Svetozar Nicin

Trends of risk factors in coronary surgery

INTRODUCTION In current era of widespread use of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), it is debatable whether coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) patients are at higher risk. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate trends in risk profile of isolated CABG patients. METHODS By analysing the EuroSCORE and its risk factors, we reviewed a consecutive group of 4675 isolated CABG patients, operated on during the last 8 years (2001-2008) at our Clinic. The number of PCI patients was compared to the number of CABG patients. For statistical analyses, Pearsons chi-square and ANOVA tests were used. RESULTS The number of PCI increased from 159 to 1595 (p < 0.001), and the number of CABG from 557 to 656 (p < 0.001). The mean EuroSCORE increased from 2.74 to 2.92 (p = 0.06). The frequency of the following risk factors did not change over years: female gender, previous cardiac surgery, serum creatinine > 200 micromol/l, left ventricular dysfunction and postinfarct ventricular septal rupture. Chronic pulmonary disease, neurological dysfunction, and unstable pectoral angina declined significantly (p < 0.001). Critical preoperative care declined from 3.1% in 2001 to 0.5% in 2005, than increased and during the last 3 years did not change (2.3%). The mean age increased from 56.8 to 60.7 (p < 0.001) and extracardiac arteriopathy increased from 9.2% to 22.9% (p < 0.001). Recent preoperative myocardial infarction increased from 11% to 15.1% (p = 0.021), while emergency operations increased from 0.9% to 4.0% (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION The number of CABG increases despite the enlargement of PCI. The risk for isolated CABG given by EuroSCORE increases over years. The risk factors, significantly contributing to higher EuroSCORE are: older age, extracardiac arteriopathy, recent myocardial infarction and emergency operation.

Evaluation of results in coronary surgery using EuroSCORE

INTRODUCTION The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) was developed in order to predict operative risk in cardiac surgery and to assess the quality of the cardio-surgical care. Introduction of the uniform terminology in result evaluation process leads to the significant improvement in measuring and evaluation of surgical treatment quality. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate our results in isolated coronary surgery using the EuroSCORE. METHODS The study was done respectively by analysing predicted mortality according to the EuroSCORE model and observed operative risk in 4,675 coronary patients operated at our Clinic during the period 2001-2008. For statistical analyses, the Pearson, Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used. RESULTS The total postoperative mortality predicted by the EuroSCORE was 2.9 +/- 2.25, while the observed one was 2.2%. When the scoring system and observed results were compared over the years, a considerably lower observed mortality was found during the last 4 years. Overall average number of distal anastomoses was 2.62 +/- 0.84. During the period 2004-2008, the average number of coronary anastomoses increased over the years reaching the value of 2.77 +/- 0.88. The difference is at the level of statistical significance with the trend of further increase. Percentage of the patients with single or double graft myocardial revascularization decreases, while the number of the patients with triple or more bypasses increases. CONCLUSION During the last years, the results in isolated coronary surgery have considerably improved. The EuroSCORE overestimates operative risk. In order to improve its predictive value, the model should be recalibrated.

CABG Mortality is Not Influenced by Prior PCI in Low Risk Patients

An increasing number of patients referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have had prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to determine whether a relationship exists between increased postoperative mortality and morbidity following CABG procedure in patients with prior PCI.

Changes in Left Ventricular Morphology and Function in End‐Stage Dilated Cardiomyopathy After Reductive Annuloplasty of Double Mitral and Tricuspid Orifices

Abstract Background and aim: The aim of this study is to show the changes in left ventricular morphology and function after reductive annuloplasty of double mitral and tricuspid orifices (RADO) in ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and primary dilated cardiomyopathy (PDCM) analyzed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Methods: There were 274 patients, mean age 50.1 years, 188 operated due to IDCM with ejection fraction under 30%, and 86 patients due to PDCM. Mitral annuloplasty according to A. Carpentier and our own procedure was done in 49 and 225 patients, respectively. In 265 cases (97%) our modified De Vegas tricuspid annuloplasty was performed. Results: Conclusion: RADO significantly changes left ventricular morphology, reverses remodeling of the heart, decreases sphericity of the left heart, improves hemodynamic function of both ventricles, and slows down progression of cardiac failure. We recommend RADO in the early stage of PDCM, immediately after the first decompensation, and as an important associated procedure in IDCM.

Necessity for introducing the procedure of percutaneous aortic valve implantation in the province of Vojvodina.

INTRODUCTION Percutaneous aortic valve implantation is an alternative that offers hope to patients who are too old or sick to undergo the conventional surgical aortic valve replacement. The aim of this study was to determine the number of high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, hospitalized at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, who are the candidates for percutaneous aortic valve implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS The paper prospectively analyzed all patients diagnosed to have severe aortic stenosis who had been hospitalized at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases from April 1st, 2011 to October 31st, 2012. Each of these patients was analyzed in relation to the inclusive criteria for percutaneous aortic valve implantation. We analyzed the distribution of these risk factors in relation to age and gender, and the presence of aortic valve replacement surgery by age groups. RESULTS In the period from April 1st, 2011 to October 31st, 2012, 374 patients diagnosed to have severe aortic stenosis were hospitalized at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases. The group of patients older than 80 years had a higher percentage of those patients with low ejection fraction of the heart, chronic pulmonary hypertension and mitral regurgitation. On the other hand, when the total number of surgical aortic valve replacement was taken into consideration with respect to age, there was a significant decrease in their number in the group of patients older than 75 years (41.6%), especially in the age group over 80 years (90.2%). CONCLUSION The data obtained in this study indicate a high percentage of conservatively treated patients with severe aortic stenosis and high operative risk in patients over 75 years. These data confirm the necessity for the implementation of percutaneous aortic valve replacement in the Province of Vojvodina.