Cardiac Surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses: 329 Consecutive Cases

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to describe the outcome of Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) undergoing cardiac surgery at the authors' center.

DESIGN

A single-center retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

At a cardiovascular center with a tertiary intensive care unit (ICU) and specific experience with cardiac surgery in JWs. The institutional protocol describing all perioperative care in JWs has been applied for 21 years.

PARTICIPANTS

All JWs undergoing cardiac surgery in the Amphia Hospital from January 1, 2001 to January 31, 2022.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The study cohort comprised 329 JWs undergoing cardiac surgery. Twenty-three patients (6.8%) were treated preoperatively for anemia. The mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score was 5.1 (range 0-18). Coronary artery bypass grafting (53.2%) was performed most frequently, followed by aortic valve replacement (13.4%). Mean preoperative hemoglobin levels were 14.5 g/dL (range 9.8-18.5 g/dL), dropping to 11.6 g/dL (range 6.6-15.6 g/dL) at hospital discharge. Mean blood loss was 439 ± 349 mL in the first 12 hours postsurgery. Maximum mean postoperative troponin levels were 431 ± 424 ng/L. Resternotomy and postoperative myocardial infarction occurred in 3.6% and 4.2% of patients, respectively. On average, patients had an ICU stay of 1.4 ± 1.8 days and a hospital stay of 6.8 ± 4.2 days. Hospital mortality was 0.6% and was related to cardiac failure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that cardiac surgery in JWs is safe when adhering to a strict perioperative patient blood management protocol.

Study protocol of the randomised placebo-controlled GLOBE trial: GLP-1 for bridging of hyperglycaemia during cardiac surgery

INTRODUCTION

Perioperative hyperglycaemia is common during cardiac surgery and associated with postoperative complications. Although intensive insulin therapy for glycaemic control can reduce complications, it carries the risk of hypoglycaemia. GLP-1 therapy has the potential to lower glucose without causing hypoglycaemia. We hypothesise that preoperative liraglutide (a synthetic GLP-1 analogue) will reduce the number of patients requiring insulin to achieve glucose values<8 mmol l^-1 in the intraoperative period.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We designed a multi-centre randomised parallel placebo-controlled trial and aim to include 274 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, aged 18-80 years, with or without diabetes mellitus. Patients will receive 0.6 mg liraglutide or placebo on the evening before, and 1.2 mg liraglutide or placebo just prior to surgery. Blood glucose is measured hourly and controlled with an insulin bolus algorithm, with a glycaemic target between 4-8 mmol l^-1. The primary outcome is the percentage of patients requiring insulin intraoperatively.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study protocol has been approved by the medical ethics committee of the Academic Medical Centre (AMC) in Amsterdam and by the Dutch competent authority. The study is investigator-initiated and the AMC, as sponsor, will remain owner of all data and have all publication rights. Results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed international medical journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR6323; Pre-results.

Effect of the colloids gelatin and HES 130/0.4 on blood coagulation in cardiac surgery patients: a randomized controlled trial

Objective:

The choice of the prime solution for cardiopulmonary bypass can play an important role in limiting the effect on blood coagulation, but it is still unclear what the effect of colloids on blood coagulation is. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of synthetic colloids on blood loss and blood coagulation in patients after on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures.

Methods:

Sixty elective, on-pump CABG patients were randomly assigned to receive the prime solutions lactated Ringer’s solution combined with hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (HES, 6% Volulyte, Fresenius Kabi Nederland BV, Zeist, the Netherlands) (HES group) or gelatin (Gelofusin®, B Braun Melsung AG, Melsungen, Germany) (Gelo group). Blood loss was assessed using post-operative chest tube output; secondary endpoints were number of blood component transfusions, routine coagulation test values and rotation thromboelastometry values (Rotem® delta, Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany).

Results:

Total post-operative chest tube output was 500 ± 420 ml in the HES group versus 465 ± 390 ml in the Gelo group ( p = 0.48). No significant differences were observed in any of the routine coagulation tests values, thromboelastometry parameters or number of blood component transfusions between the groups.

Conclusions:

In this randomized, controlled trial of adults after on-pump CABG procedures, there was no significant difference in blood loss or blood coagulation between the HES group and the Gelo group.