Metoprolol versus amiodarone in the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: a randomized trial.

Background: Current guidelines recommend β-blockers as the first-line preventive treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery. Despite this, 19% of physicians report using amiodarone as first-line prophylaxis of postoperative AF. Data directly comparing the efficacy of these agents in preventing postoperative AF are lacking.

Coronary artery bypass surgery in octogenarians: long-term outcome can be better than expected.

Background: We have reviewed our experience with octogenarians undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: A consecutive series of 274 patients age 80 years or greater out of 3,474 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. We have assessed the intrinsic risk aged 80 years or greater by comparing them with a propensity score-matched cohort of younger patients with similar operative risk (other than age).

Miniaturized versus conventional cardiopulmonary bypass in high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objective: To review our results with the use of miniaturized cardiopulmonary bypass (Mini-CPB) versus conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (C-CPB) in high-risk patients (additive EuroSCORE>or=6) who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Patients And Methods: This study includes a consecutive series of 236 patients with an additive EuroSCORE>or=6 who underwent CABG, employing either C-CPB or Mini-CPB. Propensity score analysis was performed.

Safe time limits of aortic cross-clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass in adult cardiac surgery.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of aortic cross-clamping time (XCT) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPBT) on the immediate and late outcome after adult cardiac surgery and attempted to identify their safe time limits.

Methods: This study includes 3280 patients who underwent adult cardiac surgery of various complexities. Myocardial protection was achieved with tepid continuous antegrade/retrograde blood cardioplegia.

Pulmonary function and immediate outcome of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to evaluate whether pulmonary function, as assessed by spirometry, affects immediate outcome after aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods: Data relating to the preoperative percentages of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were retrieved from a series of 453 patients who underwent AVR, with or without coronary artery bypass surgery.

Results: The percentage of predictive FVC (odds ratio (OR) 0.

Preoperative haemodynamic parameters and the immediate outcome after open repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative cardiac function and haemodynamic parameters on the immediate outcome after repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA).

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 68 consecutive patients who underwent emergency repair of RAAA. Baseline pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac index, oxygen saturation and pulse rate were measured and recorded immediately after insertion of a pulmonary artery thermodilution catheter and before anaesthesia induction.

Is it possible to improve the accuracy of EuroSCORE?

Objective: We derived a new risk-scoring method by modifying some of the risk factors included in the EuroSCORE algorithm.

Methods: This study includes 3613 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at the Vaasa Central Hospital, Finland. The EuroSCORE variables, along with modified age classes (< 60 years, 60-69.

Repeat intervention after invasive treatment of coronary arteries.

Objective: Patients who undergo successful revascularisation either with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may subsequently require repeat invasive procedures.

Methods: A cohort of 662 coronary artery diseased (CAD) patients was retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up was 36 months.

HRQoL after coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention for stable angina.

Objectives: To assess the health related quality of life (HRQoL) and the change in the NYHA class after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the management of stable coronary artery disease (CAD). The study was non-randomized. CABG group consisted of 240 patients and 229 patients were treated with PCI.

Postoperative delirium and health related quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives: We wanted to identify determinants for postoperative delirium and its influence on health related quality of life (HRQoL) during 36-month follow-up of coronary artery bypass (CABG) patients.

Design: A total of 302 patients were retrospectively analyzed. HRQoL was assessed prospectively by the 15D instrument.

EuroSCORE predicts health-related quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Three hundred and two patients were evaluated for the EuroSCORE risk and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during three years after CABG as assessed by the 15D instrument. Both additive and logistic EuroSCORE correlated significantly with the 15D score at 6, 18 and 36 months. A clinically important increase > or =0.

Quality of life during 18 months after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the change in health related quality of life (HRQoL) among elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients.

Methods: A total of 302 CABG patients were included in the study. Complete pre-, peri- and postoperative data were collected comprehensively in a database.