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Perioperative neurological complications have a significant impact on mortality, morbidity, and quality of life in a growing number of high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In this comprehensive review, we provide an outline of the current literature with regard to stroke, perioperative neurocognitive disorders (delirium and cognitive decline), postoperative visual loss, and peripheral nerve injury in cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and critical care specialists are facing a new population of cardiosurgical patients who are older and sicker than in previous decades. If neurological complications occur during or after cardiac surgery, they may be devastating. We give insights into the etiology, underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, incidences, and risk factors of these complications. Current international guidelines and preventive strategies are also discussed. Despite technological and surgical progress aimed to reduce neurological injury in the perioperative period, neurological complications remain prevalent in cardiosurgical patients. An increased awareness of this problem will encourage appropriate risk management, frequent neurological assessments, and prompt therapeutic interventions.

Recently, several large randomized studies and recommendations regarding patient blood management (PBM) in cardiac surgery were published. This review summarizes the current evidence relating to modern strategies in PBM from the perspective of the cardiovascular anesthesiologist. Preoperative anemia should be early detected and adequately managed. In patients with intake of anticoagulants or platelet inhibitors, timely and specific stopping should be respected. Specific modification of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) systems aiming to reduce hemodilution and conserve patients’ blood reserve have been described. In combination with the use of cell-saving systems, such modifications might reduce the need for blood transfusion. Applying the restrictive transfusion thresholds for red blood cells (hemoglobin threshold close to 70 g/L) is not inferior to a liberal strategy (threshold close to 100 g/L) regarding 30-day mortality, and important outcomes including myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, infections, or arrhythmia. Finally, timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of hemostatic abnormalities by specific procoagulant interventions should be considered. To optimize the risk-benefit ratio of allogeneic blood transfusion and to reduce associated costs, the implementation of PBM programs compromising a multidisciplinary and multifactorial approach including interventions before, during, and after surgery is suggested.

International audience; Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is a subspecialty of cardiac and pediatric anesthesiology dedicated to the perioperative care of patients with congenital heart disease. Members of the Congenital and Education Subcommittees of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) agreed on the necessity to develop an EACTAIC pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship curriculum. This manuscript represents a consensus on the composition and the design of the EACTAIC Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship program. This curriculum provides a basis for the training of future pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists by clearly defining the theoretical and practical requirements for fellows and host centers.

Background In Switzerland, long-term circulatory support programs have been limited to heart transplant centers. In 2014, to improve the management of patients with end-stage heart failure not eligible for transplantation, we implemented a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) program for destination therapy at the University Hospital of Basel. Methods We described the program set-up with practical aspects. Patients aged 65 and above with therapy refractory end-stage heart failure without major contraindication for LVAD implantation were included. Younger patients with bridge-to-candidacy profile were also considered. Using the Kaplan-Meier estimate, we retrospectively analyzed the overall survival and freedom from major adverse events after LVAD implantation. We compared our results to internationally reported data. Results Between October 2014 and September 2019, 16 patients received an LVAD in our center. The mean age at implantation was 67.1 years. The mean EuroSCORE II was 24.4% and the median INTERMACS level was 4. Thirteen patients received an LVAD as destination therapy and three patients as bridge-to-candidacy. The overall survival was 87.5 and 70% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Freedom from stroke was 81.3% at 1 and 2 years. Freedom from device infection was 67.7 and 58.7% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Freedom from gastrointestinal bleeding was 75 and 56.3% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Freedom from readmission was 50 and 31.3% and at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. Conclusions The Basel experience demonstrated the possible implementation of an LVAD program for destination therapy or bridge-to-candidacy in a non-transplant comprehensive heart-failure center with midterm survival results and freedom from major adverse events comparable to international registries. Patient selection remains crucial. Trial registration This study was registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT04263012).

Patient blood management (PBM) has been proposed as a standard of care in modern perioperative medicine. PBM-related interventions usually are implemented as bundles, but randomized controlled trials on the implementation of PBM as a bundle are missing. This special article focuses on the current evidence and controversies in the clinical practice of PBM and on emerging data related to specific PBM-related interventions in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Strong evidence for many PBM-related interventions is limited because of missing studies or the poor quality of published findings and study endpoints. Restrictive blood transfusion and timely interventions to maintain hemoglobin concentration and to reduce blood loss potentially might result in improved patient outcome, although the latter has yet to be proven.

Objectives Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an alternative treatment for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis not eligible for surgical valve replacement due to a high periprocedural risk or comorbidities. However, there are several areas of debate concerning the pre-, intra- and post-procedural management. The standards and management for these topics may vary widely among different institutions and countries in Europe. Design Structured web-based, anonymized, voluntary survey. Setting Distribution of the survey via email among members of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology working in European centers performing TAVR between September and December 2018. Participants Physicians. Measurements and Main Results The survey consisted of 25 questions, including inquiries regarding number of TAVR procedures, technical aspects of TAVR, medical specialities present, preoperative evaluation of TAVR candidates, anesthesia regimen, as well as postoperative management. Seventy members participated in the survey. Reporting members mostly performed 151-to-300 TAVR procedures per year. In 90% of the responses, a cardiologist, cardiac surgeon, cardiothoracic anesthesiologist, and perfusionist always were available. Sixty-six percent of the members had a national curriculum for cardiothoracic anesthesia. Among 60% of responders, the decision for TAVR was made preoperatively by an interdisciplinary heart team with a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist, yet in 5 countries an anesthesiologist was not part of the decision-making. General anesthesia was employed in 40% of the responses, monitored anesthesia care in 44%, local anesthesia in 23%, and in 49% all techniques were offered to the patients. In cases of general anesthesia, endotracheal intubation almost always was performed (91%). It was stated that norepinephrine was the vasopressor of choice (63% of centers). Transesophageal echocardiography guiding, whether performed by an anesthesiologist or cardiologist, was used only ≤30%. Postprocedurally, patients were transferred to an intensive care unit by 51.43% of the respondents with a reported nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:2 or 1:3, to a post-anesthesia care unit by 27.14%, to a postoperative recovery room by 11.43%, and to a peripheral ward by 10%. Conclusion The results indicated that requirements and quality indicators (eg, periprocedural anesthetic management, involvement of the anesthesiologist in the heart team, etc) for TAVR procedures as published within the European guideline are largely, yet still not fully implemented in daily routine. In addition, anesthetic TAVR management also is performed heterogeneously throughout Europe.

Mid-term data from a single centre showed the safety and durability of aortic valve neocuspidization using autologous pericardium (OZAKI procedure). Since validation data from other centres are missing, aim of this study was to analyze echocardiographic and clinical results of our first patients that were operated with the OZAKI technique. Thirty-five patients (24 males, median (IQR) age 72.0 (59.0, 76.0) years) with aortic stenosis (AS; n = 10), aortic insufficiency (AR; n = 13) or a combination of both (AS/AR; n = 12), underwent aortic valve neocuspidization in our institution between September 2015 and May 2017. Echocardiographic follow-up was performed using a standardized examination protocol. Clinical follow-up was completed in 97% of the patients. Median (IQR) follow-up time was 645 (430, 813) days. Mortality rate was 9% (n = 1: aspiration pneumonia; n = 1: unknown; n = 1: anaphylactic shock), and the reoperation rate was 3% (n = 1: endocarditis). No pacemaker implantation was necessary after isolated OZAKI procedures. Echocardiographic follow-up was performed in 83% of the patients (n = 29; median (IQR) time 664 (497, 815) days). Median (IQR) mean and peak gradients were 6 (5,9) mmHg and 12 (8, 17) mmHg. Moderate aortic regurgitation was seen in 2 patients (7%). No severe aortic regurgitation or moderate or severe aortic stenosis occurred within the follow-up period. The OZAKI procedure is reliable and reoperation due to structural valve deterioration nil within a median 645 days follow-up period. The low rate of moderate aortic regurgitation will be surveilled very closely. Further studies are required to evaluate the significance of this procedure in aortic valve surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT03677804)

This article reviews fellowship training in adult cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia and critical care from the perspective of European program initiators and educational leaders in these subspecialties together with current training fellows. Currently, the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology (EACTA) network has 20 certified fellowship positions each year in 10 hosting centers within 7 European countries, with 2 positions outside Europe (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Since 2009, 42 fellows have completed the fellowship training. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the rationale, requirements, and contributions of the fellows, in the context of the developmental progression of the EACTA fellowship in adult cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia and critical care from inception to present. A summary of the program structure, accreditation of host centers, requirements to join the program, teaching and assessment tools, certification, and training requirements in transesophageal electrocardiography is outlined. In addition, a description of the current state of EACTA fellowships across Europe, and a perspective for future steps and challenges to the educational program, is provided. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This special article summarizes the design and certification process of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (EACTA) Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (CTVA) Fellowship Program.The CTVA fellowship training includes a two-year curriculum at an EACTA-accredited educational facility. Before fellows are accepted into the program, they must meet a number of requirements, including evidence of a valid license to practice medicine, a specialist degree examination in anesthesiology, and appropriate language skills as required in the host centers. The CVTA Fellowship Program has 2 sequential and complementary levels of training-both with a modular structure that allows for individual planning and also takes into account the differing national healthcare needs and requirements of the 36 countries represented in EACTA. The basic training period focuses on the anesthetic management of patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery and related procedures. The advanced training period is intended to deepen and to extend the clinical and nontechnical skills that fellows have acquired during the basic training.The goal of the EACTA fellowship is to produce highly trained and competent perioperative physicians who are able to care for patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND In patients with hemodynamic instability echocardiography has been recommended as the preferred modality to evaluate the underlying pathophysiology. However, due to the fact that recent scientific data on the utilization of echocardiography in German Intensive Care Units (ICU) are scarce, we sought to investigate current practice. METHODS A structured, web-based, anonymized survey was performed from May until July 2015 among members of the German Interdisciplinary Association of Critical Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) consisting of 14 questions. Descriptive data analysis was performed. RESULTS One hundred four intensivists participated in the survey. Two-thirds of participants (66%) used echocardiography regularly for hemodynamic monitoring and stated that it changed the therapy in 26-50% of the cases irrespective of the time performed after ordering the examination. Transthoracic (TTE) were more frequently used than transesophageal (TEE) examinations. Twenty-six percent of the participants held an echocardiography certificate with a formal examination, 27% completed a structured training without an examination and almost half of the questioned ICU personnel (47%) did not complete a comprehensive training. CONCLUSIONS The results of this survey demonstrate a widespread utilization of echocardiography as part of routine diagnostic on frequent number of operative ICUs. However, there might be a lack of structured echocardiographic training especially for anesthesiologists.

A 73-year-old patient was referred to our clinic after diagnosis of a left atrial structure attached to a displaced Amplatzer device. Initially, the patient presented himself in the emergency ward complaining about dizziness and chest pain. Because of elevated troponin values, a coronary angiography was performed which showed normal coronary arteries, but an uncommon, almost horizontal position of an Amplatzer device. The indication for implantation has been a patent foramen ovale with recurrent thromboembolic events in 2013. Transthoracic echocardiography confirmed the displacement of the Amplatzer device. More specifically, the device was still in the interatrial septum but rotated toward the …

Die Echokardiografie erlaubt die Einschatzung der kardialen Anatomie und Funktion. Eine fallspezifischangepasste Herangehensweise an die echokardiografische Untersuchung ist besonders bei hamodynamisch instabilen Patienten essenziell. Standard-Schnittebenen erlauben eine vollstandige Untersuchung und reduzieren die Wahrscheinlichkeit, etwas zu ubersehen. Die transthorakale Echokardiografie (TTE) sollte in der Notfall- und Intensivmedizin die erste Wahl sein. Die transosophageale Echokardiographie (TEE) ist Standard im operativen Bereich. Die 3D-Echokardiografie dagegen ist in spezifischen Situationen sehr wertvoll. Eine schriftliche Dokumentation der Untersuchungsergebnisse ist obligatorisch.

The use of ultrasonography in perioperative medicine has developed rapidly within the last decade. Today ultrasonic techniques are established methods for peripheral and central venous access as well as for regional anaesthesia. However, transthoracic ultrasonography by non-cardiologists has not yet been routinely established perioperatively, in intensive care medicine or in emergency medicine. With the current module 4: Cardiosonography of the DGAI-certified seminar series in Anaesthesia Focussed Sonography (AFS) it is intended to provide a basis for a quality assured training and implementation of transthoracic sonography in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine and emergency medicine.

Invasive monitoring is rarely used in children undergoing routine anaesthesia. Therefore the management of fluid therapy and its maintenance depends often on the experience of the anaesthetist. In situations of high volume uptake and during critical surgical procedures haemodynamic state can easily be underestimated and hypovolaemic episodes remain undetected. This article summarises recent developments of less invasive and continuous monitoring techniques available for paediatric use which probably represent a useful addition in optimising the perioperative haemodynamic performance.

Echocardiography allows assessment of cardiac anatomy and function. A tailored approach to echocardiographic assessment is essential in hemodynamic unstable patients. Standard views allow comprehensive examination and also reduce the chances to oversee unexpected findings. TTE should be first choice in emergency and intensive care medicine. TEE is standard of care in intraoperative setting. 3 D echocardiography is valuable in specific situations. Written reporting of examination is mandatory.

Objectives Levosimendan is an inotropic drug with organ-protective properties due to its activation of mitochondrial KATP channels. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated whether administration of levosimendan prior to cardiopulmonary bypass could reduce organ dysfunction and influence subsequent secondary endpoints. Patients and methods Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction −1 per min; n = 17) or placebo ( n = 16) central venous infusion, immediately after anaesthesia induction, as add-on medication to a goal-orientated treatment algorithm. Results A total of 33 patients completed the study. There were no statistically significant differences in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, survival, haemodynamic parameters, time to extubation, time in intensive care unit, need for haemodialysis or health-related quality-of-life at 6 months post operation. The levosimendan group compared with the placebo group had significantly lower use of epinephrine (35% versus 81%) and nitroglycerine (6% versus 44%) 24 h postoperation, and significantly less frequent serious adverse events (13% versus 47%). Conclusions These preliminary results show that timely perioperative levosimendan treatment is feasible, has a favourable safety profile safe and may help to prevent low cardiac output syndrome. However, organ function was not preserved. Further studies, using larger sample sizes, are required.

The use of ultrasonography in perioperative medicine has developed rapidly within the last decade. Today ultrasonic techniques are established methods for peripheral and central venous access as well as for regional anaesthesia. However, transthoracic ultrasonography by non-cardiologists has not yet been routinely established perioperatively, in intensive care medicine or in emergency medicine. With the current module 4: Cardiosonography of the DGAI-certified seminar series in Anaesthesia Focussed Sonography (AFS) it is intended to provide a basis for a quality assured training and implementation of transthoracic sonography in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine and emergency medicine.

Invasive monitoring is rarely used in children undergoing routine anaesthesia. Therefore the management of fluid therapy and its maintenance depends often on the experience of the anaesthetist. In situations of high volume uptake and during critical surgical procedures haemodynamic state can easily be underestimated and hypovolaemic episodes remain undetected. This article summarises recent developments of less invasive and continuous monitoring techniques available for paediatric use which probably represent a useful addition in optimising the perioperative haemodynamic performance.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects on postoperative outcome of levosimendan with respect to timing of its administration in cardiac surgery patients.Levosimendan administration was triggered by a severely reduced left ventricular systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction,35%) and/or signs of a low cardiac output syndrome. A total of 159 patients were retrospectively assigned depending on an early (perioperatively up to the first hour after intensive care unit [ICU] admission) vs late (later than the first hour after ICU admission) start of treatment.Patients receiving levosimendan after the first hour of ICU admission (n = 89) had a significantly increased inhospital (P = .004) and 1-year (P = .027) mortality. Duration of mechanical ventilation (P = .002), incidence of renal dysfunction (P = .002), and need of renal replacement therapy (P = .032) were significantly increased in the late start group. A late start of levosimendan treatment was associated with an odds ratio of 2.258 (95% confidence interval, 1.139-4.550; P = .021) for inhospital mortality and an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.827 (95% confidence interval, 1.155-2.890; P = .010) for 1-year survival.Findings of this retrospective analysis favor an "early," that is, intraoperatively up to the first hour after ICU admission, start of perioperative levosimendan treatment to maximize its ability to reduce mortality and morbidity.