time was 7.7 years (range: 7.3-8.1 years). The maximum follow up was 11.9 years. RESULTS: Actuarial survival rates at five and 10 years were 73 +/- 2% and 35 +/- 4%, respectively. The cut-off gradient was identified at a postoperative MPG of 20 mmHg, where a gradient >20 mmHg had a negative impact on survival rate (p = 0.008), as indicated by the greatest fall of deviance in the Akaike information criterion. Risk factors also affecting survival rate included atrial fibrillation, diabetes, higher serum creatinine levels, greater age, left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 40%, liver insufficiency, lower body mass index, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Risk factors for MPG >20 mmHg were a smaller valve size, a higher preoperative gradient, individual surgeons and lesser cumulative experience, and early adopters (surgeons) of the subcoronary stentless valve implantation technique. CONCLUSION: A higher MPG impedes long-term survival, with the cut-off being at 20 mmHg. A higher MPG was largely influenced by the individual surgeons and their cumulative experience of using the subcoronary technique. Late adopters of the technique profited from the observations of early adopters. The standardization of a surgical technique and the identification of common pitfalls were key to optimizing the surgical outcome after stentless valve implantation.

Health-related quality of life after heart surgery - Identification of high-risk patients: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This cohort study evaluated factors, which have been shown to be relevant for Health-Related Quality of Live (HRQL) after cardiac surgery and investigated the combinatory impact on HRQL. Additionally, the aim was to introduce a first attempt to developing a risk estimation model which could identify patients at risk for impaired HRQL. METHODS: For this single-centre cohort study, 6099 cardiac surgical patients (60% isolated coronary bypass surgery) filled in the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) for the evaluation of HRQL six months after surgery and provided information regarding their medical and socio-demographic status. For the NHP scores the deviation to the matched normative data of a healthy sample was calculated. A robust linear regression examined factors that influence HRQL. As a next step, based on the regression model, a risk estimation model was developed which is a first attempt to classify patients into risk categories. RESULTS: Male gender, age below 60 or between 60 and 74 years, living alone, no occupation, bypass surgery, NYHA status II, III or IV and chest pain were identified as risk factors to determine impaired HRQL. The model explains 29.13% of the variance. Based on the risk estimation model 27.4% were classified as medium or high risk. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time a multilevel method was applied to evaluate HRQL after heart surgery showing that socio-demographic variables are important co-factors to dyspnea and chest pain. We take a first attempt in developing a new approach that should encourage further research in this field to frame a screening tool that may help identifying patients at risk in the future.

The Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis in more than 1000 patients: a single-center experience over 10 years.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Early and mid-term clinical outcomes after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with stentless bioprostheses in a large cohort of patients are presented. METHODS: Between April 1996 and November 2005, 1014 patients underwent AVR with the stentless Medtronic Freestyle bioprosthesis, with 168 using the full-root technique. The mean age was 73+/-3 (range: 20 to 90) years. Follow-up included 2953 patient-years and was 95% complete for adverse events. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 3.4% (N=34). Overall survival was 46+/-9% at nine years and similar to age- and gender-matched German general population. Freedom from prosthetic valve endocarditis, major bleeding, neurological events, and reoperation after nine years was 97+/-6%, 92+/-7%, 70+/-16%, and 92+/-9%, respectively. Freedom from structural valve deterioration was 97+/-5% at 9 years. During the learning phase, mean transprosthetic gradients of 23.5+/-3.0 mmHg and 24.8+/-3.1 mmHg were observed for valve sizes 21 and 23 mm, respectively, 10 days after subcoronary implantation in 1997, which could be lowered to 16+/-2.1 mmHg and 14.9+/-0.9 mmHg in 2005, respectively, with increasing experience of the surgeons. During the follow-up period, mean gradients dropped on average by 15 mmHg in patients presenting higher gradients at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis showed encouraging midterm durability with low rates of valve-related morbidity, and can be safely implanted without increased operative risk even during the learning phase. Special training of the surgeons is recommended to achieve optimal hemodynamic performance.

Surgical Pulmonary Valve Replacement Due to Failed Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Intervention in a Patient After Correction of Fallot's Tetralogy: Surgery Remains the Standard.

BACKGROUND One of the most common complications after repair of Fallot's tetralogy is pulmonary valve regurgitation (PR). There are many concepts of treatment, such as surgical, percutaneous, or hybrid pulmonary valve repair. Surgical pulmonary valve replacement is associated with low operative morbidity and mortality and shows very good long-term results. For that reason, it remains the standard of treatment. CASE REPORT We present a case of a 26-year-old male patient who underwent a successful emergent surgical pulmonary valve replacement after a failed percutaneous pulmonary valve intervention, which was performed due to pulmonary regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS Despite the modern (interventional and hybrid) procedures in the treatment of pulmonary valve regurgitation after repair of Fallot's tetralogy, surgical treatment for pulmonary regurgitation still remains the gold standard for young adult patients.

Aortic Valve Neocuspidization with Glutaraldehyde-Treated Autologous Pericardium (Ozaki Procedure) - A Promising Surgical Technique.

In cases of aortic valve disease, prosthetic valves have been increasingly used for valve replacement, however, there are inherent problems with prostheses, and their quality in the so-called Third World countries is lower in comparison to new-generation models, which leads to shorter durability. Recently, transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been explored as a less invasive option for patients with high-risk surgical profile. In this scenario, aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo) has emerged as another option, which can be applied to a wide spectrum of aortic valve diseases. Despite the promising results, this procedure is not widely spread among cardiac surgeons yet. Spurred on by the last publications, we went on to write an overview of the current practice of state-of-the-art AVNeo and its results.

Novel Treatment of a Degenerated Bioroot With the Use of the Sutureless Valve Technique.

We describe 3 patients with severe aortic regurgitation after aortic root replacement using the Freestyle bioprosthesis (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN). The indication in 2 patients was endocarditis. The third patient showed rupture of the right coronary cusp. To achieve fewer complications, lower operative risk, and reduce operative and cross-clamp times, implantation of a sutureless bioprosthesis in a valve-in-valve manner was performed. A Perceval bioprosthesis (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Sallugia, Italy) was used in 2 patients, and a 3F Enable bioprosthesis (Medtronic) was used in the other patient. No perioperative complications or in-hospital deaths were observed. We conclude that sutureless aortic valve prostheses offer a safe and feasible option for management of failed homografts.

Snugger method - The Oldenburg modification of perceval implantation technique.

We present a modified implantation technique of the Perceval® sutureless aortic valve (LivaNova, London, United Kingdom) that involves the usage of snuggers for the guiding sutures during valve deployment. Both limbs of each guiding suture are pulled through an elastic tube, which is fixed with a Pean clamp, which tightens the sutures and fixes the prosthesis to the aortic annulus during valve deployment. This method proved safe and useful in over 120 cases. Valve implantation was facilitated and the need for manipulation by the assistant or the nurse was eliminated.

Current indications for stentless aortic bioprostheses.

The best aortic prostheses have been debated for decades. The introduction of stentless aortic bioprostheses was aimed at improving hemodynamics and potentially the durability of aortic bioprostheses. Despite the good short- and long-term outcomes after implantation of stentless aortic bioprostheses, their use remains limited owing to the technically demanding implantation techniques. Nevertheless, stentless aortic bioprostheses might be of special benefit in certain indications, where they could be a valuable addition to the surgical armamentarium.

Implementation of the aortic no-touch technique to reduce stroke after off-pump coronary surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Despite substantial scientific effort, the relationship between stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting and the use of the aortic no-touch off-pump technique (anOPCAB) remains incompletely understood. The present study aimed to define the effect of anOPCAB on the occurrence and time point of stroke. METHODS: A total cohort of 15,042 consecutive patients underwent surgical myocardial revascularization at a single institution. After establishing anOPCAB as routine procedure, 4695 patients received surgery by 18 different surgeons using the anaortic approach. After the exclusion of all patients with cardiogenic shock and "side-clamp" off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, 13,279 patients (4485 with anOPCAB) were included in the study. Perioperative strokes were classified as strokes occurring during the hospital stay, with early strokes observed immediately after emergence from anesthesia (vs delayed strokes). RESULTS: The anOPCAB technique reduced the postoperative stroke rate to 0.49% versus 1.31% in on-pump patients (P < .0001). The overall stroke rate after adoption of anOPCAB (0.64%) decreased compared with before its adoption (1.40%; P < .0001). With anOPCAB, the risk of early strokes virtually disappeared to 4 of 4485 patients (0.09%; 95% confidence interval, 0.00-0.18% vs 0.83% in on-pump patients; P < .0001), whereas the incidence of delayed strokes was not affected (0.40% vs 0.48%; P = .5181). The key results were confirmed after adjustment using propensity score-based analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The anOPCAB technique with avoidance of any aortic manipulation is an effective tool to minimize the risk of early strokes during coronary artery bypass grafting, and thus, should be considered as a routine approach. In contrast, additional preventive strategies against delayed strokes remain to be elaborated.

Total aortic arch replacement using elephant trunk or frozen elephant trunk technique: a case-control matching study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of aortic arch diseases is one of the most challenging issues in cardiovascular surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome after frozen elephant trunk (FET) with conventional elephant trunk (ET) technique. METHODS: Out of a total of 551 patients after thoracic aortic surgery, we analyzed 70 consecutive patients, who underwent aortic arch replacement with ET or FET technique between 2001 and 2017 in our institution. The patients were case-control matched in regard to such variables as age, sex, presence of an acute aortic dissection and necessity for concomitant procedures. The analysis included 25 patient pairs. RESULTS: Among the 25 FET patients, eleven patients were female, the median age was 69, 15 (60%) patients had an aortic dissection and thirteen needed various concomitant procedures. In the second group, treated with conventional ET technique, 10 (40%) patients were female, the median age was 66 years, thirteen presented with an aortic dissection and 16 (64%) underwent concomitant procedures. These and other characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups. In-hospital mortality was statistically similar: 5 (20%) in the FET group vs. 8 (32%) for ET group (P=0.52). The incidence of stroke, acute renal failure and postoperative bleeding was comparable. The length of stay in the intensive care unit did not differ between the cohorts (P=0.258). Predictors of in-hospital mortality were length of the operation, bleeding postoperatively, and acute renal failure. The one-year survival rates were higher in the FET cohort compared to the conventional approach (60% vs. 38%), however without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: In regard to the short- and mid-term outcome, there were only slight differences between both techniques. In patients with extensive aneurysmal aortic disease, conventional ET and FET procedures seem to be associated with acceptable satisfactory mid-term outcome.

Genetic testing in patients with aortic aneurysms/dissections: a novel genotype/phenotype correlation?

OBJECTIVE: Mutations in the genes encoding fibrillin-1 (FBN1) and transforming growth factor beta receptor type II (TGFBR2) are known causes of Marfan syndrome (MFS) and related disorders. However, a sound correlation between the genotype and the cardiovascular phenotype has not yet been established. The objective of the present study was to identify novel mutations in FBN1 and TGFBR2 and to assess whether the type of mutation is linked to a particular clinical subtype of the cardiovascular condition. METHODS: The clinical records of 36 patients referred to us for molecular genetic diagnosis were reviewed to assess the course and severity of the vascular deterioration. A semiautomatic protocol was established enabling a rapid and cost-effective screening of the genes FBN1 and TGFBR2 by direct sequencing of all coding exons and flanking intronic regions. RESULTS: Novel mutations in FBN1 and TGFBR2 were detected in 12 and 2 patients, respectively. Four individuals carried a recurrent mutation in FBN1. Throughout the study cohort, the incidence of aortic dissections per se did not depend on the type of mutation. However, we found that mutations affecting the calcium-binding epidermal growth factor-like domain were more frequently associated with a dissection of distal parts of the aorta than mutations that lead to a premature termination codon (chi(1)(2): p=0.013), suggesting that the spatio-temporal pattern of vascular deterioration may vary with the type of mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Detecting a mutation in the genes FBN1 and TGFBR2 proves the genetic origin of vascular findings and allows the identification of family members at risk who should undergo preventive checkups. Routine genetic testing of patients with suspected MFS or thoracic aortic aneurysms/dissections could provide further insight into genotype/phenotype correlations related to aortic dissection.

Prevalence and risks of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that diabetes mellitus (DM) is not identified and, consequently, inadequately treated in a substantial proportion of the patients in the general population. We know very little about the extent and the consequences of undiagnosed diabetes in the risk group of patients with coronary heart diseases. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence and the risks of undiagnosed DM among patients with coronary artery bypass. METHODS AND RESULTS: The data of 7310 patients who have undergone coronary bypass operations between 1996 and 2003 were analyzed. Depending on their diagnosis on admission and their fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level, these patients were classified as known diabetics, undiagnosed diabetics (FPG > or =126 mg/dL), or as nondiabetics (FPG <126 mg/dL) and were compared in terms of their preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics. Among the patients with coronary bypass that we examined, we found a prevalence of diagnosed diabetics of 29.6%. The prevalence of patients with undiagnosed DM (FPG > or =126 mg/dL) was 5.2%. In comparison with the other groups (non-DM versus undiagnosed DM versus known DM), the undiagnosed diabetics more frequently required resuscitation (1.7% versus 4.2% versus 1.5%; P<0.01) and reintubation (2.1% versus 5.0% versus 3.5%; P<0.01) and often showed a longer period of ventilation >1 day (5.6% versus 10.5% versus 7.4%; P<0.01). Perioperative mortality rate was highest in this group (0.9% versus 2.4% versus 1.4%; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to publish the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in cardiac surgery. During the perioperative and postoperative courses, these patients displayed a substantially higher morbidity and mortality rate.

Current determinants of 30-day and 3-month mortality in over 2000 aortic valve replacements: Impact of routine laboratory parameters.

OBJECTIVE: Haematological and biochemical measurements are performed routinely before surgery to exclude organ malfunction and blood cell and coagulation abnormalities. We aimed to test routinely obtained laboratory data as factors predicting operative risk. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2003, 2198 patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) (908 of them with concomitant CABG) in our institute. The mean age of the study population was 69+/-11 years (range 13-91, 43% female). Clinical and laboratory parameters based on the consolidated data mart set were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall operative mortality (within 30 days) was 3.8% and the mortality after 3 months was 5.9%. In addition to clinical characteristics, the following laboratory values were identified as independent predictors of 30-day mortality: fasting blood glucose, antithrombine III, partial thromboplastine time and creatinine kinase. As independent predictors of 3-month mortality, the following laboratory values were indentified: fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine, antithrombine III, partial thromboplastine time, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium concentration and serum proteins. The discriminative power of the models increased if laboratory parameters were included in addition to preoperative clinical characteristics (from 0.75 to 0.79 and from 0.75 to 0.78 for 30-day and 3-month mortality, respectively). The discriminative power using the logistic EuroScore was lower (0.71 and 0.7, for 30-day and 3-month mortality, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory parameters as objective markers for organ function and nutritional status are useful data for the prediction of 30-day and 3-month mortality after aortic valve replacement. Using modern methods of information technology, these valuable data which are stored electronically in most hospitals, can be used efficiently for research and quality control.