Anticoagulation and Antiplatelet Strategies After On-X Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: The burden oral anticoagulation is a limitation of mechanical valve prostheses. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test whether patients could be safely managed with dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (aspirin 325 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg) or lower warfarin after On-X mechanical aortic valve replacement (mAVR). METHODS: PROACT (Prospective Randomized On-X Anticoagulation Trial) (n = 576) is a multicenter (41 sites) noninferiority trial. From June 2006 through February 2014, 201 patients ≥18 years of age without thromboembolic risk factors undergoing mAVR were randomized to receive DAPT (n = 99) or standard warfarin plus aspirin (n = 102) 3 months after mAVR (low-risk arm). From June 2006 through October 2009, 375 patients with 1 or more thromboembolic risk factors were also randomized to lower intensity warfarin plus aspirin (international normalized ratio 1.5 to 2.0; n = 185) or standard warfarin plus aspirin (international normalized ratio 2.0 to 3.0; n = 190) 3 months after mAVR (high-risk arm). RESULTS: The low-risk arm was terminated for excess cerebral thromboembolic events (3.12% per patient-year vs. 0.29% per patient-year, p = 0.02) in the DAPT group at up to 8.8-year follow-up (631.6 patient-years), with no differences in bleeding or all-cause mortality. High-risk arm patients experienced significantly lower major (1.59% per patient-year vs. 3.94% per patient-year, p = 0.002) and minor (1.27% per patient-year vs. 3.49% per patient-year, p = 0.002) bleeding up to 8.7-year follow-up (2,035.2 patient-years), with no differences in thromboembolism (0.42% per patient-year vs. 0.09% per patient-year, p = 0.20) and all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: DAPT was associated with higher rates of thromboembolism and valve thrombosis compared with control in the low-risk arm. International normalized ratios were safely maintained at 1.5 to 2.0 in high-risk patients, without differences in mortality or thromboembolic complications. (Randomized On-X Anticoagulation Trial [PROACT]; NCT00291525).

What happens to patients undergoing lung cancer surgery? Outcomes and quality of life before and after surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare baseline preoperative and 6-month postoperative functional health status and quality of life in patients undergoing lung cancer resection. METHODS: Lung cancer surgery patients from three hospitals were administered the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the Ferrans and Powers' quality-of-life index (QLI) before surgery and 6 months after surgery. Preoperative, intraoperative, hospital stay, and 6-month postoperative clinical data were collected. All p values

Sternal preservation: a better way to treat most sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postcardiotomy sternal wound complications remain challenging. The prevailing approach for deep sternal wound infection of debridement and flap coverage without osseous closure makes subsequent reoperation difficult. METHODS: An analysis of all patients undergoing cardiac surgery at a single institution between 1986 and 2001 was conducted. Prospective data collection and chart review were used to compare different treatment strategies for sternal complications. RESULTS: Of 5337 patients, 122 had sternal wound complications (2.2%) comprising 15 (0.3%) uninfected dehiscences (El Oakley class 1), 45 (0.8%) superficial infections (El Oakley class 2A), and 62 (1.1%) deep sternal wound infections (El Oakley class 2B). Thirty-two patients with deep sternal infection were treated by debridement, rewiring, and delayed primary closure. There were initial treatment failures in 6 patients (18.8%) and ultimate failures in 2 patients (6.3%), both of whom died. One of these patients had previously received external beam radiation after a radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Median length of stay was 32 days and median time to wound healing was 85 days. Twenty-five patients were managed by muscle flap coverage without sternal reclosure. There were 6 initial treatment failures (24%) but no ultimate failures or deaths (p = NS). Median length of stay was 31 days and median infection time was 161 days. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with postcardiotomy deep sternal wound infection without previous chest radiation, debridement, rewiring, and delayed skin closure is effective. It offers a shorter healing time and probably makes late cardiac reoperation safer. We propose an algorithm for the management of poststernotomy complications.