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On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic. 1 At that time, only 118,000 cases had been reported globally, 90% of which had occurred in 4 countries. 1 Since then, the world landscape has changed dramatically. As of March 31, 2020, there are now nearly 800,000 cases, with truly global involvement. 2 Countries that were previously unaffected are currently experiencing mounting rates of the novel coronavirus infection with associated increases in COVID-19erelated deaths. At present, Canada has more than 8000 cases of COVID-19, with considerable variation in

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether the incidence of postoperative stroke (PS) could be reduced by eliminating aortic clamping during CABG. Methods From 2002–2013, 12,079 patients underwent primary, isolated CABG at a single US academic institution. Aortic manipulation was completely avoided by using in-situ internal mammary arteries for inflow in 1,552 (12.9%) patients (no-touch), a clampless facilitating device (CFD) was used for proximal anastomoses in 1,548 (12.8%) patients, and aortic clamping was used in 8,979 (74.3%) patients. These strategies were assessed in a logistic regression model controlling for relevant variables. Results The overall incidence of PS was 1.4% (n=165), with an unadjusted incidence of 0.6% (n=10) in the no-touch group, 1.2% (n=18) in the CFD group, and 1.5% (n=137) in the clamp group (p<0.01 for no-touch vs clamp). The ratio of observed to expected stroke rate increased as the degree of aortic manipulation increased, from 0.48 in the no-touch group, to 0.61 in the CFD group, and 0.95 in the clamp group. Aortic clamping was independently associated with an increase in PS compared to a no-touch technique (AOR 2.50, p<0.01). When separated by CPB utilization, both the off-pump partial clamp and on-pump cross-clamp techniques increased the risk of PS compared to no-touch (AOR 2.52, p<0.01 and AOR 4.25, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion A no-aortic touch technique has the lowest risk for postoperative stroke for patients undergoing CABG. Clamping the aorta during CABG increases the risk of PS, regardless of the severity of aortic disease.

BackgroundPhase angle (PA) is a bioimpedance measurement that is determined lean body mass and hydration status. Patients with low PA values are more likely to be frail, sarcopenic, or malnourished. Previous work has shown that low PA predicts adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery, but the effect of PA on survival has not previously been assessed in this setting.Methods and ResultsThe BICS (Bioimpedance in Cardiac Surgery) study recruited 277 patients undergoing major cardiac surgery at 2 university‐affiliated hospitals in Montreal, QC, Canada. Bioimpedance measurements as well as frailty and nutritional assessments were performed preoperatively. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were 30‐day mortality, postoperative morbidity, and hospital length of stay. There were 10 deaths at 1 month of follow‐up and 16 deaths at 12 months of follow‐up. PA was associated with age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, and frailty, as measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery and Fried scales. After adjusting for Society of Thoracic Surgeons–predicted mortality, lower PA was associated with higher mortality at 1 month (adjusted odds ratio, 3.57 per 1° decrease in PA; 95% confidence interval, 1.35–9.47) and at 12 months (adjusted odds ratio, 3.03 per 1° decrease in PA; 95% confidence interval, 1.30–7.09), a higher risk of overall morbidity (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.51 per 1° decrease in PA; 95% confidence interval, 1.32–4.75), and a longer hospital length of stay (adjusted β, 4.8 days per 1° decrease in PA; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–8.2 days).ConclusionsLow PA is associated with frailty and is predictive of mortality, morbidity, and length of stay after major cardiac surgery. Further work is needed to determine the responsiveness of PA to interventions aimed at reversing frailty.

The incidence of UPE in patients undergoing robotic mitral valve operations has been significantly reduced using a modified technique, without increasing the perioperative complication rate. Further work is necessary to validate this protocol and understand the pathophysiology of postoperative UPE.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a profound global effect. Its rapid transmissibility has forced whole countries to adopt strict measures to contain its spread. As part of necessary pandemic planning, most Canadian cardiac surgical programs have prioritized and delayed elective procedures in an effort to reduce the burden on the health care system and to mobilize resources in the event of a pandemic surge. While the number of COVID-19 cases continue to increase worldwide, new cases have begun to decline in many

In patients undergoing ascending aortic or valvular surgery, prolonged drainage with silastic tubes is safe and does not increase postoperative pain. There was no difference between the Blake and conventional drains with regard to significant pericardial effusion or tamponade in this cohort; however, this conclusion is limited by the low overall incidence of the primary outcome in this cohort.

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