Kahn SR, Akaberi A, Granton JT, Anderson DR, Wells PS, Rodger MA, Solymoss S, Kovacs MJ, Rudski L, Shimony A, Dennie C, Rush C, Hernandez P, Aaron SD, Hirsch AM (article from Montreal Canada)

Am J Med. 2017 Apr 8. pii: S0002-9343(17)30361-3. doi:
10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.03.033. [Epub ahead of print]

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (QOL), dyspnea
and functional exercise capacity during the year following the diagnosis of a
first episode of pulmonary embolism.
METHODS: Prospective multicenter cohort study of 100 patients with acute
pulmonary embolism recruited at 5 Canadian hospitals from 2010-2013. We measured
the outcomes QOL (by SF-36 and PEmb-QOL measures), dyspnea (by the University of
California San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ)) and six-minute
walk distance at Baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after acute pulmonary embolism.
CT pulmonary angiography was performed at baseline, echocardiogram was performed
within 10 days, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed at 1 and 12
months. Predictors of change in QOL, dyspnea, and six-minute walk distance were
assessed by repeated measures mixed effects models analysis.
RESULTS: Mean age was 50.0 years, 57% were male, and 80% were treated as
out-patients. Mean scores for all outcomes improved during 1 year follow-up: from
baseline to 12 months, mean SF-36 physical component score improved by 8.8
points, SF-36 mental component score by 5.3 points, PEmb-QoL by -32.1 points, and
SOBQ by -16.3 points, and six-minute walk distance improved by 40 m. Independent
predictors of reduced improvement over time were female sex, higher BMI and
percent-predicted VO2 peak <80% on 1 month cardiopulmonary exercise test for all outcomes; prior lung disease and higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure on 10-day echocardiogram for the outcomes SF-36 physical component score and dyspnea score; and higher main pulmonary artery diameter on baseline CT pulmonary angiography for the outcome PEmb-QoL score. CONCLUSIONS: On average, QOL, dyspnea, and walking distance improve during the year after pulmonary embolism. However, a number of clinical and physiological predictors of reduced improvement over time were identified, most notably female sex, higher BMI and exercise limitation on 1- month cardiopulmonary exercise test. Our results provide new information on patient-relevant prognosis after pulmonary embolism.

Key A, Parry , West MA, Asher R, Jack S, Duffy N, Torella F, Walker PP.

BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017 Apr 5;4(1):e000164. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2016-000164.
eCollection 2017

INTRODUCTION: β Blockers are important treatment for ischaemic heart disease and
heart failure; however, there has long been concern about their use in people
with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to fear of symptomatic
worsening of breathlessness. Despite growing evidence of safety and efficacy,
they remain underused. We examined the effect of β-blockade on lung function,
exercise performance and dynamic hyperinflation in a group of vascular surgical
patients, a high proportion of who were expected to have COPD.
METHODS: People undergoing routine abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surveillance
were sequentially recruited from vascular surgery clinic. They completed
plethysmographically measured lung function and incremental cardiopulmonary
exercise testing with dynamic measurement of inspiratory capacity while taking
and not taking β blocker.
RESULTS: 48 participants completed tests while taking and not taking β blockers
with 38 completing all assessments successfully. 15 participants (39%) were found
to have, predominantly mild and undiagnosed, COPD. People with COPD had airflow
obstruction, increased airway resistance (Raw) and specific conductance (sGaw),
static hyperinflation and dynamically hyperinflated during exercise. In the whole
group, β-blockade led to a small fall in FEV1 (0.1 L/2.8% predicted) but did not
affect Raw, sGaw, static or dynamic hyperinflation. No difference in response to
β-blockade was seen in those with and without COPD.
CONCLUSIONS: In people with AAA, β-blockade has little effect on lung function
and dynamic hyperinflation in those with and without COPD. In this population,
the prevalence of COPD is high and consideration should be given to case finding
with spirometry.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02106286.

Onofre T, Carlos R, Oliver N, Felismino A, Fialho D, Corte R,
da Silva EP, Godoy E, Bruno S

Obes Surg. 2017 Apr 7. doi: 10.1007/s11695-017-2584-y. [Epub ahead of print]

BACKGROUND: In severely obese individuals, reducing body weight induced by
bariatric surgery is able to promote a reduction in comorbidities and improve
respiratory symptoms. However, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) reflected by peak
oxygen uptake (VO2peak) may not improve in individuals who remain sedentary
post-surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a
physical training program on CRF and pulmonary function in obese women after
bariatric surgery, and to compare them to a control group.
METHODS: Twelve obese female candidates for bariatric surgery were evaluated in
the preoperative, 3 months postoperative (3MPO), and 6 months postoperative
(6MPO) periods through anthropometry, spirometry, and cardiopulmonary exercise
testing (CPX). In the 3MPO period, patients were divided into control group (CG,
n = 6) and intervention group (IG, n = 6). CG received only general guidelines
while IG underwent a structured and supervised physical training program
involving aerobic and resistance exercises, lasting 12 weeks.
RESULTS: All patients had a significant reduction in anthropometric measurements
and an increase in lung function after surgery, with no difference between
groups. However, only IG presented a significant increase (p < 0.05) in VO2peak and total CPX duration of 5.9 mL/kg/min (23.8%) and 4.9 min (42.9%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Applying a physical training program to a group of obese women after 3 months of bariatric surgery could promote a significant increase in CRF only in the trained group, yet also showing that bariatric surgery alone caused an improvement in the lung function of both groups.

O’Byrne ML, Desai S, Lane M, McBride M, Paridon S, Goldmuntz E.

Pediatr Cardiol. 2017;38(3):472-483.

Increasing habitual exercise has been associated with improved cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) performance, specifically maximal oxygen consumption in children with operatively corrected congenital heart disease. This has not been studied in children following Fontan palliation, a population in whom CPET performance is dramatically diminished. A single-center cross-sectional study with prospective and retrospective data collection was performed that assessed habitual exercise preceding a clinically indicated CPET in children and adolescents with Fontan palliation, transposition of the great arteries following arterial switch operation (TGA), and normal cardiac anatomy without prior operation. Data from contemporaneous clinical reports and imaging studies were collected. The association between percent predicted VO2max and habitual exercise duration adjusted for known covariates was tested. A total of 175 subjects (75 post-Fontan, 20 with TGA, and 80 with normal cardiac anatomy) were enrolled. VO2max was lower in the Fontan group than patients with normal cardiac anatomy (p < 0.0001) or TGA (p < 0.0001). In Fontan subjects, both univariate and multivariate analysis failed to demonstrate a significant association between habitual exercise and VO2max (p = 0.6), in sharp contrast to cardiac normal subjects. In multivariate analysis, increasing age was the only independent risk factor associated with decreasing VO2max in the Fontan group (p = 0.003). Habitual exercise was not associated with VO2max in subjects with a Fontan as compared to biventricular circulation. Further research is necessary to understand why their habitual exercise is ineffective and/or what aspects of the Fontan circulation disrupt this association.

O’Byrne ML; Desai S; Lane M; McBride M; Paridon S; Goldmuntz E

Pediatric Cardiology [Pediatr Cardiol], ISSN: 1432-1971, 2017 Mar; Vol. 38 (3), pp. 472-483

Increasing habitual
exercise has been associated with improved cardiopulmonary exercise
testing (CPET) performance, specifically maximal oxygen consumption in
children with operatively corrected congenital heart disease. This has
not been studied in children following Fontan palliation, a population
in whom CPET performance is dramatically diminished. A single-center
cross-sectional study with prospective and retrospective data
collection was performed that assessed habitual exercise preceding a
clinically indicated CPET in children and adolescents with Fontan
palliation, transposition of the great arteries following arterial
switch operation (TGA), and normal cardiac anatomy without prior
operation. Data from contemporaneous clinical reports and imaging
studies were collected. The association between percent predicted
VO2max and habitual exercise duration adjusted for known covariates was
tested. A total of 175 subjects (75 post-Fontan, 20 with TGA, and 80
with normal cardiac anatomy) were enrolled. VO2max was lower in the
Fontan group than patients with normal cardiac anatomy (p < 0.0001) or TGA (p < 0.0001). In Fontan subjects, both univariate and multivariate analysis failed to demonstrate a significant association between habitual exercise and VO2max (p = 0.6), in sharp contrast to cardiac normal subjects. In multivariate analysis, increasing age was the only independent risk factor associated with decreasing VO2max in the Fontan group (p = 0.003). Habitual exercise was not associated with VO2max in subjects with a Fontan as compared to biventricular circulation. Further research is necessary to understand why their habitual exercise is ineffective and/or what aspects of the Fontan circulation disrupt this association.

Swart M, Carlisle JB, Goddard J.

Br J Anaesth. 2017;118(1):100-104.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative identification of high-risk surgical patients might help to reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality. Using a patient’s predicted 30 day mortality to plan postoperative high-dependency unit (HDU) care after elective colorectal surgery might be associated with reduced postoperative morbidity.
METHODS: The 30 day postoperative mortality was predicted for 504 elective colorectal surgical patients in a preoperative clinic. The prediction was used to determine postoperative surgical ward or HDU care. Those with a predicted 30 day mortality of 1-3% mortality, and thus deemed at intermediate risk, had either planned HDU care (n=68) or planned ward care (n=139). The main outcome measures were emergency laparotomy and unplanned critical care admission.
RESULTS: There were more emergency laparotomies and unplanned critical care admissions in patients with a predicted 30 day mortality of 1-3% who went to an HDU after surgery compared with patients who went to a ward: 0 vs 14 (10%), P=0.0056 and 0 vs 22 (16%), P=0.0002, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Planned postoperative critical care was associated with a lower rate of complications after elective colorectal surgery.

Rev Port Cardiol. 2017 Mar 17. pii: S0870-2551(17)30139-7. doi:
10.1016/j.repc.2016.09.017. [Epub ahead of print]

Ramos PS, Araújo CG

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The cardiorespiratory optimal point (COP) is a novel index,
calculated as the minimum oxygen ventilatory equivalent (VE/VO2) obtained during
cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). In this study we demonstrate the
prognostic value of COP both independently and in combination with maximum oxygen
consumption (VO2max) in community-dwelling adults.

METHODS: Maximal cycle ergometer CPET was performed in 3331 adults (66% men) aged
40-85 years, healthy (18%) or with chronic disease (81%). COP cut-off values of
<22, 22-30, and >30 were selected based on the log-rank test. Risk discrimination
was assessed using COP as an independent predictor and combined with VO2max.
RESULTS: Median follow-up was 6.4 years (7.1% mortality). Subjects with COP >30
demonstrated increased mortality compared to those with COP <22 (hazard ratio [HR] 6.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.69-12.75, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis including gender, age, body mass index, and the forced expiratory volume in 1 s/vital capacity ratio showed adjusted HR for COP >30 of 3.72 (95% CI
1.98-6.98; p<0.001) and for COP 22-30 of 2.15 (95% CI 1.15-4.03, p<0.001). Combining COP and VO2max data further enhanced risk discrimination. CONCLUSIONS: COP >30, either independently or in combination with low VO2max, is
a good predictor of all-cause mortality in community-dwelling adults (healthy or
with chronic disease). COP is a submaximal prognostic index that is simple to
obtain and adds to CPET assessment, especially for adults unable or unwilling to
achieve maximal exercise.

Eur Respir Rev. 2017 Mar 15;26(143).

Gopalan D, Delcroix M, Held M.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is the only potentially
curable form of pulmonary hypertension. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is pivotal
for successful treatment. Clinical signs and symptoms can be nonspecific and risk
factors such as history of venous thromboembolism may not always be present.
Echocardiography is the recommended first diagnostic step. Cardiopulmonary
exercise testing is a complementary tool that can help to identify patients with
milder abnormalities and chronic thromboembolic disease, triggering the need for
further investigation. Ventilation/perfusion (V’/Q’) scintigraphy is the imaging
methodology of choice to exclude CTEPH. Single photon emission computed
tomography V’/Q’ is gaining popularity over planar imaging. Assessment of
pulmonary haemodynamics by right heart catheterisation is mandatory, although
there is increasing interest in noninvasive haemodynamic evaluation. Despite the
status of digital subtraction angiography as the gold standard, techniques such
as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging are increasingly used
for characterising the pulmonary vasculature and assessment of operability.
Promising new tools include dual-energy CT, combination of rotational angiography
and cone beam CT, and positron emission tomography. These innovative procedures
not only minimise misdiagnosis, but also provide additional vascular information
relevant to treatment planning. Further research is needed to determine how these
modalities will fit into the diagnostic algorithm for CTEPH.

British Journal of Anaesthesia, 118 (1): 11–21 (2017)

S. Hajibandeh, S. Hajibandeh, S. A. Antoniou, F. Torella, and
G. A. Antoniou

Abstract
Background. To investigate the role of perioperative beta-blocker use in vascular and endovascular surgery.
Methods. We performed a systematic review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement standards. The review protocol was registered with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration number:CRD42016038111). We searched electronic databases to identify all randomized controlled trials and observational studies investigating outcomes of patients undergoing vascular and endovascular surgery with or without perioperative beta blockade. We used the Cochrane tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assess the risk of bias of trials and observational studies, respectively. Random-effectsmodels were applied to calculate pooled outcome data.

Results. We identified three randomized trials, five retrospective cohort studies, and three prospective cohort studies, enrolling a total of 32,602 patients. Our analyses indicated that perioperative use of beta-blockers did not reduce the risk of all-cause mortality [odds ratio (OR) 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59-2.04, P¼0.77], cardiac mortality (OR 2.62, 95% CI 0.86-8.05, P¼0.09), myocardial infarction (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.59-1.35, P¼0.58), unstable angina (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.41- 4.38, P¼0.63), stroke (OR 2.45, 95% CI 0.89-6.75, P¼0.08), arrhythmias (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.41-1.43, P¼0.40), congestive heart failure (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.77-1.63, P¼0.56), renal failure (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.90-2.45, P¼0.13), composite cardiovascular events (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.55-1.40, P¼0.58), rehospitalisation (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.48-1.52, P¼0.60), and reoperation (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.42-3.27, P¼0.77) in vascular surgery.

Conclusions. Beta-blockers do not improve perioperative outcomes in vascular and endovascular surgery.

Saratzis A;Thatcher A; Bath MF; Sidloff DA; Bown MJ; Shakespeare J; Sayers RD;
Imray C,

Annals Of The Royal College Of Surgeons Of England [Ann R Coll
Surg Engl], ISSN: 1478-7083, 2017 Feb; Vol. 99 (2), pp. 161-165;

INTRODUCTION Reporting surgeons’ outcomes has recently been introduced
in the UK. This has the potential to result in surgeons becoming risk
averse. The aim of this study was to investigate whether reporting
outcomes for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery impacts on the
number and risk profile (level of fitness) of patients offered elective
treatment.
METHODS Publically available National Vascular Registry data
were used to compare the number of AAAs treated in those centres across
the UK that reported outcomes for the periods 2008-2012, 2009-2013 and
2010-2014. Furthermore, the number and characteristics of patients
referred for consideration of elective AAA repair at a single tertiary
unit were analysed yearly between 2010 and 2014. Clinic, casualty and
theatre event codes were searched to obtain all AAAs treated. The
results of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were assessed.
RESULTS For the 85 centres that reported outcomes in all three
five-year periods, the median number of AAAs treated per unit increased
between the periods 2008-2012 and 2010-2014 from 192 to 214 per year
(p=0.006). In the single centre cohort study, the proportion of
patients offered elective AAA repair increased from 74% in 2009-2010 to
81% in 2013-2014, with a maximum of 84% in 2012-2013. The age, aneurysm
size and CPET results (anaerobic threshold levels) for those eventually
offered elective treatment did not differ significantly between 2010
and 2014.
CONCLUSIONS The results do not support the assumption that
reporting individual surgeon outcomes is associated with a risk averse
strategy regarding patient selection in aneurysm surgery at present.