Surgical Turndown: “What’s in a Name?” for Patients Deemed Ineligible for Surgical Revascularization

Variations in phase angle and handgrip strength in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: Prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Bioimpedance phase angle (PA) is a measure of cell membrane integrity, whereas handgrip strength (HGS) is an evaluation of functional capacity. Although both are related to the prognosis of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, their changes over time are less known. This study followed variations in PA and HGS for 1 year in these patients, determining associations with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 272 cardiac surgery patients. PA and HGS were measured at six predetermined times. The evaluated outcomes were surgery type; bleeding; time of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamp, and mechanical ventilation; postoperative (PO) length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital; and infections, hospital readmission, reoperation, and mortality.

RESULTS

There were reductions in PA and HGS values after surgery, with total recovery beginning at 6 months for PA and 3 months for HGS. In the PA area under the curve (AUC), age, combined surgery, and sex (β = -9.66, P < 0.001; β = -252.85, P = 0.005; β = -216.56, P < 0.001, respectively) were predictors for PA-AUC reduction. Stratified by sex, age (β = -93.54, P < 0.001) and PO LOS (β = -46.91, P = 0.003) were predictors for HGS-AUC reduction in women, but only age was a predictor in men (β = -77.02, P = 0.010). PA and HGS had an effect in hospital LOS and ICU LOS.

CONCLUSION

Age, combined surgery, and female sex were predictors of reduced PA-AUC, whereas reduced HGS-AUC was predicted by age in both sexes and PO hospital LOS in women, which suggests that these factors could interfere in prognosis.

Clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention in high-risk patients turned down for surgical revascularization

AIMS

There are limited data on outcomes of PCI in surgical turndown patientsespecially in those presenting with ACS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients who were turned down for CABG and had PCI between 2013 and 2020. All consecutive patients (449), ACS (n = 245) and no-ACS (n = 204) were included. In-hospital complications occurred in 28 patients (6.2%). At 30 days, 27 patients (6.0%) died (18 patients in the ACS group [7.3%] vs. 9 patients in the no-ACS group [4.4%], p = 0.23). Following multivariate analysis, no significant difference in long-term mortality was observed between the two groups (median follow-up of 4 [2-6] years, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75-1.58, p = 0.667). In propensity score-matched analysis, the adjusted mortality risk was also not different between the groups (HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.25-1.26, p = 0.374). Independent predictors of mortality included chronic kidney disease stage ≥ 3 (HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.13-2.39, p = 0.009), high European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05, p = 0.035), and laser atherectomy use (HR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.32-8.54, p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

PCI in surgical patients turndown patients appears safe. ACSpresentation was associated with more comorbid illnesses; however, afteradjustment, ACS did not independently confer additional risk of mortality.

Prognostic Value of Handgrip Strength in Older Adults Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND

Although multidimensional frailty scales have been proven to predict mortality and morbidity in cardiac surgery, there is a need for rapid tools that could be easily administered at the point of care. Handgrip strength (HGS) is an attractive option that can be measured in acutely ill and bed-bound patients, although it has yet to be validated in a large cardiac surgery cohort.

METHODS

This is a post hoc analysis of a multicentre prospective study in older patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve surgery from 2011 to 2019. HGS was measured before surgery and classified by sex-stratified cutoffs. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality and secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality, discharge disposition, and prolonged length of stay.

RESULTS

There were 1245 patients included in the analysis (mean age 74.0 ± 6.6 years; 30% female). Weak HGS was associated with advanced age, heart failure, kidney disease, malnutrition, and various frailty scales. In those with weak vs normal HGS, respectively, 1-year mortality was 17% vs 6%, 30-day mortality was 10% vs 3%, prolonged length of stay was 34% vs 19%, and discharge to a health care facility was 45% vs 26% (all P < 0.001). After adjustment, HGS was predictive of 1-year and 30-day mortalities, with odds ratios of 2.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-4.29) and 2.83 (1.38-5.81), respectively. HGS cutoffs of < 26 kg in men and < 16 kg in women had the highest predictive performance.

CONCLUSIONS

HGS is a simple and effective tool to identify patients at higher risk of mortality and protracted recovery after cardiac surgery.

Complex interventions in the failing heart

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome with a substantial disease burden. We aim to review the interventional aspects of management of advanced heart failure, focusing on the role of management of coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and mechanical circulatory support.

RECENT FINDINGS

The patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure requiring revascularization are at higher risk than the rest of the general population. Coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous intervention can be used depending on varied patient characteristics and coronary anatomy. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation, Mitraclip and transcatheter ventricular restoration help in tackling the valvular and left ventricular remodeling concerns often seen in this patient population. Temporary hemodynamic circulatory support helps stabilizing patients in cardiogenic shock while long-term support can help bridge them to more definitive therapies.

SUMMARY

The management strategies in this disease state are ever evolving with robust evidence coming in support of interventional therapies whenever deemed appropriate. It is the multidisciplinary patient-centered approach, which yields maximum benefit out of these complex interventions.

Characteristics and outcomes of surgically ineligible patients with multivessel disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVES

In this study we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of surgically ineligible patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

BACKGROUND

Patients with multivessel CAD who are surgically ineligible and undergo PCI are not well represented in large trials.

METHODS

Out of 1,061 consecutive patients who underwent a non-emergent PCI for unprotected left main or multivessel CAD at the University of Virginia Medical Center, 137 patients were determined to be surgically ineligible for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery by a heart team. The clinical characteristics and reasons for surgical ineligibility were collected. The coronary angiograms were reviewed and the SYNTAX score calculated. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score was calculated. Outcomes were determined at 30 days and 1-year.

RESULTS

The mean age of the cohort was 71 and 59% were women. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco abuse, and diabetes were common comorbidities. The average SYNTAX score was 22. The most commonly cited reasons for surgical ineligibility were advanced age, frailty, severe lung disease, ejection fraction ≤ 30% and STS score ≥ 8%. Outcomes at 30 days were excellent and better than those predicted by STS for surgery. Frailty and STS score predicted one-year outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing PCI for multivessel disease who are surgically ineligible have multiple risk factors and comorbidities. Frailty, lung disease, poor left ventricular function, and high STS score represent common reasons for surgical ineligibility. Frailty and the STS score better predict one-year outcomes after PCI compared to the SYNTAX score.

When the Complex Meets the High-Risk: Mechanical Cardiac Support Devices and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Severe Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Few practice guidelines directly address the issue of revascularization in patients with CAD at higher risk of periprocedural complications. It remains a challenge to appropriately identify the subset of patients with CAD who will require short-term use of mechanical cardiocirculatory support devices (MCSDs) when high-risk (HR) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is required. Issues of the complexity (coronary anatomy and high burden of comorbidities) and risk status (hemodynamic precarity or compromise) need to be considered when considering revascularization in patients. This review will focus on the evolving concept of protected PCI in patients with CAD, and how a balanced, integrated heart-team approach remains the path to optimal patient-centred care in the setting of HR-PCI supported with MCSD.