Search

Objectives: Microcirculation is bound to be altered during cardiac surgery due to multiple factors, mainly the intense systemic inflammatory response syndrome which peaks in the first 24-h postoperatively. Decreased microvascular flow associated with increased postoperative morbidity has been reported. The literature suggests a potential independence of macrocirculation and microcirculation during fluid loading. The present study was conducted to assess thenar muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) changes during vascular occlusion test (VOT) in response to hypovolemia and to assess the dynamic responses of the StO2 variables post-volume expansion (VE). Material and Methods: Thirty-five adult post-cardiac surgical patients, with stroke volume (SV) variation >12% were included in the study. Fifty-two fluid challenges were studied. Functional evaluation of microcirculation using VOT and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) variables along with monitoring of macrocirculatory indices was performed before and after VE. Statistical analysis was done using Student t-test. Results: Post-VE, 34 were responders with increase in SV =15% and 18 were non-responders (SV <15%). Rate of resaturation was significantly faster in responders compared to non-responders after VE (P = 0.0293 vs. P = 0.1480). However, macrocirculatory indices including cardiac output, SV, and delivery of oxygen showed significant improvement in both responders and non-responders. Conclusion: Preload dependence is associated with significant change in the StO2 recovery slope measured at the thenar eminence in volume responders. Functional evaluation of microcirculation using VOT and StO2 can be a useful complimentary tool along with the macrocirculatory indices for optimal fluid rescuscitaion in adult postcardiac surgical patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induced acute lung injury is accounted for most of the post-operative pulmonary dysfunction which leads to decreased compliance and hypoxemia. Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) as compared to other modes of ventilation has shown to improve gas exchange in Acute lung injury (ALI)/Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) lungs.Aims: We hypothesized APRV as a better primary mode of postoperative ventilation in adult post-cardiac surgery patients.Methodology: The study included 90 postoperative surgical patients, which were randomized into three groups: SIMV-PC(P), APRV(A), and SIMV-VC(V) with 30 patients in each group.Subjects and Methods: Lung compliance and serial arterial blood gas were assessed at regular intervals. PaO2/FiO2 ratio (a measure of oxygenation) and lung compliance were used as an indirect indicator for improvement in lung function. Hemodynamic parameters were closely observed for all the patients.Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was done using 'R' software.Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratio in the APRV group as compared to other groups. There was also an improvement in lung compliance after 6 h of ventilation and lesser duration of ventilation in the APRV group. However, it was not statistically significant.Conclusions: Our study suggests that APRV can be a useful alternative primary mode of ventilation to improve lung compliance and oxygenation in adult post-cardiac surgical patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac output (CO) assessment is a corner stone in advanced haemodynamic management, especially in critical ill patients. The present study was conducted to validate cardiac index and cardiac output by NICaS™ with the thermodilution technique using pulmonary artery catheter in post-operative cardiac surgical patients.Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational clinical study conducted at a tertiary care hospital. 23 adult patients in the age range of 18-65 years who had undergone for elective coronary artery bypass grafting were included in the study.Results: Spearman's correlation coefficient of cardiac index between continuous Thermodilution (cTD) and Non-Invasive Cardiac System (NICaS™) showed a good correlation (r = 0.765, 95% confidence interval 0.70 to 0.82, P < 0.0001). There was a good correlation between cTD and NICaS™ for cardiac output (r = 0.759, 95% confidence interval 0.69 to 0.81, P < 0.0001), Bland-Altman plot for cardiac index between cTD and NICaS™ showed a mean bias of -0.66 ± 0.6919 with limits of agreement being -2.02 to 0.6936. Bland-Altman plot for cardiac output between cTD and NICaS™ showed a mean bias of -1.0386 ± 1.17 with limits of agreement being -3.34 to + 1.26. Percentage error for cardiac index and cardiac output were 64.78% and 64% respectively. Polar plot analysis showed an angular bias of 6.32° with radial limits of agreement being -8.114° to 20.75° for cardiac index and angular bias of 5.6682° with radial limits of agreement being -9.1422° to 20.4784° for cardiac output.Conclusion: NICaS™ demonstrated a good trending ability for both CI and CO. However, NICaS™ derived parameters are not interchangeable with the values derived from continuous thermodilution technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The deceleration time of the pulmonary venous diastolic flow has been well-correlated with invasive pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in several studies regardless of left ventricular systolic function. This study was conducted to correlate deceleration time of pulmonary venous diastolic wave, DT(D), and left atrial pressure (LAP), obtained noninvasively from mitral early diastolic inflow velocity-to-early diastolic mitral annulus velocity ratio (E/e'), and to assess the ease of each method in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) by transesophageal echocardiography.Methods: Forty-five adult patients with coronary artery disease, with left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥50% posted for elective OPCAB were enrolled in the study.Results: Forty values of LAP and DT(D) were analyzed. A significant linear correlation (r = -0.64) was found between DT(D) and LAP. Area under the curve of DT(D) of ≤183 ms for predicting elevated LAP (>15) was 0.903 (95% confidence interval: 0.767 to 0.974, P < 0.0001).Conclusion: Deceleration time of pulmonary venous flow diastolic waveform, DT(D), feasible promising echocardiographic measure in determining elevated LAP and DT(D)≤183 ms predicts elevated LAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Continuous thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is compared with erector spinae plane (ESP) block for the perioperative pain management in patients undergoing cardiac surgery for the quality of analgesia, incentive spirometry, ventilator duration, and intensive care unit (ICU) duration.Methodology: A prospective, randomized comparative clinical study was conducted. A total of 50 patients were enrolled, who were randomized to either Group A: TEA (n = 25) or Group B: ESP block (n = 25). Visual analog scale (VAS) was recorded in both the groups during rest and cough at the various time intervals postextubation. Both the groups were also compared for incentive spirometry, ventilator, and ICU duration. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent Student's t-test. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:C: omparable VAS scores were revealed at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h (P > 0.05) at rest and during cough in both the groups. Group A had a statistically significant VAS score than Group B (P ≤ 0.05) at 24 h, 36 h, and 48 h but mean VAS in either of the Group was ≤4 both at rest and during cough. Incentive spirometry, ventilator, and ICU duration were comparable between the groups.Conclusion: ESP block is easy to perform and can serve as a promising alternative to TEA in optimal perioperative pain management in cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which examines the relationship between adiposity and cognitive function in 9-10-year-old children in India. Topics discussed include role of socioeconomic factors in determining the relationship, use of Kaufman Assessment Battery, a psychological diagnostic test, for children to measure learning, short-term memory, and reasoning skills, and impact of adiposity on health such as cardiometabolic dysfunction and impaired vascular supply to the brain.