Evaluation of metabolic equivalents of task (METs) in the preoperative assessment in aortic repair

Abstract

Abstract Background Reliable prediction of the preoperative risk is of crucial importance for patients undergoing aortic repair. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) in the preoperative risk assessment with clinical outcome in a cohort of consecutive patients. Methods Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in a single center unit of 296 patients undergoing open or endovascular aortic repair from 2009 to 2016. The patients were divided into four anatomic main groups (infrarenal (endo: n = 94; open: n = 88), juxta- and para-renal (open n = 84), thoraco-abdominal (open n = 13) and thoracic (endo: n = 11; open: n = 6). Out of these, 276 patients had a preoperative statement of their functional capacity in metabolic units and were evaluated concerning their postoperative outcome including survival, in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, myocardial infarction and stroke, and the need of later cardiovascular interventions. Results The median follow-up of the cohort was 10.8 months. Patients with 4 MET: 131 patients, mean survival 75.5 months; 4MET (20.9%) perioperative complications occurred compared to the group with 4MET was 7%. Conclusion The functional preoperative evaluation by MET in patients undergoing aortic surgery is a useful surrogate marker of perioperative performance but cannot be seen as a substitute for preoperative cardiopulmonary testing in selected individuals. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov, registration number NCT03617601 (retrospectively registered).

Keywords

• Metabolic equivalent of task (MET)
• Aortic repair
• Preoperative assessment
• Functional capacity