Comparison of noninvasive cardiac output monitoring by electrical cardiometry with transthoracic echocardiography in postoperative paediatric cardiac surgical patients - A prospective observational study.

Aim: The present study was conducted to validate cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) obtained from electrical cardiometry (EC) ICON ® with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in postoperative pediatric cardiac surgical patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 25 pediatric patients with age < 10 years who underwent elective cardiac surgery. Data Analysis: BlandAltman plot was constructed for interchangeability and Polar plot was constructed to know trending ability. Results: A total of 250 datasets were analyzed. Spearman's correlation coefficient for CO between ICON ® and TTE showed good positive correlation (r = 0.850, 95% confidence interval 0.81 to 0.881, P <.0001). Moderate positive correlation was observed between ICON ® and TTE for CI (r = 0.60, 95% confidence interval 0.515 to 0.674, P <.0001). Linear regression equations for CO and CI between ICON ® and TTE were: y = 0.5230 + 0.8078 X (R2 = 0.6597, P <.001) and y = 1.8350 + 0.5869 X (R2 = 0.3985, P <.001) [y- ICON ®; X - TTE], respectively. BlandAltman plot for CO between ICON ® and TTE showed a bias of 0.3012 with limits of agreement (LOA) being -0.69 to 1.3 and for CI bias was 0.6939 with LOA-2.1 to 3.5. Polar plot analysis showed an angular bias of 8.1750, with radial LOA being -13.74° to 30.08° for CO and angular bias of 6.6931, with radial LOA being -15.69° to 29.07° for CI. Conclusion: ICON ® monitor-derived parameters are not interchangeable with the values derived from TTE. However, the ICON ® monitor demonstrated a good trending ability for both CO and CI.

The effect of levosimendan on the right ventricular function in patients with right ventricular dysfunction undergoing mitral valve surgery.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is an important predictor of both immediate and long-term outcomes in valve surgeries. Levosimendan has proven beneficial in improving RV function. Aims: The objective was to study the effect of the addition of levosimendan to the conventional treatment on RV function in patients with RV dysfunction undergoing mitral valve (MV) surgeries. Setting and Design: Prospective randomized double-blinded controlled study at a tertiary care institution. Materials and Methods: Sixty adult patients aged 15-65 years, with preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings of RV dysfunction posted for elective MV surgery, were randomized into levosimendan (L) group and placebo (P) group. Patients in the L group were administered levosimendan at a rate of 0.1 mcg/kg/min after induction for 24 hrs, whereas patients in the P group were given multivitamin infusion at the same rate. Both the groups received standard inotropic therapy. The hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters of RV function (RV size, Inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter, RV fractional area change (RVFAC) Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure (SPAP) were compared between the groups at 6 hrs, 24 hrs, and 7th day postoperatively. Results: All hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters of RV function like RV size, IVC diameter, RVFAC, TAPSE, and SPAP improved from baseline to 24 hrs in both groups. Levosimendan caused a significant improvement in RV function compared to the P group at 24 hrs and 7th day postoperatively. Conclusions: The present study concludes that levosimendan is a promising option in patients with RV dysfunction undergoing MV surgeries.

Troubleshooting for epileptiform activity during percutaneous transvenous mitral commisurotomy.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commisurotomy (PTMC) is a frequently used minimally invasive procedure for patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis. However, it is not without complications. Few complications which are distinctive to the procedure are thromboembolism, left-to-right shunts, mitral regurgitation, cardiac tamponade and complete heart block. We present the case of a 32-year-old female patient scheduled for a PTMC, who had multiple complications during the procedure. She developed cardiac tamponade for which pericardiocentesis and autotransfusion was done. Subsequently she exhibited epileptiform activity for which there was a diagnostic dilemma due to the presence of multiple confounding factors. However, she had a complete recovery without any residual sequelae at the time of discharge.

A Rare Case of Left Atrial Myxoma Vascularity Causing Acquired Coronary Cameral Fistula: Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography.

Left atrial myxoma is the common benign tumor of heart. Coronary arteries may supply these tumor. Considering the vascular nature of the tumor, acquired coronary cameral fistula(CCF) can be a possibility postexcision of the left atrial myxoma. Here, we discuss a case of 53-year-old female patient, who developed acquired CCF, following excision of the tumor and the role of transesophageal echocardiography intraoperatively in diagnosis.

Dexmedetomidine for prevention of skeletal muscle ischaemia-reperfusion injury in patients with chronic limb ischaemia undergoing aortobifemoral bypass surgery: A prospective double-blind randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine is a selective α-2 agonist used for sedation. It has also been shown to have myocardial protective effect and prevent ischemia-reperfusion injury in off-pump coronary artery bypass patients. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine for prevention of skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing aortobifemoral bypass surgery. METHODOLOGY: Sixty adult patients (Group dexmedetomidine n = 30, Group normal saline n = 30) undergoing aortobifemoral bypass surgery were recruited over 3 months. Randomization was done using a computer-generated random table. The attending anesthesiologist would be blinded to whether the drug/normal saline was being administered. He would consider each unlabeled syringe as containing dexmedetomidine and calculate the volume to be infused via a syringe pump accordingly. Dexmedetomidine infusion (1 mcg/kg) over 15 minutes was given as a loading dose, followed by maintenance infusion of 0.5 mcg/kg/h till 2 h postprocedure in Group dexmedetomidine (D) while the same volume of normal saline was given in the control Group C till 2 h postprocedure. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values were noted at baseline (T0), 6 h (T1), 12 h (T2), and 24 h (T3) after the procedure. Hemodynamic variables (heart rate [HR] and mean blood pressure [MAP]) were recorded at T0, T1, T2, and T3. Results were analyzed using unpaired Student's t-test, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: MAP and HR significantly decreased in Group D as compared to control group (P < 0.05). However, the decrease was never <20% of the baseline. The CPK values at 6, 12, and 24 h were statistically significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine prevents skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing aortobifemoral bypass surgery.

Non-Catheter Related Perioperative Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Following Surgical VSD Closure-Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography.

Unintentional iatrogenic surgical complications can complicate the operative and postoperative courses of paediatric cardiac surgery patients. Unless recognized and treated early, it's possible, these complications may lead to a prolonged hospital stay, increased treatment cost, morbidity, and even death. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart defect in children, occurring in 50% of all children with congenital heart disease and in 20% as an isolated lesion. Herein, we discuss the development of Superior Vena Cava (SVC) syndrome following surgical repair of VSD in a nine-month-old child. Early clinical diagnosis, immediate confirmation with Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) and surgical re-exploration led to a good outcome in this patient. If, however, we could have performed an intraoperative Trans Esophageal Echocardiography (TEE), this complication could have been recognized, even before shifting from the operating room.

Effect of dexmedetomidine on diseased coronary vessel diameter and myocardial protection in percutaneous coronary interventional patients.

INTRODUCTION: Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 agonist used for conscious sedation. It has also been shown to have a myocardial protective effect in off-pump coronary artery bypass patients. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine for myocardial protection in percutaneous coronary interventional patients. METHODOLOGY: A total of 60 patients (group dexmedetomidine, n = 30 and group normal saline, n = 30) were enrolled in the study. Dexmedetomidine infusion (1 mcg/kg) over 15 min was given as a loading dose after coronary angiography in group dexmedetomidine (D) while normal saline was given in the control group (C) and later maintenance infusion was started at 0.5 mcg/kg/h in both the groups. Coronary vessel diameter was noted before (T0) and after (T1) loading dose of dexmedetomidine/saline in each group. Troponin T (Trop T) values were noted at baseline (T0), 6 h (T2), 12 h (T3) and 24 h (T4) after starting the loading dose. Hemodynamic variables (heart rate [HR] and blood pressure) were monitored at T0, T1, and at regular intervals till 2 h postprocedure. RESULTS: Coronary vessel diameter and HR significantly decreased in group D as compared to control group (P < 0.05) whereas the decrease in Trop T at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h were not statistically significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine decreases the coronary vessel diameter, but maintains the myocardial oxygen demand-supply ratio by decreasing the HR. The decrease in Trop T is statistically insignificant at the doses used.

Comparison between noninvasive measurement of central venous pressure using near infrared spectroscopy with an invasive central venous pressure monitoring in cardiac surgical Intensive Care Unit.

INTRODUCTION: Central venous pressure (CVP) measurement is essential in the management of certain clinical situations, including cardiac failure, volume overload and sepsis. CVP measurement requires catheterization of the central vein which is invasive and may lead to complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of measurement of CVP using a new noninvasive method based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in a group of cardiac surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. METHODOLOGY: Thirty patients in cardiac surgical ICU were enrolled in the study who had an in situ central venous catheter (CVC). Sixty measurements were recorded in 1 h for each patient. A total of 1800 values were compared between noninvasive CVP (CVPn) obtained from Mespere VENUS 2000 CVP system and invasive CVP (CVPi) obtained from CVC. RESULTS: Strong positive correlation was found between CVPi and CVPn (R = 0.9272, P < 0.0001). Linear regression equation - CVPi = 0.5404 + 0.8875 × CVPn (r2 = 0.86, P < 0.001), Bland-Altman bias plots showed mean difference ± standard deviation and limits of agreement: -0.31 ± 1.36 and - 2.99 to + 2.37 (CVPi-CVPn). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive assessment of the CVP based on NIRS yields readings consistently close to those measured invasively. CVPn may be a clinically useful substitute for CVPi measurements with an advantage of being simple and continuous. It is a promising tool for early management of acute state wherein knowledge of CVP is helpful.