Outcome of right ventricular microaxial pump support in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Right ventricular failure (RVF) after cardiac surgery is associated with an in-hospital mortality rate of up to 75%. Microaxial flow pumps are one of the mechanical circulatory supports (MCS) options available for the treatment of RVF, however the specifics of timing and indication for MCS, as well as predictors for survival, remain unclear due to a dearth of published data. We evaluated the clinical outcome of patients treated with Impella-RP for predictors of mortality and the hemodynamic effects of the pump. This is a single-center retrospective observational study involving adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2019 and December 2020 in cardiac surgery and required therapeutic management of RVF with an Impella-RP. Overall, 18 patients were included and analyzed for factors that could be associated with mortality, or that could be predictors of patient outcomes for this population. Treatment of RVF with Impella-RP improved the patient hemodynamics significantly and had a survival rate of 61% within 30 days. Patients with isolated CABG or better liver function before implantation had a better survival rate, which may indicate that underlying disease and timing of implantation are significant for successful treatment of RVF

Chronic hyperglycemia is associated with acute kidney injury in patients undergoing CABG surgery – a cohort study

Background Chronic hyperglycemia (CHG) with HbA1c as an indicator affects postoperative mortality and morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the frequent postoperative complications after CABG impacting short-and long-term outcomes. We investigated the association between CHG and postoperative incidence of AKI in CABG patients with and without history of diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods This cohort study consecutively enrolled patients undergoing CABG in 2009 at the department for cardiovascular surgery. CHG was defined as HbA1c ≥ 6.0 %. Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) were excluded. The incidence of postoperative AKI and its association with CHG was analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling. Results Three-hundred-seven patients were analyzed. The incidence of AKI was 48.2 %. Patients with CHG (n = 165) were more likely to be female and had greater waist circumference as well as other comorbid conditions, such as smoking, history of DM, CKD, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (all p ≤ 0.05). Preoperative eGFR, atrial fibrillation (AF), history of DM and CHG were associated with an increased risk of postoperative AKI in univariate analyses. In multivariate modelling, history of DM as well as preoperative eGFR and AF lost significance, while age, CHG and prolonged OP duration (p < 0.05) were independently associated with postoperative AKI. Conclusions Our results suggest that CHG defined on a single measurement of HbA1c ≥ 6.0 % was associated with the incidence of AKI after CABG. This finding might implicate that treatment decisions, including the selection of operative strategies, could be based on HbA1c measurement rather than on a recorded history of diabetes

Different duration strategies of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery:an observational study

Background: All international guidelines recommend perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAB) should be routinely administered to patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, the duration of PAB is heterogeneous and controversial. Methods: Between 01.01.2011 and 31.12.2011, 1096 consecutive cardiac surgery patients were assigned to one of two groups receiving PAB with a second-generation cephalosporin for either 56 h (group I) or 32 h (group II). Patients' characteristics, intraoperative data, and the in-hospital follow-up were analysed. Primary endpoint was the incidence of surgical site infection (deep and superficial sternal wound-, and vein harvesting site infection; DSWI/SSWI/VHSI). Secondary endpoints were the incidence of respiratory-, and urinary tract infection, as well as the mortality rate. Results: 615/1096 patients (56,1%) were enrolled (group I: n = 283 versus group II: n = 332). There were no significant differences with regard to patient characteristics, comorbidities, and procedure-related variables. No statistically significant differences were demonstrated concerning primary and secondary endpoints. The incidence of DSWI/SSWI/VHSI were 4/283 (1,4%), 5/283 (1,7%), and 1/283 (0,3%) in group I versus 6/332 (1,8%), 9/332 (2,7%), and 3/332 (0,9%) in group II (p = 0,76/0,59/0,63). In univariate analyses female gender, age, peripheral arterial obstructive disease, operating-time, ICU-duration, transfusion, and respiratory insufficiency were determinants for nosocomial infections (all Conclusions: Reducing the duration of PAB from 56 h to 32 h in adult cardiac surgery patients was not associated with an increase of nosocomial infection rate, but contributes to reduce antibiotic resistance and health care costs

Gentamicin-collagen sponge reduces sternal wound complications after heart surgery:A controlled, prospectively randomized, double-blind study

ObjectiveProphylactic retrosternal placement of a gentamicin-collagen sponge has been the subject of several recent clinical studies and is a matter of controversy. The present study is the first controlled, prospective, randomized, double-blind, single-center study to investigate the efficacy of a retrosternal gentamicin-collagen sponge in reducing sternal wound complications after heart surgery.MethodsFrom June 2009 to June 2010, 720 consecutive patients who underwent median sternotomy were assigned to a control placebo group (collagen sponge) or an intervention group (gentamicin-collagen sponge). All patients received guideline-compliant perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. The primary end point was the occurrence of deep sternal wound infections within 30 days of index surgery (follow-up period). Secondary end points were the occurrence of superficial sternal wound infections requiring treatment, as well as further clinical parameters, including revision, bleeding volume, and need for transfusions during the follow-up period.ResultsA total of 720 of 994 patients (72.4%) were enrolled (control group: n = 367 vs intervention group: n = 353). Risk factors for sternal wound infection and demographic variables were comparable in the 2 groups. The incidence of deep sternal wound infections was 13 of 367 (3.52%) in the control group versus 2 of 353 (0.56%) in the intervention group (P = .014; adjusted odds ratio, 0.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.02–0.69). The numbers needed to treat relation for all sternal wound infections and deep sternal wound infections were 26 and 33, respectively. No statistically significant differences were demonstrated concerning secondary end points, such as postoperative bleeding and transfusion of red cell units, thrombocytes, and fresh-frozen plasma.ConclusionsRoutine prophylactic retrosternal use of a gentamicin-collagen sponge in patients undergoing cardiac surgery significantly reduces deep sternal wound infections

Rapid deployment valve system shortens operative times for aortic valve replacement through right anterior minithoracotomy

Background: There is growing evidence from the literature that right anterior minithoracotomy aortic valve replacement (RAT-AVR) improves clinical outcome. However, increased cross clamp time is the strongest argument for surgeons not performing RAT-AVR. Rapid deployment aortic valve systems have the potential to decrease cross-clamp time and ease this procedure. We assessed clinical outcome of rapid deployment and conventional valves through RAT. Methods: Sixty-eight patients (mean age 76 ± 6 years, 32% females) underwent RAT-AVR between 9/2013 and 7/2015. According to the valve type implanted the patients were divided into two groups. In 43 patients (R-group; mean age 74.1 ± 6.6 years) a rapid deployment valve system (Edwards Intuity, Edwards Lifesciences Corp; Irvine, Calif) and in 25 patients (C-group; mean age 74.2 ± 6.6 years) a conventional stented biological aortic valve was implanted. Results: Aortic cross-clamp (42.1 ± 12 min vs. 68.3 ± 20.3 min; p < 0.001) and bypass time (80.4 ± 39.3 min vs. 106.6 ± 23.2 min; p = 0.001) were shorter in the rapid deployment group (R-group). We observed no differences in clinical outcome. Postoperative gradients (R-group: max gradient, 14.3 ± 8 mmHg vs. 15.5 ± 5 mmHg (C-group), mean gradient, 9.2 ± 1.7 mmHg (R-group) vs. 9.1 ± 2.3 mmHg (C-group) revealed no differences. However, larger prostheses were implanted in C-group (25 mm; IQR 23–27 mm vs. 23 mm; IQR 21–25; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Our data suggest that the rapid deployment aortic valve system reduced cross clamp and bypass time in patients undergoing RAT-AVR with similar hemodynamics as with larger size stented prosthesis. However, larger studies and long-term follow-up are mandatory to confirm our findings

Outcome of right ventricular microaxial pump support in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Abstract Right ventricular failure (RVF) after cardiac surgery is associated with an in-hospital mortality rate of up to 75%. Microaxial flow pumps are one of the mechanical circulatory supports (MCS) options available for the treatment of RVF, however the specifics of timing and indication for MCS, as well as predictors for survival, remain unclear due to a dearth of published data. We evaluated the clinical outcome of patients treated with Impella-RP for predictors of mortality and the hemodynamic effects of the pump. This is a single-center retrospective observational study involving adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2019 and December 2020 in cardiac surgery and required therapeutic management of RVF with an Impella-RP. Overall, 18 patients were included and analyzed for factors that could be associated with mortality, or that could be predictors of patient outcomes for this population. Treatment of RVF with Impella-RP improved the patient hemodynamics significantly and had a survival rate of 61% within 30 days. Patients with isolated CABG or better liver function before implantation had a better survival rate, which may indicate that underlying disease and timing of implantation are significant for successful treatment of RVF

The COMT-polymorphism is not associated with the incidence of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery – a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) represents the key enzyme in catecholamine degradation. Recent studies suggest that the COMT rs4680 polymorphism is associated with the response to endogenous and exogenous catecholamines. There are, however, conflicting data regarding the COMT Met/Met phenotype being associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery. The aim of the current study is to prospectively investigate the impact of the COMT rs4680 polymorphism on the incidence of AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods In this prospective single center cohort study consecutive patients hospitalized for elective cardiac surgery including cardiopulmonary-bypass (CPB) were screened for participation. Demographic clinical data, blood, urine and tissue samples were collected at predefined time points throughout the clinical stay. AKI was defined according to recent recommendations of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) group. Genetic analysis was performed after patient enrolment was completed. Results Between April and December 2014, 150 patients were recruited. The COMT genotypes were distributed as follows: Val/Met 48.7%, Met/Met 29.3%, Val/Val 21.3%. No significant differences were found for demography, comorbidities, or operative strategy according to the underlying COMT genotype. AKI occurred in 35 patients (23.5%) of the total cohort, and no differences were evident between the COMT genotypes (20.5% Met/Met, 24.7% Val/Met, 25.0% Val/Val, p = 0.66). There were also no differences in the post-operative period, including ICU or in-hospital stay. Conclusions We did not find statistically significant variations in the risk for postoperative AKI, length of ICU or in-hospital stay according to the underlying COMT genotype

Preoperative serum h-FABP concentration is associated with postoperative incidence of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Background Fatty acid binding protein (FABP) is an intracellular transport protein associated with myocardial damage size in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Furthermore, elevated FABP serum concentrations are related to a number of common comorbidities, such as heart failure, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, which represent important risk factors for postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Data are lacking on the association between preoperative FABP serum level and postoperative incidence of AKI. Methods This prospective cohort study investigated the association between preoperative h-FABP serum concentrations and postoperative incidence of AKI, hospitalization time and length of ICU treatment. Blood samples were collected according to a predefined schedule. The AKI Network definition of AKI was used as primary endpoint. All associations were analysed using descriptive and univariate analyses. Results Between 05/2009 and 09/2009, 70 patients undergoing cardiac surgery were investigated. AKI was observed in 45 patients (64%). Preoperative median (IQR) h-FABP differed between the AKI group (2.9 [1.7–4.1] ng/ml) and patients without AKI (1.7 [1.1–3.3] ng/ml; p = 0.04), respectively. Patients with AKI were significantly older. No statistically significant differences were found for gender, type of surgery, operation duration, CPB-, or X-Clamp time, preoperative cardiac enzymes, HbA1c, or CRP between the two groups. Preoperative h-FABP was also correlated with the length of ICU stay (rs = 0.32, p = 0.007). Conclusions We found a correlation between preoperative serum h-FABP and the postoperative incidence of AKI. Our results suggest a potential role for h-FABP as a biomarker for AKI in cardiac surgery

HO-1 concentrations 24 hours after cardiac surgery are associated with the incidence of acute kidney injury: a prospective cohort study

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication after cardiac surgery that is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an enzyme synthesized in renal tubular cells as one of the most intense responses to oxidant stress linked with protective, anti-inflammatory properties. Yet, it is unknown if serum HO-1 induction following cardiac surgical procedure involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with incidence and severity of AKI. Patients and methods: In the present study, we used data from a prospective cohort study of 150 adult cardiac surgical patients. HO-1 measurements were performed before, immediately after and 24 hours post-CPB. In univariate and multivariate analyses, the association between HO-1 and AKI was investigated. Results: AKI with an incidence of 23.3% (35 patients) was not associated with an early elevation of HO-1 after CPB in all patients (P=0.88), whereas patients suffering from AKI developed a second burst of HO-1 24 hours after CBP. In patients without AKI, the HO-1 concentrations dropped to baseline values (P=0.031). Furthermore, early HO-1 induction was associated with CPB time (P=0.046), while the ones 24 hours later lost this association (P=0.219). Conclusion: The association of the second HO-1 burst 24 hours after CBP might help to distinguish between the causality of AKI in patients undergoing CBP, thus helping to adapt patient stratification and management