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ObjectivesTo investigate the outcomes of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who were treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.DesignRetrospective nationwide cohort study.SettingPatients with STEMI in Finland who were treated with CABG between January 2004 and December 2018.Participants1069 patients (mean age: 66.4, 21.4% women).Primary outcome measureAll-cause mortality (median follow-up 6.4 years) and usage of evidence-based secondary preventive medication early after CABG.ResultsIn-hospital mortality among the total cohort was 10.0%, with a significant decrease (p<0.0001) during the study period. Cumulative 10-year mortality was 38.3%. Age, diabetes, renal disease, early surgery, usage of only venous grafts and concomitant procedures were associated with in-hospital mortality in multivariable modelling. Age, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, rheumatic disease and venous-only grafts were associated with 10-year mortality. Statins and beta blockers were used by >90% of patients and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers by 70% of patients after discharge from the hospital. The proportion of high-dose statin users increased from 33.1% in 2004–2008 to 63.1% in 2014–2018. ADP inhibitors were used by 29.0% of patients, but the proportion increased during the study.ConclusionsContemporary in-hospital and long-term outcomes of CABG-treated patients with STEMI are acceptable. In-hospital mortality has decreased, and the usage of secondary prevention medications after CABG procedures has increased in recent years.

Background Patients with severe aortic stenosis and left ventricular systolic dysfunction have a poor prognosis, and this may result in inferior survival also after aortic valve replacement. The outcomes of transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement were investigated in this comparative analysis. Methods The retrospective nationwide FinnValve registry included data on patients who underwent transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis for severe aortic stenosis. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust the outcomes for baseline covariates of patients with reduced (≤ 50%) left ventricular ejection fraction. Results Within the unselected, consecutive 6463 patients included in the registry, the prevalence of reduced ejection fraction was 20.8% (876 patients) in the surgical cohort and 27.7% (452 patients) in the transcatheter cohort. Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction was associated with decreased survival (adjusted hazards ratio 1.215, 95%CI 1.067–1.385) after a mean follow-up of 3.6 years. Among 255 propensity score matched pairs, 30-day mortality was 3.1% after transcatheter and 7.8% after surgical intervention ( p  = 0.038). One-year and 4-year survival were 87.5% and 65.9% after transcatheter intervention and 83.9% and 69.6% after surgical intervention (restricted mean survival time ratio, 1.002, 95%CI 0.929–1.080, p  = 0.964), respectively. Conclusions Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction was associated with increased morbidity and mortality after surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Thirty-day mortality was higher after surgery, but intermediate-term survival was comparable to transcatheter intervention. Trial registration The FinnValve registry ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03385915.

Background Perioperative myocardial ischemia (PMI) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with poor outcome. The aim of this study was to pool the available data on the outcome after control angiography and repeat revascularization in patients with perioperative myocardial ischemia (PMI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods A literature review was performed through PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar to identify studies published since 1990 evaluating the outcome of PMI after CABG. Results Nine studies included 1104 patients with PMI after CABG and 1056 of them underwent control angiography early after CABG. Pooled early mortality after reoperation for PMI without control angiography was 43.6% (95%CI 29.7-57.6%) and 79.8% of them (95%CI 64.4-95.2%) had an acute graft failure detected at reoperation. Among patients who underwent control angiography for PMI, 31.7% had a negative finding at angiography (95%CI 25.6-37.8%) and 62.1% had an acute graft failure (95%CI 56.6-67.6%). Repeat revascularization was performed after early control angiography in 46.3% of patients (95%CI 39.9-52.6%; 54.2% underwent repeat surgical revascularization; 45.8% underwent percutaneous coronary intervention). Pooled early mortality after control angiography with or without repeat revascularization was 8.9% (95%CI 6.7-11.1%). Three studies reported on early mortality rates which did not differ between repeat surgical revascularization and PCI (11.7% vs. 9.2%, respectively; risk ratio 1.45, 95%CI 0.67-3.11). In these three series, early mortality after conservative treatment was 5.9% (95%CI 3.6-8.2%). Conclusions Control angiography seems to be a valid life-saving strategy to guide repeat revascularization in hemodynamically stable patients suffering PMI after CABG.

Background We investigated preoperative physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) in patients scheduled for elective cardiac procedures and compared them with population-based sample of Finnish adults. Methods Cardiac patients (n = 139) undergoing cardiac operations carried a triaxial accelerometer for seven days during the month before the procedure. Patients were categorised into four groups according to the procedure: percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary angiography (PCI-CA), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), aortic valve replacement (AVR) and mitral valve surgery (MVS). The raw accelerometer data was analyzed with dedicated algorithms to determine metabolic equivalents (METs, 3.5 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption) of PA. The intensity of PA was divided into two categories: light (LPA, 1.5–2.9 METs) and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA, ≥ 3.0 METs), while SB represented intensity < 1.5 MET without movements. SB and PA were described as daily means and accumulation from different bout lengths. Daily standing, steps and mean and peak MET-values were calculated. The results were compared between the patient groups and against the reference group from a population-based study FinFit2017. Results Cardiac patients had fewer daily steps than the FinFit population ( p  = 0.01), and less SB accumulating from < 20 min bouts ( p  = 0.002) but more from 20 to 60 min bouts ( p  = 0.002). Particularly, CABG group had less daily MVPA ( p  = 0.002) and MVPA accumulating from > 10 min bouts ( p  < 0.001) than the FinFit population. Conclusions We found large differences in PA and SB between the patient groups and the FitFit population, CABG group having the worst activity profile. Also, the variation within the patient groups was wide, which should be considered to individualise the rehabilitation programs postoperatively. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03470246). Registered 19 March 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03470246.

IntroductionPersonalized intervention to increase physical Activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in rehabilitation after Cardiac Operations (PACO) is a smartphone-based and accelerometer-based eHealth intervention to increase physical activity (PA) and reduce sedentary behaviour (SB) among patients recovering from cardiac surgery.DesignProspective randomised controlled trial.Methods and analysisThe present protocol describes a randomised controlled clinical trial to be conducted in the Heart Centres of Kuopio and Turku university hospitals. The trial comprises 540 patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement or mitral valve repair. The patients will be randomised into two groups. The control group will receive standard postsurgical rehabilitation guidance. The eHealth intervention group will be given the same guidance together with personalised PA guidance during 90 days after discharge. These patients will receive personalised daily goals to increase PA and reduce SB via the ExSedapplication. Triaxial accelerometers will be exploited to record patients’ daily accumulated PA and SB, and transmit them to the application. Using the accelerometer data, the application will provide online guidance to the patients and feedback of accomplishing their activity goals. The data will also be transmitted to the cloud, where a physiotherapist can monitor individual activity profiles and customise the subsequent PA and SB goals online. The postoperative improvement in patients’ step count, PA, exercise capacity, quality of sleep, laboratory markers, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) parameters and quality of life, and reduction in SB and incidence of major cardiac events are investigated as outcomes.ConclusionsThe PACO intervention aims to build a personalised eHealth tool for the online tutoring of cardiac surgery patients.Trial registration numberNCT03470246.

Data on the outcome of young patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are scarce. Data on 2,209 consecutive patients aged ≤50 years who underwent CABG or PCI were retrospectively collected from 15 European institutions. PCI and CABG had similar 30-day mortality rates (0.8% vs 1.4%, p = 0.27), late survival (at 5 years, 97.8% vs 94.9%, p = 0.082), and freedom from stroke (at 5 years, 98.0% and 98.0%, p = 0.731). PCI was associated with significantly lower freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (at 5 years, 73.9% vs 85.0%, p <0.0001), repeat revascularization (at 5 years, 77.6% vs 92.5%, p <0.0001), and myocardial infarction (at 5 years, 89.9% vs 96.6%, p <0.0001) compared with CABG. These findings were confirmed in propensity score–adjusted and matched analyses. Freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after PCI was particularly low in diabetics (at 5 years, 58.0% vs 75.9%, p <0.0001) and in patients with multivessel disease (at 5 years, 63.6% vs 85.1%, p <0.0001). PCI in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction was associated with significantly better 5-year survival (97.5% vs 88.8%, p = 0.001), which was driven by its lower 30-day mortality rate (1.5% vs 6.0%, p = 0.017). In conclusion, patients aged ≤50 years have an excellent immediate outcome after either PCI or CABG with similar long-term survival when used according to the current clinical practice. PCI was associated with significantly lower freedom from myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization.

Objectives This study aimed to describe the incidence and periprocedural predictors of permanent work disability (PWD) pension among patients ≤50 years old who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Patient records of 910 consecutive patients undergoing PCI at four Finnish hospitals in 2002–2012 were reviewed for baseline and procedural data and late adverse events. Data on permanent work disability (PWD) pension allocation were acquired from the Finnish Centre for Pensions, which governs the statutory pension security in Finland. Results Mean follow-up was 41 [standard deviation (SD) 31] months. Altogether 103/910 (11.3%) of patients were on PWD by the end of follow-up, 60 (58.3%) for cardiac diagnoses (cumulative freedom from PWD 81% at 7 years). Independent predictors of PWD were post procedural stroke [hazard ratio (HR) 4.7, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.8–11.9], post procedural myocardial infarction (MI) (HR 3.3, 95% CI 1.8–6.0), diabetes (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.7), discharge diuretics (HR 3.5, 95% CI 2.1–5.9), and increasing age (HR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3). Predictors of PWD for cardiac diagnoses were post procedural stroke and MI, discharge diuretics, and use of calcium-channel blockers, diabetes and older age. Conclusions Patients ≤50 years old undergoing PCI are at a high risk for subsequent permanent disability for cardiac diagnoses. This finding underscores the need for reinforcing adherence to secondary prevention by cardiac rehabilitation and early collaboration with occupational health care professionals.

This study was planned to identify the determinants of outcome after coronary artery bypass (CABG) in young patients. Data on 592 patients aged ≤50 years who underwent CABG from 9 European institutions were collected retrospectively. Twenty-eight percent of patients received at least 2 arterial grafts. Clopidogrel was used at discharge in 16.2% and statins in 67.2% of patients. Freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 1, 3, and 5 years was 93.8%, 90.1%, and 85.0%; survival rate was 98.3%, 96.3%, and 94.9%; freedom from myocardial infarction was 96.3%, 95.1%, and 92.5%; and freedom from repeat revascularization was 96.3%, 95.1%, and 92.5%, respectively. Neither types of grafts nor medication at discharge had any impact on the late outcome. Age <40 years (relative risk [RR] 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17 to 4.11), diabetes (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.88), estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (RR 2.44, 95% CI 1.26 to 4.72), non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction/ST-elevation myocardial infarction (RR 2.12, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.55), emergency procedure (RR 2.34, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.88), and left ventricular ejection fraction <30% (RR 3.18, 95% CI 1.41 to 7.16) were independent predictors of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <30% had a particularly poor survival rate (at 5 years 67.7% vs 96.1%; adjusted analysis RR 14.01, 95% CI 5.16 to 38.03). Poor left ventricular function, myocardial infarction, diabetes, renal failure, and age <40 years are major determinants of late outcome after CABG in young patients. In conclusion, data from this real-world registry indicate that multiple arterial grafts and statin treatment are largely underutilized in these patients.

Background Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cellular decay due hypoxia requires rapid and validated methods for possible therapeutic cell transplantation. Purpose To develop direct and rapid superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) cell label for a large-animal model and to assess in vivo cell targeting by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an experimental AMI model. Material and Methods Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) were labeled with SPIO particles using two novel direct labeling methods (rotating incubation method and electroporation). Labeling, iron incorporation in cells and label distribution, cellular viability, and proliferation were validated in vitro. An AMI porcine model was used to evaluate the direct labeling method (rotating incubation method) by examining targeting of labeled BMMNCs using MRI and histology. Results Labeling (1 h) did not alter either cellular differentiation potential or viability of cells in vitro. Cellular relaxation values at 9.4 T correlated with label concentration and MRI at 1.5 T showing 89 ± 4% signal reduction compared with non-labeled cells in vitro. In vivo, a high spatial correlation between MRI and histology was observed. The extent of macroscopic pathological myocardial changes (hemorrhage) correlated with altered function detected on MRI. Conclusion We demonstrated two novel direct SPIO labeling methods and demonstrated the feasibility of clinical MRI for monitoring targeting of the labeled cells in animal models of AMI.

Patients with mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) require lifelong vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy for stroke and systemic embolism prevention. However, VKA treatment predisposes patients to various types of bleeding. In the present study, we sought to assess the success of antithrombotic therapy and the occurrence and timing of strokes and bleeding events after mechanical AVR. A total of 308 patients who underwent isolated mechanical AVR were included in the study, and follow-up data were completed for 306 patients (99.4%). The median follow-up time was 7.3 (interquartile range 4.2 to 10.9) years. The risk for major bleeding was 5-fold compared with major stroke (6.2% vs 1.3% and 20.9% vs 4.0%, respectively; events rates 3.1 vs 0.5 per 100 patient-years, respectively) at 30-day and long-term follow-up, indicating good efficacy but inadequate safety of stroke prevention. At the time of the early postoperative major bleeding, the international normalized ratio was under the therapeutic range in 73.7% of the patients. However, most patients were on triple antithrombotic treatment consisting of subcutaneous enoxaparin, VKA, and a tail effect of discontinued aspirin. During the long-term follow-up, the most common site of bleeding was gastrointestinal (41.7%), followed by genitourinary bleeding (23.3%) and intracranial hemorrhage (18.3%). Furthermore, mortality was relatively high, with a 10-year survival estimate of 78.3%. In conclusion, although ischemic stroke is a well-identified adverse event after mechanical AVR, it seems that major bleeding is a frequent clinically relevant complication during perioperative and long-term follow-up. This finding underscores the recognition and management of modifiable bleeding risk factors. The risk for major bleeding after aortic valve replacement was 5-fold compared with major stroke.Early bleeding was associated with the use of triple antithrombotic medication.During the long-term follow-up, 1/6 of the major bleeding events were intracranial hemorrhages.A total of 1/10 of the patients died within 30 days after their first major bleeding event.