The outcome of thoracic epidural anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Retraction: The outcome of thoracic epidural anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

[This retracts the article on p. 16 in vol. 6, PMID: 22412771.].

Pain management after cardiac surgery via median sternotomy: A systematic review with procedure-specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) recommendations

BACKGROUND

Pain after cardiac surgery via median sternotomy can be difficult to treat, and if inadequately managed can lead to respiratory complications, prolonged hospital stays and chronic pain.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate available literature and develop recommendations for optimal pain management after cardiac surgery via median sternotomy.

DESIGN

A systematic review using PROcedure-SPECific Pain Management (PROSPECT) methodology.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews published in the English language until November 2020 assessing postoperative pain after cardiac surgery via median sternotomy using analgesic, anaesthetic or surgical interventions.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Databases.

RESULTS

Of 319 eligible studies, 209 randomised controlled trials and three systematic reviews were included in the final analysis. Pre-operative, intra-operative and postoperative interventions that reduced postoperative pain included paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), intravenous magnesium, intravenous dexmedetomidine and parasternal block/infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS

The analgesic regimen for cardiac surgery via sternotomy should include paracetamol and NSAIDs, unless contraindicated, administered intra-operatively and continued postoperatively. Intra-operative magnesium and dexmedetomidine infusions may be considered as adjuncts particularly when basic analgesics are not administered. It is not clear if combining dexmedetomidine and magnesium would provide superior pain relief compared with either drug alone. Parasternal block/surgical site infiltration is also recommended. However, no basic analgesics were used in the studies assessing these interventions. Opioids should be reserved for rescue analgesia. Other interventions, including cyclo-oxygenase-2 specific inhibitors, are not recommended because there was insufficient, inconsistent or no evidence to support their use and/or due to safety concerns.

Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has been in practice for many decades, and it is one of the most commonly performed cardiac surgeries worldwide. While there are several studies reporting data on perioperative outcomes following CABG in developed countries, there is a staggering paucity of data and evidence reporting the outcomes in developing areas such as Africa. Thus, it is important to study the practice and outcome of CABG in Africa to establish its clinical efficacy and safety in this region and identify factors that might be limiting its practice. The overall aim of this study is to identify all relevant clinical data on CABG in Africa and report on the perioperative outcomes and practice of CABG in the African population. Electronic search was performed using three online databases, PubMed, African Journal Online, and Research Gate, from inception to June 2023. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline was utilised for this study. Relevant studies fulfilling predefined eligibility criteria were included in the study. Intraoperative details, such as the number of grafts performed, operative, bypass, and cross-clamp time, were reported. The primary endpoint assessed were early mortality and overall mortality. The secondary endpoints included length of hospital stay, intensive care unit stay, and postoperative complications, such as renal impairment, atrial fibrillation, and surgical site infection. The data were pooled together and meta-analyzed using a random effect model for proportions and mean for meta-analysis with R software (version 4.3.1 (2023-06-16); R Development Core Team, Vienna, Austria). This systematic review identified 42 studies that fulfilled the study eligibility criteria, including 21 randomised controlled trials, 20 observational studies, and one cross-sectional study. Only four out of the 54 countries in Africa had studies carried out that met the criteria for this review; they included Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa, with a majority from Egypt. Meta-analysis reported a pooled early mortality and pooled overall mortality of 3.51% and 3.73%, respectively, for the total cohort of patients. The result of this meta-analysis suggests that mortality outcomes following CABG in Africa are relatively higher than those in developed nations. Several issues, such as lack of financial resources and poor infrastructure, continue to hinder the optimal practice of CABG procedures in many parts of Africa. Further studies focused on finding factors associated with outcomes following CABG should be done. Though there were a few limitations to the study largely from a lack of data from several regions and countries in Africa, the result from this meta-analysis can serve as a benchmark for future studies until more relevant data are reported.

Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia in Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Research on fast-track recovery protocols postulates that thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) in cardiac surgery contributes to improved postoperative outcomes. However, concerns about TEA's safety hinder its widespread usage. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the benefits and risks of TEA in cardiac surgery.

METHODS

We searched 4 databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the use of TEA against only general anesthesia (GA) in adults undergoing cardiac surgery, up till June 4, 2022. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses, evaluated risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool, and rated certainty of evidence via the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Primary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU), hospital length of stay, extubation time (ET), and mortality. Other outcomes included postoperative complications. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted on all outcomes to elicit statistical and clinical benefit.

RESULTS

Our meta-analysis included 51 RCTs (2112 TEA patients and 2220 GA patients). TEA significantly reduced ICU length of stay (-6.9 hours; 95% confidence interval [CI], -12.5 to -1.2; P = .018), hospital length of stay (-0.8 days; 95% CI, -1.1 to -0.4; P < .0001), and ET (-2.9 hours; 95% CI, -3.7 to -2.0; P < .0001). However, we found no significant change in mortality. TSA found that the cumulative Z-curve passed the TSA-adjusted boundary for ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, and ET, suggesting a clinical benefit. TEA also significantly reduced pain scores, pooled pulmonary complications, transfusion requirements, delirium, and arrhythmia, without additional complications such as epidural hematomas, of which the risk was estimated to be <0.14%.

CONCLUSIONS

TEA reduces ICU and hospital length of stay, and postoperative complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with minimal reported complications such as epidural hematomas. These findings favor the use of TEA in cardiac surgery and warrant consideration for use in cardiac surgeries worldwide.

Practice Advisory for Preoperative and Intraoperative Pain Management of Cardiac Surgical Patients: Part 2

Pain after cardiac surgery is of moderate to severe intensity, which increases postoperative distress and health care costs, and affects functional recovery. Opioids have been central agents in treating pain after cardiac surgery for decades. The use of multimodal analgesic strategies can promote effective postoperative pain control and help mitigate opioid exposure. This Practice Advisory is part of a series developed by the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Quality, Safety, and Leadership (QSL) Committee's Opioid Working Group. It is a systematic review of existing literature for various interventions related to the preoperative and intraoperative pain management of cardiac surgical patients. This Practice Advisory provides recommendations for providers caring for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This entails developing customized pain management strategies for patients, including preoperative patient evaluation, pain management, and opioid use-focused education as well as perioperative use of multimodal analgesics and regional techniques for various cardiac surgical procedures. The literature related to this field is emerging, and future studies will provide additional guidance on ways to improve clinically meaningful patient outcomes.

Comparison of regional anesthetic techniques for postoperative analgesia after adult cardiac surgery: bayesian network meta-analysis

Background

Patients usually suffer acute pain after cardiac surgery. Numerous regional anesthetic techniques have been used for those patients under general anesthesia. The most effective regional anesthetic technique was still unclear.

Methods

Five databases were searched, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library. The efficiency outcomes were pain scores, cumulative morphine consumption, and the need for rescue analgesia in this Bayesian analysis. Postoperative nausea, vomiting and pruritus were safety outcomes. Functional outcomes included the time to tracheal extubation, ICU stay, hospital stay, and mortality.

Results

This meta-analysis included 65 randomized controlled trials involving 5,013 patients. Eight regional anesthetic techniques were involved, including thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA), erector spinae plane block, and transversus thoracic muscle plane block. Compared to controls (who have not received regional anesthetic techniques), TEA reduced the pain scores at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h both at rest and cough, decreased the rate of need for rescue analgesia (OR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.016-0.55), shortened the time to tracheal extubation (MD = -181.55, 95% CI: -243.05 to -121.33) and the duration of hospital stay (MD = -0.73, 95% CI: -1.22 to -0.24). Erector spinae plane block reduced the pain score 6 h at rest and the risk of pruritus, shortened the duration of ICU stay compared to controls. Transversus thoracic muscle plane block reduced the pain scores 6 and 12 h at rest compared to controls. The cumulative morphine consumption of each technique was similar at 24, 48 h. Other outcomes were also similar among these regional anesthetic techniques.

Conclusions

TEA seems the most effective regional postoperative anesthesia for patients after cardiac surgery by reducing the pain scores and decreasing the rate of need for rescue analgesia.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, ID: CRD42021276645.

Common Inflammatory Markers and Outcome After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery With High Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background: High thoracic epidural analgesia (HTEA) plays a pivotal role in reducing stress and neuroendocrine response in cardiac surgeries. Aim: The primary objective is to assess the effect of HTEA, in pediatric cardiac surgery, on inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α). The secondary objectives are to assess its effect on various organ systems, that is, pulmonary (PaO2, P/F ratio), renal (Creatinine clearance, somatic near infrared spectroscopy [NIRS], serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values), cardiac (cardiac index, serum Trop-I, and lactate levels), mechanical ventilation duration, and length of stay in hospital (LOS). Methods: The study included 188 pediatric patients, who underwent, on-pump cardiac surgery randomized into the Epidural Group (n = 92) and Non-Epidural Group (n = 96). After general anesthesia, a 23 G epidural catheter was placed at the T4-5 level with a Bupivacaine infusion while the Non-epidural Group received fentanyl infusion. Blood samples were collected at four-time points, T0(preop), T1(4 h), and on the first and second postoperative days (T2 and T3). Results: The inflammatory markers were reduced, while the outcomes variables of mechanical ventilation (MV) duration had lower values in the epidural group (19.5 h vs 47.3 h, P = .002). LOS was shorter (10.1 days vs 13.3 days, P = .016). pO2, PF ratio, and renal NIRS values were better in the Epidural Gp, while other parameters were comparable. Non-epidural Gp had more complications esp. Acute kidney injury requires RRT. Conclusion: HTEA use in pediatric, on-pump cardiac surgery offers a favorable profile in terms of reduction in the inflammatory markers and positive effect on the organ systems with lesser MV duration and the LOS.

Guidelines on enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass or off-pump

OBJECTIVE

To provide recommendations for enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery (ERACS) based on a multimodal perioperative medicine approach in adult cardiac surgery patients with the aim of improving patient satisfaction, reducing postoperative mortality and morbidity, and reducing the length of hospital stay.

DESIGN

A consensus committee of 20 experts from the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (Société française d'anesthésie et de réanimation, SFAR) and the French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Société française de chirurgie thoracique et cardio-vasculaire, SFCTCV) was convened. A formal conflict-of-interest policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. The entire guideline process was conducted independently of any industry funding. The authors were advised to follow the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to guide the assessment of the quality of evidence.

METHODS

Six fields were defined: (1) selection of the patient pathway and its information; (2) preoperative management and rehabilitation; (3) anaesthesia and analgesia for cardiac surgery; (4) surgical strategy for cardiac surgery and bypass management; (5) patient blood management; and (6) postoperative enhanced recovery. For each field, the objective of the recommendations was to answer questions formulated according to the PICO model (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). Based on these questions, an extensive bibliographic search was carried out and analyses were performed using the GRADE approach. The recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE methodology and then voted on by all the experts according to the GRADE grid method.

RESULTS

The SFAR/SFCTCV guideline panel provided 33 recommendations on the management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass or off-pump. After three rounds of voting and several amendments, a strong agreement was reached for the 33 recommendations. Of these recommendations, 10 have a high level of evidence (7 GRADE 1+ and 3 GRADE 1-); 19 have a moderate level of evidence (15 GRADE 2+ and 4 GRADE 2-); and 4 are expert opinions. Finally, no recommendations were provided for 3 questions.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong agreement existed among the experts to provide recommendations to optimise the complete perioperative management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

The effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on short-term outcome and mortality in geriatric patients undergoing open heart surgery

BACKGROUND

In open-heart surgeries, many organ functions, particularly the respiratory system, are affected by post-operative pain, and so is mortality. Following open-heart surgery, geriatric patients have a higher risk of organ dysfunction and mortality. We aimed to compare the short-term outcomes and mortality of thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) and intravenous (IV) analgesia in geri-atric patients undergoing open heart surgery.

METHODS

This study included patients over the age of 65 who had open-heart surgery between 2010 and 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: Those who received TEA (Group E) and those who received IV paracetamol or tramadol or dexmedetomi-dine (Group I). The patients' post-operative sedation and analgesia requirements, mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, blood glucose levels, liver and kidney function tests, complications, intensive care and hospital stay lengths, and mortality rates were all compared.

RESULTS

The study included a total of 548 patients, with 408 in Group E and 140 in Group I. As a result of the comparisons be-tween the groups, sedation requirement, analgesia requirement, MV duration, post-extubation facial mask oxygen requirement, non-invasive MV need, re-intubation requirement, and blood glucose level were found to be lower in Group E than in Group I. Moreover, periods spent in intensive care and lengths of hospital stay were found to be lower in Group E than Group I. There was no difference found between the two groups in terms of hospital mortality.

CONCLUSION

In elderly patients undergoing open-heart surgery, TEA reduced the length of time in intensive care and hospital stays by improving the respiratory status and blood glucose regulation by supplying analgesia and sedation.

Current Status of Neuraxial and Paravertebral Blocks for Adult Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac surgeries are known to produce moderate to severe pain. Pain management has traditionally been based on intravenous opioids. Poorly controlled pain can result in increased incidence of respiratory complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia leading to prolonged intubation and intensive care unit length of stay and subsequent prolonged hospital stay. Adequate perioperative analgesia improves hemodynamics and immunologic responses, which would result in better outcomes after cardiac surgery. Opioid sparing "Enhanced Recovery After Surgery" protocols are increasingly being incorporated into cardiac surgeries. This will reduce opioid requirements and opioid-related side effects and facilitate fast-tracking of patients. Regional analgesia can be provided by neuraxial blocks, fascial plane blocks, peripheral nerve blocks, or simply by the infiltration of the wound with local anesthetics for cardiac surgery. Neuraxial analgesia is provided through epidural, spinal, and paravertebral routes. Though they are being replaced by peripheral fascial plane blocks, epidural and spinal analgesia are still being used in some centers. In this article, neuraxial forms of analgesia are focused. We sought to review epidural analgesia and its impact in suppressing hemodynamic stress response, reducing pulmonary complications, and development of chronic pain. The relationship between intraoperative heparinization and potential neuraxial hematoma is discussed. Other neuraxial options such as spinal and paravertebral analgesia and their usefulness, benefits, and limitations are also reviewed.

High thoracic epidural decreases perioperative myocardial ischemia and improves left ventricle function in aortic valve replacement alone or in addition to cabg surgery even with increased left ventricle mass index

Introduction:

High thoracic epidural (HTE) may reduce perioperative tachyarrhythmias, respiratory complications and myocardial ischemia (MI) and it may increase coronary perfusion and myocardial oxygen balance through sympatholysis and pain control. The aim of this study is to investigate the benefit of HTE in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) alone or in addition to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Methods:

This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on 80 patients (40 with increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and 40 with normal LVMI) who were equally randomised (n = 40) to receive either GA with HTE (HTE group) or GA alone (GA group). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and the incidence of ischemic ECG changes were recorded. LV functions (preoperative and postoperative by transthoracic echocardiography and intraoperative by transoesophageal echocardiography) were measured preoperative, intraoperative and till 48 H postoperative.

Results:

There was no significant difference in the baseline values of all measurements. HR and MAP were lower, and LV functions were improved in HTE group intraoperatively and postoperatively. Ischemic ECG changes were significantly lower in HTE group; with 42.9% intraoperative risk reduction (95% CI: 0.195-0.943) and 46.6% postoperative risk reduction (95% CI 0.227-0.952) as compared to GA group. The risk of ischemia was significantly higher in patients with increased LVMI in GA group (2.25 times compared to normal LVMI patients with 95% CI: 1.195-4.236), but it wasn't increased in HTE group. LV functions were significantly improved from the induction to 48 H postoperative in HTE group as compared to GA group.

Conclusion:

HTE reduced the incidence of MI and improved the LV function, even with increased LVM, in patients undergoing AVR alone or in addition to CABG.

Epidural analgesia for adults undergoing cardiac surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass

BACKGROUND

General anaesthesia combined with epidural analgesia may have a beneficial effect on clinical outcomes. However, use of epidural analgesia for cardiac surgery is controversial due to a theoretical increased risk of epidural haematoma associated with systemic heparinization. This review was published in 2013, and it was updated in 2019.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the impact of perioperative epidural analgesia in adults undergoing cardiac surgery, with or without cardiopulmonary bypass, on perioperative mortality and cardiac, pulmonary, or neurological morbidity.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase in November 2018, and two trial registers up to February 2019, together with references and relevant conference abstracts.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including adults undergoing any type of cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia and comparing epidural analgesia versus another modality of postoperative pain treatment. The primary outcome was mortality.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures as expected by Cochrane.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 69 trials with 4860 participants: 2404 given epidural analgesia and 2456 receiving comparators (systemic analgesia, peripheral nerve block, intrapleural analgesia, or wound infiltration). The mean (or median) age of participants varied between 43.5 years and 74.6 years. Surgeries performed were coronary artery bypass grafting or valvular procedures and surgeries for congenital heart disease. We judged that no trials were at low risk of bias for all domains, and that all trials were at unclear/high risk of bias for blinding of participants and personnel taking care of study participants.Epidural analgesia versus systemic analgesiaTrials show there may be no difference in mortality at 0 to 30 days (risk difference (RD) 0.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.01 to 0.01; 38 trials with 3418 participants; low-quality evidence), and there may be a reduction in myocardial infarction at 0 to 30 days (RD -0.01, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.00; 26 trials with 2713 participants; low-quality evidence). Epidural analgesia may reduce the risk of 0 to 30 days respiratory depression (RD -0.03, 95% CI -0.05 to -0.01; 21 trials with 1736 participants; low-quality evidence). There is probably little or no difference in risk of pneumonia at 0 to 30 days (RD -0.03, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.01; 10 trials with 1107 participants; moderate-quality evidence), and epidural analgesia probably reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter at 0 to 2 weeks (RD -0.06, 95% CI -0.10 to -0.01; 18 trials with 2431 participants; moderate-quality evidence). There may be no difference in cerebrovascular accidents at 0 to 30 days (RD -0.00, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.01; 18 trials with 2232 participants; very low-quality evidence), and none of the included trials reported any epidural haematoma events at 0 to 30 days (53 trials with 3982 participants; low-quality evidence). Epidural analgesia probably reduces the duration of tracheal intubation by the equivalent of 2.4 hours (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.78, 95% CI -1.01 to -0.55; 40 trials with 3353 participants; moderate-quality evidence). Epidural analgesia reduces pain at rest and on movement up to 72 hours after surgery. At six to eight hours, researchers noted a reduction in pain, equivalent to a reduction of 1 point on a 0 to 10 pain scale (SMD -1.35, 95% CI -1.98 to -0.72; 10 trials with 502 participants; moderate-quality evidence). Epidural analgesia may increase risk of hypotension (RD 0.21, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.33; 17 trials with 870 participants; low-quality evidence) but may make little or no difference in the need for infusion of inotropics or vasopressors (RD 0.00, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.07; 23 trials with 1821 participants; low-quality evidence).Epidural analgesia versus other comparatorsFewer studies compared epidural analgesia versus peripheral nerve blocks (four studies), intrapleural analgesia (one study), and wound infiltration (one study). Investigators provided no data for pulmonary complications, atrial fibrillation or flutter, or for any of the comparisons. When reported, other outcomes for these comparisons (mortality, myocardial infarction, neurological complications, duration of tracheal intubation, pain, and haemodynamic support) were uncertain due to the small numbers of trials and participants.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Compared with systemic analgesia, epidural analgesia may reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, respiratory depression, and atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter, as well as the duration of tracheal intubation and pain, in adults undergoing cardiac surgery. There may be little or no difference in mortality, pneumonia, and epidural haematoma, and effects on cerebrovascular accident are uncertain. Evidence is insufficient to show the effects of epidural analgesia compared with peripheral nerve blocks, intrapleural analgesia, or wound infiltration.

Protective role of microRNA-374 against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice following thoracic epidural anesthesia by downregulating dystrobrevin alpha-mediated Notch1 axis

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury often leads to myocardial apoptosis and necrosis. Studies have demonstrated the role microRNAs (miRs) played in myocardial I/R injury. Thus, we established a myocardial I/R injury model and a thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) model in mice to explore whether microRNA-374 (miR-374) affects myocardial I/R injury. We collected myocardial tissues to evaluate whether TEA exerts a protection effect on myocardial tissues. In addition, the levels of miR-374, dystrobrevin alpha (DTNA), and the statue of the Notch1 axis were detected. Subsequently, cardiomyocytes extracted from TEA mice were treated to regulate their levels of miR-374 and DTNA. After that, cell viability, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes were assessed. This was followed by the detection of the myocardial infarction area. The mice models of myocardial I/R injury were associated with poorly expressed miR-374 and highly expressed DTNA. TEA was found to protect myocardial tissues against myocardial I/R injury by elevating miR-374 and reducing DTNA. Dual-luciferase reporter assay validated that DTNA was the target gene of miR-374. Cardiomyocytes with overexpressed miR-374 were shown to have downregulated DTNA levels and blocked Notch1 axis. Overexpressed miR-374 was also found to promote the viability and inhibit the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, as well as to increase the number of cells arrested in the S phase. In accordance with this, the myocardial infarction area was decreased with the upregulated miR-347 and downregulated DTNA. Collectively, these results demonstrated that, by inhibiting the activity of DTNA-mediated Notch1 axis, miR-374 could protect against myocardial I/R injury in mice after TEA.

Respiratory status of adult patients in the postoperative period of thoracic or upper abdominal surgeries

Objective:

to evaluate the respiratory status of postoperative adult patients by assessing the nursing outcome Respiratory Status.

Method:

descriptive, cross-sectional study developed with 312 patients. Eighteen NOC indicators were assessed and rated using a Likert-scale questionnaire and definitions. Descriptive and correlative analysis were conducted.

Results:

the most compromised clinical indicators were coughing (65.5%), auscultated breath sounds (55%), and respiratory rate (51.3%). Factors associated with worse NOC ratings in specific clinical indicators were sex, age, pain, and general anesthesia.

Conclusions:

certain clinical indicators of respiratory status were more compromised than others in postoperative patients. Patient and context-related variables can affect the level of respiratory compromise.

Attenuation of Hemodynamic Response to Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation with Pre Induction IV Fentanyl Versus Combination of IV Fentanyl and Sub Lingual Nitroglycerin Spray

Introduction:

Endotracheal intubation is one of the most invasive stimuli in anesthesia and it's often accompanied by a hemodynamic pressor response. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a single pre-induction 2 µg/kg bolus injection of fentanyl followed by two puffs of nitroglycerin sub lingual spray (400 µg /spray) with a thiopentone/suxamethonium sequence in the attenuation of the hemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation in normotensive patients.

Material and methods:

The study consisted of 80 randomly selected ASA physical status I/II male/female adults who were aged between 18 through 60 years and scheduled for elective surgery. Group I received a single 2 µg/kg IV bolus of fentanyl diluted to 5 ml with normal saline 5 min prior to laryngoscopy followed by two puffs of nitroglycerin sub lingual spray (400 µg/spray) 2 minutes prior to intubation (n=40). Group II received a single 2 µg/kg IV bolus of fentanyl diluted to 5 ml with normal saline 5 min prior to laryngoscopy (n=40). Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and rate pressure product were compared to basal values at pre-induction, induction, intubation and post-intubation as well as at time increments of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 min.

Results:

Fentanyl combined with nitroglycerin did not attenuate hemodynamic pressor responses more than fentanyl alone. Increases of HR (7.9%), DBP (4.0%), MAP (3.6%) and RPP (6.0%) along with attenuation of SBP (2.7%) were observed in the fentanyl-nitroglycerin group as compared to the equivalent control measured values.

Conclusions:

A single pre-induction bolus injection of fentanyl followed by two puffs of nitroglycerin sub lingual spray in a thiopentone/suxamethonium anesthetic sequence neither successfully attenuates nor successfully suppresses the hemodynamic pressor response more effectively than fentanyl alone in normotensive patients resulting from endotracheal intubation.

Pleth variability index-directed fluid management in abdominal surgery under combined general and epidural anesthesia

Pleth variability index (PVI), a noninvasive dynamic indicator of fluid responsiveness has been demonstrated to be useful in the management of the patients with goal directed fluid therapy under general anesthesia, but whether PVI can be used to optimize fluid management under combined general and epidural anesthesia (GEN-EPI) remains to be elucidated. The aim of our study was to explore the impact of PVI as a goal-directed fluid therapy parameter on the tissue perfusion for patients with GEN-EPI. Thirty ASA I-II patients scheduled for major abdominal surgeries under GEN-EPI were randomized into PVI-directed fluid management group (PVI group) and non PVI-directed fluid management group (control group). 2 mL/kg/h crystalloid fluid infusion was maintained in PVI group, once PVI>13%, a 250 mL colloid or crystalloid was rapidly infused. 4-8 mL/kg/h crystalloid fluid infusion was maintained in control group, and quick fluid infusion was initiated if mean arterial blood pressure (BP)<65 mmHg. Small doses of norepinephrine were given to keep mean arterial BP above 65 mmHg as needed in both groups. Perioperative lactate levels, hemodynamic changes were recorded individually. The total amount of intraoperative fluids, the amount of crystalloid fluid and the first hour blood lactate levels during surgery were significantly lower in PVI than control group, P<0.05. PVI-based goal-directed fluid management can reduce the intraoperative fluid amount and blood lactate levels in patients under GEN-EPI, especially the crystalloid. Furthermore, the first hour following GEN-EPI might be the critical period for anesthesiologist to optimize the fluid management.

Critical care management of patients following transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is rapidly gaining popularity as a technique to surgically manage aortic stenosis (AS) in high risk patients. TAVR is significantly less invasive than the traditional approach to aortic valve replacement via median sternotomy. Patients undergoing TAVR often suffer from multiple comorbidities, and their postoperative course may be complicated by a unique set of complications that may become evident in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this article, we review the common complications of TAVR that may be observed in the ICU, and different strategies for their management.