Preoperative Heart Failure Research Articles

Risk factors and characteristics of preoperative heart failure in elderly patients with hip fracture and the influence of anemia on prognosis

BackgroundPatients with preoperative acute heart failure (AHF) after hip fracture in the elderly have a worse prognosis. We aim to investigate the characteristics, risk factors and postoperative complications of elderly patients with hip fracture complicated with preoperative AHF. We also looked at the effect of the severity of anemia at admission on the prognosis of the above people.MethodsA retrospective study of hip fracture patients (aged ≥ 65) admitted to the Department of Geriatric Orthopaedics, Third Hospital, Hebei Medical University, was conducted from January 2018 to October 2020. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess risk factors for preoperative AHF. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve shows the relationship between the severity of anemia on admission and all-cause mortality in elderly hip fracture patients with preoperative AHF.ResultsOut of the 1092 patients, 503 had preoperative AHF and the incidence of it in hip fracture patients was 46.1%. Age, coronary artery disease, chronic atrial fibrillation, Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI), admission anemia, admission albumin < 40 g/dl, and admission C-reactive protein (CRP) were all significantly different between those with AHF and those without. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥ 80 years (OR 1.740, 95% CI 1.309–2.313), coronary artery disease (OR 1.417, 95% CI 1.017–1.975), chronic atrial fibrillation (OR 4.010, 95% CI 1.757–9.152), admission anemia (OR 1.433, 95% CI 1.051–1.953) are the independent risk factors for preoperative AHF in elderly patients with hip fracture (p < 0.05). The HF group exhibited a higher incidence of postoperative complications, such as anemia, arrhythmia, NOAF (new‐onset atrial fibrillation), AIS (acute ischemic stroke), electrolyte disturbance and hypoproteinemia. The moderate-to-severe anemia group had a higher incidence of postoperative complications, including deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, NOAF, and hypoproteinemia, as well as all-cause mortality.ConclusionOlder patients combined with admission anemia, coronary artery disease, chronic atrial fibrillation are more likely to have preoperative AHF after hip fracture. For such patients, early and effective identification and strengthening perioperative management can avoid the occurrence of adverse events. For patients with moderate and severe anemia at admission, timely intervention is recommended to reduce postoperative complications and mortality.

ASSESSMENT OF ORGAN DYSFUNCTION IN INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS COMPLICATED BY ACUTE HEART FAILURE

Resume. Most of the identified risk assessment and prognostic systems for infective endocarditis (IE) focus on surgical risk, and therefore, cannot assess the risk of organ failure in patients receiving medical treatment with multiple comorbidities. To date, there is no standardized prognostic risk scale for organ failure in patients with IE. Objective. Evaluate the dynamics of sepsis-associated organ dysfunction scores in patients with IE complicated by preoperative acute heart failure undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Materials and methods. The study included clinical data from 75 patients with IE complicated by preoperative acute heart failure (AHF), who were hospitalized at the State Institution «Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine» from 01.01.2019 to 01.01.2023. The diagnosis of IE was made according to the Duke criteria. All patients were classified as NYHA class IV. At the perioperative stage, clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed, and sepsis-associated organ dysfunction scores were calculated. Results. Based on the clinical parameters obtained, the SOFA score was calculated at the preoperative stage. There were no patients with a score of «0» or «1». At the preoperative stage, all patients exhibited signs of multiorgan dysfunction. The largest cohort consisted of patients with a score of «3» (25 patients with IE). Scores of «4», «5», and «6» were recorded in 18, 12, and 9 patients with IE, respectively. In the presence of HF decompensation and multiorgan failure (SOFA scores of «9», «10», and «11»), 3 patients (4.0 %) with IE died at the preoperative stage. Despite the high risk of postoperative complications, cardiac surgery was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass in 96 % of cases (72 patients). Assessment of patients with IE complicated by preoperative HF on day 2 in the ICU showed an increase in the proportion of patients without signs of multiple organ failure according to the SOFA scale: «0» points - 7 patients, «1» point - 4 patients, «2» points - 22 patients. The proportion of patients with SOFA scores of «3» and «4» was 14 and 12 cases, respectively. The proportion of patients with SOFA scores of «5» and «6» decreased to 5 and 3 patients, respectively. On the second postoperative day, 33 (45.83 %) patients were without signs of multiple organ failure. Conclusions: Effective risk assessment in patients with IE complicated by preoperative HF may play a key role in selecting the optimal time for surgery. The SOFA score can be a useful prognostic tool for assessing the severity of IE.

Establishment and validation of clinical prediction model and prognosis of perioperative pneumonia in elderly patients with hip fracture complicated with preoperative acute heart failure

BackgroundElderly hip fracture was a common orthopedic emergency with high perioperative complication risks. Combined with preoperative acute heart failure, the risk increases further, with pneumonia being a common complication. The aim of this study was to construct and evaluate risk factor prediction models for perioperative pneumonia in these patients and to explore prognostic factors.MethodsA retrospective study design was used to collect data on elderly patients with hip fracture combined with preoperative acute heart failure at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022. The feature variables were screened by logistic regression and nomogram was constructed. The receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC), decision curve analysis (DCA), and calibration curve were employed to assess the predictive power of the model. Correlation heatmaps and shapley additive explanation (SHAP) were employed to assess key variables and their impact. Employing the Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression, the patients’ prognosis was ultimately evaluated.Results535 elderly patients with hip fracture combined with preoperative acute heart failure were included in this study. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify combined respiratory disease, hemoglobin, albumin, neutrophils, and blood glucose as independent danger factors for perioperative pneumonia (p < 0.05). The nomogram was designed to display the outcomes instinctively, with an AUC of 0.819. The model was internally validated by initiating self-sampling 1000 times. The calibration curve indicated that the model had excellent treaty. The DCA curve showed that the model had good validity and clinical practicability. Correlation heatmaps and SHAP were visualized and analyzed. The K-M curves indicated that the prognosis of the non-pneumonia group was better than that of the pneumonia group (p = 0.014). COX regression analysis found that the major risk factors for all-cause mortality in patients with acute heart failure(AHF) were age, brain natriuretic peptide, platelet count, and combined respiratory failure (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe prediction model, established in this study, was highly accurate and proved a potent instrument for clinical evaluation of the perioperative pneumonia risk of elderly hip fracture patients with preoperative acute heart failure. We hope that this study can reduce the occurrence of perioperative pneumonia in patients and improve the prognosis of patients.

Results of surgical treatment of infective endocarditis complicated by acute heart failure

Objective. To evaluate the results of surgical treatment of infective endocarditis complicated by acute heart failure. Materials and methods. The clinical data of 72 patients with infective endocarditis complicated by preoperative acute heart failure who underwent cardiac surgery at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine from 01.01.2019 to 30.12.2022 were studied. All patients were assigned to functional class IV according to the functional classification of the New York Heart Association. Results. The average duration of infective endocarditis from its first signs (hyperthermia above 38 °C) to diagnosis was 2 months (2; 4 months). Among the causes of infective endocarditis, bronchopulmonary diseases dominated – 24 (33.3%) observations, general surgical interventions – 7 (9.7%) and hospital infection – 7 (9.7%). Urologic surgical interventions caused the development of infective endocarditis in 6 (8.3%) patients, hypothermia in 4 (5.6%), drug addiction in 4 (5.6%), and dental procedures in 1 (1.4%) patient. In 19 (26.4%) patients, the causes of infective endocarditis were not established. In 62 (86.1%) patients, a multi–valve correction was performed, and in 10 (13.9%) – a single–valve correction. The most common were two main options: aortic valve prosthetics in combination with mitral and tricuspid valve surgery in 13 (18.1%) patients and mitral and tricuspid valve surgery in 14 (19.4%) patients. Surgical intervention for combined lesions of the valvular apparatus of the left and right heart was performed in 51 (70.8%) patients with infective endocarditis complicated by acute heart failure. Frequent intracardiac abscessing – in 20 (27.8%) patients with aortic valve lesions and in 9 (12.5%) patients with mitral valve lesions – indicated a high rate of extensive infection spread. Hospital mortality in the surgical treatment of infective endocarditis complicated by acute heart failure was 13.9%. 10 patients died. Conclusions. In 96.1% of patients with infective endocarditis complicated by preoperative acute heart failure, multivalve surgical correction was performed. In the initial acute heart failure in the setting of infective endocarditis, intracardiac abscessing was often recorded: 27.8% in aortic valve lesions and 12.5% in mitral valve lesions. Hospital mortality in the surgical treatment of infective endocarditis complicated by preoperative acute heart failure was 13.9%.

Predictive modeling of preoperative acute heart failure in older adults with hypertension: a dual perspective of SHAP values and interaction analysis

BackgroundIn older adults with hypertension, hip fractures accompanied by preoperative acute heart failure significantly elevate surgical risks and adverse outcomes, necessitating timely identification and management to improve patient outcomes.Research objectiveThis study aims to enhance the early recognition of acute heart failure in older hypertensive adults prior to hip fracture surgery by developing a predictive model using logistic regression (LR) and machine learning methods, optimizing preoperative assessment and management.MethodsEmploying a retrospective study design, we analyzed hypertensive older adults who underwent hip fracture surgery at Hebei Medical University Third Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022. Predictive models were constructed using LASSO regression and multivariable logistic regression, evaluated via nomogram charts. Five additional machine learning methods were utilized, with variable importance assessed using SHAP values and the impact of key variables evaluated through multivariate correlation analysis and interaction effects.ResultsThe study included 1,370 patients. LASSO regression selected 18 key variables, including sex, age, coronary heart disease, pulmonary infection, ventricular arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction, and anemia. The logistic regression model demonstrated robust performance with an AUC of 0.753. Although other models outperformed it in sensitivity and F1 score, logistic regression’s discriminative ability was significant for clinical decision-making. The Gradient Boosting Machine model, notable for a sensitivity of 95.2%, indicated substantial capability in identifying patients at risk, crucial for reducing missed diagnoses.ConclusionWe developed and compared efficacy of predictive models using logistic regression and machine learning, interpreting them with SHAP values and analyzing key variable interactions. This offers a scientific basis for assessing preoperative heart failure risk in older adults with hypertension and hip fractures, providing significant guidance for individualized treatment strategies and underscoring the value of applying machine learning in clinical settings.

The Impact of Heart Failure Chronic Treatment Prior to Cardiac Transplantation on Early Outcomes.

Background and Objectives: Cardiac transplantation represents the option for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF), providing the best survival rate. However, the postoperative complications of transplant patients remain a challenge for clinicians. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative chronic HF treatment on the occurrence of in-hospital complications. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively included a total of 50 patients who underwent cardiac transplantation between January 2011 and December 2023 from the Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation of Targu Mures. We correlated the preoperative chronic HF treatment with the postoperative complications by Spearmen's correlation coefficient, respectively. With logistic regression, the associations between the treatment and specific complications were determined. Results: Significant negative correlations were found between Carvedilol treatment with 2-month mortality (r = -0.30; 95% CI: -0.53--0.02; p = 0.03), Ramipril with hospital stay (r = -0.38; 95% CI: -0.60--0.12; p < 0.01) and intensive care unit (ICU) stay (r = -0.37; 95% CI: -0.59--0.11; p = 0.01), and Spironolactone usage with hospitalization duration (r = -0.28; 95% CI: -0.52--0.01; p = 0.04). Furthermore, Carvedilol treatment represented a protective factor against early acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.05-0.91; p = 0.03). Spironolactone treatment was a protective factor against AGR (OR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02-0.66; p = 0.01) treatment, in contrast to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) therapy (OR: 5.30; 95% CI: 1.03-27.17; p = 0.04). Conclusions: Pre-transplant Carvedilol treatment was negatively correlated with the 2-month mortality rate. Ramipril and Spironolactone therapy were negatively correlated with hospitalization duration, and Ramipril was additionally correlated with ICU stay. Moreover, Carvedilol therapy represented a protective factor against early AKI. Pre-transplant Spironolactone was associated with lower event rates of AGR, in contrast to ACEI treatment. Prospective studies with larger cohorts are needed in order to draw drastic conclusions.

Effect of preoperative heart failure on arteriovenous access patency and prognosis in patients on hemodialysis.

The risk of arteriovenous (AV) access failure is associated with hemodynamic factors, clinical factors, or technical issues. Although several studies have shown the detrimental effects of AV access on heart function, few studies have assessed whether heart function affects AV access patency. We investigated the impact of cardiac function on AV access patency. Additionally, we evaluated the influence of heart failure (HF) on the prognosis of patients on dialysis. Patients who underwent dialysis and had echocardiographic reports between 2011 and 2013 were retrospectively included. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was used to measure cardiac function. Data on demographics, clinical features, and technical factors associated with AV access surgery were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors for AV access patency loss and the prognosis of patients on dialysis. During the study period, 395 patients initiated on dialysis underwent echocardiography. In multivariate analysis, older age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.02 (1-1.03), p = 0.028), smoking (HR 2.05 (1.19-3.53), p = 0.01), lower LVEF (HR 0.98 (0.97-1), p = 0.015), and graft use (HR 2.29 (1.47-3.58), p = 0.001) were significant risk factors for primary patency loss. Regarding secondary patency loss, lower LVEF (HR 0.98 (0.96-1), p = 0.035) was the sole risk factor. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for cardiac events (acute coronary syndrome and aggravation of HF) in patients on dialysis were age (HR 1.06 (1.04-1.09), p = 0.001), diabetes (HR 2.46 (1.31-4.63), p = 0.005), pre-existing coronary artery disease (HR 2.84 (1.57-5.14), p = 0.001), and HF (HR 1.93 (1.05-3.56), p = 0.036). Decreased cardiac function adversely affects the primary and secondary patency of AV access, but its impact is limited. Additionally, HF is associated with future cardiac events in dialysis patients. However, HF is not independently associated with patient survival.

Developing a prediction model for preoperative acute heart failure in elderly hip fracture patients: a retrospective analysis

BackgroundHip fractures in the elderly are a common traumatic injury. Due to factors such as age and underlying diseases, these patients exhibit a high incidence of acute heart failure prior to surgery, severely impacting surgical outcomes and prognosis.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the potential risk factors for acute heart failure before surgery in elderly patients with hip fractures and to establish an effective clinical prediction model.MethodsThis study employed a retrospective cohort study design and collected baseline and preoperative variables of elderly patients with hip fractures. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were adopted to ensure sample consistency. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 24.0 and R software. A prediction model was developed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by analyzing the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and a calibration curve was plotted to assess the model’s calibration.ResultsBetween 2018 and 2019, 1962 elderly fracture patients were included in the study. After filtering, 1273 were analyzed. Approximately 25.7% of the patients experienced acute heart failure preoperatively. Through LASSO and logistic regression analyses, predictors for preoperative acute heart failure in elderly patients with hip fractures were identified as Gender was male (OR = 0.529, 95% CI: 0.381–0.734, P < 0.001), Age (OR = 1.760, 95% CI: 1.251–2.479, P = 0.001), Coronary Heart Disease (OR = 1.977, 95% CI: 1.454–2.687, P < 0.001), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (OR = 2.484, 95% CI: 1.154–5.346, P = 0.020), Complications (OR = 1.516, 95% CI: 1.033–2.226, P = 0.033), Anemia (OR = 2.668, 95% CI: 1.850–3.847, P < 0.001), and Hypoalbuminemia (OR 2.442, 95% CI: 1.682–3.544, P < 0.001). The linear prediction model of acute heart failure was Logit(P) = -2.167–0.637×partial regression coefficient for Gender was male + 0.566×partial regression coefficient for Age + 0.682×partial regression coefficient for Coronary heart disease + 0.910×partial regression coefficient for COPD + 0.416×partial regression coefficient for Complications + 0.981×partial regression coefficient for Anemia + 0.893×partial regression coefficient for Hypoalbuminemia, and the nomogram prediction model was established. The AUC of the predictive model was 0.763, indicating good predictive performance. Decision curve analysis revealed that the prediction model offers the greatest net benefit when the threshold probability ranges from 4 to 62%.ConclusionThe prediction model we developed exhibits excellent accuracy in predicting the onset of acute heart failure preoperatively in elderly patients with hip fractures. It could potentially serve as an effective and useful clinical tool for physicians in conducting clinical assessments and individualized treatments.

Ten-Year Follow-Up of Mitral Valve Replacement With the Epic Porcine Valve in a Medicare Population

BackgroundBioprosthetic surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR) remains an important treatment option in the era of transcatheter valve interventions. This study presents 10-year clinical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries who underwent SMVR with a contemporary low-profile mitral porcine valve. MethodsThis was a single-arm observational study using Medicare fee-for-service claims data. Deidentified patients undergoing SMVR with the Epic mitral valve (Abbott) in the United States between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2019 were selected by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision procedure codes and then linked to a manufacturer device tracking database. All-cause mortality, heart failure (HF) rehospitalization, and mitral valve reintervention (surgical or transcatheter valve-in-valve) were evaluated at 10 years by using the Kaplan-Meier method. ResultsAmong 75,739 Medicare beneficiaries undergoing SMVR during the study period, 14,015 received the Epic mitral valve (Abbott), 76.5% (10,720) of whom had underlying HF. The mean age was 74 ± 8 years. Survival at 10 years in patients without preoperative HF was 40.4% (95% CI, 37.4%-43.4%) compared with 25.4% (95% CI ,23.8%-27.0%) for patients with HF (P < .001). The 10-year freedom from HF rehospitalization was 51.3% (95% CI, 49.4%-53.1%). Freedom from mitral valve reintervention was 91.4% (95% CI, 89.7%-92.7%) at 10 years. ConclusionsThis real-world nationwide study of Medicare beneficiaries receiving the Epic mitral valve demonstrates >90% freedom from all-cause valve reintervention and >50% freedom from HF rehospitalization at 10 years after implantation. Long-term survival and HF rehospitalization in this population with mitral valve disease treated with SMVR was found to be affected by underlying HF.

MICROBIOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS COMPLICATED BY HEART FAILURE

Resume. Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious disease that can lead to severe complications and death. The study of the microbiological spectrum of pathogens in such patients is great importance for optimizing treatment and increasing the effectiveness treatment. The spectrum of IE pathogens has changed significantly over the past decades. A positive microbiological blood test remains the cornerstone in diagnosis and etiotropic antimicrobial therapy of IE. Considering the global mobility of the population and the growing resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics, it is necessary to update our knowledge about the microbiological spectrum of infective endocarditis constantly. THE AIM was to investigate the microbiological spectrum of pathogens in patients with infective endocarditis complicated by heart failure. Materials and methods. Clinical data of 120 patients with active infective endocarditis who underwent treatment at the SE «Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery» National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine from 01.01.2019 to 06.30.2020 were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of IE was established in accordance with Duke's criteria. The average age of the studied patients was 48.1±1.37 (19-77) years. Results. The rate of gram-positive and gramnegative microorganisms was 69 (93.2 %) cases and 5 (6.8 %) cases respectively. Gram-positive microorganisms were found – Staphylococcus spp. in 42 (56.8 %) cases and Enterococcus spp. in 20 (27.0 %) cases. A high level of oxacillin-resistant (p=0.072) and vancomycin-resistant (p=0.027) strains of microorganisms were found in the group of patients with preoperative heart failure. Conclusions: The microbiological spectrum of IE pathogens in patients with heart failure is characterized by the predominance of gram-positive strains that are resistant to oxacillin and vancomycin. Positive results of bacteriologic blood tests were found in 74 cases out of the total number, which is 61.7 %. Of these, gram-positive microorganisms were detected in 69 cases (93.2 %), while gram-negative microorganisms were detected in only 5 cases (6.8 %). The most common gram-positive microorganisms were Staphylococcus spp. (56.8 %) and Enterococcus spp. (27.0%). There was also found that risk factors such as nosocomial infections, hypothermia and drug abuse can contribute to the development of UI. The overall frequency of nosocomial factors in the development of the disease was 36.7 %. Urological interventions (12.5 %) and general surgical interventions (20.8 %) were among the most common. Our study included patients with active UI who had positive bacteriologic blood tests and signs of a systemic inflammatory response. In these patients, the mean body temperature at hospitalization was 38.3 °C, and the mean heart rate was 91.0 beats/min. The organ dysfunction detected in patients with complicated IE was also confirmed by high levels of creatinine (168.2 mcg/L) and urea (13.3 mmol/L). A comparative analysis of laboratory results also revealed a high level of resistant strains of microorganisms in the group of patients with complicated IE. Thus, the data obtained confirm the seriousness of the problem of infective endocarditis and emphasize the need for further research to develop effective strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, especially in patients with complicated course.

Cardiac Hemodynamic Features in Patients with Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Acute Heart Failure

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare but devastating disease. The main complications of IE are heart failure (HF), sepsis (in particular, due to perivascular spread of infection), and embolic events, most often those of cerebral local-ization. The diagnosis of IE combines various factors that are not specific to IE when considered separately. Echocardiog-raphy remains the first-line imaging modality for the diagnosis of IE. The aim. To determine the features of intracardiac complications that occur in patients with IE at the preoperative stage using ultrasound diagnostics. Materials and methods. The study included clinical data of 120 patients with IE who underwent examination and treatment from 01/01/2019 to 06/30/2020 at the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. The diagnosis of IE was established in accordance with the modified Duke/Eu-ropean Society of Cardiology 2015 criteria. The mean age of the studied patients was 46.3 ± 1.37 (19-69 years). Results. A high rate of nosocomial factors in the development of the disease was determined: 49 (40.9%) cases, of which 15 (12.5%) cases and 25 (20.8%) cases were urological and general surgical interventions, respectively. Preopera-tive HF was found in 16 (13.3%) cases. In the group of patients with acute HF, cases of left heart valve disease with peri-annular complications dominated: 9 (56.3%) cases of abscesses and 3 (18.8%) cases of fistulae. Significant differences were found in the assessment of the cardiac index: in the group of patients with IE without signs of HF, the cardiac index was 4.9 ± 0.2, and in the group of patients with preoperative HF it was 3.7 ± 0.4 (p = 0.098). Patients with acute HF were characterized by a higher level of acute kidney injury (creatinine 168.2 ± 40.7 μmol/L, urea 13.3 ± 2.5 mmol/L). Conclusions. The obtained results indicate a high incidence of intracardiac complications in patients with IE, in par-ticular, those caused by nosocomial infections and medical interventions. Ultrasound diagnostics (echocardiography) is an important tool for detecting and monitoring intracardiac complications at the preoperative stage, which can affect the treatment strategy and prognosis. A thorough examination of a patient with IE allows to identify critical features of cardiac hemodynamic disorders and ensure timely cardiac surgery.

Epicardial placement of human placental membrane allografts in coronary artery bypass graft surgery is associated with reduced postoperative atrial fibrillation: a pilot study for a future multi-center randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPost-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in up to 40% of patients following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and is associated with a higher risk of stroke and mortality. This study investigates how POAF may be mitigated by epicardial placement of aseptically processed human placental membrane allografts (HPMAs) before pericardial closure in CABG surgery. This study was conducted as a pilot feasibility study to collect preliminary for a forthcoming multi-center randomized controlled trial.MethodsThis retrospective observational study of patients undergoing CABG surgery excluded patients with pre-operative heart failure, chronic kidney disease, or a history of atrial fibrillation. The “treatment” group (n = 24) had three HPMAs placed epicardially following cardiopulmonary bypass decannulation but before partial pericardial approximation and chest closure. The only difference in clinical protocol for the control group (n = 54) was that they did not receive HPMA.ResultsHPMA-treated patients saw a significant, greater than four-fold reduction in POAF incidence compared to controls (35.2–8.3%, p = 0.0136). Univariate analysis demonstrated that HPMA treatment was associated with an 83% reduction in POAF (OR = 0.17, p = 0.0248). Multivariable analysis yielded similar results (OR = 0.07, p = 0.0156) after controlling for other covariates. Overall length of stay (LOS) between groups was similar, but ICU LOS trended lower with HPMA treatment (p = 0.0677). Post-operative inotrope and vasopressor requirements were similar among groups. There was no new-onset post-operative heart failure, stroke, or death reported up to thirty days in either group.ConclusionsEpicardial HPMA placement can be a simple intervention at the end of CABG surgery that may provide a new approach to reduce post-operative atrial fibrillation by modulating local inflammation, possibly reducing ICU and hospital stay, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Individualized Perioperative Hemodynamic Management Using Hypotension Prediction Index Software and the Dynamics of Troponin and NTproBNP Concentration Changes in Patients Undergoing Oncological Abdominal Surgery.

Abdominal oncologic surgeries pose significant risks due to the complexity of the surgery and patients' often weakened health, multiple comorbidities, and increased perioperative hazards. Hypotension is a major risk factor for perioperative cardiovascular complications, necessitating individualized management in modern anesthesiology. This study aimed to determine the dynamics of changes in troponin and NTproBNP levels during the first two postoperative days in patients undergoing major cancer abdominal surgery with advanced hemodynamic monitoring including The AcumenTM Hypotension Prediction Index software (HPI) (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) and their association with the occurrence of postoperative cardiovascular complications. A prospective study was conducted, including 50 patients scheduled for abdominal cancer surgery who, due to the overall risk of perioperative complications (ASA class 3 or 4), were monitored using the HPI software. Hypotension was qualified as at least one ≥ 1 min episode of a MAP < 65 mm Hg. Preoperatively and 24 and 48 h after the procedure, the levels of NTproBNP and troponin were measured, and an ECG was performed. We analyzed data from 46 patients and found that 82% experienced at least one episode of low blood pressure (MAP < 65 mmHg). However, the quality indices of hypotension were low, with a median time-weighted average MAP < 65 mmHg of 0.085 (0.03-0.19) mmHg and a median of 2 (2-1.17) minutes spent below MAP < 65 mmHg. Although the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury was 10%, there was no evidence to suggest a relationship with hypotension. Acute kidney injury was seen in 23.9% of patients, and it was significantly associated with a number of episodes of MAP < 50 mmHg. Levels of NTproBNP were significantly higher on the first postoperative day compared to preoperative values (285.8 [IQR: 679.8] vs. 183.9 [IQR: 428.1] pg/mL, p < 0.001). However, they decreased on the second day (276.65 [IQR: 609.4] pg/mL, p = 0.154). The dynamics of NTproBNP were similar for patients with and without heart failure, although those with heart failure had significantly higher preoperative concentrations (435.9 [IQR: 711.15] vs. 87 [IQR: 232.2] pg/mL, p < 0.001). Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery showed a statistically significant increase in NTproBNP. This study suggests that advanced HPI monitoring in abdominal cancer surgery effectively minimizes intraoperative hypotension with no significant NTproBNP or troponin perioperative dynamics, irrespective of preoperative heart failure.

Cerebral regional oxygen saturation as a predictive parameter for preoperative heart failure and delayed hemodynamic recovery in transcutaneous aortic valve implantation: a retrospective cohort study.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of perioperative cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) with various preoperative clinical variables and hemodynamic changes during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) under general anesthesia. We retrospectively analyzed cerebral rSO2 values from left-hemisphere measurements obtained using near-infrared spectroscopy (O3™ regional oximetry) at five time points: pre-induction, the start of the procedure, the start of valve deployment, time of lowest cerebral rSO2 value during valve deployment, and the end of the procedure. This study included 91 patients (60 with balloon-expandable valves and 31 with self-expandable valves). The baseline cerebral rSO2 values were correlated with B-type natriuretic peptide, hemoglobin, fractional shortening, ejection fraction, left ventricular mass index, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, STS risk of mortality, and STS morbidity or mortality. The patients who took longer to recover their systolic blood pressure to 90 mmHg after valve deployment with a balloon-expandable valve (group B) had lower cerebral rSO2 values during deployment compared to patients with faster recovery with balloon-expandable valve (group A) and with self-expandable valve (group C). Baseline cerebral rSO2 is associated with preoperative variables related to cardiac failure and function, and a significant decline during valve deployment may indicate a risk of prolonged hypotension during TAVI.

What drives variability in postoperative cardiac surgery transfusion rates?

ObjectiveWide interhospital variation exists in cardiac surgical postoperative transfusion rates. We aimed to compare transfusion rates at 2 hospitals and identify the institutional practice factors, unrelated to patient or operative characteristics, associated with postoperative transfusion rates. MethodsRecords for adult patients undergoing routine cardiac surgery at 2 hospitals (H and L) from February 2020 to August 2022 were analyzed. Patient and operative characteristics, preoperative and intensive care unit hemoglobin values, and postoperative transfusion rates were compared. Transfusion indication was recorded prospectively. Propensity matching was completed to assess comparability of patient populations. ResultsAfter propensity matching patients at H and L on age, procedure type, predicted morbidity or mortality, crossclamp time, preoperative hypertension, preoperative heart failure, and preoperative stroke, 2111 patients remained, with similar characteristics except hypertension. Matched results showed no significant differences in mortality, reoperation, or other major outcomes. Hospital H transfused 36% of patients (mean postoperative hemoglobin [Hb] 10.5) with 1483 units of packed red blood cells whereas hospital L transfused 12% of patients (mean postoperative Hb 9.4) with 198 units of packed red blood cells (P < .001). For all patients with a Hb >7.5, hospital H versus L transfused 27% versus 0.9% (P < .001). Hospital L’s sole transfusion indication for pretransfusion hemoglobin trigger >7.5 was bleeding versus hospital H, which had multiple indications. When Hb concentration alone was the indication for transfusion, the threshold at hospital H was <7.5 g/dL versus <6 g/dL at hospital L. ConclusionsVariation in transfusion rates between hospitals H and L resulted from strict adherence at hospital L to a transfusion trigger of <6 g/dL with narrow indications for transfusions above that Hb concentration.

Sex Disparities in Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Delayed Presentation and Worse Right Heart Failure.

We explored whether women undergo continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation in later stages of heart failure (HF) than men, evidenced by worse preoperative right HF (RHF). We also compared two propensity models with and without preoperative RHF to assess its effect on outcomes. INTERMACS was queried from July 2008 to December 2017. Propensity model 1 matched men and women on age ≥50 years, HF etiology, body surface area, INTERMACS class, comorbidities, device strategy, temporary mechanical circulatory support, and device type. Model 2 included these variables plus LV end-diastolic diameter, right atrial pressure/pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary artery pulsatility index, and right ventricular ejection fraction. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes comprise RHF, rehospitalization, renal dysfunction, stroke, and device malfunction. In model 1, characteristics were comparable between 3,195 women and 3,195 men, except women more often had preoperative RHF and postoperative right VAD support and had worse 1 year and overall survival. In model 2, after propensity matching for additional risk factors for preoperative RHF, 1,119 women and 1,119 men had comparable post-LVAD implant RVAD use and survival. These findings suggest that women present more often with biventricular failure and after implantation have higher RHF and mortality rates.

Predictors of low cardiac output syndrome after combined mitral and tricuspid valve surgery.

Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) is a common complication in cardiac surgery, and we evaluated the incidence of its early occurrence after mitral and tricuspid combined cardiac surgery and its associated risk factors. Retrospective, single institution study. We included 88 consecutive adult patients with severe mitral insufficiency scheduled for elective mitral and tricuspid valve replacement surgery between January 2015 and November 2018. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of LCOS, defined as the need for inotropic support or circulatory assistance after surgery. The secondary endpoint was mortality at 30 days. LCOS occurred in 26 patients (29.5%) of the studied patients and its associated risk factors that appeared in the multivariate analysis were chronic kidney failure [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-9.9, p = 0.05], pre-operative left ventricular heart failure (OR 5.3; 95% CI 1.3-10.9, p = 0.002), pre-operative right ventricular heart failure (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.1-11.5, p = 0.02), and mitral valve replacement (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.2-12.6, p = 0.03). LCOS affected the survival of patients (HR = 5.5; 95% CI 1.1-27.7 p = 0.04). LCOS is a frequent complication after mitral and tricuspid combined surgery and is associated with poor prognosis.

Impact of congestive heart failure on patients undergoing lumbar spine fusion for adult spine deformity.

With the increasing amount of elective spine fusion patients presenting with cardiac disease and congestive heart failure, it is becoming difficult to assess when it is safe to proceed with surgery. Assessing the severity of heart failure (HF) through ejection fraction may provide insight into patients' short- and long-term risks. The purpose of this study was to assess the severity of HF on perioperative outcomes of spine fusion surgery patients. This was a retrospective cohort study of the PearlDiver database. We enrolled 670,526 patients undergoing spine fusion surgery. Thirty-day and 90-day complication rates, discharge destination, length of stay (LOS), physician reimbursement, and hospital costs. Patients undergoing elective spine fusion surgery were isolated and stratified by preoperative HF with preserved ejection fraction (P-EF) or reduced ejection fraction (R-EF) (International Classification of Diseases-9: 428.32 [chronic diastolic HF] and 428.22 [chronic systolic HF]). Means comparison tests (Chi-squared and independent samples t-tests, as appropriate) compared differences in demographics, diagnoses, comorbidities, procedural characteristics, LOS, 30-day and 90-day complication outcomes, and total hospital charges between those diagnosed with P-EF and those not R-EF. Binary logistic regression assessed the odds of complication associated with HF, controlling for levels fused (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval]). Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Totally 670,526 elective spine fusion patients were included. Four thousand and seventy-seven were diagnosed with P-EF and 2758 R-EF. Overall, P-EF patients presented with higher rates of morbid obesity, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (all P < 0.001). In relation to No-HF, P-EF patients had higher rates of 30-day major complications including pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), myocardial infarctions (MI), sepsis, and death (all P < 0.001). Furthermore, P-EF was associated significantly with increased odds of pneumonia (OR: 2.07 [1.64-2.56], P < 0.001) and sepsis (OR: 2.09 [1.62-2.66], P < 0.001). Relative to No-HF, R-EF was associated with significantly higher odds of MI (OR: 3.66 [2.34-5.47]), CVA (OR: 2.70 [1.67-4.15]), and pneumonia (OR: 1.85 [1.40-2.40]) (all P < 0.001) postoperative within 30 days. Adjusting for prior history of MI, CAD, and the presence of a pacemaker R-EF was a significant predictor of an MI 30 days postoperatively (OR: 2.2 [1.14-4.32], P = 0.021). Further adjusting for history of CABG or stent placement, R-EF was associated with higher odds of CVA (OR: 2.11 [1.09-4.19], P = 0.028) and MI (OR: 2.27 [1.20-4.43], P = 0.013). When evaluating the severity of HF before spine surgery, R-EF was associated with a higher risk of major complications, especially the occurrence of a myocardial infarction 30 days postoperatively. During preoperative risk assessment, congestive HF should be considered thoroughly when thinking of postoperative outcomes with emphasis on R-EF.

The Utility of the Vasoactive-Inotropic Score and Its Nomogram in Guiding Postoperative Management in Heart Transplant Recipients.

In the early postoperative stage after heart transplantation, there is a lack of predictive tools to guide postoperative management. Whether the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) can aid this prediction is not well illustrated. In total, 325 adult patients who underwent heart transplantation at our center between January 2015 and December 2018 were included. The maximum VIS (VISmax) within 24h postoperatively was calculated. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. A logistic regression model was established to determine independent risk factors and to develop a nomogram for a composite severe adverse outcome combining early mortality and morbidity. VISmax was significantly associated with extensive early outcomes such as early death, renal injury, cardiac reoperation and mechanical circulatory support in a grade-dependent manner, and also predicted 90-day and 1-year survival (p < 0.05). A VIS-based nomogram for the severe adverse outcome was developed that included VISmax, preoperative advanced heart failure treatment, hemoglobin and serum creatinine. The nomogram was well calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshow p = 0.424) with moderate to strong discrimination (C-index = 0.745) and good clinical utility. VISmax is a valuable prognostic index in heart transplantation. In the early post-transplant stage, this VIS-based nomogram can easily aid intensive care clinicians in inferring recipient status and guiding postoperative management.

Risk factors and prognosis of preoperative herat failure after hip fracture

To explore incidence, risk factors and the relationship between preoperative heart failure and prognosis in elderly patients with hip fracture. A retrospective analysis was performed on 1 569 elderly patients with hip fracture treated from January 2012 to December 2019, including 522 males and 1 047 females, aged 81.00 (75.00, 90.00) years old;896 intertrochanteric fractures and 673 femoral neck fractures. Patients were divided into heart failure and non-heart failure groups according to whether they developed heart failure before surgery, and heart failure was set as the dependent variable, with independent variables including age, gender, fracture type, comorbidities and hematological indicators, etc. Univariate analysis was performed at first, and independent variables with statistical differences were included in multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Independent risk factors for preoperative heart failure were obtained. The length of hospital stay, perioperative complications, mortality at 30 days and 1 year after surgery were compared between heart failure and non-heart failure groups. There were 91 patients in heart failure group, including 40 males and 51 females, aged 82.00 (79.00, 87.00) years old;55 patients with intertrochanteric fracture and 36 patients with femoral neck fracture. There were 1 478 patients in non-heart failure groups, including 482 males and 996 females, aged 81.00(75.00, 86.00) years old;841 patients with intertrochanteric fracture and 637 patients with femoral neck fracture. There were significant differences in age, sex, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia and dementia between two groups(P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic analysis of statistically significant factors showed that males(OR=1.609, P=0.032), age(OR=1.032, P=0.031), arrhythmia(OR=2.045, P=0.006), dementia (OR=2.106, P=0.014) were independent risk factor for preoperative heart failure. The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 9.9% and 26.4% in heart failure group and 3.6% and 13.8% in non-heart failure group, respectively;and had statistical significance between two groups (P<0.05). There were significant differences in pulmonary infection, cerebrovascular complications and cardiovascular complications between two groups (P<0.05). The duration of hospitalization in heart failure group was (16.21±10.64) d compared with that in non-heart failure group (13.26±8.00) d, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.513, P=0.012). Male, old age, arrhythmia and dementia are independent risk factors for heart failure after hip fracture in elderly patients. Patients with preoperative heart failure have a higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular complications, higher mortality at 30 d and 1 year after surgery, and longer hospital stay.