Measuring the quality of perioperative care in cardiac surgery

Rapid-recovery protocol for minimally invasive mitral valve repair

Background

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair (MIMVR), often performed within specialized care pathways, has been shown to reduce hospital length of stay and improve patient recovery. The relative value of rapid-recovery protocols as a component of care pathways, including enhanced recovery programs (ERPs), has not been well described. This study compared clinical outcomes following implementation of a new, comprehensive rapid-recovery protocol within a previously established, mature ERP for patients undergoing MIMVR.

Methods

The rapid-recovery protocol was developed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team to further optimize patient recovery within an existing ERP. The protocol was applied to 75 consecutive patients undergoing MIMVR between September 2022 and December 2023. Outcomes were compared retrospectively to 75 ERP control patients who did not receive the rapid-recovery protocol but experienced the ERP. The primary outcome was a composite of discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) by postoperative day (POD) 1, discharge to home by POD 4, and no all-cause hospital readmission by 30 days.

Results

Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. Patients in the rapid-recovery group achieved the primary composite outcome significantly more often compared to the control group (60% vs 40%, respectively). There was no between-group difference in postoperative complications. Multivariable logistic regression showed that age ≤60 years was significantly associated with rapid-recovery protocol success. Clinical barriers to achieving individual components of the primary outcome were described.

Conclusions

A rapid-recovery protocol for MIMVR was associated with early ICU and hospital discharge. These benefits were safely achieved without any increase in hospital readmission, morbidity, or mortality up to 30 days postoperatively.

A transfusion risk stratification score to facilitate quality management in cardiopulmonary bypass

BACKGROUND

Our previous showed that a blood management program in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) department, reduced red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and complications, but assessing transfusion practice solely based on transfusion rates was insufficient. This study aimed to design a risk stratification score to predict perioperative RBC transfusion to guide targeted measures for on-pump cardiac surgery patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We analyzed data from 42,435 adult cardiac patients. Eight predictors were entered into the final model including age, sex, anemia, New York Heart Association classification, body surface area, cardiac surgery history, emergency surgery, and surgery type. We then simplified the score to an integer-based system. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, and a calibration curve were used for its performance test. The score was compared to existing scores.

RESULTS

The final score included eight predictors. The AUC for the model was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.76-0.77) and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.76-0.78) in the training and test set, respectively. The calibration curves showed a good fit. The risk score was finally grouped into low-risk (score of 0-13 points), medium-risk (14-19 points), and high-risk (more than 19 points). The score had better predictive power compared to the other two existing risk scores.

DISCUSSION

We developed an effective risk stratification score with eight variables to predict perioperative RBC transfusion for on-pump cardiac surgery. It assists perfusionists in proactively preparing blood conservation measures for high-risk patients before surgery.

The Search for an Outcome Variable That Measures Both Quality and Processes in Cardiac Surgery: Comparing the Quality Process Index and Mortality

BACKGROUND

The translation of a large quantity of data into valuable insights for daily clinical practice is underexplored. A considerable amount of information is overwhelming, making it difficult to distill and assess quality and processes at the hospital level. This study contributes to this necessary translation by developing a Quality Process Index that summarizes clinical data to measure quality and processes.

METHODS

The Quality Process Index was constructed to enable retrospective analyses of quality and process evolution from 2011 to 2021 for various surgery types in the Amsterdam Cardiosurgical Database (n = 5497). It is presented alongside mortality rates, which are the golden standard for quality measurement. The two outcome variables are compared as quality and process measurement options.

RESULTS

Results showed that the mean Quality Process Index appeared rather stable, even though analysis of variance found that the mean Quality Process Index differed significantly over the years (p < 0.001). The 30-day and 120-day mortality rates appeared to fluctuate more, but interestingly, we failed to reject the null hypothesis of equal means. The Quality Process Index and mortality rates were statistically negatively correlated, and the extent of correlation was more pronounced with the 120-day mortality rate, as computed using the Pearson correlation coefficient r (30-day rQPI,30 = -0.07, p < 0.001 and 120-day mortality rates rQPI,120 = -0.12, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The Quality Process Index seeks to address the need to translate data for quality and process improvement in healthcare. While mortality remains the most impactful outcome measure, the Quality Process Index provides a more stable and comprehensive measurement of quality and process improvement or deterioration in healthcare. Therefore, the Quality Process Index as a quantification reinforces the understanding of the definition of quality and process improvement.

Low parental socioeconomic position results in longer post-Norwood length of stay

BACKGROUND

Length of stay (LOS) has been proposed as a quality metric in congenital heart surgery, but LOS may be influenced by parental socioeconomic position (SEP). We aimed to examine the relationship between post-Norwood LOS and SEP.

METHODS

Patients undergoing a Norwood procedure from 2008 to 2018 for hypoplastic left heart syndrome from a single institution, who were discharged alive before second-stage palliation, were included. SEP was defined by Area Deprivation Index, distance from hospital, insurance status, and immigration status. A directed acyclic graph identified confounders for the effect of SEP on LOS, which included gestational age, hypoplastic left heart syndrome subtype, postoperative cardiac arrest, reoperations, and ventilator days. A negative binomial model was used to assess effect of SEP on LOS.

RESULTS

In total, 98 patients were discharged alive at a median 37 days (15th-85th percentile 26-72). The majority of patients were children of US citizens and permanent residents (n = 89; 91%). Private insurance covered 54 (55%), with 44 (45%) covered by Medicaid or Tricare. Median Area Deprivation Index was 54 (15th-85th percentile, 25-87). Median distance traveled was 72 miles (15th-85th percentile, 17-469 miles). For every 10 percentile increase in Area Deprivation Index, LOS increased 4% (incidence rate ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.007-1.077; P = .022). Insurance type, immigration status, and distance traveled did not affect postoperative length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant relationship between SEP and LOS. Consideration of LOS as a quality indicator may penalize hospitals providing care for patients with lower parental SEP.

Quality Management of a Comprehensive Blood Conservation Program During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

BACKGROUND

Red blood cell transfusion is common and associated with adverse outcomes for cardiac surgery, while present blood conservation guidelines have not been fully implemented until now. This study aims to evaluate our comprehensive blood conservation program after quality management, exploring its impact on blood transfusion and outcomes in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODS

We retrospectively compared blood transfusions and outcomes of patients from two different time periods, before and after the quality management of the comprehensive blood conservation program. The comprehensive program included restrictive transfusion protocols, conventional ultrafiltration, cell salvage, residual pump blood ultrafiltration and a modified mini-extracorporeal circulation system. A 1:1 propensity score matching and subgroup analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

3977 pairs were created, a significant decrease of red cell transfusion was observed during CPB (28.4% vs 18.6%, p＜.001), in the operation (40.7% vs 34.3%, p＜.001 ) and after the operation (6.2% vs 4.3%, p＜.001). 30-day mortality and some major complications also reduced. Subgroup analysis showed that the comprehensive blood conservation program was more beneficial for the following patients: above 60, male and the medium-risk European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) of score 3-5.

CONCLUSIONS

The comprehensive blood conservation program during CPB is safe and effective in adult cardiac surgery, reducing blood utilization with no adverse outcomes. For the patients who are older, male and EuroSCORE 3-5, blood transfusion should be more cautious.

Risk-Prediction Model for Transfusion of Erythrocyte Concentrate During Extracorporeal Circulation in Coronary Surgery

INTRODUCTION

Our objective was to identify preoperative risk factors and to develop and validate a risk-prediction model for the need for blood (erythrocyte concentrate [EC]) transfusion during extracorporeal circulation (ECC) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS

This is a retrospective observational study including 530 consecutive patients who underwent isolated on-pump CABG at our Centre over a full two-year period. The risk model was developed and validated by logistic regression and bootstrap analysis. Discrimination and calibration were assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) test, respectively.

RESULTS

EC transfusion during ECC was required in 91 patients (17.2%). Of these, the majority were transfused with one (54.9%) or two (41.8%) EC units. The final model covariates (reported as odds ratios; 95% confidence interval) were age (1.07; 1.02-1.13), glomerular filtration rate (0.98; 0.96-1.00), body surface area (0.95; 0.92-0.98), peripheral vascular disease (3.03; 1.01-9.05), cerebrovascular disease (4.58; 1.29-16.18), and hematocrit (0.55; 0.48-0.63). The risk model developed has an excellent discriminatory power (AUC: 0,963). The results of the H-L test showed that the model predicts accurately both on average and across the ranges of deciles of risk.

CONCLUSIONS

A risk-prediction model for EC transfusion during ECC was developed, which performed adequately in terms of discrimination, calibration, and stability over a wide spectrum of risk. It can be used as an instrument to provide accurate information about the need for EC transfusion during ECC, and as a valuable adjunct for local improvement of clinical practice. Key Findings: Risk factors with the greatest prediction for EC transfusion. Take-Home Message: The implementation of this model would be an important step in optimizing and improving the quality of surgery.

Perioperative care in cardiac surgery

As mortality is now low for many cardiac surgical procedures, there has been an increasing focus on patient centered outcomes such as recovery and quality of life. The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) cardiac society recently published the first set of guidelines for cardiac surgery which will be useful as a starting point to help translate this philosophy for the benefit of those undergoing cardiac surgery. At the same time there are many advances in other areas such as mechanical circulation, diagnostics and quality metrics. We intend here to present a balanced and evidenced based review of selected aspects of current practice, encompassing both UK and international perioperative care with a focus on recent advances. For the convenience of the reader we will adopt the conventional perioperative preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative phases of care. The focus of cardiac surgical practice needs to evolve from mortality to recovery. Those specialists who work in cardiac anaesthesia and critical care are well placed to contribute to these changes. Accompanying this work is the development of technologies to improve recognition of and intervention to prevent early organ dysfunction. Measuring, benchmarking and publishing quality outcomes from cardiac surgical centres is likely to improve services and benefit our patients.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Thoracic Surgery Practice and Access Task Force-2019 Workforce Report

BACKGROUND

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has intermittently surveyed its workforce, providing isolated accounts of the current state of thoracic surgical practice.

METHODS

The 70-question survey instrument was received by 3834 STS surgeon members, and responses were gathered between September 16 and November 1, 2019. The return rate was 27.9%.

RESULTS

The median age of the active United States (US) thoracic surgeons is 56 years. Women comprise 8.4% of the responders, constituting 6.2% of adult cardiac, 10.6% of congenital heart, and 12.6% of general thoracic surgeons. Most practicing US surgeons (83.5%) graduated from medical school in the US. Survey respondents had 7 (21.8%), 8 (25.0%), 9 (22.1%) or 10 (29.2%) or more years of post-MD training before entering practice. Educational debt was increased compared with previous years, as were salaries. Overall career satisfaction was 54.1% (very or extremely satisfied), and overall average hours per week worked decreased compared with past surveys. However, 55.7% of surgeons had symptoms of burnout and depression. STS Database participation was high (90.5%), with the most common reason for not participating being cost (32.6%). Operative volume over the past 12 months decreased for 23.7% of surgeons. Of those who responded, 46.9% plan to retire between the age of 66 and 69 years and a further 25.6% at age 70 or older.

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide a current, detailed profile of the specialty. Ongoing challenges remain length of training and educational debt. Case volumes, scope of practice, and career satisfaction have remained relatively constant: however, symptoms of burnout or depression or both, are common.

The influence of postoperative albumin levels on the outcome of cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND

The prognostic role of low postoperative serum albumin levels (SAL) after cardiac surgery (CS) remains unclear in patients with normal preoperative SAL. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of SAL on the outcome of CS.

METHODS

Prospective observational study. Patients undergoing CS with normal preoperative SAL and nutritional status were included and classified into different subgroups based on SAL at 24 h after CS. We assessed outcomes (i.e., in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications and long-term survival) and results were analyzed among the different subgroups of SAL.

RESULTS

We included 2818 patients. Mean age was 64.5 ± 11.6 years and body mass index 28.0 ± 4.3Kg·m^- 2. 5.8%(n = 162) of the patients had normal SAL levels(≥35 g·L^- 1), 32.8%(n = 924) low deficit (30-34.9 g·L^- 1), 44.3%(n = 1249) moderate deficit (25-29.9 g·L^- 1), and 17.1%(n = 483) severe deficit(< 25 g·L^- 1). Higher SAL after CS was associated with reduced in-hospital (OR:0.84;95% CI:0.80-0.84; P = 0.007) and long-term mortality (HR:0.85;95% CI:0.82-0.87;P < 0.001). Subgroups of patients with lower SAL showed worst long-term survival (5-year mortality:94.3% normal subgroup, 87.4% low, 83.1% moderate and 72.4% severe;P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed higher in-hospital mortality, sepsis, hemorrhage related complications, and ICU stay in subgroups of patients with lower SAL. Predictors of moderate and severe hypoalbuminemia were preoperative chronic kidney disease, previous CS, and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of postoperative hypoalbuminemia after CS is frequent and the degree of hypoalbuminemia may be associated with worst outcomes, even in the long-term scenario.

The Major Decrease in Resource Utilization in Recent Decades Seems Guided by Demographic Changes: Fast Tracking-Real Concept or Demographics

OBJECTIVE

To identify dynamics of associations and potential areas for optimization of patient turnover between various patient profile and comorbidity indicators and selected system performance indicators such as ventilation time, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and in-hospital stay.

DESIGN

Retrospective study of prospectively registered data (2000-2017).

SETTING

Three university hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

The study comprised 38,100 adult cardiac surgical patients registered in the Western Denmark Heart Registry.

INTERVENTIONS

Analysis of dynamics in patient indicators and system performance indicators, including effect on the selected performance parameters.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Comorbidity, calculated from EuroSCORE, decreased from 2.5 ± 2.2 to 1.5 ± 2.0 (p < 0.001), whereas the average age of patients increased from 65.1 ± 9.9 years to 67.6 ± 10.8 years (p < 0.001). Median ventilation time decreased from 380 to 275 minutes (p < 0.0001). The mean length of stay in the intensive care unit demonstrated a statistically significant decrease from 35.1 hours between 2000 to 2002 to 31.8 hours between 2015 to 2017 (p = 0.004), and the median time was unchanged at 22.0 hours throughout the observation period. The median in-hospital stay decreased from 6.5 to 5.1 days (p < 0.001) and the mean in-hospital stay from 8.7 days (2003-2005) to 7.0 days (2015-2017; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis of performance factors showed a statistically significant negative independent effect on most comorbidity and surgical factors.

CONCLUSION

The increase in performance parameters appears to be highly associated with decreased comorbidities and fast-tracking protocols and may only offer limited effect in additional patient turnover.

Variation between hospitals in outcomes following cardiac surgery in the UK

INTRODUCTION

We examine the influence of variations in provision of cardiac surgery in the UK at hospital level on patient outcomes and also to assess whether there is an inequality of access and delivery of healthcare. Cardiothoracic surgery has pioneered the reporting of surgeon-specific outcomes, which other specialties have followed. We set out to identify factors other than the individual surgeon, which can affect outcomes and enable other surgical specialties to adopt a similar model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patient and hospital level factors between 2013 and 2016 from 16 cardiac surgical units in the UK were analysed through the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons Research Collaborative. Patient demographic data, risks factors, postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality, as well as hospital-level factors such as number of beds and operating theatres, were collected. Correlation between outcome measures was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Associations between hospital-level factors and outcomes were assessed using univariable and multivariable regression models.

RESULTS

Of 50,871 patients (60.5% of UK caseload), 25% were older than 75 years and 29% were female. There was considerable variation between units in patient comorbidities, bed distribution and staffing. All hospitals had dedicated cardiothoracic intensive care beds and consultants. Median survival was 97.9% (range 96.3-98.6%). Postoperative complications included re-sternotomy for bleeding (median 4.8%; range 3.5-6.9%) and mediastinitis (0.4%; 0.1-1.0%), transient ischaemic attack/cerebrovascular accident (1.7%; range 0.3-3.0%), haemofiltration (3.7%; range 0.8-6.8%), intra-aortic balloon pump use (3.3%; range 0.4-7.4%), tracheostomy (1.6%; range 1.3-2.6%) and laparotomy (0.3%; range 0.2-0.6%). There was variation in outcomes between hospitals. Univariable analysis showed a small number of positive associations between hospital-level factors and outcomes but none remained significant in multivariable models.

CONCLUSIONS

Variations among hospital level factors exists in both delivery of, and outcomes, following cardiac surgery in the UK. However, there was no clear association between these factors and patient outcomes. This negative finding could be explained by differences in outcome definition, differences in risk factors between centres that are not captured by standard risk stratification scores or individual surgeon/team performance.

Predictors of extubation failure after open-chest cardiac surgery based on routinely collected data. The importance of a shared interprofessional clinical assessment

BACKGROUND

Extubation failure (ExtF) is associated with prolonged hospital length of stay and mortality in adult cardiac surgery patients postoperatively. In this population, ExtF-related variables such as the arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (PaO₂/FiO₂), rapid shallow breathing index, cough strength, endotracheal secretions and neurological function have been sparsely researched.

AIM

To identify variables that are predictive of ExtF and related outcomes.

METHOD

Prospective observational longitudinal study. Consecutively presenting patients ( n=205) undergoing open-heart cardiac surgery and admitted to the Cardiosurgical Intensive Care Unit (CICU) were recruited. The clinical data were collected at CICU admission and immediately prior to extubation. ExtF was defined as the need to restart invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation while the patient was in the CICU.

RESULTS

The ExtF incidence was 13%. ExtF related significantly to hospital mortality, CICU length of stay and total hospital length of stay. The risk of ExtF decreased significantly, by 93% in patients with good neurological function and by 83% in those with a Rapid Shallow Breathing Index of ≥57 breaths/min per litre. Conversely, ExtF risk increased 27 times when the PaO₂/FiO₂ was <150 and 11 times when it was ≥450. Also, a reassuring PaO₂/FiO₂ value may hide critical pulmonary or extra-pulmonary conditions independent from alveolar function.

CONCLUSION

The decision to extubate patients should be taken after thoroughly discussing and combining the data derived from nursing and medical clinical assessments. Extubation should be delayed until the patient achieves safe respiratory, oxygenation and haemodynamic conditions, and good neurocognitive function.