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Emergency cesarean delivery in patients with heart failure increases maternal and fetal mortality. The present study aimed to identify the relationship between the use of anesthesia for delivery and progressive cardiac deterioration in women with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to examine its implications on maternal and fetal outcomes. Twenty-nine pregnancies in 25 women with DCM from the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Hospital (Suita, Japan) were included in this retrospective longitudinal study. Fourteen of the patients (48.3%) delivered via cesarean section. Among these, 4 patients (13.8%) experienced heart failure within 42 days of delivery. The indication for cesarean delivery was heart failure in 3 patients and induction failure in 1 patient. The types of anesthesia used for these patients included general (n = 1), combined spinal-epidural (n = 2), and epidural (n = 1). Two of these cesarean deliveries were performed preterm. The left ventricular ejection fraction of patients with heart failure was ≤ 35% before 34 weeks gestation. Among the 25 patients without heart failure, 2 exhibited a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤ 35% before 34 weeks gestation. Meanwhile, the types of anesthesia used for remaining 10 patients who did not experience heart failure included general (n = 1), combined spinal-epidural (n = 8), and epidural (n = 1). The rate of general anesthesia was 25% in patients who experienced heart failure and 4% in others. There was no incidence of maternal or fetal death. A preterm anesthetic evaluation may be warranted to optimize anesthetic management when the ejection fraction decreases to ≤ 35% before 34 weeks gestation in patients with DCM.

Delirium after cardiac surgery is a serious complication, increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite its high expectations, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has largely failed to reduce the incidence of postoperative neurological complications. To further investigate the reasons for this failure, we used perioperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the relation between MRI findings and postoperative delirium. Altogether, 98 patients undergoing elective OPCAB were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Patients underwent brain MRI and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) before and after surgery to identify cerebral infarction, white matter lesions, and intracranial artery stenosis. Postoperative delirium in the intensive care unit was measured using the delirium rating scale. The relation between postoperative delirium and MRI findings was examined using logistic regression. Magnetic resonance imaging and MRA was completed in 88 (90%) of the patients. New ischemic lesions were present in seven (7.9%) patients. Delirium rating scale scores of 0, 1-7, and ≥ 8 were found in 25 (31%), 48 (60%), and seven (9%) patients, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that new ischemic lesions (odds ratio [OR] 11.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53 to 80.03; P= 0.017), carotid artery stenosis (OR 7.06, 95% CI: 1.59 to 31.13; P= 0.010), history of myocardial infarction (OR 3.78, 95% CI: 1.05 to 13.65; P= 0.043), and deep subcortical white matter hyperintensity (OR 3.04, 95% CI: 1.14 to 8.12; P= 0.027) were significantly associated with postoperative delirium. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of new cerebral ischemic lesions, carotid stenosis, and deep subcortical white matter hyperintensity correlated significantly with postoperative delirium in patients who had undergone OPCAB surgery. La survenue d’un délirium après chirurgie cardiaque est une complication grave, augmentant la morbidité et la mortalité. En dépit des fortes attentes, le pontage coronarien à cœur battant (OPCAB) a largement échoué à démontrer qu’il pouvait réduire l’incidence des complications neurologiques postopératoires. Pour approfondir l’étude des raisons de cet échec, nous avons utilisé une imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM) périopératoire du cerveau pour déterminer la relation entre les constations de l’IRM et le délirium postopératoire. Un ensemble de 98 patients subissant un OPCAB électif a été inclus dans cette étude observationnelle prospective. Les patients ont subi une IRM cérébrale et une angiographie par résonance magnétique (ARM) avant et après l’intervention chirurgicale afin d’identifier un infarctus cérébral, des lésions de la substance blanche et une sténose d’une artère intracrânienne. Le délirium postopératoire a été mesuré dans l’unité de soins intensifs au moyen de l’échelle d’évaluation du délirium. La relation entre le délirium postopératoire et les constatations de l’IRM a été analysée par régression logistique. L’imagerie par résonance magnétique et l’ARM ont été effectuées chez 88 (90 %) patients. De nouvelles lésions ischémiques ont été retrouvées chez sept (7,9 %) patients. Les scores de l’échelle d’évaluation du délirium étaient de 0, 1 à 7, et ≥ 8 chez, respectivement, 25 (31 %), 48 (60 %), et 7 (9 %) patients. Analyse de régression logistique multifactorielle a révélé que les nouvelles lésions ischémiques (rapport de cotes [RC] 11,07, intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %: 1,53 à 80,03; P= 0,017), une sténose carotidienne (RC 7,06, IC à 95 %: 1,59 à 31,13; P= 0,010), un antécédent d’infarctus du myocarde (RC 3,78, IC à 95 %: 1,05 à 13,65; P= 0,043), et une hyperintensité de la substance blanche sous-corticale profonde (RC 3,04, IC à 95 %: 1,14 à 8,12; P= 0,027) étaient significativement associés au délirium postopératoire. La constatation par imagerie cérébrale par résonance magnétique de nouvelles lésions ischémiques cérébrales, d’une sténose carotidienne et d’une hyperintensité de la substance blanche sous-corticale profonde est significativement corrélée au délirium postopératoire chez des patients ayant subi une intervention pour OPCAB.

Near-infrared spectroscopy has been used clinically to continuously and noninvasively monitor cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO2). However, there is no gold standard for measuring absolute values of ScO2. Although time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) is one of the most reliable algorithms that reliably calculate absolute values of ScO2, there are very few clinical studies available. To evaluate the clinical relevance of ScO2measurements using TRS, we compared ScO2with jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjO2) during carotid endarterectomy. We also investigated factors associated with cerebral oxygen desaturation during clamping of the carotid artery.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) has not abolished the risk of postoperative stroke and delirium seen for on-pump CABG. Advanced arteriosclerotic changes are common in both on-pump and off-pump CABG. We sought to analyze if advanced arteriosclerotic changes are risk factors of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and delirium after off-pump CABG. Patients undergoing off-pump CABG between 2001 and 2005 were reviewed using medical records (n=685). Potential risk factors of postoperative stroke and delirium were identified from previous studies. Further, variables retrieved from carotid artery duplex scanning as indices of advanced arteriosclerosis, were examined. The incidences of postoperative stroke/TIA and delirium after off-pump CABG were 2.6% (n=18) and 16.4% (n=112), respectively. Carotid artery stenosis >50% was a significant risk factor of stroke or TIA (P=0.02) as well as delirium (P=0.04) after off-pump CABG. A history of atrial fibrillation (AF) (P=0.037) or diabetes mellitus (P=0.041) was a risk factors of postoperative stroke or TIA. In contrast, age over 75 years (P=0.006), creatinine >1.3 mg/dl (99 μmol/l) (P=0.011), a history of hypertension (P=0.001), past history of AF (P=0.024), and smoking (P=0.048) were significant risk factors of postoperative delirium.

Surgical clipping may cause stenosis of parent arteries or occlusion of perforating arteries in cerebral aneurysm surgery. To prevent postoperative motor deficits, motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) have been used. This enables to detect cerebral ischemia. However, the rate of false negatives (motor deficits with preserved MEP) has been relatively higher than in aortic surgery. We hypothesized that postoperative motor deficits with preserved intraoperative MEP do not always represent false negatives. We reviewed medical records of patients for cerebral aneurysms surgery with transcranial MEP monitoring from September 2003 to March 2009. We reviewed aneurysm location and size, abnormal computed tomography findings, and clinical outcome. Motor status was evaluated immediately after extubation and anytime when the symptom of motor deficits was found. One hundred and eleven patients underwent cerebral aneurysm clipping with transcranial MEP. Ninety-eight patients manifested no intraoperative MEP changes and no postoperative motor deficits. Six patients showed intraoperative MEP changes, resulting in no motor deficits in 4 patients with MEP recovery and hemiparesis in 2 without MEP recovery. Four patients of 6 had aneurysm in anterior choroidal artery (AchA). Other 6 patients showed postoperative motor deficits despite preserved intraoperative MEP. Two of 6 patients showed no motor deficits just after extubation, but developed deficits 5 hours after coming out of anesthesia. Only 1 of the 6 patients had aneurysm in AchA. In AchA aneurysm surgery, intraoperative MEP monitoring seems to be useful. False negative in MEP monitoring may include new-onset hemiparesis despite preserved intraoperative MEP.

For correct monitoring of central venous pressure (CVP) the tip of the CVP catheter should be placed in the superior vena cava (SVC). Since there is no useful guide for the optimal depth of insertion of CVP catheter in children undergoing cardio-vascular surgery, we examined the relationship between the depth of the CVP catheter and easily measured body-size variables, such as age, weight and height, and then created a guide for the optimal placement of the paediatric population. The CVP catheterization was performed through the right internal jugular vein by the high approach. The position of the catheter tip was determined by the wave form of the CVP tracing and the depth of insertion was assessed by the external marking on the catheter at the cannulation site. The position of the catheter tip, determined by postoperative AP chest x-ray, was identified by the level of thoracic vertebra (T) corresponding to the position of the catheter tip. We analyzed the relationship between the depth of the catheter and patient’s age, weight and height by linear regression analysis. The position of tip was normally distributed from T1to T7and the tips were centralized at levels of T3T4and T5which anatomically correspond to SVC. The r values between the catheter depth and the three factors at each level were comparable, although the correlation between the depth of catheter and height was best. A simple guide for placement of the catheter tip at T3, T4and T5levels as a function of patient’s height was created. Since height is a primary information variable which is available even in emergency cases, we believe that the guide is acceptable and valuable to anaesthetists.