Surgical ventricular reconstruction with different myocardial protection strategies. A propensity matched analysis

The aim of this study is to compare outcomes of patients undergoing surgical ventricular reconstruction (SVR) with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and beating heart or hypothermic CPB and cardioplegic arrest. Between 2001 and 2008, 588 patients underwent SVR. A propensity score matching was performed and 91 matched pairs were created: group 1 (G1) operated with normothermic CPB and beating-heart technique, and group 2 (G2) operated with hypothermic CPB and cardioplegic arrest. Mean age was 62+/-9 years in G1 and 63+/-10 years in G2 [not significant (NS)]. Average follow-up was 42.7+/-26 months (range 1-72). Major cardiac and cerebro-vascular events (MACCE) were assessed. Thirty-day mortality was 4% in G1 and 5% in G2 (NS). Kaplan-Meier survival at six years was 79+/-4% and 72+/-9% (NS) and freedom from MACCE was 82+/-4% and 83+/-7% in G1 and G2, respectively (NS). Left ventricular volume reduction, ejection fraction and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class improvement were significant in the overall population; no significant differences were found between groups. The following independent risk factors for cardiac death were identified: mitral valve regurgitation, surgery <3 months from myocardial infarction, NYHA class III-IV. This study showed that outcomes following SVR are not affected by myocardial protection strategies neither in cardiac function and clinical status nor in survival.