Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Ventricular assist devices(VAD) implantation/removal is a complex surgical procedure with perioperative bleeding complications occurring in nearly half of the cases. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has been used off-label to control severe hemorrhage in surgery and trauma. We report here our experience with rFVIIa as a rescue therapy to achieve hemostasis in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) and/or VAD implantation. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted from Jan 03 to Aug 05 for patients who received rFVIIa for the management of intractable bleeding unresponsive to standard hemostatic blood component therapy. Blood loss and the quantity of blood products, prior to, and for at least 12 hours after, administration of rFVIIa were recorded. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 53, (38-64 yrs), mean dose of rFVIIa administered was 78.3 microg/kg (24-189 microg/kg) in 1-3 doses. All patients received the drug either intraoperatively or within 6 hours of arrival in ICU. Mean transfusion requirements and blood loss were significantly reduced after rFVIIa administration (PRBC's; 16.9 +/- 13.3 to 7.1 +/- 6.9 units, FFP; 13.1 +/- 8.2 to 4.1 +/- 4.9 units, platelets; 4.0 +/- 2.8 to 2.1 +/- 2.2 units, p < 0.04 for all). 5 patients expired including 3 with thromboembolic cause. One patient developed a lower extremity arterial thrombus, and another deep vein thrombosis. CONCLUSION: In this review, there was a significant decrease in transfusion requirement and blood loss after rFVIIa administration. Although, 5/17 developed thromboembolic complications, these patients may have been at higher risk based on the multiple modality therapy used to manage intractable bleeding. Nevertheless, the exact role of rFVIIa with respect to development of thromboembolic complications cannot be clearly determined. Further investigation is needed to determine rFVIIa's safety and its effectiveness in improving postoperative morbidity and mortality.

BACKGROUND: The optimal perfusion strategy during surgery of acute type A aortic dissection is controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of retrograde cerebral perfusion during hypothermic circulatory arrest on short-term and long-term outcome in this specific patient population. METHODS: Between 1984 and 2005, 175 consecutive patients underwent repair of an acute type A dissection. Three different surgical approaches were used: aortic cross-clamping without hypothermic circulatory arrest in 50 (29%), hypothermic circulatory arrest alone in 69 (39%), and hypothermic circulatory arrest with supplemental retrograde cerebral perfusion in 56 (32%). RESULTS: Operative mortality was 18% +/- 3% (+/- 70% confidence interval), and adverse outcomes (death or cerebrovascular accident) occurred in 21% +/- 3% of patients (p = 0.97 between groups). Multivariate analysis identified valve replacement (p = 0.04), preoperative flow complications (p = 0.03), and non-Marfan syndrome (p = 0.04) as predictors of operative mortality. Intraoperative dissection (p < 0.001) and history of cerebrovascular disease (p = 0.02) were predictors for permanent neurologic deficit, and retrograde cerebral perfusion was shown to have a protective effect on transient neurologic deficits (p = 0.008). Kaplan-Meier survival was 75% +/- 3% at 1 year (131 patients at risk), 63% +/- 4% at 5 years (87 patients at risk), and 49% +/- 4% at 10 years (48 patients at risk) and was independent of surgical approach (p = 0.37). Long-term survival was diminished with increased age (p < 0.001), earlier operative year (p < 0.001), and coronary artery disease (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The current investigation suggests improved neurologic recovery with circulatory arrest and supplemental retrograde cerebral perfusion. Operative mortality and long-term survival were comparable among groups.

OBJECTIVE: Pericardial effusions occur frequently after orthotopic heart transplantation. There have been conflicting reports describing etiology, prognosis, and outcomes associated with these early postoperative effusions. METHODS: A retrospective review of 91 patients transplanted between January 2001 and September 2004 was performed. Pericardial effusion was defined by serial echocardiography and graded as none, small, moderate, or large. A total of 1088 echocardiograms were evaluated during the first posttransplant year. Perioperative variables were evaluated by logistic regression analysis to define predictors for occurrence of effusions. RESULTS: Echocardiographic data were available for 88 patients. Thirty-one patients (35%) developed moderate to large effusion in the immediate postoperative period. Three patients developed hemodynamic compromise that required immediate intervention. All other effusions resolved within 3 months of heart transplantation without any specific intervention. Only prolonged donor ischemic time was associated with higher risk of occurrence of moderate to large pericardial effusions (odds ratio 1.012, 95% confidence interval 1.001 to 1.019, P = .033). There was no difference in morbidity or early mortality between patients with and without pericardial effusions. CONCLUSION: Moderate to large pericardial effusions occur frequently after heart transplantation. In a vast majority, these effusions are not associated with any adverse clinical outcomes and resolve within 3 months postoperatively. Early postoperative close monitoring is still required to evaluate for tamponade.

BACKGROUND: Excellent outcomes after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in elderly patients can be achieved, yet some practitioners are reticent to refer elderly patients for surgery. This study analyzed risk factors for mortality in patients aged 80 years and older undergoing AVR with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 245 patients (129 women) with a mean age of 83.6 +/- 2.9 years who had AVR with (n = 140) or without CABG (n = 105) at a single institution from 1993 to 2005. Data were analyzed with a multivariate logistic regression for predictors of operative mortality, Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival, and a Cox multivariate proportional analysis of factors influencing long-term survival. RESULTS: Mean preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification was 3.1 +/- 0.9, and 78% (192/245) of patients were classified as NYHA class III or IV. Operative (30-day) mortality was 9% (22/245). Independent risk factors for operative mortality included postoperative renal failure (odds ratio [OR], 20.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5 to 67.6; p < 0.001), postoperative permanent stroke (OR, 11.3; 95% CI, 1.7 to 75.1; p = 0.019), or intraoperative/postoperative intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) placement (OR, 14.9; 95% CI 2.9 to 75.8; p = 0.002). Survival after surgery was 82% (n = 183) at 1 year and 56% (n = 88) at 5 years. Prognostic factors for decreased long-term survival were regurgitant valve pathology (hazard ratio [HR], 6.0; 95% CI, 2.5 to 14.2; p = 0.002), intraoperative/postoperative IABP (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.4 to 6.0; p = 0.010), postoperative renal failure (HR, 3.5, 95% CI, 2.2 to 5.7; p < 0.001), and postoperative stroke (HR, 7.0, 95% CI, 3.2 to 15.9; p < 0.001). Performing concomitant CABG was protective in terms of operative mortality (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.83; p = 0.017) and improved long-term survival (HR, 0.7, 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.96; p = 0.020). Preoperative NYHA classification did not affect operative or long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients aged 80 years and older who undergo AVR have acceptable short-term and long-term survival regardless of NYHA status. Concomitant CABG improved operative and long-term survival in this population. Despite their increased age, aggressive surgical treatment is warranted for most patients.

BACKGROUND: Severe neurologic complications after cardiac transplantation are devastating outcomes of this life-saving procedure. Incidence, risk factors, and morbidity of neurologic events in the modern era of cardiac transplantation are yet to be defined. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2005, 200 patients (64% men; mean age, 49 +/- 12 years) underwent heart transplantation at our institution. Overall, 46 patients (23%) showed a wide spectra of early neurologic complications. RESULTS: Cause of ischemic complications was stroke in 11 patients (7 had concomitant epileptic seizures) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 7. Encephalopathy (n = 10), epileptic seizures unrelated to focal cerebral lesions (n = 7), severe headache (n = 6), cerebral infection (n = 3), and peripheral nervous system injuries (n = 2) completed the spectra of adverse neurologic outcomes. Multivariate analysis identified advanced age (p = 0.03), preoperative left ventricular assist device support (p = 0.02), preoperative intraaortic balloon pump support (p < 0.001), prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (p < 0.001), and postoperative hepatic failure (p = 0.04) as independent predictors of early neurologic complications. Postoperative morbidities associated with neurologic complications included longer ventilation time (p < 0.001), longer stay in the intensive care unit (p < 0.001), and higher incidence of pneumonia (p < 0.001) and sepsis (p = 0.01) compared with patients without neurologic events. There was a trend toward higher in-hospital mortality (15% versus 6%, p = 0.07), but there was no difference in long-term survival (65% versus 78%, p = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Despite rigorous pretransplantation screening, neurologic complications were common after cardiac transplantation. Most frequently, these complications were not the actual cause of death, but they significantly contributed to increased morbidity. Preoperative mechanical circulatory support requirement was the strongest predictor for adverse neurologic outcome.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is a potentially preventable and often troublesome gastrointestinal complication after cardiac surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 8,405 cardiac surgery patients at two institutions between January 1997 and August 2004. Preoperative cardiac risk factors, perioperative factors including blood product transfusion, antibiotic utilization, and postoperative morbidity and mortality were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed comparing C. difficile patients with a control group matched by date of surgery and institution. RESULTS: Sixty-six of the 8,405 patients identified with toxin-positive CDAD produced an overall incidence of 0.79% (0.70% at institution A and 1.09% at institution B), with a peak overall incidence of 5.45% in June 2003. Independent prognostic factors for CDAD by multivariate analysis included advancing age (odds ratio [OR] 1.028, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001 to 1.056; p = 0.034), female sex (OR 2.026, 95% CI: 1.102 to 3.722; p = 0.022), blood product transfusion (OR 3.277, 95% CI: 1.292 to 8.311; p = 0.006), and increasing cumulative days of antibiotic administration (OR 1.046, 95% CI: 1.014 to 1.080; p = 0.004). There were no differences in the proportion of fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, or penicillin derivatives administered between groups. The diagnosis of CDAD was associated with a greater median length of mechanical ventilation (25 hours versus 12 hours, p < 0.001), longer intensive care unit stay (5 days versus 2 days, p < 0.001), and extended hospital stay (21 days versus 7 days, p < 0.001), with no difference in 30-day mortality (7.6% versus 9.5%, p = 0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall incidence of CDAD was low, alteration in transfusion practices and antibiotic utilization may impact the development of CDAD among cardiac surgical patients.

OBJECTIVES: Since its introduction in 1987, the Cox-maze procedure has been the gold standard for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. At our institution, this procedure has evolved from the cut-and-sew technique (Cox-maze III procedure) to one using bipolar radiofrequency energy and cryoablation as ablative sources to replace most incisions (Cox-maze IV procedure). This study compared surgical outcomes of patients undergoing the Cox-maze III procedure versus those of patients undergoing the Cox-maze IV procedure by using propensity analysis. METHODS: From April 1992 through July 2005, 242 patients underwent the Cox-maze procedure for atrial fibrillation. Of these, 154 patients had the Cox-maze III procedure, and 88 had the Cox-maze IV procedure. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify covariates among 7 baseline patient variables. Using the significant regression coefficients, each patient's propensity score was calculated, allowing selectively matched subgroups of 58 patients each. Operative outcomes were analyzed for differences. Late follow-up was available for 112 (97%) patients. Freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence and survival was calculated at 1 year by using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: The Cox-maze III procedure had significantly longer crossclamp times. There was no significant difference in intensive care unit and hospital stay, 30-day mortality, permanent pacemaker placement, early atrial tachyarrhythmias, late stroke, and survival. Freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence was greater than 90% in both groups at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: The use of bipolar radiofrequency ablation has simplified the Cox-maze procedure, making it applicable to virtually all patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery. The Cox-maze IV procedure produces similar surgical outcomes to the Cox-maze III procedure at 1 year of follow-up.