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.
Whether the introduction of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has affected hospitals' surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and overall aortic valve replacement (AVR) case volumes and ...outcomes in the United States is unknown.
We utilized data from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) adult cardiac surgery database and the STS/American College of Cardiology (ACC) transcatheter valve therapies registry to examine SAVR and TAVR procedures. Temporal trends in total case volume (SAVR plus TAVR), and observed and risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality rates were assessed among low-risk cases (STS predicted risk of operative mortality < 4%), intermediate-risk cases (4% to 8%), and high-risk cases (> 8%). A contemporary control was provided by non-TAVR centers.
From 2008 to 2013, the total annual volume of AVR among 246 TAVR-performing hospitals increased from 19,578 to 33,004, with a 22% growth in SAVR volumes; non-TAVR hospital (n = 555) increases were more modest (16,563 to 19,134; 16% growth). Expanded volumes at TAVR hospitals included increased SAVR use in low- and intermediate-risk cases, and TAVR use in high-risk cases. In parallel, in-hospital mortality for all AVR procedures at TAVR sites declined from 3.4% to 2.9% (observed to expected O:E ratio 0.75 to 0.58, p < 0.001); the greatest declines were among intermediate- and high-risk SAVR patients. Owing to reduced SAVR mortality, TAVR centers experienced a significantly greater decline in O:E ratio for high-risk patient in-hospital mortality than non-TAVR centers (TAVR center O:E ratio, 0.81 to 0.61; non-TAVR center O:E ratio, 0.85 to 0.76; p < 0.001). After approval of TAVR for clinical use, a trend toward higher in-hospital mortality rates and O:E ratios for TAVR procedures was observed at new (but not at established) TAVR centers (O:E ratio, 0.41 to 0.67; p = 0.08).
Since the introduction of TAVR, the total volume of AVR procedures, including higher overall use of SAVR, at TAVR sites has significantly increased in the United States. Overall, in-hospital survival of patients undergoing treatment for aortic valve stenosis continues to improve.
Objectives Recent national trends in off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting have not been reported. Methods We analyzed data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac ...Surgery Database regarding isolated primary coronary artery bypass grafting operations (N = 2,137,841; 1997-2012). The off-pump percentages were calculated in aggregate, by center, and by surgeon. On the basis of the 2007/2008 yearly off-pump volume, the analysis subgroups were “high” (center n > 200, surgeon n > 100), “intermediate” (center n = 50-200, surgeon n = 20-100), and “low” (center n = 1-49, surgeon n = 1-19). Results The use of off-pump procedures peaked in 2002 (23%) and again in 2008 (21%), followed by a progressive decline in off-pump frequency to 17% by 2012. After 2008, off-pump rates declined among both high-volume and intermediate-volume centers and surgeons; little change was observed for low-volume centers or surgeons (off-pump rates = 10% since 2008). By the end of the study period, 84% of centers performed fewer than 50 off-pump cases per year, 34% of surgeons performed no off-pump operations, and 86% of surgeons performed fewer than 20 off-pump cases per year. Except for a higher (7.8%) conversion rate in 2003, the rate for conversions fluctuated approximately 6%. Conclusions Enthusiasm for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting has been tempered. The percentage of coronary artery bypass grafting operations performed off-pump has steadily declined over the last 5 years, and currently this technique is used in fewer than 1 in 5 patients who undergo surgical coronary revascularization. A minority of surgeons and centers continue to perform off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in most of their patients.
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.
...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).
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.
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.
Robotic technology is one of the most recent technological changes in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations. The current analysis was conducted to identify trends in the use and outcomes of ...robotic-assisted CABG (RA-CABG).
A retrospective analysis was performed using data from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database between 2006 and 2012. Patient and site-level characteristics were compared between traditional CABG and RA-CABG. Operative death, postoperative length of stay, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.
The number of sites using RA-CABG remained relatively constant during the study period (from 148 in 2006 to 151 in 2012). The volume of RA-CABG as a percentage of the total CABG procedures increased slightly from 0.59% (872 RA-CABG of 127,717 total CABG) in 2006 to 0.97% (1,260 RA-CABG of 97,249 total CABG) in 2012. The RA-CABG patients were significantly younger (64 vs 65 years, p < 0.0001), had fewer comorbidities, and had lower rates of cardiopulmonary bypass use (22.4% vs 80.4%, p < 0.0001). RA-CABG patients had significantly lower unadjusted major complication rates (10.2% vs 13.5%, p < 0.0001), including postoperative renal failure (2.2% vs 2.9%, p < 0.0001), and shorter length of stay (4 vs 5 days, p < 0.0001). The difference in operative death was not significant (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.30, p = 0.29).
RA-CABG use remained relatively stagnant during the analysis period despite lower rates of major perioperative complications and no difference in operative deaths. Additional analysis is needed to fully understand the role that robotic technology will play in CABG operations in the future.
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.
Small series have identified a relationship between preoperative hematocrit (HCT) and outcomes in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac ...Surgery Database (ACSD) began collecting preoperative HCT data in 2008. In this study, analyses were performed to determine the impact of preoperative HCT on perioperative morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing isolated CABG.
Data were collected on 182,599 patients who underwent primary isolated on-pump CABG between 2008 and 2009 and were included in the STS ACSD. Data were included only from centers that performed more than 100 on-pump cases per year during the period of study. Dialysis patients as well as those with previous cardiovascular operations or missing data for HCT were excluded. We then performed multivariable analysis using the 2008 STS CABG risk model as a guide, including HCT as a predictor. Logistic regression was performed for operative mortality and other adverse outcomes.
Overall operative mortality was 1.6% (3,005 of 182,599). Compared with patients with anemia (HCT <33%), patients with HCT of at least 42% had lower mortality (1.1% versus 3.4%; p < 0.0001) and lower rates of renal failure (2.0% versus 7.8%; p < 0.0001), stroke (0.9% versus 1.8%; p < 0.0001), prolonged ventilation (8.4% versus 17.5%; p < 0.0001), and deep sternal wound infection (0.3% versus 0.6%; p < 0.0001). In adjusted analyses, each 5-point decrease in preoperative HCT was associated with an 8% higher odds of death (odds ratio, 1.08; p = 0.0003), a 22% increase in the odds of postoperative renal failure (odds ratio, 1.22; p < 0.0001), and a 10% increase in the risk of deep sternal wound infection (odds ratio, 1.10; p < 0.01). Similar results were observed among patients (n = 74,292) undergoing elective CABG. The percentage of patients receiving perioperative blood transfusion decreased from 88.5% in the anemic group (HCT <33%) to 32.5% in patients with HCT of at least 42% (p < 0.0001).
Preoperative HCT is a powerful independent predictor of perioperative mortality as well as renal failure and deep sternal wound infection in patients undergoing isolated primary CABG operations. These findings should prompt investigation of strategies to increase preoperative HCT.
Mitral valve repair is acknowledged as desirable and superior to replacement for virtually all mitral pathology. Utilizing The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database ...(ACSD), a multivariable model was created that included patient clinical characteristics and surgeon-specific mitral volume to predict the likelihood of mitral valve repair.
Between January 2005 and December 2007, 28,507 patients undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery (with or without tricuspid valve surgery, with or without atrial fibrillation surgery) by 1,088 surgeons at 639 hospitals in the STS ACSD were identified. Patient characteristics independently associated with mitral valve repair were identified using a generalized estimating equations logistic regression model. Observed mitral valve repair rates were plotted against surgeon-specific annual mitral volume, and predicted probabilities of mitral repair by surgeon volume were calculated after adjusting for patient baseline covariates.
On average, patients undergoing mitral valve surgery were 62 years old, with 51% female and 82% Caucasian. Among surgeons performing mitral procedures, the mean rate of mitral valve repair was 41% (range, 0% to 100%) and the median number of mitral valve operations per year was 5 (range, 1 to 166). Several patient characteristics were independently associated with a decreased odds of mitral repair (versus replacement), including mitral stenosis (odds ratio 0.09; 95% confidence interval: 0.08 to 0.11) and active endocarditis (odds ratio 0.21; 95% confidence interval: 0.17 to 0.25). While substantial variability in repair rates was observed among low-volume surgeons, increased surgeon-level mitral volume was independently associated with an increased probability of mitral repair.
This analysis demonstrates marked variability in the frequency of mitral valve repair, and the influence of both patient- and surgeon-level factors on the likelihood of mitral valve repair. Increasing surgeon-specific annual mitral valve volume is associated with a higher probability of mitral repair. Identification of these predictors of mitral valve repair creates substantial opportunity for quality improvement in patient outcomes in mitral valve surgery, potentially through education, adoption of best practices, and improved mitral repair enabling technology.
Objective Despite growing awareness of the clinical significance of atrial fibrillation (AF) and observational data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of surgical therapy, AF ablation is variably ...performed among patients with AF undergoing cardiac surgery. We examined the national trends of surgical ablation and perioperative outcomes for stand-alone surgical ablation of AF. Methods Using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database, 91,801 (2005-2010) surgical AF ablations were performed of which 4893 (5.3%) were stand-alone procedures. The outcomes of 854 propensity-matched pairs having “on” versus “off” cardiopulmonary bypass stand-alone ablation were compared. Results The percentage of patients with preoperative AF increased from 2005 to 2010 (from 10.0% to 12.2%). Overall, 40.6% of patients with AF underwent concomitant surgical ablation—a significant decline of 1.6% from 2005 to 2010. The number of stand-alone surgical ablations increased significantly from 552 to 1041 cases (2005-2010). Overall, the stand-alone group had a mean age of 60 years, 71% were men, and 80% were treated “off” cardiopulmonary bypass. The “on” cardiopulmonary bypass group had significantly more pulmonary disease, diabetes, and congestive heart failure. Overall, the operative mortality and stroke rate was 0.7% for each. After propensity matching, the “off” cardiopulmonary bypass group underwent significantly fewer reoperations for bleeding and had a lower incidence of prolonged ventilation and shorter hospitalization. New pacemaker implantation was low, without group differences. Conclusions The prevalence of AF in patients undergoing cardiac surgery has increased, as has the number of stand-alone surgical ablations. The treatment of concomitant disease declined slightly. Isolated surgical ablation is safe, performed “on” or “off” cardiopulmonary bypass. These results support consideration of surgical AF ablation as an alternative to percutaneous ablation for patients with lone AF.
Objectives Hospital procedure volume has been strongly associated with postoperative mortality for a number of complex cardiovascular procedures. Although not yet described, a similar relationship ...might be expected for surgical procedures involving the aortic root and/or ascending aorta. The present study sought to evaluate the relationship between the volume of aortic root replacement procedures and the operative results for centers in North America. Methods Patient-level data for 13,358 elective aortic root and aortic valve-ascending aortic procedures performed from 2004 through 2007 were obtained from 741 North American hospitals participating in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. Marginal logistic regression modeling was used for risk adjustment. The hospital procedure volume was the primary predictor variable. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, and operative characteristics were included as the predictor variables for risk adjustment. The primary outcome measures included unadjusted operative mortality and adjusted odds ratio for mortality. Results The preoperative patient risk profiles were similar at all center volume levels, and the overall unadjusted operative mortality was 4.5%. The unadjusted operative mortality increased with decreasing case volume, from 3.4% in the highest volume centers to 5.8% in the lowest volume centers. Whether hospital volume was assessed as a categorical or continuous variable, its relationship with the adjusted odds ratio for mortality was nonlinear. A negative association was seen between the hospital procedural volume and adjusted odds ratio for mortality ( P < .001) that was most pronounced among hospitals performing fewer than 30 to 40 procedures annually. Conclusions Patients undergoing elective aortic root or combined aortic valve-ascending aortic surgery at North American hospitals that performed fewer than 30 to 40 of such procedures annually have greater risk-adjusted mortality than those undergoing surgery in higher volume hospitals. Causative factors for this inverse association between hospital volume and mortality deserve additional analysis.
PDF
