Preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump improves the clinical outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in left ventricular dysfunction patients

Intra-aortic balloon pump still has a role in late-onset myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal rupture with intractable heart failure: a case report

BACKGROUND

The current guidelines have discouraged the routine use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in cardiogenic shock complicating acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Since then, the trend of IABP utilization in ACS has been declining. Nevertheless, the guidelines still preserve the recommendation of IABP use in hemodynamic instability or cardiogenic shock caused by post myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal rupture (VSR).

CASE PRESENTATION

A 46-years-old diabetic Southeast Asian female was referred from a peripheral facility with intractable heart failure despite treatment with vasoactive agents and diuretics for five days. The ECG suggested a recent anteroseptal myocardial infarction with normal high-sensitivity troponin-I value. The echocardiography detected a regional wall motion abnormality and a 10 mm wide ventricular septal defect. Invasive coronary angiography revealed a severe two-vessel coronary artery disease. We planned a delayed surgical strategy with preoperative optimization using IABP as a bridge to surgery. IABP implantation followed by significant hemodynamic improvement and rapid resolution of heart failure without any inotrope support. Afterwards, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and VSR surgical repair were performed. We safely removed IABP on the third postoperative day with proper weaning and minimal vasoactive support.

CONCLUSION

We report a case where IABP still provided benefits for a patient with intractable heart failure caused by undetermined onset MI complicated by VSR. The use of IABP in such a case is in accordance with the recommendation of the current guidelines. Several studies showed that IABP use during preoperative optimization in the case of post-MI VSR was associated with survival benefits.

Programmatic approach to patients with advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy: Integrating microaxial support into strategies for the modern era

Patients with advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy manifesting as left ventricular dysfunction exist along a spectrum of severity and risk, and thus decision-making surrounding optimal management is challenging. Treatment pathways can include medical therapy as well as revascularization through percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. Additionally, temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support, as well as heart transplantation, may be optimal for select patients. Given this spectrum of risk and the complexity of treatment pathways, patients may not receive appropriate therapy given their perceived risk, which can lead to sub-satisfactory outcomes. In this review, we discuss the identification of high-risk ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, along with our programmatic approach to patient evaluation and perioperative optimization. We also discuss our strategies for therapeutic decision-making designed to optimize both short- and long-term patient outcomes.

Predictors of unplanned 30-day readmissions after coronary artery bypass graft: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

AIMS

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is one of the most performed cardiac surgery globally. CABG is known to have a high rate of short-term readmissions. The 30-day unplanned readmission rate as a quality measure is associated with adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to identify and synthesize the perioperative risk factors for 30-day unplanned readmission after CABG.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We systematically searched seven databases and reviewed studies to identify all eligible English articles published from 1 October 1999 to 30 September 2019. Random-effect models were employed to perform pooled analyses. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used to estimate the risk factors for 30-day unplanned readmission. The 30-day hospital readmission rates after CABG ranged from 9.2% to 18.9% in 14 cohort studies. Among preoperative characteristics, older adults, female, weight loss, high serum creatinine, anticoagulant use or dialysis, and comorbidities were found to be statistically significant. Postoperative complications, prolonged length of hospital stay, and mechanical ventilation were revealed as the postoperative risk factors for 30-day unplanned readmission. However, intraoperative risk factors were not found to be significant in this review.

CONCLUSION

Our findings emphasize the importance of a comprehensive assessment during the perioperative period of CABG. Healthcare professionals can perform a readmission risk stratification and develop strategies to reduce readmission rates after CABG using the risk factors identified in this review. Future studies with prospective cohort samples are needed to identify the personal or psychosocial factors influencing readmission after CABG, including perioperative risk factors.

Preoperative Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps in Cardiac Surgery: A Propensity Score Analysis

INTRODUCTION

The role of intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP) in high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains controversial. We report the 5-year experience from a new Australian centre.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 690 patients undergoing urgent isolated CABG surgery at a Western Australian tertiary centre from February 2015 to May 2020. De-identified data was obtained from the Australia & New Zealand Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons database. Patients were stratified according to preoperative IABP use. A propensity score was created for the probability of IABP use and a propensity adjusted analysis was performed using logistic regression. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were postoperative inhospital outcomes.

RESULTS

Preoperative IABP was used in 78 patients (11.3%). After propensity score adjustment, in a subgroup of patients with reduced ejection fraction or left main disease, 30-day mortality (7.0% vs 2.0%, OR 6.03, 95% CI 1.89-19.28, p=0.002) was significantly higher in the IABP group. Red blood cell transfusions (19.7% vs 12.6%, OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.02-3.35, p=0.039), prolonged inotrope use (78.9% vs 50.9%, OR 6.11, 95% CI 2.77-13.48, p<0.001), prolonged invasive ventilation (28.2% vs 3.4%, OR 20.2, 95% CI 8.24-49.74, p<0.001), mesenteric ischaemia (2.8% vs 0%, OR 4.52, 95% CI 1.15-17.77, p=0.031) and multisystem organ failure (1.3% vs 0.7%, OR 25.68, 95% CI 2.55-258.34, p=0.006) were significantly higher in the IABP group.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery, preoperative IABP use was associated with increased 30-day mortality and adverse outcomes. Large randomised controlled trials are required to confirm our findings.

Prophylactic intra-aortic balloon pump in patients with left main disease undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Background

Preventive intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) for high-risk patients with stable hemodynamics is controversial, and its definition of high-risk is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prophylactic IABP on the early outcome of left main disease (LMD) patients receiving off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) with stable hemodynamics.

Methods

From January 2013 to April 2020, 257 consecutive patients who underwent OPCABG through sternotomy were enrolled in this study. All LMD patients (greater than 70%) had stable hemodynamics (BP>100 mmHg without vasoconstrictor substance infusion). Early outcomes of 125 patients with prophylactic IABP (IABP group) and 132 patients without IABP (Control group) were compared in this study.

Results

IABP did not show favorable effect on the conversion to CPB (RR 0.63, 95%CI 0.05–7.89, P = 0.7211), perioperative MI (RR 0.69, 95%CI 0.22–2.12, P = 0.5163), mortality (RR 0.65, 95%CI 0.04–10.25, P = 0.7608) or the composite end of the conversion, MI and mortality (RR 0.63, 95%CI 0.23–1.74, P = 0.3747). There was greater incidence of prolonged ventilation in IABP after adjustment (RR2.16, 95%CI 1.12–4.18, P = 0.0221). There was no IABP-related mortality or limb ischemia.

Conclusion

No significant difference in early outcomes was observed in hemodynamically stable patients with LMD between prophylactic IABP group and control group. Prophylactic IABP may be unnecessary in patients with LMD undergoing OPCABG.

Conversion during off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A case-control study

Objectives:

Off pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery is carried out as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). At times ‘conversion’ to CPB may be required to bail out a situation resulting from acute decompensation of the heart. It is reported that such conversion carries significant mortality risk. Since we conduct coronary revascularization by OPCAB technique as the preferred technique, we conducted this study with an aim to identify the markers of adverse outcome during conversion in Indian patients.

Design:

Case control retrospective study.

Setting:

Tertiary referral center.

Participants:

We conducted three thousand two hundred OPAB surgeries in the period between 2013 to16. Ninety patients (3.1%) required conversion to complete the revascularization (Con version group). Twice the number of patients who underwent OPCAB surgery without conver sion were chosen as controls (Control group).

Intervention:

OPCAB surgery

Results:

Mortality in the conversion group was 5.56% in contrast to 0.06% in the controls (P = 0.01). The conversion group had higher left ventricular end diastolic pressure, incidence of endarterectomy, and intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation requirement. Female gender was also predictive of conversion. The total chest drain, duration of ventilation, ICU stay and hospital stay were also higher in the conversion group. Conversion was associated with 9.47 times the odds for mortality.

Conclusion:

Conversion during OPCAB is associated with significantly increased mortality. Female gender, increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure and preoperative requirement of Intra-aortic balloon are markers of increased risk of mortality when converted.

Preoperative Use of Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Support Reduced 30-Day Mortality in a Population with LVEF >35% and High Surgical Risk after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Introduction: The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is used to prevent complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, although some results are controversial and basal ventricular function may play a role. This study assessed the benefit of preoperative use of IABP, as stratified by the ventricular function, in a population submitted to high-surgical-risk CABG. Methods: Patients >18 years old, with multiple coronary artery disease and thus candidates for CABG, were included. Cardiogenic shock, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute ventricle mechanical dysfunction, severe aortic regurgitation, tachyarrhythmia, massive pulmonary embolism, coagulopathy, or low life expectancy were exclusion criteria. Results: One hundred and twenty-nine patients aged 65 years old with hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 46% constituted the study population. No difference was observed at 30-day mortality endpoint (IABP vs. no IABP, 17 vs. 24%, OR 0.63, p = 0.20; AMI 25 vs. 31%, OR 0.75, p = 0.29). After LVEF stratification, the subgroup of 48 (75%) patients under IABP support and LVEF >35% had a reduced 30-day mortality risk (LVEF ≤35% vs. LVEF >35%, 37.5 vs. 10.4%, OR 0.3, p = 0.03), independently from potential confounders and showing an interaction with European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation-II (EuroSCORE-II). At secondary endpoints, IABP use was associated with a lower prevalence of acute renal failure and renal replacement therapy, but with a longer stay in the intensive care unit and longer hospitalization time. Conclusion: The preoperative use of IABP was associated with an independent reduction of 30-day mortality risk in cases with LVEF >35% in a population submitted to high-surgical-risk CABG. Likewise, the use of IABP was associated with a lower risk of postoperative renal complications.

Preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump inserted in acute myocardial infarction patients without cardiogenic shock undergoing surgical coronary revascularization

OBJECTIVES

The benefit of preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump implantation in high-risk cardiac surgery patients is still debated. The role of preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump insertion in acute myocardial infarction patients without cardiogenic shock undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of the preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump insertion in those patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

METHODS

A total of 421 consecutive acute myocardial infarction patients without cardiogenic shock who underwent isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled in this retrospective observational propensity score-matched analysis study. Patients who received intra-aortic balloon pump before off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (the intra-aortic balloon pump group, n = 157) were compared with those who had not (control group, n = 264). The 30-day postoperative survival, postoperative complications, and postoperative hospital length of stay were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 99 pairs of patients were matched. The preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump did not show a 30-day postoperative survival benefit compared with the control group (hazard ratio, 0.9; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-4.2; p = 0.92). Patients with preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump were more likely to have shorter postoperative lengths of stay (8 (6-11) days vs. 10 (6-15) days, p = 0.02) and decreased total days in the hospital (median days: 18.2 vs. 21.8, p = 0.02) compared to patients without balloon pumps.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump insertion in acute myocardial infarction patients without cardiogenic shock undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting improved convalescence as shown by significantly shorter postoperative lengths of hospital stay.

Short-term outcomes of preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump use in patients undergoing adjunctive coronary endarterectomy: a retrospective observational study

Background:

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) combined with coronary endarterectomy (CE) can be associated with high operative mortality and morbidity. An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been the most widely used mechanical circulatory support device during perfusion treatment. However, the benefits of preoperative IABP in CABG combined with CE remain unknown. We conducted a retrospective observational study to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative IABP therapy in patients undergoing adjunctive right coronary artery (RCA) endarterectomy.

Methods:

Between May 2013 and May 2016, 120 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) with RCA endarterectomy who received preoperative IABP support (IABP group, n=56) or who did not receive preoperative IABP support (control group, n=64) were evaluated retrospectively.

Results:

Patients in the IABP group had a significantly lower mean preoperative ejection fraction and a significantly higher mean EuroSCORE (both <0.05). The incidence of inferior myocardial infarction (MI) was significantly lower in the IABP group than in the control group (3.6% vs 15.6%, RR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.05-1.00, p=0.03). Hospital mortality was similar in the two groups (3.6% vs 4.7%, RR= 0.76, 95% CI 0.13-4.40, p=0.76). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the rates of prolonged ventilation, low cardiac output syndrome, renal failure requiring dialysis, re-operation for bleeding or IABP-related complications. Preoperative IABP may be a protective factor of inferior MI (HR = 0.031, 95% CI 0.004-0.211, p<0.001)

Conclusions:

The preoperative use of IABP could reduce the incidence of postoperative MI in patients undergoing CABG with CE and seemed to shift high-risk patients into a lower-risk category.

Modifying risks to improve outcome in cardiac surgery: An anesthesiologist's perspective

Challenging times are here for cardiac surgical and anesthesia team. The interventional cardiologist seem to have closed the flow of ‘good cases’ coming up for any of the surgery,; successful percutaneous interventions seem to be offering reasonable results in these patients, who therefore do not knock on the doors of the surgeons any more. It is a common experience among the cardiac anesthesiologists and surgeons that the type of the cases that come by now are high risk. That may be presence of comorbidities, ongoing medical therapies, unstable angina, uncontrolled heart failure and rhythm disturbances; and in patients with ischemic heart disease, the target coronaries are far from ideal. Several activities such as institution of preoperative supportive circulatory, ventilatory, and systemic disease control maneuvers seem to have helped improving the outcome of these ‘high risk ‘ patients. This review attempts to look at various interventions and the resulting improvement in outcomes. Several changes have happened in the realm of cardiac surgery and several more are en route. At times, for want of evidence, maximal optimization may not take place and the patient may encounter unfavorable outcomes.. This review is an attempt to bring the focus of the members of the cardiac surgical team on the value of preoperative optimization of risks to improve the outcome. The cardiac surgical patients may broadly be divided into adults undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, valve surgery and pediatric patients undergoing repair/palliation of congenital heart ailments. Optimization of risks appear to be different in each genre of patients. This review also brings less often discussed issues such as anemia, nutritional issues and endocrine problems. The review is an attempt to data on ameliorating modifiable risk factors and altering non modifiable ones.

Clinical application of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been the most commonly used mechanical circulatory support device for nearly five decades. In theory, the IABP can increase the blood and oxygen supply of the coronary artery by increasing the diastolic pressure in the aortic root when the balloon is inflated and reduce left ventricular afterload by rapidly deflating the balloon during the systolic phase. Therefore, some researchers put forward the idea of preoperative prophylactic use of an IABP, which has been frequently performed in high-risk patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Previous studies have suggested preoperative IABP has a controversial effect on patients undergoing revascularization; the role of preoperative IABP insertion in those patients undergoing CABG alone remains uncertain. This review will give further insight into routine IABP use by presenting the basic principles and discussing current evidence.