Alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonists for the prevention of delirium and cognitive decline after open heart surgery (ALPHA2PREVENT): protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative delirium is common in older cardiac surgery patients and associated with negative short-term and long-term outcomes. The alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist dexmedetomidine shows promise as prophylaxis and treatment for delirium in intensive care units (ICU) and postoperative settings. Clonidine has similar pharmacological properties and can be administered both parenterally and orally. We aim to study whether repurposing of clonidine can represent a novel treatment option for delirium, and the possible effects of dexmedetomidine and clonidine on long-term cognitive trajectories, motor activity patterns and biomarkers of neuronal injury, and whether these effects are associated with frailty status.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This five-centre, double-blind randomised controlled trial will include 900 cardiac surgery patients aged 70+ years. Participants will be randomised 1:1:1 to dexmedetomidine or clonidine or placebo. The study drug will be given as a continuous intravenous infusion from the start of cardiopulmonary bypass, at a rate of 0.4 µg/kg/hour. The infusion rate will be decreased to 0.2 µg/kg/hour postoperatively and be continued until discharge from the ICU or 24 hours postoperatively, whichever happens first.Primary end point is the 7-day cumulative incidence of postoperative delirium (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition). Secondary end points include the composite end point of coma, delirium or death, in addition to delirium severity and motor activity patterns, levels of circulating biomarkers of neuronal injury, cognitive function and frailty status 1 and 6 months after surgery.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This trial is approved by the Regional Committee for Ethics in Medical Research in Norway (South-East Norway) and by the Norwegian Medicines Agency. Dissemination plans include publication in peer-reviewed medical journals and presentation at scientific meetings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05029050.

Effects of experimental hypovolemia and pain on pre-ejection period and pulse transit time in healthy volunteers

Trauma patients may suffer significant blood loss, and noninvasive methods to diagnose hypovolemia in these patients are needed. Physiologic effects of hypovolemia, aiming to maintain blood pressure, are largely mediated by increased sympathetic nervous activity. Trauma patients may however experience pain, which also increases sympathetic nervous activity, potentially confounding measures of hypovolemia. Elucidating the common and separate effects of the two stimuli on diagnostic methods is therefore important. Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) and cold pressor test (CPT) are experimental models of central hypovolemia and pain, respectively. In the present analysis, we explored the effects of LBNP and CPT on pre‐ejection period and pulse transit time, aiming to further elucidate the potential use of these variables in diagnosing hypovolemia in trauma patients. We exposed healthy volunteers to four experimental sequences with hypovolemia (LBNP 60 mmHg) or normovolemia (LBNP 0 mmHg) and pain (CPT) or no pain (sham) in a 2 × 2 fashion. We calculated pre‐ejection period and pulse transit time from ECG and ascending aortic blood velocity (suprasternal Doppler) and continuous noninvasive arterial pressure waveform (volume‐clamp method). Fourteen subjects were available for the current analyses. This experimental study found that pre‐ejection period increased with hypovolemia and remained unaltered with pain. Pulse transit time was reduced by pain and increased with hypovolemia. Thus, the direction of change in pulse transit time has the potential to distinguish hypovolemia and pain.

Respiratory variations in pulse pressure and photoplethysmographic waveform amplitude during positive expiratory pressure and continuous positive airway pressure in a model of progressive hypovolemia

PURPOSE

Respiratory variations in pulse pressure (dPP) and photoplethysmographic waveform amplitude (dPOP) are used for evaluation of volume status in mechanically ventilated patients. Amplification of intrathoracic pressure changes may enable their use also during spontaneous breathing. We investigated the association between the degree of hypovolemia and dPP and dPOP at different levels of two commonly applied clinical interventions; positive expiratory pressure (PEP) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

METHODS

20 healthy volunteers were exposed to progressive hypovolemia by lower body negative pressure (LBNP). PEP of 0 (baseline), 5 and 10 cmH2O was applied by an expiratory resistor and CPAP of 0 (baseline), 5 and 10 cmH2O by a facemask. dPP was obtained non-invasively with the volume clamp method and dPOP from a pulse oximeter. Central venous pressure was measured in 10 subjects. Associations between changes were examined using linear mixed-effects regression models.

RESULTS

dPP increased with progressive LBNP at all levels of PEP and CPAP. The LBNP-induced increase in dPP was amplified by PEP 10 cmH20. dPOP increased with progressive LBNP during PEP 5 and PEP 10, and during all levels of CPAP. There was no additional effect of the level of PEP or CPAP on dPOP. Progressive hypovolemia and increasing levels of PEP were reflected by increasing respiratory variations in CVP.

CONCLUSION

dPP and dPOP reflected progressive hypovolemia in spontaneously breathing healthy volunteers during PEP and CPAP. An increase in PEP from baseline to 10 cmH2O augmented the increase in dPP, but not in dPOP.

Associations between changes in precerebral blood flow and cerebral oximetry in the lower body negative pressure model of hypovolemia in healthy volunteers

Reductions in cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO₂) measured by near infra-red spectroscopy have been found during compensated hypovolemia in the lower body negative pressure (LBNP)-model, which may reflect reduced cerebral blood flow. However, ScO₂ may also be contaminated from extracranial (scalp) tissues, mainly supplied by the external carotid artery (ECA), and it is possible that a ScO₂ reduction during hypovolemia is caused by reduced scalp, and not cerebral, blood flow. The aim of the present study was to explore the associations between blood flow in precerebral arteries and ScO₂ during LBNP-induced hypovolemia. Twenty healthy volunteers were exposed to LBNP 20, 40, 60 and 80 mmHg. Blood flow in the internal carotid artery (ICA), ECA and vertebral artery (VA) was measured by Doppler ultrasound. Stroke volume for calculating cardiac output was measured by suprasternal Doppler. Associations of changes within subjects were examined using linear mixed-effects regression models. LBNP reduced cardiac output, ScO₂ and ICA and ECA blood flow. Changes in flow in both ICA and ECA were associated with changes in ScO₂ and cardiac output. Flow in the VA did not change during LBNP and changes in VA flow were not associated with changes in ScO₂ or cardiac output. During experimental compensated hypovolemia in healthy, conscious subjects, a reduced ScO₂ may thus reflect a reduction in both cerebral and extracranial blood flow.

The discriminatory value of cardiorespiratory interactions in distinguishing awake from anaesthetised states: a randomised observational study

Depth of anaesthesia monitors usually analyse cerebral function with or without other physiological signals; non‐invasive monitoring of the measured cardiorespiratory signals alone would offer a simple, practical alternative. We aimed to investigate whether such signals, analysed with novel, non‐linear dynamic methods, would distinguish between the awake and anaesthetised states. We recorded ECG, respiration, skin temperature, pulse and skin conductivity before and during general anaesthesia in 27 subjects in good cardiovascular health, randomly allocated to receive propofol or sevoflurane. Mean values, variability and dynamic interactions were determined. Respiratory rate (p = 0.0002), skin conductivity (p = 0.03) and skin temperature (p = 0.00006) changed with sevoflurane, and skin temperature (p = 0.0005) with propofol. Pulse transit time increased by 17% with sevoflurane (p = 0.02) and 11% with propofol (p = 0.007). Sevoflurane reduced the wavelet energy of heart (p = 0.0004) and respiratory (p = 0.02) rate variability at all frequencies, whereas propofol decreased only the heart rate variability below 0.021 Hz (p < 0.05). The phase coherence was reduced by both agents at frequencies below 0.145 Hz (p < 0.05), whereas the cardiorespiratory synchronisation time was increased (p < 0.05). A classification analysis based on an optimal set of discriminatory parameters distinguished with 95% success between the awake and anaesthetised states. We suggest that these results can contribute to the design of new monitors of anaesthetic depth based on cardiovascular signals alone.

Agreement between stroke volume measured by oesophageal Doppler and uncalibrated pulse contour analysis during fluid loads in severe aortic stenosis

The purpose of this analysis was to study agreement and trending of stroke volume measured by oesophageal Doppler and 3rd generation Vigileo during fluid loads in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Observational study in 32 patients (30 analyzed) scheduled for aortic valve replacement due to severe aortic stenosis. After induction of anesthesia and before start of surgery, hemodynamic registrations for 1 min were obtained before and after a fluid load. Agreement between stroke volume measured by oesophageal Doppler (SVOD) and Vigileo (SVVig) was evaluated in Bland-Altman plot and trending in four-quadrant and polar plots. Bias ± limits of agreement (LOA) between SVOD and SVVig was 24 ± 37 ml (percentage error 45%). Concordance of the two methods from before to after a fluid load was 100%. Angular bias ± LOA was 12° ± 28°. Absolute values of SVOD and SVVig agreed poorly, but changes were highly concordant during fluid loads in aortic stenosis patients. The angular agreement indicated acceptable trending. The two measurement methods are not interchangeable in patients with aortic stenosis.

Respiratory Variations in Pulse Pressure Reflect Central Hypovolemia during Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

Background. Correct volume management is essential in patients with respiratory failure. We investigated the ability of respiratory variations in noninvasive pulse pressure (ΔPP), photoplethysmographic waveform amplitude (ΔPOP), and pleth variability index (PVI) to reflect hypovolemia during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation by inducing hypovolemia with progressive lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Methods. Fourteen volunteers underwent LBNP of 0, -20, -40, -60, and -80 mmHg for 4.5 min at each level or until presyncope. The procedure was repeated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. We measured stroke volume (suprasternal Doppler), ΔPP (Finapres), ΔPOP, and PVI and assessed their association with LBNP-level using linear mixed model regression analyses. Results. Stroke volume decreased with each pressure level (-11.2 mL, 95% CI -11.8, -9.6, P < 0.001), with an additional effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (-3.0 mL, 95% CI -8.5, -1.3, P = 0.009). ΔPP increased for each LBNP-level (1.2%, 95% CI 0.5, 1.8, P < 0.001) and almost doubled during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (additional increase 1.0%, 95% CI 0.1, 1.9, P = 0.003). Neither ΔPOP nor PVI was significantly associated with LBNP-level. Conclusions. During noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, preload changes were reflected by ΔPP but not by ΔPOP or PVI. This implies that ΔPP may be used to assess volume status during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.

The Effects of General Anesthesia on Human Skin Microcirculation Evaluated by Wavelet Transform

BACKGROUND

Time-frequency analysis of the laser Doppler flowmetry signal, using wavelet transform, shows periodic oscillations at five characteristic frequencies related to the heart (0.6-2 Hz), respiration (0.15-0.6 Hz), myogenic activity in the vessel wall (0.052-0.15 Hz), sympathetic activity (0.021-0.052 Hz), and very slow oscillations (0.0095-0.021), which can be modulated by the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine. We hypothesized that wavelet transform of laser Doppler flowmetry signals could detect changes in the microcirculation induced by general anesthesia, such as alterations in vasomotion and sympathetic activity.

METHODS

Eleven patients undergoing faciomaxillary surgery were included. Skin microcirculation was measured on the lower forearm with laser Doppler flowmetry and iontophoresis with acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside before and during general anesthesia with propofol, fentanyl, and midazolam. The laser Doppler flowmetry signals were analyzed using wavelet transform.

RESULTS

There were significant reductions in spectral amplitudes in the 0.0095-0.021 (P < 0.01), the 0.021-0.052 (P < 0.001), and the 0.052-0.15 Hz frequency interval (P < 0.01) and a significant increase in the 0.15-0.6 Hz frequency interval. General anesthesia had no effect on the difference between acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on relative amplitudes in the 0.0095-0.021 Hz frequency interval (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

General anesthesia reduces the oscillatory components of the perfusion signal related to sympathetic, myogenic activity and the component modulated by the endothelium. However, the iontophoretic data did not reveal a specific effect on the endothelium. The increase in the 0.15-0.6 Hz interval is related to the effect of mechanical ventilation.

Low-frequency oscillations of the laser Doppler perfusion signal in human skin

Spectral analysis of the laser Doppler flow (LDF) signal in the frequency interval from 0.0095-2.0 Hz reveals blood flow oscillations with frequencies around 1.0, 0.3, 0.1, 0.04 and 0.01 Hz. The heartbeat, the respiration, the intrinsic myogenic activity of vascular smooth muscle, the neurogenic activity of the vessel wall and the vascular endothelium influence these oscillations, respectively. The first aim of this study was to investigate if a slow oscillatory component could be detected in the frequency area below 0.0095 Hz of the human cutaneous blood perfusion signal. Unstimulated basal blood skin perfusion and enhanced perfusion during iontophoresis with the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh) and the endothelium-independent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were measured in healthy male volunteers and the wavelet transform was computed. A low-frequency oscillation between 0.005 and 0.0095 Hz was found both during basal conditions and during iontophoresis with ACh and SNP. Iontophoresis with ACh increased the normalized amplitude to a greater extent than SNP (P = 0.001) indicating modulation by the vascular endothelium. To gain further insight into the mechanisms for this endothelium dependency, we inhibited nitric oxide (NO) synthesis with N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and prostaglandin (PG) synthesis by aspirin. L-NMMA did not affect the increased response to ACh vs. SNP iontophoresis in the 0.005-0.0095-Hz interval (P = 0.006) but abolished the difference in the 0.0095-0.021-Hz interval (P = 0.97). Aspirin did not affect the difference in response to ACh and SNP in either of the two frequency intervals. Thus, other endothelial mechanisms, such as endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), might be involved in the regulation of this sixth frequency interval (0.005-0.0095 Hz).

[Heroin-induced pulmonary oedema]

BACKGROUND

Heroin-induced pulmonary oedema is an infrequent complication to a heroin overdose; the incidence in Norway is unknown.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One case is presented and pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

RESULTS

Pulmonary oedema caused by the use of heroin may develop immediately or usually up to 1-2 hours after exposure. The symptoms usually resolve with supportive treatment within 1 or 2 days. Some patients require mechanical ventilation. The pathophysiology includes a rapid capillary leakage of unknown aetiology.

INTERPRETATION

Heroin use is widespread in Norway, and users are found all over the country. There are important differences between cardiogenic and heroin-induced pulmonary oedema regarding pathophysiology and treatment.