Redo cardiac surgery in the era of percutaneous solutions: pattern of presentation and outcomes in a single tertiary care center

Introduction

The advent of new medical and interventional approaches has recently impacted on the referral for redo surgical operations. Little is known on current practice pattern and outcomes.

Purpose

We reviewed our institutional experience of 10 years (January 2011–December 2020) in a single university affiliated center to document frequency, outcome, and complications of the various types of redo procedures.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected computed institutional database developed according to STS/EACTS recommendations.

Results

During study period 616 patients were referred for redo cardiac procedures, of which 129 patients underwent either medical or interventional procedures (75 thrombolysis, 22 valve-in-valve, 19 native mitral and or tricuspid percutaneous treatment, 13 paravalvular leakage devices), 459 patients were operated on, and 28 patients were denied any invasive treatment because of futility. Study group included these 459 surgical patients with a mean age of 62±12.7 years (octogenarians 5.6%, female sex 52.8%, diabetes 19.5%, chronic kidney disease 30%, urgent/emergent status 34.8%, third-time sternotomy 9.8%). The EuroSCORE II averaged 25.7±15.4%. Study group patients represented a nearly constant subgroup over the 6890 patients operated over this decade. Most frequent surgical procedures were valve operations, which were accomplished in 48.6% (223 pts), whereas isolated coronary bypass surgery was performed in 1.9% (9 pts) only. Valve thrombosis, mechanical prosthesis malfunction, paravalvular leakage, bioprosthetic failure and endocarditis (87% on prosthetic valve) were the most frequent indications. Combined procedures were performed in 15.2% (70 pts). Aortic root, ascending and arch replacement procedures were performed in 10.9% (50 pts, aortic dissection 7.8%). Cardiac transplantation in the setting of previous cardiac surgery was performed in 13.1% (60 pts including: previous conventional procedures [29 pts], mechanical circulatory devices [28 pts, 25 left ventricular assist device and 3 total artificial heart] and re-transplantation [3 pts]). Other procedures were performed in 10.2% (47 pts). Overall hospital mortality was 23,9%, rates of major complications were: surgical revision for bleeding 2,9%, Acute Kidney Injury (I/F) 17,4%, prolonged mechanical ventilation 12,9%, stroke 2,7%. Age, surgical priority, endocarditis, and heart failure represented the major independent predictors of morbidity and mortality.

Conclusions

Although percutaneous solutions are increasing their consensus, the rate of redo cardiac surgical procedures remained stable during the last 10 years. Outcomes are satisfactory despite increasingly complex patients features. Careful Heart Team evaluation is mandatory.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

P775Effect of sacubitril-valsartan in reducing physical frailty in patients with advanced heart failure in waiting list for heart transplantation

Background

Treatment with valsartan/sacubitril was found to be associated both with reduction in mortality risk for HF.

Purpose

To investigate the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on physical frailty (PF) in advanced HF patients in waiting list for heart transplantion (HT) in a two years follow-up study.

Methods

We enrolled 45 consecutive patients (status 2B UNOs). Patients tolerant to ACE-inhibitor and/or ARBs were treated with valsartan/sacubitril. Patients were required to have left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤35% and to be taking a stable dose of a β-blocker and an ACE inhibitor or an ARB for at least 4 weeks before enrollment. The dosage of sacubitril/valsartan was increased if tolerance was good. Frailty was assessed using an adapted version of Fried's Frailty Phenotype used in advanced HF patients in waiting list for transplantation. Patients were followed up until HT, device (TAH/LVAD) implant, or last follow-up visit.

Results

Mean NYHA class was 3.1±0.4, with 5.7% NYHA 2, 62.9% NYHA 3 and 31.4% NYHA 3B. LVEF was 25.1±6.4, VO2 max (ml/kg/min) was 10.3±2.3, cardiac index (L/min/m2) was 2.3±0.6, and NT-proBNP (pg/ml) was 4054.8±3977. At 3 months, 31.5% of patients received the target dose of 97/103 mg/BID, 31.6% the half dose (49/51mg BID) and 26.3% the low dose (24/26 mg BID) and 10.5% the half low dose (24/26 mg daily). The baseline mean value of physical frailty was 3.86±0.8, specifically 94.3% showed exhaustion, 91.4% physical inactivity, 88.6% weakness, 85.7% slowness and 28.6% loss of appetite. All patients had a frailty score ≥3. During follow-up there were no deaths. After treatment, NYHA class improved significantly (2.4±0.6 vs 3.1±0.4; p=0.002), with 5.7% NYHA 1, 48.6% NYHA 2, 42.9% NYHA 3 and 2.9% NYHA 3B (p<0.001). VO2 max consumption, Six Minute Walking Test increased while pulmonary systolic blood pressure, VE/VCO2 slope, and NT-proBNP, decreased. Both Diastolic and Systolic BP decrease, but only DBP was statistically significant. No differences were observed during follow-up for LVEF, E/E', TAPSE, IVC. A significant reduction in furosemide dosage was observed (103.57±71.3 mg to 81.4±54.6 mg; p=0.040) while no differences were observed in mineral corticoids antagonist and metolazone. These improvements occurred from the first month of treatment and were still significantly present at the end of follow up. PF decreased (3.86±0.8 vs 1.44±1.26; p<0.000) with a significant reduction in all domain of PF. 28.5% had a frailty score ≥3.

Conclusions

Our study shows an improvement in PH in patients with advanced HF in waiting list for HT after therapy with sacubitril/valsartan. These changes seem to appear very early after introduction of the treatment and to be maintained over time. The improvement in all physical domain was paralleled by VO2 max and 6-minute walking test increase. The pro-BNP-NT reduction was significant in the first month of treatment and remain quite stable in the follow-up.

P4543Steatosis in explanted heart of type 2 diabetic patients with end-stage heart failure: progression of intra-myocytes fat accumulation in non-diabetic heart implanted in diabetic patients

Background

How metabolic impairment leads to cardiac dysfunction in diabetics is unknown. A recent theory, derived mainly from rodent models, involves lipid over-storage to cardiomyocytes. Previous human study demonstrated cardiac steatosis on explanted hearts of diabetics with heart failure. However, this study did not provide any evidence about the effects of diabetes milieu on implanted non-diabetic heart.

Purpose

We evaluated intramyocyte lipid infiltration in explanted heart of type 2 diabetics with end-stage heart failure. Moreover, we studied the effects of diabetic milieu on myocyte lipid infiltration and cardiac function of non-diabetic implanted hearts in type 2 diabetics one year after heart transplantation (HTx).

Methods

We conducted a prospective study with a follow-up of 12 months on 88 patients over 18 years of age underwent first HTX. Patients with pre-HTx diabetes duration for at least 6 months were included in the study. Patients with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) considered positive for rejection, according to International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), and with post-HTx diabetes were excluded from the study. All patients underwent immunosuppression induction according ISHLT indications. All patients were followed applying internationally accepted patient evaluations (echocardiography and metabolic control) and EMB schedules. EBM from patients without rejection evidences were evaluated for intramyocyte lipid infiltration with oil red-O staining (Or-O).

Results

The patients were divided in diabetics (44%, age 51.6±7.2 y, diabetes duration 11±3 y) and no-diabetics (56%, 52.1±10.9 y). The patients were matched on the basis of eligibility for a HTx. Seven patients (3 diabetics and 4 no-diabetics) died in hospital. 5 (11%) patients developed post- HTx diabetes. No differences were seen in rejection (12% vs. 10%), infection (9% vs. 10%), renal dysfunction (9% vs. 8%) or mortality (7% vs. 8%). Therefore, the study population included 23 no-diabetics and 22 diabetics. After 1 year, we evidenced an impairment of both sx and dx ventricular function as showed by a significantly reduction of ejection fraction and TAPSE in diabetic patients (Figure-A). Although diastolic function not show significant differences among groups, the E/e' ratio showed lower reduction in diabetics. Or-O evidenced that 91% of diabetic and only 2 of no-diabetic explanted hearts (9%) showed intramyocyte lipid infiltration (Figure-B). Moreover, Or-O of EMB, for monitoring heart transplant during 1 year, evidenced a progressive intramyocyte lipid infiltration in 18 diabetics (81%), whereas none of no-diabetics showed intramyocyte lipid infiltration.

Conclusions

Our data show that almost all of the explanted diabetic hearts had intramyocyte lipid infiltration. More interesting, we observed that healthy heart transplanted in recipients with pretransplant diabetes were affected early by metabolic disorders leading to intramyocyte lipid infiltration.

Role of Immunosuppressive Regimen on the Incidence and Characteristics of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Heart Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience With Preemptive Therapy

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective single-center report sought to evaluate the relation of immunosuppressive regimen with the incidence and characteristics of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection from 1999 to 2003.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral), azathioprine (AZA), and prednisolone associated with either thymoglobulin or ATG high-dosage induction from 1999 to 2000 (AZA, 64 patients [AZA-Thymo = 38 patients and AZA-ATG 26 patients]), or cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and prednisolone with low-dose thymoglobulin induction from 2001 onward (n = 52 patients). Ganciclovir preemptive therapy was guided by pp65 antigenemia monitoring without CMV prophylaxis.

RESULTS

The study groups were homogeneous with respect to major perioperative risk factors. Comparing the two AZA subgroups no difference emerged as to percentage of pp65 antigenemia-positive, preemptively treated patients reflecting CMV disease incidence and relapses. AZA-Thymo patient showed significantly shorter time to first positive pp65-antigenemia and higher viral load (AZA-Thymo vs AZA-ATG, P = .004 and P = .009). The two subgroups did not differ with regard to incidence of rejection, superinfection, and graft coronary disease. By shifting from AZA to MMF no difference emerged as to incidence and characteristics of CMV infections, but there was a significant reduction in acute rejection and superinfection (AZA vs MMF P = .001 and P = .008).

CONCLUSIONS

The distinct immunological properties of thymoglobulin versus ATG significantly altered the pattern of CMV expression. MMF with reduced-dose induction did not engender a higher CMV morbidity.

Pilot study on prevention of lung injury during surgery for type A acute aortic dissection: no evident improvements with celsior flushing through the pulmonary artery

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative respiratory failure is a frequent and serious complication in patients with type A acute aortic dissection. Experimental evidence suggests that pulmonary artery perfusion using hypothermic protective solutions helps prevent lung injury. The aim of this pilot prospective study was to evaluate the effect of pulmonary artery flushing during selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) on lung function.

METHODS

Twenty patients referred for acute type A aortic dissection, who were free from preoperative respiratory dysfunction, were assigned prospectively and alternately to two treatment groups. Pulmonary flushing was performed during SCP in group P (10 patients), while conventional Kazui technique was applied in group N (10 patients). Lung perfusion consisted of single-shot hypothermic pulmonary artery flush with Celsior. Lung function was evaluated by intubation time, scoring of chest radiograms at 12 hours after CPB, and PaO2/FiO2 assessed from immediately before surgery to 72 hours after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass.

RESULTS

Incidence of pre, intra and post operative determinants of lung dysfunction proved homogeneous in both groups. Lung oxygenation function showed a marked post operative decline followed by a slow improvement in both groups. Analysis of respiratory ratios did not disclose significant differences even though the flushed group had a better performance in all study patients. The incidence of prolonged ventilator support (longer than 72 hours) (30% vs 20%, p = NS) and severity of x-ray pulmonary infiltrate score were comparable (mean score 1.7 +/- 0.71 vs 1.6 +/- 0.68, p = NS).

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary artery flushing with Celsior solution does not seem to provide an effective preservation of lung function.

Efficacy and limitations of preemptive therapy against cytomegalovirus infections in heart transplant patients

OBJECTIVES

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease often represents a serious complication that promotes opportunistic infections in heart transplant recipients. In this study we evaluated the impact of preemptive gancylovir therapy, guided by pp65 antigenemia on the morbidity associated with viral reactivation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We have performed a CMV infection surveillance program since March 1999, with antigenemia pp65 determinations weekly for the first 2 months biweekly in the third months, and monthly to the sixth month. Patients with pp65 antigenemia value >/= 10 positive cells per 2 x 10(5) polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) were treated with intravenous gancyclovir followed by 1 month of oral gancyclovir.

RESULTS

Among the 107 patients who underwent the virological monitoring, 80 were pp65 antigenemia-positive with preemptive therapy administered in 48 cases. Five patients displayed symptomatic CMV disease (4.7% vs 18% rate in the period of 1988 to 1998 before the introduction of virologic monitoring; P <.01). We observed only one case of gancyclovir-resistant pneumonia which was successfully treated with foscarnet. CMV recurrence in 10 patients required a second cycle of gancyclovir treatment. Our experience included 13 opportunistic infections (12.7%) with 11 antigenemia-positive.

CONCLUSIONS

Preemptive therapy drastically reduces the incidence of CMV disease and the associated morbidity. Compared to universal prophylaxis, this approach may avoid unnecessary pharmacologic treatment in more than 50% of transplant recipients. Indeed, preemptive therapy does not fully prevent CMV disease, because it may manifest at the first antigenemia determination, and furthermore may select gancyclovir-resistant strains.

Midterm results of a prospective randomized comparison of two different rabbit-antithymocyte globulin induction therapies after heart transplantation

This prospective randomized study compared the effects in heart transplant recipients of thymoglobulin and ATG, two rabbit polyclonal antithymocyte antibodies available for induction therapy. Among 40 patients (29 men and 11 women, mean age: 40.7 +/- 14 years) undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation, 20 were randomly allocated to receive induction with thymoglobulin (group A) and 20 to ATG-fresenius (group B). Comparisons between the two groups included early posttransplant (6 months) incidence of acute rejection episodes (grade >/= 1B), bouts of steroid-resistant rejection, time to first rejection, survival, graft atherosclerosis, infections, and malignancies. The study groups displayed similar preoperative and demographic variables. No significant difference was found with regard to actuarial survival (P =.98), freedom from rejection (P =.68), number of early rejections > 1B (P =.67), mean time to first early cardiac rejection (P =.13), number of steroid-resistant rejections (P =.69). Cytomegalovirus reactivations were more frequent among group A (65%) than group B (30%; P =.028). New infections due to cytomegalovirus occurred only in group A (four patients; 20%; P =.05). No cases of malignancies were observed at a mean follow-up of 32.8 +/- 8.9 months. Although thymoglobulin and ATG showed equivalent efficacy for rejection prevention, they have different immunological properties. In particular, thymoglobulin seems to be associated with a significantly higher incidence of cytomegalovirus disease/reactivation.

Evolving practice patterns in heart transplantation: a single-center experience over 15 years

This analysis is a retrospective characterization of evolving patterns in donor and recipient risk factors for early and late outcomes (survival and freedom from rejection) along with determinants of hospital and 1-year mortality after heart transplantation over a 15-year experience in a single center. Profiles and outcomes were evaluated for procedures performed between 1988 and 1995 (group A, n = 105) versus 1996 and 2003 (group B, n = 218). The following parameters were considered: pretransplant diagnosis, recipient age UNOS status, donor age, total postretrieval ischemic time, donor/recipient size match, and degree of myocardial necrosis at biopsy. Recipients in group B were significantly more compromised as demonstrated by UNOS status (11.4% vs 19.3%; P =.05) and pretransplant pulmonary vascular resistance (2.3 +/- 1.5 vs 3.1 +/- 1.5; P =.04). Marginal donors were more frequently used for group B procedures (21.9% vs 47.7%; P <.0001). Outcomes were significantly more favorable among group B patients in terms of hospital mortality (18.1% vs 10.6%; P =.046), and 1- and 5-year actuarial survival (72.4% vs 83.4%, 60% vs 73.3%, respectively; P =.006). Analysis of the causes of death disclosed a significant reduction in fatal events due to graft failure and acute rejection in group B. No difference emerged with regard to actual freedom from acute rejection. Determinants of hospital mortality were pretransplant diagnosis, UNOS status, donor age, and cardioplegic solution. Transplant era, recipient age, infectious episodes, and ischemic necrosis at biopsy were risk factors for 1-year mortality. We conclude that despite extensive usage of marginal donors and selection of worse candidates, significantly better outcomes were achieved due to improvements in global management strategies.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction: a prospective randomized study on the timing of perioperative intraaortic balloon pump support

In this prospective trial the results of preoperative and intraoperative IABP in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared. Sixty CABG patients with preoperative LVEF < or = 0.30 were enrolled: in group A patients (n=30) IABP was started within 2 hours preoperatively; in group B (n=30) it was instituted intraoperatively before weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. Cardiac performance was assessed through Swan-Ganz catheter monitoring and daily echocardiography. Hospital survival, length of IABP support, intubation, ICU and hospital stay, need for postoperative inotropic drugs and incidence of myocardial infarction were compared between the two groups. Survival in group A patients proved significantly higher (P=0.047). Cardiac performance after myocardial revascularization improved in both groups with significantly better outcomes in group A patients (P<0.001). Doses of inotropic drugs (dobutamine, enoximone) were lower in group A (P=0.001; P=0.004) and duration shorter (P<0.001; P<0.001). No major IABP-related complication was observed.

Determinants and prognostic value of ischemic necrosis in early biopsies following heart transplant

To evaluate the impact of early ischemic necrosis (IN) on the early and late outcome of heart transplantation, we reviewed our 11-year experience. Between January 1988 and June 1999, 207 heart transplants were performed in 205 patients (174 male and 31 female). Criteria for donor and recipient selection, and protocols for postoperative immunosuppression and rejection monitoring have remained unchanged over this period. Three different cardioplegic solutions were employed in graft preservation: St. Thomas Hospital solution in the earliest 31 cases (15%), University of Wisconsin solution in 96 cases (46.4%), and Celsior solution in the last 80 cases (38.6%). All patients who underwent at least one endomyocardial biopsy (176 patients) were divided into two groups according to the findings of IN within the early 3 postoperative months (group A, 49 patients with IN; group B, 127 patients without IN). The following variables were estimated in each group: donor and recipient age, ischemic time, type of cardioplegia, late mortality for cardiac causes, incidence of grade >2 rejection within the first 6 postoperative months, late incidence of grade >2 rejection, late incidence of NYHA class >II. No significant difference was found in any parameter between the two groups, except for the type of cardioplegic solution. A significantly higher incidence of ischemic necrosis in hearts preserved with St. Thomas solution was found (P < 0.001). Although pathology findings show that extracellular solutions carried a higher risk of early IN, no associated significant impairment in terms of late survival and event-free rate was observed in recipients with early IN.

Deep sternal wound infection: the role of early debridement surgery

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective chart review study aimed to evaluate whether a more aggressive staged approach can reduce morbidity and mortality following post-cardiotomy deep sternal wound infection.

METHODS

Between 1979 and 2000, 14620 patients underwent open heart surgery: mediastinitis developed in 124 patients (0.85%). Patients were divided in two groups: in 62 patients (Group A) (1979-1994) an initial attempt of conservative antibiotic therapy was the rule followed by surgical approach in case of failure; in 62 patients (Group B) (1995-2000) the treatment was staged in three phases: (1) wound debridement, removal of wires and sutures, closed irrigation for 10 days; (2) in case of failure open dressing with sugar and hyperbaric therapy (11 patients, 17%); (3) delayed healing and negative wound cultures mandated plastic reconstruction (three patients, 4%). Categorical values were compared using the Chi-square test, continuous data were compared by unpaired t-test.

RESULTS

Incidence of mediastinitis was higher in Group B (62 out of 5535; 1.3%) than in Group A (62 out of 9085; 0.7%) (P=0.007). Mean interval between diagnosis and treatment was shorter in Group B (18+/-6 days) than in group A (38+/-7 days) (P=0.001). Hospital mortality was higher in Group A (19/62; 31%) than in Group B (1 out of 62; 1.6%) (P<0.001). Hospital stay was shorter in Group B (30.5+/-3 days) than in group A (44+/-9 days) (P=0.001). In Group B complete healing was observed in all the 61 survivors: 47 cases (76%) after Stage 1; 11 (18%) after Stage 2; three (4.8%) after Stage 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Although partially biased by the fact that the two compared groups draw back to different decades, this study showed that an aggressive therapeutic protocol can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality of deep sternal wound infection.