Perioperative Blood Pressure Management

Personalized intraoperative arterial pressure management and mitochondrial oxygen tension in patients having major non-cardiac surgery: a pilot substudy of the IMPROVE trial

The "Cellular Oxygen METabolism" (COMET) system (Photonics Healthcare, Utrecht, The Netherlands) non-invasively measures mitochondrial oxygen tension (mitoPO2) in the skin. The effects of general anesthesia and major non-cardiac surgery on mitoPO2 remain unknown. In this pre-planned pilot substudy of the "Intraoperative blood pressure Management based on the individual blood PRessure profile: impact on postOperatiVE organ function" (IMPROVE) trial, we measured mitoPO2 from induction of general anesthesia until the end of surgery in 19 major non-cardiac surgery patients (10 assigned to personalized and 9 to routine intraoperative arterial pressure management). In the overall cohort, the median (25th to 75th percentile) preoperative awake mitoPO2 was 63 (53 to 82) mmHg and mitoPO2 after induction of general anesthesia was 42 (35 to 59) mmHg. The intraoperative average mitoPO2 was 39 (30 to 50) mmHg. Thirteen patients (68%) had intraoperative mitoPO2 values below 20 mmHg and the median percentage of surgical time with mitoPO2 < 20 mmHg was 17 (0 to 31)%. MitoPO2 was weakly correlated with mean arterial pressure (repeated measures correlation (rrm(n); rrm(984) = 0.26, 95% confidence interval 0.20 to 0.32; P < 0.001), but not meaningfully with heart rate (rrm(984) = -0.05, 95% confidence interval -0.11 to 0.01; P = 0.117). There was no important difference in intraoperative average mitoPO2 between patients assigned to personalized or to routine intraoperative arterial pressure management (P = 0.653). MitoPO2 under general anesthesia was about a quarter lower than preoperative awake mitoPO2, substantially fluctuated during major non-cardiac surgery, and transiently decreased below 20 mmHg in about two-thirds of the patients. Personalized - compared to routine - intraoperative arterial pressure management did not increase intraoperative mitoPO2. Whether intraoperative decreases in mitoPO2 are clinically meaningful warrants further investigation.

Preoperative exercise training decreases complications of minimally invasive lung cancer surgery: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Limited evidence exists regarding the efficacy of preoperative exercise in reducing short-term complications after minimally invasive surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. This study aims to investigate the impact of preoperative exercise on short-term complications after minimally invasive lung resection.

METHODS

In this prospective, open-label, randomized (1:1) controlled trial at Xiangya Hospital, China (September 2020 to February 2022), patients were randomly assigned to a preoperative exercise group with 16-day alternate supervised exercise or a control group. The primary outcome assessed was short-term postoperative complications, with a follow-up period of 30 days postsurgery.

RESULTS

A total of 124 patients were recruited (preoperative exercise group n = 62; control n = 62). Finally, 101 patients (preoperative exercise group; n = 51 and control; n = 50) with a median age of 56 years (interquartile range, 50-62 years) completed the study. Compared with the control group, the preoperative exercise group showed fewer postoperative complications (preoperative exercise 3/51 vs control 10/50; odds ratio, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.04-0.86; P = .03) and shorter hospital stays (mean difference, -2; 95% CI, -3 to -1; P = .01). Preoperative exercise significantly improved depression, stress, functional capacity, and quality of life (all P < .05) before surgery. Furthermore, preoperative exercise demonstrated a significantly lower minimum blood pressure during surgery and lower increases in body temperature on day 2 after surgery, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and neutrophil count after surgery (all P < .05). Exploratory research on lung tissue RNA sequencing (5 in each group) showed downregulation of the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway in the preoperative exercise group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative exercise training decreased short-term postoperative complications in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Impact of intraoperative hypotension during laparoscopic liver resection on postoperative complications including acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND

Postoperative acute kidney injury is associated with an increase in hospital length of stay and mortality. Intraoperative hemodynamics and fluid management may contribute to acute kidney injury. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between intraoperative duration of hypotension with adverse events after laparoscopic liver resection.

METHODS

A prospective cohort including adult patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection between January 2010 and June 2022. Cumulative time below mean arterial blood pressure thresholds and association with major adverse events composing of postoperative acute kidney injury (≤2 days) and complications (Dindo-Clavien ≥3a) ≤30 days were assessed.

RESULTS

In 360 patients, the median age was 61 years, 206 (57%) were male, median body mass index was 26.3, and 129 (36%) patients had hepatocellular carcinoma. Acute kidney injury was recorded in 3 (0.8%) patients as stage 1, 6 (1.7%) patients as stage 2, and 7 (1.9%) patients as stage 3. Major adverse events occurred in 31 (8.6%) patients, and the median estimated blood loss was 200 mL. On continuous analysis, a threshold <60 mmHg at ≥15 minutes was found for major adverse events. The mean arterial blood pressure <55 mmHg for ≥20 minutes was associated with an increased risk of major adverse events (odds ratio 7.72; P < .001). In patients with >15 minutes of mean arterial blood pressure <60 mmHg, higher intravenous volume was associated with increase in major adverse events (P = .045), whereas adjusted intravenous volume was not associated with major adverse events (P = .657), acute kidney injury (P = .681), or blood loss (P = .875).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic liver resection is a safe procedure with a low risk of acute kidney injury. After ≥15 minutes at mean arterial blood pressure <60 mmHg, the risk of major adverse events increases. Greater intravenous fluid infusion volume was associated with an observed risk for major adverse events, suggesting that mean arterial blood pressure should be managed by vasoactive agents.

Association Between Hypotension During Pancreatectomy and Development of Postoperative Diabetes

CONTEXT

With advancements in long-term survival after pancreatectomy, postpancreatectomy diabetes has become a concern, and the risk factors are not yet established. Pancreatic islets are susceptible to ischemic damage, though there is a lack of clinical evidence regarding glycemic deterioration.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate association between hypotension during pancreatectomy and development of postpancreatectomy diabetes.

DESIGN

In this retrospective, longitudinal cohort study, we enrolled patients without diabetes who underwent distal pancreatectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 2005 and December 2018 from 2 referral hospitals in Korea.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) was defined as a 20% or greater reduction in systolic blood pressure. The primary and secondary outcomes were incident diabetes and postoperative Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) indices.

RESULTS

We enrolled 1129 patients (average age, 59 years; 49% men; 35% distal pancreatectomy). IOH occurred in 83% (median duration, 25 minutes; interquartile range, 5-65). During a median follow-up of 3.9 years, diabetes developed in 284 patients (25%). The cumulative incidence of diabetes was proportional to increases in the duration and depth of IOH (P < .001). For the median duration in IOH compared with a reference time of 0 minutes, the hazard ratio was 1.48 (95% CI, 1.14-1.92). The effect of IOH was pronounced with distal pancreatectomy. Furthermore, the duration of IOH was inversely correlated with 1-year HOMA β-cell function (P < .002), but not with HOMA insulin resistance.

CONCLUSION

These results support the hypothesis that IOH during pancreatectomy may elevate risk of diabetes by inducing β-cell insufficiency.

Effect of different doses of ciprofol on hemodynamics induced by general anesthesia in elderly diabetic patients undergoing spinal surgery: a double-blind, randomized, controlled study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of different doses of ciprofol for the induction of general anesthesia in elderly patients with diabetes undergoing spinal surgery.

METHODS

Ninety elderly diabetic patients scheduled for elective single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) under general anesthesia were enrolled and randomly assigned to three groups according to the induction dose of ciprofol: group A (0.2 mg/kg), Group B (0.3 mg/kg), and Group C (0.4 mg/kg). The safety and efficacy of anesthesia induction were compared among the three groups.

CASE PRESENTATION

The incidence of hypotension in Group C (46.4%) was significantly higher than that in Groups A (7.4%) and B (14.8%) (P < 0.05). The area under the time-mean arterial pressure curve (AUTMAP) was significantly greater in Group C (176.39 ± 33.83 mmHg·min) than in Group B (158.44 ± 26.55 mmHg·min) and Group A (143.59 ± 19.52 mmHg·min) (P < 0.05). The incidence of intubation response was highest in Group A (77.8%, P < 0.05). Significant differences in bispectral index (BIS) values were observed at 3, 4, and 5 min post-administration among the groups CONCLUSIONS: The induction regimen of 0.3 mg/kg ciprofol combined with 0.4 µg/kg sufentanil and 0.7 mg/kg rocuronium provided superior hemodynamic stability and reduced the need for vasoactive drugs in elderly diabetic patients. This regimen was found to be more favorable compared to the 0.2 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg ciprofol dosing groups, demonstrating an optimal balance of safety and efficacy during anesthesia induction in this high-risk population. This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on February 26, 2024 (Registration Number: ChiCTR2400081164).

Association of intraoperative hypotension and cumulative norepinephrine dose with postoperative acute kidney injury in patients having noncardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative hypotension is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). Clinicians thus frequently use vasopressors, such as norepinephrine, to maintain blood pressure. However, vasopressors themselves might promote AKI. We sought to determine whether both intraoperative hypotension and cumulative intraoperative norepinephrine dose are independently associated with postoperative AKI in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort analysis of 38 338 adult male and female patients who had noncardiac surgery. The primary outcome was AKI within the first 7 postoperative days. We performed adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine whether intraoperative hypotension (quantified as area under a mean arterial pressure [MAP] of 65 mm Hg) and cumulative intraoperative norepinephrine dose were independently associated with AKI.

RESULTS

The median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) area under a MAP of 65 mm Hg was 0.09 (0.02, 0.22) mm Hg∗day in patients with AKI and 0.05 (0.01, 0.14) mm Hg∗day in patients without AKI (P<0.001). The cumulative intraoperative norepinephrine dose was 1.92 (0.00, 13.09) μg kg-1 in patients with AKI and 0.00 (0.00, 0.00) μg kg-1 in patients without AKI (P<0.001). Both the area under a MAP of 65 mm Hg (odds ratio 1.55 [95% confidence interval 1.17-2.02] per mm Hg∗day; P=0.002) and the cumulative intraoperative norepinephrine dose (odds ratio 1.02 [95% confidence interval 1.01-1.02] per μg kg-1; P<0.001) were independently associated with AKI.

CONCLUSIONS

Both intraoperative hypotension and cumulative intraoperative norepinephrine dose were independently associated with postoperative AKI in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Pending results of trials testing whether these relationships are causal, it seems prudent to avoid both profound hypotension and high norepinephrine doses in adults undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Personalized perioperative blood pressure management in patients having major non-cardiac surgery: A bicentric pilot randomized trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

We hypothesize that personalized perioperative blood pressure management maintaining intraoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) above the preoperative mean nighttime MAP reduces perfusion-related organ injury compared to maintaining intraoperative MAP above 65 mmHg in patients having major non-cardiac surgery. Before testing this hypothesis in a large-scale trial, we performed this bicentric pilot trial to determine a) if performing preoperative automated nighttime blood pressure monitoring to calculate personalized intraoperative MAP targets is feasible; b) in what proportion of patients the preoperative mean nighttime MAP clinically meaningfully differs from a MAP of 65 mmHg; and c) if maintaining intraoperative MAP above the preoperative mean nighttime MAP is feasible in patients having major non-cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

Bicentric pilot randomized trial.

SETTING

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, and RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.

PATIENTS

Patients ≥ 45 years old having major non-cardiac surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Personalized blood pressure management.

MEASUREMENTS

Proportion of patients in whom preoperative automated nighttime blood pressure monitoring was possible; proportion of patients in whom the preoperative mean nighttime MAP clinically meaningfully differed from a MAP of 65 mmHg (difference > ±10 mmHg); intraoperative time-weighted average MAP below the preoperative mean nighttime MAP.

MAIN RESULTS

We enrolled 105 patients and randomized 98 patients. In 98 patients (93 %), preoperative automated nighttime blood pressure monitoring was possible. In 83 patients (85 %), the preoperative mean nighttime MAP clinically meaningfully differed from a MAP of 65 mmHg. The median time-weighted average MAP below the preoperative mean nighttime MAP was 3.29 (1.64, 6.82) mmHg in patients assigned to personalized blood pressure management.

CONCLUSIONS

It seems feasible to determine the effect of personalized perioperative blood pressure management maintaining intraoperative MAP above the preoperative mean nighttime MAP on postoperative complications in a large multicenter trial.

Effect of individualized versus conventional perioperative blood pressure management on postoperative major complications in high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery: study protocol for the SPROUT-4 multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative hypotension is very common during surgery and is linked to major organ dysfunction and mortality. Current perioperative blood pressure management is largely based on universal blood pressure thresholds ranging from a mean arterial pressure of 60-70 mmHg. However, the effectiveness of this conventional management remains unproven in prospective randomized trials. Therefore, we will conduct this study to test if individualized perioperative blood pressure management decreases the incidence of postoperative major adverse outcomes.

METHODS

This multicenter, randomized controlled superiority trial will enroll 1896 high-risk patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery from five tertiary university hospitals in South Korea. In the control group, mean arterial pressure will be maintained at ≥ 65 mmHg and systolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg during surgery. In the intervention group, mean arterial pressure and systolic blood pressure will be maintained at no less than 20% of their baseline values. The baseline values are calculated as the average of all values measured from the day before surgery until the morning of surgery. These targets will be maintained until the patient is discharged from the post-anesthesia care unit or, for those who are transferred to the intensive care unit after surgery, until the end of the surgery. No specific restrictions, except for these blood pressure targets, will be applied to perioperative management. The primary composite outcome consists of all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction, new or worsening congestive heart failure, unplanned coronary revascularization, and acute kidney injury within 7 days after noncardiac surgery or until hospital discharge, whichever occurs first.

DISCUSSION

This study will reveal if individualized perioperative blood pressure management decreases the risk of major adverse outcomes in patients at high-risk undergoing noncardiac surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06225453. Registered on January 26, 2024.

Incidence and factors associated with postoperative hemodynamic change in the postanaesthetic care unit among adult surgical patients at a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Hemodynamic changes are independent risk factors for long-term patient morbidity and duration of hospital stay. According to the statistics, the three most prevalent complications in the postanaesthesia care unit were airway events, haemodynamic instability, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Hemodynamic instability in the postanaesthesia care unit can result in serious complications, such as long-term patient morbidity and prolonged hospital stays. This study aimed to determine the incidence and factors associated with haemodynamic changes among adult surgical patients in the postanaesthetic care unit.

METHODS

An institution-based observational study was conducted from December 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. In addition, 409 adult surgery patients participated. We employed consecutive sampling techniques and both analytical and descriptive statistics to explain our findings. Using both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression, we evaluated the strength of the association and determined the crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant in the multivariable regression.

RESULTS

The incidence of hemodynamic instability was 53.8% (CI: 45%, 64%). The incidences of hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, and bradycardia were 24.2%, 17.45%, 31.3%, and 12.6%, respectively. ASA class III, procedures with more than 4 instances of intraoperative haemodynamic instability and neuraxial anaesthesia were significantly associated with haemodynamic instability in the postanaesthetic care unit.

CONCLUSION

In general, 93 study subjects (22.7%) experienced advanced haemodynamic instability during the intraoperative period. This implies that the incidence of hemodynamic instability was high. Intraoperative haemodynamic instability, American Society of Anaesthesiology class III, postoperative respiratory adverse events, neurologic and gynaecological procedures, use of neuraxial anaesthesia, and prolonged duration of procedures were predictors of haemodynamic instability in the postanaesthesia care unit.

Factors Affecting Liver Function Abnormalities After Laparoscopic Esophageal Hiatal Hernia Repair

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we investigated the factors related to abnormal liver function in patients undergoing laparoscopic esophageal hiatal hernia repair.

METHODS

The clinical data of 347 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic esophageal hiatal hernia repair at Beijing Chao-yang Hospital of Capital Medical University between January 2018 and November 2023 were retrospectively collected. The patients comprised 131 males and 216 females, ranging in age from 24 to 87 years, and were assessed using the ASA grading system between grades I and III. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of liver function abnormalities on the first day after surgery: a normal liver function group (NLA group) and an abnormal liver function group (LA group). Patients with elevation in any of the following indicators were included in the LA group: alanine aminotransferase >40 U/L, glutamine aminotransferase >40 U/L, γ-glutamyltransferase >49 U/L, alkaline phosphatase >135 U/L, total bilirubin >17.1 μmol/L, or direct bilirubin >6.8 μmol/L. The clinical data of the 2 groups of patients were compared, and only the indicators with a P-value <0.15 were included in a binary logistic regression model analysis.

RESULTS

There were 238 patients (68.6%) who developed liver function abnormalities on the first postoperative day. In comparison to the NLA group, the LA group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with esophageal hiatal hernia type II, type III, and type IV, hypotension, and high PETCO2. Furthermore, the LA group had a significantly lower proportion of patients receiving blood transfusions. The maximum length and maximum cross-sectional area of the esophageal hiatal hernia were also significantly larger in the LA group. In addition, the operation time was significantly longer in the LA group. (all P-values are <0.15). The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that prolonged operation time (OR=1.017, 95% CI: 1.007-1.028) was the only risk factor associated with postoperative liver function abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

The sole risk factor for postoperative liver function abnormalities was prolonged surgical time.

The prevalence and associated factors of intraoperative hypotension following thoracic surgery in resources limited area, 2023: multicentre approach

Background

Hypotension is an independent predictor of long-term patient morbidity and duration of hospital stay. Multiple factors contribute to the development of intraoperative hypotension. Prevention and treatment of these factors may reduce patients' hypotension and its associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of intraoperative hypotension in patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery.

Methods

This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 174 adult patients who underwent elective thoracic surgery. A systematic random sampling technique was used, and quantitative data were collected through interviews and data retrieval from charts via a pretested questionnaire. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between independent and dependent variables. The level of statistical significance was defined as a P-value less than 0.05. The data were entered into Info 7.2.1 and analyzed via SPSS version 26 software, which was used to calculate descriptive statistics, and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed.

Results

In general, information was collected from 174 patients during the study period. The results of the present study revealed that 65 (41%) patients developed intraoperative hypotension (95% CI: 36.43-48%). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly associated with intraoperative hypotension [AOR=9.58, 95% CI (2.57-35.8)] (P=0.001).

Conclusion and Recommendation

The findings of this study revealed high rates of intraoperative hypotension episodes, which were 41%, in patients who underwent elective thoracic surgery. Age, ASA class, type of intraoperative blood loss, type of procedure pre-existence comorbidity, and duration of surgery were predictors of intraoperative hypotension in patients who underwent elective thoracic surgery. The anaesthetist's, surgeon, and PACU staff's understanding of these factors is very crucial for close follow-up of this group of patients.

Insights Into Perioperative Hypertension Management in Europe: Results From a Survey Endorsed by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC)

OBJECTIVES

Perioperative blood pressure control is crucial to ensure organ perfusion and avoid adverse events. However, no consensus on blood pressure targets is available. This study was designed to gain insights into current European perioperative hypertension management practices.

DESIGN

Survey research.

SETTING

Online survey.

PARTICIPANTS

The survey was administered to members of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care and distributed through the organization's social media.

INTERVENTIONS

A 22-item questionnaire on the approach to perioperative hypertension control and its pharmacological management.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The study included surveys completed between July 1 and October 30, 2023. In total, 339 participants completed the questionnaire; 70% were anesthesiologists, 17% were intensive care physicians, and 12% were cardiac surgeons.

MAJOR FINDINGS

More than 50% of respondents declared dealing with perioperative hypertension in 20% to 50% of their surgeries, and most target the 120 to 140 mmHg systolic blood pressure (SBP) range during surgery. Respondents mostly rely on α-adrenoreceptor antagonists (29%), nitrates (23%), and calcium channel blockers (15%) to manage perioperative hypertension. Titratable control was the most appreciated attribute of intravenous antihypertensives. Antihypertensive treatment failure occurred in less than 20% of surgeries, and the highest risk of hypotensive episodes was perceived by participants to be when using nitroglycerin and nitroprusside.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative SBP targets above 140 mmHg are uncommon among respondents, who predominantly target SBP values between 120 and 140 mmHg. The choice of intravenous antihypertensives is based on their manageability and user experience, and titratable control is the most appreciated characteristic.

Effectiveness and safety of remimazolam tosilate versus propofol for sedation in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Remimazolam tosilate is a new type of benzodiazepine currently used for gastrointestinal endoscopy and can be combined with alfentanil.

AIM

This trial compared the effectiveness and safety of remimazolam with alfentanil to propofol with alfentanil in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy.

METHOD

One hundred and sixty-six patients were randomly divided into propofol-alfentanil anaesthesia (Group P) and remimazolam-alfentanil anaesthesia (Group R). The primary outcomes were perioperative haemodynamic variables, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) preoperatively (T0); after anaesthesia induction (T1); when the gastroscope passed through the oropharynx (T2); 3 min (T3), 5 min (T4) and 7 min (T5) after T2; at the end of surgery (T6); and when patients successfully awakened (T7). The secondary outcomes included induction and awakening time, patient satisfaction, operator satisfaction, and adverse event occurrences.

RESULTS

Compared with those in Group P, the SBP in Group R was significantly higher at T1, T2, T3, and T6 (P < 0.05); the DBP and MAP were significantly higher at T1, T2, T3, T5, and T6 (P < 0.05); the HR was significantly faster at T1 to T6 (P < 0.05); the SpO2 was significantly higher at T1 to T4 (P < 0.05); the incidences of hypoxemia, hypotension, and drug injection pain were significantly lower in Group R (P < 0.05); the incidence of hiccups was higher (P < 0.05); the awakening time was shorter in Group R (P < 0.05); and the operator satisfaction score was high (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared to propofol with alfentanil, remimazolam with alfentanil can be used safely and effectively for sedation in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy, with less impact on the patient's circulatory and respiratory systems and a lower incidence of adverse events.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial protocol was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCR2300077252, date: 2023-11-02).

Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of the transition of HIPEC-induced acute kidney injury to acute kidney disease: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is recognized as a common complication following cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC). Characterized by prolonged renal function impairment, acute kidney disease (AKD) is associated with a higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mortality.

METHODS

From January 2018 to December 2021, 158 patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were separated into non-AKI, AKI, and AKD cohorts. Laboratory parameters and perioperative features were gathered to evaluate risk factors for both HIPEC-induced AKI and AKD, with the 90-day prognosis of AKD patients.

RESULTS

AKI developed in 21.5% of patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC, while 13.3% progressed to AKD. The multivariate analysis identified that ascites, GRAN%, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and intraoperative (IO) hypotension duration were associated with the development of HIPEC-induced AKI. Higher uric acid, lessened eGFR, and prolonged IO hypotension duration were more predominant in patients proceeding with AKD. The AKD cohort presented a higher risk of 30 days of in-hospital mortality (14.3%) and CKD progression (42.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals a high incidence of AKI and AKI-to-AKD transition. Early identification of risk factors for HIPEC-induced AKD would assist clinicians in taking measures to mitigate the incidence.

Post-anesthesia care unit hypotension in low-risk patients recovering from non-cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study

Intraoperative hypotension is common and associated with organ injury. Hypotension can not only occur during surgery, but also thereafter. After surgery, most patients are treated in post-anesthesia care units (PACU). The incidence of PACU hypotension is largely unknown - presumably in part because arterial pressure is usually monitored intermittently in PACU patients. We therefore aimed to evaluate the incidence, duration, and severity of PACU hypotension in low-risk patients recovering from non-cardiac surgery. In this observational study, we performed blinded continuous non-invasive arterial pressure monitoring with finger-cuffs (ClearSight system; Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) in 100 patients recovering from non-cardiac surgery in the PACU. We defined PACU hypotension as a mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 65 mmHg. Patients had continuous finger-cuff monitoring for a median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) of 64 (44 to 91) minutes. Only three patients (3%) had PACU hypotension for at least one consecutive minute. These three patients had 4, 4, and 2 cumulative minutes of PACU hypotension; areas under a MAP of 65 mmHg of 17, 9, and 9 mmHg x minute; and time-weighted averages MAP less than 65 mmHg of 0.5, 0.3, and 0.2 mmHg. The median volume of crystalloid fluid patients were given during PACU treatment was 200 (100 to 400) ml. None was given colloids or a vasopressor during PACU treatment. In low-risk patients recovering from non-cardiac surgery, the incidence of PACU hypotension was very low and the few episodes of PACU hypotension were short and of modest severity.

Hypotension with and Without Hypertensive Episodes During Endoscopic Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma or Paraganglioma-Should Perioperative Treatment Be Individualized?

Background: Hemodynamic instability is common during adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). Most analyses focus on the risk factors for intraoperative hypertension, but hypotension is a frequent and undesirable phenomenon during PPGL surgery. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for hypotensive episodes during the removal of PPGL, and whether these episodes are always associated with concomitant intraoperative hypertensive events. Methods: A consecutive series of 121 patients (91.7% receiving preoperative alpha-blockade) treated with transperitoneal endoscopic adrenalectomy at a university hospital were analyzed, and pre- and intraoperative risk factors for intraoperative hypotension with or without intraoperative hypertension were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: In total, 58 (56.2%) patients presented with intraoperative hypotension. Of these, 25 (20.7%) patients showed only hypotensive episodes but no hypertensive episodes (group 1), and 43 (35.5%) patients had both intraoperative hypotension and hypertension (group 2). The remaining 53 patients did not present with hypotension at all (group 3). When comparing group 1 (hypotension only) to all other patients with incidental diagnosis, higher age and lower preoperative diastolic arterial blood pressure (ABP) were significant risk factors for intraoperative hypotension; only the latter two were still significant in multivariate analysis. The significant risk factors for hypotension independent of hypertension (group 1 + 2 vs. group 3) were age and incidental diagnosis, pre-existing diabetes mellitus, and intraoperative use of remifentanil. Incidental diagnosis and use of remifentanil reached the level of significance in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Since older age, incidental diagnosis of PPGL, lower preoperative ABP, and diabetes mellitus are risk factors for intraoperative hypotension, preoperative alpha-blocker treatment should be individualized for those at risk for hypotension. In addition, remifentanil should be used cautiously in the risk group.

Staged dissection reduces blood loss in surgery for metopic synostosis

INTRODUCTION

Fronto-orbital remodelling for metopic synostosis is an extensive operation with substantial blood loss, particularly from emissary veins in the glabellar region. One possibility to reduce blood loss may be to stage dissection and cauterise anomalous emissary veins before dissecting in the subperiostal plane.  OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare perioperative bleeding using a staged dissection in the glabellar region with the traditional subperiostal dissection technique during surgery for metopic synostosis.

METHODS

All consecutive patients operated for metopic synostosis with the new staged dissection technique (T2) were included. For comparison, the most recent equal number of cases operated with the traditional dissection technique (T1) were included. Age, sex, weight, surgical technique (spring or bone graft), perioperative blood loss, perioperative blood pressure, per- and postoperative blood transfusion, operation time and length of hospital stay were registered.  RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were included; 40 T1 and 40 T2, respectively. Perioperative blood loss was significantly reduced with the new staged dissection technique. Blood loss in absolute numbers was reduced from 160.0 (120-240) (median and (interquartile range)) ml to 150 (102.5-170.0) ml, p=0.028. Blood loss in relation to patient weight was reduced from 24.2 ml/kg (15.3-33.3) to 18.7 (16.6-23.1) ml/kg, p=0.024. As percentage of total blood volume, blood loss was reduced from 32.3 (20.3-32.3) % to 29.9 (18.4-30.8) %, p=0.024. No other variables differed significantly between the techniques.  CONCLUSION: In summary, staged dissection technique in the glabellar region, allowing control of the emissary veins, reduces perioperative blood loss during surgery for metopic synostosis.

Association between stress hyperglycemia ratio and postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in noncardiac surgeries: a large perioperative cohort study

BACKGROUND

There has been a concerning rise in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) following noncardiac surgeries (NCS), significantly impacting surgical outcomes and patient prognosis. Glucose metabolism abnormalities induced by stress response under acute medical conditions may be a risk factor for postoperative MACCE. This study aims to explore the association between stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and postoperative MACCE in patients undergoing general anesthesia for NCS.

METHODS

There were 12,899 patients in this perioperative cohort study. The primary outcome was MACCE within 30 days postoperatively, defined as angina, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, heart failure, stroke, or in-hospital all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves visualized the cumulative incidence of MACCE. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to assess the association between the risk of MACCE and different SHR groups. Restricted cubic spline analyses were conducted to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Additionally, exploratory subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 592 (4.59%) participants experienced MACCE within 30 days after surgery, and 1,045 (8.10%) within 90 days. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared to the SHR T2 group, the risk of MACCE within 30 days after surgery increased by 1.34 times (95% CI 1.08-1.66) in the T3 group and by 1.35 times (95% CI 1.08-1.68) in the T1 group respectively. In the non-diabetes group, the risk of MACCE within 30 days after surgery increased by 1.60 times (95% CI 1.21-2.12) in the T3 group and by 1.61 times (95% CI 1.21-2.14) in the T1 group respectively, while no statistically significant increase in risk was observed in the diabetes group. Similar results were observed within 90 days after surgery in the non-diabetes group. Additionally, a statistically significant U-shaped nonlinear relationship was observed in the non-diabetes group (30 days: P for nonlinear = 0.010; 90 days: P for nonlinear = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

In this large perioperative cohort study, we observed that both higher and lower SHR were associated with an increased risk of MACCE within 30 and 90 days after NCS, especially in patients without diabetes. These findings suggest that SHR potentially plays a key role in stratifying cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk after NCS.

Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of Perioperative Hypotension in the Neck of Femur Fracture Surgery: A Case-Control and Cohort Analysis

Introduction Neck-of-femur (NOF) fractures have high prevalence rates and require prompt surgical intervention for better outcomes. Perioperative hypotension (POH) in the geriatric population has poor outcomes with several contributing factors. The study intends to explore these risk factors and their correlation with patient outcomes.  Methodology We studied a total of 276 patients who underwent surgical fixation of the NOF fracture at St Peter's Hospital, Surrey, from June 1, 2022, to June 1, 2023. Patients with POH were identified; the risk factors and one-year outcome were studied to obtain the results. We used odds ratio (OR), relative risk (RR), and multivariate regression to analyse the statistical association within the data. Results The incidence of POH was 68% (188/276) which included preoperative hypotension (9.78%), intraoperative hypotension (48.55%), and postoperative hypotension with a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of <65 mmHg (24.63%) and fall of systolic blood pressure to less than 80% (34.42%). Statistically significant risk factors were hypertension (OR: 1.330), heart disease (OR: 2.768), and hemoglobin (Hg) drop (OR: 1.42). The outcomes we studied were all statistically significant, with an RR of more than one. It includes postoperative delirium (RR: 2.037), postoperative 30-day morbidity (RR: 4.008), postoperative 30-day mortality (RR: 6.12), 365-day mortality (RR: 2.224), postoperative delay in mobilisation (RR: 1.329), and prolonged length of stay (RR: 1.273).  Conclusion The study shows a clear association between POH and increased postoperative complications, highlighting the need for prompt intervention. This case-control study identified hypertension, history of heart disease, and perioperative blood loss as significant risk factors for developing POH. Also, this study demonstrates that POH is significantly associated with adverse outcomes, including the increased risk of delirium, prolonged hospital stays, and elevated 30-day morbidity in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. The findings also indicated that the duration of hypotension did not directly influence the outcomes; its occurrence alone is a significant factor in developing these complications.

Perioperative hypotension and use of vasoactive agents in non-cardiac surgery: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Perioperative hypotension is common and associated with adverse patient outcomes. Vasoactive agents are often used to manage hypotension, but the ideal drug, dose and duration of treatment has not been established. With this scoping review, we aim to provide an overview of the current body of evidence regarding the vasoactive agents used to treat perioperative hypotension in non-cardiac surgery.

METHODS

We included all studies describing the use of vasoactive agents for the treatment of perioperative hypotension in non-cardiac surgery. We excluded literature reviews, case studies, and studies on animals and healthy subjects. We posed the following research questions: (1) in which surgical populations have vasoactive agents been studied? (2) which agents have been studied? (3) what doses have been assessed? (4) what is the duration of treatment? and (5) which desirable and undesirable outcomes have been assessed?

RESULTS

We included 124 studies representing 10 surgical specialties. Eighteen different agents were evaluated, predominantly phenylephrine, ephedrine, and noradrenaline. The agents were administered through six different routes, and numerous comparisons between agents, dosages and routes were included. Then, 88 distinct outcome measures were assessed, of which 54 were judged to be non-patient-centred.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that studies concerning vasoactive agents for the treatment of perioperative hypotension varied considerably in all aspects. Populations were heterogeneous, interventions and exposures included multiple agents compared against themselves, each other, fluids or placebo, and studies reported primarily non-patient-centred outcomes.

Intraoperative haemodynamic monitoring and management of adults having non-cardiac surgery: Guidelines of the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine in collaboration with the German Association of the Scientific Medical Societies

Haemodynamic monitoring and management are cornerstones of perioperative care. The goal of haemodynamic management is to maintain organ function by ensuring adequate perfusion pressure, blood flow, and oxygen delivery. We here present guidelines on "Intraoperative haemodynamic monitoring and management of adults having non-cardiac surgery" that were prepared by 18 experts on behalf of the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und lntensivmedizin; DGAI).

Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery Leads to the Development of Chronic Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Pseudocyst: A Case Report and Literature Review

The occurrence of pancreatitis shortly after elective lumbar spine surgery in an adult is rare. We report a case of a 63-year-old female who developed, for the first time, acute pancreatitis within three days of elective lumbar (L) spine surgery that was performed for degenerative disk disease without significant deformity (i.e., no scoliosis or spondylolisthesis). The surgery was conducted using a lateral transpsoas approach and included interbody fusions at L3-L4 and L4-L5 levels and posterior instrumentation with pedicle screws and rods. Ten years prior, she had a cholecystectomy, and she was not diabetic or obese. She began experiencing significant nausea and malaise two days after that lumbar spine surgery, requiring hospitalization on the third postoperative day. Her pancreatitis became chronic, and a large pancreatic pseudocyst developed and persisted despite using an external drainage catheter for 52 days. At 126 days after the spinal surgery, an open Roux-en-Y pancreatic cystojejunostomy was performed to internally drain the cyst, which had enlarged to 19 cm. Significant pre-surgical risk factors for this first-time case of pancreatitis were not identified. The spine surgeon denied iatrogenic causes such as instrument plunging or complications associated with the use of a "lateral access retraction system," and surgical blood loss was only 50 ml during the elective lumbar spine surgery. However, during the lumbar spine surgery, hypotension occurred for 20 minutes (mean arterial pressure: 63-73 mmHg), which was associated with transient acute kidney injury. This might have contributed to the development of her pancreatitis because the pancreas is more sensitive to ischemia than the kidney. During the initial week after the onset of pancreatitis, her symptoms were mainly believed to be due to an acute postoperative infection. However, there was no growth in cultures from aspirations of the pleural effusion, retroperitoneal effusion, and deeper incision area. Despite extensive workup, the cause of the patient's pancreatitis was not determined. We report this case not only because of its rarity but also to help surgeons and other healthcare providers in the workup and management of similar situations.

Personalised blood pressure management during major noncardiac surgery and postoperative neurocognitive disorders: a randomised trial

Background

It remains unknown whether there is a causal relationship between intraoperative hypotension and postoperative neurocognitive disorders. We tested the hypothesis that personalised-compared to routine-intraoperative blood pressure management reduces the incidence of postoperative neurocognitive disorders in patients having major noncardiac surgery.

Methods

In this single-centre trial, 328 elective major noncardiac surgery patients were randomly allocated to receive personalised blood pressure management (i.e. maintaining intraoperative mean arterial pressure [MAP] above preoperative baseline MAP from automated 24-h blood pressure monitoring) or routine blood pressure management (i.e. maintaining MAP above 65 mm Hg). The primary outcome was the incidence of neurocognitive disorders (composite of delayed neurocognitive recovery and delirium) between postoperative days 3 and 7.

Results

The primary outcome, neurocognitive disorders, occurred in 18 of 147 patients (12%) assigned to personalised and 21 of 148 patients (14%) assigned to routine blood pressure management (odds ratio [OR]=0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40-1.75, P=0.622). Delayed neurocognitive recovery occurred in 17 of 146 patients (12%) assigned to personalised and 17 of 145 patients (12%) assigned to routine blood pressure management (OR=0.99, 95% CI: 0.45-2.17, P=0.983). Delirium occurred in 2 of 157 patients (1%) assigned to personalised and 4 of 158 patients (3%) assigned to routine blood pressure management (OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.04-3.53, P=0.684).

Conclusions

Personalised intraoperative blood pressure management maintaining preoperative baseline MAP neither reduced the incidence of the composite primary outcome neurocognitive disorders between postoperative days 3 and 7 nor the incidences of the components of the composite primary outcome-delayed neurocognitive recovery and delirium-compared to routine blood pressure management in patients having major noncardiac surgery.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03442907).

Outcomes and complications of hemodialysis in patients with renal cancer following bilateral nephrectomy

Objectives

The management of patients undergoing bilateral nephrectomy for renal cancer presents significant challenges, particularly in addressing hypotension, anemia, and tumor recurrence during hemodialysis.

Case presentation

A patient diagnosed with renal clear cell carcinoma in 2009 was followed until his demise in June 2022, with detailed documentation of symptoms, signs, laboratory results, diagnosis, and treatment. In the presented case, post-nephrectomy, the patient experienced frequent hypotension and anemia during dialysis, improving with erythropoietin-stimulating agents and subsequently with rosuvastatin. Later, multiple metastases were detected, correlating with normalized blood pressure and hemoglobin.

Literature review

A literature search up to September 2023 was also conducted, gathering data on hypotension, anemia, and tumor recurrence post-nephrectomy. Literature analysis of six cases revealed a 100% tumor recurrence rate in elderly patients (>50 years).

Conclusion

Treatment of anemia in bilateral nephrectomy patients warrants consideration of medication-induced tumor recurrence, highlighting early kidney transplantation to avoid adverse reactions like hypotension.

PeriOperative Quality Initiative (POQI) international consensus statement on perioperative arterial pressure management

Arterial pressure monitoring and management are mainstays of haemodynamic therapy in patients having surgery. This article presents updated consensus statements and recommendations on perioperative arterial pressure management developed during the 11th POQI PeriOperative Quality Initiative (POQI) consensus conference held in London, UK, on June 4-6, 2023, which included a diverse group of international experts. Based on a modified Delphi approach, we recommend keeping intraoperative mean arterial pressure ≥60 mm Hg in at-risk patients. We further recommend increasing mean arterial pressure targets when venous or compartment pressures are elevated and treating hypotension based on presumed underlying causes. When intraoperative hypertension is treated, we recommend doing so carefully to avoid hypotension. Clinicians should consider continuous intraoperative arterial pressure monitoring as it can help reduce the severity and duration of hypotension compared to intermittent arterial pressure monitoring. Postoperative hypotension is often unrecognised and might be more important than intraoperative hypotension because it is often prolonged and untreated. Future research should focus on identifying patient-specific and organ-specific hypotension harm thresholds and optimal treatment strategies for intraoperative hypotension including choice of vasopressors. Research is also needed to guide monitoring and management strategies for recognising, preventing, and treating postoperative hypotension.

Association of postoperative delirium with hypotension in critically ill patients after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative delirium (POD), an acute and variable disturbance in cognitive function, is an intricate and elusive phenomenon that occurs after cardiac surgery. Despite progress in surgical techniques and perioperative management, POD remains a formidable challenge, imposing a significant burden on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems.

METHODS

This prospective observational study involved 307 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Data on the occurrence of delirium, clinical parameters, and postoperative characteristics were collected. A multivariate analysis was performed to assess the relationship between POH and POD.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients (21%) developed delirium, with an average onset of approximately 5 days postoperatively and a duration of approximately 6 days. On multivariate analysis, POH was significantly associated with POD, and the adjusted odds ratios indicated that patients with POH were more likely to develop delirium (OR, 5.61; p = 0.006). Advanced age (OR, 1.11; p = 0.002), emergency surgery (OR, 8.31; p = 0.001), and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting were identified as risk factors of POD. Patients who developed delirium were typically older, more likely to be male, and had higher morbidity rates than those who did not.

CONCLUSION

POH is significantly associated with delirium in critically ill patients after cardiac surgery. Surgical complexity and advanced age contribute to the risk of developing POD and poor postoperative outcomes.

[Intraoperative clinical application of hemodynamic monitoring in noncardiac surgery patients]

The current S1 guidelines on the intraoperative clinical application of hemodynamic monitoring in patients scheduled for noncardiac surgery are presented based on a case report under the aspect of an optimized intraoperative anesthesiological management. The S1 guidelines were developed with the aim of identifying the questions on the intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring and management which are important for the routine daily clinical practice, to discuss them in a guideline group and to answer them based on the current state of scientific knowledge. The guidelines were written under the auspices of the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) and published by the AWMF in 2023 under the register number 001/049.

Processed electroencephalography-guided general anesthesia and norepinephrine requirements: A randomized trial in patients having vascular surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Processed electroencephalography (pEEG) may help clinicians optimize depth of general anesthesia. Avoiding excessive depth of anesthesia may reduce intraoperative hypotension and the need for vasopressors. We tested the hypothesis that pEEG-guided - compared to non-pEEG-guided - general anesthesia reduces the amount of norepinephrine needed to keep intraoperative mean arterial pressure above 65 mmHg in patients having vascular surgery.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled clinical trial.

SETTING

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

PATIENTS

110 patients having vascular surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

pEEG-guided general anesthesia.

MEASUREMENTS

Our primary endpoint was the average norepinephrine infusion rate from the beginning of induction of anesthesia until the end of surgery.

MAIN RESULT

96 patients were analyzed. The mean ± standard deviation average norepinephrine infusion rate was 0.08 ± 0.04 μg kg-1 min-1 in patients assigned to pEEG-guided and 0.12 ± 0.09 μg kg-1 min-1 in patients assigned to non-pEEG-guided general anesthesia (mean difference 0.04 μg kg-1 min-1, 95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.07 μg kg-1 min-1, p = 0.004). Patients assigned to pEEG-guided versus non-pEEG-guided general anesthesia, had a median time-weighted minimum alveolar concentration of 0.7 (0.6, 0.8) versus 0.8 (0.7, 0.8) (p = 0.006) and a median percentage of time Patient State Index was <25 of 12 (1, 41) % versus 23 (3, 49) % (p = 0.279).

CONCLUSION

pEEG-guided - compared to non-pEEG-guided - general anesthesia reduced the amount of norepinephrine needed to keep mean arterial pressure above 65 mmHg by about a third in patients having vascular surgery. Whether reduced intraoperative norepinephrine requirements resulting from pEEG-guided general anesthesia translate into improved patient-centered outcomes remains to be determined in larger trials.

Exploring Differences in Intraoperative Medication Use Between African American and Non-Hispanic White Patients During General Anesthesia: Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

This study aimed to explore whether differences exist in anesthesia care providers' use of intraoperative medication between African American and non-Hispanic White patients in adult surgical patients who underwent noncardiothoracic nonobstetric surgeries with general anesthesia. A retrospective observational cohort study used electronic health records between January 1, 2018 and August 31, 2019 at a large academic health system in the southeastern United States. To evaluate the isolated impact of race on intraoperative medication use, inverse probability of treatment weighting using the propensity scores was used to balance the covariates between African American and non-Hispanic White patients. Regression analyses were then performed to evaluate the impact of race on the total dose of opioid analgesia administered, and the use of midazolam, sugammadex, antihypotensive drugs, and antihypertensive drugs. Of the 31,790 patients included in the sample, 58.9% were non-Hispanic Whites and 13.6% were African American patients. After adjusting for significant covariates, African American patients were more likely to receive midazolam premedication (p < .0001; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.17, 99.9% CI [1.06, 1.30]), and antihypertensive drugs (p = .0002; aOR = 1.15, 99.9% CI [1.02, 1.30]), and less likely to receive antihypotensive drugs (p < .0001; aOR = 0.85, 99.9% CI [0.76, 0.95]) than non-Hispanic White patients. However, we did not find significant differences in the total dose of opioid analgesia administered, or sugammadex. This study identified differences in intraoperative anesthesia care delivery between African American and non-Hispanic White patients; however, future research is needed to understand mechanisms that contribute to these differences and whether these differences are associated with patient outcomes.

Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury After Intraoperative Hypotension in Major Risk Procedures

Background Reportedly prevalent, intraoperative hypotension (IOH) is linked to kidney injury and increased risk of mortality. In this study, we aimed to assess IOH incidence in high-risk non-cardiac surgery and its correlation with postoperative acute kidney injury (PO-AKI) and 30-day postoperative mortality. Methodology This retrospective cohort study included adult inpatients who underwent elective, non-cardiac, high-risk European Society of Anaesthesiology/European Society of Cardiology surgery from October to November of 2020, 2021, and 2022, excluding cardiac, intracranial, or emergency surgery. IOH was primarily defined by the 2022 Anesthesia Quality Institute. PO-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours, the need for dialysis in dialysis-naïve patients, or the documentation of AKI in clinical records. For univariate analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were performed, as appropriate. Logistic regression was used to test risk factors for IOH in univariate analysis (p < 0.1). The significance level considered in multivariate analysis was 5%. Results Of the 197 patients included, 111 (56.3%) experienced IOH. After adjustment, surgical time >120 minutes remained associated with higher odds of IOH (odds ratio (OR) = 9.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.49-37.13), as well as combined general + locoregional (vs. general OR = 3.41, 95 CI% = 1.38-8.43, p = 0.008; vs. locoregional OR = 6.37, 95% CI = 1.48-27.47). No association was found between IOH and 30-day postoperative mortality (p = 0.565) or PO-AKI (p = 0.09). The incidence of PO-AKI was 14.9% (27 patients), being significantly associated with higher 30-day postoperative mortality (p = 0.018). Conclusions Our study highlights the high prevalence of IOH in high-risk non-cardiac surgical procedures. Its impact on PO-AKI and 30-day postoperative mortality appears less pronounced compared to the significant implications of PO-AKI, emphasizing the need for PO-AKI screening and renal protection strategies.

Risk factors associated with intraoperative persistent hypotension in pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative persistent hypotension (IPH) during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is linked to adverse postoperative outcomes, yet its risk factors remain unclear.

AIM

To clarify the risk factors associated with IPH during PD, ensuring patient safety in the perioperative period.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patient records from January 2018 to December 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University identified factors associated with IPH in PD. These factors included age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, comorbidities, medication history, operation duration, fluid balance, blood loss, urine output, and blood gas parameters. IPH was defined as sustained mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg, requiring prolonged deoxyepinephrine infusion for > 30 min despite additional deoxyepinephrine and fluid treatments.

RESULTS

Among 1596 PD patients, 661 (41.42%) experienced IPH. Multivariate logistic regression identified key risk factors: increased age [odds ratio (OR): 1.20 per decade, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.33] (P < 0.001), longer surgery duration (OR: 1.15 per additional hour, 95%CI: 1.05-1.26) (P < 0.01), and greater blood loss (OR: 1.18 per 250-mL increment, 95%CI: 1.06-1.32) (P < 0.01). A novel finding was the association of arterial blood Ca2+ < 1.05 mmol/L with IPH (OR: 2.03, 95%CI: 1.65-2.50) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

IPH during PD is independently associated with older age, prolonged surgery, increased blood loss, and lower plasma Ca2+.

New findings on the risk of hypertension from organophosphorus exposure under different glycemic statuses: The key role of lipids?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Considering the widespread use of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and the global prevalence of hypertension (HTN), as well as studies indicating that different glycemic statuses may respond differently to the biological effects of OPs. Therefore, this study, based on the Henan rural cohort, aims to investigate the association between OPs exposure and HTN, and further explores whether lipids mediate these associations.

METHODS

We measured the plasma levels of OPs in 2730 participants under different glycemic statuses using gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). A generalized linear model, Quantile g-computation (QGC), adaptive elastic net (AENET), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to assess the impact of OPs exposure on HTN, with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalty regression identifying main OPs. Mediation models were used to evaluate the intermediary role of blood lipids in the OPs-HTN relationship.

RESULTS

The detection rates for all OPs were high, ranging from 76.35 % to 99.17 %. In the normal glucose tolerance (NGT) population, single exposure models indicated that malathion and phenthoate were associated with an increased incidence of HTN (P-FDR < 0.05), with corresponding odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.624 (1.167,2.260) and 1.290 (1.072,1.553), respectively. QGC demonstrated a positive association between OP mixtures and HTN, with malathion and phenthoate being the primary contributors. Additionally, the AENET model's Exposure Response Score (ERS) suggested that the risk of HTN increases with higher ERS (P < 0.001). Furthermore, BKMR revealed that co-exposure to OPs increases HTN risk, with phenthoate having a significant impact. Furthermore, triglycerides (TG) mediated 6.55 % of the association between phenthoate and HTN. However, no association was observed in the impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that in the NGT population, OPs may significantly contribute to the development of HTN, proposing TG as a potential novel target for HTN prevention.

The exploration of perioperative hypotension subtypes: a prospective, single cohort, observational pilot study

Background

Hypotension is a risk factor for postoperative complications, but evidence from randomized trials does not support that a higher blood pressure target always leads to optimized outcomes. The heterogeneity of underlying hemodynamics during hypotension may contribute to these contradictory results. Exploring the subtypes of hypotension can enable optimal management of intraoperative hypotension.

Methods

This is a prospective, observational pilot study. Patients who were ≥ 45 years old and scheduled to undergo moderate-to-high-risk noncardiac surgery were enrolled in this study. The primary objective of this pilot study was to investigate the frequency and distribution of perioperative hypotension and its subtypes (hypotension with or without cardiac output reduction). The exposure of hypotension and its subtypes in patients with and without myocardial or acute kidney injury were also explored.

Results

Sixty patients were included in the analysis. 83% (50/60) of the patients experienced perioperative hypotension. The median duration of hypotension for each patient was 8.0 [interquartile range, 3.1-23.3] minutes. Reduced cardiac output was present during 77% of the hypotension duration. Patients suffering from postoperative myocardial or acute kidney injury displayed longer duration and more extensive exposure in all hypotension subtypes. However, the percentage of different hypotension subtypes did not differ in patients with or without postoperative myocardial or acute kidney injury.

Conclusion

Perioperative hypotension was frequently accompanied by cardiac output reduction in moderate-to-high-risk noncardiac surgical patients. However, due to the pilot nature of this study, the relationship between hypotension subtypes and postoperative myocardial or acute kidney injury still needs further exploration.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=134260, CTR2200055929.

Haemodynamic monitoring during noncardiac surgery: past, present, and future

During surgery, various haemodynamic variables are monitored and optimised to maintain organ perfusion pressure and oxygen delivery - and to eventually improve outcomes. Important haemodynamic variables that provide an understanding of most pathophysiologic haemodynamic conditions during surgery include heart rate, arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulse pressure variation/stroke volume variation, stroke volume, and cardiac output. A basic physiologic and pathophysiologic understanding of these haemodynamic variables and the corresponding monitoring methods is essential. We therefore revisit the pathophysiologic rationale for intraoperative monitoring of haemodynamic variables, describe the history, current use, and future technological developments of monitoring methods, and finally briefly summarise the evidence that haemodynamic management can improve patient-centred outcomes.

Development of a Probabilistic Boolean network (PBN) to model intraoperative blood pressure management

BACKGROUND

Blood pressure is a vital sign for organ perfusion that anesthesiologists measure and modulate during surgery. However, current decision-making processes rely heavily on clinicians' experience, which can lead to variability in treatment across surgeries. With the advent of machine learning, we can now create models to predict the outcomes of interventions and guide perioperative decision-making. The first step in this process involves translating the clinical decision-making process into a framework understood by an algorithm. Probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs) provide an information-rich approach to this problem. A PBN trends toward a steady state, and its decisions are easily understood via its Boolean predictor functions. We hypothesize that a PBN can be developed that corrects hemodynamic instability in patients by selecting clinical interventions to maintain blood pressure within a given range.

METHODS

Data on patients over the age of 65 undergoing surgery with general anesthesia from 2018 to 2020 were drawn from the UF Health PRECEDE data set with IRB approval (IRB201700747). Parameters examined included heart rate, blood pressure, and frequency of medications given 15 min after anesthetic induction and 15 min before awakening. The medication frequency data were truncated into a 66/33 split for the training and validation set used in the PBN. The model was coded using Python 3 and evaluated by comparing the frequency of medications chosen by the program to the values in the testing set via linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The network developed successfully models a hemodynamically unstable patient and corrects the imbalance by administering medications. This is evidenced by the model achieving a stable, steady state matrix in all iterations. However, the model's ability to emulate clinical drug selection was variable. It was successful with its use of vasodilator selection but struggled with the appropriate selection of vasopressors.

CONCLUSIONS

The PBN has demonstrated the ability to choose appropriate interventions based on a patient's current vitals. Additional work must be done to have the network emulate the frequency at which drugs are selected from in clinical practice. In its current state, the model provides an understanding of how a PBN behaves in the context of correcting hemodynamic instability and can aid in developing more robust models in the future.

Association between peripheral perfusion index and postoperative acute kidney injury in major noncardiac surgery patients receiving continuous vasopressors: a post hoc exploratory analysis of the VEGA-1 trial

BACKGROUND

The peripheral perfusion index is the ratio of pulsatile to nonpulsatile static blood flow obtained by photoplethysmography and reflects peripheral tissue perfusion. We investigated the association between intraoperative perfusion index and postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery and receiving continuous vasopressor infusions.

METHODS

In this exploratory post hoc analysis of a pragmatic, cluster-randomised, multicentre trial, we obtained areas and cumulative times under various thresholds of perfusion index and investigated their association with acute kidney injury in multivariable logistic regression analyses. In secondary analyses, we investigated the association of time-weighted average perfusion index with acute kidney injury. The 30-day mortality was a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Of 2534 cases included, 8.9% developed postoperative acute kidney injury. Areas and cumulative times under a perfusion index of 3% and 2% were associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury; the strongest association was observed for area under a perfusion index of 1% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.74, P=0.050, per 100%∗min increase). Additionally, time-weighted average perfusion index was associated with acute kidney injury (aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.91, P<0.001) and 30-day mortality (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.49-0.95, P=0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

Larger areas and longer cumulative times under thresholds of perfusion index and lower time-weighted average perfusion index were associated with postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery and receiving continuous vasopressor infusions.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04789330.

Does Tranexamic Acid Reduce the Need for Hypotensive Anesthesia Within Orthognathic Surgery? A Retrospective Study

Background

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is utilized frequently in orthognathic surgery to limit blood loss and improve surgical field visualization. This antifibrinolytic has been proven effective with use of concomitant hypotensive anesthesia. Despite proven efficacy, there is a recent push to avoid perioperative hypotensive anesthesia due to risks of organ hypoperfusion, cardiac ischemia and postoperative nausea.

Aims

The aim is to study the efficacy and safety of utilizing TXA without controlled hypotensive anesthesia.

Methods

The authors identified two cohorts of subjects that underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery both with and without TXA administration and compared operative and perioperative variables. A retrospective analysis was completed evaluating intraoperative MAP measurements in subjects treated both with and without TXA using descriptive and bivariate analysis.

Results and conclusion

Sixty-three subjects met inclusion criteria. The TXA cohort experienced 11.5% less time under hypotensive anesthesia when compared to the group that did not receive TXA. Additionally, surgical length was decreased by more than 28 min when subjects received TXA. No subjects required a blood transfusion or experienced any TXA-related complications. Given the recommendations to limit hypotensive anesthesia perioperatively, TXA is a useful adjunct in orthognathic surgery to limit controlled hypotensive anesthesia.

Supportive Care of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donors

Supportive care needs for hematopoietic stem cell recipients have been studied. Less is known about the care needs of stem cell donors. Care challenges arise at donor selection, preparation for the donation, the donation procedure and the immediate and long-term after-care. Care needs were analyzed for 1,831 consecutive bone marrow and peripheral stem cell donors at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital between January 2018 and August 2023 in support of a review of the current literature. During the selection, related donors may experience psychological pressures affecting their motivation, while donation centers may be willing to accept co-morbidities in these donors which might preclude donation in unrelated peers. For bone marrow donations, it is important to select donors not only according to optimal genetic matching criteria but also according to suitable donor/recipient weight ratios, to facilitate sufficient stem cell yields. During the donation preparation phase, side effects and complications related to stem cell stimulation must be anticipated and managed for peripheral cell donors, while the pros and cons of autologous blood donation should be evaluated carefully for bone marrow donors. The stem cell donation procedure itself carries potential side effects and complications as well. Peripheral cell donors may require a central line and may encounter hypocalcemia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Bone marrow donors face risks associated with anesthesia, blood loss and pain. Post-procedure care focusses on pain management, blood cell recovery and the psychological support necessary to regain a high quality-of-life existence. Hematopoietic stem donors are giving part of themselves to save another's life. They deserve comprehensive supportive care to accompany them throughout the donation process.

Hypotensive Levels on Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Visibility: A Randomized Non-Inferiority Trial

OBJECTIVE

Optimization of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) conditions is a common focus of interest for otolaryngologists and anesthesiologists. Relying on hypotension alone to achieve a bloodless field may not without risks. We sought to determine whether ESS is feasible in the context of moderate hypotension.

METHODS

This randomized non-inferiority trial enrolled 96 adult patients who were to undergo ESS. The patients were divided into two groups: Controlled hypotension group (n = 48, MAP reduction to 55-65 mmHg, minimum of 60% of baseline blood pressure) or Individualized hypotension group (n = 48, MAP reduction to 75-80% of baseline blood pressure). All participants were placed in 10° reverse Trendelenburg position during ESS, and cottonoid patties dammed with epinephrine was recommended to clear the operative field of bleeding. The two groups were compared according to Boezaart grading scale (BS) score, estimated blood loss, blood loss rate, arterial lactate level and postoperative recovery.

RESULTS

Both levels of intraoperative hypotension (62.2 ± 2.3 mmHg vs. 74.0 ± 2.8 mmHg) provided acceptable surgical conditions with no difference in mean BS scores [2.00 (1.88-2.33) vs. 2.00 (1.85-2.45), p = 0.926]. The 95% CI for median value differences in mean BS scores is lower than the preset non-inferiority margin. There were no differences in blood loss rate and estimated blood loss between two groups (p > 0.05) Postoperative arterial lactate and Ramsay sedation scores were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In ESS, both levels of intraoperative hypotension, combined with position adjustment and low-concentration adrenaline to constrict nasal mucosal blood vessels, provided acceptable surgical conditions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2 Laryngoscope, 134:569-576, 2024.

Cerebral Perfusion Unveiled: A Comprehensive Review of Blood Pressure Management in Neurosurgical and Endovascular Aneurysm Interventions

This comprehensive review delves into the intricate dynamics of cerebral perfusion and blood pressure management within the context of neurosurgical and endovascular aneurysm interventions. The review highlights the critical role of maintaining a delicate hemodynamic balance, given the brain's susceptibility to fluctuations in blood pressure. Emphasizing the regulatory mechanisms of cerebral perfusion, particularly autoregulation, the study advocates for a nuanced and personalized approach to blood pressure control. Key findings underscore the significance of adhering to tailored blood pressure targets to mitigate the risks of ischemic and hemorrhagic complications in both neurosurgical and endovascular procedures. The implications for clinical practice are profound, calling for heightened awareness and precision in hemodynamic management. The review concludes with recommendations for future research, urging exploration into optimal blood pressure targets, advancements in monitoring technologies, investigations into long-term outcomes, and the development of personalized approaches. By consolidating current knowledge and charting a path for future investigations, this review aims to contribute to the continual enhancement of patient outcomes in the dynamic field of neurovascular interventions.

The microcirculation in perioperative medicine: a narrative review

The microcirculation describes the network of the smallest vessels in our cardiovascular system. On a microcirculatory level, oxygen delivery is determined by the flow of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in a given single capillary (capillary red blood cell flow) and the density of the capillary network in a given tissue volume (capillary vessel density). Handheld vital videomicroscopy enables visualisation of the capillary bed on the surface of organs and tissues but currently is only used for research. Measurements are generally possible on all organ surfaces but are most often performed in the sublingual area. In patients presenting for elective surgery, the sublingual microcirculation is usually intact and functional. Induction of general anaesthesia slightly decreases capillary red blood cell flow and increases capillary vessel density. During elective, even major, noncardiac surgery, the sublingual microcirculation is preserved and remains functional, presumably because elective noncardiac surgery is scheduled trauma and haemodynamic alterations are immediately treated by anaesthesiologists, usually restoring the macrocirculation before the microcirculation is substantially impaired. Additionally, surgery is regional trauma and thus likely causes regional, rather than systemic, impairment of the microcirculation. Whether or not the sublingual microcirculation is impaired after noncardiac surgery remains a subject of ongoing research. Similarly, it remains unclear if cardiac surgery, especially with cardiopulmonary bypass, impairs the sublingual microcirculation. The effects of therapeutic interventions specifically targeting the microcirculation remain to be elucidated and tested. Future research should focus on further improving microcirculation monitoring methods and investigating how regional microcirculation monitoring can inform clinical decision-making and treatment.

High versus standard blood pressure target in hypertensive high-risk patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery: a study protocol for the HISTAP randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The intraoperative period is often characterized by hemodynamic instability, and intraoperative hypotension is a common complication. The optimal mean arterial pressure (MAP) target in hypertensive patients is still not clear. We hereby describe the protocol and detailed statistical analysis plan for the high versus standard blood pressure target in hypertensive high-risk patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery: the HISTAP randomized clinical trial. The HISTAP trial aims at addressing whether the use of a higher intraoperative MAP target in high-risk hypertensive surgical patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgery would improve postoperative outcomes, as compared to the standard and recommended perioperative MAP, by using a composite outcome including a 30-day mortality from surgical intervention and at least one major organ dysfunction or new onset of sepsis and septic shock occurring 7 days after surgery.

METHODS

The HISTAP trial is an investigator-initiated, pragmatic, parallel-grouped, randomized, stratified, analyst-blinded trial with adequate allocation sequence generation, and allocation concealment. We will allocate 636 patients to a MAP target ≥ 80 mmHg (treatment group) or to a MAP target ≥65 mmHg (control group). The primary outcome is a composite outcome including a 30-day mortality from the operation and major organ complications. Secondary outcomes are mortality at 30 days, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, ICU readmission, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores recorded up to postoperative day 7, overall intraoperative fluid balance, vasopressors use, and the need for reoperation. An unadjusted χ2 test will be used for the primary outcome analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model will be used to adjust the association between the primary outcome and baseline covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

The HISTAP trial results will provide important evidence to guide clinicians' choice regarding the intraoperative MAP target in high-risk hypertensive patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgery.

Postoperative arterial hypotension: the unnoticed enemy

Postoperative hypotension is a frequently underestimated health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality and increased use of health care resources. It also poses significant clinical, technological, and human challenges for healthcare. As it is a modifiable and avoidable risk factor, this document aims to increase its visibility, defining its clinical impact and the technological challenges involved in optimizing its management, taking clinical-technological, humanistic, and economic aspects into account.

Continuous Noninvasive Blood Pressure Measurement With "ClearSight" Compared to Standard Intermittent Blood Pressure Measurement in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease. Are Potential Differences Influenced by Phenylephrine or Dobutamine?

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the agreement between continuous noninvasive blood pressure measurement with the ClearSight system (cNIBP-CS) and standard intermittent noninvasive blood pressure measurement (iNIBP) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Additionally, the influence of vasoactive medication on potential measurement differences was assessed.

DESIGN

A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

At a university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-four patients with PAD undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the lower limbs.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Continuous noninvasive blood pressures were measured with the "ClearSight" system and compared to standard iNIBPs. Bland-Altman analysis revealed a mean bias of 13 mmHg (±15) between cNIBP-CS and iNIBP, with 95% limits of agreement (LOA) ranging from -17 to 42 mmHg. When comparing both medication groups, a similar mean bias was found for phenylephrine and dobutamine (12 mmHg [±13] and 13 mmHg [±13], respectively).

CONCLUSION

In this study, in patients with PAD, cNIBP-CS showed an underestimation of blood pressure compared to iNIBP in phenylephrine- and dobutamine-treated patients. Compared to previous studies, a larger bias and wider 95% LOA were found.

Bibliometric and visual analysis of intraoperative hypotension from 2004 to 2022

Background

Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) is a common complication occurring in surgical practice. This study aims to comprehensively review the collaboration and impact of countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and critical papers on intraoperative hypotension from the perspective of bibliometric, and to evaluate the evolution of knowledge structure clustering and identify research hotspots and emerging topics.

Methods

Articles and reviews related to IOH published from 2004 to 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analyses and visualization were conducted on Excel, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix (R-Tool of R-Studio).

Results

A total of 1,784 articles and reviews were included from 2004 to 2022. The number of articles on IOH gradually increased in the past few years, and peaked in 2021. These publications were chiefly from 1,938 institutions in 40 countries, led by America and China in publications. Sessler Daniel I published the most papers and enjoyed the highest number of citations. Analysis of the journals with the most outputs showed that most journals concentrated on perioperative medicine and clinical anesthesiology. Delirium, acute kidney injury and vasoconstrictor agents are the current and developing research hotspots. The keywords "Acute kidney injury", "postoperative complication", "machine learning", "risk factors" and "hemodynamic instability" may also become new trends and focuses of the near future research.

Conclusion

This study uses bibliometrics and visualization methods to comprehensively review the research on intraoperative hypotension, which is helpful for scholars to better understand the dynamic evolution of IOH and provide directions for future research.

Vasopressors to treat postoperative hypotension after adult noncardiac, non-obstetric surgery: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Postoperative hypotension is common after major surgery and is associated with patient harm. Vasopressors are commonly used to treat hypotension without clear evidence of benefit. We conducted a systematic review to better understand the use, impact, and rationale for vasopressor administration after noncardiac, non-obstetric surgery in adults.

METHODS

We conducted a prospectively registered systematic review. Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDBASE, and MEDLINE were searched for RCTs and cohort studies of adult patients receiving vasopressors after noncardiac, non-obstetric surgery. Study quality was critically appraised by two investigators. Findings from the review were synthesised, but formal meta-analysis was not performed because of significant variability in study populations and outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 3201 articles were screened, of which seven RCTs, two prospective cohort studies, and 15 retrospective cohort studies were included in the analysis (24 in total). One study was graded as high quality, two as moderate quality, and the remaining 21 as low quality. Sixteen studies relied on clinical assessment alone to decide on therapeutic interventions. Vasodilation was the most common suggested physiological disturbance. The median proportion of patients receiving vasopressors was 42% (interquartile range: 11.5-74.7%). Norepinephrine was the most common vasopressor used.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence supporting the use of vasopressors to treat postoperative hypotension is limited. Future research should focus on whether vasodilatation or other physiological disturbance is driving postoperative hypotension to allow rational decision-making.