Impact of vital capacity on outcome after total arch replacement

Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been recognized as a significant risk factor for open-heart surgery, the relationship between vital capacity and postoperative outcomes remains unclear. Our objective was to analyze the effect of vital capacity on outcomes after total arch replacement.

Between January 2003 and December 2018, 228 patients undergoing total arch replacement who were elective cases with preoperative spirometry records were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups, based on whether their preoperative vital capacity was less than or greater than 2.5 L. We compared perioperative data and long-term outcome after adjusting their backgrounds by propensity score matching analysis.

The lower vital capacity group had more tracheostomy patients (5.1% vs 0.0%; p = 0.045). The actuarial survival rate was 58.0% in the lower vital capacity group and 86.3% in the higher vital capacity group at 8 years. Log-rank analysis revealed a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.011). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, vital capacity < 2.5 L (p = 0.024) and estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30mL/minute/1.73 m² (p = 0.012) showed a significant association with a higher risk of long-term mortality.

Vital capacity should be considered an important risk factor for postoperative respiratory complications and long-term mortality in patients undergoing total arch replacement.