Anesthetic Choice for Percutaneous Transcatheter Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage: A National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry Analysis.

CONTEXT: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) was developed as a novel stroke prevention alternative for patients with atrial fibrillation, particularly for those not suitable for long-term oral anticoagulant therapy. Traditionally, general anesthesia (GA) has been more commonly used primarily due to the necessity of transesophageal echocardiography. AIMS: Compare trends of monitored anesthesia care (MAC) versus GA for percutaneous transcatheter LAAC with endocardial implant and assess for independent variables associated with primary anesthetic choice. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Multi-institutional data collected from across the United States using the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective data analysis from 2017-2021. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Independent-sample t tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were used for continuous variables and Chi-square tests or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess patient and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 19,395 patients underwent the procedure, and 352 patients (1.8%) received MAC. MAC usage trended upward from 2017-2021 (P < 0.0001). MAC patients were more likely to have an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of≥ 4 (33.6% vs 22.89%) and to have been treated at centers in the South (67.7% vs 44.2%), in rural locations (71% vs 39.5%), and with lower median annual percutaneous transcatheter LAAC volume (102 vs 153 procedures) (all P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, patients treated in the West had 85% lower odds of receiving MAC compared to those in the Northeast (AOR: 0.15; 95% CI 0.03-0.80, P = 0.0261). CONCLUSIONS: While GA is the most common anesthetic technique for percutaneous transcatheter closure of the left atrial appendage, a small, statistically significant increase in MAC occurred from 2017-2021. Anesthetic management for LAAC varies with geographic location.

Anesthetic Management for Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation: A National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The authors analyzed anesthetic management trends during ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation, hypothesizing that (1) monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is more commonly used than general anesthesia (GA); (2) MAC uses significantly increased after release of the 2019 Expert Consensus Statement on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias; and (3) anesthetic approach varies based on patient and hospital characteristics. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry data. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 18 years or older who underwent elective VT ablation between 2013 and 2021. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Covariates were selected a priori within multivariate models, and interrupted time-series analysis was performed. Of the 15,505 patients who underwent VT ablation between 2013 and 2021, 9,790 (63.1%) received GA. After the 2019 Expert Consensus Statement on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias supported avoidance of GA in idiopathic VT, no statistically significant increase in MAC was evident (immediate change in intercept post-consensus statement release adjusted odds ratio 1.41, p = 0.1629; change in slope post-consensus statement release adjusted odds ratio 1.06 per quarter, p = 0.1591). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, age, and geographic location were statistically significantly associated with the anesthetic approach. CONCLUSIONS: GA has remained the primary anesthetic type for VT ablation despite the 2019 Expert Consensus Statement on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias suggested its avoidance in idiopathic VT. Achieving widespread clinical practice change is an ongoing challenge in medicine, emphasizing the importance of developing effective implementation strategies to facilitate awareness of guideline release and subsequent adherence to and adoption of recommendations.

A Call to Action: Why Anesthesiologists Must Train, Prepare, and Be at the Forefront of Disaster Response for Mass Casualty Incidents.

Disasters, both natural and man-made, continue to increase. In Spring 2023, a 3-hour workshop on mass casualty incidents was conducted at the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia-American Academy of Pediatrics Annual conference. The workshop used multiple instructional strategies to maximize knowledge transfer and learner engagement including minididactic sessions, problem-based learning discussions in 3 tabletop exercises, and 2 30-minute disaster scenarios with actors in a simulated hospital environment. Three themes became evident: (1) disasters will continue to impact hospitals and preparation is imperative, (2) anesthesiologists are extensively and comprehensively trained and their value is often underestimated as mass casualty incident responders, and (3) a need exists for longitudinal disaster preparedness education and training over the course of a career. In this special article, we have sought to further define the problem and evidence, the capacity of anesthesiologists as leaders in disaster preparedness, and the rationale for preparation with current best practices to guide how best to move forward.

Anesthetic Management of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in a Patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND The anesthetic management of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) requires special deliberation. Previous literature has suggested that patients with CMT may have increased sensitivity to non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents, and hyperkalemia associated with the administration of succinylcholine has been reported. The potential risk of malignant hyperthermia and underlying cardiopulmonary abnormalities, such as pre-existing arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, or respiratory muscle weakness, must also be considered in patients with CMT. CASE REPORT We describe a case of a patient with a history of CMT and multivessel coronary artery disease who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Careful consideration was given to the anesthetic plan, which consisted of thorough pre- and perioperative evaluation of cardiac function, total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil infusions, the use of a non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, and utilization of a malignant hyperthermia protocol with avoidance of volatile anesthetics to decrease the possible risk of malignant hyperthermia. Following a 3-vessel CABG, no anesthetic or surgical complications were noted and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 6 after an uneventful hospital course. CONCLUSIONS Exacerbation of underlying cardiac and pulmonary abnormalities associated with the pathophysiology of CMT, as well as patient response to neuromuscular blocking and volatile agents, should be of concern for the anesthesiologist when anesthetizing a patient with CMT. Therefore, CMT patients undergoing surgery require special consideration of their anesthetic management plan in order to ensure patient safety and optimize perioperative outcomes.

Decision-Making Prepandemic: University Curtailment of Academic Operations Closure Processes During the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak.

OBJECTIVE: Through in-depth interviews, this study aimed to understand perspectives of key stakeholders regarding the decision to curtail academic operations in the setting of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak before the declaration of a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and how such processes may be optimized in the future to best protect public health and safety. METHODS: Virtual interviews with key stakeholders from 4 academic institutions were conducted from September to December 2020 using a standardized interview question template. The interviews lasted approximately 30-45 minutes and each interview was recorded with permission. The interviews were then transcribed and reviewed for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: The decision to curtail academic operations involved several common themes, such as discussing how institutions would control the outbreak and the process of transitioning to virtual learning and remote work. Universities were monitoring other universities' responses as well as evaluating the prevalence of cases nationally and globally. Risks and challenges identified included housing for international students, financial implications, and loss of academic productivity. CONCLUSIONS: The decision-making process may be optimized in the future by focusing on communication within a smaller committee, prioritizing epidemiology over fiscal implications, and embracing an openness to consider new strategies. Further research regarding this topic should be pursued to best protect public health and safety.

Anesthetic Choice for Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Placement and Lead Removal: A National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated the anesthetic approach for cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) placement and transvenous lead removal, hypothesizing that monitored anesthesia care is used more frequently than general anesthesia. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry data. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients who underwent CIED (permanent cardiac pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator [ICD]) placement or transvenous lead removal between 2010 and 2021. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Covariates were selected a priori within multivariate models to assess predictors of anesthetic type. A total of 87,530 patients underwent pacemaker placement, 76,140 had ICD placement, 2,568 had pacemaker transvenous lead removal, and 4,861 had ICD transvenous lead extraction; 51.2%, 45.64%, 16.82%, and 45.64% received monitored anesthesia care, respectively. A 2%, 1% (both p < 0.0001), and 2% (p = 0.0003) increase in monitored anesthesia care occurred for each 1-year increase in age for pacemaker placement, ICD placement, and pacemaker transvenous lead removal, respectively. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status ≤III for pacemaker placement, ASA ≥IV for ICD placement, and ASA ≤III for pacemaker transvenous lead removal were 7% (p = 0.0013), 5% (p = 0.0144), and 27% (p = 0.0247) more likely to receive monitored anesthesia care, respectively. Patients treated in the Northeast were more likely to receive monitored anesthesia care than in the West for all groups analyzed (p < 0.0024). Male patients were 24% less likely to receive monitored anesthesia care for pacemaker transvenous lead removal (p = 0.0378). For every additional 10 pacemaker or ICD lead removals performed in a year, a 2% decrease in monitored anesthesia care was evident (p = 0.0271, p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: General anesthesia still has a strong presence in the anesthetic management of both CIED placement and transvenous lead removal. Anesthetic choice, however, varies with patient demographics, hospital characteristics, and geographic region.

The Year in Cardiothoracic Transplant Anesthesia: Selected Highlights From 2021 Part II: Cardiac Transplantation.

This article spotlights the research highlights of this year that specifically pertain to the specialty of anesthesia for heart transplantation. This includes the research on recent developments in the selection and optimization of donors and recipients, including the use of donation after cardiorespiratory death and extended criteria donors, the use of mechanical circulatory support and nonmechanical circulatory support as bridges to transplantation, the effect of COVID-19 on heart transplantation candidates and recipients, and new advances in the perioperative management of these patients, including the use of echocardiography and postoperative outcomes, focusing on renal and cerebral outcomes.

Triple Threat: Significant Concomitant Aortic Stenosis, Mitral Stenosis, and Systolic Anterior Motion of the Mitral Valve Causing Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction in Cardiac Surgical Patients.

Systolic anterior motion (SAM) describes a pathologic condition of the mitral valve in which the anterior leaflet is displaced anteriorly, resulting in a narrowed left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The implications of SAM may range in severity from clinically insignificant disease to severe LVOT obstruction resulting in hemodynamic collapse. While SAM is typically observed in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or following mitral valve repair, it may be seen in any setting in which the anatomy and function of the left ventricle has been altered. Here we discuss two patients who presented for aortic and mitral valve replacements for concomitant aortic and mitral stenosis. These cases were further complicated by the preoperative diagnosis of SAM in addition to the preexisting valvular lesions, further increasing the risk of sudden hemodynamic collapse and cardiac arrest.

Anesthetic management for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A national anesthesia clinical outcomes registry analysis.

Background: General anesthesia has traditionally been used in transcatheter aortic valve replacement; however, there has been increasing interest and momentum in alternative anesthetic techniques. Aims: To perform a descriptive study of anesthetic management options in transcatheter aortic valve replacements in the United States, comparing trends in use of monitored anesthesia care versus general anesthesia. Settings and Design: Data evaluated from the American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) Anesthesia Quality Institute's National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Materials and Methods: Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors associated with use of monitored anesthesia care compared to general anesthesia. Results: The use of monitored anesthesia care has increased from 1.8% of cases in 2013 to 25.2% in 2017 (p = 0.0001). Patients were more likely ages 80+ (66% vs. 61%; p = 0.0001), male (54% vs. 52%; p = 0.0001), ASA physical status > III (86% vs. 80%; p = 0.0001), cared for in the Northeast (38% vs. 22%; p = 0.0001), and residents in zip codes with higher median income ($63,382 vs. $55,311; p = 0.0001). Multivariable analysis revealed each one-year increase in age, every 50 procedures performed annually at a practice, and being male were associated with 3% (p = 0.0001), 33% (p = 0.012), and 16% (p = 0.026) increased odds of monitored anesthesia care, respectively. Centers in the Northeast were more likely to use monitored anesthesia care (all p < 0.005). Patients who underwent approaches other than percutaneous femoral arterial were less likely to receive monitored anesthesia care (adjusted odds ratios all < 0.51; all p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Anesthetic type for transcatheter aortic valve replacements in the United States varies with age, sex, geography, volume of cases performed at a center, and procedural approach.

Anesthetic choice for arteriovenous access creation: A National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry analysis.

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate differences in primary anesthetic type used in arteriovenous access creation with the hypothesis that administration of regional anesthesia and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with local anesthesia as the primary anesthetic has increased over time. METHODS: National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry data were retrospectively evaluated. Covariates were selected a priori within multivariate models to determine predictors of anesthetic type in adults who underwent elective arteriovenous access creation between 2010 and 2018. RESULTS: A total of 144,392 patients met criteria; 90,741 (62.8%) received general anesthesia. The use of regional anesthesia and MAC decreased over time (8.0%-6.8%, 36.8%-27.8%, respectively; both p < 0.0001). Patients who underwent regional anesthesia were more likely to have ASA physical status >III and to reside in rural areas (52.3% and 12.9%, respectively; both p < 0.0001). Patients who underwent MAC were more likely to be older, male, receive care outside the South, and reside in urban areas (median age 65, 56.8%, 68.1%, and 70.8%, respectively; all p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that being male, having an ASA physical status >III, and each 5-year increase in age resulted in increased odds of receiving alternatives to general anesthesia (regional anesthesia adjusted odds ratios (AORs) 1.06, 1.12, and 1.26, MAC AORs 1.09, 1.2, and 1.1, respectively; all p < 0.0001). Treatment in the Midwest, South, or West was associated with decreased odds of receiving alternatives to general anesthesia compared to the Northeast (regional anesthesia AORs 0.28, 0.38, and 0.03, all p < 0.0001; MAC 0.76, 0.13, and 0.43, respectively; all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Use of regional anesthesia and MAC with local anesthesia for arteriovenous access creation has decreased over time with general anesthesia remaining the primary anesthetic type. Anesthetic choice, however, varies with patient characteristics and geography.

Cardiac Tamponade Causing Predominant Left Atrial and Ventricular Compression After Left Ventricular Assist Device Placement.

BACKGROUND Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition that occurs when pericardial fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac, causing compression of the heart and obstructive shock. This hemodynamic event typically occurs in right-sided cardiac chambers due to the low pressures of the right atrium and right ventricle. Patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement are at particularly high risk of pericardial effusion development and potential cardiac tamponade because of the need for postoperative anticoagulation. CASE REPORT A 47-year-old man underwent LVAD placement for deteriorating biventricular function. After several days of stability postoperatively, he experienced dyspnea and had evidence of increasing hemodynamic compromise. He was immediately taken to the operating room, where transesophageal echocardiography showed near-complete collapse of the left atrium and left ventricle with preservation of the right heart chamber sizes in the setting of a large heterogenous posterior pericardial effusion. With swift surgical intervention, the cardiac tamponade was successfully evacuated and the patient regained hemodynamic stability. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac tamponade can present overtly or covertly, and should be high on the list of differential diagnoses in a patient with deterioration in hemodynamic status after cardiac surgery, especially after LVAD placement. Although cardiac tamponade usually affects right-sided cardiac chambers, the left-sided chambers can also be involved. Isolated left-sided cardiac tamponade is rare but can occur in the presence of a loculated posterior pericardial effusion, as seen in this patient.

Incremental effect of complications on mortality and hospital costs in adult ECMO patients.

INTRODUCTION: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a resource-intense modality whose usage is expanding rapidly. It is a costly endeavor and best conducted in a multidisciplinary setting. There is a growing impetus to mitigate the mortality and costs associated with ECMO. We sought to examine the impact of complications on mortality and hospital costs in patients on ECMO. METHODS: Using the NIS database, we performed multivariable logistic regression to assess the influence of complications on the primary outcome, in-hospital mortality. Similarly, we performed multivariable survey linear regression analysis to evaluate the effect of the complications on hospital costs. RESULTS: Of the 12,637 patients supported using ECMO between 2004 and 2013, 9836 (78%) developed at least one complication. The three most common complications were acute kidney injury (32.8%), bloodstream infection (31.8%), and bleeding (27.8%). An ECMO hospitalization with no complications was associated with median costs of $53,470, a single complication with costs of $97,560, two complications with costs of $139,035, and three complication with costs of $162,284. A single complication was associated with a 165% increase in odds of mortality. Two or three complications resulted in 375% or 627% higher odds of mortality, respectively. Having one, two, or three complications was associated with 24%, 38%, or 38% increase in median costs respectively (Figure 1). Complications associated with the highest median costs were central line-associated bloodstream infection $217,751; liver failure $176,201; bloodstream infection $169,529. CONCLUSION: In-hospital mortality and costs increase with each incremental complication in patients on ECMO. Accurate prediction and mitigation of complications is likely to improve outcomes and cost.

Staffing in a Level 1 Trauma Center: Quantifying Capacity for Preparedness.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine who is involved in the care of a trauma patient. METHODS: We recorded hospital personnel involved in 24 adult Priority 1 trauma patient admissions for 12 h or until patient demise. Hospital personnel were delineated by professional background and role. RESULTS: We cataloged 19 males and 5 females with a median age of 50-y-old (interquartile range [IQR], 35.5-67.5). The average number of hospital personnel involved was 79.71 (standard deviation, 17.62; standard error 3.6). A median of 51.2% (IQR, 43.4%-59.8%) of personnel were first involved within hour 1. More personnel were involved in direct versus indirect care (median 54.5 [IQR, 47.5-67.0] vs 25.0 [IQR, 22.0-30.5]; P < 0.0001). Median number of health-care professionals and auxiliary staff were 74.5 (IQR, 63.5-90.5) and 6.0 (IQR, 5.0-7.0), respectively. More personnel were first involved in hospital locations external to the emergency department (median, 53.0 [IQR, 41.5-63.0] vs 27.5 [IQR, 24.0-30.0]; P < 0.0001). No differences existed in total personnel by Injury Severity Score (P = 0.1266), day (P = 0.7270), or time of admission (P = 0.2098). CONCLUSIONS: A large number of hospital personnel with varying job responsibilities respond to severe trauma. These data may guide hospital staffing and disaster preparedness policies.

Outcome and Cost of Nurse-Led vs Perfusionist-led Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a resource-intense modality of care whose use has grown exponentially. We examined volume and utilization trends to identify the financial break-even point that might serve to dichotomize between nurse specialist-led and perfusionist-led ECMO programs. METHODS: Data pertaining to patients who required ECMO support between 2018 and 2019 were reviewed. ECMO staffing costs were estimated based on national trends and modeled by annual utilization and case volume. A break-even point was derived from a comparison between nurse specialist-led and perfusionist-led models. For each scenario, direct medical costs were calculated based on utilization, which was in turn defined by "low" (4 days), "average" (10 days), and "high" (30 days) duration of time spent on ECMO. RESULTS: Within the study time frame, there was a total of 107 ECMO cases with a mean ECMO duration of 11 days. Overall, ECMO nursing personnel costs were less than those for perfusionists ($108,000 vs $175,000). Programmatic costs were higher in the perfusionist-led vs nurse specialist-led model when annual utilization was greater than 10 cases and ECMO duration was longer than a mean of 9.7 days. There was no difference in survival between the 2 models. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a perfusionist-led ECMO model may be more cost-conscious in the context of low utilization, smaller case volume and shorter ECMO duration. However, once annual case volume exceeds 10 and mean ECMO duration exceeds 10 days, the nurse specialist-led model may be more cost-conscious.

A 36-Year-Old Female With Congenital Contractural Arachnodactyly and Pectus Excavatum Requiring Fourth-Time Redo Surgical Correction.

Congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA) is a rare connective tissue disorder that has several phenotypic similarities to Marfan syndrome. Among the phenotypic characteristics of patients with CCA, severe kyphoscoliosis and thoracic cage abnormalities are commonly reported. In this case report, we describe a patient with coexisting CCA and severe pectus excavatum requiring multiple surgical repairs. The impact severe scoliosis and pectus excavatum in isolation have on cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology can be significant, and their effects can be profound concomitantly. These defects have the propensity of causing restrictive lung disease and external cardiac compression.

Erratum: A 34-Year-Old Male Intravenous Drug User with a Third Episode of Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis Treated with Repeat Valve Surgery.

Figure Legends Corrected: Figure 1. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram, midesophageal right ventricular infow-outflow view, initial operation September 2018. Figure 2. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram, midesophageal right ventricular inflow-outflow view, second operation January 2019. Figure 3. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram, midesophageal right ventricular inflow-outflow view, third operation March 2019. Reference: Jeffrey W. Cannon, J.W. Awori Hayanga, Thomas B. Drvar, Matthew Ellison, Christopher Cook, Muhammad Salman, Harold Roberts, Vinay Badhwar, Heather K. Hayanga. A 34-Year-Old Male Intravenous Drug User with a Third Episode of Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis Treated with Repeat Valve Surgery. Am J Case Rep. 2021; 22: e927385, 10.12659/AJCR.927385.