Faculty Bibliography

Stroke is a serious complication of noncardiac surgery. Congenital defects of the interatrial septum may be a potent risk factor for perioperative stroke. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO) and in-hospital perioperative ischemic stroke after non-cardiac surgery in a large nationwide cohort of patients hospitalized in the United States. Patients undergoing noncardiac surgery between 2004 and 2014 were identified using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample. Patients without an in-hospital echocardiogram were excluded. The presence of an ostium secundum-type ASD or PFO was identified by ICD-9 diagnosis code 745.5. The primary study outcome was perioperative acute ischemic stroke. Between 2004 and 2014, there were 639,985 admissions for noncardiac surgery with an in-hospital echocardiogram. An ASD or PFO was documented in 9,041 (1.4%) hospitalizations. Perioperative ischemic stroke occurred more frequently in patients with an ASD or PFO compared with those without an ASD or PFO (35.1% vs 6.0%, p <0.001). The association between ASD or PFO and ischemic stroke persisted after adjustment for demographics and clinical covariates (adjusted odds ratio 6.30, 95% confidence interval, 5.59 to 7.10) and in all non-cardiac surgery subtypes. In conclusion, in a large, nationwide analysis of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, a diagnosis of ASD or PFO was associated with an increased risk of acute ischemic stroke overall and in all surgical subtypes. Additional measures are necessary to mitigate stroke risk in patients with septal defects who are planned for non-cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE:To assess the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and its individual phenotypes of coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and cerebrovascular disease by age and sex in a large US cohort of hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS:A nested case-control study of adults with and without SLE was conducted from the January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2014, National Inpatient Sample. Hospitalized patients with SLE were matched (1:3) by age, sex, race, and calendar year to hospitalized patients without SLE. The prevalences of CAD, PAD, and cerebrovascular disease were evaluated, and associations with SLE were determined after adjustment for common cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS:Among the 252,676 patients with SLE and 758,034 matched patients without SLE, the mean age was 51 years, 89% were women, and 49% were white. Patients with SLE had a higher prevalence of ASCVD vs those without SLE (25.6% vs 19.2%; OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.44-1.47; P<.001). After multivariable adjustment, SLE was associated with a greater odds of ASCVD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46; 95% CI, 1.41-1.51). The association between SLE and ASCVD was observed in women and men and was attenuated with increasing age. Also, SLE was associated with increased odds of CAD (aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.40-1.44), PAD (aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.22-1.28), and cerebrovascular disease (aOR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.65-1.71). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:In hospitalized US patients, SLE was associated with increased ASCVD prevalence, which was observed in both sexes and was greatest in younger patients.

Background and Purpose- Perioperative stroke is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Conventional cardiovascular risk scores have not been compared to predict acute stroke after noncardiac surgery. Methods- Patients undergoing noncardiac surgery between 2009 and 2010 were identified from the US National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (n=540 717). Patients were prospectively followed for 30 days postoperatively for the primary outcome of stroke. Established cardiovascular and perioperative risk scores (CHADS₂, CHA₂DS₂-VASc, Revised Cardiac Risk Index, Mashour et al risk score, Myocardial Infarction or Cardiac Arrest risk score, and National Quality Improvement Project American College of Surgeons surgical risk calculator) were assessed to predict perioperative stroke. Results- Stroke occurred in the perioperative period of 1474 noncardiac surgeries (0.27%). Patients with perioperative stroke were older, more frequently male, had lower body mass index, and were more likely to have undergone vascular surgery or neurosurgery than patients without stroke ( P<0.001 for each comparison). All risk prediction models were associated with increased risk of perioperative stroke (C statistic [AUC] range, 0.743-0.836). The Myocardial Infarction or Cardiac Arrest risk score (AUC, 0.833) and American College of Surgeons surgical risk calculator (AUC, 0.836) had the most favorable test characteristics and a greater ability to discriminate perioperative stroke when compared with Revised Cardiac Risk Index, CHADS₂, CHA₂DS₂-VASc, and Mashour risk scores ( P for comparison, <0.001; Delong). Risk scores did not provide consistent discriminative ability across surgery types and were least predictive in vascular surgery (AUC range, 0.588-0.672). Conclusions- The Myocardial Infarction or Cardiac Arrest risk score and American College of Surgeons surgical risk calculator surgical risk scores provide excellent risk discrimination for perioperative stroke in most patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Stroke prediction was less optimal in patients undergoing vascular surgery.

BACKGROUND:The impact of thrombocytopenia on revascularization and outcomes in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction remains poorly understood. We sought to evaluate associations between thrombocytopenia, in-hospital management, bleeding, and cardiovascular outcomes in patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction in the United States. METHODS:Patients hospitalized from 2004 to 2014 with a primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction were identified from the National Inpatient Sample. Management of acute myocardial infarction was compared between patients with and without thrombocytopenia. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds of in-hospital adverse events stratified by thrombocytopenia and adjusted for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, and treatment. RESULTS:A total of 6,717,769 patients were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and thrombocytopenia was reported in 219,351 (3.3%). Patients with thrombocytopenia were older, more likely to have other medical comorbidities, were more likely to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (28.8% vs. 8.2%, p<0.001), and were less likely to receive a drug eluting stent (15.5% vs. 29.5%, p<0.001). After multivariable adjustment, thrombocytopenia was independently associated with nearly two-fold increased odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR 1.91, 95% CI 1.86-1.97). Thrombocytopenia was also independently associated with ischemic stroke, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest and bleeding complications. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with thrombocytopenia in the setting of acute myocardial infarction had increased odds of bleeding, cardiovascular outcomes, and mortality compared with patients without thrombocytopenia. Future investigations to mitigate the poor prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction and thrombocytopenia are warranted.

Myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) is a common post-operative complication associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the incidence, clinical features, pathogenesis, management, and outcomes of MINS. We searched PubMed, Embase, Central and Web of Science databases for studies reporting the incidence, clinical features, and prognosis of MINS. Data analysis was performed with a mixed-methods approach, with quantitative analysis of meta-analytic methods for incidence, management, and outcomes, and a qualitative synthesis of the literature to determine associated pre-operative factors and MINS pathogenesis. A total of 195 studies met study inclusion criteria. Among 169 studies reporting outcomes of 530,867 surgeries, the pooled incidence of MINS was 17.9% (95% CI 16.2%-19.6%). Patients with MINS were older, more frequently men, and more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors and known coronary artery disease. Post-operative mortality was higher among patients with MINS than those without MINS, both in-hospital (8.1%, 95% CI 4.4%-12.7% versus 0.4%, 95% CI 0.2%-0.7%; relative risk 8.3, 95% CI 4.2 - 16.6, p<0.001) and at 1-year after surgery (20.6%, 95% CI 15.9%-25.7% versus 5.1%, 95% CI 3.2%-7.4%; relative risk 4.1, 95% CI 3.0 - 5.6, p<0.001). Few studies reported mechanisms of MINS or the medical treatment provided. In conclusion, MINS occurs frequently in clinical practice, is most common in patients with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, and is associated with increased short- and long-term mortality. Additional investigation is needed to define strategies to prevent MINS and treat patients with this diagnosis.

Background: Perioperative stroke is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Conventional cardiovascular risk scores have not been validated to predict acute stroke after non-cardiac surgery. Method(s): Patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery between 2009-2011 were identified from the United States National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (n=540,717). Established cardiovascular and perioperative risk models (CHADS, CHADS2VASC, RCRI, MICA and NSQIP ACS Surgical Risk Calculator [ACS-SRC]) were assessed to predict perioperative stroke. Receiver operating characteristic curves and c-statistics (AUC) were compared using Delong's test and likelihood ratios. Result(s): Stroke occurred in the perioperative period of 1,474 non-cardiac surgeries (0.2%). Patients with stroke were older, more frequently male, had lower body mass index, and were more likely to have undergone vascular surgery (p<0.001 all comparisons). The MICA risk score had the most favorable test characteristics in predicting perioperative stroke (AUC 0.83; Figure), and outperformed the more complex ACS-SRC model (AUC 0.81, p for comparison <0.001). In the subgroup of patients undergoing vascular surgery, the AUCs ranged from 0.59-0.67. Conclusion(s): The MICA surgical risk score provides excellent risk prediction for perioperative stroke in non-cardiac surgery. Stroke prediction in vascular surgery is suboptimal. Efforts to prevent perioperative stroke in high risk surgical patients are necessary. [Figure presented]2019 American College of Cardiology Foundation. All rights reserved

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure of >25mm Hg at rest, is strongly associated with morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period. The prevalence and outcomes of PH among patients referred for major noncardiac surgery in the United States are unknown. Patients ≥18 years of age hospitalized for noncardiac surgery were identified from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample data from 2004 to 2014. Pulmonary hypertension was defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes. The primary outcome was perioperative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACCE), defined as in-hospital death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke. Among 17,853,194 hospitalizations for major noncardiac surgery, 143,846 (0.81%) had PH. MACCE occurred in 8.3% of hospitalizations with any diagnosis of PH in comparison to 2.0% of those without PH (p <0.001), driven by an increased frequency of death (4.4% vs 1.1%, p <0.001) and nonfatal myocardial infarction (3.2% vs 0.6%, p <0.001). After adjusting for demographics, clinical covariates, and surgery type, PH remained independently associated with MACCE (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.46). In conclusion, PH is associated with perioperative major adverse cardiovascular events. Careful patient selection, recognition of perioperative risks, and appropriate intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring may improve perioperative cardiovascular outcomes.

Cardiogenic shock occurs in up to 5% to 10% of acute myocardial infarctions(MI) and is associated with high short- and long-term mortality risk. Since its introduction into clinical practice >50 years ago, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsion has been used empirically to provide hemodynamic support in patients undergoing coronary revascularization in the setting of MI and cardiogenic shock. In the landmark SHOCK (Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock) trial, conducted between 1993 and 1998, intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP) were placed in 86% of participants, irrespective of the assigned management strategy.¹ Although expert opinion supported clinical benefit of IABP use in cardiogenic shock, the first large randomized, multi-center trial of IABP, published in 2012, upended this conventional wisdom. The IABP-SHOCK II(Intra-aortic Balloon Pump in Cardiogenic Shock II) trial randomly assigned 600 participants planned for early revascularization of acute MI complicated by cardiogenic shock to either IABP placement or no IABP placement.² The primary end point was 30-day all-cause mortality. At 30 days, all-cause mortality was 40%, with no difference between patients randomized to receive an IABP versus those who were not. There were no differences between treatment groups in secondary outcomes, including bleeding, ischemic complications, stroke, time to hemodynamic stabilization, intensive care unit length of stay, and the dose and duration of catecholamine therapy. A previous intermediate-term report of IABP-SHOCK II trial outcomes demonstrated no difference between treatment groups for allcause mortality at 12 months.³ In this issue of Circulation, Thiele et al⁴ report the 6-year results of the IABPSHOCK II randomized trial. At 6 years of follow-up, all-cause mortality was high and did not differ between the IABP and control groups (66.3% versus 67.0%) in intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and as-treated analyses. No signal for benefit associated with IABP use was observed in any prespecified or post hoc subgroups. There were no differences in the frequency of recurrent MI, repeat revascularization, stroke, or cardiovascular rehospitalization between the 2 groups. Quality of life, measured by the EuroQol 5D questionnaire and New York Heart Association classification, was favorable in survivors of cardiogenic shock. Four of 5 survivors had New York Heart Association Class I or II symptoms, with no difference between patients randomly assigned to IABP and no IABP therapy.

BACKGROUND:Myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) is a common post-operative cardiovascular complication and is associated with short and long-term mortality. The objective of this study was to describe the contemporary management of patients with and without MINS after total joint and spine orthopedic surgery at a large urban health system in the United States. METHODS:Adults admitted for total joint and major spine surgery from January 2013 through December 2015 with ≥1 cardiac troponin (cTn) measurement during their hospitalization were identified. MINS was defined by a peak cTn above the 99th percentile of the upper reference limit. Demographics, medical comorbidities, and admission and discharge medications were reviewed for all patients. RESULTS:A total of 2561 patients underwent 2798 orthopedic surgeries, and 236 cases of MINS were identified. Patients with MINS were older (71.9 ± 10.9 vs. 67.0 ± 10.0, p < 0.001) and more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease, prior stroke, coronary artery disease, prior MI, and a history of heart failure. Among patients with MINS, only 112 (47.5%) were discharged on a combination of aspirin and statin. Patients with MINS were more likely to be prescribed a statin (154 [65.3%] vs. 1463 [57.1%], p = 0.018), beta-blocker (147 [62.3%] vs. 1194 [46.6%], p < 0.001), and oral anticoagulation (65 [27.5%] vs. 436 [17.0%], p < 0.001) than patients without MINS. CONCLUSIONS:The proportion of patients with MINS who were prescribed medical therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was low. Additional efforts to determine optimal management of MINS are warranted.