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Shou BL, Aravind P, Ong CS, Alejo D, Canner JK, Etchill EW, DiNatale J, Prokupets R, Esfandiary T, Lawton JS, Schena S. Early Reexploration for Bleeding Is Associated With Improved Outcome in Cardiac Surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2023; 115:232-239. [PMID: 35952856 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reexploration after cardiac surgery, most frequently for bleeding, is a quality metric used to assess surgical performance. This may cause surgeons to delay return to the operating room in favor of attempting nonoperative management. This study investigated the impact of the timing of reexploration on morbidity and mortality. METHODS This study was a single-institution retrospective review of all adult cardiac surgery patients from July 2010 to June 2020. Time to reexploration was assessed, and outcomes were compared across increasing time intervals. Reported bleeding sites were classified into 5 groups, and bleeding rate (chest tube output) was compared across bleeding sites. Univariable analysis was performed using the Fisher exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were used for risk-adjusted analyses. RESULTS Of 10 070 eligible patients, 251 (2.5%) required reexploration for postoperative bleeding. The most common site of bleeding was "any suture line" (n = 70; 28%). Interestingly, in 30% of cases (n = 75) "no active bleeding" site was reported. The highest rate of bleeding (mL/h) was observed in the "any mediastinal structure" group (median, 450; interquartile range [IQR], 185, 8878), and the lowest rate was noted in the "no active bleeding" group (median, 151.2; IQR, 102, 270). Both morbidity rates (0-4 hours, 12.3% vs 25-48 hours, 37.5%; P = .001) and mortality rates (0-4 hours, 3.1% vs 25-48 hours, 43.8%; P = .001) escalated significantly with increasing time to reexploration. CONCLUSIONS Delayed reexploration for bleeding after cardiac surgery is associated with increased risk for morbidity and mortality. Early surgical intervention, particularly within 4 hours, may improve outcomes. Implications from using reoperation as a performance metric may lead to unnecessary delay and patient harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Shou
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Pathik Aravind
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Chin Siang Ong
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Diane Alejo
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Joseph K Canner
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Eric W Etchill
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Joseph DiNatale
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Rochelle Prokupets
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Tina Esfandiary
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Jennifer S Lawton
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Stefano Schena
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
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