Search

Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) support using intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during lung transplantation (LTx) is now a routine practice for many high volume centers. Circuits that are dedicated to ECMO alone can be expensive and do not allow full cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to be performed. We describe our technique of instituting venoarterial ECMO during LTx using a less-expensive hybrid circuit that facilitates easy and immediate conversion to full CPB if needed, without interruption of ECC.

Mask ventilation (MV) is an essential component of airway management and can be lifesaving in situations where the placement of a secure airway device proves challenging. Effective MV requires a seal to be created between the mask and the face to maintain patency of the external airway structures and can be difficult in the setting of facial abnormalities or facial trauma. Here we describe a case in which a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask was used for anesthesia induction and MV in an 85-year-old man who underwent a plastic surgery reconstruction of the left nasal dorsum and ala following a Mohs surgery, which had prevented the use of conventional face mask. An effective seal was achieved, and anesthesia was successfully induced with the mask. We reviewed the literature and discussed alternative approaches for face mask use in the setting of facial abnormalities where the use of a conventional mask is unfeasible.

BACKGROUND Hypotension is a frequent complication in the intensive care unit (ICU) after adult cardiac surgery. AIM To describe frequency of hypotension in the ICU following adult cardiac surgery and its relation to the hospital outcomes. METHODS A retrospective study of post-cardiac adult surgical patients at a tertiary academic medical center in a two-year period. We abstracted baseline demographics, comorbidities, and all pertinent clinical variables. The primary predictor variable was the development of hypotension within the first 30 min upon arrival to the ICU from the operating room (OR). The primary outcome was hospital mortality, and other outcomes included duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) in hours, and ICU and hospital length of stay in days. RESULTS Of 417 patients, more than half (54%) experienced hypotension within 30 min upon arrival to the ICU. Presence of OR hypotension immediately prior to ICU transfer was significantly associated with ICU hypotension (odds ratio = 1.9; 95% confidence interval: 1.21-2.98; P < 0.006). ICU hypotensive patients had longer MV, 5 (interquartile ranges 3, 15) vs 4 h (interquartile ranges 3, 6), P = 0.012. The patients who received vasopressor boluses (n = 212) were more likely to experience ICU drop-off hypotension (odds ratio = 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 0.98-2.13; P = 0.062), and they experienced longer MV, ICU and hospital length of stay (P < 0.001, for all). CONCLUSION Hypotension upon anesthesia-to-ICU drop-off is more frequent than previously reported and may be associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

In the past two decades, lung transplantation has become an increasingly important surgical option for the patient with end stage lung disease. Compared with the other solid organ transplants (heart, liver and kidney), lung transplantation carries immense clinical and logistic challenges; long-term organ viability is particularly problematic, with an expected five-year mortality of 40-50%. The number of lung transplants performed in the U.S. has been increasing steadily since 1988, when UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) started recording statistical data. In that year, 33 cases of lung transplantation were performed. As of today, a total of 23,815 lung transplants have been performed, and the largest number of yearly lung transplants (n=1,822) was performed in 2009. From appropriate patient selection, to optimal organ selection, surgical procedure, and immediate and long-term postoperative care, the medical process involves multiple healthcare providers and requires a very well-organized and committed healthcare system to achieve optimal surgical results. Understanding the pharmacology involved in the care of the lung transplant patient is of utmost importance to achieve appropriate organ preservation, immunosuppression, hemodynamic stability, and adequate anesthetic depth, while avoiding drug toxicity and side effects. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the medications most commonly administered to this patient population, throughout the perioperative period.

Objective The aim of this study was to describe the evolution in anesthetic technique used for the first 200 patients undergoing robotic mitral valve surgery. Design A retrospective review. Setting A single tertiary referral academic hospital. Participants Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing robotic mitral valve surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results After obtaining institutional review board approval, surgical and anesthetic data were recorded. For analysis, patients were placed in 4 groups, each containing 50 consecutive patients, labeled Quartiles 1 to 4. Over time, there were statistically significant decreases in cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times. Significant differences in the anesthetic management were shown, with a reduction of intraoperative fentanyl and midazolam doses, and the introduction of paravertebral blockade in Quartile 2. There was a reduction of time between incision closure and extubation, and nearly 90% of patients were extubated in the operating room in Quartiles 3 and 4. Despite changes to the intraoperative analgesic management, and focus on earlier extubation, there were no differences seen in visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores over the 4 quartiles. Reductions were seen in total intensive care unit and hospital length of stay during the study period. Conclusions Changes to the practice, including efforts to limit intraoperative opioid administration and the addition of preoperative paravertebral blockade, helped facilitate earlier extubation. In the second half of the study period, close to 90% of patients were extubated in the operating room safely and without delaying patient transition to the intensive care unit.

STUDY DESIGN Single-institution retrospective study. OBJECTIVE To assess the effect surgical staging (i.e., sequencing) has on clinical and economic outcomes for patients undergoing sacropelvic tumor resection requiring lumbopelvic stabilization. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Sacral corpectomy with lumbopelvic stabilization is an extensive surgical procedure that can be performed in either a single episode or multiple episodes of care on different days. The impact of varied sequencing of surgical episodes of care on patient, resource, and financial outcomes is unknown. METHODS This single-center retrospective case series identified all cases of sacropelvic tumor resection requiring lumbopelvic stabilization over an 8-year period. We assessed and compared clinical and economic outcomes for patients whose anterior exposure and posterior resection were separated into two distinct surgical episodes of care (staged) versus patients whose anterior exposure and posterior resection occurred in a single encounter (nonstaged procedures). Primary endpoints included procedural outcomes (operative and after-hours surgical time), resuscitative requirements, adverse perioperative events, mortality, and direct medical costs (hospital and physician) associated with the surgical episodes of interest. RESULTS From January 1, 2000, to July 15, 2008, a total of 25 patients were identified. Eight patients had their procedure staged. Surgical staging was associated with a significant increase in intensive care unit free days (P = 0.03), ventilator free days (P < 0.01), and reduced morbidity (P < 0.01). Surgical staging significantly reduced postoperative red blood cell (P = 0.03), and after-hours red blood cell (P < 0.01) and component requirements (P = 0.04). Mean total inpatient costs were $89,132 lower for patients undergoing the staged procedure (95% confidence interval of mean cost difference = -$178,899 to -$4661). CONCLUSION Separating the anterior exposure and posterior resection phases of complex sacral tumor resection into two separate surgical episodes of care is associated with improved clinical outcomes and reduced inpatient cost.

New biological knowledge and new diagnostic tools for breast cancer diagnosis may have an important impact on the strategies followed by oncologists in breast cancer management. So far, it has not been possible to label a nucleotide or its precursor with technetium-99m (99mTc) for use in in vivo studies. In this paper, we report the labelling of a precursor, the nitrogenate base thymine, with 99mTc. It has been used to evaluate breast lesions. After animal studies and with the consent of patients, it was employed for evaluation in humans. Thirty-nine women were studied: 32 patients and seven healthy volunteers. Twenty-three malignant lesions showed uptake of labelled thymine. Of the 12 benign cases, there was one false-positive uptake. Labelled thymine was also taken up by one case of malignant microcalcifications. Labelled thymine can be used as a diagnostic method in the identification of malignant anatomo-radiologic palpable lesions of the breast, observed by mammography, possibly avoiding unnecessary biopsies.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients have been reported to have decreased perioperative opioid and intraoperative inhalational anesthetic requirements when compared to patients without liver disease undergoing other types of major abdominal surgeries. The severity of the liver disease and the process of the transplantation itself may alter the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of different pain medications. Chemical injury of the liver and the high degree of surgical stress may also increase the levels of neuropeptides involved in pain modulation. Per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, more than 5,000 OLT cases are being done per year since 2000. With better understanding of the pathophysiology of liver disease and the development of perioperative anesthesia management, the recent concept of improving patient outcome following OLT includes a fast-track approach in selected patients, which may shorten or completely bypass intensive care unit stay and reduce costs. With this development, the understanding of the analgesic pharmacology in the care of the OLT patients is even more important. Proper dosage of medications can achieve adequate intraoperative anesthetic depth and postoperative pain control, while avoiding over-sedation which increases risk of prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the analgesic medications commonly administered to this patient population.

The number of patients with end stage liver disease is growing worldwide. This is likely a result of advances in medical science that have allowed these patients to lead longer lives since the incidence of diseases such as alcoholic cirrhosis and viral hepatitis have remained stable or even decreased in recent years, at least in more developed nations. Many of these patients will require anesthetic care at some point. The understanding and application of basic principles of pharmacokinetics is paramount to the practice of anesthesia. An understanding of pharmacokinetic principles provides the anesthesiologist with a scientific foundation for achieving therapeutic objectives associated with the use of any drug; however, pathologic conditions often alter the expected kinetic profile of many drugs. Anesthesia providers caring for these patients must be aware of the altered pharmacokinetics that may occur in these patients. We review normal liver physiology, pathophysiology of liver disease in general, and how liver failure affects the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anesthetic agents; providing some specific examples.

The Cox Maze III procedure has been simplified with the availability of tissue ablation devices; however, complications related to their use are recognized. We report a case of 45-year-old woman who underwent mitral valve repair and concomitant Cryo-Maze procedure. She had reversible right coronary artery spasm develop after the procedure demonstrated by ST-segment elevation changes and coronary angiography, which was reversed with intracoronary nitroglycerin. The region of spasm suggested it as a consequence of proximity of the right coronary artery to the right atrial ablation lines.

We describe a case of intraoperative diagnosis and successful deferred percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the clinical setting of acute refractory hypoxemic respiratory failure and new-onset ischemic stroke in an elderly patient after coronary artery bypass graft. Perioperative morbidity (i.e. severe hypoxemia, worsening right ventricular dysfunction, and embolic stroke) that is potentially related to intraoperatively diagnosed PFO during cardiac surgery can complicate management in the Intensive Care Unit and perhaps affect the patient's outcome. Although the PFO closure can be challenging in the clinical setting of hypoxemic respiratory failure and stroke following cardiac surgery, it can be a reasonable perioperative option.