Infective Endocarditis Is a Risk Factor for Heparin Resistance in Adult Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: Heparin resistance (HR), defined as a decrease in heparin responsiveness, can result in adverse events with prolonged duration of surgery. Although some clinical risk factors have been suggested, the relationship with the surgical diagnosis is unclear. The aim of present study was to elucidate the clinical predictors of HR including the surgical diagnosis. DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study determined the incidence of HR (defined as activated clotting time [ACT] <400 seconds after 250-350 IU/kg of heparin administration) and heparin sensitivity index (HSI) was calculated from the rate of change in ACT per heparin dose. Preoperative demographic data, medication history, and laboratory data also were analyzed. SETTING: Single institution, tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2012 and September 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 287 patients, 88 (30.7%) were classified as HR. In univariate analysis, infective endocarditis (IE), platelet count, and serum fibrinogen and albumin levels were associated with HR. After adjustment for baseline ACT and initial heparin dose, IE (odds ratio 4.57, [95% CI: 1.10-19.1]; p = 0.037) and albumin ≤3.5 g/dL (3.17, [1.46-6.93]; p = 0.004) were associated independently with HR. Patients with IE had significantly lower HSI than those with other diseases. All HR patients were treated with additional heparin, and 17 of them received human antithrombin-III concentrate. CONCLUSIONS: Infective endocarditis and preoperative hypoalbuminemia were associated independently with HR. The optimal anticoagulation strategy for patients with these risk factors requires further investigations based on the authors' findings.

Unilateral Lung Recruitment Maneuver for Massive Atelectasis in a Child With Glenn Circulation: A Case Report.

A 9-year-old girl with Glenn circulation suffered from massive atelectasis of the left lung caused by bleeding during cardiac catheterization. The atelectasis resulted in frequent hypoxia leading to oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 40%-50%. In the intensive care unit, we performed a unilateral lung recruitment maneuver (ULRM) for 2 days. The ULRM involved placement of a bronchial blocker in the right main bronchus and application of continuous positive airway pressure to the left lung without hemodynamic deterioration. Eventually, SpO2 improved to 80%-85%. ULRM can be a treatment option for unilateral atelectasis in a child with Glenn circulation.

Sodium Hypochlorite Pentahydrate as a Reagent for the Cleavage of trans-Cyclic Glycols.

Sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate (NaOCl·5H2O) can be used toward the efficient glycol cleavage of trans-cyclic glycols, which are generally resistant to this transformation. Interestingly, the reaction of cis-cyclic glycols with NaOCl·5H2O is slower than that observed for the corresponding trans-isomer. This trans selectivity is in sharp contrast to traditional oxidants used for glycol cleavage. Acyclic glycols can also react efficiently with NaOCl·5H2O to form their corresponding carbonyl compounds in high yield.

Direct Formylation of Fluorine-Containing Aromatics with Dichloromethyl Alkyl Ethers.

Formylations of fluorine-containing aromatic compounds with dichloromethyl alkyl ethers have been investigated. Dichloromethyl propyl ether and dichloromethyl butyl ether have been applied for the formylation of fluorine-containing anisoles to give the corresponding aldehydes in good yields. Application of these ethers is preferable to that of methyl ether, which is prepared from volatile methyl formate. Reaction of fluorine-containing phenols with these dichloromethyl alkyl ethers did not give salicylaldehyde derivatives, leading instead to corresponding aryl formates in high yields. A plausible mechanism is discussed.

Comparison of the Effects of Epidural Analgesia and Patient-controlled Intravenous Analgesia on Postoperative Pain Relief and Recovery After Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

PURPOSE: Epidural analgesia (EDA) is an imperative modality for postoperative pain relief after major open abdominal surgery. However, whether EDA has benefits in laparoscopic surgery has not been clear. In this study, the effects of EDA and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) were compared. METHODS: This was a retrospective study that included 82 patients undergoing LDG for gastric cancer. Patients received either EDA (n=67) or PCIA (n=15) for postoperative pain relief. Postoperative outcomes and analgesia-related adverse events were compared between the two modalities. RESULTS: EDA and PCIA patients showed no differences in the incidence of complications [9 (13%) vs. 2 (13%); P=0.99] and the length of postoperative hospital stay (9.6±4.5 d vs. 9.7±4.0 d; P=0.90), although the PCIA included poorer preoperative physical status (PS) patients. The number of additional doses of analgesics was higher in the EDA than in the PCIA (1.8±2.4 vs. 0.9±1.0; P=0.01), although postoperative pain scores were similar in the 2 groups. Though the time to first passage of flatus was shorter in the EDA (P<0.05), more EDA patients developed postoperative hypotension as an adverse event (P<0.01). The full mobilization day and the day of oral intake tolerance were not significantly different between the 2 groups after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: After LDG, EDA may not be indispensable, while PCIA may be the optimal modality for providing safe and effective postoperative analgesia and recovery.