First-time Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Research Articles

Association of CYP2C19 genotypes with postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery.

This cohort study aims to assess the connection between cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 19 (CYP2C19) genotyping, platelet aggregability following oral clopidogrel administration, and the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. From May 2017 to November 2022, a total of 258 patients undergoing elective first-time CABG surgery, receiving 100 mg/day oral aspirin and 75 mg/day oral clopidogrel postoperatively, was included for analysis. These patients were categorized based on CYP2C19 genotyping. Platelet aggregability was assessed serially using multiple-electrode aggregometry before CABG, 1 and 5 days after the procedure, and before discharge. The incidences of POAF were compared using the log-rank test for cumulative risk. CYP2C19 genotyping led to categorization into CYP2C19*1*1 (WT group, n = 123) and CYP2C19*2 or *3 (LOF group, n = 135). Baseline characteristics and operative data showed no significant differences between the two groups. The incidence of POAF after CABG was 42.2% in the LOF group, contrasting with 22.8% in the WT group (hazard risk [HR]: 2.061; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.347, 3.153; p = 0.0013). Adenosine diphosphate-stimulated platelet aggregation was notably higher in the LOF group compared to the WT group 5 days after CABG (30.4% ± 6.5% vs. 17.9% ± 4.1%, p < 0.001), remaining a similar higher level at hospital discharge (25.6% ± 6.1% vs. 12.2% ± 3.5%, p < 0.001). The presence of CYP2C19 LOF was linked to a higher incidence of POAF and relatively elevated platelet aggregation after CABG surgery under the same oral clopidogrel regimen.

Perioperative Cannabinoids Significantly Reduce Postoperative Opioid Requirements in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Background Opioids, commonly used to control pain associated with surgery, are known to prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay. A wide range of adjunctive strategies are currently utilized to reduce postoperative pain, such as local and regional nerve blocks, nerve cryoablation, and adjunctive medications. We hypothesized that dronabinol (a synthetic cannabinoid) in conjunction with standard opioid pain management will reduce opioid requirements to manage postoperative pain. Methods Sixty-eight patients who underwent isolated first-time coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomized to either the control group, who received only standard opioid-based analgesia, or the dronabinol group, who received dronabinol (a synthetic cannabinoid) in addition to standard opioid-based analgesia. Dronabinol was given in the preoperative unit, before extubation in the ICU, and after extubation on the first postoperative day. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters were compared under an IRB-approved protocol. The primary endpoints were the postoperative opioid requirement, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay, and the secondary endpoints were the duration of inotropic support needed, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and the change in LVEF. This study was undertaken at Northwest Medical Center, Tucson, AZ, USA. Results Sixty-eight patients were randomized to either the control group (n = 37) or the dronabinol group (n = 31). Groups were similar in terms of demographic features and comorbidities. The total postoperative opioid requirement was significantly lower in the dronabinol group [39.62 vs 23.68 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), p = 0.0037], representing a 40% reduction. Duration of mechanical ventilation (7.03 vs 6.03h, p = 0.5004), ICU length of stay (71.43 vs 63.77h, p = 0.4227), and inotropic support requirement (0.6757 vs 0.6129 days, p = 0.7333) were similar in the control and the dronabinol groups. However, there was a trend towards lower durations in each endpoint in the dronabinol group. Interestingly, a significantly better preoperative to postoperative LVEF change was observed in the dronabinol group (3.51% vs 6.45%, p = 0.0451). Conclusions Our study found a 40% reduction in opioid use and a significantly greater improvement in LVEF in patients treated with adjunctive dronabinol. Mechanical ventilation duration, ICU length of stay, and inotropic support requirement tended to be lower in the dronabinol group, though did not reach statistical significance. The results of this study, although limited by sample size, are very encouraging and validate our ongoing investigation.

Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With New-Onset Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in approximately 30% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It is unknown whether early recurrence is associated with worse outcomes. To test the hypothesis that early AF recurrence in patients with POAF after CABG is associated with worse outcomes. This Swedish nationwide cohort study used prospectively collected data from the SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) registry and 3 other mandatory national registries. The study included patients who underwent isolated first-time CABG between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2020, and developed POAF. Data analysis was performed between March 6 and September 16, 2023. Early AF recurrence defined as an episode of AF leading to hospital care within 3 months after discharge. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke, any thromboembolism, heart failure hospitalization, and major bleeding within 2 years after discharge. The groups were compared with multivariable Cox regression models, with early AF recurrence as a time-dependent covariate. The hypothesis tested was formulated after data collection. Of the 35 329 patients identified, 10 609 (30.0%) developed POAF after CABG and were included in this study. Their median age was 71 (IQR, 66-76) years. The median follow-up was 7.1 (IQR, 2.9-9.0) years, and most patients (81.6%) were men. Early AF recurrence occurred in 6.7% of patients. Event rates (95% CIs) per 100 patient-years with vs without early AF recurrence were 2.21 (1.49-3.24) vs 2.03 (1.83-2.25) for all-cause mortality, 3.94 (2.92-5.28) vs 2.79 (2.56-3.05) for heart failure hospitalization, and 3.97 (2.95-5.30) vs 2.74 (2.51-2.99) for major bleeding. No association between early AF recurrence and all-cause mortality was observed (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.17 [95% CI, 0.80-1.74]; P = .41). In exploratory analyses, there was an association with heart failure hospitalization (AHR, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.32-2.45]; P = .001) and major bleeding (AHR, 1.92 [1.42-2.61]; P < .001). In this cohort study of early AF recurrence after POAF in patients who underwent CABG, no association was found between early AF recurrence and all-cause mortality. Exploratory analyses showed associations between AF recurrence and heart failure hospitalization, oral anticoagulation, and major bleeding.

Case Management in Prevention of 30-Day Readmission in Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Thirty-day readmission is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among postoperative coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients. Interventions such as case management and follow-up care may reduce 30-day readmission. The purpose of this article is to report a study on modifiable factors that may have significant implications for case management in the prevention of readmission after CABG surgery. The study population included all the adult patients who underwent first-time CABG surgery from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2016, from a Mid-South hospital. A retrospective case-control study was employed to examine 1,712 patients who underwent CABG surgery. The results revealed that patients readmitted within 30 days had a significantly shorter length of stay (LOS) (6 days vs. 10 days; p < .0001), more days in intensive care unit (6 days vs. 4 days; p = .0391), and significantly higher diabetes/renal (4% vs. 1%), infection (17% vs. 2%), and respiratory-related diagnoses (10% vs. 1%; p < .0001). Among these factors, hospital LOS is a major factor that can be addressed through case management in addition to other modifiable risk factors. Understanding modifiable factors associated with higher readmission risk is crucial for effective intervention and case management planning.

712 Improving Post-Op Length of Stay (PLOS) in First-Time Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)- a Closed Loop Audit

Abstract Aim To identify and improve our average PLOS for first-time CABG compared to the national average of 7.9 days. Method A baseline audit was performed by retrospective analysis of first-time CABG betwen June-August 2022. A re-audit was done in November following recommendations such as encouraging early nurse-led mobilization of post-op patients. Results Our cardiothoracic unit recorded an average of 9.4 days after first-time CABG over the period. Major contributors of increased length of stay were attributed to lesser physiotherapy sessions and post-op complications. After interventions, PLOS improved to 8.5 days in the re-audit. Conclusions Post-op length of stay can be functionally improved if more staff could encourage patient to mobilize with targets daily. Nurse-led mobilization will reduce the burden on physiotherapist and influence the outcomes of discharge.

Racial Disparities in Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass: Impact of Left Atrial Volume

BackgroundPrior studies have demonstrated a lower prevalence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American patients compared with White cohorts after coronary artery bypass grafting. We hypothesized that preoperative differences in left atrial size may explain this disparity. MethodsWe assessed the incidence of new POAF in 1218 patients (215 minority patients and 1003 White patients) undergoing isolated, first-time coronary artery bypass grafting from January 2017 through September 2022. Preoperative left atrial volume index (LAVi) was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography. ResultsMinority patients were younger and more likely to be female, with more comorbidities, including diabetes, prior stroke, and dialysis. There was no difference in postoperative mortality, stroke, renal failure, or reoperation for bleeding between minority and White patients. Whereas minority patients had higher blood product use and longer intensive care unit and postoperative lengths of stay, they experienced a lower incidence of new POAF (19.5% [42/215] vs 29.5% [292/1003]; P = 0.02). Mean LAVi was similar between minority and White patients (30.3 ± 12.6 mL/m2 vs 29.9 ± 10.1 mL/m2; P = .64). However, for White patients, LAVi was higher for patients with POAF than for patients without POAF (31.3 ± 10.9 mL/m2 vs 29.3 ± 9.7 mL/m2; P = .007), whereas for minority patients, LAVi was similar for patients with and without POAF (30.7 ± 26.0 mL/m2 vs 30.3 ± 11.7 mL/m2; P = .84). ConclusionsDespite more comorbidities, higher transfusion rates, and longer length of stay, minority patients had a significantly lower incidence of POAF compared with White patients but no difference in preoperative LAVi. Larger LAVi may be predictive of POAF in White patients but not in minority patients.

The prognostic role of the low and very low baseline LDL-C level in outcomes of patients with cardiac revascularization; comparative registry-based cohort design

BackgroundAlthough low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level is considered one of the main prognostic factors in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the question about “the lower the better” is still unanswered. We aimed to evaluate and compare the outcomes of patients with CABG and low or very low baseline LDL-C, regardless of statin usage.MethodsIn this registry-based cohort study, 10,218 patients with low/very low (70–100 and ≤ 70 mg/dL) baseline LDL-C who underwent isolated and the first-time CABG without known previous history of cardio-cerebrovascular events, were included and compared. The median follow-up was 73.33 (72.15–74.51) months. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (consisted of all-cause mortality, acute coronary syndrome, stroke or transient ischemic attack, and the need for repeat revascularization [percutaneous coronary intervention or redo-CABG]). Cox regression analyses before and after the propensity score matching (PSM) model were applied to evaluate and compare outcomes.ResultsThe mean age of the study population was 66.17 ± 9.98 years old and 2506 (24.5%) were women. Diabetes mellitus and a history of cigarette smoking were significantly higher in the very low LDL group (P-value ≤ 0.001). In Cox regression analyses before applying PSM model, both all-cause mortality (14.2% vs. 11.9%, P-value = 0.004 and MACCE (26.0% vs. 23.6%, P-value = 0.006) were significantly higher in the very low LDL group compared to low LDL. However, these results were no longer significant after applying the PSM model (all-cause mortality HR: 1.115 [95% CI: 0.986–1.262], P = 0.083 and MACCE HR: 1.077 [95%CI: 0.984–1.177], P = 0.095). The sensitivity analysis to remove the statin effect demonstrated that very low LDL-C level was correlated to higher risk of all-cause mortality in both unmatched and PSM analyses.ConclusionVery low serum LDL-C levels (≤ 70 mg/dl) could increase long-term all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in patients who have undergone isolated CABG.

Myocardial Function after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Preoperative Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction-The Role of the Left Ventricular Longitudinal Strain.

Background and Objectives: The role of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on postoperative left ventricular (LV) function in patients with preoperatively preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is still being discussed and only a few studies address this question. This study aimed to assess LV function after CABG in patients with preoperatively preserved LVEF using left ventricular longitudinal strain assessed by 2D speckle tracking imaging (STI). Materials and Methods: Fifty-nine consecutive adult patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for a first-time elective CABG surgery were enrolled in the final analysis of this prospective single-center clinical study. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), with conventional measures and STI measures, was performed within 1 week before CABG as well as 4 months after surgery. Patients were divided into groups based on their preoperative global longitudinal strain (GLS) value. Differences in systolic and diastolic parameters between groups were analyzed. Results: Preoperative GLS was reduced (GLS < -17%) in 39% of the patients. Parameters of systolic LV function were significantly reduced in this group of patients compared to the patient group with GLS% ≥ -17%. In both groups, 4 months after CABG there was a decline in LVEF but statistically significant only in the group with GLS% ≥ -17% (p = 0.035). In patients with reduced GLS, there was a statistically significant postoperative improvement (p = 0.004). In patients with preoperative normal GLS, there was not a significant change in any strain parameters after CABG. There was an improvement in diastolic function parameters measured by Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) in both groups. Conclusions: There is improvement in LV systolic and diastolic function after CABG in patients with preserved preoperative LVEF measured by STI and TDI. GLS might be more sensitive and effective than LVEF for monitoring improvements in myocardial function after CABG surgery in patients with preserved LVEF.

Volume-Outcome Relationship of Resternotomy Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

BackgroundWe assessed volume-outcome relationships of resternotomy coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). MethodsWe studied 1,362,218 first-time CABG and 93,985 resternotomy CABG patients reported to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database between 2010 and 2019. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and mortality and morbidity (M&M) rates calculated per hospital and per surgeon. Outcomes were compared across 6 total cardiac surgery volume categories. Multivariable generalized linear mixed-effects models were used considering continuous case volume as the main exposure, adjusting for patient characteristics and within-surgeon and hospital variation. ResultsWe observed a decline in resternotomy CABG unadjusted mortality and M&M from the lowest to the highest case-volume categories (hospital-level mortality, 3.9% ± 0.6% to 3.3% ± 0.1%; M&M, 18.5% ± 1.1% to 15.7% ± 0.4%, P < .001; surgeon-level mortality, 4.1% ± 0.3% to 4.1% ± 1.3%; M&M, 18.5% ± 0.6% to 14.5% ± 2.2%, P < .001). Looking at outcomes vs continuous volume showed that beyond a minimum annual volume (hospital 200-300 cases; surgeon 100-150 cases, approximately), mortality and M&M rates did not further improve. Using individual-level data and adjusting for patient characteristics and clustering within surgeon and hospital, we found higher procedural volume was associated with improved surgeon-level outcomes (mortality adjusted odds ratio, 0.39/100 procedures; 95% CI, 0.24-0.61; M&M adjusted odds ratio, 0.37/100 procedures; 95% CI, 0.28-0.48; P < .001 for both). Hospital-level adjusted volume-outcomes associations were not statistically significant. ConclusionsWe observed an inverse relationship between total cardiac case volume and resternotomy CABG outcomes at the surgeon level only, indicating that individual surgeon’s experience, rather than institutional volume, is the key determinant.

Is it safe to perform total arterial grafting in elderly patients lacking vein grafts? A single surgeon comparison.

The results of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with total arterial revascularisation (TA-CABG) in elderly patients, who may have insufficient vein graft material for conventional CABG (CO-CABG), have not been fully established. We therefore sought to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of patients >70 years old undergoing CO-CABG and TA-CABG. We performed a retrospective observational study analyzing all consecutive adult patients aged >70 years undergoing first-time CABG over the 15-year period from 2004 to 2020 under a single surgeon. Primary outcomes of interest were in-hospital mortality, long-term mortality, and re-intervention rate. Secondary outcomes of interest included operative durations and the incidence of peri-operative complications. There were 46 patients (age 76 ± 3 SD) in the TA-CABG group and 145 patients (age 76 ± 4 SD) in the CO-CABG group. Cardio-pulmonary bypass and cross-clamp durations were comparable between groups (p = .11 and p = .23, respectively). Stroke occurred in 1.0% undergoing CO-CABG compared to 0% in the TA-CABG group (p = .42). Hospital mortality was 3.0% with CO-CABG (EuroSCORE; mean [SD] 6.81 (5.81)) and 2.0% with TA-CABG (EuroSCORE; mean [SD] 6.38 (6.57))(p = .93). On long-term follow-up, myocardial infarction occurred in 10.0% of CO-CABG patients compared to 4.0% of TA-CABG patients (p = .25). Re-intervention rates were 7% following CO-CABG, and 2% after TA-CABG (p = .23). There was no significant difference in long-term mortality between patients undergoing CO-CABG and TA-CABG (47% vs. 57%, p = .27). Long-term survival was comparable between grafting techniques (p = .27). There were no significant differences in major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, re-intervention rate, hospital or long-term mortality between CO-CABG and TA-CABG. TA-CABG represents a safe and feasible alternative to CO-CABG in elderly patients offering good long-term outcomes.

BMI disparities in coronary artery bypass grafting outcomes: A single center Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) database analysis

Disparities in Body Mass Index (BMI) has been a potential risk factor for intraoperative outcomes, postoperative morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This study aims to quantify the effect of BMI on early clinical outcomes following CABG. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried for adult patients who underwent first-time Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) patients in our center from 2014 to 2020. BMI and gender were investigated as primary risk factors for intraoperative outcomes, in-hospital postoperative outcomes, and hospital readmission using multiple logistic regression models. Propensity score weighting was used due to imbalances in the observational groups. Locally weighted smoothing (LOESS) plots of BMI were inspected for each outcome with a predicted probability plot of the interaction between BMI and gender. Among 591 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 79% were male (n=468) and 21% were female (n=124). Healthy(H), overweight/obese (O), and morbidly obese (MO) BMI was defined as <25, 25–35 and >35 respectively. There were significantly higher proportions of females in the healthy and obese categories, and males in the overweight BMI category (F vs M: H:33.9 vs 66.1% O: 15 vs 85%, MO:35 vs 65%, p < 0.001). Patient demographics and comorbidities are all well-balanced with no significant differences after propensity weighting. There was no significant difference in intraoperative outcomes including operating room time, cross clamp time, by-pass time and intraoperative blood loss requiring blood transfusion (p >0.05). Approximately half (49.16%) of patients had one or more in-hospital postoperative events, and 62 (10.56%) had hospital readmission follow discharge. After propensity weighting, the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) was significantly higher in the morbidly obese group (H: 1.5%, O: 0.6%, MO: 4.5%, p = 0.016) and pneumothorax requiring intervention appears to be significantly higher also for those in the morbidly obese group (H: 0.3%, O: 1%, MO: 2%, p = 0.028). Death at discharge was found to be significantly higher in the healthy group (H: 2.5%, O: 0.3%, MO: 0.3%, p = 0.028, p = 0.008). Loess plots for in-hospital postoperative events and hospital readmission by BMI and gender showed a slight downward trend in postoperative events as BMI increases. Healthy and morbidly obese patient appear to have slightly higher values of hospital readmission for both genders. There was no difference in perioperative outcomes among the cohort. Morbidly obese patients undergoing CABG have a higher risk of SSI. Mortality was higher in the underweight patients. In general, BMI disparities did not affect the risk of perioperative death and other adverse outcomes.

Resternotomy Coronary Artery Bypass 1999-2018: Insights From The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database

BackgroundWe sought to quantify the risk trend of resternotomy coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) over the past 2 decades. MethodsWe compared the outcomes of 194 804 consecutive resternotomy CABG patients and 1 445 894 randomly selected first-time CABG patients (50% of total) reported to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database between 1999 and 2018. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and overall morbidity. Using multiple logistic regression for each outcome for each year, we computed the annual trends of risk-adjusted odds ratios for the primary outcomes in the entire cohort and in 194 776 propensity-matched pairs. ResultsThe annual resternotomy CABG case volume from participating centers declined by 68%, from a median of 25 (range, 14-44) to a median of 8 (range, 4-15). Compared with first-time CABG, resternotomy CABG patients were consistently older, with higher proportions of comorbidities. After propensity matching, primary outcomes of resternotomy and first-time CABG were similar (mortality: 3.5% vs 2.3%, standardized difference [SDiff], 7.5%; morbidity: 40.7% vs 40.3%, SDiff, 0.9%). Mortality of resternotomy CABG performed after prior CABG was higher than that after prior non-CABG (4.3% vs 2.4%; SDiff, 10.8). Morbidity was similar between these subgroups (41.0% vs 39.1%; SDiff, 2.9). The adjusted odds ratio for mortality after resternotomy CABG declined from 1.93 (95% CI, 1.73-2.16) to 1.22 (95% CI, 0.92-1.62), and that of morbidity declined from 1.13 (95% CI, 1.08-1.18) to 0.91 (95% CI, 0.87-0.95), P < .001 for both. ConclusionsThe risk of resternotomy CABG has decreased substantially over time. Resternotomy CABG performed after a prior CABG is higher risk compared with that performed after a non-CABG operation.

Plasma Concentrations of Trace Elements Selenium and Cobalt During and After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

ObjectivesTrace elements selenium (Se) and cobalt (Co) have been known to be essential in the human body and the correlation between Se and cardiac surgery has been suggested. The present study was designed to investigate the plasma concentration of Se and Co during and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsFrom December 2019 to January 2020, preoperative plasma samples from isolated first‐time CABG patients (N=20; 10 males and 10 females) were prospectively collected at five points: after anesthesia and before CPB (T1), 45 min after CPB started (T2), 90 min after CPB started (T3), postoperative day1 (T4), and day 4 (T5), respectively. The concentration of Se and Co was measured.ResultsThe concentration significantly decrease for Se at T2 (105.24 ± 4.08 vs. 68.56 ± 2.42μg/L, P &lt; 0.001) and T3 (105.24 ± 4.08 vs. 80.41± 3.40μg/L, P &lt; 0.001) and for Co at T4 (0.35 ± 0.19 vs. 0.26 ± 0.13μg/L, P &lt; 0.01) and T5 (0.35 ± 0.19 vs. 0.23 ± 0.11μg/L, P &lt; 0.001). There was no operative mortality or major morbidity except that five patients developed atrial fibrillation (AF).ConclusionsThis study for the first time identified the alteration of plasma concentration of Se and Co during and after CABG surgery. The findings may suggest that supplementation of Se before or during CABG and that of Co after CABG may become necessary for patients undergoing CABG. Further studies are warranted.

Plasma Concentrations of Trace Elements Selenium and Cobalt During and After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery.

Trace elements selenium (Se) and cobalt (Co) are essential in the human body, and a correlation between Se and cardiac surgery has been suggested. We investigated the plasma concentrations of Se and Co during and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). From December 2019 to January 2020, preoperative plasma samples from isolated first-time CABG patients (n=20; 10 males, 10 females) were prospectively collected post-anesthesia and before CPB (T1), 45 min after CPB started (T2), 90 min after CPB started (T3), and postoperative days 1 (T4), and day 4 (T5). The plasma concentrations of Se and Co were measured. The Se concentration was significantly decreased at T2 (105.24±4.08 vs. 68.56±2.42 μg/L, p<0.001) and T3 (105.24±4.08 vs. 80.41±3.40 μg/L, p<0.001). The Co concentration was significantly decreased at T4 (0.35±0.19 vs. 0.26±0.13 μg/L, p<0.01) and T5 (0.35±0.19 vs. 0.23±0.11 μg/L, p<0.001). Five patients developed atrial fibrillation (AF); there was no other operative mortality or major morbidity. This is the first report of alterations of plasma Se and Co concentrations during and after CABG surgery. Our results may indicate that Se supplementation before or during CABG and Co supplementation after CABG may become necessary for patients undergoing CABG.

Does pulmonary hypertension affect early-term outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery?

This study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative pulmonary hypertension (PHT) on postoperative early mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A total of 1107 patients undergoing elective first-time off-pump CABG between January 2011 and April 2022 were included in this retrospective observational cohort study. The patients were categorized into two groups according to their preoperative systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) values. The PHT group (n=104) consisted of patients with a SPAP value >30 mmHg, while the non-PHT group (n=1003) consisted of patients with a SPAP value ≤30 mmHg. Patients' preoperative demographics and clinical features, operative data, and postoperative outcomes were recorded and then compared between the groups. In the PHT group, the median age was significantly higher (66 vs. 63 years, p=0.001) and the median left ventricular ejection fraction level was significantly lower (45 vs. 50%, p=0.045) as compared to the non-PHT group. Additionally, the PHT group included a significantly greater percentage of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (22.1 vs. 7.4%, p=0.019). As perioperative early-term outcomes, complications, and mortality were considered, the groups were statistically similar, and there were no significant differences between the groups, except for the development of atrial fibrillation. For the first time in the literature, this study revealed that mild PHT (mean SPAP=38.9±8.7 mmHg) did not significantly affect early-term outcomes of off-pump CABG.

Mid-Term Outcomes and Angiographic Patency of Redo Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Comparison between Off-Pump and On-Pump Surgery

BackgroundWe evaluated the mid-term outcomes and angiographic patency of redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).MethodsOf 2,851 patients who underwent isolated CABG at Seoul National University Hospital from 2000 to 2017, 88 underwent redo CABG. Patients’ mean age at redo CABG was 66.0±8.0 years. The mean interval between the first-time and redo CABG was 113.0±62.4 months. The mean follow-up duration was 86 months. Early and mid-term clinical outcomes were evaluated. Angiographic patency rates were evaluated early (1–2 days), 1 year, and 5 years after surgery. Comparative analyses between on-pump and off-pump CABG were also performed.ResultsThe culprits for reoperation were previous grafts (65.6%), native coronary vessels (17.8%), and both (16.7%). Off-pump CABG was performed in 75 cases (85.2%), and the mean number of distal anastomoses was 1.8±0.8. The saphenous vein (39.7%) was used most frequently, followed by the right internal thoracic artery (28.4%), right gastroepiploic artery (21.3%), left internal thoracic artery (7.8%), and radial artery (2.8%). Operative mortality was 1.1%. The overall survival, cumulative incidence of cardiac death, and cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiac events were 71.3%,12.0%, and 23.3% at 5 years after surgery, respectively. The overall angiographic patency rates were 95.7%, 90.1%, and 92.2% on early, 1-year, and 5-year angiograms, respectively. The angiographic patency rates of saphenous vein grafts were 93.1%, 85.6%, and 91.3% on early, 1-year, and 5-year angiograms, respectively. No significant differences in clinical outcomes or angiographic patency rates were observed between the on-pump (n=13) versus off-pump (n=75) groups. Multivariable analysis revealed that age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.07; p=0.005) and chronic kidney disease (HR, 3.85; p=0.001) were risk factors for all-cause mortality.ConclusionRedo CABG could mostly be performed using the off-pump technique and did not show increased operative mortality and morbidities.

Outcomes following coronary artery bypass surgery in diabetic treatment sub-groups. A propensity matched analysis of >7000 patients over 18 years.

European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II incorporates insulin-controlled diabetes whilst omitting tablet-controlled diabetes. Differences in adverse clinical outcomes following coronary artery bypass graft between these groups are poorly established. Therefore, a propensity matched comparison of short and longer term mortality and morbidity in insulin-controlled diabetes, tablet-controlled diabetes and non-diabetic patients was undertaken. Isolated first-time coronary artery bypass graft surgeries between April 1999 and April 2017 were propensity score matched by pre- and intra-operative variables. 8241 patients; 23.5% diabetics and 76.5% non-diabetics. The groups' demographical and clinical characteristics were comparable after matching. Insulin-controlled diabetes patients had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (3.8% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.05), multisystem failure (2.6% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.05), sternal wound infections requiring debridement (3.6% vs. 1.3%, p < 0.05), respiratory complications (25.6% vs. 21.9%, p < 0.05), new dialysis (4.7% vs. 0.9%, p < 0.05) and longer hospital stays (13.5 ± 13.3 vs. 10.6 ± 8.0, p < 0.05) compared to non-diabetic patients.Tablet-controlled diabetes patients had significantly higher strokes (2.9% vs. 1.2, p < 0.05), superficial sternal wound infections (6.7% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.05), respiratory complications (25.7% vs. 22.7%, p < 0.05), new dialysis (1.7% vs. 0.6%, p < 0.05), post-operative atrial fibrillation (37.1% vs. 33.9%, p < 0.05) and readmission with myocardial infarction (22.4% vs. 19.6%, p < 0.05) compared to non-diabetic patients. Diabetic treatment sub-groups are an independent risk factor for sternal wound infection, new dialysis requirement, multisystem failure and readmission with myocardial infarction after isolated first coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The findings suggest the need for better risk stratification of diabetic groups prior to cardiac surgery and for improved cardiovascular risk management post-surgery in tablet-controlled diabetes patients.

History of cancer and survival after coronary artery bypass grafting: Experiences from the SWEDEHEART registry.

To explore the currently unknown association between history of cancer at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and long-term survival. All patients (n=82,137) undergoing isolated first-time CABG in Sweden during 1997-2015 were included in this retrospective population-based cohort study. Individual patient data from the SWEDEHEART registry and 4 other mandatory nationwide health care registries were merged. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression and competing risk models adjusted for age and gender were used to assess associations between history of cancer, and long-term all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality. Median follow-up was 9.0years (interquartile range, 4.8-13.1). Altogether, 6819 (8.3%) of the patients had a history of cancer. The annual prevalence increased from 3.8% in 1997 to 14.8% in 2015. Patients with a history of cancer were older (72 vs 66years; P<.001) and had more comorbidities. Long-term all-cause mortality was significantly greater in patients with a history of cancer (45.7% vs 22.9% at 10years; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-1.38, P<.001). According to the competing risk models, history of cancer was associated with an increased risk for cancer death (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.45; 95% CI, 2.28-2.63, P<.001) but not cardiovascular death (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.94, P<.001). The proportion of patients undergoing CABG with a history of cancer has increased over time. History of cancer at the time of surgery is associated with increased cancer deaths over time but not cardiovascular deaths. The same cardiovascular prognosis after CABG can be expected regardless of cancer history.

Long-term Outcomes After Reoperative Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery has an established increasedoperative risk with worse perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, contemporary propensity-matched outcomes are limited in the existing literature. All patients who underwent CABG from 2011 to 2017 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were included. Propensity matching yielded risk-adjusted patient populations. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortality and readmission. The total population consisted of 7615 patients who underwent CABG; 7265 of these patients had first-time CABG, and 350 patients had reoperative CABG. After propensity score matching, blood product transfusion (45.5% vs 56.4%; P= .002) and delayed sternal closure (0.2% vs 2.5%; P < .001) remained significantly higher for reoperative CABG. There was no difference in 30-day (5.3% vs 7.5%; P= .19) or 1-year (12.1% vs 14.8%; P= .23) mortality for first-time vs reoperative CABG. Five-year mortality was significantly higher for the reoperative cohort (28.5% vs 38.3%; P= .03). There was no difference in 30-day, 1-year, or 5-year hospital readmissions. On Cox multivariable regression analysis, reoperative CABG was not a predictor of mortality or readmission at 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years. After propensity score matching, there was no difference in postoperative mortality or readmission for reoperative CABG up to 1-year. This trend continued for 5-year readmissions; however, 5-year mortality was higher for the reoperative cohort. Risk adjustment did not identify reoperative CABG as a risk factor for long-term mortality.

Does Mild to Moderate Renal Dysfunction in Non-Dialysis Dependent Patients

Objectives: Algorithms of risk stratification for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) do not include a weighting for preoperative mild to moderate renal impairment defined as a serum creatinine 130 to 199mmol/L, which may impact mortality and morbidity after CABG. Hence our first objective was to ascertain the effect of a mild-to-moderate elevation in the preoperative serum creatinine level on post-operative outcomes. Our second objective was to ascertain which patient variables contributed to an increase in the serum creatinine level in association with coronary artery bypass grafting.&#x0D; Materials and methods: We reviewed the prospectively collected data from the cardiac surgical database, which holds clinical information on all the patients undergoing cardiac surgery at our department since July 2014 to June 2017. A total of 101 patients who had known pre-existing mild to moderate renal disease and who were undergoing first-time coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass were recruited for the study. Patients were divided, based on preoperative serum creatinine level, into 3 groups as follows: Group A: creatinine level of less than 130μmol/L; Group B: creatinine level of 130 to 159μmol/L; and Group C: creatinine level of 160μmol/L or greater.&#x0D; Result: Multivariate logistic regression showed that elevation of the preoperative serum creatinine level to 130μmol/L or greater increased the likelihood of hemodialysis postoperatively (P&lt;0.001), as well as the need for postoperative ICU stay (P&lt;0.001). Other factors contributing to a prolonged ICU stay were being 60 years of age or older (P=0.007), having a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 40% (P=0.001), and having a prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (P&lt; 0.001). In-hospital mortality was also significantly elevated in Group B and Group C; P=0.045 and &lt;0.001 respectively with a few factors contributing to an increase in mortality on multivariable analysis were being female (P&lt;0.001), being 60 years of age or older (P=0.004), having a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 40% (P=0.006), and having a prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (P&lt;0.001). Of particular note, the method of myocardial protection (cardioplegia with or without topical cooling) did not significantly influence in-hospital mortality, need for mechanical renal support, or ICU stay.&#x0D; Conclusions: Mild to moderate renal dysfunction is an important predictor of outcome in terms of inhospital mortality, morbidity, and midterm survival in patients undergoing CABG. As the preoperative serum creatinine level increases further (³160 μmol/L), this effect is more pronounced.&#x0D; Journal of Surgical Sciences (2018) Vol. 22 (2) : 104-109