This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Maganti, M. D. Articles by David, T. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Maganti, M. D. Articles by David, T. E. Related Collections CV surgery: aortic and vascular disease

(Circulation. 2005;112:I-448 – I-452.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Surgery for Valvular Heart Disease

Predictors of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Isolated Aortic Valve Surgery

Manjula D. Maganti, MSc; Vivek Rao, MD, PhD; Michael A. Borger, MD, PhD; Joan Ivanov, PhD; Tirone E. David, MD

From the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital and the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Correspondence to Dr Vivek Rao, Alfredo and Teresa DeGasperis Chair in Heart Failure Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, 4N-464, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada. E-mail vivek.rao{at}uhn.on.ca

Background— Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), defined as the need for postoperative intraaortic balloon pump or inotropic support for >30 minutes in the intensive care unit, remains a relatively common complication of aortic valve (AV) surgery. The aim of this study is to identify the preoperative predictors of LCOS in patients undergoing isolated AV surgery.

Methods and Results— We conducted a retrospective review of data prospectively entered into an institutional database. Between 1990 and 2003, 2255 patients underwent isolated AV surgery with no other concomitant cardiac surgery. The independent predictors of LCOS and operative mortality (OM) were determined by stepwise logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of LCOS was 3.9%. The independent predictors of LCOS were (odds ratio in parentheses) renal failure (5.0), earlier year of operation (4.4), left ventricular ejection fraction <40% (3.6), shock (3.2), female gender (2.8), and increasing age (1.02). Overall OM was 2.9%. The OM was higher in patients who experienced LCOS (38% versus 1.5%; P<0.001). The independent predictors of mortality were (odds ratio in parentheses) preoperative renal failure (8.3), urgency of surgery (3.4), previous stroke (2.9), congestive heart failure (2.6), previous cardiac surgery (2.3), hypertension (1.7), and small AV size (1.3).

Conclusions— Low-output syndrome is associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Novel strategies to preserve renal function, optimization of preexisting heart failure symptoms, and avoidance of prosthesis-patient mismatch may reduce the incidence of LCOS and lead to improved results after AV surgery.

Key Words: aortic valve surgery • low cardiac output syndrome • operative mortality • outcomes