Perioperative management of patients with severe pulmonary hypertension in major orthopedic surgery: experience-based recommendations

Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Rescue in a Patient With Pulmonary Hypertension Presenting for Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report and Narrative Review

Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are at an increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality when undergoing non-cardiac surgery. We present a case of a 57-year-old patient with severe PH, who developed cardiac arrest as the result of right heart failure, undergoing a revision total hip arthroplasty under combined spinal epidural anesthesia. Emergent veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was undertaken as rescue therapy during the pulmonary hypertensive crisis and a temporizing measure to provide circulatory support in an intensive care unit (ICU). We present a narrative review on perioperative management for patients with PH undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The review goes through the updated hemodynamic definition, clinical classification of PH, perioperative morbidity, and mortality associated with PH in non-cardiac surgery. Pre-operative assessment evaluates the type of surgery, the severity of PH, and comorbidities. General anesthesia (GA) is discussed in detail for patients with PH regarding the benefits of and unsubstantiated arguments against GA in non-cardiac surgery. The literature on risks and benefits of regional anesthesia (RA) in terms of neuraxial, deep plexus, and peripheral nerve block with or without sedation in patients with PH undergoing non-cardiac surgery is reviewed. The choice of anesthesia technique depends on the type of surgery, right ventricle (RV) function, pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, and comorbidities. Given the differences in pathophysiology and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) between the RV and left ventricle (LV), the indications, goals, and contraindications of VA-ECMO as a rescue in cardiopulmonary arrest and pulmonary hypertensive crisis in patients with PH are discussed. Given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with PH, multidisciplinary teams including anesthesiologists, surgeons, cardiologists, pulmonologists, and psychological and social worker support should provide perioperative management.

Results of emergency colectomy in nonagenarians and octogenarians previously labeled as prohibitive surgical risk

PURPOSE

There are no standardized criteria for what constitutes prohibitive risk for emergency abdominal surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed comparing two groups of patients having emergent colectomy. One group had previously been labeled as being prohibitive surgical risk and the other was a contemporary, non-prohibitive risk group also requiring emergency colectomy. All operations were performed by a single surgeon.

RESULTS

There were 27 prohibitive risk patients and 81 non-prohibitive risk (control group) patients. The average age of the prohibitive risk group was 85 years (range 78-99) compared to the control group mean age of 52 years (18-79, p < 0.00001). Prohibitive risk was due to extremes of age combined with congestive heart failure in 44%, followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with heart failure in 19%. The groups were closely matched by the type of colectomy performed. The total complication rate was much higher in the prohibitive risk group compared to the non-prohibitive risk patients (81% versus 48%, p 0.005). But the 30-day mortality rate was similar between groups (7% versus 4%, p 0.6).

CONCLUSION

Patients who are labeled as prohibitive surgical risk may be inaccurately assessed in the majority of cases. Additional research will need to be performed to evaluate the presence of quantifiable high-risk physiological conditions, and not just comorbidities, that place a patient at high risk of death after abdominal surgery. Until then, elderly patients should not be denied colectomy based upon comorbidities alone.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Intensive Care Units: An Updated Review

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Patients with PH who require critical care usually have severe right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Although different groups of PH have different etiologies, pulmonary vascular dysfunction is common in these groups. PH can lead to increased pulmonary artery pressure, which can ultimately cause RV failure. Clinicians should be familiar with the presentations of this disease and diagnostic tools. The contributing factors, if present (e.g., sepsis), and coexisting conditions (e.g., arrhythmias) should be identified and addressed accordingly. The preload should be optimized by fluid administration, diuretics, and dialysis, if necessary. On the other hand, the RV afterload should be reduced to improve the RV function with pulmonary vasodilators, such as prostacyclins, inhaled nitric oxide, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, especially in group 1 PH. Inotropes are also used to improve RV contractility, and if inadequate, use of ventricular assist devices and extracorporeal life support should be considered in suitable candidates. Moreover, vasopressors should be used to maintain systemic blood pressure, albeit cautiously, as they increase the RV afterload. Measures should be also taken to ensure adequate oxygenation. However, mechanical ventilation is avoided in RV failure. In this study, we reviewed the pathophysiology, manifestations, diagnosis, monitoring, and management strategies of PH, especially in intensive care units.

The effect of pulmonary hypertension on inpatient outcomes of laparoscopic procedures

The purpose of our analysis was to assess the effects of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on clinical outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures. Pulmonary hypertension alters physiologic patterns that has the potential to complicate laparoscopic procedures, however, an in-depth analysis evaluating survival outcomes, complications, and associated comorbidities has not been done before. Data from the National Inpatient Survey were used to identify 179,663 patients without PH and 1453 patients with PH undergoing laparoscopic procedures from the years 2003-2013. In patients with pulmonary hypertension, the presence of the following comorbidities, congestive heart failure (OR 3.56) diabetes with chronic complications (OR 3.74) fluid and electrolyte disorders (OR 7.34) metastatic cancer (OR 14.42) and peripheral vascular disease (OR 3.12) increased in-patient mortality. In regards to post-operative complications, patients with PH were more likely to have cardiac complications defined as cardiac arrest, cardiac insufficiency, cardiorespiratory failure, or heart failure (OR 3.74). Patients with PH were also more likely to develop iatrogenic pneumothorax (OR 4.13) iatrogenic pulmonary embolism (OR 7.65) and post-operative urinary complications (OR 1.92). Overall, the comorbidity with the highest association with in-patient mortality was metastatic cancer and of all complications, patients with PH were most likely to develop iatrogenic pulmonary embolism. Preparing for these adversities, notably in patients with certain associated conditions has the potential to improve patient outcome.