Diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle - a practical approach for an anaesthetist

Effects of lung resection on heart structure and function: A tissue Doppler ultrasound survey of 43 cases

Changes in heart structure and function after lung resection in patients with lung cancer are challenging to manage. Therefore, a non-invasive and reliable measurement tool to gauge such changes is critical. The purpose of the present study was to compare cardiological changes before and after lung resection using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). A total of 43 patients (19 men and 24 women) with primary non-small cell lung cancer (n=37) and metastatic cancer in the lungs (n=6) were enrolled in the study.nTDI was used to determine the thickness of the ascending aorta, the open size of the ascending valve, the anterior-oposterior diameters of the left atrium and left ventricle, and the thickness of the ventricular septum and right ventricle before and after lung resection. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), pulmonary valve flow rate, tricuspid annular or mitral leaflet tip early (E) peak/late (A) diastolic blood flow velocities, tricuspid regurgitation flow, the lateral mitral annulus early (e') diastolic velocity and mitral E/e' ratio were used to determine LV filling pressure. Results revealed no significant differences between male and female patients in terms of the open size of the ascending valve, the anterior-posterior diameter of the left ventricle and the mitral E/e' ratio. Significant differences were found in the width of the ascending aorta, anterior-posterior diameter of the left atrium, width of the LV septum and right ventricular (RV) diameter before and after lung resection. Finally, there were significantchanges in EF and tricuspid pressure. The results indicated that TDI was useful as a non-invasive method for assessing left and right heart function following lung resection. The LV and RV dimensions were affected, but LV filling pressure was preserved after lobectomy.

Factors associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with septic shock

Purpose

To investigate risk factors associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) of patients with septic shock.

Materials and methods

Patients with septic shock concomitant with or without LVDD were retrospectively enrolled and divided into the LVDD group (n = 17) and control without LVDD (n = 85). The clinical and ultrasound data were analyzed.

Results

A significant (P < 0.05) difference existed between the two groups in serum creatinine, APACHE II score, serum glucose, triglyceride, BUN, FT4, LAVI, mitral E, average e’, E/average e’, septal e’, septal e’/septal s’, E/septal e’, lateral s’, lateral e’, and E/lateral e’. LAVI > 37 mL/m², septal e’ < 7 cm/s (OR 11.04, 95% CI 3.38–36.05), septal e’/septal s’ < 0.8 (OR 4.09, 95% CI 1.37–12.25), E/septal e’ > 15 (OR 22.86, 95% CI 6.09–85.79), lateral e’ < 8 cm/s (OR 9.16, 95% CI 2.70–31.07), E/lateral e’ > 13 (OR 52, 95% CI 11.99- 225.55), lateral s’ < 10 (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.13–9.99), average e’ > 10, E/average e’ > 10 (OR 9.53, 95% CI 2.49–36.46), APACHE II score > 16 (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.00–11.03), SOFA > 5 (or 3.43, 95% CI 1.11–10.60), BUN > 12 mmol/L (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.15–9.87), serum creatinine > 146 μmol/L (OR 5.08, 95% CI 1.69–15.23), serum glucose > 8 mmol/L (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.09–10.40), and triglyceride > 1.8 mmol/L were significant (P < 0.05) risk factors for LVDD. LAVI > 37 ml/m², lateral e’ < 8 cm/s, E/lateral e’ > 13, and SOFA > 5 were significant (P < 0.05) independent risk factors for LVDD. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the cut-off value and AUC were 37.09 mL/m² and 0.85 for LAVI, 8.00 cm/s and 0.89 for lateral e’, 12.86 and 0.82 for E/lateral e’, and 5.00 and 0.69 for SOFA, respectively.

Conclusion

Left atrial volume index, mitral lateral e’, E/lateral e’, and SOFA score are significant independent risk factors for predicting left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with septic shock.

The impact of ultrasound-guided recruitment maneuvers on the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing general anesthesia

Introduction

Postoperative pulmonary complications are among the most frequent problems in perioperative care. The risk of their development depends not only on the parameters associated with the patient’s initial clinical condition, but also on the employed anesthesia technique, the method of mechanical ventilation, and the type and technique of the surgical procedure. Atelectasis is the most common complication, affecting nearly 90% of the patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine whether it was possible to positively impact the postoperative period and reduce the frequency of postoperative pulmonary complications via patient-based intraoperative ultrasound-guided recruitment maneuvers.

Methodology

The course of the postoperative period was analyzed in two groups of patients. One of them comprised 100 patients in whom no recruitment maneuvers were performed during general anesthesia. The other group (100 patients) consisted of patients in whom patient-based ultrasound-guided pulmonary recruitment maneuvers were performed.

Results

In the recruitment group, the postoperative hospitalization was statistically significantly shorter (p = 0.003) and the risk of intensive care treatment significantly lower. Additionally, the need for prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation was reduced, as was the risk of respiratory tract infections.

Conclusions

Intraoperative ultrasound-guided recruitment maneuvers reduce the frequency of postoperative pulmonary complications.

Pre-operative point-of-care assessment of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, an observational study

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is an acknowledged peri-operative risk factor that should be identified before surgery. This study aimed to evaluate a simplified echocardiographic method using e' and E/e' for identification and grading of diastolic dysfunction pre-operatively.

METHODS

Ninety six ambulatory surgical patients were consecutively included to this prospective observational study. Pre-operative transthoracic echocardiography was conducted prior to surgery, and diagnosis of LV diastolic dysfunction was established by comprehensive and simplified assessment, and the results were compared. The accuracy of e'-velocities in order to discriminate patients with diastolic dysfunction was established by calculating accuracy, efficiency, positive (PPV) and negative predictive (NPV) values, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

RESULTS

Comprehensive assessment established diastolic dysfunction in 77% (74/96) of patients. Of these, 22/74 was categorized as mild dysfunction, 43/74 as moderate dysfunction and 9/74 as severe dysfunction. Using the simplified method with e' and E/e', diastolic dysfunction was established in 70.8% (68/96) of patients. Of these, 8/68 was categorized as mild dysfunction, 36/68 as moderate dysfunction and 24/68 as severe dysfunction. To discriminate diastolic dysfunction of any grade, e'-velocities (mean < 9 cm s^- 1) had an AUROC of 0.901 (95%CI 0.840-0.962), with a PPV of 55.2%, a NPV of 90.9% and a test efficiency of 0.78.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that a simplified approach with tissue Doppler e'-velocities may be used to rule out patients with diastolic dysfunction pre-operatively, but together with E/e' ratio the severity of diastolic dysfunction may be overestimated.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03349593 . Date of registration 21/11/2017. https://clinicaltrials.gov .

Lung Ultrasonography in the Monitoring of Intraoperative Recruitment Maneuvers

Introduction: Postoperative respiratory failure is a serious problem in patients who undergo general anesthesia. Approximately 90% of mechanically ventilated patients during the surgery may develop atelectasis that leads to perioperative complications. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine whether it is possible to optimize recruitment maneuvers with the use of chest ultrasonography, thus limiting the risk of respiratory complications in patients who undergo general anesthesia. Methodology: The method of incremental increases in positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) values with simultaneous continuous ultrasound assessments was employed in mechanically ventilated patients. Results: The study group comprised 100 patients. The employed method allowed for atelectasis reduction in 91.9% of patients. The PEEP necessary to reverse areas of atelectasis averaged 17cmH₂O, with an average peak pressure of 29cmH₂O. The average PEEP that prevented repeat atelectasis was 9cmH₂O. A significant improvement in lung compliance and saturation was obtained. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided recruitment maneuvers facilitate the patient-based adjustment of the process. Consequently, the reduction in ventilation pressures necessary to aerate intraoperative atelectasis is possible, with the simultaneous reduction in the risk of procedure-related complications.

Cardiac Stress in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Major Endovascular Surgery-Focus on Diastolic Function

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the changes in diastolic function and their association with cardiac biomarkers in the perioperative period in patients undergoing complex endovascular aortic repair.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Single-center academic hospital, central teaching hospital in Warsaw, Poland.

PARTICIPANTS

The study comprised 27 high-risk patients scheduled for elective endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm.

INTERVENTIONS

Complex endovascular procedure using branched endograft of the thoracoabdominal aorta. Branches of the stent grafts included renal arteries, the superior mesenteric artery, and the celiac trunk.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was to evaluate changes in diastolic function parameters assessed with transthoracic echocardiography at two and 24 hours postoperatively. The major secondary outcomes were changes in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and troponin I concentrations, systolic function parameters, hemodynamic parameters at two and 24 hours, length of hospital stay, and 30-day mortality. There was a reduction in e' wave velocity on both the septal and lateral sides at two hours compared with the baseline (p = 0.041 and p = 0.05, respectively). There was an increase in both NT-proBNP and troponin I concentrations after surgery (p = 0.002 and p = 0.034, respectively), with troponin I peaking two hours after surgery and NT-proBNP peaking 24 hours after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing a branched endovascular aortic repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm experience a cardiac insult that manifests with deterioration in diastolic parameters and concomitant increases of troponin and NT-proBNP concentrations. Additional large-scale prospective studies are required to confirm this phenomenon.