Table 2.

Perioperative and Postoperative Characteristics of the Matched Study Cohort

Variable	XRT Group (n=172)	Comparison Group (n=172)	P Value
Type of aortic valve replacement
Bioprosthesis	137 (80)	157 (91)	<0.001
Mechanical	35 (20)	15 (9)
Perioperative blood transfusions, No. of units	3.1±1.6	2±1.2	<0.001
Perioperative inotropic support	74 (43)	58 (34)	0.03
Length of hospital stay	15±13	9±6	<0.001
Length of intensive care unit stay	5±9	2±3	<0.001
≥Moderate pericardial effusion	51 (30)	42 (24)	0.274
Cardiac tamponade	1 (1)	0	0.521
In‐hospital myocardial infarction	0	1 (1)	0.502
In‐hospital stroke	9 (5)	1 (1)	0.005
In‐hospital mortality	4 (2)	0	0.005
In‐hospital atrial fibrillation	86 (50)	52 (30)	<0.001
Persistent postoperative atrial fibrillation	49 (29)	24 (14)	<0.001
Permanent pacemaker	18 (11)	8 (5)	0.005
Internal defibrillator	1 (1)	1 (1)	0.504
Left ventricular ejection fraction, %	52±9	53±5	0.114
Recurrent admission following initial discharge within 3 mo	37 (22)	14 (8)	<0.001

Values are expressed as number (percentage) or mean±SD.

XRT indicates prior chest radiotherapy exposure.