Preoperative Brain Natriuretic Peptide Research Articles

L-Carnitine: A New Therapeutic Option for the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation in Non-Cardiac Surgery-A Single-Group Interventional Pilot Study.

Background: L-carnitine is essential in lipid metabolism and reportedly has preventive effects for arrhythmia. Our objective was to examine the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and changes in serum biomarker levels following perioperative L-carnitine administration in patients with lung cancer. Methods: Thirteen patients undergoing a lobectomy with preoperative serum brain natriuretic peptide levels >24 pg/mL were perioperatively administered L-carnitine for 5 days (3 g/3×). Accurate 95% confidence intervals (CI) for POAF incidence were calculated. Serum biomarkers for POAF in lung cancer and target proteins for L-carnitine were evaluated by using open-source data from proteomic analysis. Results: The incidence of POAF was 38.5% (95% CI 13.9%-68.4%). Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) was selected as a candidate biomarker from 1472, 63, and 26 proteins related to lung cancer, L-carnitine, and AF, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between the predicted POAF incidence rate and preoperative FABP4 levels (Pearson's r = 0.5183). The mean change in serum FABP4 after L-carnitine administration for 5 days was -2.9 ng/mL (95% CI -4.9 to -0.89 ng/mL). Conclusions: The incidence of POAF after a lobectomy was 38.5% after the perioperative administration of L-carnitine for patients at a high risk of POAF. The serum FABP4 level demonstrates potential as a candidate biomarker for POAF prediction.

Moždani natriuretski peptid kao prediktor kliničkog ishoda i poboljšanja simptoma nakon ugradnje uređaja za trajnu mehaničku cirkulatornu potporu

Introduction: The predictive value of brain natriuretic peptide in heart failure is well-known, but its importance as an outcome predictor after a left ventricular assist device ( LVAD ) implantation remains unaddressed. This research aims to examine the significance of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) as an indicator of treatment outcomes during different post-implantation periods. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included the analysis of medical records of 87 patients in whom LVAD was implanted at the University Clinical Center of Serbia in the period 2014-2020. The correlation of BNP levels with treatment outcomes after operation was evaluated. Results: The average preoperative BNP for all patients was 1244 pg/ mL. The average ejection fraction (EF) was 15% (median), endsystolic diameter (ESD) was 6.80 cm and endiastolic diameter (EDD) was 7.70 cm. Eighty-one patients were NYHA class 4, and 6 patients were NYHA 3. Compared to the preoperative BNP level below or above 1000 pg/mL, there was no significant difference in overall survival of patients after operation (Log Rank [Mantel-Cox] test, p=0.838). BNP levels postoperatively decreased from 358 pg/mL at 3 months upon surgery to 136 pg/mL 5 years upon surgery (Friedman test, p<0.001). BNP levels show strong negative correlation with EF (decrease in BNP level and increase in EF value), and strongly positive correlation with EDD, ESD, and NYHA class (a decrease in BNP and a decrease in EDD, ESD, and NYHA). Conclusion: Preoperative BNP level may not be an adequate predictor of the outcome after LVAD implantation, but the post-implantation decrease in BNP levels is highly correlated with parameters that indicate an improvement in the clinical status and positive changes in the myocardium and long-term survival.

The effect of type of anesthesia (general versus spinal) on postoperative levels of brain natriuretic peptide in parturient women with cardiovascular diseases undergoing cesarean section and related cardiac impacts

ABSTRACT Background Dealing with parturient women with cardiac disease is still a challenge for anesthesiologists due to the presence of physiologic burden of pregnancy in addition to the already existing compromised cardiovascular system. A variety of cardiac indices have been utilized to forecast the risk of perioperative cardiac complications, yet limitations in their predictive value exist. Perioperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is used as a prognosticator of cardiac complications following surgery in cardiac and non-cardiac individuals. Aim of study To compare the effect of general and spinal anesthesia during cesarean section in parturient with cardiac disease on BNP levels and on predicting adverse cardiac events. Methods Thirty cardiac parturient with cesarean section were assigned randomly into two groups of equal size. Group A: participants received general anesthesia (GA); Group B: participants received spinal anesthesia. Preoperative and 2 and 24 h postoperative BNP levels were measured. Intraoperative and 24 h postoperative cardiac complications were observed. Results Preoperative and 2 and 24 h postoperative BNP mean levels were similar in the two groups. In each group, the 2 and 24 h postoperative rise in BNP mean levels was insignificant compared to the preoperative mean levels of BNP. Incidence of complications was comparable in both groups, but it was associated with the already high preoperative levels of BNP. Conclusions The study concludes that safely conducted certain type of anesthesia has no effect on the perioperative BNP levels nor incidence of complications which is associated with the already high preoperative BNP levels.

Association between regional oxygen saturation and central venous saturation in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A prospective observational study.

We evaluated the correlation between regional oxygen saturation (rSO2 ) in the frontal and right renal dorsum (cerebral rSO2 and somatic rSO2 ) measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (INVOS™ 5100C, Medtronic) and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2 ) measured with a fiber-optic oximetry catheter (PediaSat™, Edwards Lifesciences) during surgery in order to determine whether noninvasive rSO2 could be used as an alternative to ScvO2 in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. We evaluated the correlation between regional tissue oxygen saturation (cerebral rSO2 and somatic rSO2 ) measured by near-infrared spectroscopy and other patient measures with central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2 ) measured with a fiber-optic oximetry catheter to track global oxygen supply demand as a potential alternative or supplement to ScvO2 . This single-center prospective observational study enrolled 33 children (weight < 10 kg) who underwent cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease between February 2018 and November 2021. ScvO2 , cerebral rSO2 , and somatic rSO2 were recorded simultaneously after anesthesia induction and central venous catheter placement. Pearson's correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis were used to determine the relationship between ScvO2 and rSO2 . We conducted correlation, Bland Altman, and multiple regression analyses to identify associations between rSO2 , patient measures, and ScvO2 values. The patients' median age was 11.0 (quartile 2.0-16.0) months. Their weight was 7.2 (quartile 4.5-9.2) kg. Cerebral rSO2 was significantly positively correlated with ScvO2 (r2 = 0.29, p = .002 in all patients; r2 = 0.61, p = .013 in the patients without mixing at the atrial level), whereas somatic rSO2 was not. The Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated biases [95% confidence interval; 95% CI] (lower and upper limits of agreement [95% CI]) of 0.27% [-4.26 to 4.80] (-24.79 [-32.61 to -16.96] to 25.33 [17.50 to 33.16]) between cerebral rSO2 and ScvO2 and 0.91% [-5.48 to 7.30] (-34.43 [-45.47 to -23.39] to 36.25 [25.21 to 47.29]) between somatic rSO2 and ScvO2 . Preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and SpO2 were independent variables associated with ScvO2 and cerebral and somatic rSO2 . Cerebral rSO2 , SpO2 , and BNP were significantly correlated with ScvO2 , although the cerebral rSO2 correlation was greater for lesions without atrial mixing. rSO2 , BNP, and SpO2 might be used to track changes in ScvO2 but cerebral rSO2 is not sufficiently precise to replace it.

Ninety-day mortality of extremely elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery and its association with preoperative cardiac function: a single-center retrospective study.

We investigated the 90-day mortality rate in elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery and the association of preoperative cardiac function with mortality. We retrospectively enrolled 133 consecutive patients aged 80years or older who underwent hip fracture surgery. We obtained information for patient sex, age, comorbidities, medications, anesthesia method, left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions assessed by echocardiography, and preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. The 90-day mortality rate in patients with a mean age of 88.9years was 7.5% (10/133). More than half of the patients had diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. There were no significant differences in preoperative cardiac systolic and diastolic functions between the mortality group and non-mortality group. The preoperative BNP level in the mortality group was significantly higher than that in the non-mortality group (p = 0.038). Preoperative BNP level was not an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality (p = 0.081) in the primary multivariate logistic regression analysis but was an independent risk factor (p = 0.039) with an odds ratio of 1.004 (95% CI 1.000-1.008) in the sensitivity analysis with different explanatory variables. The 90-day mortality rate in patients over 80years old after hip fracture surgery was 7.5%. There were no significant differences in preoperative cardiac function assessed by echocardiography between the mortality and non-mortality groups. Our results suggest that there is no association or only a weak association of high BNP level with 90-day mortality in this age population.

Utility of Preoperative Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiac Troponin I in Predicting Perioperative Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Elderly Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery

Abstract Background: Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) are frequently encountered in patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries. This study evaluated the utility of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to predict MACE in elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) undergoing noncardiac surgeries. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was carried out at a tertiary care center in India between November 2016 and August 2018. A total of 136 consecutive patients (aged ≥60 years) presenting for noncardiac surgeries under general/spinal/regional anesthesia in the departments of surgery, orthopedics, or gynecology were included in the study. Patients with chronic kidney disease stages 4 and 5 and those receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for renal failure were excluded from the study. Peripheral blood samples for BNP and cTnI were obtained within 24 h preoperatively. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of MACE, defined as the composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest at 6 days postsurgery. Results: The mean age of patients was 69.41 ± 7.56 years. Females comprised 54.1% of the study population. During the perioperative period and follow-up of 6 days, 12 MACE were recorded. Preoperative cTnI levels alone or both cTnI and BNP together (cTnI levels &gt;0.07 ng/mL and BNP levels &gt;40 pg/mL) increased significantly in the patients who experienced MACE (P &lt; 0.05). The area under receiver operating characteristics curve for cTnI and BNP for predicting perioperative cardiac events was 0.817 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.646–0.988; P &lt; 0.001) and 0.520 (95% CI 0.337–0.704; P = 0.817), respectively. Conclusions: In elderly patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries, a preoperative assessment of BNP and cTnI may help in the assessment of MACE.

Combining Prognostic Nutritional Index and Brain Natriuretic Peptide as a Predicting Tool for Heart Transplantation.

Our study aimed to evaluate the potential of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in predicting the prognosis of heart transplantation (HTx). We retrospectively investigated 489 patients undergoing HTx between 2015 and 2020 in our center. The relationship between preoperative index and prognosis was analyzed respectively, the optimal cut-off values for preoperative PNI and BNP level were evaluated with receiver operating curve analysis. Uni-variate analysis and multivariate analysis were used to compare baseline data (sex, age, diagnosis, etc.) of groups divided by the level of PNI and BNP. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to eliminate bias. We calculated the C-index from the prediction efficiency of PNI and BNP. During the period, 489 recipients undergoing HTx in our center were included according to the inclusion criteria; 383 (78.3%) males and 106 (21.7%) females were included in this study, with a median age of 47.57 years old. The ROC curve showed that the optimal cut-off values of each indicator were verified as 49.345 for PNI, and 4397.500 for BNP. The multivariate analyses indicated that PNI (p = 0.047), BNP (p = 0.024), age (p = 0.0023), and waiting time (p = 0.012) were risk factors for all-cause death after HTx. Propensity score matching generated 116 pairs based on PNI level and 126 pairs based on BNP level, and the results showed that OS (overall survival) was significantly correlated with PNI (n = 232, p = 0.0113) and BNP (n = 252, p = 0.0146). Our study implied that higher PNI and lower BNP level had direct correlation with better survival after HTx. Combining PNI and BNP together would be a potential clinical preoperative instrument to predict the survival of patients after HTx, especially in short-term survival.

Proposition of quantitative parameters for pre- and early post-operative assessment in pulmonary thromboendarterectomy - An Indian prospective study.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension results from the incomplete resolution of the vascular obstruction associated with pulmonary embolism. Symptoms are exertional dyspnoea and fatigue, and over a period of time, right ventricular dysfunction sets in. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is an effective surgical remedy for this condition. Our study is an initial post-operative experience of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy and we have also tried to formulate quantitative parameters for the prediction of the post-operative course in patients who are undergoing surgery. Twenty patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy between July 2017 and January 2020. Pre-operatively, each patient was subjected to the (i) 6-min walk test, (ii) pre-operative brain natriuretic peptide values and (iii) pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Following the surgery and subsequent discharge, the patients were followed up at intervals of 15 days, 1, 3, 6, 9 months and at 1 year. At one year post-operatively, the same three quantitative tests were performed on each subject. Post-operatively, the mean 6-min walk distance was 499.75 m as against 341.35 m pre-operatively (p < 0.0001). Mean brain natriuretic peptide was 8.69 pm/l as against 47.58 pm/l pre-operatively (p < 0.0001). Mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 22.25 as against 67.1 pre-operatively (p < 0.0001). 6-Min walk test, brain natriuretic peptide and pulmonary artery systolic pressure could be considered as useful predictors of the haemodynamic severity of disease and predict the post-operative outcome.

Exploring the Utility of Brain Natriuretic Peptide Measurement in Vascular Surgery

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society 2016 guidelines recommend pre-operative measurement of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to risk-stratify patients for a 30-day composite outcome of death, myocardial infarction, or asymptomatic myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS). Whether this practice affects outcomes is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical utility of brain natriuretic peptide and myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery. Analysis of a prospectively maintained database identified all elective open vascular surgery cases at an academic teaching hospital from January 2015 to December 2018. Pre-operative BNP values were available from June 2018 onward after becoming institutionally mandated. Co-morbidities were also collected to stratify patients using the Revised Cardiac Risk Index. The composite outcome of 30-day mortality, myocardial infarction, or MINS was determined. Prior to BNP becoming an institutionally required test, data was available from 1176 open cases. The 30-day mortality was 1.3% (15/1176) and post-operative myocardial infarction rate was 2.3% (27/1176). BNP measurements were collected in 91 consecutive patients. Ten patients (11%) experienced the composite outcome of mortality, myocardial infarction, or MINS. Elevated BNP was associated with increased odds of the composite outcome (P=0.04), but not with mortality or myocardial infarction. Revised Cardiac Risk Index score was not predictive of outcomes. The majority of patients who qualified for the composite outcome experienced only an asymptomatic troponin rise (80%). Two patients met the universal definition of myocardial infarction, one of whom died. No other deaths occurred within 30 days. Detection of MINS did not result in any significant changes to patient management. Elevated BNP correlates with increased MINS. An asymptomatic troponin rise is the most commonly observed event, with unclear clinical implications. BNP may over-estimate surgical risk. Further studies on the long-term outcomes of patients with elevated BNP and MINS are required before widely adopting this strategy in vascular surgery patients.

Cardiac biomarkers in noncardiac surgery patients : Review of cardiac biomarkers for risk stratification and detection of postoperative adverse cardiac events

Yearly, more than 200million people worldwide undergo noncardiac surgery of whom about 5% will suffer adverse cardiac events. Therefore, risk stratification and early detection of these events is crucial. The goal of this review is to summarize the currently available evidence on the role of biomarkers in perioperative cardiac risk assessment. It presents current data of the established biomarkers troponin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and it also reports on new biomarkers that are still under evaluation, e.g. copeptin (amarker of neurohumoral activation) and presepsin (an inflammation marker). Narrative review. According to currently available data, there is astrong association between preoperative troponin or BNP values and postoperative adverse cardiac events and mortality. However, to date, there is only aweak recommendation for routine measurement of these biomarkers even in high-risk patients because the evidence on outcome improvement is still very limited. The evidence on treatment options in case of increased postoperative troponin values is also scarce so that international guidelines come to different conclusions regarding postoperative measurement of toponin. Meanwhile, several new biomarkers are under evaluation.

Role of brain natriuretic peptide in the prediction of long-term surgical outcome of chronic subdural hematoma

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in predicting long-term functional outcome and develop a new predictive score of poor functional outcome after surgery for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). MethodsPatients with cSDH that were surgically treated in our department between November 2016 and December 2019 were included in the study. Pre- and postoperative plasma BNP and clinical condition were prospectively recorded. At follow-up (5–6 months), a simplified modified Rankin Scale (mRS) questionnaire was conducted through a standardized telephone interview. A poor outcome was defined by a mRS > 3. Based on predictors of the long-term functional outcome, a score was calculated. Its accuracy was tested using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic analysis. ResultsIn total, 119 patients were analyzed (median age: 76 years, range: 44–94 years). Preoperative plasma BNP (BNP-1) was elevated in 77 patients (64.7%). For the follow-up phone interview, 101 patients (84.8%) were available. In the multivariate analysis, poor outcome at follow-up could be predicted using BNP-1 (p = 0.034), age (p = 0.036), motor deficit (p = 0.013) and Glasgow coma scale score on admission (p = 0.008). The “Functional Long-term Outcome Predictive score” (FLOP-score) was therefore computed, and revealed an excellent discriminative capacity compared to other scores, with an AUC of 0.86 (0.77–0.95). ConclusionsPreoperative plasma BNP is an independent predictor of functional outcome at follow-up. Using the FLOP-score, the risk of experiencing a poor outcome could accurately be predicted.

Analysis of Brain Natriuretic Peptide Serum Levels in Patients with Symptomatic Chronic Subdural Hematoma: A Potential Reliable Biomarker.

The purpose of this study was to analyze brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) serum levels of patients with chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) and their clinical implication. Patients with cSDH who underwent surgery in our department between November 2016 and October 2019 were eligible for enrollment in the study. Patients with recurrent bleedings, traumatic brain injury, cSDH associated with other intracranial pathologies, and those with a history of congestive heart failure, renal or endocrine disease were excluded. We measured BNP serum levels pre- and post-operatively and at discharge. The BNP values were analyzed with respect to patient medical history and neurological condition. The Glasgow Coma Scale score and the modified Rankin Scale score classified the clinical and neurological condition at the time of admission and discharge, respectively. The data of 100 surgically treated patients with cSDH (mean age 73.2, range 42 − 94 years, male/female 3.5:1) were analyzed. Pre-operative BNP serum levels (BNP-1) were elevated in 67% of the patients (n = 67; median = 101.6 pg/mL; p < 0.001). These serum levels increased after surgery (p < 0.001) and decreased thereafter (p < 0.001), reaching a level at discharge (day 7) that was not statistically different from BNP-1 (p > 0.05). In addition, elevated BNP-1 showed a significant statistical association with the presence of atrial fibrillation (p < 0.01) and antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy (p < 0.01). This study provides new evidence regarding BNP serum levels and their secretion pattern in patients with cSDH. Whether BNP-1 can predict the long-term functional outcome of patients with cSDH is being investigated in this ongoing prospective study.

Mid-Term Results of Totally Thoracoscopic Ablation in Patients with Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation after Catheter Ablation.

BackgroundWe investigated the impact of previous catheter ablation (CA) on the midterm outcomes of totally thoracoscopic ablation in patients with lone atrial fibrillation (AF).MethodsBetween February 2012 and July 2018, 332 patients underwent totally thoracoscopic ablation for the treatment of AF (persistent AF; n=264, 80%). The patients were stratified into CA (n=47, 14%) and non-CA (nCA; n=285, 86%) groups according to their CA history.ResultsAll the baseline clinical characteristics and risk factors were similar between the groups except for age, percentage of male patients, prevalence of paroxysmal AF, prior percutaneous coronary intervention, and left atrial volume index (LAVI). No significant intergroup differences were observed in the incidence of early and late complications. At late follow-up, normal sinus rhythm was observed in 92% (43 of 47) of the patients in the CA group and 85% (242 of 285) of the patients in the nCA group (p=0.268). The rate of freedom from AF recurrence at 5 years was 55.3%±11.0% in the CA group, which was similar to that in the nCA group (55.7%±5.1%, p=0.690). In Cox regression analysis, preoperative brain natriuretic peptide levels and LAVI were associated with AF recurrence, but CA history was not significant.ConclusionTotally thoracoscopic ablation was safe and effective in treating AF irrespective of CA history. A history of CA did not appear to affect the procedural complexity.

Effect of BNP on risk assessment in cardiac surgery patients, in addition to EuroScore II

Patients’ prognostication around cardiac surgery is key to better assess risk–benefit balance. Preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) biomarker has been associated with mortality after cardiac surgery, but its added value with EuroScore 2 remains to be confirmed. In a prospective registry cohort of 4,980 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, the prognostic performance of EuroScore 2 and preoperative BNP was assessed regarding postoperative in-hospital mortality. Discrimination feature was evaluated using receiver-operator-characteristics analysis with area under curve (AUROC). Calibration feature was assessed using Hosmer–Lemeshow test. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess the association between covariates and in-hospital mortality. In-hospital mortality was 3.7%. The AUROC of EuroScore 2 was 0.82 (95% confidence interval (95%CI) 0.79–0.85, p < 0.0001). The AUROC of BNP was 0.66 (95%CI 0.62–0.70, p < 0.0001). The combined model with an AUROC of 0.67 (95%CI 0.63–0.71, p = 0.0001) did not yield better AUROC than EuroScore 2 alone (p < 0.0001 in disfavor of the combined model), nor BNP alone (p = 0.79). In multivariable analysis, EuroScore 2 remained independently associated with mortality (adj.OR of 1.12 (1.10–1.14), p < 0.0001), but BNP was not. Preoperative BNP was not an independent risk factor of postoperative mortality and did not add prognostic information, as compared to EuroScore 2 alone.Clinical trial registry Registry for the Improvement of Postoperative OutcomeS in Cardiac and Thoracic surgEry (RIPOSTE) database (NCT03209674).

Risk factors of atrial fibrillation occurring after radical surgery of esophageal carcinoma

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after radical surgery of esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to explore AF risk factors after radical surgery of esophageal carcinoma.MethodThe data of 335 patients with esophageal cancer who were admitted in our hospital from January 2014 to August 2016 for the first time were retrospectively analyzed. We retrieved the papers in some data banks using the search terms including English and Chinese search terms, and obtained 13 factors which were mentioned in more than 6 papers. The 13 factors including age, gender, history of smoking, history of hypertension, history of peripheral vascular disease, history of cardiac stents or angina pectoris, preoperative pulmonary infection, preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, preoperative left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, operative method, lesion location, intraoperative blood transfusion, adhesion between lymph nodes and pericardium, underwent univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsOf the 335 patients with esophageal cancer, 48 had AF within one week after operation. Univariate analysis indicated that the age (OR: 4.89; CI: 2.53–9.47, P: 0.000), gender (OR: 2.26; CI: 1.17–4.37, P: 0.013), history of peripheral vascular disease (OR: 2.29; CI: 1.06–4.92, P: 0.030), history of cardiac stents or angina pectoris (OR: 27.30; CI: 12.44–59.91, P: 0.000), preoperative BNP level (OR: 27.13; CI: 10.97–67.06, P: 0.000), preoperative left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (OR: 2.22; CI: 1.19–4.14, P: 0.012), operative method (OR: 2.09; CI: 1.002–4.380, P: 0.046), intraoperative blood transfusion (OR: 20.24; CI: 8.39–48.82, P: 0.000), and adhesion between lymph nodes and pericardium were risk factors (OR: 2.05; CI: 1.08–3.87, P: 0.024). Furthermore, multivariate analysis displayed that advanced age (OR: 5.044; CI: 1.748–14.554, P: 0.003), male (OR: 6.161; CI: 2.143–17.715, P: 0.001), history of cardiac stents or angina pectoris (OR: 48.813; CI: 13.674–174.246, P: 0.000), preoperative BNP > 100 (OR: 41.515; CI: 9.380–183.732, P: 0.000), open surgery (OR: 3.357; CI: 1.026–10.983, P: 0.045), intraoperative blood transfusion (OR: 58.404; CI: 10.777–316.509, P: 0.000), and adhesion between lymph nodes and pericardium (OR: 3.954; CI: 1.364–11.459, P: 0.011) were risk factors which could increase the incidence of postoperative AF.ConclusionWe should pay attention to the above risk factors in order to reduce the incidence of postoperative AF.

A brain natriuretic peptide-based prediction model for atrial fibrillation after thoracic surgery: Development and internal validation

ObjectivePostoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after anatomic thoracic surgery. Elevated preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is strongly associated with risk of POAF. We describe the development and internal validation of a clinical prediction model for POAF that includes BNP and other clinical factors. MethodsClinical and preoperative BNP data were collected for 635 patients in sinus rhythm before anatomic lung (n = 540) or esophageal (n = 95) resection. The primary outcome was new onset of POAF (>5 minutes) during hospitalization. A prediction model was developed using multivariable logistic regression analysis and internally validated using a bootstrap-resampling approach. ResultsPOAF occurred in 20% of patients (124 out of 635). BNP level was higher among patients with than without POAF (median, 45 vs 23 pg/mL; P < .0001). The final prediction model included 5 factors: age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.08; P = .001), body mass index (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.00-1.09; P = .016), BNP level (75th vs 25th percentile, 57.5 vs 12.5 pg/mL; OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.26-3.43; P = .0003), history of atrial fibrillation (OR, 5.91; 95% CI, 2.47-14.11; P < .0001), and extent of surgery (compared with segmentectomy [reference]: pneumonectomy OR, 6.70; 95% CI, 1.91-24.70; esophagectomy OR, 4.93; 95% CI, 1.94-14.06; lobectomy OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 4.90-8.34; overall P = .0002). The model had good calibration and discrimination (C statistic, 0.736). After internal validation, optimism-corrected measures showed similarly good calibration and discrimination (C statistic, 0.720; 95% CI, 0.664-0.765). ConclusionsOur novel prediction model-based interactive calculator can be used to identify patients at high risk of POAF and could be incorporated into practice prevention guidelines.

Preoperative Echocardiographic Indices of Diastolic Dysfunction and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Predicting Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Noncardiac Surgery.

We have shown previously that either echocardiographic indices of diastolic dysfunction or increased preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) predict postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). Because these 2 predictors of POAF have not been evaluated together, our goal was to further elucidate their concurrent role in patients undergoing noncardiac thoracic surgery. We retrospectively identified 191 patients who had a preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram and serum BNP level collected as part of routine care before major lung or esophageal resection. Clinical and echocardiographic data were compared between patients who did or did not develop POAF (>5 minutes), and prognostic factors for POAF were identified. Univariate associations with POAF (41 of 191; 22% patients) included older age (P = .04), male sex (P = .01), hypertension (P = .03), increased body mass index (P = .01), and prolonged transmitral flow deceleration time (P < .0001), whereas BNP was not statistically significant (P = .07). Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that both increasing transmitral flow deceleration time (continuous data log base 2 transformed; odds ratio, 16.05; 95% confidence interval, 3.74-68.96; P = .0002) and left atrial diastolic volume index (continuous data log base 2 transformed; odds ratio, 3.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-8.91; P = .02) were independent risk factors of POAF (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.73). There was no significant interaction between BNP and the 2 independent variables (P = .60, and P = .90), respectively. In a cohort of patients who had echocardiography and BNP measurements before undergoing major thoracic surgery, this study showed that when evaluated together greater preoperative left atrial diastolic volume index and transmitral flow deceleration time but not BNP levels were independent predictors for POAF.

Echocardiography is useful to predict postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing isolated coronary bypass surgery: A prospective study

Postoperative atrial fibrillation is a major complication following coronary artery bypass graft. We hypothesized that, beyond clinical and electrocardiogram (ECG) data, transthoracic echocardiography could improve the prediction of postoperative atrial fibrillation. We prospectively studied 169 patients in sinus rhythm who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass graft in our institution. Clinical, biological, ECG and transthoracic echocardiography data were collected within 24 h before surgery. The patients were continuously monitored during the first five days, and then had daily 12-lead ECG afterwards until discharge. Postoperative atrial fibrillation was defined by any episode >10 min. Postoperative atrial fibrillation was found in 65 patients (38%). Compared with those without, patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation were significantly older ( p=0.008), had more frequently a history of hypertension ( p=0.009), history of atrial fibrillation ( p<0.001) and New York Heart Association class ⩾III ( p=0.004). They also had longer PR interval ( p=0.005), higher preoperative NT-pro brain natriuretic peptide level ( p=0.006), left ventricle end-diastolic volume ( p=0.002), indexed left ventricle mass ( p<0.0001), indexed maximal left atrial volume ( p<0.0001), maximal right atrial area ( p<0.001) and lower left ventricle ejection fraction ( p=0.04). In multivariate analysis, history of atrial fibrillation (odds ratio =6.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.4-26.0, p=0.02) and indexed maximal left atrial volume (odds ratio =1.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.2, p=0.001) were the only two independent predictive factors of postoperative atrial fibrillation. The addition of echocardiographic parameters improved the predictive value (χ2) of the model, from 34 to 57. A history of atrial fibrillation and indexed left atrial maximal volume are the best predictors of the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass graft. The identification of high risk population of postoperative atrial fibrillation using these two factors could lead to the development of targeted strategies to limit this frequent complication in these patients.

Intervention for Varicose Veins of Lower Extremities Lowers the Brain Natriuretic Peptide Values in Varicose Vein Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between varicose veins and heart failure, both of which cause edema of lower extremities.Materials and Methods: We enrolled 150 patients who underwent intervention for varicose veins of lower extremities between December 2012 and October 2015, and perioperative data were retrospectively investigated.Results: Of the 150 patients, 104 (69.3%) were females. The mean age was 66.8±10.6 years (27–85 years). Eighty (53.3%) patients had varicose veins in both legs. In all patients, the postoperative (brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) value was significantly lower than the preoperative BNP value (pre : post=39.3 : 30.5 pg/dl, P<0.0001). In patients with higher BNP values (>100 pg/dl), the postoperative BNP values were significantly lower than the preoperative BNP values (pre : post=192.7 : 166.1 pg/dl, P<0.0001). Body weights of the patients decreased differently between pre- and post-operation (pre : post=61.3 : 59.4 kg, P=0.0008).Conclusion: Intervention for varicose veins of lower extremities might be considered clinically useful for the improvement of cardiac function.

Perioperative Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients: Its Association With Postoperative Outcomes

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perioperative brain natriuretic peptide levels and the incidence of postoperative serious adverse events (SAEs) in pediatric cardiac patients. A prospective observational study. A single-institution university hospital. Children under 15 years old who underwent cardiac surgery that required cardiopulmonary bypass from December 21, 2012 to February 26, 2014. The Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 category less than 1 was excluded. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were measured preoperatively (BNPpre) and on postoperative day 1 (BNPPOD1) and postoperative day 3 (BNPPOD3). Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative SAEs; (1) death in the intensive care unit, (2) requirement of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, (3) cardiac arrest, and (4) requirement of reoperation for hemodynamic instability. The authors included 71 patients in this study. There were 8 patients (11%) who had at least 1 SAE. Median preoperative BNP level in patients with SAEs was significantly higher than in those without SAEs (1,541 pg/mL [IQR: 121-5,962] v 122 pg/mL [QR: 34-342], p = 0.01). From the receiver operating characteristic curve of BNPpre for the incidence of SAEs, an area under the curve was 0.77 (95%CI 0.55-0.91). The best cutoff BNPpre number was 1,000 pg/mL. From the multivariate logistic regression model, BNPpre>1,000 pg/mL was associated independently with risk of SAEs (adjusted odds ratio = 8.5, 95% CI [1.3, 59.3], p = 0.02). In conclusion, the authors' study showed that increased preoperative brain natriuretic peptide concentration, especially a concentration of more than 1,000 pg/mL, was associated with risk of SAEs in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.