Confusion in revascularization: are women different and why?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in most developed countries of the world. Even though cardiovascular deaths of men in the United States have been declining, until recently the number of cardiovascular deaths in US women was on the rise, with 1 in 3 women dying from heart disease. Over the last 30 years numerous studies have reported sex differences in the epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease.

A decade of short-term outcomes in post cardiac surgery ventricular assist device implantation: data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' National Cardiac Database.

Background: Previous studies showed 75% mortality before hospital discharge in patients with a ventricular assist device (VAD) placed for post-cardiac surgery shock. We examined a large national clinical database to assess trends in the incidence of post-cardiac surgery shock requiring VAD implantation, survival rates, and risk factors for mortality.

Methods And Results: We identified patients undergoing a VAD procedure after cardiac surgery at US hospitals participating in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' National Cardiac Database during the years 1995 to 2004.

Impact of residency status on perfusion times and outcomes for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: A price of training residents in cardiothoracic surgery is often perceived to be a loss in intraoperative efficiencies, leading to prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass and perfusion time. Because these indicators are also thought to adversely affect operative outcome, we investigated the association between residency training status, perfusion times, and outcomes.

Methods: Using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) National Cardiac Database, we studied 369,906 CABG patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures during January 2002 through June 2005.

Contemporary performance of surgical ventricular restoration procedures: data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' National Cardiac Database.

Background: Surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) is an operation that demonstrates promise to improve outcomes for patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Current use and operative outcomes of SVR have come from centers of expertise, and operative risks of SVR in community practice are unknown. We sought to characterize the performance of SVR nationally and describe the acute risks of mortality and major morbidity plus predictors of adverse outcomes.

Effect of clopidogrel premedication in off-pump cardiac surgery: are we forfeiting the benefits of reduced hemorrhagic sequelae?

Background: Premedication with clopidogrel has reduced thrombotic complications after percutaneous coronary revascularization procedures. However, because of the enhanced and irreversible platelet inhibition by clopidogrel, patients requiring surgical revascularization have a higher risk of bleeding complications and transfusion requirements. A principal benefit of surgical coronary revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass is its lower hemorrhagic sequelae.