Background A wrong traditional belief persists among people that opium consumption beneficially affects cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. However, no evidence exists regarding the effect of opium consumption or cessation on the long-term risk of major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting. We therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of persistent opium consumption after surgery on the long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods The study population consisted of 28,691 patients (20,924 men, mean age 60.9 years), who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between 2007 and 2016 at our centre. The patients were stratified into three groups according to the status of opium consumption: never opium consumers ( n = 23,619), persistent postoperative opium consumers ( n = 3636) and enduring postoperative opium withdrawal ( n = 1436). Study endpoints were 5-year mortality and 5-year major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events, comprising all-cause mortality, acute coronary syndrome, cerebrovascular accident and revascularisation. Results After surgery, 3636 patients continued opium consumption, while 1436 patients persistently avoided opium use. The multivariable survival analysis demonstrated that persistent post-coronary artery bypass grafting opium consumption increased 5-year mortality and 5-year major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events by 28% (hazard ratio (HR) 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.54; P = 0.009) and 25% (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13–1.40; P < 0.0001), respectively. It also increased the 5-year risk of acute coronary syndrome by 34% (sub-distribution HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.16–1.55; P < 0.0001). Conclusions The present data suggest that persistent post-coronary artery bypass grafting opium consumption may significantly increase mortality, major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events and acute coronary syndrome in the long term. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Background Preoperative coronary artery disease risk factors (CADRFs) distribution and pattern may also have an important role in determining major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the CADRFs distribution and trend over 10 years and also the long-term outcome of CABG in different age-sex categories. Method In this registry-based serial cross-sectional study, we enrolled 24,328 patients who underwent isolated CABG and evaluated the prevalence of CADRFs according to sex and age. We used inverse probability weighting (IPW) to compare survival and MACE between the sexes. We also used Cox regression to determine each CADRFs effect on survival and MACEs. Results In general, DLP (56.00%), HTN (53.10%), DM (38.40%), and positive family history (38.30%) were the most frequent risk factors in all patients. Prevalence of HTN, DLP, DM, obesity, and positive family history were all higher in women, all statistically significant. The median follow-up duration was 78.1 months (76.31–79.87 months). After inverse probability weighting (to balance risk factors and comorbidities), men had lower MACEs during follow-up (HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.57–0.91; P value 0.006) and there was no significant difference in survival between sexes. DM and HTN were associated with higher mortality and MACEs in both sexes. Conclusion Although DLP is still the most frequent CADRF among the CABG population, the level of LDL and TG is decreasing. Women experience higher MACE post CABG. Therefore, health care providers and legislators must pay greater attention to female population CADRFs and ways to prevent them at different levels.

Objective:Most coronary artery bypass grafts are done by applying cardiopulmonary bypass, which usually induces unwanted inflammatory reactions and impairs the outcomes. In order to minimize the perilous response of cardiopulmonary bypass, pentoxifylline was getting used orally.Methods:In a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, 178 coronary artery bypass graft candidates with ejection fraction lower/equal to 30%, divided into two equal groups (pentoxifylline and control), participated in the study. Pentoxifylline patients received 400 mg pentoxifylline 3 times a day for 3 days before operation. The outcomes were compared between groups using student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson chi-square, or Fisher’s exact test.Results:Pentoxifylline administration did not significantly affect troponin-T (p=0.68), but it reduced tumor necrosis factor-a (p=0.01) and interleukin-6 (p=0.01). It improved left ventricular ejection fraction significantly (p=0.01). White blood cell and platelet counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were not influenced by pentoxifylline. The drug did not affect blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, occurrence of renal failure, cerebrovascular accidents, and in-hospital mortality rate. The need for an intra-aortic balloon pump, cardiopulmonary bypass, and aortic crossclamp times were not affected, either. Pentoxifylline decreased the intensive care unit stay (p<0.001), ventilation time, 10.4 hours in the pentoxifylline group against 14.7 hours in the control group (p=0.01), and the requirement of inotropic agents (p=0.02) and blood transfusion (p=0.01).Conclusion:Pentoxifylline has more beneficial potencies in reducing adverse events after coronary artery bypass graft using cardiopulmonary bypass, than what are known.

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Objectives The long-term prognostic role of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) on cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the impact of new-onset POAF on mid-term adverse cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent isolated CABG without a preoperative history of atrial fibrillation/flutter. POAF was defined as episodes of AF lasting ≥30 seconds during the hospitalization period. The effect of POAF on mid-term all-cause mortality and cerebrovascular accidents/transient ischaemic attacks (CVA/TIA) was assessed using a Cox proportional hazard regression model in a competing risk setting. Additional analyses were performed on patients surviving an event-free early postoperative period (i.e. within 30 postoperative days after the index surgery). Results A total of 9,310 patients were followed for a median duration of 48.7 months. New-onset POAF was associated with an increased risk of mid-term all-cause mortality (HR = 1.648, 95% CI: 1.402–1.937; p &lt; 0.001) and CVA/TIA (Subdistribution-HR = 1.635, 1.233–2.167; p = 0.001). After excluding patients who died during the early postoperative period, POAF remained significantly associated with higher late all-cause mortality (HR = 1.518, 1.273–1.811; p &lt; 0.001). However, the risk of late CVA/TIA in patients who survived the early postoperative period without having a stroke was similar between those with and without POAF (Subdistribution-HR = 1.174, 0.797–1.729; p = 0.418). Conclusions New-onset POAF after CABG is associated with an increased risk of mid-term overall mortality and stroke. However, late stroke risk is likely similar between patients with and without POAF who survive an event-free early postoperative period.