Adverse events during reoperative cardiac surgery: frequency, characterization, and rescue.
OBJECTIVE
To (1) determine frequency of occurrence and risk factors for intraoperative adverse events (IAE) during reoperative cardiac surgery, (2) characterize them with respect to structure injured, timing, and use of preventive strategies, and (3) identify the impact on outcome in terms of successful and unsuccessful rescue and cost.


METHODS
Operative notes of 1847 patients undergoing reoperative cardiac surgery were reviewed to identify and characterize documented intraoperative adverse events. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify risk factors for intraoperative adverse events and outcomes. Expected versus observed poor outcomes (stroke, myocardial infarction, death) was used to measure rescue.


RESULTS
Among 127 patients, 145 (7%) intraoperative adverse events occurred. These included injuries to bypass grafts (n = 47), heart (n = 38), and great vessels (n = 28) and ischemia without graft injury (n = 22). Most occurred on opening (n = 34, 23%) and during prebypass dissection (n = 57, 39%). Risk incremented as reoperations increased. Seventy-seven patients experienced 1 or more lapses in preventive strategies. Patients with intraoperative adverse events had a greater number of poor outcomes (n = 24 [19%] vs n = 107 [6.2%]; P < .0001) and incurred higher direct technical intraoperative and postoperative costs (ratio 1.3). Twelve patients with intraoperative adverse events were predicted to have poor outcomes versus 24 who did (P < .0001), indicating 12 "failures to rescue."


CONCLUSIONS
Adverse events still occur regularly during cardiac reoperation, are related to complexity of the procedure, and occur particularly during dissection and often when preventive strategies have not been used. Compensatory rescue measures are not always successful. Adverse events lead to poor patient outcome and higher cost.
Roselli
Eric E
EE
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. roselle@ccf.org
Pettersson
Gösta B
GB
Blackstone
Eugene H
EH
Brizzio
Mariano E
ME
Houghtaling
Penny L
PL
Hauck
Regina
R
Burke
Jacob M
JM
Lytle
Bruce W
BW
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome