Cardio-Obstetric Shock: Mechanical Circulatory Support as a Bridge to Pregnancy Viability.

Cardiogenic shock in pregnancy is rare but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Timely recognition with multidisciplinary management is necessary for optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. Here we present a case of cardiogenic shock in the antepartum period managed with mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to pregnancy viability.

Normalizing arterial blood pressure in patients with aortic stenosis does not prevent grading discrepancies between pre-cardiopulmonary bypass transesophageal echocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography.

Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) grading discrepancies exist between pre-cardiopulmonary (pre-CPB) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Prior studies have not systematically controlled blood pressure. Aims: We hypothesized that normalizing arterial blood pressure during pre-CPB TEE for patients undergoing valve replacement for AS would result in equivalent grading measurements when compared to TTE. Setting: Single University Hospital. Design: Prospective, Interventional. Methods: Thirty-five adult patients underwent procedures for valvular AS between February 2017 and December 2020 at Medical University of South Carolina. Study participants had a TTE within 90 days of their procedure that documented blood pressure, peak velocity (Vp), mean gradient (PGm), aortic valve area (AVA), and dimensionless index (DI). During pre-CPB TEE, if a patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell more than 20% below their baseline blood pressure obtained during TTE, measurements were recorded as "out of range." Phenylephrine was administered to restore MAP to the baseline range and repeat TEE measurements were recorded as "in-range." Statistical Analysis: Differences between imaging modalities and grading parameters were examined using a series of linear mixed models. P values were Bonferroni-adjusted to account for multiple comparisons. Main Results: Significant discrepancies between TEE and TTE were observed for Vp, PGm, and DI despite blood pressure normalization across all subjects and for out-of-range measures and corrected measures. There were no statistically significant differences between TEE and TTE for AVA. Conclusions: Blood pressure normalization during pre-CPB TEE is not sufficient to avoid AS grading discrepancies with preoperative TTE.

Parasternal intercostal plane block catheters for cardiac surgery: a retrospective, propensity weighted, cohort study.

Aim: Anesthesia for cardiac surgery has evolved toward fast-track recovery strategies incorporating non opioid analgesics and regional anesthesia. Materials & methods: This retrospective cohort study compared opioid consumption, pain scores and length of stay in patients who underwent cardiac surgery via median sternotomy and did or did not receive preoperative parasternal intercostal plane block catheters with postoperative ropivacaine infusions. Results: Postoperative opioid consumption and postoperative pain scores did not differ. Blocks were associated with decreased intraoperative opioids and reduced length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital. Conclusion: Parasternal intercostal plane block catheters were not associated with decreased postoperative opioid consumption or pain scores, but were associated with reduced intraoperative opioids and length of stay.

Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis and Noncardiac Surgery.

The patient with severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis presenting for elective noncardiac surgery poses a unique challenge. These patients are not traditionally offered surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve replacement given their lack of symptoms; however, they are at increased risk for postsurgical complications given the severity of their aortic stenosis. The decision to proceed with elective noncardiac surgery should be based on individual and surgical risk factors. However, severity of aortic stenosis is not accounted for in current surgical risk factor assessment scoring; therefore, extensive communication with patients and surgical teams is necessary to minimize a patient's risk. A clear intraoperative plan should be designed to manage the unique hemodynamics of these patients, and a discussion should address postoperative placement.

Use of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography to evaluate mitral valve morphology for risk stratification prior to mitral valvuloplasty.

Mitral stenosis is often managed percutaneously with an interventional procedure such as balloon commissurotomy. Although this often results in an increased mitral valve area and improved clinical symptoms, this procedure is not benign and may have serious complications including the development of hemodynamically significant mitral valve regurgitation. Multiple scoring systems have been developed to attempt to risk stratify these patients prior to their procedure. CASE: A 64-year-old patient underwent an emergent mitral valve replacement after having percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy complicated by development of severe mitral regurgitation. Prior to valvuloplasty, her mitral valve was evaluated by traditional methods including calculation of a Wilkins score. Her mitral valve was evaluated after valvuloplasty and preoperatively with three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. This examination demonstrated heterogeneous distribution of calcification affecting the mitral valve commissures more than the leaflets, which is consistent with the noncommissural leaflet tearing that occurred during her procedure, causing severe mitral regurgitation. In the future, careful 3D evaluation of mitral valve morphology including leaflets, annular calcification, and subvalvular apparatus may help risk stratify patients prior to intervention.