Effect of Septal Myectomy on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome in Patients With Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is high in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The effect of septal myectomy on OSA is not clear. This study aimed to examine the association between hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and OSA before and after septal myectomy. METHOD: We included 85 consecutive patents with a confirmed diagnosis of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who underwent septal myectomy. Polysomnography was performed in all patients before and 3 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Of the 85 patients, 49 (58%) were diagnosed with OSA. Patients with OSA were significantly older than those without OSA. The incidence of atrial fibrillation significantly increased during the perioperative period in patients with OSA (p = 0.03). The severity of OSA significantly increased 3 months after surgery, as determined by the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI; p < 0.001), obstructive apnoea index (p = 0.024), and hypopnoea index (p = 0.003), whereas central apnoea index was decreased (p = 0.008). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, mean oxygen desaturation and time% with SpO2 <90% during sleep before surgery were significantly associated with increased AHI, independently of body mass index and sex (p = 0.026 and p = 0.007, respectively; adjusted R2 = 0.365). CONCLUSIONS: The severity of OSA significantly increased 3 months after septal myectomy as determined by AHI, obstructive apnoea index, and hypopnoea index. Mean oxygen saturation and time% with SpO2 <90% during sleep before surgery were independently associated with the increase of AHI. However, the specific mechanism of such deterioration of OSA after septal myectomy needs to be determined in detail.

The Antecedents and Consequences of Health Care Professional-Patient Online Interactions: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Online health care services effectively supplement traditional medical treatment. The development of online health care services depends on sustained interactions between health care professionals (HCPs) and patients. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the demands and gains of health care stakeholders in HCP-patient online interactions and determine an agenda for future work. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to present a systematic review of the antecedents and consequences of HCP-patient online interactions. It seeks to reach a better understanding of why HCPs and patients are willing to interact with each other online and what the consequences of HCP-patient online interactions are for health care stakeholders. Based on this, we intend to identify the gaps in existing studies and make recommendations for future research. METHODS: In accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a systematic retrieval was carried out from the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus electronic databases. The search results were confined to those papers published in English between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2018. Selected studies were then evaluated for quality; studies that did not meet quality criteria were excluded from further analysis. Findings of the reviewed studies related to our research questions were extracted and synthesized through inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 8440 records were found after the initial search, 28 papers of which were selected for analysis. Accessibility to HCPs, self-management, and unmet needs were the main triggers for patients to participate in online interaction. For HCPs, patient education, career needs, and self-promotion were the major reasons why they took the online approach. There were several aspects of the consequences of HCP-patient online interactions on health care stakeholders. Consequences for patients included patient empowerment, health promotion, and acquisition of uncertain answers. Consequences for HCPs included social and economic returns, lack of control over their role, and gaining more appointments. HCP-patient online interactions also improved communication efficiency in offline settings and helped managers of online health care settings get a better understanding of patients' needs. Health care stakeholders have also encountered ethical and legal issues during online interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Through a systematic review, we sought out the antecedents and consequences of HCP-patient online interactions to understand the triggers for HCPs and patients to participate and the consequences of participating. Potential future research topics are the influences on the chain of online interaction, specifications and principles of privacy design within online health care settings, and roles that sociodemographic and psychological characteristics play. Longitudinal studies and the adoption of text-mining method are worth encouraging. This paper is expected to contribute to the sustained progress of online health care settings.

Mid-term outcomes of simultaneous coronary artery bypass graft surgery and septal myectomy in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: A case-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The mid-term outcome of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 44 patients with HOCM and coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent septal myectomy and CABG) between 2011 and 2017. The control group was matched in a ratio of 4:1 based on age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, and chest pain. RESULTS: Compared to patients without CAD, patients with CAD had a higher long-term cardiovascular mortality rate (0.6% vs 6.8%, P = 0.03; hazard ratio [HR] = 8.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27-74.48, P = 0.03). In addition, 10 out of 176 (5.7%) patients without CAD and nine out of 44 (20.5%) patients with CAD achieved the secondary endpoints (progressive heart failure, unexplained syncope, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and myocardial infarction) (HR = 2.89, 95%CI: 1.03-8.12, P = 0.04). The 5-year survival rate and cardiovascular event-free survival rate were significantly higher in patients without CAD than in those with CAD (97.4% vs 93.9%, P = 0.03; 89.2% vs 80.1%; P = 0.04). In the multivariate analysis, presence of CAD, New York Heart Association class, and left atrial diameter were predictors of combined cardiovascular events when adjusted for age and male sex. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovascular death and cardiovascular events are significantly increased in patients with HOCM and CAD who underwent CABG at the time of septal myectomy.

Predictors of long-term outcome after septal myectomy in symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients with previous alcohol septal ablation and residual obstruction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recently alcohol septal ablation (ASA) has emerged as an alternative treatment for drug-refractory hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and a subgroup of HOCM patients with previous ASA may need myectomy. However, subsequent outcome and mechanism of residual obstruction has not been determined. This study aims to determine outcome after myectomy and mechanism of residual obstruction in HOCM patients with previous ASA. METHODS: From February 2009 to June 2017, 38 HOCM patients with previous ASA underwent surgical septal myectomy at our institution. Seventy-six patients who underwent surgical septal myectomy initially were included as the comparison group through one-to-two propensity score matching method. RESULTS: Fourteen available cardiac magnetic resonance images revealed inferior location and small area of infarcted myocardium induced by ASA in 12 patients and outside targeted location in two patients. During follow-up (median, 2.4; maximum, 7.8 years), event-free survival at 7 years was 83.2% in the previous ASA group and 94.6% in the comparison group, respectively (P = 0.0378). Multivariable analysis indicated previous ASA (hazard ratio, 4.28; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.20-15.26; P = 0.025) and postoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.23; P = 0.002) were independent predictors of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that uncontrollable extent and location of infarcted myocardium induced by ASA may attribute to residual obstruction after previous ASA, and the long-term event-free survival after myectomy was inferior. It may provide special precaution to patient selection and the increased number of ASA practiced worldwide.

Time and age dependent decrease of NT-proBNP after septal myectomy in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: NT-proBNP level is a predictive factor in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients, in which left ventricular outflow tract obstruction contributes to an increased NT-proBNP level. However, studies regarding the influence of septal myectomy on NT-proBNP level in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy are lacking. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-two patients who underwent septal myectomy in Fuwai Hospital from May 2011 to March 2016 and were included in the present study. Preoperative and follow-up NT-proBNP was retrospectively collected. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting preoperative NT-proBNP and postoperative decrease. RESULTS: The cohort had a median age of 46.2 [IQR: 36.5-53.1] years, and 106 (58.2%) patients were male. NT-proBNP decreased to 816.5 [IQR: 400.3-1661.8] pg/mL from preoperative 1732.4 [IQR: 819-3296.5] pg/mL (p<0.001). Baseline NT-proBNP was correlated with gender (p<0.001), maximum septal thickness (p<0.001), and resting pressure gradient (p=0.006). The extent of NT-proBNP decrease was positively correlated with age (p<0.001), baseline NT-proBNP (p<0.001), follow-up time (p=0.020), and enlargement of the ascending aorta (p=0.019). NT-proBNP exhibited a persistent decrease after myectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Myectomy significantly reduced NT-proBNP level in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients, in which a time-dependent manner of decrease indicated myocardial remodeling of the heart after myectomy.

[Postoperative delirium is associated with cognitive dysfunction one week after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after coronary artery bypass graft in Chinese population. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients who were referred for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Baseline and perioperative variables as well as occurrence of postoperative complications were recorded. POD was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit twice daily during the first seven postoperative days. A neuropsychological test battery that included 7 tests with 9 subscales was administered at baseline and on the seventh day after surgery. POCD was defined using the same definition that was used in the ISPOCD1 study. RESULTS: The incidence of POD was 47.7% (51/107) while that of POCD was 55.3% (57/103). Multivariate Logistic regression analyses identified four independent risk factors of POD, i.e., increasing age (OR 1.174, 95% CI 1.085-1.269, P<0.001), preoperative history of diabetes mellitus (OR 4.224, 95% CI 1.543-11.563, P=0.005), occurrence of postoperative complications (OR 3.667, 95% CI 1.152-11.670, P=0.028), and prolonged duration of intensive care unit stay (OR 1.024, 95% CI 1.005-1.044, P=0.016). And two independent risk factors of POCD were identified, i.e., increasing age (OR 1.065, 95% CI 1.001-1.134, P=0.047) and prolonged duration of POD (OR 1.744, 95% CI 1.173-2.593, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: POD and POCD are common cognitive complications after CABG surgery in Chinese population. Prolonged duration of POD is an independent risk factor of the occurrence of POCD.

Surgical septal myectomy outcome for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after alcohol septal ablation.

BACKGROUND: Although surgical treatment of residual obstruction after alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is often challenging in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM) there are very few relevant clinical reports. Thus, outcomes of surgical septal myectomy (SSM) in this subgroup of patients remain to be determined. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the surgical and follow-up outcomes in patients with OHCM exhibiting residual obstruction after ASA. METHODS: We collected case data for 62 patients with OHCM and residual obstruction after ASA who underwent SSM at Fuwai Hospital between January 2002 and June 2019. Propensity score matching with patients having had a myectomy as the only invasive procedure-was conducted in a 1:2 ratio. Echocardiography parameters, surgery results, and follow-up outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The prior ASA group had a higher incidence of complete atrioventricular block (AVB) and subsequently postoperative permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation than the primary myectomy group (9.7% vs. 1.6%, P=0.01). Two patients died within 30 days after surgery in the prior ASA group, and one patient died in the primary myectomy group, with an operative mortality rate of 3.2% and 0.8%, respectively (P=0.2). The 5-year event-free survival rate was 86.0% in the prior ASA group (median follow-up period: 3.2 years; mean: 3.9±2.6 years; maximum, 10.6 years) and 88.5% in the primary myectomy group (median follow-up period: 2.4 years; mean 2.8±1.7 years; maximum, 9.1 years) (P=0.2). During follow-up, four of 62 (6.5%) patients in the prior ASA group and one of 124 (0.8%) patients in the primary myectomy group progressed to advanced heart failure (P=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OHCM following ASA are at an increased risk of developing AVB after SSM. Their surgical outcomes, and long-term survival rate were satisfactory and, osimilar to those for patients having had a myectomy as the only invasive procedure. In addition, they had an increased risk of advanced heart failure after SSM in the present study.

High serum cortisol level is associated with increased risk of delirium after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The pathophysiology of postoperative delirium remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between serum cortisol level and occurrence of early postoperative delirium in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: A total of 243 patients undergoing elective CABG surgery were enrolled. Patients were examined twice daily during the first five postoperative days and postoperative delirium was diagnosed by using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). Blood samples were obtained between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on the first postoperative day and serum cortisol concentrations were then measured. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors of postoperative delirium. RESULTS: Postoperative delirium occurred in 50.6% (123 of 243) of patients. High serum cortisol level was significantly associated with increased risk of postoperative delirium (OR 3.091, 95% CI 1.763-5.418, P < 0.001). Other independent risk factors of postoperative delirium included increasing age (OR 1.111, 95% CI 1.065-1.159, P < 0.001), history of diabetes mellitus (OR 1.905, 95% CI 1.001-3.622, P = 0.049), prolonged duration of surgery (OR 1.360, 95% CI 1.010-1.831, P = 0.043), and occurrence of complications within the first day after surgery (OR 2.485, 95% CI 1.184-5.214, P = 0.016). Patients who developed postoperative delirium had a higher incidence of postoperative complications and a prolonged duration of postoperative ICU and hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium was a common complication after CABG surgery. High serum cortisol level was associated with increased risk of postoperative delirium. Patients who developed delirium had outcomes worse than those who did not.

The effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on the number of cerebral microemboli and the incidence of cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) can be a debilitating complication after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Cerebral microemboli during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are believed to be an important etiologic factor of POCD. In this study, we examined whether avoidance of CPB with "off-pump" surgery reduces the number of cerebral microemboli and the incidence of POCD after CABG surgery in Chinese population. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-seven patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Fifty-nine patients underwent CABG surgery with CPB and 168 underwent off-pump surgery. Cerebral microemboli were measured continuously with bilateral transcranial Doppler ultrasonography of the middle cerebral arteries. A neuropsychological test battery that included seven tests with nine subscales was administered at baseline, as well as at 1 wk and 3 mo after surgery. POCD was defined using the international study of POCD1 definition. RESULTS: The median total number of cerebral microemboli for the case was 430 (range: 155-2088) in patients undergoing surgery with CPB and 2 (0-66) in the off-pump patients (P < 0.001). There were no differences in the incidence of POCD between the patients having surgery with or without CPB either at 1 wk (55.2% or 32 of 58 patients [95% confidence interval: 41.5%-68.3%] vs 47.0% or 78 of 166 patients [39.2%-54.9%], P = 0.283) or 3 mo (6.4% or 3 of 47 patients [1.3%-17.5%] vs 13.1% or 16 of 122 of patients [7.7%-20.4%], P = 0.214) after surgery. Increasing age and shorter duration of postoperative hospital stay were independently associated with cognitive dysfunction at 1 wk after surgery. Increasing age and a history of diabetes mellitus were independently associated with cognitive dysfunction 3 mo after surgery. CPB or cerebral microemboli were not significantly related to the occurrence of POCD. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese population, avoidance of CPB during CABG surgery significantly decreased the number of cerebral microemboli, but it did not decrease the incidence of POCD at either 1 wk or 3 mo after CABG. Neither CPB nor cerebral microemboli was independently associated with the risk of POCD.

Preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for prolonged intensive care unit stay after aortic arch surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was performed to evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay after aortic arch surgery. DESIGN: A retrospective study. Prolonged ICU stay was defined as >5 days (120 hours). SETTING: Cardiovascular operating rooms and the ICU. PARTICIPANTS: Adults requiring aortic arch surgery with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest plus antegrade selective cerebral perfusion. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After 11 patients who underwent 1-stage total or subtotal aortic replacement were excluded, 298 patients were enrolled in the study. The average age of patients was 44.9 +/- 10.7 years with male predominance (74.8%). Sixty-one patients (20.5%) stayed longer than 5 days in the ICU. Univariate analyses found age, body mass index, New York Heart Association classification, preoperative serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, emergency, inotropes, cardiopulmonary bypass time, myocardial ischemia time, and fresh-frozen plasma transfused intraoperatively were significantly associated with prolonged ICU stay (p < 0.05). Independent risk factors for prolonged ICU stay were found to be New York Heart Association classification (class III and IV), emergency, inotropes used intraoperatively, and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The authors identified 4 preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for prolonged ICU stay. This is helpful to identify patients with increased risk for prolonged ICU stay, implement specific strategies, and allocate medical resources.

Obstructive sleep apnea causes impairment of the carotid artery in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prevalence is high among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). OSA can cause increase in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in the general population. However, whether this phenomenon is applicable to patients with HCM is unclear. METHODS: A total of 130 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) at Fuwai Hospital between September 2017 and May 2018 were analyzed. RESULTS: 72 patients (55.4%) were diagnosed with OSA. Patients with OSA were older. Compared to those in patients without OSA, the left, right, and mean CIMTs were significantly increased in patients with OSA. In the multiple linear regression model, age (ß = 0.341, p < 0.001), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (ß = 0.421, p < 0.001), and fasting glucose level (ß = 0.167, p < 0.03) were independently associated with mean CIMT increase (adjusted R2 = 0.458, p < 0.001). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve for CIMT was 0.813 (95% CI, 0.717-0.909, p < 0.001) with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.84 and 0.70 for unexplained syncope, respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression model, we found that the mean CIMT (OR = 10.4, 95% CI = 3.16-34.11, p < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.83-0.99, p = 0.03), and amaurosis (OR = 5.07, 95% CI = 1.47-17.49, p = 0.01) were independently associated with unexplained syncope occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HOCM, CIMT increased with OSA severity. Age, AHI, and fasting plasma glucose level were independently associated with mean CIMT increase. Moreover, amaurosis, LVEF, and higher mean CIMT were independently associated with unexplained syncope in patients with HOCM.

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with arrhythmias and cardiovascular death. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent and independently associated with atrial fibrillation in patients with HCM. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) and OSA in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). METHODS: One hundred thirty consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of HOCM in Fuwai Hospital between September 2017 and May 2018 were included. Polysomnography and Holter electrocardiography were performed in all patients. RESULTS: Of 130 patients, 72 (55%) were diagnosed with OSA, including 38 with mild, 21 with moderate, and 13 with severe OSA, and 27 patients (21%) had NSVT. The prevalence of NSVT increased with the severity of OSA (none, mild, moderate, and severe: 12%, 16%, 33%, and 54%, respectively; P < .001 for trend). Compared to patients without NSVT, the apnea-hypopnea index was significantly higher in patients with NSVT among the different OSA groups (mild, moderate, and severe: 12 [11-13] vs 7 [6-8], P = .001; 24 [22-28] vs 19 [17-22], P = .01; and 54 [41-62] vs 34 [31-39], P = .008). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, family history of HCM or sudden cardiac death (odds ratio 6; 95% confidence interval 2-22; P = .005) and apnea-hypopnea index (odds ratio 1.07; 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.12; P = .001) were the only factors associated with NSVT after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: The presence and severity of OSA in patients with HOCM is independently associated with NSVT, which is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death and cardiovascular death in this population.

Prognosis of adult obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with different morphological types after surgical myectomy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the impact of morphological type on the prognosis of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients who underwent myectomy. METHODS: We recruited 469 obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients refractory to medicinal treatment who have undergone surgical myectomy at a nationwide referral centre. All patients were divided into 3 groups based on the morphological classification of left ventricular hypertrophy and were followed up by telephone every year. The primary end-points were sudden cardiac death, aborted sudden cardiac death and death due to heart failure or stroke. The secondary end-points were non-fatal cardiovascular events. RESULTS: Typical hypertrophy limited to the basal septum, hypertrophy of the whole ventricular septum and hypertrophy that involved the whole left ventricle were presented in 248 (52.9%), 141 (30.1%) and 80 (17.0%) patients, respectively. During the follow-up of 2.5 ± 1.4 years after myectomy, 10 (2.1%) and 43 (9.2%) patients met the primary end-point and secondary end-points, respectively. The maximal thickness of the ventricular septum, the left ventricular mass and the presence of extensive late gadolinium enhancement were lower in patients with hypertrophy limited to the basal septum than in other patients. Patients with the basal septum hypertrophy showed better survival after myectomy compared with other patients. For the secondary and composite end-points, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hypertrophy limited to the basal septum represented a special clinical subtype of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy showing better clinical outcomes, while diffuse hypertrophy of the ventricular septum and free wall indicated lower survival after surgical myectomy.

Excision of anomalous muscle bundles as an important addition to extended septal myectomy for treatment of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to report our preliminary experience and anatomic findings in the surgical treatment and postoperative management of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. METHODS: This study included 277 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (168 [60.65%] were male), with a median age of 47 years (interquartile range, 35-54 years), who underwent surgical myectomy performed by 1 surgeon in Fuwai Hospital between May 2010 and April 2015. The median follow-up was 14 months (interquartile range, 7-24 months). RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (45.85%) underwent concomitant procedures, and 2 patients (0.72%) died in the early perioperative days. The left ventricular outflow gradient decreased from 78 mm Hg (interquartile range, 61-100 mm Hg) to 11 mm Hg (interquartile range, 8-15 mm Hg) when discharged (P < .001). Of the 228 patients with well-documented anatomic description, more than 80% had various intraventricular anomalies. The cumulative survival was 99.28% (95% confidence interval, 97.15-99.82) at 1 year and 96.98% (95% confidence interval, 92.56-98.79) at 5 years. Of the surviving 272 patients, 268 (98.53%) were categorized with functional class I and II of the New York Heart Association classification at the latest evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Anomalous muscle bundles are common in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, and they may lead to middle-apical obstruction. Surgical myectomy provides excellent clinical outcomes with low risk for sufficient relief of obstruction and radical correction of intraventricular anomalies in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

High postoperative serum cortisol level is associated with increased risk of cognitive dysfunction early after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective cohort study.

CONTEXT: Stress response induced by surgery is proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between postoperative serum cortisol level and occurrence of cognitive dysfunction early after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Two teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: One hundred and sixth-six adult patients who were referred to elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery from March 2008 to December 2009. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuropsychological tests were completed one day before and seven days after surgery. Cognitive dysfunction was defined using the same definition as used in the ISPOCD1-study. Blood samples were obtained in the first postoperative morning for measurement of serum cortisol concentration. Multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between serum cortisol level and occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. RESULTS: Cognitive dysfunction occurred in 39.8% (66 of 166) of patients seven days after surgery. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high serum cortisol level was significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (odds ratio [OR] 2.603, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.371-4.944, P = 0.003). Other independent predictors of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction included high preoperative New York Heart Association functional class (OR 0.402, 95% CI 0.207-0.782, P = 0.007), poor preoperative Grooved Pegboard test score of nondominant hand (OR 1.022, 95% CI 1.003-1.040, P = 0.020), use of penehyclidine as premedication (OR 2.565, 95% CI 1.109-5.933, P = 0.028), and occurrence of complications within seven days after surgery (OR 2.677, 95% CI 1.201-5.963, P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: High serum cortisol level in the first postoperative morning was associated with increased risk of cognitive dysfunction seven days after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Risk factors for recurrent stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVES: Preventing stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains a therapeutic goal, due in part to the lack of identifiable risk factors. The aim of this study, accordingly, was to identify risk factors in CABG patients with a previous history of stroke. METHODS: Patients with a history of stroke who underwent CABG at Beijing An Zhen hospital from January 2007 to July 2010 were selected (n = 430), and divided into two groups according to the occurrence of postoperative stroke. Pre-operative and post-operative data were retrospectively collected and analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (7.4%) suffered post-operative stroke. Univariate analysis identified several statistically significant risk factors in the post-operative stroke group, including pre-surgical left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) ≤50%, on-pump surgery, post-operative atrial fibrillation (AF), and hypotension. Multivariable analysis identified 4 independent risk factors for recurrent stroke: unstable angina (odds ratio (OR) = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.05-8.28), LVEF ≤50% (OR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.23-6.27), AF (OR = 4.69, 95% CI: 1.89-11.63), and hypotension (OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.07-6.04). CONCLUSION: Unstable angina, LVEF ≤50%, post-operative AF, and post-operative hypotension are independent risk factors of recurrent stroke in CABG patients with a previous history of stroke.