Background. Re-exploration for bleeding after cardiac surgery is an indicator of substantial haemorrhage and is associated with increased hospital resource utilization. This study aimed to analyse the costs of re-exploration and estimate the costs of haemostatic prophylaxis. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods. A total of 4232 patients underwent isolated, first-time, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery during 2005-8. Each patient re-explored for bleeding (n = 127) was matched with two controls not requiring re-exploration (n = 254). Cost analysis was based on resource utilization from completion of CABG until discharge. A mean cost per patient for re-exploration was calculated. Based on this, the net cost of prophylactic treatment with haemostatic drugs for preventing re-exploration was calculated. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults. Patients undergoing re-exploration had higher exposure to clopidogrel before operation, prolonged stays in the intensive care unit, and more blood transfusions than controls. The mean incremental cost for re-exploration was (sic)6290 [95% confidence interval (CI) (sic)3408-(sic)9173] per patient, of which 48% [(sic)3001 (95% CI (sic)249-(sic)2147)] was due to prolonged stay, 31% [(sic)1928 (95% CI (sic)1710-(sic)2147)] to the cost of surgery/anaesthesia, 20% [(sic)1261 (95% CI (sic)1145-(sic)1378)] to the increased number of blood transfusions, and andlt;2% [(sic)100 (95% CI (sic)39-(sic)161)] to the cost of haemostatic drugs. A cost model, at an estimated 50% efficacy for recombinant activated clotting factor VIIa and a 50% expected risk for re-exploration without prophylaxis, demonstrated that to be cost neutral, prophylaxis of four patients needed to result in one avoided re-exploration. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions. The resource utilization costs were substantially higher in patients requiring re-exploration for bleeding. From a strict cost-effectiveness perspective, clinical interventions to prevent haemorrhage might be underutilized.

Objective - The reliability of conventional scalar ECG for diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) in cardiac surgery has been questioned. For the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in general vectorcardiography (VCG) is superior to ECG. Therefore, the usefulness of conventional VCG and computerized analysis of spatial VCG changes for diagnosis of PMI were studied.

Design - VCG registrations were obtained from 218 patients undergoing coronary surgery. The spatial QRS vector loop area of each VCG registration was calculated and the loop area before surgery compared with the loop area after surgery. Conventional VCG criteria for myocardial infarction and set values for loop area reduction were related to sustained elevation of plasma troponin-T and clinical course.

Results - Both conventional VCG criteria and spatial changes translated better than Q-waves on scalar ECG into elevation of biochemical markers of myocardial injury and impaired clinical course.

Conclusion - VCG appears superior to conventional ECG as regards detection of myocardial injury in coronary surgery. Computerized programs have facilitated the registration and the interpretation of VCG and this methodology deserves further evaluation in cardiac surgery.

Background: Release of biochemical markers of myocardial injury unrelated to permanent myocardial damage has been claimed to explain a major proportion of elevations seen after cardiac surgery. However, little is known about the magnitude of this unspecific release. The aim of this study was to shed light on this issue by serial measurements in patients without permanent myocardial injury after coronary surgery.

Methods: The unique release kinetics of troponin-T were employed to identify patients with no or minimal permanent myocardial injury. 302 patients undergoing CABG procedures (employing cardiopuhnonary bypass, crystalloid cardioplegia and retransfusion of shed mediastinal blood) were studied.

Results: 90 patients were found to have normalized troponin-T levels no later than the fourth postoperative day indicating that early elevation of biochemical markers was explained almost purely by unspecific release. In this subgroup troponin-T (2.03±1.36 µg/L; range 0.35-8.99 µg/L) peaked at the 3 hour recording and CK-MB (28.3±10.7 µg/L; range 11.9-86 µg/L) peaked at the 8 hour recording after unclamping the aorta.

Conclusions: A substantial early release of CK-MB and troponin-T occurred in patients with no or minimal permanent myocardial injury after CABG. The time frame when unspecific release was most pronounced is frequently studied to evaluate myocardial protective strategies or to compare different treatment modalities. Also, differences in unspecific release of biochemical markers can be expected depending on type of surgical procedure or coronary intervention. Therefore, further efforts to hring clarity about diagnostic pitfalls are warranted to prevent inappropriate comparisons and to improve our assessment of myocardial damage in association with revascularisation procedures.

Objective - ECG diagnosis of myocardial infarction after cardiac surgery is associated with major pitfalls and enzyme diagnosis is interfered by unspecific elevation unrelated to permanent myocardial injury. Sustained release of troponin-T is a marker of permanent myocardial injury if renal function is maintained. However, early identification of perioperative myocardial infarction is desirable and therefore the usefulness of creatine kinase monobasic (CK-MB) kinetics to detect myocardial injury early after coronary surgery was investigated.

Design - Two hundred and eighty-six patients undergoing coronary surgery were studied with respect to release of enzymes and troponin-T preoperatively and postoperatively 3 and 8 h after unclamping the aorta, and every morning postoperative days 1-4.

Results - CK-MB peak was found at 3 h ( n = 145), 8 h ( n = 103) and 16-20 h after unclamping ( n = 38). Depending on when the CK-MB peak was recorded different demographic and perioperative characteristics were found. A sustained release of troponin-T was characteristic for the group with the CK-MB peak at 16-20 h after unclamping.

Conclusion - If CK-MB is measured only once it may be advisable to do it on the first postoperative morning as these measurements provided the best discrimination between patients with and without sustained elevation of troponin-T. However, repeated sampling provides additional information that aids in the early identification of permanent myocardial injury particularly in patients with borderline elevations of CK-MB.

Objective - Biochemical markers of myocardial injury are frequently elevated after cardiac surgery. It is generally accepted that release unrelated to permanent myocardial damage explains a proportion of these elevations. However, little is known about the magnitude and temporal characteristics of this diagnostic noise. One way to address this issue would be to study a group without permanent myocardial injury. Design - The unique release kinetics of troponin-T (permanent myocardial injury causes a sustained release of structurally bound troponin) were used to identify patients with no or minimal permanent myocardial injury. Blood was sampled from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) before surgery, 3 and 8 h after unclamping the aorta, and each morning until postoperative day 4, for analysis of enzymes and troponin-T. From 302 consecutive patients a subgroup was identified that fulfilled the following criteria: (a) normalized troponin-T levels =postoperative day 4, (b) no ECG changes indicating myocardial injury. Results - Seventy-seven patients fulfilled the criteria above and in this subgroup troponin-T (2.08 ▒ 1.42 ╡g/ 1, range 0.35-8.99 ╡g/l) peaked at the 3 h recording and creatine kinase monobasic (CK-MB) (28.6 ▒ 11.3 ╡g/l, range 11.9-86.0 ╡g/l) peaked at the 8 h recording after unclamping the aorta. Conclusion - Substantial early elevations of plasma CK-MB and troponin-T occurred in patients with no or minimal permanent myocardial injury after CABG. Unspecific release was most pronounced during the timeframe that is usually studied to evaluate myocardial protective strategies or to compare revascularization procedures.

Objective. The aim of the study was to analyze risk factors and clinical outcome in patients sustaining perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) after cardiac surgery.

Design. A retrospective, case control study was conducted, in which 42 patients fulfilling both Q-wave criteria and enzyme criteria for PMI, or autopsy diagnosis, from a cohort of 1147 operated on during the same time period were compared with matched controls. A follow-up by telephone interview was conducted, on average 24 months after the operation.

Results. Unstable angina, peripheral vascular disease, short stature and low body weight were more prevalent in the PMI group. Intraoperative remarks of poor quality coronary vessels and incomplete revascularization were more frequent in the PMI group, 30-day mortality was 24% in the PMI group vs 0% in the control group (p < 0.01). The postoperative course was more complicated and protracted in the PMI group. At follow-up, the control group managed significantly better with regard to freedom from angina and the need for nitroglycerine. However, 24 of the 30 survivors in the PMI group reported an improved quality of life after surgery.

Conclusions. We found that PMI was mainly associated with coronary surgery and that unstable angina was the most important preoperative risk factor for PMI. Poorer conditions for revascularization may explain some of the infarcts and could also contribute to the impaired long-term outcome in the PMI group.

Objective. Pectoral muscle flaps (PMF) are effective in terminating protracted sternal wound infections (SWI) but long-term outcome remains uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate long-term outcome in patients treated with PMF. Design. Thirty-four of 263 patients revised because of deep SWI from 1991-2005 were treated with PMF. Of the 21 patients alive, 11 had left-sided, two right-sided and eight bilateral procedures. Sternal debridement without closure of the sternum was done in 17 patients. Nineteen of 21 patients responded to a questionnaire. Results. At follow-up on average 5.9 years (range 1.9-14.8 years) after surgery 63% (12/19) experienced unstable chest. Two thirds (12/18) reported problems carrying a grocery bag and 37% (7/19) had problems putting on a coat. Reduction of power and mobility was more common in the right arm and shoulder even in patients with left-sided PMF. Thirty-two percent (6/19) would have preferred alternative treatment if possible to avoid sternal instability even if healing had been substantially delayed. Conclusions. Surgery with PMF and sternal debridement was associated with long-term disability, which appeared to be significant in one third of the patients. The function of the right arm and shoulder was affected more often despite the majority of procedures being left-sided suggesting that loss of skeletal continuity of the chest wall is more disabling than loss of pectoral muscle function.

n/a

In a previous randomized controlled trial (LOGIP trial) the addition of local collagen-gentamicin reduced the incidence of postoperative sternal wound infections (SWI) compared with intravenous prophylaxis only. Consequently, the technique with local gentamicin was introduced in clinical routine at the two participating centers. The aim of the present study was to re-evaluate the technique regarding the prophylactic effect against SWI and to detect potential shifts in causative microbiological agents over time. All patients in this prospective two-center study received prophylaxis with application of two collagen-gentamicin sponges between the sternal halves in addition to routine intravenous antibiotics. All patients were followed for 60 days postoperatively. From January 2007 to May 2008, 1359 patients were included. The 60-day incidences of any SWI was 3.7% and of deep SWI 1.5% (1.0% mediastinitis). Both superficial and deep SWI were significantly reduced compared with the previous control group (OR=0.34 for deep SWI, Pless than0.001). There was no increase in the absolute incidence of aminoglycoside resistant agents. The majority of SWI were caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). The incidence of deep SWI caused by Staphylococcus aureus was 0.07%. The results indicate a maintained effect of the prophylaxis over time without absolute increase in aminoglycoside resistance.

Objectives. In a randomized trial addition of local collagen-gentamicin in the sternal wound reduced the rate of sternal wound infection (SWI) to about 50% compared to intravenous prophylaxis alone. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the economic rationale for its use in every-day clinical practice. This includes the question whether high-risk groups that may have particular benefit should be identified.

Design. For each patient with SWI in the trial the costs attributable to the SWI were calculated. Risk factors for SWI were identified and any heterogeneity of the effect of the prophylaxis examined.

Results. The mean cost of a SWI was about 14500 Euros. A cost effectiveness analysis showed that the prophylaxis was cost saving. The positive net balance was even higher in risk groups. Assignment to the control group, overweight, diabetes, younger age, mammarian artery use, left ventricular ejection fraction < 35% and longer operation time were independent risk factors for infection.

Conclusion. The addition of local collagen-gentamicin to intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis was dominant, i.e. resulted in both lower costs and fewer wound infections.

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of the number of sternal fixation wires used on deep sternal wound infection rate and to analyze any possible interaction between this and local collagen-gentamicin prophylaxis evaluated in a previous trial. Methods: The number of sternal fixation wires in all patients from one of two participating centers was counted. The patients were categorized according to six or fewer (standard technique, ST group) vs. seven or more wires (extra wires, XW group). Results: The incidence of deep sternal wound infection was 4.2% in the ST group and 0.4% in the XW group (p = 0.001). An analysis of the effect of local gentamicin, excluding the ST group from the analysis, showed an approximately 70% reduction in sternal wound infection for all depths. Conclusion: This study supports the theory that additional fixation wires at the lower sternum actually reduce the incidence of deep wound infections. We suggest that a rigid sternal fixation is required to achieve the full benefit of local collagen-gentamicin prophylaxis. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG.

Sternal wound infection (SWI) is a serious complication after cardiac surgery. In a previous randomized controlled trial, the addition of local collagen-gentamicin in the sternal wound before wound closure was found to significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative wound infections compared with the routine intravenous prophylaxis of isoxazolyl-penicillin only. The aims of the present study were to analyse the microbiological findings of the SWIs from the previous trial as well as to correlate these findings with the clinical presentation of SWI. Differences in clinical presentation of SWIs, depending on the causative agent, could be identified. Most infections had a late, insidious onset, and the majority of these were caused by staphylococci, predominantly coagulase-negative staphylococci. The clinically most fulminant infections were caused by gram-negative bacteria and presented early after surgery. Local administration of gentamicin reduced the incidence of SWIs caused by all major, clinically important bacterial species. Propionibacterium acnes was identified as a possible cause of SWI and may be linked to instability in the sternal fixation. There was no indication of an increase in the occurrence of gentamicin-resistant bacterial isolates in the treatment group. Furthermore, the addition of local collagen-gentamicin reduced the incidence of SWIs caused by methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. This technique warrants further evaluation as an alternative to prophylactic vancomycin in settings with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND: Sternal wound infections remain a major cause of morbidity after cardiac surgery. Vancomycin is often the only effective antibiotic available for their treatment but its use for routine prophylaxis is inadvisable for ecological reasons. Local application of gentamicin produces high antibiotic concentrations in the wound. We aimed to determine whether this treatment could have an additive effect on the incidence of sternal wound infections when combined with routine prophylaxis.

METHODS: Two thousand cardiac surgery patients were randomized to routine prophylaxis with intravenous isoxazolyl-penicillin alone (control group) or to this prophylaxis combined with application of collagen-gentamicin (260 mg gentamicin) sponges within the sternotomy before wound closure. Endpoint was any sternal wound infection within 2 months postoperatively. Evaluations were double-blind and made on an intention-to-treat basis.

RESULTS: Evaluation was possible in 967 and 983 patients in the control and treatment groups, respectively. The incidence of sternal wound infection was 4.3% in the treatment group and 9.0% in the control group (relative risk 0.47; 95% confidence interval 0.33–0.68; p < 0.001). Early reoperation for bleeding was more common in the treatment group (4.0% vs 2.3%, p = 0.03). No difference in postoperative renal function was noted.

CONCLUSIONS: Local collagen-gentamicin reduced the risk for postoperative sternal wound infections. Further studies are warranted to confirm these results, particularly with regard to deep infections.

AIMS: Excessive bleeding impairs outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Current guidelines recommend withdrawal of clopidogrel and ticagrelor 5 days (120 h) before elective surgery. Shorter discontinuation would reduce the risk of thrombotic events and save hospital resources, but may increase the risk of bleeding. We investigated whether a shorter discontinuation time before surgery increased the incidence of CABG-related major bleeding complications and compared ticagrelor- and clopidogrel-treated patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS: All acute coronary syndrome patients in Sweden on dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticagrelor (n = 1266) or clopidogrel (n = 978) who underwent CABG during 2012-13 were included in a retrospective observational study. The incidence of major bleeding complications according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium-CABG definition was 38 and 31%, respectively, when ticagrelor/clopidogrel was discontinued <24 h before surgery. Within the ticagrelor group, there was no significant difference between discontinuation 72-120 or >120 h before surgery [odds ratio (OR) 0.93 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.53-1.64), P = 0.80]. In contrast, clopidogrel-treated patients had a higher incidence when discontinued 72-120 vs. >120 h before surgery (OR 1.71 (95% CI 1.04-2.79), P = 0.033). The overall incidence of major bleeding complications was lower with ticagrelor [12.9 vs. 17.6%, adjusted OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.56-0.92), P = 0.012].

CONCLUSION: The incidence of CABG-related major bleeding was high when ticagrelor/clopidogrel was discontinued <24 h before surgery. Discontinuation 3 days before surgery, as opposed to 5 days, did not increase the incidence of major bleeding complications with ticagrelor, but increased the risk with clopidogrel. The overall risk of major CABG-related bleeding complications was lower with ticagrelor than with clopidogrel.

Background. Complications of an inadequate haemodynamic state are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. Unfortunately, commonly used methods to assess haemodynamic status are not well documented with respect to outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate SV(O2) as a prognostic marker for short-and long-term outcome in a large unselected coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) cohort and in subgroups with or without treatment for intraoperative heart failure. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods. Two thousand seven hundred and fifty-five consecutive CABG patients and subgroups comprising 344 patients with and 2411 patients without intraoperative heart failure, respectively, were investigated. SV(O2) was routinely measured on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The mean (SD) follow-up was 10.2 (1.5) yr. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults. The best cut-off for 30 day mortality related to heart failure based on receiver-operating characteristic analysis was SV(O2) 60.1%. Patients with SV(O2) andlt;60% had higher 30 day mortality (5.4% vs 1.0%; P andlt; 0.0001) and lower 5 yr survival (81.4% vs 90.5%; P andlt; 0.0001). The incidences of perioperative myocardial infarction, renal failure, and stroke were also significantly higher, leading to a longer ICU stay. Similar prognostic information was obtained in the subgroups that were admitted to ICU with or without treatment for intraoperative heart failure. In patients admitted to ICU without treatment for intraoperative heart failure and SV(O2) andgt;= 60%, 30 day mortality was 0.5% and 5 yr survival 92.1%. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions. SV(O2) andlt;60% on admission to ICU was related to worse short- and long-term outcome after CABG, regardless of whether the patients were admitted to ICU with or without treatment for intraoperative heart failure.

Background Adequate monitoring of the hemodynamic state is essential after cardiac surgery and is vital for medical decision making, particularly concerning hemodynamic management. Unfortunately, commonly used methods to assess the hemodynamic state are not well documented with regard to outcome. Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO(2)) was therefore investigated after cardiac surgery. Methods Detailed data regarding mortality were available on all patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for isolated aortic stenosis during a 5-year period in the southeast region of Sweden (n=396). SvO(2) was routinely measured on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and registered in a database. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis of SvO(2) in relation to post-operative mortality related to cardiac failure and all-cause mortality within 30 days was performed. Results The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.97 (95% CI 0.96-1.00) for mortality related to cardiac failure (P=0.001) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.53-0.99) for all-cause mortality (P=0.011). The best cutoff for mortality related to cardiac failure was SvO(2) 53.7%, with a sensitivity of 1.00 and a specificity of 0.94. The negative predictive value was 100%. The best cutoff for all-cause mortality was SvO(2) 58.1%, with a sensitivity of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.84. The negative predictive value was 99.4%. Post-operative morbidity was also markedly increased in patients with a low SvO(2). Conclusion SvO(2), on admission to the ICU after surgery for aortic stenosis, demonstrated excellent sensitivity and specificity for post-operative mortality related to cardiac failure and a fairly good AUC for all-cause mortality, with an excellent negative predictive value.

BACKGROUND:

Postoperative heart failure remains the major cause of death after cardiac surgery. As N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a predictor for postoperative heart failure, the aim was to evaluate if preoperative NT-proBNP could provide additional prognostic information to the recently launched EuroSCORE II.

METHODS:

A total of 365 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery were studied prospectively. Preoperative NT-proBNP and EuroSCORE II were evaluated with regard to severe circulatory failure after operation according to prespecified criteria. To assess what clinical outcomes are indicated by NT-proBNP levels in different risk categories, the patients were stratified according to EuroSCORE II. Based on receiver operating characteristics analysis, these cohorts were assessed with regard to preoperative NT-proBNP below or above 1028 ng litre(-1). The follow-up time averaged 4.4 (0.7) yr.

RESULTS:

Preoperative NT-proBNP≥1028 ng litre(-1) [odds ratio (OR) 9.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-98.9; P=0.049] and EuroSCORE II (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.06-1.46; P=0.008) independently predicted severe circulatory failure after operation. In intermediate-risk patients (EuroSCORE II 2.0-10.0), NT-proBNP≥1028 ng litre(-1) was associated with a higher incidence of severe circulatory failure (6.6% vs 0%; P=0.007), renal failure (14.8% vs 5.4%; P=0.03), stroke (6.6% vs 0.7%; P=0.03), longer intensive care unit stay [37 (35) vs 27 (38) h; P=0.002], and worse long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS:

Combining EuroSCORE II and preoperative NT-proBNP appears to improve risk prediction with regard to severe circulatory failure after isolated CABG for ACS. NT-proBNP may be particularly useful in patients at intermediate risk according to EuroSCORE II.

Objectives. The predictive value of preoperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was evaluated in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Design. As a substudy to a clinical trial 383 patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing CABG were studied. 17 patients had a concomitant procedure. NT-proBNP was measured immediately preoperatively and evaluated with regard to in-hospital mortality, and severe circulatory failure postoperatively according to prespecified criteria. Follow-up was 3.2 +/- 0.9 years. Results. In patients with isolated CABG, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82 for in-hospital mortality and 0.87 for severe circulatory failure respectively with a best cut-off for preoperative NT-proBNP of 1028 ng/L. This cut-off level independently predicted severe circulatory failure. Patients with NT-proBNP andlt; 1028 ng/L had significantly better long-term survival (p = 0.004). Preoperative NT-proBNP was higher in patients with concomitant procedure than isolated CABG (2146 +/- 1858 v 887 +/- 1635 ng/L; p = 0.0005). In patients with concomitant procedure ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.93 for severe circulatory failure with a best cut-off for preoperative NT-proBNP of 3145 ng/L. Conclusions. Preoperative NT-proBNP predicted in-hospital mortality, severe circulatory failure postoperatively and long-term survival in patients undergoing surgery for acute coronary syndrome but a higher threshold was found in patients having concomitant procedures.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative heart failure remains the major cause of death after cardiac surgery. As NT-proBNP is a predictor for postoperative heart failure, the aim was to evaluate if preoperative NT-proBNP could provide additional prognostic information to the recently launched EuroSCORE II.

METHODS: 365 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing isolated CABG were studied prospectively. Preoperative NT-proBNP and EuroSCORE II were evaluated with regard to severe circulatory failure postoperatively according to prespecified criteria. To assess what clinical outcomes are indicated by NT-proBNP levels in different risk categories, the patients were stratified according to EuroSCORE II. Based on Reciever Operating Chracateristics (ROC) analysis these cohorts were assessed with regard to preoperative NT-proBNP below or above 1028 ng/L. Follow-up time averaged 4.4 ± 0.7 years.

RESULTS: Preoperative NT-proBNP ≥ 1028 ng/L (OR 9.9, 95%CI 1.01-98.9;p=0.049) and EuroSCORE II (OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.06-1.46;p=0.008) independently predicted severe circulatory failure postoperatively. In intermediate risk patients (EuroSCORE II 2.0 – 10.0) NT-proBNP ≥ 1028 ng/L was associated with a higher incidence of severe circulatory failure (6.6% vs 0%;p=0.007), renal failure (14.8% vs 5.4%;p=0.03), stroke (6.6 % vs 0.7 %;p=0.03) , longer ICU stay (37±35 vs 27±38 hours; p=0.002) and worse long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS: Combining EuroSCORE II and preoperative NT-proBNP appears to improve risk prediction with regard to severe circulatory failure after isolated CABG for ACS. NTproBNP may be particularly useful in patients at intermediate risk according to EuroSCORE II.

Objectives: To describe the dynamics of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) from preoperative evaluation to 6-month follow-up in patients undergoing aortic valve intervention, and to evaluate NT-proBNP with regard to 1-year mortality.

Methods: At preoperative evaluation, we prospectively included 462 patients accepted for aortic valve intervention. The median time to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR; n=336) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI; n=126) was 4 months. NT-proBNP was measured at enrolment for preoperative evaluation, on the day of surgery, postoperatively on day 1, day 3 and at the 6-month follow-up. Subgroups of patients undergoing SAVR with aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis with and without coronary artery bypass were also analysed.

Results: NT-proBNP remained stable in all subgroups during the preoperative waiting period, but displayed a substantial transient early postoperative increase with a peak on day 3 except in the TAVI group, which peaked on day 1. At the 6-month follow-up, NT-proBNP had decreased to or below the preoperative level in all groups. In the SAVR group, NT-proBNP preoperatively and on postoperative days 1 and 3 revealed significant discriminatory power with regard to 1-year mortality (area under the curve (AUC)=0.79, P=0.0001; AUC=0.71, P=0.03; and AUC=0.79, P=0.002, respectively). This was not found in the TAVI group, which had higher levels of NT-proBNP both preoperatively and at the 6-month follow-up compared with the SAVR group.

Conclusions: The dynamic profile of NT-proBNP differed between patients undergoing TAVI and SAVR. NT-proBNP in the perioperative course was associated with increased risk of 1-year mortality in SAVR but not in TAVI.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY:

Although the EuroSCORE was developed for predicting operative mortality after cardiac surgery, it has also been shown to predict long-term mortality. It has been reported that postoperative heart failure (PHF) in association with surgery, albeit comparatively benign in the short term, has a profound impact on five-year survival after surgery for aortic stenosis (AS). The study aim was to determine the combined impact of EuroSCORE and PHF on long-term survival after isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) for AS.

METHODS:

A total of 397 patients (48% females; average age 70 +/- 10 years) who underwent AVR for AS at the authors' institution between 1995 and 2000 was studied. The cohort was subdivided according to the additive EuroSCORE into a high-risk group (EuroSCORE >7) and a low-risk group (EuroSCORE < or = 7), and further analyzed in relation to PHF.

RESULTS:

The average follow up was 8.1 years (range: 5.2-11.2 years). Forty-five patients (11%) were treated for procedure-associated PHF. Patients with or without PHF and a high-risk EuroSCORE had crude five-year survivals of 57% and 64%, respectively (p = 0.6), whereas those with or without PHF but with a low-risk EuroSCORE had crude five-year survivals of 58% and 89%, respectively (p = 0.0003).

CONCLUSION:

Both PHF and a high EuroSCORE were associated with poor long-term survival. The role of PHF per se for the long-term prognosis was illustrated by the fact that the negative impact on long-term survival was almost as profound in patients of the low-risk group as of the high-risk group.

Massive haemoptysis represents a major medical emergency that is associated with a high mortality. Here we present two cases of life-threatening haemoptysis, the first caused by rupture of an aortic aneurysm into the lung in a 37-yr-old woman with polyarteritis nodosa and the second caused by massive bleeding from an angiectatic vascular malformation in the right main bronchus in a 21-yr-old woman. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy played an essential role in the diagnostic process and management of the respiratory tract. Diagnosis in the first case was obtained by CT scan and the aneurysm was treated surgically. In the second case, bronchial arteriography contributed to both definitive diagnosis and treatment. Initial cardiorespiratory management, diagnostic procedures and definitive therapy are described and reviewed. Adequate early management of the cardiorespiratory system is essential to the outcome. Aggressive measures to elucidate the cause of haemoptysis and prompt therapy are warranted because of the high risk of recurrence.

Background: Adequate mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) indicates sufficient oxygen supply and better prognosis after cardiac surgery.

Aim: In this study, clinical significance of SvO2 as an index of goal-directed therapy in postope-rative care after cardiac surgery was retrospectively assessed.

Methods: SvO2 was collected postoperatively from 741 consecutive adult patients under-going different types of cardiac surgery. SvO2 on admission to ICU was defined as base point (SvO2base). SvO2 was followed every 6 hours or whenever necessary to evaluate efficacy of postoperative therapy in the first 24 hours. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to analyze changes of SvO2 (△SvO2) in relation to hospital mortality.

Results: SvO2base demonstrated significant discriminatory power with regard to hospital mortality ( AUC 0.70; 95% CI 0.57-0.81; P=0.000). The best cutoff for SvO2base was 56.8%. Average △SvO2A for patients with SvO2base ≤56.8% (Group A ) was 10.6%. The best cutoff for △SvO2A with regard to hospital mortality was 6.6%, with a sensitivity of 0.68 and speci-ficity of 0.72. The negative predictive value was 91.2%. Average △SvO2B for patients with SvO2base>56.8% (Group B) was -2.4%. The best cutoff for △SvO2B with regard to hospital mortality was -4.5%, with a sensitivity of 0.61 and specificity of 0.79.The negative predictive value was 99.5%.

Conclusion: An increase of SvO2 by more than 6.6% in patients with SvO2base≤56.8% may improve prognosis significantly. Goal of ICU therapy for patients with SvO2base> 56.8% should be to avoid a drop of SvO2 by more than 4.5%, in order to prevent from worsened prognosis.

Aims/hypothesis: Cultured endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells from different vascular beds express several fold more IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR) than insulin receptors (IR). The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression of IR and IGF-IR in tissue samples from the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to see if there is a higher gene expression of IGF-IR compared to IR in arterial tissue in vivo.

Methods: Samples from LIMA (n=16) were obtained at coronary bypass surgery, immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -70°C until analysis. The samples were thawed, placed on ice and dissected free from surrounding connective tissue and fat, homogenized and total RNA was extracted. Receptor mRNA was analyzed by quantitative real time RT-PCR and comparison of C_T-values.

Results: LIMA samples were obtained from 16 patients, 10 non-diabetic and 6 diabetic patients. Gene expression of IGF-IR was detected in all LIMA samples, however, the insulin receptor mRNA was under the detection limit in 4 samples. Compared to IR the gene expression of IGF-IR was 36 fold higher (n=12. p <0.0001). The relative gene expression of IGF-IR to IR in LIMA from non-diabetic patients (n=9) and diabetic patients (n=3) was similar, 39 and 32 fold, respectively.

Conclusions/interpretation: Our results in mammary artery samples indicate that IGF-IR are more expressed than IR in arterial tissue in vivo.

Platelet dysfunction is an important cause of postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery. Protamine is routinely used for reversal of heparin after cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP), but may affect platelet aggregation. We assessed changes in platelet function in relation to protamine administration. Design: Platelet aggregation was analyzed by impedance aggregometry before and after protamine administration in 25 adult cardiac surgery patients. Aggregation was also studied after in vitro addition of heparin and protamine. The activators adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thrombin receptor activating peptide-6 (TRAP), arachidonic acid (AA) and collagen (COL) were used.Results: Platelet aggregation was reduced by approximately 50% after in vivo protamine administration; ADP 640 +/- 230 (AU*min, mean +/- SD) to 250 +/- 160, TRAP 939 +/- 293 to 472 +/- 260, AA 307 +/- 238 to 159 +/- 143 and COL 1022 +/- 350 to 506 +/- 238 (all p&lt;0.001). Aggregation was also reduced after in vitro addition of protamine alone with activators ADP from 518 +/- 173 to 384 +/- 157 AU*min p&lt;0.001, and AA 449 +/- 311 to 340 +/- 285 (p&lt;0.01) and protamine combined with heparin (1:1 ratio) with activators ADP to 349 +/- 160 and AA to 308 +/- 260 (both p&lt;0.001); and COL from 586 +/- 180 to 455 +/- 172 (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Protamine given after CPB markedly reduces platelet aggregation. Protamine added in vitro also reduces platelet aggregation, by itself or in combination with heparin.