Mortality and Readmission of Patients With Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, or Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery

Perioperative care of patients with recent stroke undergoing nonemergent, nonneurological, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of published literature regarding postoperative stroke and mortality in patients with a history of stroke and to provide a framework for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care in an elective setting.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patients with nonneurological, noncardiac, and nonvascular surgery within three months after stroke have a 153-fold risk, those within 6 months have a 50-fold risk, and those within 12 months have a 20-fold risk of postoperative stroke. There is a 12-fold risk of in-hospital mortality within three months and a three-to-four-fold risk of mortality for more than 12 months after stroke. The risk of stroke and mortality continues to persist years after stroke. Recurrent stroke is common in patients in whom anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy is discontinued. Stroke and time elapsed after stroke should be included in the preoperative assessment questionnaire, and a stroke-specific risk assessment should be performed before surgical planning is pursued.

SUMMARY

In patients with a history of a recent stroke, anesthesiology, surgery, and neurology experts should create a shared mental model in which the patient/surrogate decision-maker is informed about the risks and benefits of the proposed surgical procedure; secondary-stroke-prevention medications are reviewed; plans are made for interruptions and resumption; and intraoperative care is individualized to reduce the likelihood of postoperative stroke or death.

Randomized Pilot Trial of Pre- and Postoperative Heart Failure Nurse-Supported Care in Heart Failure Patients Requiring Noncardiac Surgery-Feasibility and Results

INTRODUCTION

The perioperative cardiovascular management of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery is particularly challenging in those with pre-existing heart failure (HF). This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-based pre- and postoperative specialized HF management in reducing postoperative HF-associated complications in patients with known HF undergoing noncardiac surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, randomized pilot study included patients with established HF requiring intermediate- to high-risk noncardiac surgery. Patients received postoperatively either standard care (control group, CG) or nurse-supported HF management (intervention group, IG). The primary endpoint was a composite of HF-related postoperative complications at 30 days. Secondary endpoints included length on intensive care unit, length of hospital stay, death, hospitalization for HF, and quality of life assessment using the SF-12 questionnaire.

RESULTS

The trial was halted prematurely for futility. A total of 34 patients (median age 70.5 [IQR 67-75] years; with 15 HfpEF, 9 HfmrEF,10 HfrEF), with an average NT-proBNP of 1.413 [463-2.832] pg/mL were included. The IG had a lower rate of postoperative primary events (25%; n = 4) compared with the CG (33%; n = 6). There were no differences in secondary endpoints between the groups. Quality-of-life scores improved slightly in both groups (δ 5.6 ± 0.9 [CG] and 3.1 ± 1.2 [IG]).

CONCLUSION

Nurse-based pre- and postoperative HF care appears to be feasible and may reduce HF-associated complications in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Larger clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in reducing postoperative complications in this high-risk patient population.

Preoperative Risk Assessment Before Elective Craniotomy: Are Aspirin, Arrhythmias, Deep Venous Thromboses, and Hyperglycemia Contraindications to Surgery?

OBJECTIVE

Perioperative risk assessment and stratification before craniotomy is necessary to identify and optimize modifiable risk factors. Due to the high costs of diagnostic testing and concerns for delaying surgery, some have questioned whether and when surgery delays are warranted and supported by the current body of literature. The objective of this scoping review was to evaluate the available evidence on the prognostic value of preoperative risk assessment before anesthesia for elective craniotomy.

METHODS

In this scoping review, we reviewed 156 papers that assess preoperative risk assessment before elective craniotomy, of which 27 papers were included in the final analysis.

RESULTS

There is little high-quality evidence to suggest significant risk reduction when 4 common preexisting abnormalities are present: preoperative chronic aspirin therapy, cardiac arrhythmias, deep vein thrombosis, or hyperglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of delaying craniotomy should ultimately be weighed against the perceived risks associated the patient's comorbid conditions and should be considered on an individualized basis.

Temporal trends and risk factors of perioperative cardiac events in patients over 80 years old with coronary artery disease undergoing noncardiac surgery: a high-volume single-center experience, 2014-2022

BACKGROUND

Temporal trends and risk factors of perioperative cardiac events (PCEs) in patients over 80 years old with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing noncardiac surgery are still unclear.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 1478 patients over 80 years old, with known CAD undergoing selective noncardiac surgery in a single center (2014-2022). Patients were divided into three equal time groups based on the discharge date (2014-2016, 2017-2019, and 2020-2022), with 367, 473, and 638 patients in Groups 1-3, respectively. Perioperative clinical variables were extracted from the electronic medical records database. The primary outcome was the occurrence of PCEs intraoperatively or during hospitalization postoperatively, defined as any of the following events: myocardial infarction, heart failure, nonfatal cardiac arrest, and death.

RESULTS

PCEs occurred in 180 (12.2%) patients. Eight independent risk factors were associated with PCEs, including four clinical factors (body mass index < 22 kg/m2, history of myocardial infarction, history of heart failure, and general anesthesia) and four preoperative laboratory results (hemoglobin < 110 g/L, albumin < 40 g/L, creatinine > 120 μmol/L, and potassium <3.6 mmol/L). Significant rising trends were seen over the 9-year study period in the incidence of PCEs and independent risk factors including history of myocardial infarction, history of heart failure, general anesthesia, preoperative hemoglobin < 110 g/L, preoperative albumin < 40 g/L, and preoperative creatinine > 120 μmol/L (P for trend <0.05).

CONCLUSION

The incidence and independent risk factors of PCEs in patients over 80 years old with CAD undergoing noncardiac surgery showed significant rising trends over the last 9-year period.

What's New in Preoperative Cardiac Testing

More than 300 million surgeries are performed annually worldwide. Patients are progressively aging and often have multiple comorbidities that put them at increased cardiovascular risk in the perioperative period. The United States published latest guidelines regarding preoperative cardiac evaluation and risk stratification for patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery in 2014. There are multiple risk stratification tools available that can help guide management. Furthermore, newer laboratory tests, such as preoperative NT-proBNP and high-sensitivity troponin assays, may aid in preventing and diagnosing perioperative myocardial injury.

[Perioperative atrial fibrillation : Diagnosis with underestimated relevance]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in adults, both in general and perioperatively and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The age of the patients is a major risk factor. The prevalence of AF in noncardiac surgery (NCS) varies widely from 0.4% to 30% and for cardiac surgery, especially major combined procedures, up to approximately 50%. Ectopic excitation centers and reentry mechanisms at the atrial level are favored as the main process of uncoordinated electrical atrial activity. The loss of atrial contraction can lead to a reduction in cardiac output of up to 20-25%. The increased risk of thromboembolism due to AF extends beyond the perioperative period. Medication-based prevention strategies have not yet gained widespread acceptance. Treatment strategies include frequency and rhythm control as well as the avoidance of thromboembolisms through anticoagulation.

Perioperative stroke

Ischaemic or haemorrhagic perioperative stroke (that is, stroke occurring during or within 30 days following surgery) can be a devastating complication following surgery. Incidence is reported in the 0.1-0.7% range in adults undergoing non-cardiac and non-neurological surgery, in the 1-5% range in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and in the 1-10% range following neurological surgery. However, higher rates have been reported when patients are actively assessed and in high-risk populations. Prognosis is significantly worse than stroke occurring in the community, with double the 30-day mortality, greater disability and diminished quality of life among survivors. Considering the annual volume of surgeries performed worldwide, perioperative stroke represents a substantial burden. Despite notable differences in aetiology, patient populations and clinical settings, existing clinical recommendations for perioperative stroke are extrapolated mainly from stroke in the community. Perioperative in-hospital stroke is unique with respect to the stroke occurring in other settings, and it is essential to apply evidence from other settings with caution and to identify existing knowledge gaps in order to effectively guide patient care and future research.

Chronic heart failure in patients undergoing major head and neck surgery: A hospital-based study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of chronic heart failure on various post-operative outcomes in head and neck cancer patients undergoing major cancer surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

For this retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing major head and neck cancer surgery, a sample of 10,002 patients between 2017 and 2019 were identified through the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

SETTING

Patients were selected as undergoing major head and neck cancer surgery, defined as laryngectomy, pharyngectomy, glossectomy, neck dissection, mandibulectomy, and maxillectomy, then separated based on pre-surgical diagnosis of chronic heart failure.

METHODS

The effects of pre-operative chronic heart failure on post-surgical outcomes in these patients were investigated by univariable and multivariable logistic regression using ICD-10 codes and SPSS.

RESULTS

A diagnosis of chronic heart failure was observed in 265 patients (2.6 %). Patients with chronic heart failure had more preexisting comorbidities when compared to patients without chronic heart failure (mean ± SD; 4 ± 1 vs. 2 ± 1). Multivariable logistic regression showed that chronic heart failure patients had significantly greater odds of dying during hospitalization (OR 2.86, 95 % CI 1.38-5.91) and experiencing non-routine discharge from admission (OR 1.89, 95 % CI 1.41-2.54) after undergoing major head and neck cancer surgery.

CONCLUSION

Chronic heart failure is associated with greater length of stay and hospital charges among head and neck cancer patients undergoing major head and neck cancer surgeries. Chronic heart failure patients have significantly greater rates of unfavorable post-operative outcomes, including death during hospitalization and non-routine discharge from admission.

Diagnosis and Treatment of New-Onset Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation

This article reviews medical and surgical risk factors for developing atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained dysrhythmia in the United States. Evidence for assessment and management of patients with AF, including AF newly identified in the preoperative clinic, immediately preoperatively, intraoperatively, and unstable AF, is presented. A stepwise approach to guide anesthetic decision-making in the assessment of newly identified preoperative AF is proposed. Anesthetic considerations, including the potential impacts of anesthetic and vasopressor selection, and current evidence related to rate control and rhythm control via pharmacologic or electrical cardioversion as well as anticoagulation strategies are discussed.

Perioperative cardiac risk reduction in non cardiac surgery

For patients undergoing nonemergent noncardiac surgery, care must be taken to identify patients at increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, as these remain a significant source of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Identification of at-risk patients requires careful attention to risk factors including assessment of functional status, medical comorbidities, and a medication assessment. After identification, to minimize perioperative cardiac risk, care should be taken through a combination of appropriate medication management, close monitoring for cardiovascular ischemic events, and optimization of pre-existing medical conditions. There are multiple society guidelines that aim to mitigate risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing nonemergent noncardiac surgery. However, the rapid evolution of medical literature often creates gaps between the existing evidence and best practice recommendations. In this review, we aim to reconcile the recommendations made in the guidelines from the major cardiovascular and anesthesiology societies from the USA, Canada, and Europe, and to provide updated recommendations based on new evidence.

Development and Validation of a Prognostic Classification Model Predicting Postoperative Adverse Outcomes in Older Surgical Patients Using a Machine Learning Algorithm: Retrospective Observational Network Study

BACKGROUND

Older adults are at an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Numerous risk stratification tools exist, but effort and manpower are required.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop a predictive model of postoperative adverse outcomes in older patients following general surgery with an open-source, patient-level prediction from the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics for internal and external validation.

METHODS

We used the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership common data model and machine learning algorithms. The primary outcome was a composite of 90-day postoperative all-cause mortality and emergency department visits. Secondary outcomes were postoperative delirium, prolonged postoperative stay (≥75th percentile), and prolonged hospital stay (≥21 days). An 80% versus 20% split of the data from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) and Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) common data model was used for model training and testing versus external validation. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with a 95% CI.

RESULTS

Data from 27,197 (SNUBH) and 32,857 (SNUH) patients were analyzed. Compared to the random forest, Adaboost, and decision tree models, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression model showed good internal discriminative accuracy (internal AUC 0.723, 95% CI 0.701-0.744) and transportability (external AUC 0.703, 95% CI 0.692-0.714) for the primary outcome. The model also possessed good internal and external AUCs for postoperative delirium (internal AUC 0.754, 95% CI 0.713-0.794; external AUC 0.750, 95% CI 0.727-0.772), prolonged postoperative stay (internal AUC 0.813, 95% CI 0.800-0.825; external AUC 0.747, 95% CI 0.741-0.753), and prolonged hospital stay (internal AUC 0.770, 95% CI 0.749-0.792; external AUC 0.707, 95% CI 0.696-0.718). Compared with age or the Charlson comorbidity index, the model showed better prediction performance.

CONCLUSIONS

The derived model shall assist clinicians and patients in understanding the individualized risks and benefits of surgery.

Data Science and Geriatric Anesthesia Research: Opportunity and Challenges

With an increase in geriatric population undergoing surgical procedures, research focused on enhancing their perioperative outcomes is of paramount importance. Currently, most of the evidence-based medicine protocols are driven by studies concentrating on adults encompassing all adult age groups. Given the alterations in physiology with aging, geriatric patients respond differently to anesthetics and, therefore, require specific research initiatives to further expound on the same. Large databases and the development of sophisticated analytic tools can provide meaningful insights into this. Here, we discuss a few research opportunities and challenges that data scientists face when focusing on geriatric perioperative research.

Atrial fibrillation in vascular surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis on prevalence, incidence and outcome implications

AIMS

To know the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as the incidence of postoperative AF (POAF) in vascular surgery for arterial diseases and its outcome implications.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA statement.

RESULTS

After the selection process, we analyzed 44 records (30 for the prevalence of AF history and 14 for the incidence of POAF).The prevalence of history of AF was 11.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1-13.3] with high heterogeneity (I2 = 100%). Prevalence was higher in the case of endovascular procedures. History of AF was associated with a worse outcome in terms of in-hospital death [odds ratio (OR) 3.29; 95% CI 2.66-4.06; P < 0.0001; I2 94%] or stroke (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.39-1.86; P < 0.0001; I2 91%).The pooled incidence of POAF was 3.6% (95% CI 2-6.4) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 100%). POAF risk was associated with older age (mean difference 4.67 years, 95% CI 2.38-6.96; P = 0.00007). The risk of POAF was lower in patients treated with endovascular procedures as compared with an open surgical procedure (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.13-0.91; P = 0.03; I2 = 61%).

CONCLUSIONS

In the setting of vascular surgery for arterial diseases a history of AF is found overall in 11.5% of patients, more frequently in the case of endovascular procedures, and is associated with worse outcomes in terms of short-term mortality and stroke.The incidence of POAF is overall 3.6%, and is lower in patients treated with an endovascular procedure as compared with open surgery procedures. The need for oral anticoagulants for preventing AF-related stroke should be evaluated with randomized clinical trials.

Preoperative Evaluation in the 21st Century

This review aims to provide a conceptual framework for preoperative evaluation and to highlight the clinical evidence available to support perioperative decision-making.

Cardiovascular risk management in the peri-operative setting

Peri-operative cardiovascular events occur in up to 3% of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Accurate cardiovascular risk assessment is important in the peri-operative setting, as it allows informed and shared decisions regarding the appropriateness of proceeding with surgery, guides surgical and anaesthetic approaches, and may influence the use of preventive medications and post-operative cardiac monitoring. Quantitative risk assessment may also inform a reconsideration of choosing a more limited lower risk type of surgery, or conservative management. Pre-operative cardiovascular risk assessment starts with clinical assessment and should include an estimate of functional capacity. Specialised cardiac investigations are rarely indicated specifically to assess pre-operative cardiovascular risk. The decision regarding cardiac investigations is influenced by the nature, extent and urgency of surgery. The strategy of performing pre-operative revascularisation to improve post-operative outcomes is not evidence-based and recent international guidelines recommend against this.

Prognostic value of preoperative left ventricular global longitudinal strain for predicting postoperative myocardial injury and mortality in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery (SOLOMON study)

BACKGROUND

The usefulness of preoperative measurement of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) for predicting prognosis in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery has not been evaluated. We analyzed the prognostic value of LVGLS in predicting postoperative 30-day cardiovascular events and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS).

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted in two referral hospitals and included 871 patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery <1 month after preoperative echocardiography. Those with ejection fraction <40%, valvular heart disease, and regional wall motion abnormality were excluded. The co-primary endpoints were the (1) composite incidence of all-cause death, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and MINS and (2) composite incidence of all-cause death and ACS.

RESULTS

Among the 871 participants enrolled (mean age: 72.9 years; female: 60.8%), there were 43 cases of the primary endpoint (4.9%): 10 deaths, 3 ACS, and 37 MINS. Participants with impaired LVGLS (≤16.6%) had a higher incidence of the co-primary endpoints (log-rank P < 0.001 and 0.015) than those without. The result was similar after adjustment with clinical variables and preoperative troponin T levels (hazard ratio = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.65; P = 0.027). In sequential Cox analysis and net reclassification index, LVGLS had an incremental value for predicting the co-primary endpoints after non-cardiac surgery. Among the 538 (61.8%) participants who underwent serial troponin assay, LVGLS predicted MINS independently from the traditional risk factors (odds ratio = 3.54, 95% CI = 1.70-7.36; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative LVGLS has an independent and incremental prognostic value in predicting early postoperative cardiovascular events and MINS.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: https://trialsearch.who.int/. Unique identifiers: KCT0005147.

A New Predictive Model for In-Hospital Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Events in Chinese Patients After Major Noncardiac Surgery

Prediction tools focused on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after noncardiac surgery are lacking, particularly for Chinese patients. We developed and validated what we believe is a new predictive tool for postoperative major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in Chinese patients in this study. Overall, 401 variables derived from 598 patients who received noncardiac surgery at our center were retrospectively analyzed to develop and validate the new predictive model for MACCEs during hospitalization. The 7 strongest predictors for MACCEs in the development cohort were chronic heart failure, age, atrial fibrillation, general anesthesia, history of coronary heart disease, high-risk procedures, and lymphocyte count. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.698 (95% confidence interval 0.616 to 0.780) for the new predictive tool with the validation cohort. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the new predictive tool had better performance than the Revised Cardiac Risk Index and the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program scores. This new predictive tool is effective for the prediction of postoperative MACCEs in patients who undergo noncardiac surgery.

Management of cardiac diseases in liver transplant recipients: Comprehensive review and multidisciplinary practice-based recommendations

Cardiac diseases are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality following liver transplantation (LT). Prior studies have shown that cardiac diseases affect close to one-third of liver transplant recipients (LTRs) long term and that their incidence has been on the rise. This rise is expected to continue as more patients with advanced age and/or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis undergo LT. In view of the increasing disease burden, a multidisciplinary initiative was developed to critically review the existing literature (between January 1, 1990 and March 17, 2021) surrounding epidemiology, risk assessment, and risk mitigation of coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, and valvular heart disease and formulate practice-based recommendations accordingly. In this review, the expert panel emphasizes the importance of optimizing management of metabolic syndrome and its components in LTRs and highlights the cardioprotective potential for the newer diabetes medications (e.g., sodium glucose transporter-2 inhibitors) in this high-risk population. Tailoring the multidisciplinary management of cardiac diseases in LTRs to the cardiometabolic risk profile of the individual patient is critical. The review also outlines numerous knowledge gaps to pave the road for future research in this sphere with the ultimate goal of improving clinical outcomes.

The association of pre-transplant atrial fibrillation with in-hospital outcomes in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation: A propensity score matching analysis

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we sought to evaluate the prevalence and association of pre-transplant atrial fibrillation (AF) on 30-day postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplant (OLT).

METHOD

The National Inpatient Sample Database was queried from 2011 to 2017 for relevant ICD-9 and ICD-10 procedural and diagnostic codes. Baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared in patients who underwent OLT with AF and those without.

RESULTS

Among 45,357 patients who underwent OLT, women made up 35.8% of the overall population. The prevalence of AF before transplant was 2932 (6.5%) with a trend toward increasing prevalence, with an average annual change rate of 4.19%. Applying propensity score matching to control for potential confounding factors, there was no association between pre-transplant AF and in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing OLT, however there was a higher incidence of perioperative complications including: acute kidney injury, ventricular tachycardia, major bleeding, blood product transfusion, and septic shock.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing OLT, pre-transplant AF is increasing in prevalence and appears to be associated with similar in-hospital mortality but worse perioperative outcomes. Greater emphasis should be placed on AF in the preoperative cardiovascular risk stratification of patients undergoing OLT.

Preoperative clinical diagnostic accuracy of heart failure among patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery: a single-centre prospective observational analysis

Background

Reliable diagnosis of heart failure during preoperative evaluation is important for perioperative management and long-term care. We aimed to quantify preoperative heart failure diagnostic accuracy and explore characteristics of patients with heart failure misdiagnoses.

Methods

We performed an observational cohort study of adults undergoing major noncardiac surgery at an academic hospital between 2015 and 2019. A preoperative clinical diagnosis of heart failure was defined using keywords from the history and clinical examination or administrative documentation. Across stratified subsamples of cases with and without clinically diagnosed heart failure, health records were intensively reviewed by an expert panel to develop an adjudicated heart failure reference standard using diagnostic criteria congruent with consensus guidelines. We calculated agreement among experts, and analysed performance of clinically diagnosed heart failure compared with the adjudicated reference standard.

Results

Across 40 555 major noncardiac procedures, a stratified subsample of 511 patients was reviewed by the expert panel. The prevalence of heart failure was 9.1% based on clinically diagnosed compared with 13.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.3-16.2%) estimated by the expert panel. Overall agreement and inter-rater reliability (kappa) among heart failure experts were 95% and 0.79, respectively. Based upon expert adjudication, heart failure was clinically diagnosed with an accuracy of 92.8% (90.6-95.1%), sensitivity 57.4% (53.1-61.7%), specificity 98.3% (97.1-99.4%), positive predictive value 83.5% (80.3-86.8%), and negative predictive value 93.8% (91.7-95.9%).

Conclusions

Limitations exist to the preoperative clinical diagnosis of heart failure, with nearly half of cases undiagnosed preoperatively. Considering the risks of undiagnosed heart failure, efforts to improve preoperative heart failure diagnoses are warranted.

Preoperative evaluation and perioperative management of patients undergoing major vascular surgery

Patients undergoing major vascular surgery have an increased risk of perioperative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Accordingly, in this population, it is of particular importance to appropriately risk stratify patients' risk for these complications and optimize risk factors prior to surgical intervention. Comorbidities that portend a higher risk of perioperative MACE include coronary artery disease, heart failure, left-sided valvular heart disease, and significant arrhythmic burden. In this review, we provide a current approach to risk stratification prior to major vascular surgery and describe the strengths and weaknesses of different cardiac risk indices; discuss the role of noninvasive and invasive cardiac testing; and review perioperative pharmacotherapies.

[Preoperative screening for risk factors]

The demographic change and continuously improving healthcare lead to increasing numbers of older, comorbid patients in elective orthopedic surgery. Perioperative risk assessment is crucial for patient counseling and preoperative planning. Risk factors, such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, anemia, malnutrition, obesity, smoking and insufficiently controlled diabetes mellitus are common in patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. A thorough and early screening not only enables the individual assessment of the risk profile but in an elective setting also enables the chance for modification of certain risk factors in order to reduce the individual perioperative risk. Meanwhile, recommendations regarding risk stratification and adjustment of modifiable risk factors are included in national guidelines on the indications for elective total hip arthroplasty.

Preoperative Atrial Fibrillation and Cardiovascular Outcomes After Noncardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND

The impact of pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF) on outcomes after noncardiac surgery is not clear.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to study the impact of AF on the risk of adverse outcomes after noncardiac surgery in a nationwide cohort.

METHODS

We identified Medicare beneficiaries admitted for noncardiac surgery from 2015 to 2019 and divided the study cohort into 2 groups: with and without AF. Noncardiac surgery was classified into vascular, thoracic, general, genitourinary, gynecological, orthopedics and neurosurgery, breast, head and neck, and transplant. We used propensity score matching on exact age, sex, race, urgency and type of surgery, revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) and CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, and tight caliper on other comorbidities. The study outcomes were 30-day mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. We examined the incremental utility of AF in addition to RCRI to predict adverse events after noncardiac surgery.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 8,635,758 patients who underwent noncardiac surgery (16.4% with AF). Patients with AF were older, more likely to be men, and had higher prevalence of comorbidities. After propensity score matching, AF was associated with higher risk of mortality (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.30-1.32), heart failure (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.30-1.33), and stroke (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.37-1.43) and lower risk of myocardial infarction (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.79-0.82). Results were consistent in subgroup analysis by sex, race, type of surgery, and all strata of RCRI and CHA₂DS₂-VASc score. AF improved the discriminative ability of RCRI (C-statistic 0.73 to 0.76).

CONCLUSION

Pre-existing AF is independently associated with postoperative adverse outcomes after NCS.

Heart Failure Relapses in Response to Acute Stresses - Role of Immunological and Inflammatory Pathways

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the most imminent health care problems in the western world, accounting for numerous deaths per year. Heart failure (HF), namely the reduction of left ventricular function, is one of the major cardiovascular disease entities. It is chronically progressing with relapsing acute decompensations and an overall grave prognosis that is little different if not worse than most malignant diseases. Interestingly acute metabolically and/or immunologically challenging events like infections or major surgical procedures will cause relapses in the course of preexisting chronic heart failure, decrease the patients wellbeing and worsen myocardial function. HF itself and or its progression has been demonstrated to be driven at least in part by inflammatory pathways that are similarly turned on by infectious or non-infectious stress responses. These thus add to HF progression or relapse. TNF-α plasma levels are associated with disease severity and progression in HF. In addition, several cytokines (e.g., IL-1β, IL-6) are involved in deteriorating left ventricular function. Those observations are based on clinical studies using inhibitors of cytokines or their receptors or they stem from animal studies examining the effect of cytokine mediated inflammation on myocardial remodeling in models of heart failure. This short review summarizes the known underlying immunological processes that are shared by and drive all: chronic heart failure, select infectious diseases, and inflammatory stress responses. In conclusion the text provides a brief summary of the current development in immunomodulatory therapies for HF and their overlap with treatments of other disease entities.

Elevated CO2, warming, N addition, and increased precipitation affect different aspects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community

The functional diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) affects the resistance and resilience of plant communities to environmental stress. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding how the complex interactions among elevated atmospheric CO₂ (eCO₂), nitrogen deposition (eN), precipitation (eP), and warming (eT) affect AMF communities. These global change factors (GCFs) do not occur in isolation, and their interactions likely affect AMF community structure and assembly processes. In this study, the interactive effects of these four GCFs on AMF communities were explored using an open-top chamber field experiment in a semiarid grassland. Elevated CO₂, eN, eT, eP, and their interactions did not affect AMF biomass. The relative abundance of Paraglomus increased with N addition across treatment combinations, whereas that of Glomus decreased with N addition, especially combined with eT and eCO₂. Precipitation, temperature (T), and N affected AMF phylogenetic α-diversity, and the three-way interaction among CO₂, T, and N affected taxonomic and phylogenetic α-diversity. N addition significantly affected the composition of AMF communities. Both variable selection and dispersal limitation played major roles in shaping AMF communities, whereas homogeneous selection and homogenizing dispersal had little effect on AMF community assembly. The contribution of variable selection decreased under eCO₂, eN and eT but not under eP. The contribution of dispersal limitation decreased under eCO₂, eT, and eP but increased under eN. The assembly of AMF communities under the sixteen GCF combinations was strongly affected by dispersal limitation, variable selection and ecological drift. Elevated CO₂, warming, N addition, and increased precipitation affected different aspects of AMF communities. The interactive effects of the four GCFs on AMF communities were limited. Overall, the results of this study suggest that AMF communities in semiarid grasslands can resist changes in global climate.

Atrial fibrillation as a preoperative risk factor predicts long-term mortality in elderly patients without heart failure and undergoing hip fracture surgery

OBJECTIVE

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) constitute a significant portion of hip fracture patients, and both diseases tend to present more frequently in older age. Our goal was to evaluate the long-term mortality of patients with AF who were free from heart failure undergoing hip fracture surgery.

METHODS

This observational, retrospective study was done in a single research and training hospital setting. Hospital electronic health record data, National Health Registry data, and National Death Registry System data for 233 consecutive patients who were above 65 years of age and were planned to undergo surgery for hip fracture were retrieved and analyzed. An experienced cardiologist evaluated the patients prior to surgery. Each member of the research cohort was categorized into one of the two groups based on their survival status (survivor and non-survivor groups).

RESULTS

Of the 233 cases, 89 (38.2%) who were included in the investigation died during the follow-up period. The median long-term follow-up period was 34 (12-42) months. The frequency of AF was significantly higher in the non-survivor group. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, AF (HR: 2.195, 95%CI 1.365-3.415, p<0.001), advanced age, and blood urea level were determined as independent predictors for all-cause long-term mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

AF is an independent predictor for long-term death in hip fracture cases above 65 years of age who were free from heart failure.

Patient Selection for Adult Ambulatory Surgery: A Narrative Review

With migration of medically complex patients undergoing more extensive surgical procedures to the ambulatory setting, selecting the appropriate patient is vital. Patient selection can impact patient safety, efficiency, and reportable outcomes at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Identifying suitability for ambulatory surgery is a dynamic process that depends on a complex interplay between the surgical procedure, patient characteristics, and the expected anesthetic technique (eg, sedation/analgesia, local/regional anesthesia, or general anesthesia). In addition, the type of ambulatory setting (ie, short-stay facilities, hospital-based ambulatory center, freestanding ambulatory center, and office-based surgery) and social factors, such as availability of a responsible individual to take care of the patient at home, can also influence patient selection. The purpose of this review is to present current best evidence that would provide guidance to the ambulatory anesthesiologist in making an informed decision regarding patient selection for surgical procedures in freestanding ambulatory facilities.

Risk assessment and risk stratification for perioperative complications and mitigation: Where should the focus be? How are we doing?

Various risk stratification tools are used to predict patients' risk of adverse outcomes. Most of these tools are based on type of surgery and patient comorbidities. Accuracy of risk prediction is improved when additional factors such as functional capacity are included. However, these tools are limited because data are obtained from specific patient populations, are simplified to aid ease of use, and do not account for improved treatment modalities that occur over time. Risk estimation allows for shared decision-making among the perioperative care team and the patient, for perioperative planning, and for opportunity for risk mitigation. Technological advancement in data collection will likely improve existing risk assessment and allow development of new options. Future research should focus on establishing and standardizing perioperative outcomes that include meaningful patient-centric considerations such as quality of life. We review available stratification tools and important risk assessment biomarkers that address the most common causes of adverse outcomes.

The predictive value of high-sensitive troponin I for perioperative risk in patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery

BACKGROUND

The incidence of cardiovascular events in perioperative period of gastrointestinal tumor surgery cannot be ignored, and studies have shown that level of postoperative troponin is related to the postoperative risk of non-cardiac surgery. However, the relationship between pre-operative troponin levels and perioperative risk of gastrointestinal tumor surgery is unclear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the value of high-sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) prior to gastrointestinal tumor surgery for perioperative risk assessment.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 1259 patients who underwent gastrointestinal tumor surgery and had been tested for hs-cTnI on admission within 7 days prior to surgery were retrospectively recruited from January 2018 to June 2020. The primary combined endpoint including in-hospital all-cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest or ventricular fibrillation and acute decompensated heart failure. The secondary endpoint included total hospital stay and requirement of intensive care treatment.

FINDINGS

Compared with patients with normal hs-cTnI, those with elevated hs-cTnI (> 0·028 ng/ml) were more likely to experience the combined endpoint (28·2% versus 2·7%, P < 0·001) and there was also an increasing rate of in mortality in elevated hs-cTnI group (2·4% versus 0·3%, P = 0·057). The length of total hospital stay was significantly longer in patients with elevated hs-cTnI (24·8 ± 16·3 versus 19·5 ± 7·9, P = 0·003) and the number of patients requiring intensive care treatment was also higher (22·6% versus 4·2%, P < 0·001). The area under the ROC curve assessing hs-cTnI in predicting in-hospital mortality was 0·787 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·612-0·963, P = 0·015] and for combined endpoint was 0·822 [95% CI 0·766-0·879, P < 0·001]. Hs-cTnI > 0·028 ng/ml was associated with significantly higher cardiovascular event rate in patients with the revised cardiac index ≤ 1. The positive likelihood ratio of hs-cTnI (> 0·028 ng/ml) for predicting combined endpoint reaches 10.5 in patients with Lee index = 0. In multivariate logistic analyses, hs-cTnI was one of the best predictors for the combined endpoint [odds ratio (OR) 5·924 (95%CI: 2·869-12·233), P < 0·001].

INTERPRETATION

Hs-cTnI provides powerful prognostic information for patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery, and therefore provides reliable prognostic information incremental to revised cardiac index.

Perioperative Cardiac Risk Reduction in Noncardiac Surgery

Major adverse cardiovascular events are a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the perioperative setting, estimated to occur in approximately 5% of patients undergoing nonemergent noncardiac surgery. To minimize the incidence and impact of these events, careful attention must be paid to preoperative cardiovascular assessment to identify patients at high risk of cardiovascular complications. Once identified, cardiovascular risk reduction is achieved through optimization of medical conditions, appropriate management of medication, and careful monitoring to allow for early identification of-and intervention for-any new conditions that would increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The major cardiovascular and anesthesiology societies in the United States, Europe, and Canada have published guidelines for perioperative management of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, since publication of these guidelines, there has been a practice-changing evolution in the medical literature. In this review, we attempt to reconcile the recommendations made in these 3 comprehensive guidelines, while updating recommendations, based on new evidence, when available.

Risk of cardiovascular complications during non-cardiac surgery and preoperative cardiac evaluation

The preoperative evaluation of candidates to non-cardiac surgery requires a knowledge of factors related both to the type of surgery and to the risk of each patient, in order to predict the potential cardiovascular complications. Over the past several decades, the field of preoperative cardiac evaluation before non-cardiac surgery has evolved substantially on the basis of the current guidelines of international medical societies. The aim of this paper is to summarize available evidence on the risk of non-cardiac surgery, focusing on appropriate cardiovascular assessment prior to surgery.

Infrainguinal bypass under triple nerve block in patients with severely compromised left ventricular ejection fraction and chronic limb-threatening ischemia

A severely compromised left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a major limitation for lower extremity bypass reconstruction both under general anesthesia or neuraxial anesthesia (NA). A series of eight infrainguinal bypass procedures were performed under peripheral nerve block in five patients (three males and two females; median age, 67 years) with chronic limb-threatening ischemia and a preoperative LVEF of 35% or less (median, 27%; range, 20%-35%). There were no conversions to neuraxial anesthesia/general anesthesia or early postoperative complications. This study showed that open infrainguinal reconstructions can be performed safely under peripheral nerve blockade in this vulnerable category of patients.

Postoperative new-onset atrial fibrillation causing acute embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery: A case report

RATIONALE

Postoperative atrial fibrillation following noncardiac surgery increases mortality, length of hospital stay, and medical expenses; moreover, compared to nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, it poses a similar risk of thromboembolic complications. In this report, we discuss our decision-making process for diagnosis and treatment in case with unexpected postoperative new-onset atrial fibrillation causing acute mesenteric ischemia.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 78-year-old male patient received varicose vein stripping and ligation in his right leg. The patient was previously healthy with no known comorbidities. The next day after surgery, he complained of sudden epigastric pain unresponsive to conservative treatment, and new-onset atrial fibrillation was observed on electrocardiography.

DIAGNOSES

An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed acute embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery.

INTERVENTIONS

Emergent surgical embolectomy was performed successfully. The time to operation from the recognition of abdominal pain was 6 h. Surgical critical care was performed for life-threatening ischemic reperfusion injury.

OUTCOMES

The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 40th postoperative day.

LESSONS

Atypical postoperative abdominal pain unresponsive to conservative treatment should be considered a surgical emergency, and a high level of clinical suspicion for acute mesenteric ischemia is required. Preoperative electrocardiography and postoperative telemetry might be helpful in some asymptomatic patients.

Postoperative infection and mortality following elective surgery in the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS)

BACKGROUND

Postoperative infection is one of the most frequent and important complications after surgery. The epidemiology of infection following elective surgery remains poorly described.

METHODS

This was a prospective analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS) describing infection by 30 days after elective surgery. Associations between postoperative infection (primary outcome) and baseline demographic, surgical, and anaesthetic risk factors were assessed. Analyses were carried out using logistic and linear regression models. Secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality and duration of hospital stay. Treatments received by patients after different types of infection were evaluated.

RESULTS

Some 44 814 patients were included in the analysis, with a total of 4032 infections occurring in 2927 patients (6.5 per cent). Overall, 206 patients died, of whom 99 of 2927 (3.4 per cent) had infection. Some 737 of 4032 infections (18.3 per cent) were severe; the most frequent types were superficial surgical-site infection (1320, 32.7 per cent), pneumonia (708, 17.6 per cent), and urinary tract infection (681, 16.9 per cent). Excluding missing data, antimicrobials were used in 2126 of 2749 infections (77.3 per cent), and 522 of 2164 patients (24.1 per cent) required admission to critical care. Factors associated with an increased incidence of infection in adjusted analyses were: age, male sex, ASA grade, co-morbid disease, preoperative anaemia, anaesthetic technique, surgical category, surgical severity, and cancer surgery. Infection significantly increased the risk of death (odds ratio 4.68, 95 per cent c.i. 3.39 to 6.47; P < 0.001), and duration of hospital stay by on average 6.45 (6.23 to 6.66) days (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Infection is a common complication after elective surgery. Recognition of modifiable risk factors will help inform appropriate prevention strategies.

Presepsin for pre-operative prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events in coronary heart disease patients undergoing noncardiac surgery: Post hoc analysis of the Leukocytes and Cardiovascular Peri-operative Events-2 (LeukoCAPE-2) Study

BACKGROUND

Accurate pre-operative evaluation of cardiovascular risk is vital to identify patients at risk for major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) after noncardiac surgery. Elevated presepsin (sCD14-ST) is associated with peri-operative MACCE in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients after noncardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES

Validating the prognostic utility of presepsin for MACCE after noncardiac surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective patient enrolment and blood sampling, followed by post hoc evaluation of pre-operative presepsin for prediction of MACCE.

SETTING

Single university centre.

PATIENTS

A total of 222 CAD patients undergoing elective, inpatient noncardiac surgery.

INTERVENTION

Pre-operative presepsin measurement.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

MACCE (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischaemia and stroke) at 30 days postsurgery.

RESULTS

MACCE was diagnosed in 23 (10%) patients. MACCE patients presented with increased pre-operative presepsin (median [IQR]; 212 [163 to 358] vs. 156 [102 to 273] pgml, P = 0.023). Presepsin exceeding the previously derived threshold of 184 pg ml was associated with increased 30-day MACCE rate. After adjustment for confounders, presepsin more than 184 pg ml [OR = 2.8 (95% confidence interval 1.1 to 7.3), P = 0.03] remained an independent predictor of peri-operative MACCE. Predictive accuracy of presepsin was moderate [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.65 (0.54 to 0.75), P = 0.023]. While the basic risk model of revised cardiac risk index, high-sensitive cardiac troponin T and N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide resulted in an AUC = 0.62 (0.48 to 0.75), P = 0.072, addition of presepsin to the model led to an AUC = 0.67 (0.56 to 0.78), P = 0.009 and (ΔAUC = 0.05, P = 0.438). Additive risk predictive value of presepsin was demonstrated by integrated discrimination improvement analysis (integrated discrimination improvement = 0.023, P = 0.022). Net reclassification improvement revealed that the additional strength of presepsin was attributed to the reclassification of no-MACCE patients into a lower risk group.

CONCLUSION

Increased pre-operative presepsin independently predicted 30-day MACCE in CAD patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery. Complementing cardiovascular risk prediction by inflammatory biomarkers, such as presepsin, offers potential to improve peri-operative care. However, as prediction accuracy of presepsin was only moderate, further validation studies are needed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03105427.

Septicemia and mortality after noncardiac surgery associated with CHA2DS2-VASc score: a retrospective cohort study based on a real-world database

Background

Little was know about the association between the CHA2DS2-VASc score and postoperative outcomes. Our purpose is to evaluate the effects of CHA2DS2-VASc score on the perioperative outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

We identified 47,402 patients with AF over the age of 20 years who underwent noncardiac surgeries between 2008 and 2013 from claims data of the National Health Insurance in Taiwan. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was used to evaluate postoperative complications, mortality and the consumption of medical resources by calculating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Compared with patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0, patients with scores ≥ 5 had an increased risk of postoperative septicemia (OR 2.76, 95% CI 2.00–3.80), intensive care (OR 2.55, 95% CI 2.12–3.06), and mortality (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.14–3.64). There was a significant positive correlation between risk of postoperative complication and the CHA2DS2-VASc score (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The CHA2DS2-VASc score was highly associated with postoperative septicemia, intensive care, and 30-day mortality among AF patients. Cardiologists and surgical care teams may consider using the CHA2DS2-VASc score to evaluate perioperative outcome risks in patients with AF.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12893-021-01209-z.

Adverse Outcomes after Non-Cardiac Surgeries in Patients with Heart Failure: A Propensity-Score Matched Study

The impact of heart failure (HF) on postoperative outcomes is not completely understood. Our purpose is to investigate complications and mortality after noncardiac surgeries in people who had HF. In the analyses of research data of health insurance in, we identified 32,808 surgical patients with preoperative HF and 32,808 patients without HF undergoing noncardiac surgeries. We used a matching procedure with propensity score and considered basic characteristics, coexisting diseases, and information of index surgery between patients with and without HF. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for complications and mortality after noncardiac surgeries in patients with HF were analyzed in multivariate logistic regressions. HF increased the risks of postoperative acute myocardial infarction (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.99-3.18), pulmonary embolism (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.73-3.50), acute renal failure (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.76-2.21), intensive care (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.85-2.01), and 30-day in-hospital mortality (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.59-2.04). Preoperative emergency care, inpatient care, and injections of diuretics and cardiac stimulants due to heart failure were also associated with mortality after surgery. Patients with HF had increased complications and mortality after noncardiac surgeries compared with those without HF. The surgical care team may consider revising the protocols for perioperative care in patients with HF.

Impact of Heart Failure on In-Hospital Outcomes after Surgical Femoral Neck Fracture Treatment

BACKGROUND

Femoral neck fracture (FNF) is a common condition with a rising incidence, partly due to aging of the population. It is recommended that FNF should be treated at the earliest opportunity, during daytime hours, including weekends. However, early surgery shortens the available time for preoperative medical examination. Cardiac evaluation is critical for good surgical outcomes as most of these patients are older and frail with other comorbid conditions, such as heart failure. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of heart failure on in-hospital outcomes after surgical femoral neck fracture treatment.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database, 2007-2015. We included patients older than 64 years treated for reduction and internal fixation of FNF. Demographic characteristics of patients, as well as administrative variables, related to patient's diseases and procedures performed during the episode were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 234,159 episodes with FNF reduction and internal fixation were identified from Spanish National Health System hospitals during the study period; 986 (0.42%) episodes were excluded, resulting in a final study population of 233,173 episodes. Mean age was 83.7 (±7) years and 179,949 (77.2%) were women (p < 0.001). In the sample, 13,417 (5.8%) episodes had a main or secondary diagnosis of heart failure (HF) (p < 0.001). HF patients had a mean age of 86.1 (±6.3) years, significantly older than the rest (p < 0.001). All the major complications studied showed a higher incidence in patients with HF (p < 0.001). Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was 4.1%, which was significantly higher in patients with HF (18.2%) compared to those without HF (3.3%) (p < 0.001). The average length of stay (LOS) was 11.9 (±9.1) and was also significantly higher in the group with HF (16.5 ± 13.1 vs. 11.6 ± 8.7; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with HF undergoing FNF surgery have longer length of stay and higher rates of both major complications and mortality than those without HF. Although their average length of stay has decreased in the last few years, their mortality rate has remained unchanged.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2021 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2021 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, the global burden of cardiovascular disease, and further evidence-based approaches to changing behaviors related to cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

Each of the 27 chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Shared risk and protective factors between Alzheimer's disease and ischemic stroke: A population-based longitudinal study

INTRODUCTION

Stroke, especially ischemic stroke's (IS) link with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 2459 AD- and cerebrovascular disease-free older adults at baseline (mean age 71.9 ± 10.3 years, Stockholm, Sweden). Using Cox regressions, shared risk factors (SRFs) and shared protective factors (SPFs) between AD and IS were recognized when their hazard ratios in both AD and IS models were significant and in the same direction.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period of up to 15 years, 132 AD and 260 IS mutually exclusive cases were identified. SRFs were low education, sedentary lifestyle, and heart diseases. High levels of psychological well-being, actively engaging in leisure activities, and a rich social network were SPFs. Having ≥1 SPF reduced 47% of AD and 28% of IS risk among people with a low risk profile (<2 SRFs), and 38% of AD and 31% of IS risk with a high risk profile (≥2 SRFs). In total, 57.8% of AD/IS cases could be prevented if individuals have ≥1 SPF and no SRF.

DISCUSSION

AD and IS share risk/protective profiles, and SPFs seem to counteract the adverse effects of SRFs on both AD and IS.

Perioperative pharmacotherapy to prevent cardiac complications in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery

Introduction: Despite advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques, perioperative cardiovascular complications are a major cause of 30-day perioperative mortality. Major cardiovascular complications after noncardiac surgery include myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. Along with surgical risk assessment, perioperative medical optimization can reduce the rates and clinical impact of these complications.Areas Covered: In this review, the authors discuss the pharmacological basis, existing evidence, and professional society recommendations for drug management in preventing cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.Expert opinion: Perioperative management of cardiovascular disease is an increasingly important and growing area of clinical practice. Societal guidelines regarding the use of most routine cardiovascular medications are based on a number of large clinical studies and provide a basic foundation to guide management. However, the heterogeneous nature of patients, as well as surgeries, makes it practically impossible to devise a 'one size fits all' recommendation in this setting. Thus, the importance of a more individualized approach to perioperative risk stratification and management is being increasingly recognized. The underlying comorbidities and cardiac profile as well as the risk of cardiac complications associated with the planned surgery must be factored in to understand the nuance of the management strategies.

Risk factors related to perioperative systemic complications and mortality in elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures-analysis of a large national inpatient database

BACKGROUND

The surgical treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) is generally associated with a high risk of complications due to an aging population with osteoporosis; however, the detailed risk factors for systemic complications and mortality have not been clarified. We evaluated the risk factors for systemic complications and mortality in surgically treated OVF patients using a large national inpatient database.

METHODS

Patients over 65 years old who were diagnosed with OVF and received either anterior fusion (AF) or posterior fusion (PF), from 2012 to 2016, were extracted from the diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) database. In each of the perioperative systemic complications (+) or (-) group, and the in-hospital death (+) or (-) group, we surveyed the various risk factors related to perioperative systemic complications and in-hospital death.

RESULTS

The significant factors associated with systemic complications were older age (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.09-1.74), a lower activity of daily living score upon admission (OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.19-1.94), atrial fibrillation (OR 2.14, 95%CI 1.25-3.65), renal failure (OR 2.29, 95%CI 1.25-4.20), and surgical procedure (AF, OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.35-2.22). The significant explanatory variables for in-hospital death were revealed to be male sex (OR 3.26, 95%CI 1.20-8.87), a lower body mass index (OR 3.97, 95%CI 1.23-12.86), unscheduled admission (OR 3.52, 95%CI 1.17-10.63), atrial fibrillation (OR 8.31, 95%CI 2.25-30.70), renal failure (OR 7.15, 95%CI 1.32-38.77), and schizophrenia (OR 8.23, 95%CI 1.66-42.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Atrial fibrillation and renal failure as preoperative comorbidities were common factors between perioperative systemic complications and mortality in elderly patients for OVF.

Selective Spinal Anesthesia in a Patient with Low Ejection Fraction Who Underwent Emergent Below-Knee Amputation in a Resource-Constrained Setting

Patients with congestive heart failure have a high risk of perioperative major adverse cardiac events and death. The major perioperative goal of management in patients with low ejection fraction is maintaining hemodynamic stability. Evidence is scarce on the safety of a certain anesthetic technique for patients with heart failure. In this report, we present a 48-year-old man with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and low-output congestive heart failure (estimated ejection fraction of 27%) who underwent emergent below-knee amputation under selective spinal anesthesia without any apparent complications. We believe that selective spinal anesthesia can be a useful alternative anesthetic technique in patients with low ejection fraction undergoing emergent lower limb surgery. We showed evidence-based and customized anesthetic management of a high-risk patient with the available equipment and resources. This report will hopefully show the contextual challenges of the perioperative care of critically ill patients in resource-constrained settings.