Systolic blood pressure and (cardiac) mortality over 15 years after venous coronary bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine the influenceof pre-operative systolic blood pressure and systolic bloodpressure 1 and 5 years after venous coronary bypass surgeryon subsequent cardiac and non-cardiac mortality. DESIGN: A prospective 15 years follow-up study. PATIENTS: A series of 446 consecutive coronary bypass surgery patients,operated on between April 1976 and April 1977. According totheir systolic blood pressure, patients were divided into fivegroups. MAIN OUTCOME MESURES: Systolic blood pressure 5 years after surgery, but not pre-operativesystolic blood pressure, was an independent predictor of cardiacmortality. RESULTS: Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed thatpre-operative systolic blood pressure was not associated withcardiac mortality, while higher systolic blood pressure 1 yearafter surgery showed a trend towards increased cardiac mortality.Systolic blood pressure 5 years after surgery appeared to bea strong independent predictor of cardiac mortality during thesubsequent follow-up period. Patients with a systolic bloodpressure of 130–139 mmHg had the lowest risk. Comparedto this group, the cardiac mortality risk in patients with asystolic blood pressure 5 years after surgery of 140–149mmHg, 150–159 mmHg and $160 mmHg, was 2·3 (1·2to 4·6), 3·4 (1·6 to 7·1) and 3·1(1·4 to 6·5) times higher. Systolic blood pressure>130 mniHg 5 years after surgery was also associated witha 2·3 times (1·1 to 4·7) times increasedrisk for cardiac mortality, compared to patients with a systolicblood pressure of 130–139 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underline the importance of systolic blood pressurecontrol in the initial years after coronary bypass surgery.     

Probability of a return to work after either coronary balloon dilatation or coronary bypass surgery

To examine whether coronary angioplasty has a different effect on work resumption than has coronary artery bypass surgery, we studied the work status of patients before and at least 1 year after either intervention. The population consisted of men aged less than 60 years, submitted to these procedures from September 1983 to July 1984. Of the 261 eligible patients, 219 (84%) participated, 94 after an angioplasty and 125 after a bypass procedure. 6 months preceding the intervention, 52% of the men were working. This had decreased to 47% at follow-up. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that failure to resume work was correlated with bypass surgery vs balloon dilatation (rate ratio 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0-3.4), not working beforehand (rate ratio 6.5; 1.2-4.3), age greater than 55 years vs less than or equal to 50 years (rate ratio 2.6; 1.3-5.4) and with angina at follow-up (rate ratio 1.8; 1.0-3.3). Taking these additional risk factors into account permits a prediction of the probability of a return to work.     

Predictors of enhanced well-being after coronary artery bypass surgery

Objectives. To assess patients' perception of the therapeutic outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery, and to find predictors for increased well-being.
Design. Self-administered questionnaires (Family APGAR and GHQ-30) were completed on admission and at the follow-up after 12 months, together with functional classification according to the NYHA index.
Setting. Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, 1990–1992.
Subjects. Two hundred and thirteen patients with stable angina admitted for elective coronary artery bypass surgery.
Intervention. Elective coronary artery bypass surgery.
Main outcome measures. Improved physical and psychosocial functioning after one year.
Results. One hundred and ninety-seven (92%) patients improved their NYHA class, while it remained stable or declined in 16 (8%) patients. Significantly fewer patients with mental distress were found at the follow-up than at the baseline examination (49 patients [23%] versus 80 patients [38%], respectively, P <0.0001). One hundred and forty-six patients (69%) reported enhanced psychosocial well-being, while it was reduced ( n =60) or unchanged ( n =7) in 67 patients (31%). Predictors for improved psychosocial well-being following coronary artery bypass surgery were mental distress before surgery (odds ratio 2.8) and being a male patient (odds ratio 2.8).
Conclusions. The majority of the patients reported significant improvement in their physical and psychosocial functioning one year after coronary artery bypass surgery. Mental distress and male sex were significant predictors of enhanced well-being. Questionnaires on psychosocial well-being such as the GHQ-30 may, in addition to health status measurements, offer additional useful information when coronary artery bypass surgery is considered.     

Priority points and cardiac events while waiting for coronary bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of important cardiac events while waiting for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in relation to the New Zealand priority scoring system; to compare clinical characteristics of patients referred for CABG in New Zealand with those in Ontario, Canada; and to compare the New Zealand priority scoring system for CABG with the previously validated Ontario urgency score. DESIGN: Analysis of outcomes in a consecutive case series of patients referred for CABG. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: All 324 patients from Christchurch Hospital wait listed for isolated CABG between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1995. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Death, myocardial infarction, and unstable angina while waiting for CABG; waiting time to surgery. RESULTS: Clinical characteristics at referral were very similar, but median waiting time was longer in New Zealand than in a large Canadian case series (212 days v 17 days). While waiting for elective CABG, 44% (114/257) of New Zealand patients had cardiac events: death 4% (13/257), non-fatal myocardial infarction 6% (16/257), readmission with unstable angina 34% (87/257). Priority scores did not predict cardiac events while waiting for CABG. Indeed, death or non-fatal myocardial infarction occurred in 4% (3/76) and 8% (6/76), respectively, of those with priority scores < 35. These people are no longer eligible for publicly funded surgery in New Zealand. CONCLUSIONS: Very long waiting times for CABG are associated with frequent cardiac events, at considerable cost to both patients and health care providers. Priority scores may facilitate comparison between countries but such scores did not predict clinical events while waiting.     

Beneficial effect of continuation of propranolol through coronary bypass surgery.

The safety and beneficial effect of continuation of propranolol (Pr) through coronary bypass surgery (CBS) was studied in two groups of patients. In the control group (50 patients) Pr was discontinued 24 h before CBS without reinstitution afterwards. In the propranolol group the drug was maintained up to 4 to 10 h before surgery and was restarted within 24 h afterwards. The incidence of subendocardial myocardial infarction was significantly lower in the Pr group (1 out of 30 vs 10 out of 50, p less than 0.05) while the incidence of transmural infarction was the same in both groups (3 out of 30, 10%, vs 5 out of 50, 10%). The incidence of supraventricular tachycardias during the first three postoperative days was significantly lower in the propranolol group compared to control (5% vs 30%, p less than 0.01). The 24 h urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine excretion was significantly greater than normal the day before surgery (136 +/- 12 vs 39 +/- 4 micrograms/24 h, p less than 0.01), and was still high two weeks after surgery (115.1 +/- 14 micrograms/24 h). There were no complications related to propranolol. The left ventricular function as measured from the systolic time intervals was the same pre- and postoperatively in both groups. The results of this study show that administration of propranolol up to 4 h before coronary bypass and reinstitution immediately afterwards is safe and beneficial.     

Illness representations according to age and effects on health behaviors following coronary artery bypass graft surgery

OBJECTIVES: To determine if illness representations differ as a function of age and how these representations, in conjunction with age, predict postoperative health behaviors. DESIGN: Prospective study of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. SETTING: A large metropolitan hospital providing regional cardiac care for patients in a tri-state area, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS: All consenting patients (N = 309) from a consecutive series of patients scheduled for CABG surgery between January 1992 and January 1994. To be eligible for participation, patients could not be scheduled for any other coincidental surgery (e.g., valve replacement), and could not be in cardiac intensive care or experiencing angina at the time of the referral. Participants were predominantly male (70%) and married (80%), and averaged 62.8 years of age. MEASUREMENTS: Postoperative self-reported health behaviors. RESULTS: Older participants awaiting CABG surgery were significantly more likely to believe old age to be the cause of their coronary heart disease (CHD) and significantly less likely to believe genetics, health-damaging behaviors, health-protective behaviors, and emotions to be the cause of their CHD than were younger participants awaiting surgery. Furthermore, the older participants were significantly more likely to believe they had no control over the disease and that the disease would be gone after surgery, and reported fewer postoperative health behavior changes than did younger participants. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate significant differences in illness representations as a function of age. Furthermore, differences in postoperative health behaviors were consistent with differing illness representations.     

Emergency bypass surgery for failed coronary interventions

“Percutaneous dilation will never be entirely free from risks … attempts [are made] to define the role of the surgeon in this controversial new procedure” [1]. “If PTCA [percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty] is indicated, it is only logical that immediate coronary artery bypass should be indicated for PTCA failure” [2]. “PTCA is injurious and a successful operation cannot always reverse this damage” [3]. “Patients who require immediate CABG [coronary artery bypass grafting] after a failed PTCA seem to fare worse than patients undergoing elective operations” [4]. “In any patient with ongoing infarction … as the result of failed coronary angioplasty, delays in achieving reperfusion should be identified and strategies aimed at reducing these delays should be developed” [5]. Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 40:55–65, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Atrial fibrillation independently prolongs hospital stay after coronary artery bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia occurring in patients after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to determine whether AF independently prolonged postoperative length of stay (LOS). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing elective CABG were identified. Baseline clinical variables, postoperative course including the development of AF, and postoperative LOS were recorded. RESULTS: In all, 216 patients (aged 61 +/- 13 years) were examined. Postoperative LOS was 11.3 +/- 6.4 days (median LOS = 9 days). Fifty-five patients (25%) developed AF. Among 16 variables examined, the univariate predictors of LOS included age (p < 0.001), preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (p < 0.001), absence of a prior smoking history (p < 0.05), bypass limited to venous conduits (p < 0.001), postoperative AF (p < 0.001), and the occurrence of a postoperative event (p < 0.001). Length of stay for patients who developed AF was significantly longer than that for patients who did not (15.1 +/- 9.0 vs. 10.0 +/- 4.6 days, p < 0.001). After adjusting for other significant variables, the occurrence of AF after CABG independently prolonged LOS: patients who developed AF stayed 3.2 +/- 1.7 days longer than patients who did not (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation lengthens hospital stay after CABG, and its effect is independent of other important variables. Identification of patients who are at risk for AF and successful treatment to prevent AF will likely contribute to major reductions in consumption of health care resources in patients with CABG.     

Impact of preoperative thrombocytopenia on the outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting

The impact of thrombocytopenia on postoperative bleeding and other major adverse events after cardiac surgery is unclear. This issue was investigated in a series of patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from the prospective, multicenter E-CABG registry. Preoperative thrombocytopenia was defined as preoperative platelet count <150 × 10⁹/L and it was considered moderate-severe when preoperative platelet count was <100 × 10⁹/L. Multilevel mixed-effects regression analysis was performed to adjust the effect of thrombocytopenia on outcomes for baseline and operative covariates as well as for interinstitutional differences in patient-blood management. Among 7189 patients included in this analysis, 599 (8.3%) had preoperative thrombocytopenia. Patient with preoperative thrombocytopenia had an increased chest drainage output at 12 h (mean, 519 vs. 456 mL, adjusted coeff. 39, 95%CI 18–60) and rates of severe-massive bleeding (Universal Definition of Perioperative Bleeding (UDPB) severity grades 3–4: 12.7% vs. 8.1%, adjusted OR 1.47, 95%CI 1.11–1.93; E-CABG bleeding severity grades 2–3: 10.4% vs. 6.1%, adjusted OR 1.78, 95%CI 1.30–2.43). Thrombocytopenia was associated with an increased risk of hospital/30-day death (3.2% vs. 1.9%, adjusted OR 2.02, 95%CI 1.20–3.42), 1-year death (5.7% vs. 3.4%, adjusted HR 1.68, 95%CI 1.16–2.44), deep sternal wound infection (3.5% vs. 2.4%, adjusted OR 1.65, 95%CI 1.02–2.66), acute kidney injury (28.1% vs. 22.2%, OR 1.45, 1.18–1.78), and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (mean, 3.6 vs 2.8 days, adjusted coeff. 0.74, 95%CI 0.40–1.09). Similar results were observed in a subset of patients with moderate-severe thrombocytopenia (51 patients, 0.7%). In particular, these patients had a markedly higher rate of acute kidney injury (40%, adjusted OR, 1.94, 95%CI 1.05–3.57), resternotomy for bleeding (7.8%, adjusted OR 3.49, 95%CI 1.20–10.21), and severe-massive bleeding (UDPB severity grades 3–4: 23.5%, adjusted OR 3.08, 95%CI 1.52–6.22; E-CABG bleeding severity grades 2–3: 23.5%, adjusted OR 4.43, 95%CI 2.15–9.15) compared to patients with normal preoperative platelet count. Mild preoperative thrombocytopenia is associated with increased risk of severe-massive bleeding, mortality, and other major adverse events after CABG. Such risks are markedly increased in patients with moderate-severe preoperative thrombocytopenia.     

基于无创心输出量监测的冠状动脉旁路移植术后 早期运动康复的临床疗效分析

目的 观察基于无创心输出量监测的早期运动康复对冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）患者的临床疗效。方法 选取2019年4月至2020年4月于武汉亚洲心脏病医院行CABG的患者206例,应用随机数字表将患者随机分为对照组和康复组,两组均予以 CABG常规治疗和护理,康复组给予早期运动康复治疗。康复组随机分为常规康复亚组和精准康复亚组。其中常规康复亚组通过监测心率、血压控制运动强度和风险;精准康复亚组通过监测心率、血压、无创心输出量控制运动强度和风险。结果 出院前对照组Barthel指数70.89±13.60,6MWT距离263.33±77.71米,康复组Barthel指数74.66±10.27、6MWT距离294.73±86.87米,均明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。对照组住ICU时间48.31±65.23小时,康复组住ICU时间37.43±31.00小时,康复组住ICU时间明显低于对照组（P<0.05）。常规康复亚组4例患者发生低血压,精准康复亚组无患者发生低血压,精准康复亚组低血压的发生率低于常规康复亚组（P<0.05）。结论 围术期实施早期运动康复可以提高CABG患者出院前的日常生活能力和运动能力,缩短住ICU时间。基于无创心输出量监测的早期运动康复能提高运动康复的安全性。     

冠状动脉旁路移植术后低心排的危险因素

目的探讨冠状动脉旁路移植（CABG）术后低心排的危险因素。方法：采用病例对照研究,以宜昌市第一人民医院重症医学科2008年1月-2012年9月CABG术后临床资料完整的全部病例（92例）患者为研究对象,低心排[诊断标准：多巴胺用量〉10μg／（kg·min）]者为病例组（n=13）,以无低心排患者对照组（n=79）。对两组患者潜在的危险因素进行对比分析,并采用非条件logistic多元回归分析判断影响CABG术后低心排的独立危险因素。结果：单因素分析结果显示：年龄、性别、术前近期心肌梗死（MI）、心律失常、术后呼吸衰竭、术前贫血为CABG术后低心排的危险因素。logistic多因素回归分析显示,CABG术后低心排的独立的危险因素是：术前近期MI OR18．149,95．O％CI[1．949-169．011];心律失常OR 30．509,95．0％CI[2．607-357．028];女性OR 10．743,95．0％CI[1．347-85．659]（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）。结论：术前近期MI;心律失常是CABG术后低心排的独立的危险因素。     

Videoscope-assisted cardiac surgery

Videoscope-assisted cardiac surgery (VACS) offers a minimally invasive platform for most cardiac operations such as coronary and valve procedures. It includes robotic and thoracoscopic approaches and each has strengths and weaknesses. The success depends on appropriate hardware setup, staff training, and troubleshooting efficiency. In our institution, we often use VACS for robotic left-internal-mammary-artery takedown, mitral valve repair, and various intra-cardiac operations such as tricuspid valve repair, combined Maze procedure, atrial septal defect repair, ventricular septal defect repair, etc. Hands-on reminders and updated references are provided for reader’s further understanding of the topic.     

Waiting times and prioritization for coronary artery bypass surgery in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: To review the New Zealand coronary artery bypass priority score instituted in May 1996, and specifically to determine whether it prioritizes patients at high risk of cardiac events while waiting. The New Zealand score is compared with the Ontario urgency rating score, and waiting times for surgery are compared with the maximum times recommended by the Ontario consensus panel. DESIGN: Retrospective review of patients accepted for isolated coronary artery bypass surgery between 1 January 1993 and 31 January 1996. SETTING: Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Waiting time, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and cardiac readmission. RESULTS: The median waiting times were five days for hospital cases (n = 721) and 146 days for out of hospital cases (n = 701). Of the latter group, 28% waited more than a year, 33% had their surgery expedited because of worsening symptoms, and 19% failed to meet the cut off point set by the New Zealand score for acceptance onto the list. Twenty two patients died, 18 on the outpatient waiting list (waiting list mortality 2.6%, risk 0.28% per month of waiting), and 132 were readmitted, 12% with myocardial infarction and 76% with unstable angina. Risk factors for a composite end point of death or myocardial infarction and/or cardiac readmission were: previous coronary artery bypass surgery (p = 0. 001), class III or IV angina (p = 0.002), and hypertension (p = 0. 005). The New Zealand score did not identify those at risk. Excluding hospital cases, 32% had surgery within the time recommended by the Ontario consensus panel. CONCLUSIONS: Waiting times for coronary artery bypass surgery in New Zealand are considerably longer than those in Ontario, Canada. By using a numerical cut off point, implementation of the New Zealand priority scoring system has restricted access to coronary surgery on the basis of funding constraints rather than clinical appropriateness. The score does not add greatly to the clinicians' prioritization in predicting those patients who will suffer events while waiting.     

可达龙治疗冠状动脉旁路移植术后快速性心律失常的疗效观察

目的评价可达龙（盐酸胺碘酮）对非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（OPCAB）后快速性心律失常的疗效。方法可达龙静脉负荷量150mg（3～5mg／kg）于10min内注射，如有效，继续以1．0mg／min静脉泵入；6h后改为0．5mg／min维持。若首剂静脉注射后20min疗效不明显，可再次静脉注射75～150mg，然后静脉泵入维持。总量〈1200mg／d。为保持疗效，可于静脉用药第1天加用或改用口服。结果本组110例中，快速心房颤动59例，显效50例；室上性心动过速30例，显效25例；房扑12例，显效8例，总有效98例，有效率89．1％。结论可达龙为治疗OPCAB后快速性心律失常的有效药物，安全可靠，疗效肯定，不良反应少。     

Improvement in quality of life differs between women and men after coronary artery bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE: To study improvement in quality of life (QoL) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in relation to gender. BACKGROUND: Women generally report worse QoL after CABG than men. However, women are older and more symptomatic prior to surgery, which should be considered in comparative analyses. METHODS: We studied consecutive patients who underwent CABG between 1988 and 1991 [n = 2121] with a QoL questionnaire containing the Physical Activity Score, the Nottingham Health Profile and the Psychological General Well-being Index prior to, 3 months, 1 year and 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: Females were older than men with more concomitant diseases preoperatively. QoL was improved on all postoperative occasions for both sexes. Improvement in the Physical Activity Score was somewhat, although not significantly, greater in males. Improvement in the Nottingham Health Profile was greater in females. General well-being showed no consistent pattern for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: QoL is significantly improved after CABG in both sexes throughout follow-up. There is a complex association between improvement in various aspects of QoL and gender.     

Determinants of an impaired quality of life five years after coronary artery bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE: To identify determinants of an inferior quality of life (QoL) five years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients from western Sweden who underwent CABG between 1988 and 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Questionnaires for evaluating QoL before CABG and five years after operation. Three different instruments were used: the Nottingham health profile (NHP), the psychological general wellbeing index (PGWI), and the physical activity score (PAS). RESULTS: 2121 patients underwent CABG, of whom 310 died during five years' follow up. Information on QoL after five years was available in 1431 survivors (79%). There were three independent predictors for an inferior QoL with all three instruments: female sex, a history of diabetes mellitus, and a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Multivariate analysis showed that a poor preoperative QoL was a strong independent predictor for an impaired QoL five years after CABG. An impaired QoL was also predicted by previous disease. CONCLUSIONS: Female sex, an impaired QoL before surgery, and other diseases such as diabetes mellitus are independent predictors for an impaired QoL after CABG in survivors five years after operation.     

Rapid diagnosis and management of intraoperative myocardial infarction during valvular surgery: using intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography followed by emergency coronary artery bypass grafting without coronary angiography

A 68-year-old man was admitted to undergo elective mitral valve surgery. Although the preoperative coronary angiography was normal, the patient suffered a myocardial infarction that resulted in untreatable collapsed hemodynamics. After inferring the responsible occluded coronary artery from the segmental wall motion abnormality detected in intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, together with the anatomy found in preoperative coronary angiography, we performed an emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery without a new angiography. This procedure resulted in survival of a potentially life-threatening situation. In selected cases, this therapeutic strategy may lead to reduction of mortality as a result of the intraoperative myocardial infarction.     

Factors affecting recovery of functional status in older adults after cancer surgery

OBJECTIVES: To explore factors influencing functional status over time after cancer surgery in adults aged 65 and older. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis of combined data subsets. SETTING: Five prospective, longitudinal oncology nurse‐directed clinical studies conducted at three academic centers in the northwest and northeast United States. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred sixteen community‐residing patients diagnosed with digestive system, thoracic, genitourinary, and gynecological cancers treated primarily with surgery. MEASUREMENTS: Functional status, defined as performance of current life roles, was measured using the Enforced Social Dependency Scale and the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐item Short‐Form Survey (using physical component summary measures) after surgery (baseline) and again at 3 and 6 months. Number of symptoms, measured using the Symptom Distress Scale, quantified the effect of each additional common cancer symptom on functional status. RESULTS: After controlling for cancer site and stage, comorbidities, symptoms, psychological status, treatment, and demographic variables, functional status was found to be significantly better at 3 and 6 months after surgery than at baseline. Factors associated with better functional status included higher income and better mental health. Factors associated with poorer average functional status were a greater number of symptoms and comorbidities. Persons reporting three or more symptoms experienced statistically significant and clinically meaningful poorer functional status than those without symptoms. Persons reporting three or more comorbidities were also found to have poorer functional status than those without comorbidities. No significant relationship existed between age and functional status in patients aged 65 and older. CONCLUSION: Factors other than age affect recovery of functional status in older adults after cancer surgery.     

Acute ischemic syndromes following coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, performed for the control of angina pectoris, leads to postoperative relief from symptoms in most patients. Amelioration of ischemia and improvement in exercise capacity after CABG are well documented. However, patients currently undergoing CABG are more complex than in the past—they are older and are maintained on medical therapy for longer periods. A large number of these patients have had one or more previous myocardial revascularization procedures. The postoperative period would appear to be a time of vulnerability for coronary events. However, previous investigators have focused on the pre- and intraoperative aspects of peri-CABG ischemia. Outcome data suggest that the postoperative interval is at least equally important as a determinant of short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. We discuss the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of ischemic syndromes in the postoperative period after CABG. In addition, we review recent data from a series of 14 patients, observed at our institution, who underwent cardiac catheterization and, in some cases, angioplasty of the culprit vessel in the immediate postoperative period.