Identifying potential predictors of surgical site infection risk following cardiac surgery: a scoping review.

Objectives: This scoping review was undertaken to identify risk predictions models and preoperative predictors of surgical site infection (SSI) in adult cardiac surgery. A particular focus was on the identification of novel predictors that could underpin the future development of a risk prediction model to identify individuals at high-risk of SSI, and therefore guide a national SSI prevention strategy.

Methods: A scoping review to systematically identify and map out existing research evidence on preoperative predictors of SSI was conducted in two stages.

Mitral valvular surgery outcomes in a centre with a dedicated mitral multi-disciplinary team.

International guidelines recommend 'heart teams' as the preferred method for decision-making. Heart team processes, mandatory attendees and investigations vary significantly between hospitals. We assessed outcomes following mitral valvular surgery in a tertiary referral centre with a dedicated mitral multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

Role of vitamin D supplementation in modifying outcomes after surgery: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Background: There is increasing evidence to suggest vitamin D plays a role in immune and vascular function; hence, it may be of biological and clinical relevance for patients undergoing major surgery. With a greater number of randomised studies being conducted evaluating the impact of vitamin D supplementation on surgical patients, it is an opportune time to conduct further analysis of the impact of vitamin D on surgical outcomes.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Trials Register were interrogated up to December 2023 to identify randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation in surgery.

Experiences of patients enrolled and staff involved in the prehabilitation of elective patients undergoing cardiac surgery trial: a nested qualitative study.

The purpose of this study was to understand the views and experiences of patients enrolled and staff involved in the prehabilitation of elective patients undergoing cardiac surgery trial. This sub-study was informed by normalisation process theory, a framework for evaluating complex interventions, and used consecutive sampling to recruit patients assigned to both the intervention and control groups. Patients and all staff involved in delivering the trial were invited to participate in focus groups, which were recorded, transcribed verbatim and subjected to reflexive thematic analysis.

Prehabilitation in elective patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a randomised control trial (THE PrEPS TRIAL) - a study protocol.

Introduction: Prehabilitation prior to surgery has been shown to reduce postoperative complications, reduce length of hospital stay and improve quality of life after cancer and limb reconstruction surgery. However, there are minimal data on the impact of prehabilitation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, despite the fact these patients are generally older and have more comorbidities and frailty. This trial will assess the feasibility and impact of a prehabilitation intervention consisting of exercise and inspiratory muscle training on preoperative functional exercise capacity in adult patients awaiting elective cardiac surgery, and determine any impact on clinical outcomes after surgery.