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Background Among other preoperative parameters, extremely low or extremely high body mass index (BMI) has been discussed as a substantial risk factor for postoperative complications after cardiac surgery. However, the exact relationship between BMI and postoperative risk has not yet been defined. Methods We retrospectively investigated consecutive patients (n=22 666) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with or without concomitant valve surgery between 1990 and 2001 in our institution. A number of preoperative and intraoperative variables and BMI (as a quadratic term) were used in a logistic regression model as covariates. Further, the patients were divided into 20 groups each with an increase in BMI of 1 kg/m 2 (BMI as a categorical variable). The calculations of odds ratios (ORs) for re-intubation, infection, re-exploration, prolonged stay (>1 day) on the intensive care unit (ICU) and 30-day mortality were adjusted for age, gender and type of surgery. Results In the multivariate analysis only age (OR between 1.01 and 1.038, P<0.01), additional aortic valve (OR between 1.335 and 2.977, P<0.01) or mitral valve surgery (OR between 2.123 and 3.301, P<0.01) showed significant impact on all five endpoints. Patients with BMI between 25 and 35 kg/m 2 were not at elevated risk for any of the investigated end-points, except for infection. Patients with BMI between 21 and 27 kg/m 2 were not at elevated risk for infection. The ORs for postoperative complications were significantly higher in underweight patients compared with obese or severely obese patients, except those for infection. Further, the underweight patients presented significantly more comorbidity. Conclusion Patients with low BMI are at higher risk after cardiac surgery than obese or severely obese patients. We hypothesize that a preoperative focus on avoiding and/or reversing cachexia may be more efficacious than reducing obesity in reducing the overall risk associated with heart surgery.

After 2 decades of follow-up, the Mitroflow pericardial aortic valve continues to be a valve of choice with a predictable low rate of valve-related events, particularly for patients over the age of 65 to 70 years and others with comorbidities.

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OBJECTIVES Various trials have assessed the outcome and reliability of the HeartWare HVAD (HW) and HeartMate 3 (HM3) left ventricular assist devices. A direct comparison of clinical outcomes and of the complication profile of these 2 left ventricular assist devices is lacking. We present a retrospective analysis of patients supported with HM3 and HW as a left ventricular assist device. METHODS Preoperative data, complications and outcomes including a 1-year follow-up of patients supported with the HM3 and HW in a single centre were retrospectively analysed. Both pumps were implanted on- or off-pump, employing standard and minimally invasive techniques. For logistic reasons, the 2 device types were implanted in an alternating manner, thereby reducing the systematic bias for pump selection. We considered this to be an appropriate approach, as no differences in respect of survival or the complication profile of the two device types have been demonstrated. Anticoagulation was similar in patients with both pumps according to our anticoagulation protocol, with a target international normalized ratio of 2.5–3.0, a home monitoring system and blood pressure management with a mean arterial target pressure of 70–80 mmHg. RESULTS Between October 2015 and April 2017, 100 patients underwent implantation of the HW and 100 patients underwent implantation of the HM3. The median time on the device was 0.98 years (range 0–2.23 years). The median age was 58.5 (51–65) versus 57 (49–64) years (P = 0.456); the number of male patients was 87 versus 88 (P = 0.831). Of the HW patients, 73% were rated as having an INTERMACS level I or II, compared to 57% of the HM3 patients (P = 0.018). There were no further differences in preoperative data. A total of 14 patients had pre-, intra- or post-pump blood flow obstruction in the HW group versus 4 in the HM3 group [hazard ratio (HR) 2.5 (0.7–8.8), P = 0.103]. There were no differences regarding gastrointestinal bleeding [HR 1.25 (0.56–2.64), P = 0.624] or driveline infection (0.68 vs 0.8 events per patient-year, P = 0.0789). The incidence of ischaemic stroke was similar in both groups [HR 0.72 (0.25–2.09), P = 0.550]. Cerebral bleeding was more frequent in patients supported with HW [HR 6.79 (1.43–32.20), P = 0.016]. The incidence of cerebrovascular accidents, on the other hand, was similar in both groups [HR 1.85 (0.83–4.19), P = 0.13]. The incidence of haemocompatibility-related adverse events, however, was significantly higher in the HW group (113 points corresponding to 1.28 events per patient-year versus 69 points corresponding to 0.7 events per patient-year, P &lt; 0.001). The 1-year survival was similar in both groups [62.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.53–0.73) vs 66.7%, 95% CI (0.58–0.767), P = 0.372]. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that the complication profile differs between the 2 pumps, but that early survival is comparable.

Background-Epicardial vasculopathy has been shown to be associated with poor outcome after heart transplantation. We demonstrate that histologically proven stenotic microvasculopathy is a novel prognostic factor for long-term survival. This finding was independent of epicardial transplant vasculopathy (Pϭ0.0031). Conclusions-Stenotic microvasculopathy is frequent in routinely processed biopsies and a new prognostic factor for long-term survival after heart transplantation. Methods and Results-In

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After one year, TBARS (p = 0.026), LPO (p = 0.026) and anti-oxLD