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Objectives: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock has been increasingly used without concomitant mortality reduction. This study aims to investigate determinants of in-hospital and postdischarge mortality in patients requiring postcardiotomy ECMO in the Netherlands.Methods: The Netherlands Heart Registration collects nationwide prospective data from cardiac surgery units. Adults receiving intraoperative or postoperative ECMO included in the register from January 2013 to December 2019 were studied. Survival status was established through the national Personal Records Database. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate determinants of in-hospital (3 models) and 12-month postdischarge mortality (4 models). Each model was developed to target specific time points during a patient's clinical course.Results: Overall, 406 patients (67.2% men, median age, 66.0 years [interquartile range, 55.0-72.0 years]) were included. In-hospital mortality was 51.7%, with death occurring in a median of 5 days (interquartile range, 2-14 days) after surgery. Hospital survivors (n = 196) experienced considerable rates of pulmonary infections, respiratory failure, arrhythmias, and deep sternal wound infections during a hospitalization of median 29 days (interquartile range, 17-51 days). Older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.0-1.04) and preoperative higher body mass index (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02-1.14) were associated with in-hospital death. Within 12 months after discharge, 35.1% of hospital survivors (n = 63) died. Postoperative renal failure (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-4.9), respiratory failure (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-9.9), and re-thoracotomy (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3-6.5) were associated with 12-month postdischarge mortality.Conclusions: In-hospital and postdischarge mortality after postcardiotomy ECMO in adults remains high in the Netherlands. ECMO support in patients with higher age and body mass index, which drive associations with higher in-hospital mortality, should be carefully considered. Further observations suggest that prevention of re-thoracotomies, renal failure, and respiratory failure are targets that may improve postdischarge outcomes.

OBJECTIVES Thoracoscopic ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) with robot-assisted left internal mammary artery (LIMA) harvesting may represent a safe and effective alternative to more invasive surgical approaches via sternotomy. The aim of our study was to describe the feasibility, safety and efficacy of a unilateral left-sided thoracoscopic AF ablation and concomitant MIDCAB surgery. METHODS Retrospective analysis of a prospectively gathered cohort was performed of all consecutive patients with AF and at least a critical left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis that underwent unilateral left-sided thoracoscopic AF ablation and concomitant off-pump MIDCAB surgery in the Maastricht University Medical Centre between 2017 and 2021. RESULTS Twenty-three patients were included [age 69 years (standard deviation = 8), paroxysmal AF 61%, left atrial volume index 42 ml/m2 (standard deviation = 11)]. Unilateral left-sided thoracoscopic isolation of the left (n = 23) and right (n = 22) pulmonary veins and box (n = 21) by radiofrequency ablation was succeeded by epicardial validation of exit- and entrance block (n = 22). All patients received robot-assisted LIMA harvesting and off-pump LIMA-LAD anastomosis through a left mini-thoracotomy. The perioperative complications consisted of one bleeding of the thoracotomy wound and one aborted myocardial infarction not requiring intervention. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6 days (standard deviation = 2). After discharge, cardiac hospital readmission occurred in 4 patients (AF n = 1; pleural- and pericardial effusion n = 2, myocardial infarction requiring the percutaneous intervention of the LIMA-LAD n = 1) within 1 year. After 12 months, 17/21 (81%) patients were in sinus rhythm when allowing anti-arrhythmic drugs. Finally, the left atrial ejection fraction improved postoperatively [26% (standard deviation = 11) to 38% (standard deviation = 7), P = 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS In this initial feasibility and early safety study, unilateral left-sided thoracoscopic AF ablation and concomitant MIDCAB for LIMA-LAD grafting is a feasible, safe and efficacious for patients with AF and a critical LAD stenosis.

ispartof: INTERACTIVE CARDIOVASCULAR AND THORACIC SURGERY vol:35 issue:6 ispartof: location:England status: published

Various definitions of myocardial infarction type 5 after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been proposed (myocardial infarction [MI-5], also known as peri-procedural MI), using different biomarkers and different and arbitrary cut-off values. This meta-analysis aims to determine the expected release of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) after CABG in general and after uncomplicated surgery and off-pump CABG in particular. A systematic search was applied to 3 databases. Studies on CABG as a single intervention and reporting on postoperative hs-cTnT concentrations on at least 2 different time points were included. All data on hs-cTnT concentrations were extracted, and mean concentrations at various points in time were stratified. Eventually, 15 studies were included, encompassing 2,646 patients. Preoperative hs-cTnT was 17 ng/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 13 to 20 ng/L). Hs-cTnT peaked at 6 to 8 hours postoperatively (628 ng/L, 95% CI 400 to 856 ng/L; 45x upper reference limit [URL]) and was still increased after 48 hours. In addition, peak hs-cTnT concentration was 614 ng/L (95% CI 282 to 947 ng/L) in patients with a definite uncomplicated postoperative course (i.e., without MI). For patients after off-pump CABG compared to on-pump CABG, the mean peak hs-cTnT concentration was 186 ng/L (95% CI 172 to 200 ng/L, 13 x URL) versus 629 ng/L (95% CI 529 to 726 ng/L, 45 x URL), respectively. In conclusion, postoperative hs-cTnT concentrations surpass most of the currently defined cut-off values for MI-5, even in perceived uncomplicated surgery, suggesting thorough reassessment. Hs-cTnT release differences following on-pump CABG versus off-pump CABG were observed, implying the need for different cut-off values for different surgical strategies. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.

OBJECTIVES Although in both the US and European guidelines the ‘heart team approach’ is a class I recommendation, supporting evidence is still lacking. Therefore, we sought to provide comparative survival data of patients with mitral valve disease referred to the general and the dedicated heart team. METHODS In this retrospective cohort, patients evaluated for mitral valve disease by a general heart team (2009–2014) and a dedicated mitral valve heart team (2014–2018) were included. Decision-making was recorded prospectively in heart team electronic forms. The end point was overall survival from decision of the heart team. RESULTS In total, 1145 patients were included of whom 641 (56%) were discussed by dedicated heart team and 504 (44%) by general heart team. At 5 years, survival probability was 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68–0.79] for the dedicated heart team group compared to 0.70 (95% CI 0.66–0.74, P = 0.040) for the general heart team. Relative risk of mortality adjusted for EuroSCORE II, treatment groups (surgical, transcatheter and non-intervention), mitral valve pathology (degenerative, functional, rheumatic and others) and 13 other baseline characteristics for patients in the dedicated heart team was 29% lower [hazard ratio (HR) 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.95; P = 0.019] than for the general heart team. The adjusted relative risk of mortality was 61% lower for patients following the advice of the heart team (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.25–0.62; P CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective cohort, patients treated for mitral valve disease based on a dedicated heart team decision have significantly higher survival independent of the allocated treatment, mitral valve pathology and baseline characteristics.

Knee braces and patellar straps are frequently prescribed devices for treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome. In this report, we describe the occurrence of localized deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after use of an infrapatellar strap. Until now, external mechanical compression has not been recognized as a cause of DVT. In young and athletic patients presenting with DVT, after exclusion of the most prominent risk factors, untraditional causes should be considered to mistakenly label a DVT as unprovoked.

The efficacy and safety of thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting have been previously reported. Herein, we describe the successful combination of both procedures in a high-risk patient with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal AF and a proximal left main stenosis. This innovative procedure offers patients an all-in-one, truly minimally invasive approach to treat AF and left anterior descending artery disease. Based on our initial experience, the procedure is safe and feasible.

Negative pressure wound therapy is a concept introduced initially to assist in the treatment of chronic open wounds. Recently, there has been growing interest in using the technique on closed incisions after surgery to prevent potentially severe surgical site infections and other wound complications in high-risk patients. Negative pressure wound therapy uses a negative pressure unit and specific dressings that help to hold the incision edges together, redistribute lateral tension, reduce edema, stimulate perfusion, and protect the surgical site from external infectious sources. Randomized, controlled studies of negative pressure wound therapy for closed incisions in orthopedic settings (which also is a clean surgical procedure in absence of an open fracture) have shown the technology can reduce the risk of wound infection, wound dehiscence, and seroma, and there is accumulating evidence that it also improves wound outcomes after cardiothoracic surgery. Identifying at-risk individuals for whom prophylactic use of negative pressure wound therapy would be most cost-effective remains a challenge; however, several risk-stratification systems have been proposed and should be evaluated more fully. The recent availability of a single-use, closed incision management system offers surgeons a convenient and practical means of delivering negative pressure wound therapy to their high-risk patients, with excellent wound outcomes reported to date. Although larger, randomized, controlled studies will help to clarify the precise role and benefits of such a system in cardiothoracic surgery, limited initial evidence from clinical studies and from the authors' own experiences appears promising. In light of the growing interest in this technology among cardiothoracic surgeons, a consensus meeting, which was attended by a group of international experts, was held to review existing evidence for negative pressure wound therapy in the prevention of wound complications after surgery and to provide recommendations on the optimal use of negative pressure wound therapy on closed median sternal incisions after cardiothoracic surgery.

The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate whether a risk control programme based on risk assessment, new treatment modalities and the presence of a surveillance programme reduces the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI). Between January 2001 and December 2003, 167 patients were treated for a total of 183 SSIs. Data were collected on pre-operative risk factors, intra-operative data and postoperative recovery, including complications, infecting organisms, SSI treatment techniques and length of hospital stay. In this series, the total incidence of SSI was 5.6%. The mean age of affected patients was 65.1 years with a range of 20-87 years. Mean intensive care and hospital stay for SSI was 3.6 days and 18.8 days, respectively. Total mortality was 4.8%. Many risk factors were encountered, some of which were associated with a high morbidity. The majority of SSIs were treated by topical negative pressure therapy (N=81), which gave few side-effects and good clinical results. After starting the surveillance programme, a steady decline in prevalence was observed from 8.9% to 3.9%. This series adds to the evidence that SSI after cardiothoracic surgery is a major but mainly preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Risk factor assessment, application of novel treatment modalities and an adequate surveillance system all increased patient safety.

CONTEXT: Nosocomial infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. Decolonization of endogenous potential pathogenic microorganisms is important in the prevention of nosocomial infections. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of perioperative decontamination of the nasopharynx and oropharynx with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate for reduction of nosocomial infection after cardiac surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted at the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, between August 1, 2003, and September 1, 2005. Of 991 patients older than 18 years undergoing elective cardiothoracic surgery during the study interval, 954 were eligible for analysis. INTERVENTION: Oropharyngeal rinse and nasal ointment containing either chlorhexidine gluconate or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of nosocomial infection, in addition to the rate of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: The incidence of nosocomial infection in the chlorhexidine gluconate group and placebo group was 19.8% and 26.2%, respectively (absolute risk reduction [ARR], 6.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1%-11.7%; P = .002). In particular, lower respiratory tract infections and deep surgical site infections were less common in the chlorhexidine gluconate group than in the placebo group (ARR, 6.5%; 95% CI, 2.3%-10.7%; P = .002; and 3.2%; 95% CI, 0.9%-5.5%; P = .002, respectively). For the prevention of 1 nosocomial infection, 16 patients needed to be treated with chlorhexidine gluconate. A significant reduction of 57.5% in S aureus nasal carriage was found in the chlorhexidine gluconate group compared with a reduction of 18.1% in the placebo group (P

Negative-pressure wound therapy, commercially known as vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.®) therapy, has become one of the most popular (and efficacious) interim (prior to flap reconstruction) or definite methods of managing deep sternal wound infection. Complications such as profuse bleeding, which may occur during negative-pressure therapy but not necessarily due to it, are often attributed to a single factor and reported as such. However, despite the wealth of clinical experience internationally available, information regarding certain simple considerations is still lacking. Garnering information on all the factors that could possibly influence the outcome has become more difficult due to a (fortunate) decrease in the incidence of deep sternal wound infection. If more insight is to be gained from fewer clinical cases, then various potentially confounding factors should be fully disclosed before complications can be attributed to the technique itself or improvements to negative-pressure wound therapy for deep sternal wound infection can be accepted as evidence-based and the guidelines for its use adapted. The authors propose the adoption of a simple checklist in such cases.

Poststernotomy mediastinitis (PM) is a serious and potentially lethal condition with an overall incidence varying from 0.4-5%. There is little consensus on the ideal management of PM. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effectiveness of topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy vs. traditional closed drainage techniques (CDT) as a treatment modality for PM. We reviewed the data of 10,467 patients who underwent median sternotomy between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 2003. During this period 63 patients were treated for PM. Twenty-nine of these patients were treated with TNP and 34 with conventional CDT. Primary points of interest were: treatment modalities, mortality, surgical site infection recurrence and, duration of therapy and hospital stay. In this series, the total incidence of poststernotomy mediastinitis was 0.6% with high morbidity rates. In the TNP group, lower rates of recurring infection, therapeutic failure and fewer defects at discharge were seen (P

Surgical site infection (SSI) remains an important complication of cardiac surgery. Prevention is important, as SSI is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Incisional care is an important daily issue for surgeons. However, there is still scant scientific evidence on which guidelines can be based. A randomized clinical trial was performed to compare two options for postoperative incisional care. Patients undergoing sternotomy for cardiothoracic surgery were eligible. To protect an incision from exogenous contamination or direct inoculation by endogenous pathogens, the study group received an adhesive drape, impermeable to water and air. The control group was treated with a water- and air-permeable absorbent dressing. Primary outcome measure was SSI. Between March 2003 and January 2005, 1,185 patients were included. Both groups were comparable for base-line characteristics. No significant difference was found in the incidence of sternal SSI between groups (2.6 vs. 3.3%). In our study, an incisional-care program using a sterile, impermeable adhesive drape did not perform better than an absorbent dressing in reducing SSI after cardiothoracic surgery. In our view, future studies in the field of prevention of SSI should concentrate on other areas of interest.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery are at substantial risk of developing surgical site infections (SSI). SSI is not only associated with an increased morbidity but also with high mortality. Topical negative pressure therapy (TNP) is a promising method for treating surgical site defects (SSD). In recent years, we have gained a wide experience with TNP in a great variety of SSD. METHODS: We completed a prospective follow-up report of all patients treated with TNP after cardiothoracic surgery at the Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam, a university hospital. A review of the current evidence for TNP in cardiothoracic surgery is presented. RESULTS: Between August 2000 and March 2005, TNP was used in 105 patients in 113 SSD. As we gained more experience, we saw a decline in hospital stay ( P < 0.0001) and duration of TNP therapy. Surgical closure was performed in 62 % of patients using simple surgical (reconstructive) techniques. Therapy-related complications were rare (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Based on clinical findings and supported by the research presented, the treatment modality of choice for SSD after cardiothoracic surgery is TNP