Biomedical subjects

Arjuna Weerasinghe

Publications and source records attributed to Arjuna Weerasinghe.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Platelet-monocyte pro-coagulant interactions in on-pump coronary surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Platelets and monocytes possess haemostatic properties, but the clinical effect of platelet-monocyte interactions on haemostasis following coronary surgery is not known. The study characterises the platelet and monocyte responses in cardiac surgery and its impact on haemostasis. METHODS: In 1342 patients, changes in white blood cell counts (WBC), monocyte counts and platelet counts were measured. PMC formation was analysed by flow-cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against pan-leucocyte marker CD45, monocyte marker CD14 and platelet marker CD42. TF expression was determined using monoclonal antibodies against, CD45, CD14 and human-TF. Continuous variables were expressed as mean+/-SD. Changes in monocyte and platelet counts over time were considered as repeated measures data, and analysed using Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE). Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of several factors on blood loss. RESULTS: A monocytosis occurs with on-pump coronary surgery, but is less pronounced than with off-pump surgery. No difference was seen in patients having redo-surgery or more complex cardiac surgery. Factors associated with monocytosis on multivariate analysis were higher body mass index (p=0.02), diabetes (p=0.035) and smoking (p=0.01). Older patients manifested a lower response (p<0.001). Cross-clamp fibrillation was associated with a lower (p=0.048) monocytic response than was cardioplegia. PMC formation dropped following administration of heparin, peaked at 5 min of CPB, and declined by 2h of CPB (p=0.04). A return towards preoperative levels was found during postoperative days 1-5. No significant change in monocyte TF expression occurred. The mean postoperative blood loss was 581.2+/-292.8 ml, and inversely related to increasing preoperative platelet counts (p<0.001), and to higher monocyte % counts (p=0.012). Patients, who were female (p<0.001), had higher body mass indices (p<0.001), and higher core body temperatures during surgery (p=0.013), as well as patients having perioperative aprotinin (p<0.001) related to less blood loss. CONCLUSIONS: A higher postoperative platelet count as well as monocyte% significantly and independently decreases postoperative blood loss following cardiac surgery.

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PubMed2005

Functional renal outcome in on-pump and off-pump coronary revascularization: a propensity-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Since the advent of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB), comparisons have been made between it and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Some observe a lesser incidence of acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy with OPCAB whereas others do not. The objective was to compare the occurrence of renal adverse outcome between on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and OPCAB. Renal adverse outcome was defined as minor (20% increase in serum creatinine from preoperative) or major (composite end point of postoperative serum creatinine >200 mumol/L or postoperative mechanical renal support). METHODS: The study was based on 2,041 patients with no known preoperative renal disease having first-time isolated coronary artery bypass grafting of multiple coronary arteries between January 2001 and November 2003, at St. Mary's Hospital, Harefield Hospital, and Hammersmith Hospital, in West London; 1,224 patients had on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and 817 patients had OPCAB. Selection bias for surgical technique was addressed by calculating the propensity score for each patient and using it as an independent variable for adjustment in the multivariate analysis. Univariate and multivariate ordered logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with renal adverse outcome ordered as none, minor, and major. RESULTS: The number of grafts was 3.22 +/- 0.82 for the on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting group and 3.35 +/- 0.95 for the OPCAB group. On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and increasing age were found to be the strongest independent predictors (p < 0.001) of renal adverse outcome. Other independent predictors included hypertension (p = 0.005), diabetes (p = 0.032), and preoperative serum creatinine (p = 0.001). A left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.30 to 0.49 (p = 0.099) and an ejection fraction of 0.50 or greater (p < 0.001) were associated with decreased risk compared with patients with an ejection fraction of less than 0.30. Interestingly, the use of non-left internal mammary arterial conduits significantly decreased the likelihood of renal adverse outcome (p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this propensity-based study show that the OPCAB technique may reduce the risk for minor and major renal adverse outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting.

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PubMed2004

Role of transvalvular gradient in outcome from valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Despite limitations the transvalvular gradient (TVG) still is commonly used in aortic stenosis when patients are referred for aortic valve replacement. We wished to ascertain if it had a role in predicting outcome from valve replacement rather than as an indicator of severity, specifically investigating if the TVG affected renal dysfunction, hospital stay, and medium-term survival after valve replacement. METHODS: Six hundred and twenty-three consecutive patients who had aortic valve replacement were identified and 211 of these patients were isolated as first time replacement for aortic stenosis that formed the final study group, and were followed up for up to 48 months. Variables significant (p < 0.05) on univariate analysis were included in the logistic regression multivariate analysis (renal dysfunction, prolonged hospital stay) or Cox proportional hazard regression model (medium-term mortality). RESULTS: A significant association was present between TVG and age (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated angina greater than or equal to grade 3 Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS 3; p = 0.014) and having nonelective surgery (p < 0.001) to be independent predictors of renal dysfunction. Angina greater than or equal to CCS 3 (p = 0.013) was the only independent predictor of prolonged hospital stay. Independent predictors of medium-term mortality on multivariate analysis were age (p = 0.043) and having a size 19 valve prosthesis (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The TVG is inadequate as an independent predictor of the degree of aortic stenosis and outcome from aortic valve replacement in aortic stenosis. In contrast, the TVG may be a useful screening tool for detecting aortic stenosis in targeted elderly populations.

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PubMed2004

Do off-pump techniques reduce the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting?

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is the most common postoperative complication in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with advancing age having been shown to have a significant association with its incidence. This study aims to assess whether off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) reduces the incidence of atrial fibrillation in elderly patients. METHODS: A meta-analysis of all observational studies reporting a comparison between the two techniques in elderly patients (> 70 years) between 1999-2003 was performed. The primary outcome of interest was the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation. The quality of each study was evaluated by examining three items: patient selection, matching of the off-pump and cardiopulmonary bypass patient groups, and assessment of outcome. Meta-regression analysis was undertaken to see the effects of study size and quality on the calculated odds ratio. RESULTS: Eight studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria, all of which were nonrandomized. In total the studies identified 3017 subjects, of which 764 had off-pump surgery (25%) and 2253 underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (75%). Meta-analysis showed that after off-pump surgery there was a significantly lower incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in these patients (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.89). Meta-regression analysis including study characteristics did not show any associations affecting the calculated odds ratio of atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates a reduced incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in an elderly population with off-pump as compared with cardiopulmonary bypass techniques. We appreciate, however, that our statistical analysis uses nonrandomized published data and that the results must be treated with caution. If this finding is confirmed by a large-scale randomized trial, it has significant implications on the operative strategy employed for this patient group.

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PubMed2004

Should the internal thoracic artery be skeletonized?

Traditionally, the internal thoracic artery is harvested as a pedicle. In contemporary cardiac surgical practice, however, certain surgeons practice the internal thoracic artery-skeletonization technique. A systematic review of clinical studies reporting on the use of skeletonized internal thoracic arteries (SKT-ITA) has not yet been performed. The primary aim of this review article is to examine comprehensively the entire body of evidence regarding the use of SKT-ITA. In particular, we aimed to analyze the effects of skeletonization on sternal blood supply, wall damage and blood flow in the harvested vessel, postoperative graft patency, and clinical outcome. Advantages and disadvantages of the skeletonization technique are highlighted and discussed.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗