Predictors of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Trends Over 20 Years

Predictors of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Trends Over 20 Years Khaled D. Algarni, MD, MHS, Manjula Maganti, MS, and Terrence M. Yau, MD, MS Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Background. Postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We sought to examine trends in predictors of LCOS after isolated CABG. Methods. A total of 25,176 consecutive patients who underwent isolated CABG between 1990 and 2009 were included. To examine trends over time, we divided patients into four equivalent eras (1990 to -1994, n 6,489; 1995 to 1999, n 8,175; 2000 to 2004, n 6,741; 2005 to 2009, n 3,797). We used multivariable analysis to identify predictors of LCOS. Results. The prevalence of LCOS declined from 9.1% (1990 to 1994) to 2.4% (2005 to 2009, p < 0.001). The following were the major independent predictors of LCOS for the entire cohort (odds ratios in parentheses): reoperative CABG (4.1); earlier year of operation (4.1, 2.6, 1.7 for the first, second, and third eras, respectively); left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 0.20 (3.5), emergency surgery (2.7), cardiogenic shock (2.3), female gender (2), and LVEF 0.20 to 0.39 (2). Unlike other risk factors, the impact of LVEF less than 0.20 on development of postoperative LCOS increased substantially in the latest era (odds ratio, 7.8) compared with (odds ratios, 3.1, 4.3, and 3.2) the first, second, and third eras, respectively. Conclusions. The impact of LVEF less than 0.20 on development of postoperative LCOS has increased markedly in the latest era of our study. Prudent preoperative evaluation in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction is critical. Further innovative research in myocardial protection and circulatory support is warranted in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. (Ann Thorac Surg 2011;92:1678 85) 2011 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons The development of low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is associated with a 10-fold to 17-fold increase in mortality and markedly increased morbidity [1].The reported prevalence of LCOS after isolated CABG is 3% to 14% [1 3]. The prevalence and the independent predictors of LCOS were described previously by Rao and associates [1]. However, no studies have examined temporal changes in predictors of LCOS in patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine trends over time in the prevalence of LCOS in patients undergoing CABG surgery over a 20-year period, as well as to identify changes in the independent predictors of LCOS with time. These findings may assist in identification of patients at high risk of postoperative LCOS and therefore facilitate preoperative planning and patient counselling, and guide potential preoperative interventions for optimization of high-risk subgroups. Accepted for publication June 8, 2011. Address correspondence to Dr Yau, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, 4N-470, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2C4; e-mail: terry.yau@uhn.on.ca. Patients and Methods Data Collection and Study Outcomes Clinical, operative, and outcome data were collected prospectively in a computerized database for 25,176 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG at our institution between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2009. Patients undergoing CABG with concomitant procedures were excluded. To evaluate changing patterns of risk factors and outcomes over time, the study population (n 25,202) was divided into 4 eras (1990 to 1994, n 6,489; 1995 to 1999, n 8,175; 2000 to 2004, n 6,741, and 2005 to 2009, n 3,797). The study was approved by our Institutional Research Ethics board; individual patient consent was waived. Our primary outcome was LCOS, which was diagnosed if the patient required an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) in the operating room to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass or in the intensive care unit because of hemodynamic compromise. The LCOS was also diagnosed if the patient required inotropic medication (either dopamine, dobutamine, milrinone, or epinephrine) to maintain a systolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg and cardiac output greater than 2.2L min 1 m 2 for at least 30 minutes in the intensive care unit, after optimizing preload, and afterload as well as correcting all 2011 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 0003-4975/$36.00 Published by Elsevier Inc doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2011.06.017

Ann Thorac Surg ALGARNI ET AL 2011;92:1678 85 LOW OUTPUT SYNDROME AFTER CORONARY BYPASS Table 1. Demographics and Clinical Profile Variable 1990 1994 1995 1999 2000 2004 2005 2009 p Value No. of patients 6,489 8,175 6,741 3,797 Age (years) mean SD 61.6 9.7 62.9 9.9 64.4 9.9 65.8 10 0.0001 Less than 65 58.7 52.3 47.6 43.6 0.0001 65 74 33.8 35.9 36.5 34.9 75 7.5 11.8 15.9 21.5 Female 20 22.2 20.4 21.9 0.003 Diabetes mellitus 23.7 27.8 33.3 39.1 0.0001 Hypertension 50.2 53.7 64.5 76.4 0.0001 Hyperlipidemia 52.5 65.9 83 90.2 0.0001 Angina Stable 37.1 32.2 39 35.1 0.0001 Crescendo 33.6 30 33.8 29.5 ACS 27.3 35.8 23.3 25.5 Preoperative MI 16.3 20.3 22 23.7 0.0001 Cardiogenic shock 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.5 0.2 Congestive heart failure 8.3 8.9 10.1 10.1 0.006 Preoperative IABP 3.5 3.5 3.1 3.1 0.4 LVEF 0.60 32.2 31 40.8 53.6 0.0001 0.40 0.60 43.6 45.7 38 31 0.20 0.40 21.2 20.5 18.8 14.3 0.20 3.1 2.9 2.5 1.2 Left main disease 18.2 18.3 26.3 34.9 0.0001 Triple-vessel disease 72.7 74.7 80.3 82 0.0001 Preoperative stroke 8.3 8.1 8.5 9.5 0.1 PVD 14 14.7 18.7 20.4 0.0001 Reoperative CABG 7.2 5 3.5 2.1 0.0001 Previous PCI stents 10.3 9.2 9.1 11 0.002 Urgency of surgery Elective 57.3 48.1 51.7 49.5 0.0001 Semiurgent 20.6 36.2 36.6 36.4 Urgent 15.7 11.1 8.5 9.8 Emergency 2 0.7 0.6 0.6 1679 ADULT CARDIAC ACS acute coronary syndrome; CABG coronary artery bypass grafting; IABP intraaortic balloon pump; LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction; MI myocardial infarction; PCI percutaneous coronary intervention; PVD peripheral vascular disease. electrolyte and blood gas abnormalities. Patients who required a renal dose of dopamine ( 4 g/kg) or those who received vasoconstricting medications to increase peripheral vascular resistance in the presence of normal or high cardiac output ( 2.5 L min 1 m 2 ) were not considered to have LCOS. Statistical Analysis Statistical analysis was performed with SAS 9.2 software (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC). We used the 2 or Fisher exact test to analyze categoric data. Categoric variables were expressed as percentages. Analysis of variance was used to analyze continuous variables that are normally distributed, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for variables with a nonparametric distribution. Continuous variables were expressed as means standard deviations. Statistical significance was based on two-sided p values less than 0.05. Variables that had a univariate p value of less than 0.25 and those of biological importance were selected for inclusion in a multivariable logistic regression model. Multivariable analysis was performed for the entire cohort of 25,176 patients as well as for each era separately to determine the independent predictors of LCOS for the entire cohort and for each era separately. Model discrimination and calibration were evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the Hosmer Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistic, respectively. Results Demographics and Baseline Clinical Profile Preoperative patient characteristics are detailed in Table 1. The prevalence of most risk factors increased steadily with time. About 20% of patients were 75 years and older

1680 ALGARNI ET AL Ann Thorac Surg LOW OUTPUT SYNDROME AFTER CORONARY BYPASS 2011;92:1678 85 Table 2. Operative Data and Postoperative Outcomes Variable 1990 1994 1995 1999 2000 2004 2005 2009 p Value Intraoperative variables LITA use 83 89.6 88.9 91.8 0.0001 RITA use 2.1 3.4 8.1 7.2 0.0001 Radial artery use a 2.5 3.7 1.9 0.0001 No. of grafts 3.5 0.9 3.6 0.9 3.5 0.9 3.4 0.9 0.0001 CPB time (minutes) 86.9 26.8 85.2 26 91.8 25.7 89 23.3 0.0001 Cross-clamping time (minutes) 60.5 18.4 63.5 18.4 68.8 20.8 68.1 21.3 0.0001 Cardioplegia technique Intermittent cold antegrade 76 67.6 80.9 86.8 0.0001 Warm or tepid cardioplegia 14.6 16.6 4.9 0.4 Off pump 0.2 3 6.2 9.5 Postoperative outcomes Mortality 2.5 1.7 1.1 1.4 0.0001 Inotrope use 30 minutes 31.2 30.8 39.7 37.1 0.0001 Low-output syndrome 5.1 4 2.6 1.8 0.0001 IABP 4.9 4.9 3.2 2.2 0.0001 Myocardial infarction 3.2 2.5 2.9 1.8 0.001 Stroke 1.5 1.4 0.9 0.9 0.01 Renal failure 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.3 0.07 Pulmonary complications 8.9 8.5 7.5 10.2 0.0001 Sternal wound infection Superficial 2.1 1.5 1.5 1.2 0.006 Deep 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.6 Sepsis 0.6 0.7 1.3 1.6 0.001 Duration of ventilation (hours) 26.7 61.2 14.1 52.1 16.9 58 16.8 59.3 0.0001 Intensive care unit stay (hours) 56.4 79 43.3 90.8 51.9 116 53.6 100 0.0001 Hospital stay (days) 10 9.4 8 8.9 8 9.9 7.9 7.6 0.0001 a Radial artery data was not collected during the first time cohort (1991 1996). CPB cardiopulmonary bypass; IABP intraaortic balloon pump; LITA left internal thoracic artery; RITA right internal thoracic artery. in the latest time cohort versus 7.5% of patients in the first one. The prevalence of left main disease doubled between the first and the last time cohort (18.2% vs 34.9%). In contrast, the prevalence of left ventricular dysfunction and reoperative CABG has declined significantly with time. Operative and Hospital Outcomes Operative profiles and postoperative outcomes are detailed in Table 2. The overall prevalence of LCOS for the entire cohort was 5.7% (n 1,431). The prevalence of LCOS declined from 9.1% (n 588) in the first time cohort to 2.4% (n 91) in the last one (p 0.0001). In-hospital mortality declined from 2.5% in the first era to 1.4% in the last one (p 0.0001). The prevalence of most postoperative complications declined significantly with time. However, there was a trend of increasing prevalence of sepsis with time. The duration of ventilation and intensive care unit stay has fluctuated with time. Nonetheless, the length of hospital stay decreased significantly with time. Postoperative Outcomes Stratified by LCOS Table 3 details the postoperative outcomes in patients who developed LCOS compared with those who did not. Across the four eras, operative mortality was higher in patients with LCOS (17.7% vs 0.9%, 18.5% vs 0.6%, 12.8 vs 0.6%, and 24% vs 0.8%), respectively (p 0.0001). Similarly, patients with LCOS had significantly longer ventilatory support, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, and more blood transfusion. Moreover, the risk of mortality in patients with LCOS increased significantly in the latest era, where 22 out of 91 patients with LCOS died in the latest era (24%) compared with mortality of 17.7%, 18.5%, and 12.8% for the LCOS group in the first, second, and third eras, respectively. Thus LCOS was associated with a 29-fold increase in mortality in the latest era, compared with a 17-fold increase in the first era of this study. Predictors of LCOS Predictors of LCOS are detailed in Table 4. Reoperative CABG (odds ratio [OR], 4.1) and the first era of surgery (OR, 4.1) carried the highest odds of LCOS, followed by LVEF less than 0.20 (OR, 3.5) and then emergency CABG (OR, 2.7). Table 5 presents the odds ratios for independent predictors of LCOS across the four eras of the study. The predictors of LCOS have changed significantly with time. In the latest era, only four variables emerged as significant predictors of LCOS; LVEF less than 0.20 (OR, 7.8),

Ann Thorac Surg ALGARNI ET AL 2011;92:1678 85 LOW OUTPUT SYNDROME AFTER CORONARY BYPASS Table 3. Outcomes Stratified by Low Cardiac Output Syndrome Status a Variable 1990 1994 1995 1999 2000 2004 2005 2009 Mortality LCOS % (n) 17.7 (588) 18.5 (487) 12.8 (265) 24.2 (91) No LCOS % (n) 95 (5,892) 61 (7,677) 56 (6,471) 84 (3,705) Intensive care unit stay (hours) LCOS 111.3 134 141.7 224 205 440 200 251 No LCOS 50.8 68.5 37.3 70.9 45.6 73.2 49.9 90 Duration of ventilation (hours) LCOS 66.8 111 75.3 152.2 109 165.4 124.6 194 No LCOS 22.8 52.3 10.3 37.7 13.2 45.1 14 47.5 Postoperative hospital stay (days) LCOS 13.4 12.7 15.1 20.8 18.2 37.7 16.1 21.8 No LCOS 9.6 8.9 7.5 7.1 7.5 6.2 7.6 6.7 1681 ADULT CARDIAC a p 0.001 for each individual grouping variable and across the four eras. LCOS low cardiac output syndrome. reoperative CABG (OR, 5.4), LVEF 0.20 to 0.39 (OR, 4), and emergent-urgent surgery (OR, 2.5). Figure 1 shows that the observed frequency of LCOS declined with time in all high-risk categories except patients with LVEF less than 0.20. In these patients with severe LV dysfunction, the prevalence of LCOS increased from 10.7% in the third era of this study to 18.2% in the latest era. LVEF Less Than 0.20 Unlike other predictive variables, the prevalence of LCOS increased significantly in patients with LVEF less than 0.20 in the most recent era (18.2%) compared with the third era of this study (10.7%). We used a Cochrane Mantel-Haenszel test to compare the odds of developing LCOS in patients with LVEF less than 0.20 across the four eras. The odds ratio for LCOS in patients with LVEF less Table 4. Multivariable Predictors of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome (n 25,176) Variable n Estimate SE Odds Ratio 95% CI p Value Constant 70.26 Age a 0.015 0.003 1.016 1.01 1.02 0.0001 Female gender 5,322 0.70 0.06 2 1.8 2.3 0.0001 Diabetes 7,539 0.17 0.06 1.2 1.1 1.3 0.006 Cardiogenic shock 305 0.58 0.16 2.3 1.7 3.2 0.0001 Congestive heart failure 2,325 0.63 0.08 1.7 1.4 2.3 0.0001 Peripheral vascular disease 4,136 0.15 0.07 1.2 1.01 1.3 0.04 Reoperative CABG 1,259 1.41 0.09 4.1 3.5 4.8 0.0001 Left main disease 5,775 0.26 0.07 1.3 1.1 1.5 0.0001 LVEF b 0.20 646 1.27 0.14 3.5 2.7 4.6 0.0001 0.20 0.40 4,847 0.71 0.09 2.0 1.7 2.4 0.0001 0.40 0.60 10,281 0.23 0.08 1.3 1.1 1.5 0.003 Urgency of surgery Same hospitalization 751 0.41 0.14 1.5 1.1 2 0.005 Urgent 2,622 0.53 0.1 1.7 1.4 2.1 0.0001 Emergent 247 1 0.2 2.7 1.8 4 0.0001 Year of operation 1991 1996 c 6,489 1.4 0.12 4.1 3.2 5.3 0.0001 1997 2002 c 8,175 0.96 0.12 2.6 2.1 3.3 0.0001 1997 2002 c 6,741 0.54 0.13 1.7 1.3 2.2 0.0001 a Age is a continuous variable. b Odds ratios were calculated by comparing against LVEF 60%. c Odds ratios were calculated by comparing against the 2005 to 2009 time cohort. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.77. The Hosmer Lemeshow goodness-of-fit p value was 0.35. CABG coronary artery bypass grafting surgery; CI confidence interval; LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction; SE standard error.

1682 ALGARNI ET AL Ann Thorac Surg LOW OUTPUT SYNDROME AFTER CORONARY BYPASS 2011;92:1678 85 Table 5. Trends in Odds Ratios for Predictors of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome Variable 1991 1994 a 1995 1999 b 2000 2004 c 2005 2009 d LVEF 0.20 3.1 4.3 3.2 7.8 LVEF 0.20 0.40 1.7 2.2 2.2 4 Reoperative 4.3 4.3 4.1 5.4 CABG Emergency/ 3.5 7.9 9.5 2.5 urgent surgery Female sex 2.4 2 1.9 Hypertension 1.5 1.8 1.5 Age 1.01 1.03 Left main 1.4 1.3 disease Triple vessels 1.4 1.5 disease Diabetes 1.5 a C-statistic is 0.75, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit p value was 0.1. b C-statistic is 0.77, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit p value is 0.88. c C-statistic is 0.76, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodnessof-fit p value is 0.40. d C-statistic is 0.72. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit p value is 0.77. The numbers in the last four columns represents odds ratios. CABG coronary artery bypass grafting surgery; LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction. than 0.20 compared with those with LVEF 0.20 or less was 3.7 (CI, 2.7 to 5.2), 5.2 (CI, 3.8 to 7.1), 3.1 (CI, 1.9 to 5.1), and 9.8 (CI, 4.4 to 21.7) in the first, second, third, and fourth eras, respectively (p 0.04). This indicates that the odds of developing LCOS in patients with LVEF less than 0.20 increased by a relative 80% to 200% in the latest era (OR, 9.8) compared with the previous three eras. This difference was statistically significant by univariate analysis (p 0.04). Furthermore, multivariable analysis (Table 5) confirms this finding, where the OR increased to 7.8 in the most recent era compared with an OR of 3.1, 4.3, and 3.2 in the first three eras, respectively. Figure 2 presents the risk profile of patients with LVEF less than 0.20 across the four eras of this study. The prevalence of elderly patients, preoperative myocardial infarction, left main disease, and congestive heart failure increased markedly in patients with LVEF less than 0.20 over the time span of this study. Comment In the present study, we examined the trends in prevalence and the changes in predictors of LCOS over time in a large series of patients who underwent isolated CABG surgery at our institution over 2 decades (1990 to 2009). The significance of most predictors of LCOS has declined over time, whereas the impact of severe LV dysfunction (LVEF 0.20) on the development of postoperative LCOS has increased significantly in the latest era of this study. The prevalence of LCOS has declined significantly with time; however, its associated morbidity and mortality has increased. Maganti and associates [5] found similar trends in patients undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery, where LCOS-associated mortality increased from 23% (23 of 100) in the earliest era of their study (1990 to 1995) to 35% (16 of 46) in the last era (2002 to 2008). In their study, LCOS was associated with a 30-fold increase in mortality [4]. Further, LCOS portended even a higher risk of mortality in patients undergoing isolated aortic valve surgery, a 38-fold increase in mortality [5]. This makes LCOS perhaps the most serious complication after cardiac surgery. Indeed, in a multicenter prospective study performed by the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group, 384 deaths in 8,641 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG between 1990 and 1995 were analyzed with respect to the mode of death. Persistent low cardiac output was judged to be the primary mode of death in 65% of the patients [6]. We believe that the trend of increasing mortality with time in patients with LCOS is partially driven by the worsening risk profile of these patients with time. Indeed, about 20% of patients with LCOS were 75 years or older in the latest era compared with 11.5% in the first one (p 0.008). Similarly, the prevalence of preoperative Fig 1. Prevalence of low cardiac output syndrome by high-risk factors. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 0.20, reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (redo CABG), emergent and urgent surgery (Emerg/urg), elderly patients 75 years and older (Age 75 ), left main coronary stenosis (Left main), and female gender.

Ann Thorac Surg ALGARNI ET AL 2011;92:1678 85 LOW OUTPUT SYNDROME AFTER CORONARY BYPASS 1683 Fig 2. Risk profile of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 0.20 by era of surgery. (CHF congestive heart failure; LMD left main coronary disease; Preop MI preoperative myocardial infarction; Preop shock preoperative cardiogenic shock. Numbers over the bars are the p values.) ADULT CARDIAC myocardial infarction (39% vs 28%, p 0.02), left main disease (46.2% vs 23.6%, p 0.001), and requirement of preoperative IABP (20% vs 9.2, p 0.001) were all higher in patients with LCOS during the latest era of this study compared with the first one. Moreover, another potential driver of increasing mortality and morbidity in patients with LCOS in the latest era is the higher proportion of LCOS in patients with severe LV dysfunction, representing a very sick population of patients with multiple comorbidities and dismal LV function. LV Dysfunction Contrary to our initial assumptions, the prevalence of patients with moderate to severe LV dysfunction (LVEF 0.40) decreased steadily with time. We hypothesized that this decline might be related to a shift of patients with poor LV function from isolated CABG to combined CABG and valvular surgery, particularly mitral surgery. Exploratory analyses of our institutional data demonstrated an increase in the prevalence of LVEF less than 0.40 among patients who underwent combined mitral valve surgery (24.4%, 32.5%, 38.5%, and 39.1% for the first, second, third, and forth eras, respectively). This shift of patients with LVEF less than 0.40 from the isolated CABG group to the combined CABG and mitral valve surgery group over the last two decades appears to explain most of the reduced prevalence of moderate to severe LV systolic dysfunction in our isolated CABG patients. However, our data cannot clarify whether there was a simultaneous decrease in the referral of patients with left ventricular dysfunction for CABG in favor of percutaneous coronary intervention. Severe LV dysfunction (LVEF 0.20) was the most significant predictor of LCOS in the most recent era of this study. Several studies have shown that over time, the relative influence of left ventricular dysfunction on postoperative adverse outcomes has declined [7 10]. This was true during the first three eras of our study; however, the influence of severe LV dysfunction on development of LCOS has increased significantly in the most recent era of our study compared with the first three eras. There are several potential explanations for this trend. First, this trend can be explained partly by the worsening risk profile of patients with LVEF less than 0.20 over time. Also, surgeons might have had a lower threshold in the latest era to operate on patients with dismal LV function given advances in circulatory support. Additionally, it is possible that the degree of severity of LV dysfunction was higher in the latest era of this study, leading to the higher prevalence of LCOS in the latest era among patients with LVEF less than 0.20. However, we can only speculate on this last explanation, as our data do not capture the exact LV ejection fraction. The increasing prevalence of LCOS in patients with LVEF less than 0.20 puts these patients at high risk of mortality and morbidity. Therefore, prudent preoperative planning is critical in this high-risk group. Preoperative prophylactic insertion of an IABP is justifiable in this high-risk group and may reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality [11]. Additionally, patients with LVEF less than 0.20 should be screened and evaluated preoperatively for potential requirement of circulatory support or consideration of heart transplantation. If a patient with LCOS fails to respond to IABP and inotropic support, implantation of ventricular assist devices as a bridge either to recovery or to transplantation has been shown to be beneficial, often resulting in successful discharge from the hospital [12 14]. Indeed, early implementation of mechanical circulatory assistance in the setting of postoperative LCOS to provide mechanical unloading of the ventricle and rapid restoration of normal end-organ perfusion is associated with improved survival rates [15 17]. The multivariable analysis showed that the impact of most risk factors on the development of LCOS has declined with time, which we believe is the result of refinements and advancements in perioperative surgical and anesthetic techniques. Importantly, cardioplegia techniques have evolved significantly in our institution over the span of this study. Diluted 4:1 blood-tocrystalloid cardioplegia was employed during the first era. Less diluted 8:1 blood cardioplegia was used in the

1684 ALGARNI ET AL Ann Thorac Surg LOW OUTPUT SYNDROME AFTER CORONARY BYPASS 2011;92:1678 85 second and the third eras. In the latest era, undiluted 66:1 blood cardioplegia (microplegia) was used exclusively, and may have accounted in part for the reduction in the prevalence of LCOS and probably lessened the impact of several risk factors on the development of postoperative LCOS. Indeed, previous studies have shown that microplegia is associated with reduced myocardial edema due to a reduction in the volume of crystalloid delivered to the heart, and that this reduced edema may improve myocardial recovery after cardioplegic arrest [18 21]. Our study also has some limitations. Although the data were prospectively collected, this study remains a retrospective review of a single-center experience. Additionally, two decades of coronary surgery were included in this study, during which both perioperative and postoperative management for coronary disease have changed significantly. However, we tried to account for the time effect by dividing our cohort into four equivalent eras. In conclusion, the significance of most predictors of LCOS has declined over time. Importantly, the impact of severe LV dysfunction (LVEF 0.20) on the development of postoperative LCOS has increased significantly in the latest era of this study. Patients with severe LV dysfunction should be the focus of further research, especially in the areas of preoperative risk stratification, perioperative myocardial protection, and postoperative circulatory support. Terrence M. Yau holds the Angelo & Lorenza DeGasperis Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery Research at the University of Toronto. References 1. Rao V, Ivanov J, Weisel RD, Ikonomidis JS, Christakis GT, David TE. Predictors of low cardiac output syndrome after coronary artery bypass. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;112: 38 51. 2. Hogue CW Jr, Sundt T 3rd, Barzilai B, Schectman KB, Dávila-Román VG. 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Preoperative intraaortic balloon pumping improves outcomes for highrisk patients in routine coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2009;87:488. 12. Leshnower BG, Gleason TG, O Hara ML, et al. Safety and efficacy of left ventricular assist device support in postmyocardial infarction cardiogenic shock. Ann Thorac Surg 2006; 81:1365 71. 13. Goldstein DJ, Oz MC. Mechanical support for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;12:220 8. 14. Pae WE Jr, Miller CA, Matthews Y, Pierce WS. Ventricular assist devices for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock. A combined registry experience. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1992; 104:541 52. 15. Mehta SM, Aufiero TX, Pae WE Jr, Miller CA, Pierce WS. Results of mechanical ventricular assistance for the treatment of post cardiotomy cardiogenic shock. ASAIO J 1996; 42:211 8. 16. DeRose JJ Jr, Umana JP, Argenziano M, et al. 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INVITED COMMENTARY Algarni and colleagues [1] present a 20-year analysis of a large cohort of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, in which they document a decrease in the prevalence of low cardiac output syndrome, improved in-hospital mortality, and a reduction in major postoperative complications over this 20-year span. Two unexpected findings in the current era were an increase in mortality among patients suffering low cardiac output syndrome and an increase in the likelihood of low cardiac output syndrome among patients with an ejection frac- 2011 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 0003-4975/$36.00 Published by Elsevier Inc doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2011.08.073