Definitions of cardiovascular diagnoses and procedures as recorded in the transplant center's clinical database
| Parameter | Clinical Criteria |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular diagnoses | |
| myocardial infarction | “Definite” or “probable” events according to the Minnesota code electrocardiographic and biomarker criteria adopted by the American Heart Association for use in clinical research (30). |
| congestive heart failure | Guidelines incorporate into the diagnosis of heart failure clinical judgment on the basis of history and physical examination (31). Accordingly, indication of congestive heart failure within the database requires physician-reported diagnosis plus objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction (e.g., echocardiography or other forms of ventriculography, chest radiograph, and/or B-natriuretic peptide). |
| atrial fibrillation | Atrial fibrillation pattern on electrocardiography. |
| stroke | New focal neurologic deficit lasting ≥24 h, confirmed by brain imaging (computed tomography or magnetic resonance) |
| transient ischemic attack | New focal deficit that resolves within 24 h and was attributed to a central cause by the examining provider. |
| venous thromboembolism | Deep venous thrombosis was defined by clinical suspicion with confirmation by compression ultrasound of an upper or lower extremity. Pulmonary embolism was defined as positive or “high probability” findings by ventilation-perfusion lung scanning, spiral computed tomographic angiography of the chest, or pulmonary angiography. |
| Procedures | |
| cardiac catheterization | Coronary angiography performed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes |
| coronary artery bypass grafting | Surgical revascularization of one or more coronary arteries |
| amputation | Surgical amputation of any portion of an upper or lower extremity |
| peripheral arterial revascularization | Angioplasty, atherectomy, or endarterectomy of one or more peripheral arteries or surgical arterial bypass |