Balancing intubation time with postoperative risk in cardiac surgery patients - a retrospective cohort analysis

A Scoping Review of Factors Associated with Delayed Extubation in Post Cardiac Surgery Patients

Background

Delayed extubation (DE) after cardiac surgery is associated with high morbidity, mortality, increased length of stay in the intensive care unit, and hospital costs. Various studies have identified factors that influence the occurrence of DE in patients after cardiac surgery, but no review has systematically synthesized the results.

Purpose

This review aimed to identify the influencing factors and the leading causes of DE in patients after cardiac surgery.

Methods

This scoping review uses the framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Literature was searched through four databases: PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and CINAHL, and two search engines, Sage and Google Scholar, accessed on October 20, 2024. The articles analyzed met the inclusion criteria, such as full-text articles in English, published from 2014-2024, with case-control, cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cohort study designs and had good quality as assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. Data was synthesized using thematic analysis.

Results

Eight articles with a total of 13801 participants were included in this review. The prevalence of DE after cardiac surgery ranged from 13.6% to 91.9%. The factors affecting DE were categorized into preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative. The factors most commonly reported to influence ED include preoperative factors (age ≥ 60 and EF < 50%), intraoperative factors (duration of surgery ≥7 hours, use of IABP and sedatives), and postoperative factors (BNP≥806 pg/mL). The leading causes of DE after cardiac surgery are hemodynamic instability requiring increased inotropes (33.51%), reduced level of consciousness or drowsiness (31.91%), and postoperative bleeding (20.74%).

Conclusion

The process of extubation is a crucial phase in postoperative care. By comprehending the elements that impact DE, healthcare providers can effectively allocate medical resources to enhance the success of weaning, extubation, and recovery following cardiac surgery. Consequently, further research focusing on DE is essential, particularly in patients who have undergone cardiac surgery.

In operating room extubation after cardiac surgery is associated with decreased incidence of in hospital new postoperative atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to characterize the risks and benefits of in-OR extubation after cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Single tertiary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Cardiac surgical patients >18 years. Exclusion criteria included patients extubated after 6 h in the ICU, those with a history of congenital heart disease (CHD), those intubated prior to arrival to the OR, procedures including circulatory arrest and/or selective cerebral perfusion, cardiothoracic transplantation, and intraoperative death. De-identified data was collected via the hospital's electronic medical record.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Perioperative data was collected for 726 patients, of which 303 (42 %) were extubated in the OR. Multivariable regression models were derived with covariates based on expert clinical reasoning. When compared to fast track extubation, in-OR extubation was independently associated with decreased index hospitalization length of stay (-1.74, 95 % CI [-2.22, -1.08], p < 0.001) and decreased incidence of in-hospital new post-operative atrial fibrillation (OR 0.56 95 % CI [0.37, 0.86], p < 0.01). There were no differences in persistent vasoactive therapy requirement, postoperative mechanical circulatory support or extubation failure.

CONCLUSIONS

In-OR extubation is associated with decreased index hospitalization length of stay and decreased new onset in-hospital atrial fibrillation.

Safe Landing: Feasibility and Safety of Operating Room Extubation in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Valve Surgery

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to explore key safety outcomes after operating room (OR) extubation in minimally invasive cardiac valve surgery.

DESIGN

Single-center retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Academic medical center in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients undergoing valvular surgery via thoracotomy (November 2017-October 2022) at a single institution.

INTERVENTIONS

The OR extubation protocol was implemented on August 20, 2020.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Delirium rates, reintubation rates, and intubation duration were compared before and after OR extubation protocol implementation. Logistic regression identified patient perioperative characteristics associated with unsuccessful OR extubation. Among 312 patients, 254 were extubated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and 58 in the OR. Preoperative demographics were comparable except for the Charlson Comorbidity Index (median: 2.0 ICU extubation v 1.5 OR extubation). Interrupted time series analysis showed no change in postoperative delirium post-OR extubation implementation, with a trend toward decreasing delirium (risk ratio = 0.37, CI: 0.13-1.10, p = 0.07). The postimplementation era also had a lower median intubation duration (8 hours v 13 hours, p < 0.001) without increasing reintubation rates (1.7% v 7.9%, p = 0.159). Increased bypass length (odds ratio = 0.99, CI: 0.98-0.99, p < 0.001), intraoperative morphine milligram equivalents (odds ratio = 0.99, CI: 0.99-1.0, p = 0.009), and preoperative Charlson Comorbidity Index above 3 (odds ratio = 0.42, CI: 0.19-0.95, p = 0.037) were associated with decreased odds of OR extubation.

CONCLUSIONS

OR extubation was not associated with increased postoperative delirium or reintubation rates but did decrease intubation duration. Successful OR extubation relies upon the consideration of various patient perioperative characteristics.

A novel nomogram for predicting prolonged mechanical ventilation after acute type A aortic dissection surgery: a retrospective study investigating the impact of ventilation duration on postoperative outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a devastating cardiovascular disease with extraordinary morbidity and mortality. Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is a common complication following ATAAD surgery, leading to adverse outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between mechanical ventilation time (MVT) and prognosis and to devise a nomogram for predicting PMV after ATAAD surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 1049 ATAAD patients from 2011 to 2019. Subgroups were divided into < 12 h, 12 h to < 24 h, 24 h to < 48 h, 48 h to < 72 h, and ≥ 72 h according to MVT. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared among the groups. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we investigated the relationship between each stratification of MVT and mortality. A nomogram was constructed based on the refined multivariable logistic regression model for predicting PMV.

RESULTS

The total mortality was 11.8% (124/1049). The results showed that the groups with MVT 48 h to < 72 h and ≥ 72 h had significantly higher operative mortality compared to other MVT categories. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that MVT ≥72 h was significantly associated with higher short-term mortality. Thus, a nomogram was presented to elucidate the association between PMV (MVT ≥72 h) and risk factors including advanced age, preoperative cerebral ischemia, ascending aorta replacement, concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and large-volume intraoperative fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion. The nomogram exhibited strong predictive performance upon validation.

CONCLUSIONS

Safely extubating patients within 72 h after ATAAD surgery is crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. The developed and validated nomogram provides a valuable tool for predicting PMV and optimizing postoperative care to improve patient prognosis. This novel nomogram has the potential to guide clinical decision-making and resource allocation in the management of ATAAD patients.

Clinical Outcomes and Risk Factors of Heart Transplantation Patients Experiencing Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) after heart transplantation (HT) remains a significant clinical issue. This study aimed to explore the incidence, trends, outcomes, and clinical predictors of GIB in HT patients. Adult patients who underwent HT between 2015 and 2021 at Union Hospital were recruited and divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of postoperative GIB. The primary outcomes were evaluated at follow-up. Independent predictors of GIB after HT were identified using a logistic regression analysis. A nomogram prediction model was constructed according to these independent variables, and the accuracy of the model was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the calibration curve. Among the 461 patients, 40 (8.7%) developed GIB post-HT. HT patients with postoperative GIB exhibited higher in-hospital, 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year mortality (all p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis was used to identify age, preoperative warfarin, postoperative continuous renal replacement therapy, and postoperative nasogastric tubes as independent risk factors for GIB following HT. A nomogram prediction model was applied using the four variables. The area under the curve (AUC) of this model was 0.852 (95% CI: 0.787-0.917, p < 0.001), and the calibration curve was close to the ideal diagonal line. GIB following HT is associated with a poor clinical prognosis. The constructed nomogram demonstrated a favorable predictive value for GIB.

Early administration of ketorolac after cardiac surgery and postoperative complications: Analysis of the MIMIC-IV database

Inflammation may contribute to postoperative cardiac complications and ketorolac, an anti-inflammatory agent inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX), shows promise in enhancing cardiac graft patency by suppressing endothelial cell proliferation in animal studies. However, the safety of postoperative ketorolac use remains controversial. This study investigates the association between early ketorolac application and complications following cardiac surgery. Data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database fueled this retrospective cohort study. The primary outcome is a composite of mortality, pulmonary insufficiency, severe acute kidney injury (AKI), hemorrhage or hematoma, infection, cardiogenic shock, and cerebrovascular infarction postcardiac surgery. Propensity score matching (PSM; 1:1 match, caliper 0.2), multivariate logistic regression, interaction stratification analysis, pairwise algorithmic, and overlap weight model analyses were employed. Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 7143 patients who underwent valvular surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were included. PSM created a balanced cohort of 3270 individuals (1635 in the ketorolac group). The matched cohort exhibited an 8.1% overall rate of postoperative complications, with a lower composite outcome rate in patients receiving ketorolac within 48 h of surgery compared with those without (PSM, OR 0.70 [95% CI, 0.54-0.90]). Consistent associations were observed in total cohort analyses, sensitivity, and subgroup analyses. Early ketorolac use within 48 h post-CABG or valvular procedures in adults is independently associated with a lower incidence of composite postoperative adverse events. Prospective trials are warranted to assess causality.

Early Deep Sedation Practices Worsened During the Pandemic Among Adult Patients Without COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

There is substantial evidence that patients with COVID-19 were treated with sustained deep sedation during the pandemic. However, it is unknown whether such guideline-discordant care had spillover effects to patients without COVID-19.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Did patterns of early deep sedation change during the pandemic for patients on mechanical ventilation without COVID-19?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We used electronic health record data from 4,237 patients who were intubated without COVID-19. We compared sedation practices in the first 48 h after intubation across prepandemic (February 1, 2018, to January 31, 2020), pandemic (April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021), and late pandemic (April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022) periods.

RESULTS

In the prepandemic period, patients spent an average of 13.0 h deeply sedated in the first 48 h after intubation. This increased 1.9 h (95% CI, 1.0-2.8) during the pandemic period and 2.9 h (95% CI, 2.0-3.8) in the late pandemic period. The proportion of patients that spent over one-half of the first 48 h deeply sedated was 18.9% in the prepandemic period, 22.3% during the pandemic period, and 25.9% during the late pandemic period. Ventilator-free days decreased during the pandemic, with a subdistribution hazard ratio of being alive without mechanical ventilation at 28 days of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.79-0.95) compared with the prepandemic period. Tracheostomy placement increased during the pandemic period compared with the prepandemic period (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08-1.82). In the medical ICU, early deep sedation increased 2.5 h (95% CI, 0.6-4.4) during the pandemic period and 4.9 h (95% CI, 3.0-6.9) during the late pandemic period, compared with the prepandemic period.

INTERPRETATION

We found that among patients on mechanical ventilation without COVID-19, sedation use increased during the pandemic. In the subsequent year, these practices did not return to prepandemic standards.

Extubation in the Operating Room After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Reduces Hospital Stay

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this analysis was to compare the effect of extubating in the operating room (OR) versus and the intensive care unit (ICU) among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort analysis.

SETTING

Ten cardiac referral hospitals in Latin America; participants of the São Paulo Registry of Cardiovascular Surgery II (REPLICCAR II).

PARTICIPANTS

The database included a total of 4,015 patients who underwent primary and isolated CABG surgery and were ≥18 years old, of whom 205 patients were extubated in the OR.

INTERVENTIONS

The analysis was made after a propensity score matching (PSM) adjustment in the population sample of patients extubated in the OR and ICU by the following variables: sex, age, body mass index, smoking, type of surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, preoperative atrial fibrillation, cardiopulmonary bypass time, preoperative creatinine, and preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

This study focused on the analysis of the ICU and hospital length of stay, need for reintubation, morbidity, and mortality. After PSM, 402 patients were analyzed. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics, such as age (p = 0.132), sex (p = 1.00), and estimated risk of prolonged ventilation (>24 hours, p = 0.168); however, the median ventilation time was significantly shorter in the group extubated in the OR compared to the ICU group (5.67 hours v 17.55 hours, p < 0.001). The group of patients extubated in the ICU had a longer postoperative stay (7.54 ± 3.40 days v 6.41 ± 2.91 days, p < 0.001) and longer total hospitalization time (11.49 ± 5.70 days v 10.36 ± 5.72, p = 0.013) compared to those extubated in the OR. The authors did not observe a significant difference in the need for reintubation, morbidity, or mortality rates among the evaluated groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In the REPLICCAR II database, extubation performed in the OR was associated with a reduced length of postoperative and total hospital stays compared to extubation in the ICU.

A Retrospective Pilot Comparison Trial Investigating Clinical Outcomes in Cardiac Surgical Patients Who Received Sugammadex Reversal During 2018 to 2021

OBJECTIVES

To compare the number of eligible urgent and elective cardiac surgical patients who could be extubated successfully within 6 hours of surgery and who received sugammadex versus those who did not.

DESIGN

This retrospective pilot study compared outcomes in cardiac surgical patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass between 2018 to 2021 who received sugammadex versus those who did not.

SETTING

At a tertiary-care hospital in the Northshore of Chicago.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 358 elective or urgent cardiac surgical patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (by 1 cardiac surgeon) and were extubated within 24 hours of the end of surgery at Evanston Hospital in Evanston, IL, were included.

INTERVENTIONS

Data were examined in the following 2 groups of patients: those who were administered sugammadex and those who were not.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

After performing propensity matching for age, sex, body mass index, kidney or liver disease, the number of preoperative conditions (defined as the sum of the presence of the following medical conditions: diabetes, immunosuppressive disease, on home oxygen, on inhaled bronchodilator, or sleep apnea), number of patients who underwent elective or urgent surgery in each group, surgery time, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, number of intraoperative blood products, use of intraoperative midazolam and propofol, a statistically significant increase in the percentage of patients in the sugammadex group were extubated within 6 hours of the end of surgery versus those who did not receive sugammadex (96.67% v 81.33%, p = 0.0428). In addition, there was a statistically significant reduction in time to extubation (hours) (4.72 ± 2.92) v (3.57± 1.96 p = 0.0098) in the sugammadex group. All other outcomes did not meet statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective study suggested that using sugammadex reversal in cardiac surgical patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass may result in more patients meeting the Society of Thoracic Surgery benchmark extubation criteria within 6 hours of the end of surgery.

Association of immediate versus delayed extubation of patients admitted to intensive care units postoperatively and outcomes: A retrospective study

AIM OF THIS STUDY

This study seeks to investigate, whether extubation of tracheally intubated patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) postoperatively either immediately at the day of admission (day 1) or delayed at the first postoperative day (day 2) is associated with differences in outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of data from an Austrian ICU registry. Adult patients admitted between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2019 following elective and emergency surgery, who were intubated at the day 1 and were extubated at day 1 or day 2, were included. We performed logistic regression analyses for in-hospital mortality and over-sedation or agitation following extubation.

RESULTS

52 982 patients constituted the main study population. 1 231 (3.3%) patients extubated at day 1 and 958 (5.9%) at day 2 died in hospital, 464 (1.3%) patients extubated at day 1 and 613 (3.8%) at day 2 demonstrated agitation or over-sedation after extubation during ICU stay; OR (95% CI) for in-hospital mortality were OR 1.17 (1.01-1.35, p = 0.031) and OR 2.15 (1.75-2.65, p<0.001) for agitation or over-sedation.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that immediate extubation as soon as deemed feasible by clinicians is associated with favourable outcomes and may thus be considered preferable in tracheally intubated patients admitted to ICU postoperatively.

Should nasogastric tube be used routinely in patients undergoing cardiac surgery? A narrative review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Nasogastric tube (NGT) use has been common in the immediate postoperative period in surgical patients for decades. Potential advantages include the decompression of gastric contents and the early administration of time-sensitive medications. However, its routine use after cardiac surgery has not been established as a gold standard yet. The NGT use for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting has been a matter of debate in literature. Also, NGT use has also been associated with the incidence of some respiratory and gastrointestinal complications and it may be a source of significant pain and discomfort to patients. In this article, we review the current available literature regarding the use of NGT during and immediately after cardiac surgery, with particular emphasis on its potential role in enhanced postoperative recovery.

METHODS

We performed a database search in October 2021 using Embase, Cochrane Library, and Medline to identify studies that examined the use of NGT in patients that underwent cardiac surgery. Data and literature about NGT's impact on post-operative nausea and vomiting, early administration of medications, interference with imaging, post-operative complications, respiratory complications, gastrointestinal complications, pain and discomfort, and enhanced recovery after surgery were examined.

RESULTS

Three reports investigating the use of NGT to reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting were examined with sample sizes of 114, 104, and 202. The use of NGT did not significantly reduce the incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting in 2/3 of the studies: a 2% nausea reduction with NGT (p < 0.05), a 7.7% nausea reduction with NGT (p = 0.6), and a 14% vomiting reduction with NGT (p = 0.007). The prevalence of pneumonia following NGT use has been shown to vary ranging from 4 to 95% with associated mortality rates of 17 to 62%.

CONCLUSION

Based on our findings, there is currently not sufficient evidence to support the routine use of NGT during cardiac surgery. Further research is needed to establish the role of NGT in this patient population.

Analgesic efficacy and risk of low-to-medium dose intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: An updated meta-analysis

Background

To evaluate the analgesic efficacy and risk of low-to-medium dose intrathecal morphine (ITM) (i.e., ≤0.5 mg) following cardiac surgery.

Methods

Medline, Cochrane Library, Google scholar and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to February 2022. The primary outcome was pain intensity at postoperative 24 h, while the secondary outcomes included intravenous morphine consumption (IMC), extubation time, hospital/intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and ITM-associated side effects (e.g., respiratory depression). Subgroup analysis was performed on ITM dosage (low: <0.3 mg vs. medium: 0.3–0.5 mg).

Results

Fifteen RCTs involving 683 patients published from 1988 to 2021 were included. Pooled results showed significantly lower postoperative 24-h pain scores [mean difference (MD) = −1.61, 95% confidence interval: −1.98 to −1.24, p < 0.00001; trial sequential analysis: sufficient evidence; certainty of evidence: moderate] in the ITM group compared to the controls. Similar positive findings were noted at 12 (MD = −2.1) and 48 h (MD = −1.88). Use of ITM was also associated with lower IMC at 24 and 48 h (MD: −13.69 and −14.57 mg, respectively; all p < 0.05) and early tracheal extubation (i.e., 48.08 min). No difference was noted in hospital/ICU LOS, and nausea/vomiting in both groups, but patients receiving ITM had higher risk of pruritus (relative risk = 2.88, p = 0.008). There was no subgroup difference in IMC except a lower pain score with 0.3–0.5 mg than <0.3 mg at postoperative 24 h. Respiratory depression events were not noted in the ITM group.

Conclusion

Our results validated the analgesic efficacy of low-to-medium dose ITM for patients receiving cardiac surgery without increasing the risk of respiratory depression.

Early identification of delayed extubation following cardiac surgery: Development and validation of a risk prediction model

Background

Successful weaning and extubation after cardiac surgery is an important step of postoperative recovery. Delayed extubation is associated with poor prognosis and high mortality, thereby contributing to a substantial economic burden. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a prediction model estimate the risk of delayed extubation after cardiac surgery based on perioperative risk factors.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery from 2014 to 2019. Eligible participants were randomly assigned into the development and validation cohorts, with a ratio of 7:3. Variables were selected using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression model with 10-fold cross-validation. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to develop a predictive model by introducing the predictors selected from the LASSO regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration plot, decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve were used to evaluate the performance of the predictive risk score model.

Results

Among the 3,919 adults included in our study, 533 patients (13.6%) experienced delayed extubation. The median ventilation time was 68 h in the group with delayed extubation and 21 h in the group without delayed extubation. A predictive scoring system was derived based on 10 identified risk factors based on 10 identified risk factors including age, BMI ≥ 28 kg/m², EF < 50%, history of cardiac surgery, type of operation, emergency surgery, CPB ≥ 120 min, duration of surgery, IABP and eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m². According to the scoring system, the patients were classified into three risk intervals: low, medium and high risk. The model performed well in the validation set with AUC of 0.782 and a non-significant p-value of 0.901 in the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The DCA curve and clinical impact curve showed a good clinical utility of this model.

Conclusions

We developed and validated a prediction score model to predict the risk of delayed extubation after cardiac surgery, which may help identify high-risk patients to target with potential preventive measures.

Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Respiratory Failure After Cardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND

Postoperative respiratory failure, defined as ventilator dependency for more than 48 hours or unplanned reintubation within 30 days, is a costly complication of cardiac surgery that increases mortality and length of stay. Stratification of patients by risk upon intensive care unit admission could identify cases requiring early measures to prevent respiratory failure. This study aimed to develop and validate a risk score for postoperative respiratory failure after cardiac surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis of 4262 patients admitted to the cardiovascular intensive care unit after major cardiac surgery between 01/2013 and 12/2017, used the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database and ventilator data from the respiratory therapy department. Patients were randomly and equally assigned to development and validation cohorts. Covariates used in the multivariable models were assigned weighted points proportional to their β regression coefficient values to create the risk score, which categorized patients into low, medium, and high risk of postoperative respiratory failure.

RESULTS

In both cohorts, postoperative respiratory failure risk was significantly different between risk categories. Compared to low-risk patients, moderate-risk patients had a two times greater risk, and high-risk patients had a four to seven times greater risk. Body mass index, previous cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, cardiogenic shock, pulmonary disease presence, baseline functional status, hemodynamic instability, and number of blood products used intraoperatively were significant predictors of respiratory failure.

CONCLUSIONS

This risk score can stratify patients by risk for developing postoperative respiratory failure after major cardiac surgery, which may help in the development of preventive measures.

Extubation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults: An international qualitative study on experts' opinions

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults (adult-ECMO), a modification of cardiopulmonary bypass is increasingly used. Liberation from mechanical ventilation, or extubation, during adult-ECMO remains a challenge.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to understand expert perceptions of the reasonableness of extubation during adult-ECMO and the usefulness of an extubation clinical practice guideline (ECPG).

METHODS

Homogeneous purposive sampling, focus groups, and interviews with a discussion guide, and direct content, thematic analysis were used.

RESULTS

Fourteen volunteers participated with different educational levels (79% Doctor of Medicine, 14% Registered Nurse, 7% Nurse Practitioner), from high-volume ECMO centers of various annual ECMO runs (50% 30-49 ECMO/year, 36% 50-99 ECMO/year, 14% >100 ECMO/year) worldwide (64% North America, 21% South America, 7% Europe, 7% Asia). Seven themes were identified: paucity of evidence, mindsets towards using an ECPG, barriers, criteria and benefits of extubation, culture towards extubation and vision of the future. Participants recommended aiming for extubation based on patient selection, and a standardized extubation approach with an ECPG or team decision-making.

CONCLUSION

Application of adult-ECMO is expanding, during which extubation remains difficult. Experts recommend two methods of a standardized extubation approach.

Factors Associated With Early Extubation After Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVES

To identify factors associated with early extubation in cardiac surgery patients.

DESIGN

Single center, retrospective.

SETTING

Tertiary university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

The study comprised 8,872 adult patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery from 2011-2019.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of the 8,872 patients, 2,950 (33%) were extubated within six hours after surgery. Early extubated patients were younger, had a higher body mass index (BMI), were more likely to be male, and were fast-track designated. These patients more frequently underwent isolated coronary artery bypass graft, isolated valve, or adult congenital surgeries than did late extubated patients. Early extubated patients had a greater incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and anxiety and a higher left ventricular ejection fraction. They also were less likely to have difficult intubation or require mechanical circulatory support, reintubation, or readmission. Analysis of the 8,872 patients showed that male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.222, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.096-1.363), a BMI >30 kg/m² (OR 1.702, 95% CI 1.475-1.965), undergoing isolated valve surgery (OR 1.187, 95% CI 1.060-1.328), and having a fast-track designation (OR 1.455, 95% CI 1.208-1.751) and CAD (OR 1.122, 95% CI 1.005-1.253) were associated with early extubation. Data on intensive care unit (ICU) admission after surgery were available only from 2014-2018. Within this subgroup of 5,977 patients, variables associated with early extubation included male sex (OR 1.356, 95% CI 1.193-1.541), BMI >30 kg/m² (OR 1.267, 95% CI 1.084-1.480), daytime admission to the ICU (OR 1.712, 95% CI 1.527-1.919), and fast-track designation (OR 1.423, 95% CI 1.123-1.802).

CONCLUSIONS

Male sex; a BMI >30 kg/m²; undergoing isolated valve surgery; and having a fast-track designation, CAD, and daytime admission to the ICU are associated with early extubation.

Impact of Early Tracheostomy on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery: A National Analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite evidence supporting its early use in respiratory failure, tracheostomy is often delayed in cardiac surgical patients given concerns for sternal infection. This study assessed national trends in tracheostomy creation among cardiac patients and evaluated the impact of timing to tracheostomy on postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

We used the 2005 to 2015 National Inpatient Sample to identify adults undergoing coronary revascularization or valve operations and categorized them based on timing of tracheostomy: early tracheostomy (ET) (postoperative days 1-14) and delayed tracheostomy (DT) (postoperative days 15-30). Temporal trends in the timing of tracheostomy were analyzed, and multivariable models were created to compare outcomes.

RESULTS

An estimated 33,765 patients (1.4%) required a tracheostomy after cardiac operations. Time to tracheostomy decreased from 14.8 days in 2005 to 13.9 days in 2015, sternal infections decreased from 10.2% to 2.9%, and in-hospital death also decreased from 23.3% to 15.9% over the study period (all P for trend <.005). On univariate analysis, the ET cohort had a lower rate of sternal infection (5.2% vs 7.8%, P < .001), in-hospital death (16.7% vs 22.9%, P < .001), and length of stay (33.7 vs 43.6 days, P < .001). On multivariable regression, DT remained an independent predictor of sternal infection (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; P < .05), in-hospital death (odds ratio, 1.36; P < .001), and length of stay (9.1 days, P < .001), with no difference in time from tracheostomy to discharge between the 2 cohorts (P = .40).

CONCLUSIONS

In cardiac surgical patients, ET yielded similar postoperative outcomes, including sternal infection and in-hospital death. Our findings should reassure surgeons considering ET in poststernotomy patients with respiratory failure.

Hypotension after intensive care unit drop-off in adult cardiac surgery patients

BACKGROUND

Hypotension is a frequent complication in the intensive care unit (ICU) after adult cardiac surgery.

AIM

To describe frequency of hypotension in the ICU following adult cardiac surgery and its relation to the hospital outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective study of post-cardiac adult surgical patients at a tertiary academic medical center in a two-year period. We abstracted baseline demographics, comorbidities, and all pertinent clinical variables. The primary predictor variable was the development of hypotension within the first 30 min upon arrival to the ICU from the operating room (OR). The primary outcome was hospital mortality, and other outcomes included duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) in hours, and ICU and hospital length of stay in days.

RESULTS

Of 417 patients, more than half (54%) experienced hypotension within 30 min upon arrival to the ICU. Presence of OR hypotension immediately prior to ICU transfer was significantly associated with ICU hypotension (odds ratio = 1.9; 95% confidence interval: 1.21-2.98; P < 0.006). ICU hypotensive patients had longer MV, 5 (interquartile ranges 3, 15) vs 4 h (interquartile ranges 3, 6), P = 0.012. The patients who received vasopressor boluses (n = 212) were more likely to experience ICU drop-off hypotension (odds ratio = 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 0.98-2.13; P = 0.062), and they experienced longer MV, ICU and hospital length of stay (P < 0.001, for all).

CONCLUSION

Hypotension upon anesthesia-to-ICU drop-off is more frequent than previously reported and may be associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

Patient-ventilator asynchrony in conventional ventilation modes during short-term mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery: randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Studies regarding asynchrony in patients in the cardiac postoperative period are still only a few. The main objective of our study was to compare asynchronies incidence and its index (AI) in 3 different modes of ventilation (volume-controlled ventilation [VCV], pressure-controlled ventilation [PCV] and pressure-support ventilation [PSV]) after ICU admission for postoperative care.

METHODS

A prospective parallel randomised trialin the setting of a non-profitable hospital in Brazil. The participants were patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to VCV or PCV modes of ventilation and later both groups were transitioned to PSV mode.

RESULTS

All data were recorded for 5 minutes in each of the three different phases: T1) in assisted breath, T2) initial spontaneous breath and T3) final spontaneous breath, a marking point prior to extubation. Asynchronies were detected and counted by visual inspection method by two independent investigators. Reliability, inter-rater agreement of asynchronies, asynchronies incidence, total and specific asynchrony indexes (AIt and AIspecific) and odds of AI ≥10% weighted by total asynchrony were analysed. A total of 17 patients randomly allocated to the VCV (n=9) or PCV (n=8) group completed the study. High inter-rated agreement for AIt (ICC 0.978; IC95%, 0,963-0.987) and good reliability (r=0.945; p<0.001) were found. Eighty-two % of patients presented asynchronies, although only 7% of their total breathing cycles were asynchronous. Early cycling and double triggering had the highest rates of asynchrony with no difference between groups. The highest odds of AI ≥10% were observed in VCV regardless the phase: OR 2.79 (1.36-5.73) in T1 vs T2, p=0.005; OR 2.61 (1.27-5.37) in T1 vs T3, p=0.009 and OR 4.99 (2.37-10.37) in T2 vs T3, p<0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a high incidence of breathing asynchrony in postoperative cardiac patients, especially when initially ventilated in VCV. VCV group had a higher chance of AI ≥10% and this chance remained high in the following PSV phases.

The Efficacy of Inpatient vs. Home-Based Physiotherapy Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background: Intensive post-operative physiotherapy after cardiac surgery helps to reduce the number of complications, accelerating convalescence and decreasing peri-operative mortality. Cardiac rehabilitation is aimed at regaining lost function and sustaining the effect of cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of inpatient and home-based phase II physiotherapy following coronary artery bypass grafting, and inpatient phase II post-operative physiotherapy based on the analysis of the spirometry results. Methods: A prospective observational study included 104 adult patients of both sexes undergoing planned coronary artery bypass grafting and were randomized to one of the two groups-inpatients (InPhysio) and home-based (HomePhysio) at a 1:1 ratio. All patients had undergone spirometry testing prior to surgery (S1) and on the fifth day after the operation (S2), i.e., on the day of completion of the first phase (PI) of physiotherapy. Both the study group (InPhysio) and the control group (HomePhysio) performed the same set of exercises in the second phase (PII) of cardiac physiotherapy, either in the hospital or at home, respectively, according to the program obtained in the hospital. Both groups have undergone spirometry testing (S3) at 30 days after the operation. Results: The demographic and peri-operative data for both groups were comparable and showed no statistically significant differences. An analysis of gradients between the results of spirometry tests before surgery and at 30 days after the surgery showed a smaller decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.001). The results at five and 30 days after the surgery showed a greater increase in FVC in the study group than in the control group (680 mL vs. 450 mL, p = 0.009). There were no statistically significant differences in other parameters studied. Conclusions: The advantage of inpatient over home-based physiotherapy was evidenced by much smaller decreases in FVC between the initial and final tests, and greater increases between the fifth day after surgery and the final test. Our analysis showed greater efficacy of inpatient physiotherapy as compared with home-based exercises and raises concerns about patient adherence.