Current Neurologic Assessment and Neuroprotective Strategies in Cardiac Anesthesia: A Survey to the Membership of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic injury and cognitive disorder after cardiac surgery are associated with morbidity and mortality. Variability in the application of neuroprotective strategies likely exists during cardiac surgery. The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) conducted a survey among its members on common perioperative neuroprotective strategies: assessment of aortic atheromatous burden, management of intraoperative blood pressure, and use of cerebral oximetry. METHODS: A 15-item survey was developed by 3 members of the SCA Continuous Practice Improvement - Cerebral Protection Working Group. The questionnaire was then circulated among all working group members, adapted, and tested for face validity. On March 26, 2018, the survey was sent to members of the SCA via e-mail using the Research Electronic Data Capture system. Responses were recorded until April 16, 2018. RESULTS: Of the 3645 surveys e-mailed, 526 members responded (14.4%). Most responders worked in academic institutions (58.3%), followed by private practices (38.7%). Epiaortic ultrasound for the assessment of aortic atheromatous burden was most commonly utilized at the surgeon's request (46.5%). Cerebral oximetry was most commonly used in patients with increased perioperative risk of cerebral injury (41.4%). Epiaortic ultrasound (1.9%) and cerebral oximetry (5.2%) were rarely part of a standardized monitoring approach. A majority of respondents (52.0%) reported no standardized management strategies for neuroprotection during cardiac surgery at their institution. A total of 55.3% stated that no standardized institutional guidelines were in place for managing a patient's blood pressure intraoperatively or during cardiopulmonary bypass. When asked about patients at risk for postoperative cerebral injury, 41.3% targeted a blood pressure goal >65 mmHg during cardiopulmonary bypass. The majority of responders (60.4%) who had access to institutional rates of postoperative stroke/cerebral injury had standard neuroprotective strategies in place. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that approximately half of the respondents to this SCA survey do not use standardized guidelines/standard operating procedures for perioperative cerebral protection. The lack of standardized neuroprotective strategies during cardiac surgery may impact postoperative neurologic outcomes. Further investigations are warranted and should assess the association of standardized neuroprotective approaches and postoperative neurological outcomes.

Natriuretic Peptides in Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care.

Natriuretic peptides, predominantly B-type, are widely used in cardiology as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers or, much less often, as a substantive treatment tool. They are hormones that are produced mainly in the myocardium in response to overload and ischemia, and their level quite accurately reflects the degree of myocardial dysfunction. Although their use in cardiac anesthesia and intensive care setting seems to be very beneficial for assessing the risk of acute disturbance of myocardial function or its laboratory monitoring, the actual significance of natriuretic peptides in this area is not yet recognized. This is due to the lack of clear diagnostic and prognostic values for these biomarkers supported by high-quality researches. On the basis of the available data, main advantages, existing difficulties, and most effective ways of using natriuretic peptides for determining the risk of heart surgery and assessing the severity of sepsis, pneumonia, and other critical conditions have been discussed in this review. In addition, the expediency of using natriuretic peptides as target parameters for goal-oriented therapy and as a substantive tool for treatment is considered.

Incidence of Nausea and Vomiting After Fast-Track Anaesthesia for Heart Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after fast-track cardiac anesthesia (FTCA) in the first 24-48 hours in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) after open-heart surgery, risk factors for PONV and its influence on CICU length of stay. METHODS: A prospective observational study from January 1, 2013 to the end of December 2015 was performed in the CICU of a university hospital in the north of Jordan and Queen Alia Heart Institute, Amman, Jordan. Three hundred consecutive patients undergoing fast-track cardiac anesthesia in elective cardiac surgery were enrolled in the study. Nausea and vomiting were assessed after tracheal extubation, which was performed within 6-10 hours after surgery and during the first 24-48 hours in the CICU. Metoclopramide 10 mg intravenously was used as the initial antiemetic drug, but ondansetron 4 mg intravenously was also used as second line of management. RESULTS: Nausea was reported in 46 (15.3%) patients, and vomiting in 31 (10.3%). Among females, 38 (33.9%) patients developed nausea and 20 (17.9%) developed vomiting. Among males, 8 (4.3%) patients developed nausea and 11 (5.9%) developed vomiting. CONCLUSION: PONV are relatively low after FTCA and the prophylactic administration of antiemetic drug before anesthesia or after extubation is not necessary.

Minimizing ICU Neurological Dysfunction with Dexmedetomidine-induced Sleep (MINDDS): protocol for a randomised, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium, which is prevalent in postcardiac surgical patients, is an acute brain dysfunction characterised by disturbances in attention, awareness and cognition not explained by a pre-existing neurocognitive disorder. The pathophysiology of delirium remains poorly understood. However, basic science and clinical studies suggest that sleep disturbance may be a modifiable risk factor for the development of delirium. Dexmedetomidine is a α-2A adrenergic receptor agonist medication that patterns the activity of various arousal nuclei similar to sleep. A single night-time loading dose of dexmedetomidine promotes non-rapid eye movement sleep stages N2 and N3 sleep. This trial hypothesises dexmedetomidine-induced sleep as pre-emptive therapy for postoperative delirium. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The MINDDS (Minimizing ICU Neurological Dysfunction with Dexmedetomidine-induced Sleep) trial is a 370-patient block-randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, single-site, parallel-arm superiority trial. Patients over 60 years old, undergoing cardiac surgery with planned cardiopulmonary bypass, will be randomised to receive a sleep-inducing dose of dexmedetomidine or placebo. The primary outcome is the incidence of delirium on postoperative day 1, assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method by staff blinded to the treatment assignment. To ensure that the study is appropriately powered for the primary outcome measure, patients will be recruited and randomised into the study until 370 patients receive the study intervention on postoperative day 0. Secondary outcomes will be evaluated by in-person assessments and medical record review for in-hospital end points, and by telephone interview for 30-day, 90-day and 180-day end points. All trial outcomes will be evaluated using an intention-to-treat analysis plan. Hypothesis testing will be performed using a two-sided significance level (type I error) of α=0.05. Sensitivity analyses using the actual treatment received will be performed and compared with the intention-to-treat analysis results. Additional sensitivity analyses will assess the potential impact of missing data due to loss of follow-up. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Partners Human Research Committee approved the MINDDS trial. Recruitment began in March 2017. Dissemination plans include presentations at scientific conferences, scientific publications and popular media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02856594.

MortalitY in caRdIAc surgery (MYRIAD): A randomizeD controlled trial of volatile anesthetics. Rationale and design.

OBJECTIVE: There is initial evidence that the use of volatile anesthetics can reduce the postoperative release of cardiac troponin I, the need for inotropic support, and the number of patients requiring prolonged hospitalization following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Nevertheless, small randomized controlled trials have failed to demonstrate a survival advantage. Thus, whether volatile anesthetics improve the postoperative outcome of cardiac surgical patients remains uncertain. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial appears desirable. DESIGN: Single blinded, international, multicenter randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. SETTING: Tertiary and University hospitals. INTERVENTIONS: Patients (n=10,600) undergoing coronary artery bypass graft will be randomized to receive either volatile anesthetic as part of the anesthetic plan, or total intravenous anesthesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary end point of the study will be one-year mortality (any cause). Secondary endpoints will be 30-day mortality; 30-day death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (composite endpoint); cardiac mortality at 30day and at one year; incidence of hospital re-admission during the one year follow-up period and duration of intensive care unit, and hospital stay. The sample size is based on the hypothesis that volatile anesthetics will reduce 1-year unadjusted mortality from 3% to 2%, using a two-sided alpha error of 0.05, and a power of 0.9. CONCLUSIONS: The trial will determine whether the simple intervention of adding a volatile anesthetic, an intervention that can be implemented by all anesthesiologists, can improve one-year survival in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Inducción e intubación en secuencia rápida en pacientes portadores de COVID-19 / Rapid sequence induction and intubation in Covid 19 carrier patients

Introducción: La inducción e intubación en secuencia rápida es un procedimiento en anestesiología de emergencia para controlar la vía aérea en pacientes graves e insertar un tubo en la tráquea en el menor tiempo posible. Originalmente, este proceder se indicaba en los casos de regurgitación y/o reflujo para atenuar y prevenir la aspiración del contenido gástrico. La técnica descrita y usada por primera vez en los años 1970 retomó su uso en el contexto de la pandemia Covid-19. Sin embargo, una técnica convencional de intubación de secuencia rápida no sería adecuada pues no evitaría la dispersión del virus desde la vía aérea del paciente hacia el entorno, con la posibilidad de contaminación del personal que la realice. Objetivo: Describir una técnica modificada de intubación de secuencia rápida en tiempos de Covid-19. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión de las primeras publicaciones con protocolos de esta técnica modificada. La búsqueda se realizó en base de datos como PubMed, Google Académico y Elsevier. Desarrollo: El aspecto más importante para el profesional que realice la técnica es lograr con éxito la maniobra y conservar la vida del paciente. En este sentido, debe ser el más experimentado y preparado para controlar el tiempo de cada una de las etapas en las que se divide. Conclusiones: En la enfermedad Covid-19 las situaciones clínicas son muy variantes por lo que los protocolos en la atención perioperatoria de los enfermos puede modificarse según exista nueva evidencia(AU)

Introduction: Rapid-sequence induction and intubation is an emergency anesthesiology procedure for airway control in critically ill patients and for inserting a tube into the trachea in the shortest possible time. Originally, this procedure was indicated in cases of regurgitation and/or reflux in order to attenuate and prevent aspiration of gastric contents. The technique, described and used for the first time in the 1970s, resumed its use in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a conventional rapid-sequence intubation technique would not be adequate as it would not prevent the virus spread from the patient's airway to the environment, with the possibility of contamination of the personnel performing it. Objective: To describe a modified rapid-sequence intubation technique in times of COVID-19. Methods: A review of the first publications with protocols of this modified technique was carried out. The search was carried out in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Elsevier. Development: The most important aspect for the professional performing the technique is to achieve the maneuver successfully and preserve the life of the patient. In this respect, the physician must be the most experienced and prepared to control the time of each of the stages into which it is divided. Conclusions: In COVID-19, clinical situations are highly variable, a reason why protocols in the perioperative care of patients can be modified according to new evidence(AU)

Incidence of nausea and vomiting after fast-track anaesthesia for heart surgery

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after fast-track cardiac anesthesia (FTCA) in the first 24-48 hours in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) after open-heart surgery, risk factors for PONV and its influence on CICU length of stay. Methods: A prospective observational study from January 1, 2013 to the end of December 2015 was performed in the CICU of a university hospital in the north of Jordan and Queen Alia Heart Institute, Amman, Jordan. Three hundred consecutive patients undergoing fast-track cardiac anesthesia in elective cardiac surgery were enrolled in the study. Nausea and vomiting were assessed after tracheal extubation, which was performed within 6-10 hours after surgery and during the first 24-48 hours in the CICU. Metoclopramide 10 mg intravenously was used as the initial antiemetic drug, but ondansetron 4 mg intravenously was also used as second line of management. Results: Nausea was reported in 46 (15.3%) patients, and vomiting in 31 (10.3%). Among females, 38 (33.9%) patients developed nausea and 20 (17.9%) developed vomiting. Among males, 8 (4.3%) patients developed nausea and 11 (5.9%) developed vomiting. Conclusion: PONV are relatively low after FTCA and the prophylactic administration of antiemetic drug before anesthesia or after extubation is not necessary.

Servicio de Anestesia Cardiovascular. Cardiocentro / Anesthetic management of arterial hipertensión

La hipertensión arterial eleva de forma inaceptable el riesgo en los pacientes sometidos a anestesia y se hace necesario un tratamiento meticuloso antes de la operación con el objetivo de controlarla. Se señalan los agentes de premedicación con los cuales se obtienen mejores resultados. Se realiza una revisión actualizada de las técnicas y agentes anestésicos empleados en el paciente hipertenso. Se expone el tratamiento médico preoperatorio actualizado, así como el tratamiento de las crisis de hipertensión arterial durante la anestesia(AU)

Arterial hypertension increases in an unacceptable way the risk in patients receiving anesthesia. Therefore, a meticulous treatment is necessary before surgery in order to control it. The premedication agents with which better results are obtained are stressed. An updated review of the techniques and anesthetics used in the hypertensive patient is made. The updated postoperative medical treatment as well as the treatment of the crisis of arterial hypertension during anesthesia are dealt with(AU)