RBCCV Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular

OBJECTIVE: To report the incidence of mediastinitis in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. METHODS: The records of all 1038 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgical procedures between May/2007 and June/2009 were reviewed. All operations were performed in Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE. RESULTS: The complication occurred within, on average, 13 days after operation, in total of 25 (2.4%), eight (32%) deaths occurred. Several risk factors mediastinitis were identified: 56% diabetes, 56% smokers, 20% obeses, 16% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 8% of chronic renal failure. Mediastinitis were reported in 21 (84%) cases of patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting, being associated to major risk of infection development (IC 3.448.30, P=0.0001). High rates of complications were observed: respiratory insufficiency (44%), stroke (16%), cardiogenic shock (12%), acute renal failure (28%), pulmonary infection (36%), multiple organs failure (16%) and esternal deiscence (48%). Bacterial cultures of exudates were positive in 84% of patients; Staphylococcus aureus was the most responsible pathogen (28.8%). CONCLUSION: Mediastinitis stays a serious surgical complication and difficult management in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. The disease stays with low incidence, but still with high lethality. Coronary bypass was associated to major risk of infection development

Keywords: Infection. Mediastinitis. Cardiac surgical procedures.

BACKGROUND: It has been well documented that women have higher morbidity and mortality rates than men following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In view of this evidence, it is necessary to know if there is benefit to off-pump CABG surgery in women in comparison to on-pump CABG. OBJECTIVES: Compare outcomes between off-pump CABG and on-pump CABG in women. METHODS: Retrospective study. Our investigation analyzes comparatively clinical profile, thirteen procedure complications and mortality of a population of 941 consecutive women undergoing CABG surgery (549 off-pump and 392 on-pump) at two hospitals for the period January 2000 to December 2005. RESULTS: Mortality rate for women undergoing off-pump CABG surgery is lower than for women undergoing on-pump surgery, however, not statistically significant (3.1% vs 5.3%; P=0.134). The complication rates analyzed (hemorrhagic shock, neurologic, respiratory, acute renal failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, septicemia, pneumonia, atrial fibrillation) were lower (significant statistically difference) for women off-pump than women on-pump, with the exception of low cardiac output and wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that off-pump CABG surgery may be better for women than on-pump CABG surgery because it appears to reduce morbimortality rates. Ten of 13 complications investigated demonstrated an advantage for women undergoing off-pump surgery relative to those receiving on-pump surgery.

Keywords: Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump. Women. Surgery.

Objectives: To study clinical features, complications and in-hospital outcomes of patients operated for postinfarction ventricular septal rupture. Methods: A retrospective study involving 21 patients between January/1996 and June/2009. All operations were performed at the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Complexo Hospitalar HUOC/PROCAPE. Results: Mean age of patients was 62.81 years (±8.21), 61.9% (n=13) were male. Rupture occurred on average 4.8 days after infarction. Cardiogenic shock was observed in 57.1% (n=12), being risk factor for death (100% with shock vs. 22.2% without shock; P<0.001). Survivors had a higher mean ejection fraction compared to deaths (66.29%±4.61% versus 42.71%±4.79%, P <0.001). All were classified as high risk by the EuroSCORE, and the survivors had lower average score compared to deaths (6.57±0.53 versus 10.93±2.23; P<0.001). The majority (76.2%, n=16) of the patients needed to use vasoactive drugs and 57.1% (n=12) considered hemodynamically unstable. Need for vasoactive drugs was a risk factor for death (81.3% with vasoactive drugs versus 20% without vasoactive drugs, P=0.025). Hemodynamic instability was also a risk factor for death (100% in the unstable group versus 22.2% in the stable group; P<0.001). The rate of in-hospital mortality was 66.7% (n=14). Conclusions: The need for vasoactive drugs, hemodynamic instability and cardiogenic shock were associated with higher rates of mortality. Patients who had adverse outcomes had less ventricular function and higher score in the EuroSCORE. Mortality remains high.

Keywords: Heart septal defects, ventricular. Heart rupture, post-infarction. Myocardial infarction.

Objectives: Mediastinitis is a serious complication of median sternotomy and is associated to significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for mediastinitis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), without the use of bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA), at the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE. Methods: A retrospective study of 500 consecutive patients operated on between May 2007 and April 2010. Ten preoperative variables, seven intraoperative variables and seven postoperative variables possibly involved in the development of postoperative mediastinitis were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The incidence of mediastinitis was 5.6% (n=28), with a lethality rate of 32.1% (n=9). In multivariate analysis using logistic regression, five variables remained as independent risk factors: obesity (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.11 to 6.68), diabetes (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.18 to 6.65), smoking (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.67), use of pedicled internal thoracic artery (OR 5.17, 95% CI 1.45 to 18.42) and on-pump CABG (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.14 to 5.85). Conclusions: This study identified the following independent risk factors for mediastinitis after CABG: obesity, diabetes, smoking, use of pedicled ITA and on-pump CABG.

Keywords: Risk Factors. Mediastinitis. Myocardial Revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinitis is a serious complication of median sternotomy and is associated to significant morbidity and mortality. Diabetes is a feared risk factor for mediastinitis and viewed with caution by cardiovascular surgeons.
OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for mediastinitis in diabetics undergoing CABG surgery with use of unilateral ITA in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE.
METHODS: Retrospective study of 157 diabetics operated between May 2007 and April 2010. Nine preoperative variables, five intraoperative variables and seven postoperative variables possibly involved in the development of postoperative mediastinitis were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied.
RESULTS: The incidence of mediastinitis was 7% (n=11), with a lethality rate of 36.1% (n=4). Variables associated with increased risk of mediastinitis were: use of pedicled ITA (OR 8.25, 95% CI 2.03 to 66.10, P=0.016), postoperative renal complications (OR 5.10, 95% CI 1.03 to 25.62, P=0.049) and re-operation (OR 7.45, 95% CI 1.24 to 42.17, P=0.023). In multivariate analysis using backward logistic regression, only one variable remained as independent risk factor: use of pedicled ITA (OR 7.64, 95% CI 1.95 to 61.6, P=0.048), in comparison to skeletonized ITA.
CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that diabetics should be considered for strategies to minimize risk of infection. In diabetics that undergo unilateral ITA, the problem seems to be related to how ITA is harvested. Diabetics should always be considered for use of skeletonized ITA.

Keywords: Mediastinitis. Myocardial revascularization. Diabetes mellitus. Mammary arteries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of a new score for predicting mediastinitis - MagedanzSCORE - in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE.
METHODS: Retrospective study involving 500 patients operated between May/2007 and April/2010. The registers contained all the information used to calculate the MagedanzSCORE. The outcome of interest was mediastinitis. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, concordance and accuracy. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve.
RESULTS: The incidence of mediastinitis was 5.6%, with a lethality rate of 32.1%. In univariate analysis, the five variables of the MagedanzSCORE were predictors of postoperative mediastinitis: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 6.42; 95.0% CI 2.76-14.96; P<0.001), obesity (OR 3.06; 95.0% CI 1.32-7.09; P=0.009), surgical reintervention (OR 82.40; 95.0% CI 30.40-223.30; P<0.001), multiple transfusion (OR 3.33; 95.0% CI 1.52-7.29; P=0.003) and stable angina class IV or unstable (OR 2.59; 95.0% CI 1.19-7.64; P=0.016) according to Canadian Cardiovascular Society. The score had a sensitivity of 96.4%, specificity of 90.0%, positive predictive value of 36.5%, negative predictive value of 99.8% and 90.4% concordance. The accuracy measured by the area under the ROC curve was 96.2% (95.0% CI 94.5%-97.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: The MagedanzSCORE proved to be a simple and objective index, revealing a satisfactory predictor of development of postoperative mediastinitis in patients undergoing CABG surgery at our institution

Keywords: Risk factors. Mediastinitis. Coronary artery bypass. Myocardial revascularization.