Adherence of French cardiologists to guidelines for non-cardiac surgery

National Variations in the Work-Up, Investigation, and Surgical Management of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast across Canadian Surgeons

Variation in the management of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) of the breast occur at both national and international levels. The aim of this study is to determine the degree of, and reasons behind, this variation in the workup and treatment of DCIS among Canadian surgeons. We developed a 35-question survey involving the pre-, peri, and post-operative management of DCIS using SurveyMonkey^®. The survey was sent out via email and responses were analyzed using SurveyMonkey^® and Microsoft Excel. 51/119 (43%) of the Canadian General Surgeons contacted participated in this study. Some variation was observed in the utilization of pre-operative imaging with 29/48 (60%) surgeons routinely using ultrasound. Perceived contraindications to breast conserving therapy also varied with multicentricity (54%) and the presence of diffuse microcalcifications (13%). Nearly all respondent's (98%) patients had access to immediate breast reconstruction following a mastectomy but 14/48 (29%) of respondents' patients were required to travel a mean distance of 300 km to undergo the procedure. Substantial variation was also seen during follow-up with half (52%) of surgeons following up patients for >1 month in their surgical clinic. There is considerable variation in the management of DCIS among Canadian Surgeons. The present study indicates the need for pan-Canadian, evidence-based guidelines to ensure a standardized management strategy for patients with DCIS.

Adherence to Clinical Quidelines on Preoperative Assessment and Correction of Cardiovascular Risk in Non-cardiac Surgery

Surgical care is associated with a high risk of complications. In 2014 the updated joint ESC/ESA guidelines on preoperative assessment and perioperative management of patients were published to improve patient safety in non-cardiac surgery. The increase in the adherence to clinical guidelines promotes the improving of the healthcare quality and safety improvement.Aim. To study physicians' level of adherence to ESC/ESA clinical guidelines for preoperative assessment and perioperative management of patients.Material and methods. A retrospective observational study included 102 patients admitted to Moscow general hospital from 01.03.2019 to 30.06.2018 for elective surgery. All of them underwent preoperative examination in outpatient department of the hospital and had at least one concomitant disease requiring drug therapy. The medical records data on the preoperative examination and perioperative treatment with beta-blockers, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/ angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) were analyzed for compliance with the ESC/ESA guidelines.Results. A standardized cardiac risks assessment was not documented in the results of preoperative examination. Electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography and non-invasive stress tests were performed according to clinical guidelines in 100%, 77.8% and 25% of cases, respectively. Unnecessary ECG and echocardiography were prescribed in 50.5% and 72% of cases, respectively. Appropriate correction of ACE inhibitors/ARBs therapy was performed in 66.7% patients with congestive heart failure and only in 2.7% with arterial hypertension. In 19 patients with ischemic cardiac disease, 13 (84.2%) patients received HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and 16 (68.4%) ones received beta-blockers during hospitalization. Inappropriate omission of statins, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors (ARBs) during hospitalization was registered in 22.2%, 11% and 4.9% patients, respectively.

Conclusion. The number of inappropriate ECGs and echocardiographies, as well as incorrect treatment with beta-blockers, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and ACE inhibitors (ARBs) in perioperative period evidence that the adherence of physicians to the clinical guidelines on preoperative assessment and perioperative management of patients remains low.It is reasonably to develop risk-based interdisciplinary protocols for preoperative examination, algorithms for interdisciplinary communication and interaction between specialists and the healthcare levels, as well as physicians' education for better adherence to clinical guidelines.

[Role of preoperative cardiology consultation in patients undergoing cancer surgery]

AIM

To evaluate the effects of preoperative cardiology consultation on the risk of perioperative cardiac complications in patients undergoing cancer surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

74 patients with bronchial, lung, mediastinal and gastrointestinal cancer were referred to the cardiologist as a part of the preoperative management. Patients were assigned either to Group 1 (n=21), who required non - invasive testing or invasive coronary angiography (CAG), or to Group 2 (n=53), who did not have any indications to additional testing.

RESULTS

The median age was 65.8 years in Group 1 and 64.5 years in Group 2, p=0.408. Group 1 patients had higher RCRI than Group 2 patients (7.4±4.5 vs. 2.9±4.5, respectively, p=0.002). Four (19.05%) patients in Group 1 underwent minimally invasive examination without any further indications to CAG. 16 (76.2%) patients underwent CAG. Of them, 5 (23.8%) patients had severe coronary artery stenosis, and 4 (19.0%) patients had severe brachycephalic artery stenosis (≥50%). After CAG findings, one carotid artery and three coronary arteries (14.3%) were stented. Drug therapy was prescribed to one patient. One patient required stenting after the treatment of the underlying disease. Group 2 patients were more likely to achieve the endpoints - heart rhythm disturbances, decompensation of chronic heart failure, cardiac death (5.45% in Group 2 vs. 4.76% in Group 1, p>0.05). Multivariate analysis reported that angina pectoris was an independent factor to refer patients to the additional testing (p.

Perioperative management of patients with coronary artery disease undergoing non-cardiac surgery: Summary from the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine 2017 convention

This review summarises the specific stakes of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods of patients with coronary artery disease undergoing non-cardiac surgery. All practitioners involved in the perioperative management of such high cardiac risk patients should be aware of the modern concepts expected to decrease major adverse cardiac events and improve short- and long-term outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach via a functional heart team including anaesthesiologists, cardiologists and surgeons must be encouraged. Rational and algorithm-guided management of those patients should be known and implemented from preoperative to postoperative period.