Which patients do not recover from shoulder impingement syndrome, either with operative treatment or with nonoperative treatment? Subgroup analysis involving 140 patients at 2 and 5 years in a randomized study

Background and purpose - Shoulder impingement syndrome is common, but treatment is controversial. Arthroscopic acromioplasty is popular even though its efficacy is unknown. In this study, we analyzed stage-II shoulder impingement patients in subgroups to identify those who would benefit from the operation. Patients and methods - In a previous randomized study, 140 patients were either treated with a supervised exercise program or with arthroscopic acromioplasty followed by a similar exercise program. The patients were followed up at 2 and 5 years after randomization. Self-reported pain was used as the primary outcome measure. Results - Both treatment groups had less pain at 2 and 5 years, and this was similar in both groups. Duration of symptoms, marital status (single), long periods of sick leave, and lack of professional education appeared to increase the risk of persistent pain despite the treatment. Patients with impingement with radiological acromioclavicular (AC) joint degeneration also had more pain. The patients in the exercise group who later wanted operative treatment and had it did not get better after the operation. Interpretation - The natural course probably plays a substantial role in the outcome. Based on our findings, it is difficult to recommend arthroscopic acromioplasty for any specific subgroup. Regarding operative treatment, however, a concomitant AC joint resection might be recommended if there are signs of AC joint degeneration. Even more challenging for the development of a treatment algorithm is the finding that patients who do not recover after nonoperative treatment should not be operated either.Peer reviewe

Indications and predictors for pacemaker implantation after isolated aortic valve replacement with bioprostheses : the CAREAVR study

OBJECTIVES: We sought to study the indications, long-term occurrence, and predictors of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) after isolated surgical aortic valve replacement with bioprostheses. METHODS: The CAREAVR study included 704 patients (385 females, 54.7%) without a preoperative PPI (mean +/- standard deviation age 75 +/- 7years) undergoing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement at 4 Finnish hospitals between 2002 and 2014. Data were extracted from electronic patient records. RESULTS: The follow-up was median 4.7years (range 1day to 12.3years). Altogether 56 patients received PPI postoperatively, with the median 507days from the operation (range 6days to 10.0years). The PPI indications were atrioventricular block (31 patients, 55%) and sick sinus syndrome (21 patients, 37.5%). For 4 patients, the PPI indication remained unknown. A competing risks regression analysis (Fine-Gray method), adjusted with age, sex, diabetes, coronary artery disease, preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF), left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association class, AF at discharge and urgency of operation, was used to assess risk factors for PPI. Only AF at discharge (subdistribution hazard ratio 4.34, 95% confidence interval 2.34-8.03) was a predictor for a PPI. CONCLUSIONS: Though atrioventricular block is the major indication for PPI after surgical aortic valve replacement, >30% of PPIs are implanted due to sick sinus syndrome during both short-term follow-up and long-term follow-up. Postoperative AF versus sinus rhythm conveys >4-fold risk of PPI.Peer reviewe

Preoperative paroxysmal atrial fibrillation predicts high cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis: CAREAVR study

Background Preoperative permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with impaired outcome after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The impact of preoperative paroxysmal AF, however, has remained elusive. Purpose We assessed the impact of preoperative paroxysmal AF on outcome in patients undergoing SAVR with bioprosthesis. Methods A total of 666 patients undergoing isolated AVR with a bioprosthesis were included. Survival data was obtained from the national registry Statistics Finland. Patients were divided into three groups according to the preoperative rhythm: sinus rhythm (n = 502), paroxysmal AF (n = 90), and permanent AF (n = 74). Results Patients in the sinus rhythm and paroxysmal AF groups did not differ with respect to age (P = .484), gender (P = .402) or CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score (P = .333). At 12-month follow-up, AF was present in 6.2% of sinus rhythm patients and in 42.4% of paroxysmal AF patients (P <.001). During follow-up, incidence of fatal strokes in the paroxysmal AF group was higher compared to sinus rhythm group (1.9 vs 0.4 per 100 patient-years, HR 4.4 95% Cl 1.8-11.0, P = .001). Cardiovascular mortality was higher in the paroxysmal AF group than in the sinus rhythm group (5.0 vs 3.0 per 100 patient-years, HR 1.70 95% CI 1.05-2.76, P = .03) and equal to patients in the permanent AF (5.0 per 100 patient-years). Conclusion Patients undergoing SAVR with bioprosthesis and history of paroxysmal AF had higher risk of developing permanent AF, cardiovascular mortality and incidence of fatal strokes compared to patients with preoperative sinus rhythm. Life-long anticoagulation should be considered in patients with a history of preoperative paroxysmal AF.Peer reviewe

Late incidence and recurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation after isolated surgical aortic valve replacement

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The AuthorsObjectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery. More knowledge is needed about long-term AF recurrence and adverse outcomes related to new-onset AF (NOAF) during the index hospitalization. Methods: A total of 1073 patients underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement at the 4 participating hospitals (2002-2014). After the exclusion of patients with a history of any preoperative AF, the final study population included 529 patients in the bioprosthetic and 253 patients in the mechanical valve prosthesis cohort. Median follow-up time was 5.4 (interquartile range, 3.4-8.2) years in the combined cohort. Results: Altogether 333 (42.6%) patients had in-hospital NOAF and 250 (32.0%) AF after hospital discharge. In the mechanical cohort, 64 (25.3%) experienced in-hospital NOAF and 74 (29.2%) AF after hospital discharge, whereas in the bioprosthetic cohort, 269 (50.9%) patients had in-hospital NOAF and 176 (33.3%) AF after hospital discharge. Patients with NOAF during the index hospital stay had a multifold risk of AF after hospital discharge in the combined cohort (hazard ratio [HR], 3.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.82-4.81; P <.0001) as well as in both cohorts separately (bioprosthetic: HR, 4.35; 95% CI, 3.05-6.22; P <.001; mechanical: HR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.59-4.03; P <.001). Patients with an in-hospital NOAF also had a significantly higher adjusted risk of death during the follow-up in the mechanical (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.10-3.82; P =.025) and bioprosthetic (HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.17-2.28; P =.004) valve prosthesis cohorts. Conclusions: NOAF during the index hospitalization is associated with a 2- to 4-fold risk of later AF and 1.6- to 2.0-fold risk of all-cause mortality after mechanical and bioprosthetic surgical aortic valve replacement.Peer reviewe

Preoperative paroxysmal atrial fibrillation predicts high cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis: CAREAVR study

Background Preoperative permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with impaired outcome after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The impact of preoperative paroxysmal AF, however, has remained elusive.Purpose We assessed the impact of preoperative paroxysmal AF on outcome in patients undergoing SAVR with bioprosthesis.Methods A total of 666 patients undergoing isolated AVR with a bioprosthesis were included. Survival data was obtained from the national registry Statistics Finland. Patients were divided into three groups according to the preoperative rhythm: sinus rhythm (n = 502), paroxysmal AF (n = 90), and permanent AF (n = 74).Results Patients in the sinus rhythm and paroxysmal AF groups did not differ with respect to age (P = .484), gender (P = .402) or CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score (P = .333). At 12-month follow-up, AF was present in 6.2% of sinus rhythm patients and in 42.4% of paroxysmal AF patients (P Conclusion Patients undergoing SAVR with bioprosthesis and history of paroxysmal AF had higher risk of developing permanent AF, cardiovascular mortality and incidence of fatal strokes compared to patients with preoperative sinus rhythm. Life-long anticoagulation should be considered in patients with a history of preoperative paroxysmal AF.</p

Late incidence and recurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation after isolated surgical aortic valve replacement

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery. More knowledge is needed about long-term AF recurrence and adverse outcomes related to new-onset AF (NOAF) during the index hospitalization.A total of 1073 patients underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement at the 4 participating hospitals (2002-2014). After the exclusion of patients with a history of any preoperative AF, the final study population included 529 patients in the bioprosthetic and 253 patients in the mechanical valve prosthesis cohort. Median follow-up time was 5.4 (interquartile range, 3.4-8.2) years in the combined cohort.Altogether 333 (42.6%) patients had in-hospital NOAF and 250 (32.0%) AF after hospital discharge. In the mechanical cohort, 64 (25.3%) experienced in-hospital NOAF and 74 (29.2%) AF after hospital discharge, whereas in the bioprosthetic cohort, 269 (50.9%) patients had in-hospital NOAF and 176 (33.3%) AF after hospital discharge. Patients with NOAF during the index hospital stay had a multifold risk of AF after hospital discharge in the combined cohort (hazard ratio [HR], 3.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.82-4.81; P P P P = .025) and bioprosthetic (HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.17-2.28; P = .004) valve prosthesis cohorts.NOAF during the index hospitalization is associated with a 2- to 4-fold risk of later AF and 1.6- to 2.0-fold risk of all-cause mortality after mechanical and bioprosthetic surgical aortic valve replacement.</p

Occurrence and Classification of Cerebrovascular Events after Isolated Bioprosthetic Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: A Competing Risk Analysis of the CAREAVR Study

Background: The long-term incidence of stroke and the proportion of cardioembolic events after bioprosthetic surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) remain largely unknown.Methods: The CAREAVR study sought to assess the rate of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients who underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis at four Finnish university hospitals between 2002 and 2014. Data was collected retrospectively and included 721 patients. Median follow-up time was 4.8 [3.0–7.0] years.Results: At 5 years, freedom from stroke was 89.0%, from TIA 94.1%, and from stroke and TIA 83.7%. The median time between index procedure and stroke or TIA was 1.7 years [29 days–3.9 years]. Stroke was of cardioembolic origin in 44.4% of patients. In multivariable competing risk analysis, increased age (HR 1.03, 95%CI 1.00–1.06, p = 0.022), previous stroke or TIA (HR 1.75, 95%CI 1.14–2.70, p = 0.010), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or more (HR 1.51, 95%CI 1.01–2.24, p = 0.044) and insulin treatment at discharge (HR 1.20, 95%CI 1.09–3.64, p = 0.024) were independent predictors of stroke or TIA. Cerebrovascular events occurred in 47.2% of patients with ongoing anticoagulation therapy.Conclusion: In this study, the incidence of stroke in the early postoperative period after bioprosthetic SAVR was higher than previously documented. Almost half of strokes were of cardioembolic etiology. These findings highlight the need for the better prevention strategies for cardioembolic events after bioprosthetic SAVR.</p