Lower Levels of Vitamin D Are Associated with Higher Vasoactive-Inotropic Scores in Major Cardiac Surgery.

Background: The vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) predicts unfavorable outcomes after cardiac surgery in both children and adults. In our adult population, we investigated whether preoperative levels of vitamin D can predict the VIS and whether both vitamin D and the VIS can predict adverse outcomes following major heart surgery.

Methods: Between 1 October 2021 and 28 February 2022, 300 patients underwent major cardiac surgery at our institution.

The Value of Biomarkers in Major Cardiovascular Surgery Necessitating Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

The use of biomarkers in cardiovascular surgery is an evolving field with promising potential; however, current research remains largely limited, requiring further validation for routine clinical application. This review explores the application of biomarkers in cardiovascular surgery, focusing on heart failure, cardiac ischemia, and organ dysfunction, including renal, cerebral, pulmonary, and splanchnic impairments. Additionally, it examines the significance of biomarkers in assessing the inflammatory state and oxidative stress during the perioperative period, particularly in the context of major surgical trauma and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Perioperative Modulation of Left Ventricular Systolic Performance: A Retrospective Study on Ionized Calcium and Vitamin D in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

: The perioperative impact of calcium and vitamin D on left ventricular (LV) performance during major cardiac surgery remains unexplored. We aimed to assess the relation of calcium and vitamin D measured at different time points with the LV ejection fraction (EF), and to investigate whether changes in EF correlate with postoperative outcomes. : We enrolled 83 patients, in whom ionized calcium was measured before, during, and after surgery (until discharge), vitamin D preoperatively, and EF pre- and postoperatively at 24 h.

The Influence of the Learning Curve on Clinical Outcomes in Balloon-Expandable versus Self-Expandable Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Introduction: Balloon-expandable (BE) and self-expandable (SE) prostheses are the main types of devices currently used in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Despite the different designs, clinical practice guidelines do not make any specific recommendation on the selection of one device over the other. Most operators are trained in using both BE and SE prostheses, but operator experience with each of the two designs might influence patient outcomes.