On- or off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for octogenarians: A meta-analysis of comparative studies involving 27,623 patients

OBJECTIVE

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is being increasingly offered to octogenarians. Both on- and off-pump CABG are reported as effective surgical revascularization strategies for octogenarians by single institution studies. However, the issue of superiority of one strategy over the other for octogenarians remains unresolved due to limited sample size of these studies. A meta-analysis of studies comparing outcomes of on- and off-pump CABG in octogenarians was undertaken to address the issue.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted from 1966 through September 2016 using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science to identify relevant articles. Primary outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality and stroke. Secondary outcomes of interest were atrial fibrillation, acute renal failure, reoperation for bleeding, deep sternal wound infection, myocardial infarction, intensive therapy unit (ITU) stay and hospital stay. The random effects model was used to calculate the outcomes of both binary and continuous data to control any heterogeneity between the studies. Heterogeneity amongst the trials was determined by means of the Cochran Q value and quantified using the I² inconsistency test. All p-values were 2-sided and a 5% level was considered significant.

RESULTS

Sixteen retrospective studies (18,685 on-pump patients and 8938 off-pump patients) were included in the systematic review. In-hospital mortality (pooled OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.44 to 0.93; p = 0.02), stroke rate (pooled OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.48 to 0.76; p < 0.001) and length of hospital stay (pooled WMD = +0.29, 95% CI = +0.02 to +0.56; p = 0.04) were significantly lower in the off-pump patients. Atrial fibrillation (p = 0.36), acute renal failure (p = 0.47), reoperation for bleeding (p = 0.99), deep sternal wound infection (p = 0.59), myocardial infarction (p = 0.93), and length of ITU stay (p = 0.27) were comparable.

CONCLUSION

Off-pump compared to on-pump CABG offers surgical myocardial revascularization to octogenarians with lower in-hospital mortality, stroke rate and length of hospital stay with similar incidence of other adverse outcomes. Preferentially offering off-pump CABG to octogenarians could translate into reduced economic burden on the healthcare providers.

Risk factors for in-hospital mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients 80 years old or older: a retrospective case-series study

BACKGROUND

Age remains a significant and unmodifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and an increasing number of patients older than 80 years of age undergo Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). Old age is also an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. The aim of this study is to describe the population of patients 80 years of age or older who underwent CABG procedure and to assess the mortality rate and risk factors for in-hospital mortality.

METHODS

A retrospective case-series study analyzing 388 consecutive patients aged 80 years of age or older who underwent isolated CABG procedure between 2010 and 2014 in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow.

RESULTS

In-hospital mortality stood at 7%, compared to 3.4% for all isolated CABG procedures at our Institution. In an univariate logistic regression analysis, risk factors for in-hospital mortality were as follows: NYHA class (p = 0.005, OR 1.95, 95% CI [1.23-3.1]), prolonged mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001, OR 7.08, 95% CI [2.47-20.3]), rethoracotomy (p = 0.04, OR 3.31, 95% CI [1.04-10.6]), duration of the procedure and ECC (for every 10 min p = 0.01, OR 1.01, 95% CI [1.0-1.01]; p = 0.03, OR 1.01, 95% CI [1.0-1.02], respectively), PRBC, FFP, and PLT transfusion (for every unit transfused p = 0.004, OR 1.42, 95% CI [1.12-1.8]; p = 0.002, OR 1.55, 95% CI [1.18-2.04]; p = 0.009, OR 1.93, 95% CI [1.18-3.14], respectively). Higher LVEF (p = 0.02, OR 0.97, 95% CI [0.94-0.99]) and LIMA graft implantation (p = 0.04, OR 0.36, 95% CI [0.13-0.98) decreased the in-hospital mortality. Death before discharge was more often observed in patients with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (0-2 -5.7%; 3-7.4%, 4-26.6%; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Older age is associated with higher in-hospital mortality after isolated CABG at our Institution. Risk stratification scores and individualized risk evaluation, centered on comorbidities, NYHA class and left ventricular function, should be assessed in all cases. Whenever suitable, LIMA grafts should be used. Prolonged procedure and ECC time worsen the short-term outcome. Elderly individuals should be closely monitored postoperatively and the care should be focused on excessive blood loss and respiratory failure.

Is Bilateral Internal Mammary Arterial Grafting Beneficial for Patients Aged 75 Years or Older?

BACKGROUND

Although bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) grafting is performed with increasing regularity in elderly patients, whether it is truly beneficial, and therefore indicated, in these patients remains uncertain. We retrospectively investigated early and late outcomes of BIMA grafting in patients aged ≥75 years.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified 460 patients aged ≥75 years from among 2,618 patients who underwent either single internal mammary artery (SIMA) grafting (n=293) or BIMA grafting (n=107). Early outcomes did not differ between the SIMA and BIMA patients (30-day mortality: 1.7% vs. 0%, P=0.39; sternal wound infection: 1.0% vs. 4.7%; P=0.057). Late outcomes, 10-year survival in particular, were improved in the BIMA group (36.6% vs. 48.1%, P=0.033). In the analysis of the results in propensity score-matched groups (196 patients in the SIMA group, 98 patients in the BIMA group), improved 10-year survival was documented in the BIMA group (34.8% vs. 47.6%, P=0.030). Cox proportional regression analysis showed SIMA usage (non-use of BIMA) to be a predictor for late mortality (hazard ratio: 0.65, 95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.98, P=0.042). We further compared outcomes between the total non-elderly patients (n=2,158) and total elderly patients (n=460). BIMA usage was similar, as was 30-day mortality (1.0% vs. 1.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

A survival advantage, with no increase in early mortality, can be expected from BIMA grafting in patients aged ≥75 years. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1756-1763).

Perceptions of Determinants of Successful Aging Among Older U.S. Veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a qualitative study of older American veterans' subjective perceptions of factors that contribute to successful physical, emotional, and cognitive aging.

METHODS

A nationally representative sample of 2,025 veterans aged 60 or older (range: 60-96; 96.9% male, 39.4% combat veterans) participated in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Using qualitative analysis software, the authors coded responses to three open-ended questions, inductively developed categories, aggregated similar categories into factors, and grouped factors into broader themes.

RESULTS

A total of 53, 56, and 61 categories of responses was identified in response to questions about successful physical, cognitive, and emotional aging, respectively, with 10 aggregate factors linking these categories. The most prominent theme overall was "What you do," which received 2,295, 2,210, and 1,247 mentions for each of these domains of successful aging, with health behaviors the most common factor for both successful physical and cognitive aging and social engagement the most common for successful emotional aging. The theme "Who you are" was the second-most common factor (discerned from 376, 247, and 943 total mentions, respectively), with the factors that comprise this theme-personality and explanatory style, moral compass, and emotional dispositions-more commonly endorsed for successful emotional aging. External factors such as healthcare were least commonly endorsed across all domains.

CONCLUSION

Older U.S. Veterans emphasize health behaviors, social engagement, and dispositional characteristics as key determinants of successful aging. Prevention and treatment initiatives that target these potentially modifiable factors may help promote successful aging in this growing segment of the population.

Predictors for long-term outcome and quality of life of patients after cardiac surgery with prolonged intensive care unit stay

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated factors determining the long-term outcome and quality of life of patients with a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay after cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis was performed in 230 patients that had undergone cardiac surgery and suffered from a post-operative ICU stay of 7 or more days at our institution. Among 11 pre-, 13 intra-, and 14 post-operative variables, factors influencing 5-year outcome were identified by logistic regression analysis. Quality of life was determined using the Short Form-36 questionnaire.

RESULTS

In-hospital mortality was 12%. One hundred and eleven of 187 patients (59%) were alive after 5 years. Non-survivors were older (70 vs. 65 years, p = 0.005) and had a higher additive EuroSCORE (7 vs. 5, p = 0.034). Logistic regression identified pre-operative atrial fibrillation (AF), (28 vs. 10%, p = 0.003) as the strongest predictor for a 5-year outcome, followed by myocardial infarction (62 vs. 41%, p = 0.005), and prolonged mechanical ventilation (8 vs. 5 days, p = 0.036). Survivors did not show an impaired physical component summary SF-36 score (39 vs. 46, p = 0.737) or mental component summary score (55 vs. 55, p = 0.947) compared to an age-matched German Normative Sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative AF proved to be the most important factor determining the 5-year outcome of patients with a prolonged ICU stay after cardiac surgery. Neither physical nor mental health appeared to be impaired in these patients.

The development of a postoperative morbidity score to assess total morbidity burden after cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

To develop a tool for identifying and quantifying morbidity following cardiac surgery (cardiac postoperative morbidity score [C-POMS]).

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Morbidity was prospectively assessed in 450 cardiac surgery patients on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 8, and 15 using POMS criteria (nine postoperative morbidity domains in general surgical patients) and cardiac-specific variables (from expert panel). Other morbidities were noted as free text and included if prevalence was more than 5%, missingness less than 5%, and mean expert-rated severity-importance index score more than 8. Construct validity was assessed by expert panel review, Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency), and linear regression (predictive ability of C-POMS for length of stay [LOS]).

RESULTS

A 13-domain model was derived. Internal consistency (>0.7) on D3-D15 permits use as a summative score of total morbidity burden. Mean C-POMS scores were 3.4 (D3), 2.6 (D5), 3.4 (D8), and 3.8 (D15). Patient LOS was 4.6 days (P=0.012), 5.3 days (P=0.001), and 7.6 days (P=0.135) longer in patients with C-POMS-defined morbidity on D3, D5, D8, and D15, respectively, than in those without. For every unit increase in C-POMS summary score, subsequent LOS increased by 1.7 (D3), 2.2 (D5), 4.5 (D8), and 6.2 (D15) days (all P=0.000).

CONCLUSION

C-POMS is the first validated tool for identifying total morbidity burden after cardiac surgery. However, further external validation is warranted.

What happens after discharge? An analysis of long-term survival in cardiac surgical patients requiring prolonged intensive care

BACKGROUND

Cardiac surgical patients with postoperative complications frequently require prolonged intensive care yet survive to hospital discharge.

METHODS

From January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2007, 11,541 consecutive patients underwent cardiac operations at a single academic institution. Of these, 11,084 (95.9%) survived to hospital discharge and comprised the study sample. Patients were retrospectively categorized into four groups according to intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS): <3 days, three to seven days, 7 to 14 days, and >14 days. Survival at 12 months was determined using the Social Security Death Index. Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression modeling (hazard ratio, HR) were used to analyze group differences in survival.

RESULTS

One-year survival among the four groups according to ICU LOS was: <3 days, 97.0% (8407/8666); three to seven days, 91.2% (1481/1625); 7 to 14 days, 87.9% (356/405); and >14 days, 68.3% (265/388) (p < 0.001). Using multivariable regression analysis, adjusted overall mortality was significantly greater in patients with ICU LOS of three to seven days (HR = 1.51), 7 to 14 days (HR = 1.40), and >14 days (HR = 1.90) compared to patients with ICU LOS <3 days. Mortality among patients who survived more than six months postsurgery was significantly greater in patients with ICU LOS of three to seven days (HR = 1.37), 7 to 14 days (HR = 1.34), and >14 days (HR = 1.63).

CONCLUSIONS

Although cardiac surgery patients with major postoperative complications frequently survive to hospital discharge, survival after discharge is significantly reduced in patients requiring prolonged ICU care. Reduced survival in patients with a high risk of complications and anticipated long ICU stays should be considered when discussing surgical versus nonsurgical options.

Perioperative heart failure in coronary surgery and timing of intra-aortic balloon pump insertion

BACKGROUND

Perioperative heart failure (HF) in coronary operations is accompanied by a high operative mortality rate. An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is often used to treat this syndrome. The correct timing for IABP insertion after completion of the operation has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the operative mortality in perioperative HF patients who had undergone coronary operations with respect to the early or the late use of IABP.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study including 7,270 patients who had undergone coronary surgery with or without associated procedures. A population of patients with perioperative HF was extracted and analyzed with respect to the use of drugs, intra-operative or post-operative IABP to treat this condition.

RESULTS

A total of 1,051 (14.5%) patients had perioperative HF. The mortality rate in this group was 13.5%. Early (intra-operative) IABP insertion was performed in 123 patients. In contrast, 928 patients were treated with inotropic drugs only, and, of these patients, 59 developed a drug-refractory HF requiring late IABP insertion. Operative mortality was significantly (P=0.001) higher in patients requiring late (64.4%) vs. early (41.5%) IABP insertion. Independent risk factors for developing a drug-refractory HF were age, pre-operative serum creatinine value and an associated mitral valve procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Postponing the use of IABP may be deleterious in patients with drug-refractory HF. In the presence of the three factors independently associated with the risk of a drug-refractory HF, early IABP insertion is suggested.