Complications after Surgical Procedures in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Results of a Prospective Registry

Arq Bras Cardiol. 2016 Sep;107(3):245-256. doi: 10.5935/abc.20160129. Epub 2016 Aug 29.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Background:: Complications after surgical procedures in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) are an emerging problem due to an increasing number of such procedures and aging of the population, which consequently increases the frequency of comorbidities.

Objective:: To identify the rates of postoperative complications, mortality, and hospital readmissions, and evaluate the risk factors for the occurrence of these events.

Methods:: Prospective and unicentric study that included all individuals undergoing CIED surgical procedures from February to August 2011. The patients were distributed by type of procedure into the following groups: initial implantations (cohort 1), generator exchange (cohort 2), and lead-related procedures (cohort 3). The outcomes were evaluated by an independent committee. Univariate and multivariate analyses assessed the risk factors, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.

Results:: A total of 713 patients were included in the study and distributed as follows: 333 in cohort 1, 304 in cohort 2, and 76 in cohort 3. Postoperative complications were detected in 7.5%, 1.6%, and 11.8% of the patients in cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p = 0.014). During a 6-month follow-up, there were 58 (8.1%) deaths and 75 (10.5%) hospital readmissions. Predictors of hospital readmission included the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (odds ratio [OR] = 4.2), functional class III--IV (OR = 1.8), and warfarin administration (OR = 1.9). Predictors of mortality included age over 80 years (OR = 2.4), ventricular dysfunction (OR = 2.2), functional class III-IV (OR = 3.3), and warfarin administration (OR = 2.3).

Conclusions:: Postoperative complications, hospital readmissions, and deaths occurred frequently and were strongly related to the type of procedure performed, type of CIED, and severity of the patient's underlying heart disease.

Fundamento:: Complicações após procedimentos cirúrgicos em portadores de dispositivos cardíacos eletrônicos implantáveis (DCEI) são um problema emergente devido ao aumento crescente na taxa destes procedimentos e ao envelhecimento da população, com consequente aumento de comorbidades.

Objetivos:: Identificar as taxas de complicações pós-operatórias, mortalidade e readmissão hospitalar, e pesquisar fatores de risco para a ocorrência desses eventos.

Métodos:: Registro prospectivo e unicêntrico que incluiu todos os indivíduos submetidos a procedimentos cirúrgicos em DCEI no período de fevereiro a agosto de 2011. Os pacientes foram distribuídos por tipos de procedimento nos seguintes grupos: implantes iniciais (coorte 1), troca de gerador (coorte 2) e procedimentos em cabos-eletrodos (coorte 3). Os desfechos foram avaliados por um comitê independente. Empregou-se a análise univariada e multivariada para a pesquisa de fatores de risco e o método de Kaplan-Meier para análise de sobrevida.

Resultados:: Foram incluídos 713 pacientes, sendo 333, 304 e 76 distribuídos nas coortes 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente. Complicações pós-operatórias foram detectadas em 7,5%, 1,6% e 11,8% dos pacientes nas coortes 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente (p = 0,014). Durante os 6 meses de seguimento, houve 58 (8,1%) óbitos e 75 (10,5%) readmissões hospitalares. Preditores de readmissão hospitalar incluíram o uso de cardioversor-desfibrilador implantável ( odds ratio [OR] = 4,2), classe funcional III-IV (OR = 1,8) e uso de warfarina (OR = 1,9). Preditores de mortalidade incluíram idade acima de 80 anos (OR = 2,4), disfunção ventricular (OR = 2,2), classe funcional III-IV (OR = 3,3) e uso de warfarina (OR = 2,3).

Conclusões:: Complicações pós-operatórias, readmissões hospitalares e óbitos foram frequentes. Esses eventos estiveram fortemente relacionados ao tipo de procedimento realizado, tipo de DCEI e gravidade da doença cardíaca do paciente.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / mortality
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Heart Diseases / mortality
  • Heart Diseases / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pacemaker, Artificial / adverse effects*
  • Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / mortality
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reoperation / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke Volume
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult