Predictors of 30-day outcomes following mitral valve repair

INTRODUCTION: Mitral valve repair has been established as the preferred treatment option in the management of degenerative mitral valve disease. Compared with other surgical treatment options, mitral valve repair is associated with increased survival and decreased rates of both complications and reoperations. However, among patients undergoing mitral valve repair, little is known about the predictors of postoperative outcomes. The purpose of this study is to identify preoperative patient risk factors associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality within 30 days of mitral valve repair. METHODS: Data was derived from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to assess patients who underwent mitral valve repair from 2011 through 2017. Preoperative risk factors were analyzed to determine their association with a variety of postoperative 30-day outcome measures. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred and sixty-six patients underwent mitral valve repair; 849 (62.2%) males and 517 (37.8%) females. Ages ranged from 18 to 90 years, with a mean age of 64 years. The overall 30-day mortality was 3.1% (43 patients). Among the 12 identified risk factors associated with increased mortality on univariate analysis, pre-operative hematocrit level was the only variable significantly correlated with mortality after undergoing multivariate analysis. 259 patients (19.1%) were discharged to a location other than home, an outcome associated with 22 identified risk factors. Among these risk factors, female gender, age, dialysis, pre-operative serum sodium, pre-operative serum albumin, and partial or full living dependency remained statistically significant following multivariate analysis. 126 patients (9.2%) experienced unplanned readmission. This outcome was associated with five risk factors, of which only dyspnea upon mild exertion was significant on multivariate analysis. Reoperation occurred in 105 patients (7.7%). Of the seven identified variables associated with reoperation, patient age, pre-operative platelet count, dyspnea upon mild exertion were independent predictors on multivariate analysis. 53 patients (3.9%) underwent reintubation, which was associated with 11 identified risk factors. Among them, patient age and pre-operative INR value were predictive of reintubation on multivariate analysis. 26 patients (1.9%) experienced stroke, of whom age was the only associated risk factor on both univariate and multivariate analysis. 31 patients (2.3%) experienced acute renal failure, which correlated with 11 risk factors on univariate analysis. Of these, only patient age and pre-operative hematocrit were identified as independent predictors on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes are good following mitral valve repair. Although a substantial number of risk factors were found to be associated with adverse outcomes, only a small subset remained statistically significant following multivariate analysis. Identification of these risk factors may help guide clinical decision making with respect to which patients are the best candidates to undergo mitral valve repair.