ACS researchers dr. Nimrat Grewal (prof. dr. at Yale school of Medicine), dr. David van Meenen, dr. Jord Seegers, and dr. Anne Beukers are excited to announce the official launch of Anaesthesia, Perfusion, and surgical practices in Cardiac surgery (APECx). Together they represent the Amsterdam UMC departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Intensive Care in this global initiative.
The Scope of Adult Cardiac Surgery
Adult cardiac surgery encompasses a wide range of procedures, from isolated coronary bypass operations to complex aortic or combined valve surgeries. Given the complexity and significant physiological impact of these interventions, understanding global variations in anesthesiology, perfusion, and surgical practices is crucial.
Addressing Knowledge Gaps
Despite the importance of these procedures, a comprehensive and integrated overview of current practices is still lacking. Knowledge gaps in anesthesia, perfusion, and surgical care hinder the development of internationally supported, evidence-based guidelines. Currently, more than two-thirds of recommendations are still based on expert opinion, a situation that has seen little improvement over the past decade.
The Aims of APECx
Therefore they aim to map the incidence of major clinical patient outcomes and describe the global variation in anesthesiology, perfusion, and surgical practices. In addition, they seek to identify modifiable factors that are associated with clinical outcomes, providing opportunities for targeted improvements in care. A key focus of APECx is to investigate worldwide differences in these practices, not only from a clinical perspective but also by examining how socioeconomic factors and gender may influence both the delivery of care and patient outcomes. By exploring these disparities, APECx hopes to uncover barriers to optimal treatment and promote more equitable standards in cardiac surgery across diverse populations.
Data Collection and Global Collaboration
Data collection will occur twice a year, during two prospectively determined, locally consecutive weeks within a three-month window. Already, more than 50 centers across 13 countries are participating. “We believe that by bringing together centers from around the world, APECx will not only map current practices but also drive meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and set new standards for cardiac surgery globally,” says dr. Nimrat Grewal (prof. dr. at Yale school of Medicine). New centers are warmly invited to join this international initiative and contribute to advancing the field of cardiac surgery worldwide.