A propensity-matched analysis of cardiac operation in patients with and without cardiac amyloidosisCentral MessagePerspective

Objective: There are limited data on the outcome of routine cardiac operations in patients with cardiac amyloidosis. This study studied the impact of amyloidosis on early and late results of cardiac operations. Methods: This was a retrospective, propensity-matched, case-control study of patients with cardiac amyloidosis undergoing cardiac surgery. Heart transplantation and ventricular assist implantation were excluded. Controls were patients without known cardiac amyloidosis matched on baseline patient characteristics, echocardiographic findings, and type of operation. Outcomes included operative complications and survival. Results: In total, 42 patients with cardiac amyloidosis (amyloid group [AG]) were matched with 168 controls (CON group). The median left ventricular ejection fraction was 63% in the AG group (vs 64% CON). Aortic valve replacement and septal myectomy were the most common operations. Cardiopulmonary bypass (P = .374) and crossclamp (P = .185) times were similar in the 2 groups. Complication rates were similar in the 2 groups, including the need for mechanical circulatory support (n = 1 AG group vs n = 1 CON; P = .361) and intra-aortic balloon pump use (n = 3 AG group vs n = 13 CON; P = 1.000). There were no operative deaths. Survival was similar in the 2 groups at 1 year (AG 93% vs 89% CON; P = .1) but was worse in the AG at 5 years (59% vs 68% CON; P = .1). Conclusions: Early procedural outcomes and 1-year survival are similar in patients with and without cardiac amyloidosis with preserved cardiac function. Diagnosis of amyloidosis should not be a contraindication to cardiac surgery.