Anisocytosis predicts postoperative renal replacement therapy in patients undergoing heart valve surgery

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the serious postoperative complications in patients undergoing heart valve surgery. The aim of the present study was to identify selected biomarkers to predict AKI requiring renal replacement.Methods: A prospective study was conducted on a group of 751 patients undergoing heart valve surgery. The data on risk factors, preoperative complete blood count, course of operations and postoperative period was assessed. The primary endpoint at the 30-day follow-up was postoperative AKI requiring renal replacement therapy. The secondary end-point was death from all causes in patients with postoperative AKI requiring renal replacement.Results: The primary endpoint occurred in 46 patients. At multivariate analysis: age, red cell distribution width (RDW) and C-reactive protein remained independent predictors of the primary endpoint. Hemoglobin and RDW were associated with an increased risk of death.Conclusions: Elevated RDW is associated with a higher risk of postoperative AKI and death in patients with AKI

The usefulness of selected biomarkers in aortic regurgitation

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic value of selected biomarkers inpatients with aortic regurgitation undergoing valve surgery. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on a group of consecutive patients with hemodynamically significant aortic regurgitation that underwent elective aortic valve surgery. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality and any major adverse event within 30 days. Results: The study group included 205 consecutive patients who underwent replacement or repair of the aortic valve. The primary endpoint occurred in 72 patients. At multivariate analysis red cell distribution width (RDW; p = 0.03) and high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT; p = 0.02) remained independent predictors of the major complications including death. Conclusions: Elevated preoperative RDW and hs-TnT were associated with a poorer outcome followingaortic valve surgery

Postoperative high-sensitivity troponin T as a predictor of sudden cardiac arrest in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Background: The usefulness of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) as a predictor of sudden cardiacarrest (SCA) in patients undergoing valve surgery is currently unknown.Methods: A prospective study was conducted on a group of 815 consecutive patients with significantvalvular heart disease that underwent elective valve surgery. The primary end-point was postoperative SCA.Results: The postoperative SCA occurred in 26 patients. At multivariate analysis of hs-TnT measuredimmediately after surgery (hs-TnT I) and age remained independent predictors of the primary end-point.Conclusions: Elevated postoperative hs-TnT was associated with a higher risk of postoperative SCA

Raised red cell distribution width as a prognostic marker in aortic valve replacement surgery

Background and aim: Several studies have reported that elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with poor outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure and aortic stenosis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Their prognostic utility in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery is unknown. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the prognostic value of RDW in a group of 191 consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis undergoing AVR. The pre-defined primary endpoint at the 30-day follow-up was composed of: all cause mortality, perioperative myocardial infarction, perioperative renal failure, prolonged mechanical ventilation, stroke, heart failure, successfully resuscitated cardiac arrest, the occurrence of multiple-organ failure, and the need for additional surgery for any reason. The secondary endpoint was total mortality. Results: The composite endpoint occurred in 54 patients. In univariate analysis RDW (p < 0.0001), haemoglobin level (p = 0.005), haematocrit (p = 0.01), red blood cell count (RBC; p = 0.002), glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.003), New York Heart Association classification (p = 0.02), atrial fibrillation (p = 0.0044), and pulmonary blood pressure (p = 0.004) were associated with the occurrence of the composite endpoint. RDW (p = 0.0005), haemoglobin level (p = 0.004), haematocrit (p = 0.004), RBC (p = 0.0009) and mean corpuscular volume (p = 0.01) were associated with an increased risk of death. In multivariate analysis, RDW (OR 3.274; 95% CI 1.285–8.344; p = 0.0003) and RBC (OR 0.373; 95% CI 0.176–0.787; p = 0.0097) remained independent predictors of the composite endpoint. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined a cut-off value of RDW for the prediction of the occurrence of the combined endpoint at 14.1%. Conclusions: Elevated RDW is associated with a worse outcome following AVR, independent of RBC.  Wstęp: W dotychczasowych badaniach wykazano, że podwyższone wartości rozkładu objętości erytrocytów (RDW) są związane z gorszym rokowaniem u osób z chorobą wieńcową, niewydolnością serca czy ciężką stenozą aortalną leczoną przezcewnikowym wszczepieniem zastawki aortalnej. Znaczenie RDW u pacjentów poddawanych operacji chirurgicznej wymiany zastawki aortalnej jest nieznane. Cel: Celem niniejszej pracy była ocena wartości prognostycznej RDW u chorych poddawanych operacyjnemu leczeniu ciężkiej stenozy aortalnej. Metody: Prospektywne badanie przeprowadzono w grupie kolejnych 191 pacjentów z ciężką objawową stenozą aortalną poddawanych operacyjnemu leczeniu wymiany zastawki aortalnej. Na z góry zdefiniowany pierwszorzędowy złożony punkt końcowy w obserwacji 30-dniowej składało się wystąpienie następujących powikłań: zgonu z wszystkich przyczyn, okołozabiegowego zawału serca, okołooperacyjnej niewydolności nerek, przedłużonej wentylacji mechanicznej, udaru ośrodkowego układu nerwowego, skutecznie resuscytowanego zatrzymania akcji serca, niewydolności wielonarządowej i konieczności reoperacji z jakiejkolwiek przyczyny. Drugorzędowym punktem końcowym była śmiertelność. Wyniki: Pierwszorzędowy złożony punkt końcowy w obserwacji 30-dniowej zaobserwowano u 54 pacjentów. W analizie jednoczynnikowej predyktorami wystąpienia pierwszorzędowego punktu końcowego były: RDW (p < 0,0001), hemoglobina (p = 0,005), hematokryt (p = 0,01), liczba erytrocytów (p = 0,002), wskaźnik przesączania kłębuszkowego (p = 0,003), stopień niewydolności serca wg klasyfikacji NYHA (p = 0,02), migotanie przedsionków (p = 0,0044) i ciśnienie w tętnicy płucnej (p = 0,004). Wartości RDW (p = 0,0005), hemoglobiny (p = 0,004), hematokrytu (p = 0,004), liczba erytrocytów (p = 0,0009) i średnia objętość erytrocytów (p = 0.01) wiązały się ze zwiększonym ryzykiem wystąpienia zgonu. Analiza wieloczynnikowa potwierdziła znaczenie RDW (OR 3.274; 95% Cl 1,285–8,344; p = 0,0003) jako niezależnego predyktora wystąpienia pierwszorzędowego złożonego punktu końcowego. Przy użyciu statystyki krzywej ROC wyznaczono punkt odcięcia RDW dla wystąpienia złożonego punktu końcowego na poziomie 14,1% (pole pod krzywą 0,07; p = 0,008). Wnioski: Wyższe wartości RDW są związane z gorszym rokowaniem u pacjentów poddawanych operacji wymiany zastawki aortalnej, niezależnie od liczby erytrocytów.

Predictors of aortic stenosis severity reclassification using an imaging data fusion method in patients referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Background: The use of imaging data fusion method (IDFM) with multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D-TTE) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) may result in reclassification of AS severity from severe to non-severe. Aim: We sought to establish potential predictors of AS severity reclassification using the IDFM method. Methods: A total of 54 high-risk patients (mean age 79 ± 7.9 years; 40.7% male) with severe AS by 2D-TTE (indexed aortic valve area [AVAi] < 0.6 cm2/m2), referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, were included in the analysis. AVAi was subsequently recalculated using IDFM by replacing 2D-TTE left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) measurements with MSCT LVOT parameters. Results: Imaging data fusion method reclassified 20.4% patients into the potentially non-severe AS group. In a multivariable model including clinical variables, reclassification to non-severe AS by IDFM was independently associated with younger age and diabetes mellitus (DM), (odds ratio [OR] 0.864; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76–0.99; p < 0.035 and OR 19.259; 95% CI 2.28–162.41; p < 0.007, respectively). In a multivariable analysis of echocardiographic variables, reclassification was associ­ated with higher LVOT velocity time integral and lower aortic mean gradient (OR 1.402; 95% CI 1.07–1.84; p < 0.014 and OR 0.858; 95%: CI 0.760–0.968; p < 0.013, respectively). In addition, 24.1% of patients were reallocated from low-flow (< 35 mL/m2) to normal-flow AS. Conclusions: Imaging data fusion method reclassified a substantial proportion of patients with severe AS into a potentially moderate AS group and from a low-flow to a normal-flow AS group. Such regrouping calls for increased diagnostic prudence in AS patients, especially those with specific clinical and echocardiographic predictors of reclassification, such as DM or low aortic mean gradient

Contemporary Management of Severe Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis

There were gaps between guidelines and practice when surgery was the only treatment for aortic stenosis (AS).This study analyzed the decision to intervene in patients with severe AS in the EORP VHD (EURObservational Research Programme Valvular Heart Disease) II survey.Among 2,152 patients with severe AS, 1,271 patients with high-gradient AS who were symptomatic fulfilled a Class I recommendation for intervention according to the 2012 European Society of Cardiology guidelines; the primary end point was the decision for intervention.A decision not to intervene was taken in 262 patients (20.6%). In multivariate analysis, the decision not to intervene was associated with older age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.34 per 10-year increase; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.61; P = 0.002), New York Heart Association functional classes I and II versus III (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.30; P = 0.005), higher age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (OR: 1.09 per 1-point increase; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.17; P = 0.03), and a lower transaortic mean gradient (OR: 0.81 per 10-mm Hg decrease; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.92; P < 0.001). During the study period, 346 patients (40.2%, median age 84 years, median EuroSCORE II [European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II] 3.1%) underwent transcatheter intervention and 515 (59.8%, median age 69 years, median EuroSCORE II 1.5%) underwent surgery. A decision not to intervene versus intervention was associated with lower 6-month survival (87.4%; 95% CI: 82.0 to 91.3 vs 94.6%; 95% CI: 92.8 to 95.9; P < 0.001).A decision not to intervene was taken in 1 in 5 patients with severe symptomatic AS despite a Class I recommendation for intervention and the decision was particularly associated with older age and combined comorbidities. Transcatheter intervention was extensively used in octogenarians

The Role of the N-Terminal of the Prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Predicting Postoperative Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome

Background: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is the progressive and potentially reversible dysfunction of at least two organ systems in the course of an acute and life-threatening disorder of systemic homeostasis. MODS is a serious post-cardiac-surgery complication in valvular heart disease that is associated with a high risk of death. This study assessed the predictive ability of selected preoperative and perioperative parameters for the occurrence of MODS in the early postoperative period in a group of patients with severe valvular heart disease. Methods: Subsequent patients with significant symptomatic valvular heart disease who underwent cardiac surgery were recruited in the study. The main end-point was postoperative MODS, defined as a dysfunction of at least two organs—perioperative stroke, heart failure requiring mechanical circulatory support, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, and postoperative acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy. A logistic regression was used to assess relationships between variables. Results: There were 602 patients recruited for this study. The main end-point occurred in 40 patients. Preoperative NT-proBNP (OR 1.026; 95% CI 1.012–1.041; p = 0.001) and hemoglobin (OR 0.653; 95% CI 0.503–0.847; p = 0.003) are independent predictors of the primary end-point in a multivariate regression analysis. The cut-off point for the NT-proBNP value for postoperative MODS was calculated at 1300 pg/mL. Conclusions: A high preoperative level of NTpro-BNP may be associated with the onset of MODS in the early postoperative period. The results of the study may also suggest that earlier cardiac surgery for significant valvular heart disease may be associated with an improved prognosis in this group of patients

Risk Factors of Sudden Cardiac Arrest during the Postoperative Period in Patient Undergoing Heart Valve Surgery

Background: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the sudden cessation of normal cardiac activity with hemodynamic collapse. This usually leads to sudden cardiac death (SCD) when cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not undertaken. In patients undergoing heart valve surgery, postoperative SCA is a complication with a high risk of death, cerebral hypoxia and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Therefore, knowledge of the predictors of postoperative SCA is extremely important as it enables the identification of patients at risk of this complication and the application of the special surveillance and therapeutic management in this group of patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of selected biomarkers in predicting postoperative SCA in patients undergoing heart valve surgery. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on a group of 616 consecutive patients with significant valvular heart disease that underwent elective valve surgery with or without coronary artery bypass surgery. The primary end-point at the intra-hospital follow-up was postoperative SCA. The secondary end-point was death from all causes in patients with postoperative SCA. Patients were observed until discharge from the hospital or until death. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationships between variables. Results: The postoperative SCA occurred in 14 patients. At multivariate analysis, only NT-proBNP (odds ratio (OR) 1.022, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.012–1.044; p = 0.03) remained independent predictors of the primary end-point. Age and NT-proBNP were associated with an increased risk of death in patients with postoperative SCA. Conclusions: The results of the presented study indicate that SCA in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing heart valve surgery is an unpredictable event with high mortality. The potential predictive ability of the preoperative NT-proBNP level for the occurrence of postoperative SCA and death in patients after SCA demonstrated in the study may indicate that the overloaded and damaged myocardium in patients undergoing heart valve surgery is particularly sensitive to non-physiological conditions prevailing in the perioperative period, which may cause serious hemodynamic disturbances in the postoperative period and lead to death

N-Terminal of the Prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide Predicts Postoperative Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Aims: Heart valve surgery is associated with a risk of serious postoperative complications including postoperative cardiogenic shock (described as postcardiotomy shock (PCS)). The indication for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is cardiogenic shock, which is resistant to optimal causal and pharmacological treatment, including the supply of catecholamines and/or an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of the selected preoperative biomarkers in the prediction of postoperative cardiogenic shock requiring ECMO in patients undergoing heart valve surgery. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on a group of consecutive patients with significant valvular heart disease that underwent elective valve surgery. The primary endpoint at the intra-hospital follow-up was postoperative cardiogenic shock requiring ECMO. Univariate analysis, followed by multivariate regression analysis, were performed. Results: The study included 610 patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 15 patients. At multivariate analysis, the preoperative N-terminal of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level (OR 1.022; 95% CI 1.011–1.034; p = 0.001) remained an independent predictor of the primary endpoint. Conclusions: An elevated NT-proBNP level was associated with a higher risk of postoperative cardiogenic shock requiring the use of ECMO