Cardiac operations in patients with end-stage renal disease

Factors influencing the survival of 35 consecutive patients in end-stage renal disease who required 40 open heart surgical procedures over the past 8 years were studied. The mean age in these patients was 57.7 +/- 3 years (range, 32 to 77 years); 74.3% of the patients were male; and the average duration of hemodialysis was 3.6 +/- 0.6 years. Twenty-nine myocardial procedures (20 of 29 for unstable angina), six valve replacements, and five combined procedures were performed. The actuarial survivals at 1 and 3 months, and at 1, 5, and 8 years were 90%, 85%, 76%, 55%, and 43%, respectively. Based on the results of univariate analysis, the most significant predictor of both early and late mortality was New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV congestive heart failure. The 5-year survival in the patients 60 years and older was less favorable than that in patients younger than 60 years (45% versus 63%) (p < 0.05). The 5-year survival in the patients in NYHA class IV was only 27%, as compared to 63% in the patients in class II or III (p < 0.001). All survivors have remained free of angina and 19 of the 21 survivors showed an improvement in their NYHA class. Four patients under 40 years of age have subsequently been able to undergo renal transplantation. Overall, these results justify proceeding with an open heart surgical procedure in dialysis patients, when needed, but before the onset of congestive heart failure.