Preoperative and Postoperative Assessment of Ultrasonographic Measurement of Inferior Vena Cava: A Prospective, Observational Study

Adult Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: Joint Consensus Report

OBJECTIVES

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasingly recognized as a source of poor patient outcomes after cardiac surgery. The purpose of the present report is to provide perioperative teams with expert recommendations specific to cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI).

METHODS

This report and consensus recommendations were developed during a joint, in-person, multidisciplinary conference with the Perioperative Quality Initiative and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Cardiac Society. Multinational practitioners with diverse expertise in all aspects of cardiac surgical perioperative care, including clinical backgrounds in anesthesiology, surgery and nursing, met from October 20 to 22, 2021, in Sacramento, California, and used a modified Delphi process and a comprehensive review of evidence to formulate recommendations. The quality of evidence and strength of each recommendation were established using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. A majority vote endorsed recommendations.

RESULTS

Based on available evidence and group consensus, a total of 13 recommendations were formulated (4 for the preoperative phase, 4 for the intraoperative phase, and 5 for the postoperative phase), and are reported here.

CONCLUSIONS

Because there are no reliable or effective treatment options for CSA-AKI, evidence-based practices that highlight prevention and early detection are paramount. Cardiac surgery-associated AKI incidence may be mitigated and postsurgical outcomes improved by focusing additional attention on presurgical kidney health status; implementing a specific cardiopulmonary bypass bundle; using strategies to maintain intravascular euvolemia; leveraging advanced tools such as the electronic medical record, point-of-care ultrasound, and biomarker testing; and using patient-specific, goal-directed therapy to prioritize oxygen delivery and end-organ perfusion over static physiologic metrics.

Clinical Application of Transabdominal Ultrasound Combined with PICCO in Septic Shock Fluid Resuscitation and Its Predictive Value for Survival Outcome

To investigate the clinical value of transabdominal ultrasound combined with pulse index continuous cardiac output (PICCO) in fluid resuscitation of septic shock patients, and to analyze the predictive value of survival outcomes, 68 patients with septic shock were randomly divided into the ultrasound + PICCO group and PICCO group. Compared with before treatment, blood lactic acid (BLA) was cleared, and central venous pressure (CVP) and oxygenation index were significantly increased in all patients. The oxygen binding index, central venous oxygen saturation (ScVO₂), and CVP in the ultrasound + PICCO group were increased compared with the PICCO group, while BLA, mechanical ventilation time, total fluid resuscitation input and hospitalization were significantly reduced. The extravascular lung water index and shape change index were positively correlated with sequential organ failure assessment. The combination of extravascular lung water index and shape change index had higher clinical value than each alone in predicting the death of patients with septic shock. The combination of transabdominal ultrasound with PICCO is better at guiding fluid resuscitation in patients with septic shock and has a certain predictive value with respect to the survival outcome of septic shock patients.

Respiratory Variations in Peak Peripheral Artery Velocities and Waveforms for Rapid Assessment of Fluid Responsiveness in Traumatic Shock Patients

Background

This study aimed to assess the correlation between the variability of the end-inspiratory and end-expiratory blood flow waveform and fluid responsiveness (FR) in traumatic shock patients who underwent mechanical ventilation by evaluating peripheral arterial blood flow parameters.

Material/Methods

A cohort of 60 patients with traumatic shock requiring mechanical ventilation-controlled breathing received ultrasound examinations to assess the velocity of carotid artery (CA), femoral artery (FA) and brachial artery (BA). A rehydration test was performed in which of 250 mL of 0.9% saline was administered within 30 min between the first and second measurement of cardiac output by echocardiography. Then, all patients were divided into 2 groups, a responsive group (FR+) and a non-responsive group (FR−). The velocity of end-inspiratory and end-expiratory peripheral arterial blood flow of all patients was ultrasonically measured, and the variability were measured between end-inspiratory and end-expiratory.

Results

The changes in the end-inspiratory and end-expiratory carotid artery blood flow velocity waveforms of the FR+ groups were significantly different from those of the FR− group (P<0.001). A statistically significant difference in ΔVmax (CA), ΔVmax (BA), and ΔVmax (FA) between these 2 groups was found (all P<0.001). The ROC curve showed that ΔVmax (CA) and ΔVmax (BA) were more sensitive values to predict FR compared to ΔVmax (FA). The sensitivity of ΔVmax (CA), ΔVmax (FA), and ΔVmax (BA) was 70.0%, 86.7%, and 93.3%, respectively.

Conclusions

The study showed that periodic velocity waveform changes in the end-inspiratory and end-expiratory peripheral arterial blood flow can be used for quick assessment of fluid responsiveness.

Ultrasound Measurement of Inferior Vena Cava Collapsibility as a Tool to Predict Propofol-Induced Hypotension

Background:

Hypotension is common under anesthesia and can cause organ underperfusion and ischemia, especially during induction. This could be because of the cardiovascular depressant and vasodilatory effects of anesthetic agents, as well as lack of surgical stimulation.

Aim of Study:

The aim was to evaluate the utility of preinduction inferior vena cava (IVC) measurement to predict significant hypotension after induction of anesthesia with propofol.

Settings and Design:

This was a prospective, open-label study conducted in a tertiary care institute.

Subjects and Methods:

This study was conducted on 50 patients undergoing general anesthesia. Ultrasound machine (Mindray® M7) was used to visualize IVC. The measurements taken were maximum diameter of IVC (IVC_max) and minimum diameter of IVC (IVC_min). IVC collapsibility index (IVC-CI) was calculated as (IVC_max − IVC_min)/IVC_max and was expressed as a ratio.

Statistical Tests Used:

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and Chi-square test were used for statistical tests.

Results:

The relation between significant hypotension and IVC-CI was evaluated using ROC curve analysis. We found the area under curve to be 0.959 and a cutoff of 0.43 (43% collapsibility). The association of significant hypotension with IVC-CI of >43% was calculated and found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of IVC CI of >43% in predicting development of significant hypotension was 86.67% and the specificity was 94.29%. It had very high negative and positive predictive values (94.29% and 86.67%, respectively) with an accuracy of 92%.

Conclusion:

Patients with an IVC collapsibility of more than 43%, as assessed by ultrasonography, are more likely to develop significant hypotension after induction with propofol.