Objective More than 200,000 aortic valve replacements are performed annually worldwide. We describe changes in the aortic valve replacement population during 10 years in a large registry and analyze ...outcomes. Methods The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database was queried for all isolated aortic valve replacements between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2006. After exclusion for endocarditis and missing age or sex data, 108,687 isolated aortic valve replacements were analyzed. Time-related trends were assessed by comparing distributions of risk factors, valve types, and outcomes in 1997 versus 2006. Differences in case mix were summarized by comparing average predicted mortality risks with a logistic regression model. Differences across subgroups and time were assessed. Results There was a dramatic shift toward use of bioprosthetic valves. Aortic valve replacement recipients in 2006 were older (mean age 65.9 vs 67.9 years, P < .001) with higher predicted operative mortality risk (2.75 vs 3.25, P < .001); however, observed mortality and permanent stroke rate fell (by 24% and 27%, respectively). Female sex, age older than 70 years, and ejection fraction less than 30% were all related to higher mortality, higher stroke rate and longer postoperative stay. There was a 39% reduction in mortality with preoperative renal failure. Conclusions Morbidity and mortality of isolated aortic valve replacement have fallen, despite gradual increases in patient age and overall risk profile. There has been a shift toward bioprostheses. Women, patients older than 70 years, and patients with ejection fraction less than 30% have worse outcomes for mortality, stroke, and postoperative stay.
Background The purpose of this study is to examine trends in mitral valve (MV) repair and replacement surgery using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (STS ACSD). Methods ...The study population included isolated mitral valve operations performed between January 2000 and December 2007 at 910 hospitals participating in the STS ACSD. Patients with endocarditis, prior cardiac operation, shock, emergency operation, and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft or aortic valve surgery were excluded. Results During the 8-year study period, 58,370 patients underwent isolated primary MV operations. For patients with isolated mitral regurgitation (n = 47,126), the rate of MV repair (versus replacement) increased from 51% to 69% ( p < 0.0001). Among patients having replacement (n = 24,404), there has been a pronounced decline in the use of mechanical valves: 68% to 37% ( p < 0.0001). The operative mortality for MV replacement was consistently higher than that for repair (3.8% versus 1.4%), a finding that persisted after risk-adjustment (adjusted odds ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.45 to 0.59; p < 0.0001). Among patients having elective isolated MV repair (n = 28,140), the operative mortality was 1.2%. For asymptomatic (class I) patients, operative mortality was 0.6%. Conclusions This study documents several important trends in MV surgery, including the progressive adoption of mitral valve repair and increasing use of bioprosthetic replacement valves. Operative risks of MV repair are significantly lower than those for MV replacement. Operative mortality for isolated elective mitral valve repair is 1% in contemporary clinical practice.
Bioprostheses are prone to structural valve degeneration, resulting in limited long-term durability. A significant challenge when comparing the durability of different types of bioprostheses is the ...lack of a standardized terminology for the definition of a degenerated valve. This issue becomes especially important when we try to compare the degeneration rate of surgically inserted and transcatheter bioprosthetic valves. This document, by the VIVID (Valve-in-Valve International Data), proposes practical and standardized definitions of valve degeneration and provides recommendations for the timing of clinical and imaging follow-up assessments accordingly. Its goal is to improve the quality of research and clinical care for patients with deteriorated bioprostheses by providing objective and strict criteria that can be utilized in future clinical trials. We hope that the adoption of these criteria by both the cardiological and surgical communities will lead to improved comparability and interpretation of durability analyses.
Objective Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the operation most commonly performed by cardiac surgeons. There are few contemporary data examining evolving patient characteristics and surgical ...outcomes of isolated CABG. We used the Society of Thoracic Surgeons adult cardiac surgery database to characterize trends in patient characteristics and outcomes after CABG over the past decade. Methods From 2000 to 2009, 1,497,254 patients underwent isolated primary CABG at Society of Thoracic Surgeons participating institutions. Demographics, operative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were assessed, and risk-adjusted outcomes were calculated. Results Compared with the year 2000, patients undergoing isolated primary CABG in 2009 were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (33% vs 40%) and hypertension (71% vs 85%). There were clinically insignificant differences in age, gender, and body surface area. Between 2000 and 2009, there has been a 6.3% and 19.5% increase in the preoperative use of aspirin and beta-blockers, respectively. Between 2004 and 2009, there was a 7.8% increase in the use of angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitors preoperatively. Furthermore, between 2005 and 2009 there was a 3.8% increase in the use of statins preoperatively. The median number of distal anastomoses performed was unchanged between 2000 and 2009 (3; interquartile range, 2–4). There was a significant increase in the use of the internal thoracic artery (88% in 2000 vs 95% in 2009). The predicted mortality rates of 2.3% were consistent between 2000 and 2009. The observed mortality rate over this period declined from 2.4% in 2000 to 1.9% in 2009 representing a relative risk reduction of 24.4%. The incidence of postoperative stroke decreased significantly from 1.6% to 1.2%, representing a risk reduction of 26.4%. There was also a 9.2% relative reduction in the risk of reoperation for bleeding and a 32.9% relative risk reduction in the incidence of sternal wound infection. Conclusions Over the past decade, the risk profile of patients undergoing CABG has changed, with fewer smokers, more diabetic patients, and better medical therapy characterizing patients referred for surgical coronary revascularization. The left internal thoracic artery is nearly universally used and outcomes have improved substantially, with a significant decline in postoperative mortality and morbidity.
Background The introduction of transcatheter aortic valve replacement mandates attention to outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low-risk, intermediate-risk, and very high-risk ...patients. Methods The study population included 141,905 patients who underwent isolated primary SAVR from 2002 to 2010. Patients were risk-stratified by Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) predicted risk of mortality (PROM) <4% (group 1, n = 113,377), 4% to 8% (group 2, n = 19,769), and >8% (group 3, n = 8,759). The majority of patients were considered at low risk (80%), and only 6.2% were categorized as being at high risk. Outcomes were analyzed based on two time periods: 2002 to 2006 (n = 63,754) and 2007 to 2010 (n = 78,151). Results The mean age was 65 years in group 1, 77 in group 2, and 77 in group 3 ( p < 0.0001). The median STS PROM for the entire population was 1.84: 1.46% in group 1, 5.24% in group 2, and 11.2% in group 3 ( p < 0.0001). Compared with PROM, in-hospital mean mortality was lower than expected in all patients (2.5% vs 2.95%) and when analyzed within risk groups was as follows: group 1 (1.4% vs 1.7%), group 2 (5.1% vs 5.5%), and group 3 (11.8% vs 13.7%) ( p < 0.0001). In the most recent surgical era, operative mortality was significantly reduced in group 2 (5.4% vs 6.4%, p = 0.002) and group 3 (11.9% vs 14.4%, p = 0.0004) but not in group 1. Conclusions Nearly 80% of patients undergoing SAVR have outcomes that are superior to those by the predicted risk models. In the most recent era, early results have further improved in medium-risk and high-risk patients. This large real-world assessment serves as a benchmark for patients with aortic valve stenosis as therapeutic options are further evaluated.
Among patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation who were assigned to mitral-valve repair or replacement, there were no significant between-group differences in left ventricular remodeling or ...mortality at 2 years. Mitral regurgitation recurred more frequently in the repair group.
Ischemic mitral regurgitation is a serious consequence of coronary artery disease that carries a substantial risk of death from cardiovascular causes in proportion to its severity.
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Ischemic mitral regurgitation is anatomically characterized by remodeling or distortion of left ventricular geometry that ultimately results in papillary-muscle displacement, leaflet tethering, and impaired coaptation. For the subgroup of patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation, the prognosis is grave, with rates of death ranging from 15 to 40% at 1 year.
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For patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation, the benefit of surgical revascularization is undisputed, provided that the patient has suitable coronary . . .
Data from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database were analyzed to identify trends in patient characteristics and outcomes of mitral valve operations in North America.
All ...patients with isolated primary mitral valve operations with or without tricuspid valve repair, surgical atrial fibrillation ablation, or atrial septal defect closure performed July 2011 to September 2016 were identified. A subgroup analysis assessed patients with degenerative leaflet prolapse (DLP).
Isolated primary mitral valve operations were performed on 87,214 patients at 1,125 centers, increasing by 24% between 2011 (n = 14,442) and 2016 (n = 17,907). The most common etiology was DLP (60.7%); 4.3% had functional mitral regurgitation. Preoperatively, 47.3% of patients had an ejection fraction less than 60% and 34.2% had atrial fibrillation. Overall mitral valve repair rate was 65.6%, declining from 67.1% (2011) to 63.2% (2016; p < 0.0001). Repair rates were related to etiology (DLP, 82.5%; rheumatic, 17.5%). Of the 29,970 mitral valve replacements, 16.2% were preceded by an attempted repair. Repair techniques included prosthetic annuloplasty (94.3%), leaflet resection (46.5%), and artificial cord implantation (22.7%). Bioprosthetic valves were implanted with increasing frequency (2011, 65.4%; 2016, 75.8%; p < 0.0001). Less-invasive operations were performed in 23.0% and concomitant tricuspid valve repair in 15.7%. Unadjusted operative mortality was 3.7% (replacements) and 1.1% (repairs).
Patients undergoing primary isolated mitral valve operations commonly have ventricular dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Although contemporary outcomes are excellent, earlier guideline-directed referral and increased frequency and quality of repair may further improve results of mitral valve operations.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically reduced adult cardiac surgery case volumes as institutions and surgeons curtail nonurgent operations. There will be a progressive ...increase in deferred cases during the pandemic that will require completion within a limited time frame once restrictions ease. We investigated the impact of various levels of increased postpandemic hospital operating capacity on the time to clear the backlog of deferred cases.
We collected data from 4 cardiac surgery programs across 2 health systems. We recorded case rates at baseline and during the COVID-19 pandemic and created a mathematical model to quantify the cumulative surgical backlog based on the projected pandemic duration. We then used the model to predict the time required to clear the backlog depending on the level of increased operating capacity.
Cardiac surgery volumes fell to 54% of baseline after restrictions were implemented. Assuming a service restoration date of either June 1 or July 1, we calculated the need to perform 216% or 263% of monthly baseline volume, respectively, to clear the backlog in 1 month. The actual duration required to clear the backlog highly depends on hospital capacity in the post-COVID period, and ranges from 1 to 8 months, depending on when services are restored and the degree of increased capacity.
Cardiac surgical operating capacity during the COVID-19 recovery period will have a dramatic impact on the time to clear the deferred cases backlog. Inadequate operating capacity may cause substantial delays and increase morbidity and mortality. If only prepandemic capacity is available, the backlog will never clear.
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