Changing lifestyle habits as secondary prophylaxis after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have investigated the effect on mortality and morbidity of modified risk factors after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We performed a retrospective survey to evaluate changing lifestyle habits after CABG during 1990-2003, focusing on the correlation between lifestyle habits and freedom from symptoms and regained exercise tolerances. METHODS: We reviewed data from 2269 patients who had undergone CABG in the year 1990, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, or 2003. Data were collected with a questionnaire that addressed lifestyle modifications and their outcomes with regard to quality of life for up to 5 years after surgery. RESULTS: We observed significant decreases in changing dietary habits after surgery in patients who had surgery in 2000-2003 compared with patients who had surgery in 1990-1998 (15.9% +/- 1.6% vs 24.7% +/- 2.6%; P < .001). In addition, the desire for nutritional counselling decreased steadily over time (35.1% +/- 7.9% vs 26.6% +/- 1.4%; P <.0001). Notably, among patients 50-59 years old, fewer men than women followed a strict diet (males 20.0% vs females 41.5%; P = .001). Patients suffering from recurrent angina consulted nutritionists more often than patients without angina (36.6% vs 29.8%; P = .016). The more the patients were restricted in terms of physical fitness, as determined by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, the more likely they were to adhere to a healthy diet (NYHA III 22.2% vs NYHA II 14.6% vs NYHA I 10.2%; P <.001). Among patients 60-79 years old, men exercised more often than women (72.4% +/- 2.4% vs 51.1% +/- 4.9%; P <.001) and suffered less frequently from recurrent angina (13.4% +/- 4.0% vs 28.8% +/- 10.8%; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Despite knowledge of hypercholesterolemia or obesity as agents contributing to advancing coronary heart disease, attention to nutrition tends to significantly decrease over time in patients who have undergone CABG. Thus patients who have undergone CABG, especially male patients older than 50, years would benefit from dietary education. Similarly, female patients older than 60 years would benefit from increased physical activity. Patients obviously tend to delay lifestyle modification until symptoms occur. Hence they must be reminded of the importance of healthy nutrition and adequate physical activity.

High incidence of lymph node metastasis in major salivary gland cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence and risk factors for clinically apparent and occult lymph node metastases in patients with major salivary gland cancers. DESIGN: Cohort of patients with a median follow-up of 46 months (range, 1-174 months). SETTING: University-based referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 160 consecutive patients with complete clinical and pathologic data. INTERVENTION: Neck dissection was performed in all cases. Patients were treated with surgery alone (55%); surgery and radiation therapy (43%); or a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy (2%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence of apparent and occult lymph node metastases. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the significance of clinical and pathologic data. RESULTS: Histologically confirmed positive neck was found in 53% of all cases. Histologic diagnosis was significantly related to the incidence of lymph node metastasis: 89% (16/18) for undifferentiated carcinomas. However, so-called low-risk tumors had incidence rates of 22% to 47%. Twenty-one patients (13%) presented with clinically apparent cervical lymph node metastasis. Of the 139 patients with clinical N0 neck, 45% had occult neck metastasis. Neck metastasis was found in 29% (10/34) of T1, 54% (38/70) of T2, 65% (20/31) of T3, and 54% (16/25) of T4 tumors. Assessment of survival according to nodal status revealed significant correlations for overall (P<.001) and disease-free survival (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found a high incidence of lymph node metastasis from major salivary gland cancers. Neck dissections should be considered as an integral part of the surgical approach in patients with major salivary gland cancer, especially if no postoperative radiation therapy is planned.

Reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery by continuous wireless monitoring of oxygen saturation on the normal ward and resultant oxygen therapy for hypoxia.

OBJECTIVE: Monitoring of cardiac surgical patients after transfer from the intensive care unit to the normal ward is incomplete. Undetected hypoxia, however, is known to be a risk factor for occurrence of atrial fibrillation. We have utilized Auricall for continuous wireless monitoring of oxygen saturation and heart rate until discharge. The object of the study was to analyze if oxygen therapy as a result of Auricall alerts of hypoxia can decrease the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Auricall is a wireless portable pulse oximeter. An alert is generated depending on preset threshold values (heart rate, oxygen saturation). Over a period of 6 months, 119 patients were monitored with the Auricall following coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve surgery. Oxygen therapy was started subsequent to an oxygen saturation below 90%. These patients were compared with a cohort of 238 patients from the time period before availability of Auricall. The patient characteristics were comparable in both groups. In a retrospective study, the incidence of atrial fibrillation was measured in both groups. RESULTS: The postoperative AF was observed in 22/119 patients (18%) in group I and in 66/238 patients (28%) in group II. This difference between the two groups approached significance (p=0.056). In the subgroup of patients with coronary artery bypass graft with our without simultaneous valve surgery (n=312), Auricall monitoring resulted in a significantly reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation (14% vs 26%, p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation on the normal ward and subsequent oxygen therapy for hypoxia can reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation in a subgroup of patients after cardiac surgery. Prospective randomized trials are warranted to confirm these data.