[Anaesthetic management of patients with Steinert myotonia: two case reports]

Steinert disease, the most common myopathy in adults, is a challenge for anaesthesiologists and critical care physicians during the perioperative time. The risk of myotonic crisis, malign hyperthermia and the increased sensitivity to anaesthetic drugs shouldn't be forgotten. On contrary, Steinert disease is rarely revealed in the postoperative period. It should be evoked in case of postoperative pulmonary complications such as difficult weaning with neurological symptoms like hypotonia or muscular weakness.

[From the creation to the appreciation of a personal digital assistant-based clinical decision-support system for the management of artificial nutrition]

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to assess the effect of NutriPDA, a personal digital assistant (PDA)-based clinical decision-support system (CDSS) for the management of artificial nutrition. A CDSS was developed and implemented on a handheld computer for use in the ICU after cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

System impact was assessed in a prospective "before/after" cohort trial.

METHODS

After informed consent we studied 61 patients in the postcardiovascular and thoracic surgery ICU (age > 17 years, duration of artificial nutrition > 3 days, length of stay > 8 days). Patients were divided into two groups (before and after the use of NutriPDA: Group A: 32 patients (4-month period in 2005); group B: 29 patients (4-month period in 2006).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in anthropometric and clinical parameters between the 2 groups. Energetic intakes were < 80% of basal energetic expenditures in 21% and 1% of patients, respectively (P < 0.01). Caloric and nitrogen intakes were below international recommendation in Group A: 20+/-4 kcal/kg/d (mean+/-SD), 104+/-30 mg/kg/d, but not in Group B: 26+/-5 kcal/kg/d, 196+/-41 mg/kg/d (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

NutriPDA was found to be able to optimize artificial nutrition by improving caloric intake in ICU. This new software has potential clinical applications.

Comparison of FloTrac™ cardiac output monitoring system in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with pulmonary artery cardiac output measurements

BACKGROUND

Arterial pulse waveform analysis has been proposed for cardiac output (CO) determination and monitoring without calibration or thermodilution (FloTrac/Vigileo; Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA). The accuracy and clinical applicability of this technology has not been fully evaluated. We designed this prospective study to compare the accuracy of the FloTrac system (CO(FT)) vs. pulmonary artery catheter standard bolus thermodilution (CO(PAC) ) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

METHODS

We studied 11 patients referred for coronary artery bypass grafting. CO(FT) and CO(PAC) were determined at six time points in the operating room including before and 5 min after volume expansion (500 mL 6% hetastarch). Measurements were performed on arrival in the intensive care unit and every 4 h afterwards. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess the agreement between CO(FT) and CO(PAC).

RESULTS

CO(PAC) ranged from 2.0 to 7.6 L min-1 and CO(FT) ranged from 1.9 to 8.2 L min-1. There was a significant relationship between CO(PAC) and CO(FT) (r = 0.662; P < 0.001). Agreement between CO(PAC) and CO(FT) was -0.26 +/- 0.87 L min-1. Volume expansion induced a significant increase in both CO(PAC) and CO(FT) (from 3.4 +/- 0.8 to 4.4 +/- 1.0 L min-1; P < 0.001 and from 3.9 +/- 1.2 to 5.0 +/- 1.1 L min-1; P < 0.001, respectively) and there was a significant relationship between percent change in CO(PAC) and CO(FT) following volume expansion (r = 0.722; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

We found clinically acceptable agreement between CO(FT) and CO(PAC) in this setting. This new device has potential clinical applications.

[Impact of the guidelines on clinical practice of artificial nutrition in intensive care unit after cardiovascular and thoracic surgery]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the impact of an artificial nutrition program in post-anaesthesia intensive care unit.

STUDY DESIGN

Observational study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with length of stay greater than 8 days after cardiovascular and thoracic surgery: Group 1: 34 patients (4-month period in 2000); group 2: 15 patients (2-month period in 2001); group 3: 40 patients (4-month period in 2003). Between these 3 periods, informations of physicians and written protocol in order to improve their nutritional knowledge. After analysis of variance (P<0.05). Newman-Keuls tests to compare themselves each groups.

RESULTS

Anthropometric, demographic and clinical parameters were similar in the 3 groups. Energic intakes were less than 80% of basal energetic expenditures in 33%, 33 and 22% of patient, respectively (NS). Caloric and nitrogen intakes were less than recommended, respectively 19+/-6 (mean+/-SD), 21+/-7 and 21+/-8 kcal/kg/24 h and 102+/-32, 111+/-31 and 92+/-40 mg/kg/24 h (NS). However enteral nutrition was administered in 49, 40 and 100% of patients respectively (P<0.001). The glucid/lipid ratio improved from 0.47 in group 1 up to 0.68 in group 3 (P<0.0001). Vitamins, oligoelements and clinical and biological monitoring of artificial nutrition improved (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

A clinical audit demonstrated an improvement in artificial nutrition parameters but no significant change in others.