A Comparison of Bilateral with Single Internal Mammary Artery Grafts on Postoperative Mediastinal Drainage and Transfusion Requirement

Prediction value of EuroSCORE II in total arterial revascularization and its usage in the evaluation of postoperative complications: Single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Total arterial revascularization is the most durable and technically the most demanding type of coronary artery bypass grafting procedure. It has proven long-term supremacy in comparison to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting. In our study, we investigated the reliability of EuroSCORE II as a predictor of intrahospital death. We showed its impact on adverse perioperative events.

METHODS

In this nonrandomized prospective study, we analyzed 116 consecutive patients who underwent the total arterial revascularization procedure at our Institute from January 2011 until the present. For myocardial revascularization, the most suitable combinations with left internal mammary artery, right internal mammary artery, and radial artery grafts were used. Main fact in this research was intrahospital mortality value in comparison with the value predicted.

RESULTS

There were 104 (89.7%) males and 12 (10.3%) females. Mean preoperative EuroSCORE II prediction value was 1.98% and postoperative we obtained 1.72%. Postoperative redo for bleeding was 6%. Positive correlation was proven between the EuoroSCORE II value and intensive care unit stay (0.452; p < 0.001). Among patients who received two internal mammary arteries, the highest EuroSCORE II was among those with presternal wound infection (p = 0.005). Patients with bilateral internal mammary arteries and diabetes showed that they have the highest values of EuroSCORE II and, at the same time, that they are extremely prone to wound problems.

CONCLUSIONS

We achieved a lower intrahospital mortality level than it was predicted with preoperative EuroSCORE II value. This tool is a reliable method for preoperative death risk calculation in this group of patients.

Excessive bleeding predictors after cardiac surgery in adults: integrative review

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To integrate literature data on the predictors of excessive bleeding after cardiac surgery in adults.

BACKGROUND

Perioperative nursing care requires awareness of the risk factors for excessive bleeding after cardiac surgery to assure vigilance prioritising and early correction of those that are modifiable.

DESIGN

Integrative literature review.

METHODS

Articles were searched in seven databases. Seventeen studies investigating predictive factors for excessive bleeding after open-heart surgery from 2004-2014 were included.

RESULTS

Predictors of excessive bleeding after cardiac surgery were: Patient-related: male gender, higher preoperative haemoglobin levels, lower body mass index, diabetes mellitus, impaired left ventricular function, lower amount of prebypass thrombin generation, lower preoperative platelet counts, decreased preoperative platelet aggregation, preoperative platelet inhibition level >20%, preoperative thrombocytopenia and lower preoperative fibrinogen concentration. Procedure-related: the operating surgeon, coronary artery bypass surgery with three or more bypasses, use of the internal mammary artery, duration of surgery, increased cross-clamp time, increased cardiopulmonary bypass time, lower intraoperative core body temperature and bypass-induced haemostatic disorders. Postoperative: fibrinogen levels and metabolic acidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-related, procedure-related and postoperative predictors of excessive bleeding after cardiac surgery were identified.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The predictors summarised in this review can be used for risk stratification of excessive bleeding after cardiac surgery. Assessment, documentation and case reporting can be guided by awareness of these factors, so that postoperative vigilance can be prioritised. Timely identification and correction of the modifiable factors can be facilitated.

Predictive factors for bleeding-related re-exploration after cardiac surgery: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Bleeding-related re-exploration is a life-threatening complication after cardiac surgery. Nurses must be aware of important risk factors for this complication so that their assessment, monitoring and evaluation activities can be prioritized, focused and anticipated.

AIMS

To identify the predictive factors for bleeding-related re-exploration after cardiac surgery and to describe the sources of postoperative bleeding.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study at a tertiary cardiac school-hospital in São Paulo/SP, Brazil. Adult patients (n=323) submitted to surgical correction of acquired cardiac diseases were included. Potential risk factors for bleeding-related re-exploration within the 24 hours following admission to the intensive care unit were investigated in the patients' charts. A univariate analysis and a multiple analysis through logistic regression were conducted to identify the outcome predictors. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was calculated as a measure of accuracy considering the cut-off points with the highest sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

The univariate factors significantly associated with bleeding-related re-exploration were a lower preoperative platelet count, a lower number of bypasses in coronary artery bypass surgery and postoperatively, a lower body temperature, infusion of lower intravenous volume, a higher positive end-expiratory pressure during mechanical ventilation and transfusion of blood products. The independent predictors of bleeding-related re-exploration included postoperative red blood cell transfusion, and transfusion of fresh frozen plasma, platelet or cryoprecipitate units. These predictors had a sensitivity of 87.5%, a specificity of 99.28% and an accuracy of 97.93%.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood product transfusion postoperatively is an independent predictor of bleeding-related re-exploration. Surgical errors prevailed as sources of bleeding.

The operating surgeon is an independent predictor of chest tube drainage following cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVES

Bleeding into the chest is a major cause of blood transfusion and adverse outcomes following cardiac surgery. The authors investigated predictors of bleeding following cardiac surgery to identify potentially correctable factors.

DESIGN

Data were retrieved from the medical records of patients undergoing cardiac surgery over the period of 2002 to 2008. Multivariate analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of chest tube drainage.

SETTING

Tertiary hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Two thousand five hundred seventy-five patients.

INTERVENTIONS

Cardiac surgery.

RESULTS

The individual operating surgeon was independently associated with the extent of chest tube drainage. Other independent factors included internal mammary artery grafting, cardiopulmonary bypass time, urgency of surgery, tricuspid valve surgery, redo surgery, left ventricular impairment, male gender, lower body mass index and higher preoperative hemoglobin levels. Both a history of diabetes and administration of aprotinin were associated with reduced levels of chest tube drainage.

CONCLUSIONS

The individual operating surgeon was an independent predictor of the extent of chest tube drainage. Attention to surgeon-specific factors offers the possibility of reduced bleeding, fewer transfusions, and improved patient outcomes.

Propensity matched analysis of bilateral internal mammary artery versus single left internal mammary artery grafting at 17-year follow-up: validation of a contemporary surgical experience

OBJECTIVES

Bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMA) remains widely underutilized in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Although prior research has demonstrated a long-term benefit of the use of BIMA over left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-only, validation of these results is lacking in a contemporary surgical experience. We compared complications and survival at 17-year follow-up in a large series of consecutive CABG patients from a single institution that underwent BIMA grafting with a propensity-matched group where LIMA only was used.

METHODS

Propensity scores representing the estimated probabilities of patients receiving either BIMA or LIMA alone were developed based on 22 observed baseline covariates in a logistic regression model with procedure group as the dependent variable. The nearest-neighbour-matching algorithm with Greedy 5-1 Digit Matching was used to produce two patient cohorts of 928 patients each balanced for baseline factors. We compared 30-day morbidity and mortality, as well as long-term survival at 5-year intervals up to 17-year follow-up.

RESULTS

In-hospital and 30-day mortality was 0.8% for the BIMA group and 1.1% for the LIMA-saphenous vein grafting (SVG). No significant difference was found in complications, mortality and/or length-of-stay between these two groups. Off-pump was done in 48.9% of BIMA cases and 51.3% of LIMA cases. Regardless of the types of grafts used, on-pump patients were more likely to have postoperative permanent strokes and longer postoperative lengths of stay. Use of the BIMA over LIMA-only had a statistically significant impact conferring a 10% survival advantage at 10-year and 18% at 15-year follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves comparing off-/on-pump BIMA and off-/on-pump LIMA-SVG patients demonstrated a 22% survival advantage for off-pump BIMA patients when compared with on-pump LIMA-SVG patients at 15-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative complications do not increase with the use of BIMAs. Long-term survival is optimized with off-pump CABG and BIMA grafting. The low morbidity and mortality rates in this series are likely due to the continuous evolution of technology and the adoption of less invasive options for CABG patients. A more widespread use of BIMAs in CABG patients would continue to improve the overall excellent short- and long-term results of this operation.