Acute and late outcomes of the propensity score-matched cohort (n=100), according to the use of thoracic epidural analgesia
| Variables | Thoracic epidural analgesia | p Value | |
| No | Yes | ||
| n=50 | n=50 | ||
| 30-day/in-hospital outcomes | |||
| Orotracheal reintubation | 10 (20.0) | 1 (2.0) | 0.004 |
| Tracheostomy | 5 (10.0) | 0 | 0.056 |
| Pneumonia | 8 (16.0) | 2 (4.0) | 0.046 |
| Respiratory complications* | 16 (32.0) | 2 (4.0) | <0.001 |
| Sepsis | 9 (18.0) | 2 (4.0) | 0.025 |
| Stroke | 3 (6.0) | 3 (6.0) | 1.00 |
| Myocardial infarction | 1 (2.0) | 0 | 0.315 |
| Peak CK-MB (ug/l) | 24.5 (18.1–32.9) | 19.8 (15.3–30.0) | 0.038 |
| Peak cardiac troponin T (ug/l) | 0.74 (0.52–1.32) | 0.76 (0.50–0.95) | 0.343 |
| New-onset atrial fibrillation | 26 (52.0) | 8 (16.0) | <0.001 |
| Major bleeding | 10 (20.0) | 8 (16.0) | 0.569 |
| Hospital length (days, IQR) | 10 (7–16) | 8 (7–10) | 0.058 |
| 30-day death | 10 (20.0) | 2 (4.0) | 0.014 |
| In-hospital death | 12 (24.0) | 2 (4.0) | 0.004 |
| 30 day/in-hospital death | 12 (24.0) | 2 (4.0) | 0.004 |
| Late (>30-day/in-hospital to 1-year) outcomes | |||
| Stroke | 0 | 1 (2.0) | 1.00 |
| Myocardial infarction | 0 | 0 | – |
| Death | 3 (6.0) | 4 (8.0) | 1.00 |
| Late (1 year) cumulative outcomes | |||
| Stroke | 3 (6.0) | 4 (6.0) | 1.00 |
| Myocardial infarction | 1 (2.0) | 0 | 0.315 |
| Death | 15 (30.0) | 6 (12.0) | 0.026 |
Values are n (%) or median (IQR).
↵* Pneumonia or respiratory failure leading to reintubation and/or tracheostomy.
CK-MB, Creatine kinase-MB.