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Video-assisted thoracoscopy surgical diaphragmatic plication is the standard of care for diaphragmatic eventration. However, it is associated with complications like injuries to the bowel, liver, spleen, and lung parenchyma. We report life-threatening cardiac tamponade after Video-assisted thoracoscopy surgical diaphragmatic plication. The mechanisms contributing to the injury are described as well.

Background: An improvement in quality of life (QOL) is increasingly being perceived as a quality indicator after surgical interventions, cardiac surgery being no exception. There is scarce literature on whether frailty alters this expected change in QOL. Objective: To assess the baseline frailty and QOL of cardiac surgical patients and the impact of frailty on the QOL patterns in the cardiac surgical population presenting to a tertiary care facility in south India. Materials and Methods: Prospective observational pilot study. Of the 60 patients recruited, 41 patients were assessed for baseline frailty and 37 for change in QOL 3 months after cardiac surgery. Frailty was assessed using the Fried frailty test. Baseline QOL and QOL after 3 months of surgery were calculated with the Short Form-36 questionnaire under its eight domains. Results: The median values of QOL among cardiac surgical patients are 50 and 66, respectively, for role limitation due to physical health and role limitation to emotional health, as against above 70 each in the community. Other domains of QOL were comparable with the general population. There is no change in QOL noted in the nonfrail 3 months after cardiac surgery. The frail showed an improvement in the domain of general health. Prefrail showed an improvement in domains of pain and general health but a decline in physical and emotional well-being after cardiac surgery. Conclusion: Though this is a pilot study and will be followed by a future larger study, it still does give the following clues: QOL scores in cardiac patients are lower than in the general population, and the frail benefit from cardiac surgery as it improves their QOL.

Abstract. Hypoxic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at high risk of adverse outcomes. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has shown anti-viral and immunomodulatory effects in vitro. However, in vivo evidence of efficacy in hypoxic COVID-19 is sparse. This open label feasibility study was conducted at a single referral center in South India and evaluated the effectiveness of repurposed iNO in improving clinical outcomes in COVID-19 and its correlation with viral clearance. We recruited hypoxemic COVID-19 patients and allocated them into treatment (iNO) and control groups (1:1). Viral clearance on day 5 favored the treatment group (100% vs 72%, P

Anomalous left atrial chorda is associated with mitral regurgitation. A young woman presenting for mitral valve repair with the diagnosis of mid-segment (A2) of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse causing severe mitral regurgitation. Transesophageal echocardiography examination in pre-bypass period showed an anomalous chorda attaching A2 to the left atrial roof, tethering the anterior mitral leaflet toward the atrial wall. Surgical findings confirmed the abnormally attached chordae and an absence of normal chorda of A2 segment. The anomalous chorda was resected and neo-chordae placed between the A2 segment and papillary muscles and annulus strengthened with an annuloplasty ring.

Background: The optimal dose of tranexamic acid in minimizing perioperative bleeding is uncertain. We compared efficacy of two different doses of tranexamic acid in reducing post-operative blood loss and its side effects in patients with congenital cyanotic heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery. Settings and Design: Prospective observational study at a pediatric cardiac center in South India. Methods: Consecutive cyanotic patients undergoing cardiac surgery were divided into groups I and II to receive either 10 mg/kg or 25 mg/kg of tranexamic acid administered as triple dose regime after induction, during cardiopulmonary bypass, and after protamine. Post-operative blood loss at 24 hours, blood component utilization, incidence of renal dysfunction and seizures were compared. Results: Totally, 124 patients were recruited, 62 in each group. The pre-operative variables and cardiopulmonary bypass time were comparable. Patients receiving 25 mg/kg had lower post-operative blood loss compared to patients in lower dose group (8.04 ± 8.89 vs 12.41 ± 19.23 ml/kg/24 hours, P = 0.03). There was no difference in the transfused volume of packed red cells (9.21 ± 7.13 ml/kg vs 12.41 ± 9.23 ml/kg, P = 0.712), fresh frozen plasma (13.91 ± 13.38 ml/kg vs 11.02 ± 8.04 ml/kg, P = 0.19), platelets (9.03 ± 6.76 ml/kg vs 10.90 ± 6.9 ml/kg, P = 0.14) or cryoprecipitate (0.66 ± 0.59 ml/kg vs 0.53 ± 0.54 ml/kg, P = 0.5) in group II and I, respectively. Two patients developed renal dysfunction secondary to low cardiac output in lower dose group. There were no seizures. Conclusions: Tranexamic acid administered at a dose of 25 mg/kg as triple dose regime is associated with lower post-operative blood loss compared to a lower dose of 10 mg/kg in cyanotic patients undergoing cardiac surgery without causing major adverse effects.

Background: India currently has the second largest burden of infections due to COVID-19. Health Care Worker (HCW) shortages are endemic to Indian healthcare. It should therefore be a huge priority to protect this precious resource as a critical component of the systemic response to this pandemic. Advisories from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have focused on using hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis against COVID-19 in at risk HCW. This prophylaxis strategy has no evidence. In further jeopardy there appear to insubstantial attempts to build this evidence as well. In this connection, we commissioned a survey within our Institution to estimate the penetration of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use and use this to statistically model the impact of current ongoing studies in India. We also briefly review the literature on HCQ prophylaxis for COVID-19. Design and methods: A structured survey designed using RedCAP application was disseminated among healthcare professionals employed at an academic referral tertiary care centre via online social media platforms. The survey was kept open for the entire month of June 2020. The survey was additionally used to statistically model the size of studies required to comprehensively address the efficacy of HCQ in this setting. Results: 522 responses were received, of which 4 were incomplete. The ICMR strategy of 4 or more doses of HCQ was complete only in 15% of HCW in our survey. The majority of respondents were doctors (238, 46%). Amongst all category of responders, only 12% (n=63) received the full course. A majority of those who initiated the chemoprophylaxis with HCQ turned out to be medical professionals (59/63) with neither nurse nor other categories of healthcare workers accessing the medication. The respondents of our institutional survey did not report any life-threatening side effects. Presuming efficacy as per ICMR modelling for new registry trial on the lines of the published case control study, equal allocation between cases and controls and assuming a RR of 1.3.6, the power of such a study would be very low for n=2000 for event rates from 2.5-12.5%. Conclusion: We report the low penetration of HCQ chemoprophylaxis among the healthcare workers of our institution. We highlight the inherent drawbacks in the study design of current national COVID related trial based on the statistical modelling of our survey results and published literature, and thereby emphasis the need of evidence-based strategies contributing to research policy at national level.

The indications for mitral valve repair extend across the entire spectrum of degenerative mitral valve disease, ranging from fibroelastic degeneration to Barlow's disease. Collaboration between the surgeon and anesthesiologist is essential for ensuring optimal results. Echocardiographic assessment of the repair can be challenging but is essential to the success of the procedure, as even mild residual mitral regurgitation can portend poor patient outcomes. In addition to determining the severity of residual regurgitation, the anesthesiologist must elucidate the mechanism of disease in order to inform appropriate re-intervention measures. Finally, there are unique complications of mitral valve surgery for the anesthesiologist to understand and assess by echocardiography. This review describes a systematic pathway for a comprehensive intraoperative assessment of the mitral valve following surgical repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]