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A radial-to-femoral pressure gradient (RFPG) can occur in roughly one-third of cardiac surgical patients. Such a gradient has been associated with smaller stature and potentially smaller radial artery diameter. We hypothesized that preoperative radial artery diameter could be a predictor of RFPG. We also investigated the clinical impact of using a femoral versus a radial arterial catheter in terms of vasoactive support.Using ultrasound, we measured the bilateral radial artery diameters of 160 cardiac surgical patients. All arterial pressure values were continuously recorded. Significant RFPG was defined as ≥25 mm Hg in systolic and/or ≥10 mm Hg in mean arterial pressure. One hundred and forty-nine additional patients were used to validate the impact of our observations.Using 78,013 pressure datapoints in 129 patients, 34.8% of patients had an RFPG with a mean duration of 54 ± 48 minutes. Patients with a radial artery diameter1.8 mm were more likely to have an RFPG (n = 14 [48.3%] vs 12 [22.2%];A significant RFPG occurs in one-third of cardiac surgical patients and in 48% of those with a radial artery diameter1.8 mm. The use of a single radial arterial catheter instead of dual radial and femoral catheters was associated with greater vasopressor requirements in the operating room and in the intensive care unit. We do not recommend the use of a single radial artery catheter in cardiac surgery.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are major complications in cardiac surgery. Intraoperative management of patients at high risk of RV failure should aim to reduce RV afterload and optimize RV filling pressures, while avoiding systemic hypotension, to facilitate weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Inhaled epoprostenol and inhaled milrinone (iEiM) administered in combination before CPB may represent an effective strategy to facilitate separation from CPB and reduce requirements for intravenous inotropes during cardiac surgery. Our primary objective was to report the rate of positive pulmonary vasodilator response to iEiM and, second, how it relates to perioperative outcomes in cardiac surgery.This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with PH or RV dysfunction undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery at the Montreal Heart Institute from July 2013 to December 2018 (n = 128). iEiM treatment was administered using an ultrasonic mesh nebulizer before the initiation of CPB. Demographic and baseline clinical data, as well as hemodynamic, intraoperative, and echocardiographic data, were collected using electronic records. An increase of 20% in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) to mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) ratio was used to indicate a positive response to iEiM.In this cohort, 77.3% of patients were responders to iEiM treatment. Baseline systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) (odds ratio [OR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-2.16 per 5 mm Hg; P = .0006) was found to be a predictor of pulmonary vasodilator response, while a European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE II) score6.5% was a predictor of nonresponse to treatment (≤6.5% vs6.5% [reference]: OR, 5.19; 95% CI, 1.84-14.66; P = .002). Severity of PH was associated with a positive response to treatment, where a higher proportion of responders had MPAP values30 mm Hg (42.4% responders vs 24.1% nonresponders; P = .0237) and SPAP values55 mm Hg (17.2% vs 3.4%; P = .0037). Easier separation from CPB was also associated with response to iEiM treatment (69.7% vs 58.6%; P = .0181). A higher proportion of nonresponders had a very difficult separation from CPB and required intravenous inotropic drug support compared to responders, for whom easy separation from CPB was more frequent. Use of intravenous inotropes after CPB was lower in responders to treatment (8.1% vs 27.6%; P = .0052).A positive pulmonary vasodilator response to treatment with a combination of iEiM before initiation of CPB was observed in 77% of patients. Higher baseline SPAP was an independent predictor of pulmonary vasodilator response, while EuroSCORE II6.5% was a predictor of nonresponse to treatment.

Background We conducted a chart review of prospectively collected data in order to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of an innovative technique of pleural and mediastinal drain injections. Methods Patients who had undergone cardiac surgery and who continued to have pain despite the use of a multimodal pain protocol received injections of 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine in pleural and/or mediastinal chest drainage tubes. Results Patients were evaluated for the incidence mediastinitis, osteitis, and deep sternal wound infection as well as the speed and intensity of pain relief. The odds ratio of infection in the infused group was 0.955 (CI = 0.4705, 1.9384). The adjusted mean “decrease in pain” was 4.01 (SEM = 0.15 and 95% CI = 3.78, 4.38), using the 11-point Likert Numerical Rating Scale. The mean adjusted “time to maximum pain relief” was 8.33 minutes (SEM = 0.42 and 95% CI = 7.50, 9.15). Conclusion This technique is a powerful, safe, and efficient tool in the armamentarium of pain management and its growing use within our institution has provided a substantial benefit in the treatment of early post-operative pain.

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a cause of increased morbidity and mortality in both cardiac surgery and noncardiac surgery and in the intensive care unit. Early diagnosis of this condition still poses a challenge. The diagnosis of RV dysfunction traditionally is based on a combination of echocardiography, hemodynamic measurements, and clinical symptoms. This review describes the method of using RV pressure waveform analysis to diagnose and grade the severity of RV dysfunction. The authors describe the technique, optimal use, and pitfalls of this method, which has been used at the Montreal Heart Institute since 2002, and review the current literature on this method. The RV pressure waveform is obtained using a pulmonary artery catheter with the capability of measuring RV pressure by connecting a pressure transducer to the pacemaker port. The authors describe how RV pressure waveform analysis can facilitate the diagnosis of systolic and diastolic RV dysfunction, the evaluation of RV-arterial coupling, and help diagnose RV outflow tract obstruction. RV pressure waveform analysis also can be used to guide pharmacologic treatment and fluid resuscitation strategies for RV dysfunction.

Objective To report the authors’ 12 years of experience with intratracheal milrinone administration and to assess the efficacy and limitations of intratracheal milrinone bolus administration for the treatment of unexpected acute right ventricular (RV) failure in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Single-center university hospital. Participants One hundred seventy-six patients (4.6%) undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery. Interventions Endotracheal tube administration of milrinone (5-mg bolus) after unexpected acute RV failure during separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) weaning. RV failure was defined as the simultaneous presence of all of the following criteria: (1) hemodynamic instability or difficult separation from CPB with associated elevated central venous pressure or abnormal RV pressure waveform, (2) >20% reduction of RV fractional area change from baseline evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography, and (3) anatomical visualization of impaired or absent RV wall motion by direct intraoperative visual inspection. Measurements and Main Results Intratracheal milrinone administration was found to improve RV failure in 109 patients (61.9%) whereas RV failure persisted in 67 patients (38.1%). Using a multiple logistic regression model, severely decreased left ventricular ejection fraction ( 50%) (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-11.3; p = 0.012), longer CPB time (adjusted OR 1.014; CI 1.01-1.02; p = 0.001) and elevated postoperative fluid balance (adjusted OR 1.39; CI 1.1-1.8; p = 0.02) were found to be significant predictors of persistent RV failure. Conclusion Intratracheal instillation of milrinone was associated with clinical improvement of RV failure occurring during separation from CPB in almost two-thirds of patients. Factors limiting its therapeutic efficacy include severe left ventricular dysfunction, increased fluid balance, and long CPB time.

While intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) has been associated with adverse outcomes in multiple settings, the epidemiology and clinical implications of IAH in the context of cardiac surgery are less known. In this study, we aimed to describe the prevalence of IAH in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and determine its association with patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes.We conducted a single-centre prospective cohort study in which intra-abdominal pressure was measured in the operating room after general anesthesia (T1), after the surgical procedure (T2), and two hours after intensive care unit (ICU) admission (T3) in a subset of patients. Intra-abdominal hypertension was defined as intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) ≥ 12 mm Hg. Postoperative outcomes included death, acute kidney injury (AKI), and length of stay in the ICU and hospital.A total of 513 IAP measurements were obtained from 191 participants in the operating room and 131 participants in the ICU. Intra-abdominal hypertension was present in 105/191 (55%) at T1, 115/191 (60%) at T2, and 31/131 (24%) at T3. Intra-abdominal pressure was independently associated with body mass index, central venous pressure, and mean pulmonary artery pressure but was not associated with cumulative fluid balance. Intraoperative IAH was not associated with adverse outcomes including AKI.Intra-abdominal hypertension is very common during cardiac surgery but its clinical implications are uncertain.RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Bien que l’hypertension intra-abdominale (HIA) ait été associée à des issues indésirables dans de multiples contextes, l’épidémiologie et les implications cliniques de l’HIA dans le contexte de la chirurgie cardiaque sont moins connues. Dans cette étude, nous avons cherché à décrire la prévalence de l’HIA chez les patients bénéficiant d’une chirurgie cardiaque et à déterminer son association avec les caractéristiques des patients et les issues postopératoires. MéTHODE: Nous avons mené une étude de cohorte prospective monocentrique dans laquelle la pression intra-abdominale a été mesurée en salle d’opération après une anesthésie générale (T1), après l’intervention chirurgicale (T2) et deux heures après l’admission à l’unité de soins intensifs (USI) (T3) dans un sous-ensemble de patients. L’hypertension intra-abdominale a été définie comme une pression intra-abdominale (PIA) ≥ 12 mmHg. Les issues postopératoires comprenaient le décès, l’insuffisance rénale aiguë (IRA), et la durée du séjour à l’USI et à l’hôpital. RéSULTATS: Au total, 513 mesures de la PIA ont été obtenues auprès de 191 participants en salle d’opération et de 131 participants à l’USI. L’hypertension intra-abdominale était présente chez 105/191 patients (55 %) à T1, 115/191 (60 %) à T2 et 31/131 (24 %) à T3. La pression intra-abdominale était indépendamment associée à l’indice de masse corporelle, à la pression veineuse centrale et à la pression artérielle pulmonaire moyenne, mais n’était pas associée à un bilan hydrique cumulatif. L’HIA peropératoire n’était pas associée à des issues indésirables, y compris à l’IRA. CONCLUSION: L’hypertension intra-abdominale est très fréquente lors d’une chirurgie cardiaque, mais ses implications cliniques sont incertaines.

Background: Very little is known regarding the prevalence of opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH) in day to day medical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physician&rsquo, s perception of the prevalence of OIH within their practice, and to assess the level of physician&rsquo, s knowledge with respect to the identification and treatment of this problem. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was distributed to physicians who work in anesthesiology, chronic pain, and/or palliative care in Canada. Results: Of the 462 responses received, most were from male (69%) anesthesiologists (89.6%), in the age range of 36 to 64 years old (79.8%). In this study, the suspected prevalence of OIH using the average number of patients treated per year with opioids was 0.002% per patient per physician practice year for acute pain, and 0.01% per patient per physician practice year for chronic pain. Most physicians (70.2%) did not use clinical tests to help make a diagnosis of OIH. The treatment modalities most frequently used were the addition of an NMDA antagonist, combined with lowering the opioid doses and using opioid rotation. Conclusions: The perceived prevalence of OIH in clinical practice is a relatively rare phenomenon. Furthermore, more than half of physicians did not use a clinical test to confirm the diagnosis of OIH. The two main treatment modalities used were NMDA antagonists and opioid rotation. The criteria for the diagnosis of OIH still need to be accurately defined.

The incidence of postoperative nonischemic seizures associated with the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) and the possibility of prevention with a low-dose regimen of TXA were evaluated.Retrospective study.Tertiary care university hospital.A total of 12,195 patients who underwent cardiac surgical procedures under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were evaluated.The files of every clinical seizure case diagnosed in the surgical intensive care unit between April 2006 and April 2014 were reviewed. Patients who experienced a postoperative seizure underwent a cerebral computed tomography scan to exclude an ischemic lesion. Dosage and type of antifibrinolytic used and surgery characteristics were retrieved from perfusion files. Low-dose TXA was defined as 1,000-mg bolus, 400-mg/h infusion, and 500 mg in CPB priming. High-dose TXA was defined as 30-mg/kg bolus, 15 mg/kg/h, and 2 mg/kg in CPB priming.No seizure was observed in the 886 patients who did not receive antifibrinolytics. A total of 98 clinical seizures (0.8%) were recorded in the intensive care unit, and ischemic cause was excluded in the majority of them after computed tomography scan results were reviewed (91 patients [93%]). Low-dose TXA was associated with fewer seizures than was high-dose TXA (46 of 7,452 cases [0.70%] v 34 of 2,190 cases [1.55%], respectively; p0.0001). Open-chamber cardiac surgery also was linked to a higher incidence of seizures compared with revascularization (80 of 6,662 [1.20%] and 11 of 5,533 [0.20%], respectively; p0.0001).Lower doses of TXA were associated with a lower incidence of nonischemic seizures compared with higher doses of the drug.

Creation d’un programme d’education therapeutique en douleur chronique (PETDC). Pour creer le PETDC, nous avons utilise un processus en quatre etapes. Cinq groupes de patients beneficient du programme annuellement. Sur la base de leur propre evaluation, les patients ont declare que leur connaissance de la douleur chronique s’etait amelioree (2,8 a 24 %). La mesure de la satisfaction du PETDC etait de 8,67/10. Le PETDC aide les patients douloureux chroniques a acquerir et a maintenir les competences dont ils ont besoin pour mieux gerer leur vie.

Background: Recent meta-analyses have concluded that low-dose intravenous ketamine infusions (LDKIs) during the postoperative period may help to decrease acute and chronic postoperative pain after major surgery. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the level of pain at least 3 months after surgery for patients treated with a postoperative LDKI versus patients who were not treated with a postoperative LDKI. Methods: Administrative and Ethics Board approval were obtained for this study. We performed a retrospective chart review for all patients receiving LDKI, and equal number of age-, sex-, and surgery-matched patients who did not receive LDKI. Low-dose ketamine was prepared using 100 mg of ketamine in 100 ml of normal saline and run between 50 and 200 mcg/kg/h. Results: We reviewed 115 patients with LDKI and 115 without LDKI. The average age was 63.1 years, 73% of the patients were men and sex was evenly distributed between LDKI and non-LDKI. The average duration of the ketamine infusions was 26.8 h with the average dose being 169.9 mg. At an average of 9 months after surgery, 42% of the ketamine group and 38% of the nonketamine group stated that they had had pain on discharge. Of these patients, 30% of the ketamine group and 26% of the nonketamine group still had pain at the time of the phone call. Women in both groups had more acute and chronic pain than men. Conclusion: These results show that LDKI does not promote a decrease in long-term postoperative pain.

Introduction/Aim: The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to examine the relative frequency and risk factors (patient, surgical, medical, clinical) for prolonged opioid therapy among surgical and trauma patients. Methods: Studies published in English and French between 1998 and April 2018 examining risk factors for prolonged (3–6 months) or chronic (>6 months) opioid use after surgery/trauma were included. Literature search: seven databases were queried, empirical studies were identified via direct and back citation search, grey literature was also included. A minimum of two independent reviewers assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data and assessed studies quality. Results: Thirty-five out of 10,003 screened articles were included. The median relative frequency of prolonged (50.9%) and chronic (58.5%) opioid therapy among pre-event patients already on opioid therapy was much higher compared to pre-event opioid naïve patients (4.1% and 2.6%, respectively). Tobacco use, depressive disorder and antidepressants use were significant risk factors for prolonged and/or chronic opioid therapy among pre-event opioid naïve patients. Tobacco use, depressive disorder and history of migraines were risk factors for prolonged opioid therapy among pre-event opioid-treated patients. Discussion/Conclusions: Prevention initiatives to reduce the risk of prolonged opioid therapy after surgery or trauma should target specific health behaviors and psychiatric disorders; these interventions should be tailored based on patients’ pre-event opioid status.

The bispectral index is a technique that involves assessing brain activity (through electroencephalography as well as electromyography), and has been proposed to be useful for the detection of pain among patients who are unable to communicate verbally. This review aimed to clarify whether the bispectral index is an appropriate tool to assess pain in the intensive care unit., BACKGROUND: Pain assessment is an immense challenge for clinicians, especially in the context of the intensive care unit, where the patient is often unable to communicate verbally. Several methods of pain assessment have been proposed to assess pain in this environment. These include both behavioural observation scales and evaluation of physiological measurements such as heart rate and blood pressure. Although numerous validation studies pertaining to behavioural observation scales have been published, several limitations associated with using these measures for pain assessment remain. Over the past few years, researchers have been interested in the use of the bispectral index monitoring system as a proxy for the evaluation of encephalography readings to assess the level of anesthesia and, potentially, analgesia. OBJECTIVES: To synthesize the main studies exploring the use of the bispectral index monitoring system for pain assessment, to guide future research in adults under sedation in the intensive care unit. METHOD: The EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases were searched for studies published between 1996 and 2013 that evaluated the use of the bispectral index in assessing pain. RESULTS: Most studies conclude that nociceptive stimulation causes a significant increase in the bispectral index and revealed the importance of controlling certain confounding variables such as the level of sedation. DISCUSSION: Further studies are needed to clearly demonstrate the relationship between nociceptive stimuli and the bispectral index, as well as the specificity of the bispectral index in detecting pain.

Perioperative care for cardiac surgery is undergoing rapid evolution. Many of the changes involve the application of novel technologies to tackle common challenges in optimizing perioperative management. Herein, we illustrate recent advances in perioperative management by focusing on a number of novel components that we judge to be particularly important. These include: the introduction of brain and somatic oximetry; transesophageal echocardiographic hemodynamic monitoring and bedside focused ultrasound; ultrasound-guided vascular access; point-of-care coagulation surveillance; right ventricular pressure monitoring; novel inhaled treatment for right ventricular failure; new approaches for postoperative pain management; novel approaches in specialized care procedures to ensure quality control; and specific approaches to optimize the management for postoperative cardiac arrest. Herein, we discuss the reasons that each of these components are particularly important in improving perioperative care, describe how they can be addressed, and their impact in the care of patients who undergo cardiac surgery.

Objectives To determine the attitudes of patients toward long-term opioid therapy (LtOT) and the potential risk of misuse/abuse in patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). Design Prospective, descriptive epidemiological study. Setting Multidisciplinary tertiary care pain center within the Montreal University Health Center. Subjects Patients who had had at least one visit at least one year prior to the invitation. Methods We used four questionnaires: demographic questionnaire, the Drug Attitude Inventory Modified (DAI-M), the Opioid Risk Tool (ORT), and the Screening Tool for Addiction Risk (STAR). All questionnaires were administered in their validated French version. Results Three hundred seventy patients completed questionnaires. The response rate was 79.26%. Of those who responded, 61.62% women and 38.38% men, the mean age was 57 years. The patients had been treated with LtOT for an average of 6.31 years, and the median dose per day in morphine equivalents was 48.21 mg. The DAI-M showed that 32.16% had a positive attitude toward opioids, 39.73% had a negative attitude, and 22.16% had a neutral attitude. The ORT questionnaire demonstrated that 86.2% of the patients were at low risk of abuse/misuse, 13.2% were at moderate risk, and only 0.54% were at high risk. The STAR questionnaire showed that 4.2% had a low risk of abuse/misuse. Conclusions Despite public opinion, patients treated with LtOT for CNCP and followed in a tertiary care pain center are at low risk for opioid misuse/abuse. We need to refine the way of prescribing opioids, should be selective with our patients, and should relive their pain adequately.

Several studies have outlined the impact of patient's beliefs on their level of pain relief after surgery and have underlined that misconceptions are barriers to effective pain relief. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the beliefs of the patients to help create a specifically adapted pain education program. After ethics approval, all patients scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery of any kind were approached and asked to complete a voluntary, non-nominative questionnaire that included the Barriers Questionnaire and the Screening Tool for Addiction Risk (STAR) Questionnaire. All completed questionnaires were collected from the charts every evening or the morning before surgery. Of 564 patients scheduled for surgery, 379 patients (67.5%) returned questionnaires. The average age was 60.3 years, and 66.0% were male. Results of the Barriers Questionnaire showed that 31% of patients were in strong agreement that "it is easy to become addicted to pain medication," 20% agreed that "good patients do not speak of their pain," and 36% believe that "pain medication should be saved in case pain worsens." Little or no gains have been made in decreasing misconceptions related to the treatment of pain. This study underlines the considerable need for and absolute necessity to provide pain education to patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Background: Persistent postoperative pain continues to be an underrecognized complication. We examined the prevalence of and risk factors for this type of pain after cardiac surgery. Methods: We enrolled patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting or valve replacement, or both, from Feb. 8, 2005, to Sept. 1, 2009. Validated measures were used to assess (a) preoperative anxiety and depression, tendency to catastrophize in the face of pain, health-related quality of life and presence of persistent pain; (b) pain intensity and interference in the first postoperative week; and (c) presence and intensity of persistent postoperative pain at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. The primary outcome was the presence of persistent postoperative pain during 24 months of follow-up. Results: A total of 1247 patients completed the preoperative assessment. Follow-up retention rates at 3 and 24 months were 84% and 78%, respectively. The prevalence of persistent postoperative pain decreased significantly over time, from 40.1% at 3 months to 22.1% at 6 months, 16.5% at 12 months and 9.5% at 24 months; the pain was rated as moderate to severe in 3.6% at 24 months. Acute postoperative pain predicted both the presence and severity of persistent postoperative pain. The more intense the pain during the first week after surgery and the more it interfered with functioning, the more likely the patients were to report persistent postoperative pain. Pre-existing persistent pain and increased preoperative anxiety also predicted the presence of persistent postoperative pain. Interpretation: Persistent postoperative pain of nonanginal origin after cardiac surgery affected a substantial proportion of the study population. Future research is needed to determine whether interventions to modify certain risk factors, such as preoperative anxiety and the severity of pain before and immediately after surgery, may help to minimize or prevent persistent postoperative pain.

Objectives To measure the incidence of cerebral desaturation during high-risk cardiac surgery and to evaluate strategies to reverse cerebral desaturation. Design Prospective observational study followed by a randomized controlled study with 1 intervention group and 1 control group. Setting Tertiary care center specialized in cardiac surgery. Participants All patients were scheduled for high-risk cardiac surgery, 279 consecutive patients in the prospective study and 48 patients in the randomized study. Interventions An algorithmic approach of strategies to reverse cerebral desaturation. In the control group, no attempts were made to reverse cerebral desaturation. Measurements and Main Results Cerebral saturation was measured using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. A decrease of 20% from baseline for 15 seconds defined cerebral desaturation. The success or failure of the interventions was noted. Demographic data were collected. Models for predicting the probability and the reversal of cerebral desaturation were based on multiple logistic regressions. In the randomized study, 12 hours of measurements were continued in the intensive care unit without interventions. Differences in desaturation load (% desaturation×time) were compared between groups. Half of the high-risk patients had cerebral desaturation that could be reversed 88% of the time. Interventions resulted in smaller desaturation loads in the operating room and in the intensive care unit. Conclusions Cerebral desaturation in high-risk cardiac surgery is frequent but can be reversed most of the time resulting in a smaller desaturation load. A large randomized study will be needed to measure the impact of reversing cerebral desaturation on patient's outcome.

BACKGROUND Preterm neonates below 30 weeks' gestational age undergo numerous painful procedures. Many management approaches are not appropriate for this population. Therapeutic Touch, an alternative approach based on the theory of energy medicine, has been shown to promote physiological stability in preterm neonates and reduce pain in some adult studies. The objective was to determine whether Therapeutic Touch is efficacious in decreasing pain in preterm neonates. METHODS Infants < 30 weeks' gestational age participated in a randomized control trial in 2 level III neonatal intensive care units. All evaluations, analyses, and heel lance procedure were conducted with only the therapist knowing the group assignment. Immediately before and after the heel lance procedure, the therapist performed nontactile Therapeutic Touch (n = 27) with infant behind curtains, leaving the curtained area for the heel lance, performed by another. In the sham condition (n = 28), the therapist stood by the incubator with hands by her side. The Premature Infant Pain Profile was used for pain response and time for heart rate to return to baseline for recovery. Heart rate variability and stress response were secondary outcomes. RESULTS There were no group differences in any of the outcomes. Mean Premature Infant Pain Profile scores across 2 minutes of heel lance procedure in 30-second blocks ranged from 7.92 to 8.98 in the Therapeutic Touch group and 7.64 to 8.46 in the sham group. INTERPRETATION Therapeutic Touch given immediately before and after heel lance has no comforting effect in preterm neonates. Other effective strategies involving actual touch should be considered.

Objectives Acute Pain Services (APS) are well-established worldwide; however, their availability and use in cardiac surgery units are less widespread and, even where present, may be provided less consistently. The authors undertook this survey to assess the current organization of Cardiac Acute Pain Services (CAPS) in Canada. Design This was a prospectively administered survey. Setting This study included all centers in Canada that conducted adult cardiac surgery. Participants The participants were anesthesiologists. Intervention A 20-item questionnaire covered the demographics, functioning and APS structure. Results The authors achieved a response rate of 100% with completed questionnaires from all 31 centers. Ten centers (32.3%) stated that they had a dedicated CAPS, 9 centers (29%) stated that they did not have an APS, and 12 centers (38.7%) had APS but no CAPS. At the time of the survey for the 10 centers with CAPS, 3 of the CAPS had a physician-run model, 4 had a combined physician and nurse service, and 1 used a combination of protocols, intensivists, and nurse practitioners. Nine centers had an anesthesiologist assigned to daily acute pain rounds. Only in 2 of 10 centers with CAPS were more than 50% of their cardiac surgery patients receiving care. In general, postoperative pain management was a protocol-driven activity. Conclusions CAPS are varied in both structure and functioning. Further work is required both at the institutional and the national levels to improve the postoperative care and the pain-related outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Chronic chest pain is a challenge, and serratus anterior muscle pain syndrome (SAMPS) is often overlooked. We have developed an ultrasound-guided technique for infiltrating local anesthetics and steroids in patients with SAMPS. In 8 patients, the duration of chronic pain was approximately 19 months. Three months after treatment, all patients had experienced a significant reduction in pain. Infiltration for SAMPS confirms the diagnosis and provides adequate pain relief.

Several publications have shown that adequate postsurgical pain control after cardiac surgery has been difficult to obtain. Hospital services have been admonished to develop appropriate organizations of care that will facilitate the use of existing expertise rather than focusing on the development of new analgesic drugs. In this article the authors discuss the multidisciplinary collaboration that enabled the creation and implementation, in a busy cardiac surgery service, of a structure that has forged significant improvement in the treatment of pain after cardiac surgery. This nurse-run program promotes the use of a “low-tech, highly personalized” approach to pain management where the daily clinical work is supported by the concept of the “Patient Pyramid of Care”.

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction is a well-recognized but rarely evaluated risk factor for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. By measuring autonomic reserves in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, the authors aimed to identify those with autonomic dysfunction and to evaluate their risk of perioperative complications.This was a prospective, observational study.The study was conducted in a single academic center.Sixty-seven patients completed the study.Autonomic reserves were evaluated using analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV) after a Valsalva maneuver.The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on their response to the autonomic challenge, a group with autonomic reserves (AR, n = 38) and a group with negligible autonomic reserves (NAR, n = 29). The groups were compared for baseline psychologic distress, demographic and medical profiles, autonomic response to morphine premedication and the induction of anesthesia, hemodynamic instability, the occurrence of decreases in cerebral oxygen saturation, and postoperative complications. Patients in the NAR group had significantly higher psychologic distress scores (p0.001), a higher baseline parasympathetic tone (p = 0.003), were unable to increase parasympathetic tone with morphine premedication, had more severe hypotension at the induction of anesthesia (p0.001), more episodes of decreases in cerebral saturation (p = 0.0485), and a higher overall complication rate (p = 0.0388) independent of other variables studied.Patients with diminished autonomic reserves can be identified before cardiac surgery using analysis of HRV and BPV of the response to the Valsalva maneuver, and some evidence suggests that they may be at increased risk of perioperative complications.

Pain levels after cardiac surgery are often severe and undertreated. The effects of undertreatment may be both severe and prolonged. The incidence of chronic pain after cardiac surgery varies between 21% and 55%. Pain syndromes that occur following cardiac surgery may be multiple and may be of visceral, musculoskeletal, or neurogenic origin. Risk factors for acute pain vary depending on the study but generally include younger age, longer duration of surgery, and the location of the surgery. Risk factors for chronic pain include depression and psychological vulnerability, both preoperative and postoperative. Other independent risk factors for chronic pain are more extensive surgery, surgery lasting longer than 3 hours, and ASA grade greater than III. Pain control is achieved with regular and systematic evaluation and the use of multimodal regimens. Treatment strategies that are commonly used include opioids, paracetamol, NSAIDS, and more recently anticonvulsants.

Chart review to evaluate the effectiveness of a three-phase sound resonance technology therapy (SRTT) protocol for the treatment of fibromyalgia.Initial FIQ scores of 159 consecutive patients ranged from 24 to 80 (mean=58). After Phase 1, ( approximately 1 month into the protocol), FIQ scores had decreased on average by 26 points (n=128, 95% CI 23-30, p.001). After phase 3 of the protocol 53 patients completed an FIQ questionnaire and the mean decrease in FIQ score was 38 points (95% CI 32-44, p=.004).This retrospective analysis suggests considerable and rapid relief of the symptoms of fibromyalgia following the use of the three-phase SRTT treatment protocol, which appears to be maintained over several years. Although these results are not conclusive they are remarkable as no other therapy reported in the scientific literature seems as efficacious for fibromyalgia. A follow-up study using an RCT design is warranted.

This chapter looks at the skills which underpin learning and facilitate the integration of new learning into all aspects of study. The skills are explored under two main headings: organization and memory.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter leaflet repair of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) with the MitraClip device has been demonstrated to have superior safety outcomes compared to surgical management but is less effective in reducing the severity of regurgitation. Questions have been raised as to whether or not treatment with more than one clip may be associated with a superior final result. We, therefore, assessed the incremental value of a second MitraClip in high-risk surgical patients with severe MR and suboptimal results using one clip. METHODS: Prospective data was collected on patients undergoing therapy with the MitraClip from December 2010 to March 2012 at the Montreal Heart Institute. Echocardiographic data was obtained pre-procedure, immediately post, and 24 hours following the procedure. Severity of MR was assessed echocardiographically qualitatively and quantitatively, in accordance with ASE Guidelines. Procedural success was defined as a residual MR grade of 2 or less following the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients, age 75 10 years, 70% male, underwent transcatheter leaflet repair with the MitraClip during the study period. The majority of cases were functional MR (73%). Procedural success was obtained in 93% (n 25) of patients. In one patient we were unable to place a clip, and one patient received three clips. The first clip resulted in a significant reduction in MR (P 0.0001) by 3 grades in4(15%),2grades in10(38%),and1gradein11(42%),and no reduction in 1 (4%) patient. Fifteen patients (58%) that achieved only a modest reduction in MR with the first clip went on to have implantationofasecondclip.Inthisgroup,theincremental reduction in MR was highly significant (P 0.0001), with the second clip further reducingMRby3grades in1(7%),2grades in6(40%),andone grade in 8 (53%) patients. There was no significant difference in the mean mitral gradient in patients receiving one or two clips. CONCLUSION: In high-risk surgical candidates with severe MR in whom suboptimal results are obtained with a single MitraClip, a second clip results in a further highly significant reduction in MR without increasing the mitral valve gradient. 317 MECHANICAL STRESS ENHANCES AORTIC VALVE CALCIFICATION: IMPLICATION FOR BICUSPID AORTIC VALVE MINERALIZATION