Diabetes is an independent risk factor for cancer after heart and/or lung transplantation

Background: De novo cancers are feared complications after heart or lung transplantation. Recent data suggest that diabetes mellitus (DM) might also be a risk factor for cancer. We hypothesized that transplanted diabetic patients are at greater risk of developing cancer compared to non-diabetic ones. Methods: We reviewed 353 patients post-heart and/or -lung transplantation from our center between October 1999 and June 2021. Patients with follow-up <180 days ( n = 87) were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 266 patients were divided into patients who had preoperative DM (n = 88) or developed it during follow-up ( n = 40) and patients without DM ( n = 138). Results: The diabetic cohort showed higher rates of malignancies in all patients (30.33 vs. 15.97%, p = 0.005) and in the matched population (31.9 vs. 16.1%, p < 0.001). There were also significantly more solid tumors (17.9 vs. 9.4%, p = 0.042; matched: 16.6 vs. 9.1%, p = 0.09) The presence of diabetes was associated with a 13% increased risk of cancer when compared to non-diabetic patients. New-onset post-transplant diabetes doubled the likelihood of cancer development. Conclusions: Pre-transplant diabetes mellitus increases the risk of cancer after heart and/or lung transplantation. However, new-onset diabetes after transplantation is associated with a much greater cancer risk. This information is relevant for screening during follow-up

Impact of an in-hospital endocarditis team and a state-wide endocarditis network on perioperative outcomes

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) requires multidisciplinary management. We established an endocarditis team within our hospital in 2011 and a state-wide endocarditis network with referring hospitals in 2015. We aimed to investigate their impact on perioperative outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients operated on for IE in our center between 01/2007 and 03/2018. To investigate the impact of the endocarditis network on referral latency and pre-operative complications we divided patients into two eras: before ( n = 409) and after ( n = 221) 01/2015. To investigate the impact of the endocarditis team on post-operative outcomes we conducted multivariate binary logistic regression analyses for the whole population. Kaplan–Meier estimates of 5-year survival were reported. Results: In the second era, after establishing the endocarditis network, the median time from symptoms to referral was halved (7 days (interquartile range: 2–19) vs. 15 days (interquartile range: 6–35)), and pre-operative endocarditis-related complications were reduced, i.e., stroke (14% vs. 27%, p < 0.001), heart failure (45% vs. 69%, p < 0.001), cardiac abscesses (24% vs. 34%, p = 0.018), and acute requirement of hemodialysis (8% vs. 14%, p = 0.026). In both eras, a lack of recommendations from the endocarditis team was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.27–3.53, p = 0.004) and post-operative stroke (adjusted odds ratio: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.12–4.39, p = 0.02), and was associated with worse 5-year survival (59% vs. 40%, log-rank < 0.001). Conclusion: The establishment of an endocarditis network led to the earlier referral of patients with fewer pre-operative endocarditis-related complications. Adhering to endocarditis team recommendations was an independent predictor for lower post-operative stroke and in-hospital mortality, and was associated with better 5-year survival

Is There a Future for Minimal Access and Robots in Cardiac Surgery?

Minimally invasive techniques in cardiac surgery have found increasing use in recent years. Both patients and physicians often associate smaller incisions with improved outcomes (i.e., less risk, shorter hospital stay, and a faster recovery). Videoscopic and robotic assistance has been introduced, but their routine use requires specialized training and is associated with potentially longer operating times and higher costs. Randomized evidence is scarce and transcatheter treatment alternatives are increasing rapidly. As a result, the concept of minimally invasive cardiac surgery may be viewed with skepticism. In this review, we examine the current status and potential future perspectives of minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery

Female sex is not a risk factor for post procedural mortality in coronary bypass surgery in the elderly: A secondary analysis of the GOPCABE trial.

Female sex is considered a significant risk in cardiac surgery and is included in the majority of scores for risk assessment. However, the evidence is controversial and older women undergoing cardiac surgery have not specifically been investigated. We assessed the influence of female sex on surgical risk (30-day mortality) in a secondary analysis of the GOPCABE trial (German Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass grafting in the Elderly (GOPCABE) trial, comparing on- to off-pump) and also evaluated its impact on risk prediction from commonly used risk scores.We performed logistic regression analyses on the GOPCABE trial population, where patients were randomized to either on- or off-pump CABG. The study was performed in 12 cardiac surgery centers in Germany and analyzed 2394 patients having undergone CABG at age ≥75 years (1187 on-pump, 1207 off-pump). Of the 2394 patients, 755 (32%) were women. The logistic EuroSCORE and the German KCH score were calculated as expected (E) mortality and values were compared to observed (O) 30-day mortality (O/E ratio).There was no difference in mortality or major cardiovascular adverse events after 30 days between men and women for both on- and off-pump CABG (men: on- vs. off-pump OR = 0.90, 95%-CI: [0.63;1.27]; women: on- vs. off-pump OR = 1.07, 95%-CI: [0.62;1.87]). Therefore, groups were combined for further analyses. Both men and women had considerable and similar comorbidities. Expected mortality was significantly higher for women than for men (logistic EuroSCORE: 8.88±6.71% vs. 7.99±6.69%, p = 0.003; KCH score: 4.42±3.97% vs. 3.57±3.65%, p = 0.001). However, observed mortality rates (O) tended to be even lower in women (2.1% vs. 3.0%). The O/E ratio was closer to 1 in men than in women (0.84 vs. 0.47). Excluding female sex from the risk models increased O/E ratio to 0.69.Female sex is not a risk factor in coronary bypass surgery in the GOPCABE population. The result is the same for on- and off-pump surgery. Since female sex is a component of most risk scores, the findings may identify a potential inaccuracy in current surgical risk assessment, specifically for elderly women.Clinicaltrials.gov GOPCABE trial No. NCT00719667

Predictive Value of Serial Model of End-Stage Liver Disease Score Determination in Patients with Postcardiotomy Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

(1) Background: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in low cardiac output states after cardiac surgery may aid in patient recovery. However, in some patients, the clinical state may worsen, resulting in multiple organ failure and high mortality rates. In these circumstances, calculating a model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was shown to determine organ dysfunction and predicting mortality. (2) Methods: We evaluated whether serial MELD score determination increases mortality prediction in patients with postcardiotomy ECMO support. (3) Results: Statistically, a cutoff of a 2.5 MELD score increase within 48 h of ECMO initiation revealed an AUC of 0.722. Further, we found a significant association between hospital mortality and 48 h MELD increase (HR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.33–4.75, p = 0.005) after adjustment for possible confounders. (4) Conclusions: Therefore, serial MELD score determinations on alternate days may be superior to single measurements in this special patient cohort

2019 EACTS Expert Consensus on long-term mechanical circulatory support

Gustafsson, Finn/0000-0003-2144-341X; Crespo-Leiro, Maria Generosa/0000-0002-3085-167X; Loforte, Antonio/0000-0002-3689-0477; Zimpfer, Daniel/0000-0002-2185-4895WOS: 000493090200005PubMed: 31100109Long-term mechanical circulatory support (LT-MCS) is an important treatment modality for patients with severe heart failure. Different devices are available, and many-sometimes contradictory-observations regarding patient selection, surgical techniques, perioperative management and follow-up have been published. With the growing expertise in this field, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) recognized a need for a structured multidisciplinary consensus about the approach to patients with LT-MCS. However, the evidence published so far is insufficient to allow for generation of meaningful guidelines complying with EACTS requirements. Instead, the EACTS presents an expert opinion in the LT-MCS field. This expert opinion addresses patient evaluation and preoperative optimization as well as management of cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities. Further, extensive operative implantation techniques are summarized and evaluated by leading experts, depending on both patient characteristics and device selection. the faculty recognized that postoperative management is multidisciplinary and includes aspects of intensive care unit stay, rehabilitation, ambulatory care, myocardial recovery and end-of-life care and mirrored this fact in this paper. Additionally, the opinions of experts on diagnosis and management of adverse events including bleeding, cerebrovascular accidents and device malfunction are presented. in this expert consensus, the evidence for the complete management from patient selection to end-of-life care is carefully reviewed with the aim of guiding clinicians in optimizing management of patients considered for or supported by an LT-MCS device

Intraoperative Cell Savage, Infection and Organ Failure in Infective Endocarditis Patients—A Retrospective Single Center Evaluation

Surgery is indicated in about 50% of infective endocarditis patients, and bleeding or the transfusion of blood a common finding. The intraoperative use of cell salvage may reduce the perioperative transfusion requirement, but its use is limited in the underlying disease. In this retrospective study, we therefore evaluated n = 335 patients fulfilling the modified Duke criteria for infective endocarditis characterized by the use of intraoperative cell salvage with autologous blood retransfusion. Inflammation markers and organ dysfunction, including catecholamine dependency, were evaluated by using linear regression analysis. Between 2015 and 2020, 335 patients underwent surgery for left-sided heart valve endocarditis. Intraoperative cell salvage was used in 40.3% of the cases, especially in complex scenarios and reoperation. Intraoperative cell salvage significantly altered the white blood cell count after surgery. On average, leucocytes were 3.0 Gpt/L higher in patients with intraoperative cell salvage compared to patients without after adjustment for confounders (95% CI: 0.39–5.54). Although the difference in WBC was statistically significant, i.e., higher in the ICS group compared to the no-ICS group, this difference may be clinically unimportant. Organ dysfunction, including hemodynamic instability and lactate values, were comparable between groups. In conclusion, intraoperative cell salvage enhanced the re-transfusion of autologous blood, with minor effects on the postoperative course of inflammatory markers, but was not associated with increased hemodynamic instability or organ dysfunction in general. The restriction of intraoperative cell salvage in surgery for infective endocarditis should be re-evaluated, and more prospective data in this topic are needed

Predictors of Outcome for Aortic Valve Reimplantation Including the Surgeon-A Single-Center Experience

Introduction Aortic valve reimplantation is considered technically demanding. We searched for predictors of long-term outcome including the surgeon as risk factor. Methods We selected all aortic valve reimplantations performed in our department between December 1999 and January 2017 and obtained a complete follow-up. The main indications were combined aortic aneurysm plus aortic valve regurgitation (AR), 69% and aortic dissections (15%). In 14%, valves were bicuspid. Cusp repair was performed in 27% of patients. One-third received additional procedures (coronary artery bypass grafting, mitral, or arch surgery). We performed multivariable analyses for independent risk factors of short- and long-term outcomes, including surgeon as variable. Twelve different surgeons operated on 193 patients. We created three groups: surgeons A and B with 84 and 64 procedures, respectively, and surgeon C (10 surgeons for 45 patients). Results Cardiopulmonary bypass and clamp times were 17645 and 130 +/- 24minutes, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 2%. Postoperatively, 5% had mild and 0.5% had moderate AR. Kaplan-Meier's survival estimates, freedom from reoperation, and freedom from severe AR at 12 years were 97 +/- 1, 93 +/- 2, and 91 +/- 3%, respectively. Age and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease appeared as risk factors for perioperative complications by univariate analysis. Age, coronary artery disease, and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, but not surgeon, presented as risk factors by multivariable analysis. Conclusion The results suggest that if a David procedure is performed successfully, long-term durability may be excellent. They also suggest that good and durable results are possible even with limited experience of the operating surgeon

Sex-specific analysis of primary and secondary variables.

<p>Sex-specific analysis of primary and secondary variables.</p