Atrial fibrillation incidence after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention: the prospective AFAF cohort study.

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia in patients with ischemic heart disease. This study aimed to determine the cumulative incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation after percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting surgery during 30 days of follow-up. This was a prospective multi-center cohort study on atrial fibrillation incidence following percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting for stable angina or non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A for the Prevention of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Epicardial injection of botulinum toxin may suppress POAF.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the safety and efficacy of AGN-151607 for the prevention of POAF after cardiac surgery.

Validation of a handheld single-lead ECG algorithm for atrial fibrillation detection after coronary revascularization.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a rapidly increasing global public health concern entailing a high risk for ischemic stroke that can largely be avoided with anticoagulation therapy. AF is often underdiagnosed and there is a need for a reliable method of detection in individuals with additional risk factors for stroke such as coronary artery disease. We aimed to validate an automatic rhythm interpretation algorithm in thumb ECG in subjects with recent coronary revascularization.

Long-term antithrombotic therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation. A nationwide observational study from the SWEDEHEART registry.

Aims: To provide data guiding long-term antithrombotic therapy after coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG) in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: From the SWEDEHEART registry, we included all patients, between January 2006 and September 2016, with preoperative AF and CHADS-VASC score ≥2, undergoing CABG. Based on dispensed prescriptions 12 to 18 months after CABG, patients were divided in 3 groups: use of platelet inhibitors (PI) only, oral anticoagulant (OAC) only or a combination of OAC + PI.

Impact of national holidays and weekends on incidence of acute type A aortic dissection repair.

Previous studies have demonstrated that environmental and temporal factors may affect the incidence of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Here, we aimed to investigate the hypothesis that national holidays and weekends influence the incidence of surgery for ATAAD. For the period 1st of January 2005 until 31st of December 2019, we investigated a hypothesised effect of (country-specific) national holidays and weekends on the frequency of 2995 surgical repairs for ATAAD at 10 Nordic cities included in the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) collaboration.

Type A Aortic Dissection Repair in Patients With Prior Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in patients with previous cardiac surgery is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between previous cardiac surgery and outcomes after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection, to appreciate whether emergency surgery can be offered with acceptable risks.

Methods: All patients operated on for acute type A aortic dissection between 2005 and 2014 from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection database were eligible.

Stroke Risk Stratification in Patients With Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background The CHADS-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, previous stroke or TIA [transient ischemic attack], vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, sex category female; 2 indicates 2 points, otherwise 1 point) scoring system is recommended to guide decisions on oral anticoagulation therapy for stroke prevention in patients with nonsurgery atrial fibrillation. A score ≥1 in men and ≥2 in women, corresponding to an annual stroke risk exceeding 1%, warrants long-term oral anticoagulation provided the bleeding risk is acceptable. However, in patients with new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation, the optimal risk stratification method is unknown.

Clinical Course of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery and Long-term Outcome.

Background: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is associated with worse short- and long-term outcomes. Although the clinical presentation of POAF varies substantially, almost all studies model it with a dichotomous yes or no variable. We explored potential associations between the clinical course of POAF and long-term outcome.

Once after a full moon: acute type A aortic dissection and lunar phases.

Objectives: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a rare but severe condition, routinely treated with emergent cardiac surgery. Many surgeons have the notion that patients with ATAAD tend to come in clusters, but no studies have examined these observations. This investigation was undertaken to study the potential association between the lunar cycle and the incidence of ATAAD.

Outcome After Surgery for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection With or Without Primary Tear Resection.

Background: The outcome in patients after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection without replacement of the part of the aorta containing the primary tear is undefined.

Methods: Data of 1122 patients who underwent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in 8 Nordic centers from January 2005 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with primary tear location unfound, unknown, not confirmed, or not recorded (n = 243, 21.

Validation of two self-reported physical activity instruments against accelerometer data in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery.

Introduction: Finding ways of identifying patients with low levels of physical activity after lung cancer surgery would be beneficial when planning and providing interventions aimed at increasing physical activity.

Purpose: To validate two self-reported physical activity instruments against accelerometer data.

Methods: Self-reported physical activity was assessed with the four category One Month Physical Activity Question (OMPAQ) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire modified for the elderly (IPAQ-E).

Design and Rationale of a Phase 2 Study of NeurOtoxin (Botulinum Toxin Type A) for the PreVention of Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation - The NOVA Study.

Background: Post-operative AF (POAF) is the most common complication following cardiac surgery, occurring in 30% to 60% of patients undergoing bypass and/or valve surgery. POAF is associated with longer intensive care unit/hospital stays, increased healthcare utilization, and increased morbidity and mortality. Injection of botulinum toxin type A into the epicardial fat pads resulted in reduction of AF in animal models, and in two clinical studies of cardiac surgery patients, without new safety observations.

The contribution of intermittent handheld electrocardiogram and continuous electrocardiogram monitoring with an implantable loop recorder to detect incident and recurrent atrial fibrillation during 1 year after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and recurrence rate of AF during 1 year after CABG surgery. We also aimed at calculating the AF burden and compare long-term intermittent vs continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring.

New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Long-Term Outcome: A Population-Based Nationwide Study From the SWEDEHEART Registry.

Background The long-term impact of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after coronary artery bypass grafting and the benefit of early-initiated oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with POAF are uncertain. Methods and Results All patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting without preoperative atrial fibrillation in Sweden from 2007 to 2015 were included in a population-based study using data from 4 national registries: SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies), National Patient Registry, Dispensed Drug Registry, and Cause of Death Registry. POAF was defined as any new-onset atrial fibrillation during the first 30 postoperative days.

Acute Kidney Injury After Acute Repair of Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) using the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection registry.

Methods: Patients who underwent ATAAD surgery at 8 Nordic centers from 2005 to 2014 were analyzed for AKI according to the RIFLE criteria. Patients who died intraoperatively, those who had missing baseline or postoperative serum creatinine, and patients on preoperative renal replacement therapy were excluded.

Stroke in acute type A aortic dissection: the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD).

Objectives: Stroke is a serious complication in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Previous studies investigating stroke in ATAAD patients have been limited by small cohorts and have shown diverging results. We sought to identify risk factors for stroke and to evaluate the effect of stroke on outcomes in surgical ATAAD patients.

Comparison of warfarin versus antiplatelet therapy after surgical bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: To compare effectiveness of warfarin and antiplatelet exposure regarding both thrombotic and bleeding events, following surgical aortic valve replacement with a biological prosthesis(bioSAVR).

Methods: The study included all patients in Sweden undergoing a bioSAVR during 2008-2014 who were alive at discharge from the index hospital stay. Exposure was analysed and defined as postdischarge dispension of any antithrombotic pharmaceutical, updated at each following dispensions and categorised as single antiplatelet (SAPT), warfarin, warfarin combined with SAPT, dual antiplatelet (DAPT) or no antithrombotic treatment.

Acute type A aortic dissection - a review.

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is still one of the most challenging diseases that cardiac surgeons encounter. This review is based on the current literature and includes the results from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type-A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) database. It covers different aspects of ATAAD and concentrates on the outcome of surgical repair.

In-Hospital Physiotherapy and Physical Recovery 3 Months After Lung Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

. Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. Surgery is the primary approach for curative treatment.

Outcome after type A aortic dissection repair in patients with preoperative cardiac arrest.

Aim Of The Study: Patients presenting with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) and cardiac arrest before surgery are considered to have very poor prognosis, but limited data is available. We used a large database to evaluate the outcome of ATAAD patients with a cardiac arrest before surgery.

Methods: We evaluated 1154 surgically treated ATAAD patients from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) database between 2005 and 2014.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is associated with a low rate of complications.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is generally performed through a right minithoracotomy, in contrast to the traditional full median sternotomy approach. Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is performed with increasing frequency, and by reducing surgical trauma, several observational studies suggest potential benefits with decreased bleeding and postoperative pain, reduced incidence of sternal wound infections, reduced length of hospital stay and shortened recovery period after surgery. In this review, we present an overview of mitral valve surgery, summarize the available evidence regarding the minimally invasive approach and report our experiences from introducing a minimally invasive mitral valve surgery programme at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

Effects of Sex on Early Outcome following Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: Results from The Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD).

Background:  Female sex is known to have increased perioperative mortality in cardiac surgery. Studies reporting effects of sex on outcome following surgical repair for acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) have been limited by small cohorts of heterogeneous patient populations and have shown diverging results. This study aimed to compare perioperative characteristics, operative management, and postoperative outcome between sexes in a large and well-defined cohort of patients operated for ATAAD.