Large Hematoma Following Erector Spinae Plane Block: A Case Report.

The ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block is an emerging fascial plane block, first described in 2016 for treating thoracic neuropathic pain. Since its introduction, it has been incorporated into multiple surgical procedures and has demonstrated proven benefits such as postoperative analgesia and reduction in opioid consumption. Being a superficial plane block, it avoids complications such as pneumothorax and hematoma, making it a safe mode of analgesia. We report a rare case of hematoma formation following ESP block in a patient who underwent mitral valve repair under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Electroconvulsive therapy in a patient with left main and triple vessel Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Anaesthetic management.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for many psychiatric disorders. The passage of electrical current lead to hemodynamic alterations which may be detrimental to patients suffering from severe coronary artery disease. We describe perioperative anesthetic management of a patient having severe left main coronary artery stenosis (LMCAS) with severe triple vessel coronary artery disease (TVD).

Impact of Type of Enteral Feeds on Early Postoperative Outcomes After Congenital Heart Surgery in Neonates and Young Infants: A Single Center Experience in a Limited Resource Environment.

Background: Breast milk is known to prevent infections and is recommended for enteral feeding of infants after congenital heart surgery (CHS). During the Covid-19 pandemic, expressed breast milk (EBM) was not always available; hence, feeding after CHS was maintained with EBM or infant formula (IF) or both; we evaluated the impact of enteral feed type on early postoperative outcomes after CHS. Methods: In a prospective observational study, consecutive neonates and infants <4 months undergoing CHS were divided into EBM, IF, or EBM+IF groups; incidences of postoperative infections, ventilation duration, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and mortality were studied. Results: Among 270 patients; 90 (33.3%) received EBM, 89 (32.9%) received IF, and 91 (33.7%) received EBM+IF. IF group had more neonates (78.7%[IF] vs 42.2%[EBM] and 52.7%[EBM+IF], P < 0.001) and greater surgical complexity. Postoperative infections were 9 (10.0%) in EBM; 23 (25.8%) in IF; and 14 (15.4%) in EBM+IF (P = .016). IF group (OR 2.58 [1.05-6.38], P = .040), absence of preoperative feeding (OR 6.97 [1.06-45.97], P = .040), and increase in cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR 1.005 [1.001-1.010], P = .027) were associated with postoperative infection. Ventilation duration in hours was 26 (18-47.5) in EBM; 47 (28-54.5) in IF; and 40 (17.5-67) in EBM+IF (P = .004). ICU stay in days was 4 (3-7) in EBM; 6 (5-9) in IF; and 5 (3-9) in EBM+IF (P = .001). Mortality did not differ (P = .556). Conclusion: IF group had a greater proportion of neonates with higher surgical complexity. Patients who received EBM after CHS had fewer postoperative infections and better postoperative outcomes compared to those receiving IF or EBM+IF.

Acute superficial and deep necrosis of lower limb following femoral arterial cannulation in a neonate undergoing arterial switch operation for transposition of great arteries.

Arterial lines are routinely used for hemodynamic monitoring and blood sampling in the operating room and in cardiac surgery intensive care unit. The complications related to arterial line insertion are very low; the knowledge of the relevant artery anatomy, skills and the experience of the operator and selection of a right size cannula plays a vital role in reducing morbidity related to arterial line insertion. We describe extensive superficial and deep necrosis of lower limb following arterial cannula insertion in a preterm neonate undergoing arterial switch procedure and discuss measures to prevent such a complication.

Transesophageal echocardiography and intraoperative phlebotomy during surgical repair of coarctation of aorta in a patient with atrial septal defect, moderately severe mitral regurgitation and severe pulmonary hypertension.

Acute left ventricular (LV) or right ventricular (RV) dysfunction during repair of coarctation of aorta (CoA) is rare. Well-developed collateral circulation between branches of both the subclavian arteries (SCAs) and upper descending thoracic aorta decompress LV and prevents acute rise in afterload. An adult patient presented for CoA repair. On chest X-ray, rib notching was not seen. Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed about 7 mm long CoA distal to the origin of left common carotid artery. Reconstruction images of distal arch and descending thoracic aorta showed origin of both the SCAs from CoA segment. Transthoracic echocardiography showed 1.3 cm atrial septal defect (ASD), left to right shunt, moderately severe mitral regurgitation (MR), dilated RV, and severe pulmonary artery hypertension (PH). During cardiac catheterization, the peak gradient across CoA was 60 mmHg. On aortic-root angiography, both the common carotids and the distal arch opacified simultaneously, the CoA segment and the distal aorta opacified a little later. Both the SCAs were filling retrograde. A unique anatomy in which aortic-clamping proximal to CoA and both the SCAs would increase flow to spinal-cord as clamping of the SCAs will stop stealing of blood into the CoA but potentially increase LV afterload, MR, left to right shunt across ASD and RV volume and pressure load depending on the magnitude of flow across the CoA. The increases in LV afterload, MR, and RV afterload and volume overload were managed by controlled phlebotomy and fine-tuned by manipulating inhaled isoflurane concentration whereas the Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) monitored and guided the management.

Culture-negative sepsis after pediatric cardiac surgery: Incidence and outcomes.

Background: Significant proportion of congenital heart surgery (CHS) children exhibit sepsis, but have negative blood culture and defined "culture negative sepsis (CNS)." Aims and Objectives: Retrospective analysis of CNS patients undergoing CHS. Material and Methods: 437 consecutive CHS children grouped as controls (antibiotic prophylaxis), CNS, and culture positive sepsis (CPS). Results: Incidences of CNS and CPS were 16% and 7%. Median mechanical ventilation (MV) in hours among CPS, CNS, and control was 116 (45-271), 63 (23-112), and 18 (6-28) (P < 0.001), respectively. Multivariable linear regression identified CPS (median ratio: 3.1 [2.3-4.1], P < 0.001), CNS (median ratio: 5.6 [3.7-8.4], P < 0.001), and weight (kg) (median ratio: 0.98 [0.96-0.99], P = 0.009) as associations of MV. Intensive care unit (ICU) stay (hours) was 192 (120-288) in CNS, 288 (156-444) in CPS, and 72 (48-120) in controls (P < 0.0001). Multivariable linear regression showed CNS (median ratio: 2.4 [2.0-2.9], P< 0.001) CPS (median ratio: 3.3 [2.5-4.4], P < 0.001), and weight (median ratio: 0.98 [0.97-0.99], P ≤ 0.001) prolonging ICU stay. Mortality was 10.7%, 2.9% and 1.2% in CPS, CNS, and control (P = 0.03). Multivariable regression identified CPS an independent predictor of mortality with odds ratio 8.6 (1.7-44.9; P = 0.010). 11.26% patients in CNS and 79.3% in CPS received antibiotics for more than 10 days. Conclusion: Incidence of CNS was 16%; duration of MV and ICU stay and mortality was significantly less in CNS than CPS patients.

Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Repair: Single-Center Outcomes in a Lower-Middle Income Region.

BACKGROUND: The management of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) in neonates and infants is resource-intensive. We describe early and follow-up outcomes after surgical repair of isolated TAPVC at a single institution in a resource-limited setting. METHODS: The data of 316 consecutive patients with isolated TAPVC undergoing repair (January 2010-September 2020) were reviewed. The study setting was a tertiary hospital in southern India that provides subsidized or charitable care. Standard surgical technique was used for repair, circulatory arrest was avoided, and suture-less anastomosis was reserved for small or stenotic pulmonary veins. Surgical and postoperative strategies were directed toward minimizing intensive care unit (ICU) stay. RESULTS: 302 (95.6%) patients were infants and 128 patients (40.5%) were neonates; median weight was 3.3 kg (IQR 2.8-4.0 kg). Obstruction of the TAPVC was seen in 176 patients (56%) and pulmonary hypertension in 278 patients (88%). Seventeen (5.4%) underwent delayed sternal closure. The median postoperative ICU stay was 120 h (IQR 96-192 h), mechanical ventilation was 45 h (IQR 24-82 h), and hospital stay was 13 days (IQR 9-17 days). There were three in-hospital deaths (0.9%). Over a median follow-up period of 53.3 months (IQR 22.9-90.4), pulmonary vein restenosis was seen in 32 patients (10.1%) after a mean of 2.2 months (1-6 months). No perioperative risk factors for restenosis were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Using specific perioperative strategies, it is possible to correct TAPVC with excellent surgical outcomes in low-resource environments. Late pulmonary vein restenosis remains an important complication.

Utility and futility of central venous catheterization.

Central venous access is useful for monitoring central venous pressure, inserting pulmonary artery catheter and administering vasoactive drugs in hemodynamically unstable patients. Central venous catheter (CVC) insertion through internal jugular vein may cause major vessel injury, inadvertent arterial catheterization, brachial plexus injury, phrenic nerve injury, pneumothorax, and haemothorax. We describe unusual presentation of hemothorax following CVC placement in a patient undergoing vestibular schwannoma excision. The patients' trachea intubated after several attempts during which thiopentone up to 600 mg administered. Thereafter, under ultrasound guidance, an 18G introducer needle placed in the right internal jugular vein but guide-wire did not advance. Meanwhile, the patient became hemodynamically unstable and a CVC placed in right subclavian vein and norepinephrine infused at 0.05 µg/kg/min; simultaneously, 1000 ml normal saline administered through CVC. The hemodynamic instability attributed to thiopentone administered during endotracheal intubation. The surgical procedure cancelled, and the patient shifted to critical care unit (CCU). Mechanical ventilation continued. In CCU, hemodynamic parameters further deteriorated and 0.1 µg/kg/min epinephrine started. Bedside lung ultrasound showed a large collection in pleural space on the right side. Chest radiograph showed a homogenous opacity obliterating costophrenic angle on the right side. A possibility of hemothorax considered, chest tube inserted and 1000 ml sanguineous fluid drained. Blood sample drawn through CVC showed air from proximal and middle lumen but distal lumen drained blood. Another CVC placed in the femoral vein and subclavian vein CVC removed. The vasoactive drug infusion transferred to CVC in femoral vein and 2 units pRBCs transfused. Hemodynamic parameters gradually stabilized and the patient recovered completely.

Information technology-based joint preoperative assessment, risk stratification and its impact on patient management, perioperative outcome, and cost.

BACKGROUND:  Despite negative recommendations, routine preoperative testing practice is nearly universal. Our aim is to bring the healthcare providers on one platform by using information-technology based preanaesthetic assessment and evaluate the routine preoperative testing's impact on patient outcome and cost. METHODS: A prospective, non-randomised study was conducted in a teaching hospital during January 2019-August 2020. A locally developed software and cloud-computing were used as a tool to modify preanaesthesia evaluation. The number of investigations ordered, time taken, cost incurred, were compared with the routine practice. Further data were matched as per surgical invasiveness and the patient's physical status. Appropriate tests compared intergroup differences and p-value <0.05 was considered significant.  Results: Data from 114 patients (58 in routine and 56 in patient and surgery specific) were analysed. Patient and surgery specific investigation led to a reduction in the investigations by 80-90%, hospital visit by 50%, and the total cost by 80%, without increasing the day of surgery cancellation or complications. CONCLUSION: Information technology-based joint preoperative assessment and risk stratification are feasible through locally developed software with minimal cost. It helps in applying patient and surgery specific investigation, reducing the number of tests, hospital visit, and cost, without adversely affecting the perioperative outcome. The application of the modified method will help in cost-effective, yet quality and safe perioperative healthcare delivery. It will also benefit the public from both service and economic perspective.

Mainstream time-capnography: an aid to select an appropriate uncuffed endotracheal tube in small children.

Uncuffed endotracheal tubes are commonly used in children in an attempt to decrease the potential for pressure induced tracheal injury. However, uncuffed endotracheal tube may increase the risk of aspiration and lead to erratic delivery of preset tidal volume during mechanical ventilation. Therefore, it is desirable to intubate trachea with an appropriate but not an oversized endotracheal tube. In children, for selecting an endotracheal tube, a variety of formulas and techniques are used to find the endotracheal tube size that minimizes both pressure induced tracheal injury and aspiration potential or variable ventilation. Air-leak following tracheal intubation can be recognized by the presence of audible leak, by auscultation over the trachea, by palpation over the trachea and by observing effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on inspiratory expiratory tidal volume difference during mechanical ventilation. We describe mainstream time-capnograph as an aid to recognize leak around the endotracheal tube and its utility to determine appropriate endotracheal tube size in small children.

An innovative simple technique of blood conservation in adult patients with tetralogy of Fallot and severely raised hemoglobin.

The adult patients of tetralogy of Fallot often present with high hemoglobin levels. High hemoglobin and hematocrit on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are associated with increased hemolysis, plasma free hemoglobin, renal dysfunction or failure, postoperative bleeding, exploration for bleeding, and increased requirement of allogeneic blood and blood products. Despite the presence of high hemoglobin and its association with adverse outcome, blood conservation is rarely practiced in these patients because of the fear of possible hemodynamic instability, and hypoxemic spell. We describe an innovative, simple technique of blood conservation for adult patients of tetralogy of Fallot with severely raised hemoglobin. With this technique, hemoglobin can be normalized on CPB; moreover, there is no fear of hypoxemic spell or hemodynamic instability. Furthermore, the blood conserved is readily available for transfusion in the perioperative period, if needed.