Risk Of Late Mortality Research Articles

Causes of late mortality among ICU-treated patients with sepsis.

Patients with sepsis may have an increased risk of late mortality, but the causes of late death are unclear. This retrospective matched cohort study aimed to determine the causes of late death (≥1year) among patients with sepsis compared to patients without sepsis. 8760 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock (2001 consensus criteria) registered in the Swedish Intensive Care Registry (2008-2013) were compared with a 1:1 matched (gender, age, SAPS3 probability for death, ICU length of stay) control group consisting of non-septic ICU patients. Causes of death (International Classification of Diseases codes) were obtained from the Swedish Cause of Death Register (2008-2014). During 2008-2014, 903 patients with sepsis died at≥365days after their initial septic event, compared to 884 patients in the control group. Median time of follow-up was 313days (sepsis group, interquartile range 11-838days) vs 288days (control group, 9-836days). The most common causes of death were heart diseases (sepsis: 50.2%, non-septic: 48.6%) and cancer (sepsis: 33.7%, non-septic: 31.7%). Infectious diseases were significantly more common cause of death in the sepsis group (24.3% vs 19.6%, respectively; P<.05). Pneumonia was a common infectious cause of death in both groups, whereas sepsis was more common in the sepsis group. The most common causes of late death after ICU admission among patients with and without sepsis were heart diseases and cancer. However, patients with sepsis more frequently had infectious diseases as a cause of late death, compared to non-septic patients.

Effect of total arterial grafting in the Arterial Revascularization Trial

ObjectivesThe Arterial Revascularization Trial (ART) was designed to compare 10-year survival in bilateral versus single internal thoracic artery grafts. The intention-to-treat analysis has showed comparable outcomes between the 2 groups but an explanatory analysis suggested that those receiving 2 or more arterial grafts had better survival. Whether the exclusive use of arterial grafts provide further benefit is unclear. MethodsWe performed an exploratory analysis of the ART based on conduits actually received (as-treated principle). From ART cohort, only patients receiving at least 3 grafts were included. The final population consisted of 1084, 1010, and 390 patients in the single arterial graft (SAG) group, in the multiple arterial graft (MAG) group (2 or more arterial grafts with additional saphenous veins) and total arterial graft (TAG) group (3 or more arterial grafts only) respectively. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used for comparison. ResultsWhen compared with the SAG group, there was a significant trend toward a reduction of 10-year mortality in the MAG and TAG group (test for trend P = .02). The TAG group was associated with the lowest risk of late mortality (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.96; P = .03) and with a significant risk reduction of the composite of death/myocardial infarction/stroke and repeat revascularization (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.94; P = .02). ConclusionsWhen compared with SAG, both MAG and TAG represent valuable strategies to improve clinical outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting but TAG can potentially provide further benefit.

Balloon catheters and stents with paclitaxel: are they really dangerous? A review and update.

The aim of this review is to summarize and update current research concerning the safety of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) and drug-eluting stents (DESs) with paclitaxel (PTX) in peripheral arteries. The data from the large randomized controlled trials showed evidence of the superiority of DCBs over plain balloon angioplasty concerning efficacy. Also, the safety parameters between the two groups did not differ. However, two meta-analyses identifying an increased late mortality risk after using PTX technologies were published only a short time ago. In contradiction, a lot of following studies (meta-analyses, real-world analysis, retrospective review) published in 2019 and 2020, did not confirm any significant difference in all-cause death between PTX and no-PTX cohorts. The safety of PTX technologies still represents the most serious and controversial issue in peripheral interventions. Until it is definitively solved further research must continue. In daily practice, recommendations for the use of PTX products include the treatment of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) (not of de novo lesions), the maintenance of patency of bypasses, and angioplasty for limb salvage. In heavily calcified lesions, a prior debulking with atherectomy is suitable. Generally, the risks and benefits of the application of PTX devices should be considered in every single patient.

EFFECT OF ADULT CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE STATUS ON LONG-TERM SURVIVAL AFTER HEART TRANSPLANTATION: A RESTRICTED MEAN SURVIVAL TIME ANALYSIS

Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) heart transplant recipients may have lower than average post-transplant survival as a result of higher peri-operative mortality than non-ACHD patients, but they also have a decreased incremental late mortality risk. However, long-term survival between groups has

Association of postoperative complications and outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting

The long-term effects of postoperative complications following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are unknown. Medicare-linked records from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database were queried for isolated CABG records from 2007 through 2012. Unadjusted and adjusted associations between individual postoperative complications and both mortality and all-cause rehospitalization were evaluated to 7 years using Cox proportional-hazards models and cumulative incidence functions. Because of nonproportional hazards, associations are presented as early (0 to 90 days) and late (90 days to 7 years). Of the 294,533 isolated CABG patients who had records linked to Medicare for long-term follow-up (median age, 73 years; 30% female), 120,721 (41%) experienced at least 1 of the complications of interest, including new-onset atrial fibrillation (30.0%), prolonged ventilation (12.3%), renal failure (4.5%), reoperation (3.5%), stroke (1.9%), and sternal wound infection (0.4%). Each of the 6 postoperative complications was associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality and rehospitalization to 7 years despite adjustment for baseline characteristics and the presence of multiple complications. Although the predominant effect of postoperative complications was observed in the first 90 days, the increased risk-adjusted hazard for death and rehospitalization continued through 7 years. Postoperative complications are associated with an increased risk of both early and late mortality and all-cause rehospitalization, particularly during the "value" window within 90 days of CABG. These findings underscore the need to develop avoidance strategies as well as cost-adjustment methods for each of these complications.

CRT-200.07 Natural Vascular Scaffolding Promotes Post-Femoropopliteal PTa Patency Without Stent Implantation

Despite reduced revascularization rates with currently marketed drug-coated devices in the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD), results remain sub-optimal in complex lesion morphologies, and their use has fallen over concerns of increased risk of late mortality. New treatment modalities are

Paclitaxel-coated peripheral artery devices are not associated with increased mortality

ObjectiveLong-term safety concerns have been raised that the use of paclitaxel-coated balloons and stents is linked to excess mortality. Our objective was to compare outcomes in patients treated with paclitaxel vs uncoated devices and to analyze long-term mortality. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective single-institution review of 1170 consecutive patients who underwent femoropopliteal percutaneous revascularization by angioplasty, atherectomy, stent placement, or combination between 2011 and 2018. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality. Groups were divided into patients who received paclitaxel (n = 652) and those who did not (n = 518). Categorical variables were assessed using χ2 analysis and continuous variables with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. A multivariable analysis was performed using multivariable logistic regression models. Mortality was compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. ResultsDemographics, risk factors, and Rutherford class were similar between the groups, except that the paclitaxel group was more likely to have diabetes (60.9% vs 55.0%; P = .04), was less likely to be on dialysis (10.7% vs 14.9%; P = .04), and had lower average creatinine concentration (1.6 ± 1.8 mg/dL vs 2.0 ± 2.3 mg/dL; P = .003). There were no differences in all-cause mortality through 2 years between paclitaxel and no-paclitaxel cohorts (25.5% vs 30.3%; log-rank, P = .098). At 3 years and 3.5 years, mortality was significantly lower in the paclitaxel group: year 3, 32.1% vs 39.4% (log-rank, P = .041); year 3.5, 35.2% vs 43.9% (log-rank, P = .027). Survival rates were not significantly different in examining subgroups by diabetes, chronic kidney disease, presence of chronic limb-threatening ischemia, or paclitaxel-coated balloon manufacturer. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that age, dialysis, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart failure were independent risk factors for mortality, whereas paclitaxel use was associated with lower mortality. ConclusionsThe use of paclitaxel-coated balloons and stents does not increase mortality compared with uncoated devices out to 3.5 years. Paclitaxel-coated devices can be used with continued caution, especially in patients at increased risk of restenosis. Further long-term studies are needed to determine the risk of late mortality.

Early and Late Mortality Following Discharge From the ICU: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

To identify the frequency, causes, and risk factors of early and late mortality among general adult patients discharged from ICUs. Multicenter, prospective cohort study. ICUs of 10 tertiary hospitals in Brazil. One-thousand five-hundred fifty-four adult ICU survivors with an ICU stay greater than 72 hours for medical and emergency surgical admissions or greater than 120 hours for elective surgical admissions. None. The main outcomes were early (30 d) and late (31 to 365 d) mortality. Causes of death were extracted from death certificates and medical records. Twelve-month cumulative mortality was 28.2% (439 deaths). The frequency of early mortality was 7.9% (123 deaths), and the frequency of late mortality was 22.3% (316 deaths). Infections were the leading cause of death in both early (47.2%) and late (36.4%) periods. Multivariable analysis identified age greater than or equal to 65 years (hazard ratio, 1.65; p = 0.01), pre-ICU high comorbidity (hazard ratio, 1.59; p = 0.02), pre-ICU physical dependence (hazard ratio, 2.29; p < 0.001), risk of death at ICU admission (hazard ratio per 1% increase, 1.008; p = 0.03), ICU-acquired infections (hazard ratio, 2.25; p < 0.001), and ICU readmission (hazard ratio, 3.76; p < 0.001) as risk factors for early mortality. Age greater than or equal to 65 years (hazard ratio, 1.30; p = 0.03), pre-ICU high comorbidity (hazard ratio, 2.28; p < 0.001), pre-ICU physical dependence (hazard ratio, 2.00; p < 0.001), risk of death at ICU admission (hazard ratio per 1% increase, 1.010; p < 0.001), and ICU readmission (hazard ratios, 4.10, 4.17, and 1.82 for death between 31 and 60 days, 61 and 90 days, and greater than 90 days after ICU discharge, respectively; p < 0.001 for all comparisons) were associated with late mortality. Infections are the main cause of death after ICU discharge. Older age, pre-ICU comorbidities, pre-ICU physical dependence, severity of illness at ICU admission, and ICU readmission are associated with increased risk of early and late mortality, while ICU-acquired infections are associated with increased risk of early mortality.

Late mortality and causes of death among long-term survivors after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

By evaluating risks of late mortality and causes of death among long-term survivors after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in Japan, we clarified what we should focus on during follow-up to reduce them. The study cohort included 6,780 patients who had survived for ≥2 years after the first autologous HSCT performed from 1974 to 2012 for hematological diseases. With a median follow-up of 6.0 years among survivors, overall survival probabilities at 5 and 10 years after HSCT were 92% and 83%, respectively. Eight hundred thirty deaths occurred: 451, recurrent primary diseases; 87, subsequent solid cancers; 57, subsequent hematological malignancies; 55, infections; 41, respiratory diseases; 19, cardiovascular diseases; 15, liver diseases; 10, neurological diseases; and 7, kidney/genitourinary diseases (Except small numbers of other causes and missing). According to the log-rank test, the risk of overall mortality was remarkably increased among HSCT recipients compared with the that in the general Japanese population (observed/expected ratio [O/E]=5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0-5.8). The risks of cause-specific mortality increased with infection (O/E=6.8; 95% CI, 5.1-8.8), subsequent solid cancers (O/E=1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7), subsequent hematological malignancies (O/E=14.3; 95% CI, 10.8-18.5), kidney/genitourinary diseases (O/E=3.4; 95% CI, 1.4-7.1), respiratory disease (O/E=9.0; 95% CI, 6.5-1.2), and liver diseases (O/E=2.6; 95% CI, 1.4-4.2). Long-term survivors after autologous HSCT are at an increased risk of death due to secondary cancers, infections, and any organ diseases as well as recurrence compared to the general population. When monitoring these patients in the outpatient clinic, it is important for physicians to predict a change in the patient's condition and to start treatment earlier.

Fontan with lateral tunnel is associated with improved survival compared with extracardiac conduit

ObjectivesThe study aim was to compare Fontan patients undergoing lateral tunnel (LT) versus extracardiac conduit (ECC) technique. MethodsFontan patients (LT vs ECC) from January 2000 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Baseline characteristics were analyzed as covariates. Primary outcomes (ie, mortality, Fontan failure, thrombosis, and pacemaker implantation) were compared using time-to-event models. Subgroup analysis including only initially fenestrated cases and propensity score matching were performed. ResultsEight hundred one Fontan patients: LT (n = 638) versus ECC (n = 163) were included. Median follow-up time was 4.8 years (range, 1.1-10.8 years). Baseline characteristics were similar except for age: LT versus ECC: 2.6 years (range, 2.2-3.2 years) versus 3.1 years (range, 2.6-4.7 years) (P < .01) and mean pulmonary artery pressure: LT versus ECC: 12 mm Hg (11-15 mm Hg) versus 11 mm Hg (10-13 mm Hg) (P < .05). Early mortality was significantly higher in ECC versus LT group (3.1%; vs 0.5%; P < .05). Freedom from death, heart transplantation and Fontan failure were significantly longer in LT vs ECC (P < .01). After correcting for age, diagnosis, surgical technique, surgeon, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and fenestration, the ECC group showed worse freedom from death (hazard ratio, 2.8; P < .01) and Fontan failure (hazard ratio, 3.0; P < .01). No difference in pacemaker implantation rate was demonstrated (P = .25). Early fenestration closure was associated with higher risk of early (hazard ratio, 30.5) and late mortality (hazard ratio, 3.5). After matching, log-rank tests showed significant differences between the 2 groups for Fontan failure at 5 and 10 years (P < .01) and mortality at 5 years (P = .02). ConclusionsWhen compared with ECC, LT Fontan is associated with better short and midterm outcomes. Spontaneous fenestration closure is an independent risk factor for early/late mortality.

Chronic Health Conditions and Late Mortality Among Survivors of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS)

Introduction: Five-year survival following childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has doubled over the last 4 decades due to advances in treatment and supportive care, including more widespread use of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The impact on long-term morbidity and mortality among survivors is unknown. Methods: Cumulative incidence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall and cause-specific late (&amp;gt;5 years from diagnosis) mortality and CTCAE grades 3-5 chronic health conditions (CHC) were estimated among 5-year survivors of AML diagnosed &amp;lt;21 years of age between1970-99 in the CCSS. Comparisons were made by decade of diagnosis (1970s, 1980s, 1990s) and treatment (HCT vs. chemotherapy only [chemo-only]). Cox regression models estimated hazard ratios (HR) for health-related deaths and CHC based on treatment decade and HCT status. Results: Among 927 AML survivors (median age at diagnosis 7.1 years [range 1-21 years]; median age at last follow-up 29.4 years [range 8-60 years]; 16,069 person-years of follow-up; 37% treated with HCT [15% of 1970s survivors, 36% of 1980s survivors, 44% of 1990s survivors), the 20-year cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality was 6.7% (CI 4.2-9.2%) for chemo-only survivors and 13.5% (CI 9.2-17.8%) for HCT survivors. For chemo-only survivors, the highest incidence of health-related mortality were attributable to cardiac causes (1.5%, CI 0.5-2.6), relapse (0.9%, CI 0.1-1.8), and SMN (0.6%, CI 0.0-1.2), whereas for HCT survivors the highest health-related causes of death were relapse (6.5%, CI 3.7-9.2%), SMN (1.3%, CI 0-2.5%), and pulmonary causes (0.6%, CI 0-1.5%). When treatment groups were considered in multivariable Cox models, risk for late mortality was similar for chemo-only survivors from the 1990s compared to the 1970s (HR 0.4, CI 0.1-1.4), but risk was reduced for HCT survivors from the 1990s compared to the 1970s (HR 0.2, CI 0.1-0.4). The 20-year cumulative incidence of grade 3-5 CHCs among chemo-only survivors was 26.9% (CI 23.0-30.7%) compared to 46.8% (CI 40.9-52.7%) among HCT survivors, with the highest incidence occurring for cardiovascular CHC (chemo-only, 9.7%, CI 7.1-12.2%; HCT, 10.6%, CI 7.0-14.2%), pulmonary CHC (chemo-only, 1.0%, CI 0.1-1.9%; HCT, 2.9%, CI 1.0-4.8%) and SMN (chemo-only, 0.8%, CI 0.0-1.7%; HCT, 5.7%, CI 2.9-8.6%). Incidence of overall CHC decreased in more recent decades among HCT survivors (p=0.03, Figure); however, among chemo-only survivors, CHC incidence did not significantly change by decade (p=0.12). When treatment groups were considered in adjusted models, risk for CHC was similar for those treated in the 1990s compared to the 1970s among chemo-only survivors (HR 1.5, CI 1.0-2.3) and risk estimates among HCT survivors decreased over time but did not achieve statistical significance (HR 0.6, CI 0.3-1.1). Conclusions: AML survivors treated with HCT had a reduced risk of late mortality and serious CHC in more recent treatment eras. In contrast, treatment with chemo-only was not associated with differences in mortality and serious CHC risk over time. Five-year survivors treated with chemo-only had a significantly reduced risk of health-related mortality compared with HCT survivors across all treatment eras. While treatment intensification with HCT has improved the cure rates for AML in recent decades, there remains disparity in long-term outcomes among AML survivors treated with HCT vs. chemo-only. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Increased Mac-2 binding protein glycan isomer in patients at risk for late nonrelapse mortality after HSCT

AbstractMacrophages play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). We hypothesized that galectin-3, Mac-2 binding protein (M2BP), or Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA)+-M2BP, called M2BP glycan isomer (M2BPGi), might contribute to macrophage activation, and fibrosis would be associated with cGVHD and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Patients who underwent their first allogeneic HSCT and survived for >180 days without relapse were included. The predictive potential of the 3 markers for NRM was assessed using the discovery cohort (n = 55) and validation cohort 1 (n = 55). When we used the threshold determined by a receiver operating characteristics curve analysis in the discovery cohort, only M2BPGi at day +180 was significantly associated with a higher NRM in the discovery cohort (15.0% vs 0.0% at 5 years, P = .001) and in validation cohort 1 (34.0% vs 8.4% at 5 years, P = .014). This result was confirmed in validation cohort 2 (n = 50). M2BPGi was not increased in healthy individuals or in patients who received autologous HSCT. In the entire cohort (N = 110), M2BPGi was significantly related to liver cGVHD but not to other organ involvement. In multivariate analyses, M2BPGi was an independent risk factor for NRM. In immunofluorescence staining of autopsy cases, WFA+-M2BP–positive macrophages were found only in the liver sections with cGVHD. In conclusion, M2BPGi could be a promising predictor of late NRM after HSCT and was associated with liver involvement.

Mortality patterns in long-term survivors of childhood or adolescent central nervous system tumour in Sweden

PurposeA growing number of young patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumour survived for more than five years. However, these long-term survivors might be at risk of multiple late effects thus leading to a higher risk of late mortality. We aimed to explore the risk of late mortality and the pattern of mortality among long-term survivors of childhood or adolescent CNS tumour.MethodsWe identified 5-year survivors with childhood or adolescent CNS tumour before age 20 years through the Swedish Cancer Registry. Five controls were randomly matched for each patient to generate the reference group. We retrieved information about death via Cause of Death Register. We calculated the absolute excess risk (AER) of death and the hazard ratio (HR) of death using Cox proportional hazard model.ResultsLong-term survivors with CNS tumour suffered a significant higher risk of overall mortality (HR 6.56, 95% CI 5.71–7.53; AER 5.89, 95% CI 5.03–6.87). The mortality rate declined with the increasing survival time, but it was still higher even after 30 years of follow-up. Malignant neoplasms contributed mostly to late mortality with an AER of 3.75 (95% CI 2.95–4.75). Female survivors, survivors diagnosed at a younger age and survivors with medulloblastoma were particularly strongly associated with a higher risk of death.ConclusionsLong-term survivors of childhood and adolescent CNS tumours are at a higher risk of late mortality, and the risk of death is affected by gender, age at diagnosis and types of CNS tumour.

ABO blood group does not impact incidence or outcomes of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection

Objectives. To evaluate the distribution and impact of ABO blood groups on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Design. A total of 1144 surgical ATAAD patients from eight Nordic centres constituting the Nordic consortium for acute type A aortic dissection (NORCAAD) were analysed. Blood group O patients were compared to non-O subjects. The relative frequency of blood groups was assessed with t-distribution, modified for weighted proportions. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Cox regression analyses were performed for assessing independent predictors of late mortality. Results. There was no significant difference in the proportions of blood group O between the study populations in the NORCAAD registry and the background population (40.6 (95% CI 37.7–43.4)% vs 39.0 (95% CI 39.0–39.0)%). ABO blood group was not associated with any significant change in risk of 30-day or late mortality, with the exception of blood group A being an independent predictor of late mortality. Prevalence of postoperative complications was similar between the ABO blood groups. Conclusions. In this large cohort of Nordic ATAAD patients, there were no associations between ABO blood group and surgical incidence or outcomes, including postoperative complications and survival.

Does additional coronary artery bypass grafting to aortic valve replacement in elderly patients affect the early and long-term outcome?

Early and long-term outcomes in elderly patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement (iAVR) are well defined. Conflicting data exist in elderly patients who underwent AVR plus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We sought to evaluate the early and long-term outcomes of combined AVR + CABG in patients older than 75 years of age. From June 1999 to June 2018, 402 patients ≥ 75 years who underwent iAVR (n = 200; 49.7%) or combined AVR plus CABG (n = 202; 50.3%) were retrospectively analysed. AVR + CABG patients were older than iAVR patients (78.5 ± 2.5 vs 77.6 ± 2.8 years; p < 0.0001), with greater co-morbidities and more urgent/emergency surgery. 30-day mortality was 6.5% in the AVR + CABG and 4.5% in the iAVR group (p = 0.38). Multivariate analysis identified EuroSCORE II [odd ratio (OR) 1.13] postoperative stroke (OR 12.53), postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (OR 8.72) and postoperative mechanical ventilation > 48 h (OR 8.92) as independent predictors of 30-day mortality; preoperative cerebrovascular events (OR 3.43), creatinine (OR 7.27) and extracorporeal circulation time (OR 1.01) were independent predictors of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE). Treatment was not an independent predictor of 30-day mortality and in-hospital MACCE. Survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was 94.7 ± 1.6%, 72.6 ± 3.6% and 31.7 ± 4.8% for iAVR patients and 89.1 ± 2.3%, 73.9 ± 3.5% and 37.2 ± 4.8% for AVR + CABG subjects (p = 0.99). Using adjusted Cox regression model, creatinine [hazard ration (HR) 1.50; p = 0.018], COPD (HR 1.97; p = 0.003) and NYHA class (HR 1.39; p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of late mortality; the combined AVR + CABG was not associated with increased risk of late mortality (HR 0.83; p = 0.30). In patients aged ≥ 75 years, combined AVR + CABG was not associated with increased 30-day mortality, in-hospital MACCE and long-term mortality. Surgical revascularization can be safely undertaken at the time of AVR in elderly patients.

Time-Varying Effects of Graft Type on Outcomes for Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

This study aimed to investigate time-varying effects of graft type on outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. For this purpose we analyzed 3952 patients, 720 of whom underwent matched related bone marrow transplantation (BMT), 1004 matched related peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), 856 matched unrelated BMT, and 1372 umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) during complete remission. The 4-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were 59.1%, 52.8%, 59.5%, and 50.6%, respectively. Compared with related BMT, related PBSCT, unrelated BMT, and UCBT were associated with higher risk of nonrelapse mortality and unrelated BMT and UCBT with lower risk of relapse. As a result, both RFS and overall survival were comparable between related BMT and unrelated BMT but were worse for related PBSCT and UCBT than for related BMT. Adverse impact of UCBT was observed only during the early phase of transplant, whereas that of related PBSCT continued even after 2 years post-transplant. Our findings raise concerns about the increased risk of late nonrelapse mortality with the use of PBSC grafts and suggest that related BMT is preferable to related PBSCT; matched unrelated BMT is the next choice in the absence of a matched related donor.

Preoperative left atrial volume index is associated with postoperative outcomes in mitral valve repair for chronic mitral regurgitation

ObjectiveTo assess determinants of left atrial reverse remodeling after mitral valve repair and to evaluate the impact of preoperative left atrial volume on postoperative outcomes. MethodsWe reviewed the records of 720 patients who underwent mitral valve repair from September 2008 to July 2015 and had preoperative measurement of left atrial volume index. We analyzed the association of preoperative left atrial volume index on early and late outcomes, and determined which baseline characteristics are associated with left atrial reverse remodeling, as measured by changes in left atrial volume index in 512 patients who had at least 1 postoperative measurement. ResultsThe median (interquartile range) preoperative left atrial volume index was 54.0 (44.0-66.0) mL/m2. Preoperative left atrial volume index, age, body mass index, and atrial fibrillation were independently associated with the degree of left atrial reverse remodeling over the follow-up period. Reverse remodeling was greatest in patients with higher baseline left atrial volume index (P < .001), but less reverse remodeling was observed in patients with advanced age (P < .001), preoperative atrial fibrillation (P < .001), and extreme values of body mass index (P = .004), although these effects were moderately attenuated when limiting the analysis to 6-month follow-up. Secondary analysis demonstrated marginally significant effects of preoperative left atrial volume index on risks of early postoperative atrial fibrillation (P = .030) and late mortality (P = .077) after adjusting for age and sex. ConclusionsIn patients with degenerative mitral valve regurgitation who had mitral valve repair, preoperative left atrial volume index was associated with extent of left atrial reverse remodeling, risk of early postoperative atrial fibrillation, and late mortality. The majority of reverse remodeling occurs within the first month after operation and is greatest in younger patients.

Is incidental splenectomy during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair associated with reduced survival?

ObjectiveThe effect of incidental splenectomy during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair is unknown. We hypothesized incidental splenectomy was associated with decreased late survival. MethodsWe studied 1056 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs from 2006 to 2016. Exclusion criteria were age less than 18 years (n = 9), prior splenectomy (n = 2), and intraoperative death (n = 3). This left 1042 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs for analysis (median age, 65 years; interquartile range, 56-72), including 221 (21%) that were reoperations. Multivariable modeling identified predictors of operative mortality in the total cohort. Moreover, to adjust for baseline differences, propensity score matching was performed to examine the frequency of these outcomes in the total cohort (n = 132 pairs) and the early survivors (n = 110 pairs). Late survival was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method, and risk of late mortality was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression. ResultsIncidental splenectomy was performed in 135 patients (13%), 36% of whom underwent reoperation. Operative mortality rates of the incidental splenectomy and nonincidental splenectomy groups were 16% versus 8% in both the overall study (P = .005) and the propensity score–matched (P = .07) cohorts. In multivariable analysis, incidental splenectomy independently predicted operative mortality (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-3.94; P = .008). For early survivors, incidental splenectomy did not increase the risk of late mortality. Survival estimates of matched early survivors did not differ between the incidental splenectomy and nonincidental splenectomy groups (P = .29). ConclusionsIncidental splenectomy during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair was associated with increased operative mortality but not reduced late survival. Splenic preservation is encouraged when feasible.

Risk Analysis and Outcomes of Postoperative Renal Failure After Aortic Valve Surgery in the United States

Postoperative renal failure (RF) compromises early outcomes in cardiac surgery. In contrast, long-term survival and progression of RF after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with or without coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) remain undefined. From 2008 through 2015, records of AVR with or without CABG in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database were linked to Medicare claims data. Postoperative RF was categorized as being with new dialysis (RF-D) or without new dialysis (RF no-D). Cox proportional hazards models were used to conduct a risk analysis and evaluate outcomes in this patient group. Of 164,727 patients undergoing AVR with or without CABG, 3.5% had postoperative RF, of whom 63.3% required dialysis. Operative mortality of postoperative RF was 39.2%, higher for dialysis than for no-dialysis patients (46.1% vs 26.1%, P < .0001). Both RF dialysis patients and no-dialysis patients had a higher early (less than 30-day) mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] 11.29, P < .0001 and HR 8.03, P < .0001, respectively) compared with no postoperative RF. At a median follow-up of 2.7 years, RF-D and RF no-D remained relevant risk factors, however, with a lower magnitude of effect (HR 2.42, P < .0001, and HR 1.69, P < .0001, respectively). Preoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 30 mL · min-1 · 1.73 m-2 had a lower early mortality risk (HR 0.48, P < .0001) but higher late mortality risk (HR 1.5, P < .0001) compared with GFR greater than 60. Predictors for long-term progression to RF-D included preoperative GFR less than 30 (HR 13, P< .0001), GFR 30 to 60 (HR 2.47, P= .006), and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (HR 1.96, P= .001). Postoperative RF after AVR with or without CABG was associated with higher early and late mortality, which further increased with a new requirement for dialysis. Once postoperative RF develops, preoperative renal dysfunction does not increase early mortality; however, it predicts late survival. Preoperative renal function is associated with progression of postoperative RF to dialysis.

Effect of health status upon arrival at a single milk-fed veal facility on breakeven purchase price of calves

Male calves are purchased from the dairy industry in North America to produce red meat. The price paid for male calves varies widely, and it is unclear which variables influence the price paid for each calf. The objective of this study was to assess how the health traits of calves at the time of arrival and demographic variables affect the breakeven purchase price of a male calf entering the veal industry. A financial model was constructed using the prevalence of health abnormalities, weight at arrival, source of the calf, number of days in the barn, base carcass price, days to mortality, feed costs, season at arrival, interest rate, housing location, carcass dressing percentage, and costs associated with housing, labor, utilities, trucking, and health to calculate the breakeven purchase price and an estimate of profit. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using health variables measured at arrival and demographic variables, including season at arrival and housing location, to identify the factors with the largest impact on the predicted average daily gain, early and late mortality risk, breakeven purchase price, and profit. At the baseline inputs, the average calculated profit was -$5.36 per calf and it was most sensitive to the location of housing where calves were fed and the body weight of the arriving calf. The mortality risk in the first 21 d after arrival (early) was calculated to be 2.2%, whereas the risk of mortality after 21 d (late) was 3.7%. The risks of early and late mortality were most sensitive to the level of dehydration measured at arrival and the season at arrival for the purchased calves, respectively. The calculated average daily gain was 1.12 kg/d and it was most sensitive to housing location. The breakeven purchase price was calculated to be $242.49 per calf, which was most sensitive to the housing location where the calves were fed. The results of this analysis demonstrate that veal producers need to consider many variables before purchasing calves. In addition to overall market conditions, veal producers should factor health characteristics and the expected performance of the calves they purchase into what they are willing to pay for them.