IMPORTANCEThe overuse of opioids for acute pain management has led to an epidemic of persistent opioid use.OBJECTIVE To determine the proportion of opioid-naive patients who develop persistent opioid use after cardiac surgery and investigate the association between the initial amount of opioids prescribed at discharge and the likelihood of developing new persistent opioid use. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSThis retrospective cohort study used data from a national administrative claims database from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2016 and included 35 817 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (25 673 [71.7%]) and heart valve (10 144 [28.3%]) procedures. All patients were opioid-naive within 180 days before the index procedure and filled an opioid prescription within 14 days after surgery.EXPOSURES Opioid medications after cardiac surgery. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe proportion of opioid-naive patients who developed new persistent opioid use within 90 to 180 days after surgery was determined. Oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) were calculated for the first opioid prescription filled after discharge. A multivariable logistic regression with cubic splines was used to analyze the association among the OMEs at discharge and likelihood of developing persistent opioid use. RESULTSOf the 25 673 patients who underwent CABG, the mean (SD) age for those without (n = 23 064) vs with (n = 2609) persistent opioid use was 62.9 (9.8) years vs 61.6 (9.7) years, respectively, and the number who were men were 18 758 (81.3%) vs 1998 (76.6%). Of the 10 144 patients who underwent heart valve surgery, the mean (SD) age for those without (n = 9343) vs with (n = 821) persistent opioid use was 63.2 (12.4) years vs 61.2 (12.5) years, respectively, and the number who were men were 6378 (68.3%) vs 511 (62.2%). Persistent opioid use is a substantial concern after cardiac surgery and occurred in 2609 patients undergoing CABG (10.2%) and 821 valve surgery patients (8.1%; P = .001). The likelihood for developing persistent opioid use was decreased among heart valve surgery recipients (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; P < .001) and increased for patients who were women; younger; with preoperative congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, kidney failure, chronic pain, and alcoholism; and those taking preoperative benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants

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Objectives: Due to the scarcity of donor hearts to meet recipient demands, more than 40% of heart transplants are performed in patients bridged to transplant (BTT) with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of BTT duration with an LVAD on posttransplant outcomes.From the Divisions of

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, aortic, and outcome characteristics of type A aortic dissection patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) and tricuspid aortic valves (TAVs).Methods. Patient characteristics and radiographic, operative, and outcome data were evaluated and compared between 1068 TAV patients and 72 BAV patients operated on for type A aortic dissection in 2 centers. Predissection aortic diameters were calculated as previously reported for TAV patients.Results. BAV patients were significantly younger (P < .001) and had a lower incidence of cardiovascular risk factors. Although the clinical presentation was similar, the dissection affected the abdominal aorta significantly more often in TAV patients (P [ .029). Aortic root replacements were performed significantly more often in BAV patients (P < .001). Postoperative outcome