Prospective randomized double-blind study to evaluate the superiority of Vasopressin versus Norepinephrine in the management of the patient at renal risk undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (NOVACC trial).

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) affects up to 30% of patients, increasing morbidity and healthcare costs. This condition results from complex factors like ischemia-reperfusion injury and renal hemodynamic changes, often exacerbated by surgical procedures. Norepinephrine, commonly used in cardiac surgeries, may heighten the risk of CS-AKI. In contrast, vasopressin, a noncatecholaminergic agent, shows potential in preserving renal function by favorably affecting renal hemodynamic. Preliminary findings, suggest vasopressin could reduce the incidence of CS-AKI compared to norepinephrine. Additionally, vasopressin is linked to a lower incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation, another factor contributing to longer hospital stays and higher costs. This study hypothesizes that vasopressin could effectively reduce CS-AKI occurrence and severity by optimizing renal perfusion during cardiac surgeries. STUDY DESIGN: The NOVACC trial (NCT05568160) is a multicenter, randomized, double blinded superiority-controlled trial testing the superiority of vasopressin over norepinephrine in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The primary composite end point is the occurrence of acute kidney injury and death. The secondary end points are neurological, cardiologic, digestive, and vasopressor related complications at day 7, day 30, day 90, hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay, medico-economic costs at day 90. CONCLUSION: The NOVACC trial will assess the effectiveness of vasopressin in cardiac surgery with CPB in reducing acute kidney injury, mortality, and medical costs. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05568160.

Perioperative individualized hemodynamic optimization according to baseline mean arterial pressure in cardiac surgery patients: Rationale and design of the OPTIPAM randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) remain high despite recent advances in both anesthesia and perioperative management. Among modifiable risk factors for postoperative complications, optimal arterial pressure during and after surgery has been under debate for years. Recent data suggest that optimizing arterial pressure to the baseline of the patient may improve outcomes. We hypothesize that optimizing the mean arterial pressure (MAP) to the baseline MAP of the patient during cardiac surgery with CPB and during the first 24 hours postoperatively may improve outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: The OPTIPAM trial (NCT05403697) will be a multicenter, randomized, open-label controlled trial testing the superiority of optimized MAP management as compared with a MAP of 65 mm Hg or more during both the intraoperative and postoperative periods in 1,100 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery with CPB. The primary composite end point is the occurrence of acute kidney injury, neurological complications including stroke or postoperative delirium, and death. The secondary end points are hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay, Day 7 and Day 90 mortality, postoperative cognitive dysfunction on Day 7 and Day 90, and quality of life at Day 7 and Day 90. Two interim analyses will assess the safety of the intervention. CONCLUSION: The OPTIPAM trial will assess the effectiveness of an individualized target of mean arterial pressure in cardiac surgery with CPB in reducing postoperative morbidity. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05403697.

Diagnostic accuracy of the peripheral venous pressure variation induced by an alveolar recruitment maneuver to predict fluid responsiveness during high-risk abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing high-risk surgery, it is recommended to titrate fluid administration using stroke volume or a dynamic variable of fluid responsiveness (FR). However, this strategy usually requires the use of a hemodynamic monitor and/or an arterial catheter. Recently, it has been shown that variations of central venous pressure (ΔCVP) during an alveolar recruitment maneuver (ARM) can predict FR and that there is a correlation between CVP and peripheral venous pressure (PVP). This prospective study tested the hypothesis that variations of PVP (ΔPVP) induced by an ARM could predict FR. METHODS: We studied 60 consecutive patients scheduled for high-risk abdominal surgery, excluding those with preoperative cardiac arrhythmias or right ventricular dysfunction. All patients had a peripheral venous catheter, a central venous catheter and a radial arterial catheter linked to a pulse contour monitoring device. PVP was always measured via an 18-gauge catheter inserted at the antecubital fossa. Then an ARM consisting of a standardized gas insufflation to reach a plateau of 30 cmH2O for 30 s was performed before skin incision. Invasive mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure, heart rate, CVP, PVP, pulse pressure variation (PPV), and stroke volume index (SVI) were recorded before ARM (T1), at the end of ARM (T2), before volume expansion (T3), and one minute after volume expansion (T4). Receiver-operating curves (ROC) analysis with the corresponding grey zone approach were performed to assess the ability of ∆PVP (index test) to predict FR, defined as an ≥ 10% increase in SVI following the administration of a 4 ml/kg balanced crystalloid solution over 5 min. RESULTS: ∆PVP during ARM predicted FR with an area under the ROC curve of 0.76 (95%CI, 0.63 to 0.86). The optimal threshold determined by the Youden Index was a ∆PVP value of 5 mmHg (95%CI, 4 to 6) with a sensitivity of 66% (95%CI, 47 to 81) and a specificity of 82% (95%CI, 63 to 94). The AUC's for predicting FR were not different between ΔPVP, ΔCVP, and PPV. CONCLUSION: During high-risk abdominal surgery, ∆PVP induced by an ARM can moderately predict FR. Nevertheless, other hemodynamic variables did not perform better.

A Multimodal Cardioprotection Strategy During Cardiac Surgery: The ProCCard Study.

OBJECTIVE: The ProCCard study tested whether combining several cardioprotective interventions would reduce the myocardial and other biological and clinical damage in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Multicenter tertiary care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: 210 patients scheduled to undergo aortic valve surgery. INTERVENTIONS: A control group (standard of care) was compared to a treated group combining five perioperative cardioprotective techniques: anesthesia with sevoflurane, remote ischemic preconditioning, close intraoperative blood glucose control, moderate respiratory acidosis (pH 7.30) just before aortic unclamping (concept of the "pH paradox"), and gentle reperfusion just after aortic unclamping. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was the postoperative 72-h area under the curve (AUC) for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hsTnI). Secondary endpoints were biological markers and clinical events occurring during the 30 postoperative days and the prespecified subgroup analyses. The linear relationship between the 72-h AUC for hsTnI and aortic clamping time, significant in both groups (p < 0.0001), was not modified by the treatment (p = 0.57). The rate of adverse events at 30 days was identical. A non-significant reduction of the 72-h AUC for hsTnI (-24%, p = 0.15) was observed when sevoflurane was administered during cardiopulmonary bypass (46% of patients in the treated group). The incidence of postoperative renal failure was not reduced (p = 0.104). CONCLUSION: This multimodal cardioprotection has not demonstrated any biological or clinical benefit during cardiac surgery. The cardio- and reno-protective effects of sevoflurane and remote ischemic preconditioning therefore remain to be demonstrated in this context.

Control of Postoperative Hypotension Using a Closed-Loop System for Norepinephrine Infusion in Patients After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Vasopressors are a cornerstone for the management of vasodilatory hypotension. Vasopressor infusions are currently adjusted manually to achieve a predefined arterial pressure target. We have developed a closed-loop vasopressor (CLV) controller to help correct hypotension more efficiently during the perioperative period. We tested the hypothesis that patients managed using such a system postcardiac surgery would present less hypotension compared to patients receiving standard management. METHODS: A total of 40 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery were randomized into 2 groups for a 2-hour study period. In all patients, the objective was to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) between 65 and 75 mm Hg using norepinephrine. In the CLV group, the norepinephrine infusion was controlled via the CLV system; in the control group, it was adjusted manually by the ICU nurse. Fluid administration was standardized in both groups using an assisted fluid management system linked to an advanced hemodynamic monitoring system. The primary outcome was the percentage of time patients were hypotensive, defined as MAP <65 mm Hg, during the study period. RESULTS: Over the 2-hour study period, the percentage of time with hypotension was significantly lower in the CLV group than that in the control group (1.4% [0.9-2.3] vs 12.5% [9.9-24.3]; location difference, -9.8% [95% CI, -5.4 to -15.9]; P < .001). The percentage of time with MAP between 65 and 75 mm Hg was also greater in the CLV group (95% [89-96] vs 66% [59-77]; location difference, 27.6% [95% CI, 34.3-19.0]; P < .001). The percentage of time with an MAP >75 mm Hg (and norepinephrine still being infused) was also significantly lower in patients in the CLV group than that in the control group (3.2% [1.9-5.4] vs 20.6% [8.9-32.5]; location difference, -17% [95% CI, -10 to -24]; P < .001).The number of norepinephrine infusion rate modifications over the study period was greater in the CLV group than that in the control group (581 [548-597] vs 13 [11-14]; location difference, 568 [578-538]; P < .001). No adverse event occurred during the study period in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Closed-loop control of norepinephrine infusion significantly decreases postoperative hypotension compared to manual control in patients admitted to the ICU after cardiac surgery.

Variations of pulse pressure and central venous pressure may predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients during lung recruitment manoeuvre: an ancillary study.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining a constant driving pressure during a prolonged sigh breath lung recruitment manoeuvre (LRM) from 20 to 45 cmH20 peak inspiratory pressure in mechanically ventilated patients has been shown to be a functional test to predict fluid responsiveness (FR) when using a linear regression model of hemodynamic parameters, such as central venous pressure (CVP) and pulse pressure (PP). However, two important limitations have been raised, the use of high ventilation pressures and a regression slope calculation that is difficult to apply at bedside. This ancillary study aimed to reanalyse absolute variations of CVP (ΔCVP) and PP (ΔPP) values at lower stages of the LRM, (40, 35, and 30 cm H20 of peak inspiratory pressure) for their ability to predict fluid responsiveness. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospective study data set in 18 mechanically ventilated patients, in an intensive care unit. CVP, systemic arterial pressure parameters and stroke volume (SV) were recorded during prolonged LRM followed by a 500 mL crystalloid volume expansion. Patients were considered as fluid responders if SV increased more than 10%. Receiver-operating curves (ROC) analysis with the corresponding grey zone approach were performed. RESULTS: Areas under the ROC to predict fluid responsiveness for ΔCVP and ΔPP were not different between the successive stepwise increase of inspiratory pressures [0.88 and 0.89 for ΔCVP at 45 and 30 cm H20 (P = 0.89), respectively, and 0.92 and 0.95 for ΔPP at 45 and 30 cm H20, respectively (P = 0.51)]. Using a maximum of 30 cmH2O inspiratory pressure during the LRM, ΔCVP and ΔPP had a threshold value to predict fluid responsiveness of 2 mmHg and 4 mmHg, with sensitivities of 89% and 89% and specificities of 67% and 89%, respectively. Combining ΔPP and ΔCVP decreased the proportion of the patients in the grey zone from 28 to 11% and showed a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 83%. CONCLUSIONS: A stepwise PEEP elevation recruitment manoeuvre of up to 30 cm H20 may predict fluid responsiveness as well as 45 cm H20. The combination of ΔPP and ΔCVP optimizes the categorization of responder and non-responder patients.

Slope analysis for the prediction of fluid responsiveness by a stepwise PEEP elevation recruitment maneuver in mechanically ventilated patients.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of fluid responsiveness is problematic in intensive care unit patients. Lung recruitment maneuvers (LRM) can be used as a functional test to predict fluid responsiveness. We propose a new test to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients by analyzing the variations in central venous pressure (CVP) and systemic arterial parameters during a prolonged sigh breath LRM without the use of a cardiac output measuring device. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Intensive Care Unit, Saint-Etienne University Central Hospital. PATIENTS: Patients under mechanical ventilation, equipped with invasive arterial blood pressure, CVP, pulse contour analysis (PICCO™), requiring volume expansion, with no right ventricular dysfunction. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: CVP, systemic arterial parameters and stroke volume (SV) were recorded during prolonged LRM followed by a 500 mL fluid expansion to asses fluid responsiveness. 25 patients were screened and 18 patients analyzed. 9 patients were responders to volume expansion and 9 were not. Evaluation of hemodynamic parameters suggested the use of a linear regression model. Slopes for systolic arterial pressure, pulse pressure (PP), CVP and SV were all significantly different between responders and non-responders during the pressure increase phase of LRM (STEP-UP) (p = 0.022, p = 0.014, p = 0.006 and p = 0.038, respectively). PP and CVP slopes during STEP-UP were strongly predictive of fluid responsiveness with an AUC of 0.926 (95% CI, 0.78 to 1.00), sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 89% and an AUC = 0.901 (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.00), sensibility = 78%, specificity = 100%, respectively. Combining sensitivity of PP and specificity of CVP, prediction of fluid responsiveness can be achieved with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity (AUC = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.90 to 1.00). One patient showed inconclusive values using the grey zone approach (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients under mechanical ventilation with no right heart dysfunction, the association of PP and CVP slope analysis during a prolonged sigh breath LRM seems to offer a very promising method for prediction of fluid responsiveness without the use and associated cost of a cardiac output measurement device. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04304521 , IRBN902018/CHUSTE. Registered 11 March 2020, Fluid responsiveness predicted by a stepwise PEEP elevation recruitment maneuver in mechanically ventilated patients (STEP-PEEP).

Evaluation of a novel optical smartphone blood pressure application: a method comparison study against invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring in intensive care unit patients.

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension is a worldwide public health problem. While it is currently diagnosed and monitored non-invasively using the oscillometric method, having the ability to measure blood pressure (BP) using a smartphone application could provide more widespread access to hypertension screening and monitoring. In this observational study in intensive care unit patients, we compared blood pressure values obtained using a new optical smartphone application (OptiBP™; test method) with arterial BP values obtained using a radial artery catheter (reference method) in order to help validate the technology. METHODS: We simultaneously measured three BP values every hour for five consecutive hours on two consecutive days using both the smartphone and arterial methods. Bland-Altman and error grid analyses were used for agreement analysis between both approaches. The performance of the smartphone application was investigated using the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) definitions, which require the bias ± SD between two technologies to be below 5 ± 8 mmHg. RESULTS: Among the 30 recruited patients, 22 patients had adequate OptiBP™ values and were thus analyzed. In the other 8 patients, no BP could be measured due to inadequate signals. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed a mean of the differences ± SD between both methods of 0.9 ± 7 mmHg for mean arterial pressure (MAP), 0.2 ± 14 mmHg for systolic arterial pressure (SAP), and 1.1 ± 6 mmHg for diastolic arterial pressure (DAP). Error grid analysis demonstrated that the proportions of measurement pairs in risk zones A to E were 88.8% (no risk), 10% (low risk), 1% (moderate risk), 0% (significant risk), and 0% (dangerous risk) for MAP and 88.4%, 8.6%, 3%, 0%, 0%, respectively, for SAP. CONCLUSIONS: This method comparison study revealed good agreement between BP values obtained using the OptiBP™ and those done invasively. The OptiBP™ fulfills the AAMI/ISO universal standards for MAP and DAP (but not SAP). Error grid showed that the most measurements (≥ 97%) were in risk zones A and B. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04728477.

Assessing the discriminative ability of the respiratory exchange ratio to detect hyperlactatemia during intermediate-to-high risk abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: A mismatch between oxygen delivery (DO2) and consumption (VO2) is associated with increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. Hyperlactatemia is often used as an early screening tool, but this non-continuous measurement requires intermittent arterial line sampling. Having a non-invasive tool to rapidly detect inadequate DO2 is of great clinical relevance. The respiratory exchange ratio (RER) can be easily measured in all intubated patients and has been shown to predict postoperative complications. We therefore aimed to assess the discriminative ability of the RER to detect an inadequate DO2 as reflected by hyperlactatemia in patients having intermediate-to-high risk abdominal surgery. METHODS: This historical cohort study included all consecutive patients who underwent intermediate-to-high risk surgery from January 1st, 2014, to April 30th, 2019 except those who did not have RER and/or arterial lactate measured. Blood lactate levels were measured routinely at the beginning and end of surgery and RER was calculated at the same moment as the blood gas sampling. The present study tested the hypothesis that RER measured at the end of surgery could detect hyperlactatemia at that time. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to assess if RER calculated at the end of the surgery could detect hyperlactatemia. The chosen RER threshold corresponded to the highest value of the sum of the specificity and the sensitivity (Youden Index). RESULTS: Among the 996 patients available in our study cohort, 941 were included and analyzed. The area under the ROC curve was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.70 to 0.76; p < 0.001), with a RER threshold of 0.75, allowing to discriminate a lactate > 1.5 mmol/L with a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 49.5%. CONCLUSION: In mechanically ventilated patients undergoing intermediate to high-risk abdominal surgery, the RER had moderate discriminative abilities to detect hyperlactatemia. Increased values should prompt clinicians to investigate for the presence of hyperlactatemia and treat any potential causes of DO2/VO2 mismatch as suggested by the subsequent presence of hyperlactatemia.

Intraoperative measurement of the respiratory exchange ratio predicts postoperative complications after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: During surgery, any mismatch between oxygen delivery (DO2) and consumption (VO2) can promote the development of postoperative complications. The respiratory exchange ratio (RER), defined as the ratio of carbon dioxide (CO2) production (VCO2) to VO2, may be a useful noninvasive tool for detecting inadequate DO2. The primary objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that RER measured during liver transplantation may predict postoperative morbidity. Secondary objectives were to assess the ability of other variables used to assess the DO2/VO2 relationship, including arterial lactate, mixed venous oxygen saturation, and veno-arterial difference in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (VAPCO2gap), to predict postoperative complications. METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive adult patients who underwent liver transplantation for end stage liver disease from June 27th, 2020, to September 5th, 2021. Patients with acute liver failure were excluded. All patients were routinely equipped with a pulmonary artery catheter. The primary analysis was a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve constructed to investigate the discriminative ability of the mean RER measured during surgery to predict postoperative complications. RER was calculated at five standardized time points during the surgery, at the same time as measurement of blood lactate levels and arterial and mixed venous blood gases, which were compared as a secondary analysis. RESULTS: Of the 115 patients included, 57 developed at least one postoperative complication. The mean RER (median [25-75] percentiles) during surgery was significantly higher in patients with complications than in those without (1.04[0.96-1.12] vs 0.88[0.84-0.94]; p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve was 0.87 (95%CI: 0.80-0.93; p < 0.001) with a RER value (Youden index) of 0.92 giving a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 74% for predicting the occurrence of postoperative complications. The RER outperformed all other measured variables assessing the DO2/VO2 relationship (arterial lactate, SvO2, and VAPCO2gap) in predicting postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: During liver transplantation, the RER can reliably predict postoperative complications. Implementing this measure intraoperatively may provide a warning for physicians of impending complications and justify more aggressive optimization of oxygen delivery. Further studies are required to determine whether correcting the RER is feasible and could reduce the incidence of complications.

Impact of conventional vs. goal-directed fluid therapy on urethral tissue perfusion in patients undergoing liver surgery: A pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although fluid administration is a key strategy to optimise haemodynamic status and tissue perfusion, optimal fluid administration during liver surgery remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that a goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) strategy, when compared with a conventional fluid strategy, would better optimise systemic blood flow and lead to improved urethral tissue perfusion (a new variable to assess peripheral blood flow), without increasing blood loss. DESIGN: Single-centre prospective randomised controlled superiority study. SETTING: Erasme Hospital. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing liver surgery. INTERVENTION: Forty patients were randomised into two groups: all received a basal crystalloid infusion (maximum 2 ml kg-1 h-1). In the conventional fluid group, the goal was to maintain central venous pressure (CVP) as low as possible during the dissection phase by giving minimal additional fluid, while in the posttransection phase, anaesthetists were free to compensate for any presumed fluid deficit. In the GDFT group, patients received in addition to the basal infusion, multiple minifluid challenges of crystalloid to maintain stroke volume (SV) variation less than 13%. Noradrenaline infusion was titrated to keep mean arterial pressure more than 65 mmHg in all patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The mean intra-operative urethral perfusion index. RESULTS: The mean urethral perfusion index was significantly higher in the GDFT group than in the conventional fluid group (8.70 [5.72 to 13.10] vs. 6.05 [4.95 to 8.75], P = 0.046). SV index (ml m-2) and cardiac index (l min-1 m-2) were higher in the GDFT group (48 ±â€Š9 vs. 33 ±â€Š7 and 3.5 ±â€Š0.7 vs. 2.4 ±â€Š0.4, respectively; P < 0.001). Although CVP was higher in the GDFT group (9.3 ±â€Š2.5 vs. 6.5 ±â€Š2.9 mmHg; P = 0.003), intra-operative blood loss was not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing liver surgery, a GDFT strategy resulted in a higher mean urethral perfusion index than did a conventional fluid strategy and did not increase blood loss despite higher CVP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04092608.

Evaluation of a novel mobile phone application for blood pressure monitoring: a proof of concept study.

To provide information about the clinical relevance of blood pressure (BP) measurement differences between a new smartphone application (OptiBP™) and the reference method (automated oscillometric technique) using a noninvasive brachial cuff in patients admitted to the emergency department. We simultaneously recorded three BP measurements using both the reference method and the novel OptiBP™ (test method), except when the inter-arm difference was > 10 mmHg BP. Each OptiBP™ measurement required 1-min and the subsequent reference method values were compared to the values obtained with OptiBP™ using a Bland-Altman analysis and error grid analysis. Among the 110 patients recruited, OptiBP™ BP values could be collected on 61 patients (55%) and were included in the statistical analysis. The mean of differences (95% limits of agreement) between the reference method and the test method were - 0.1(- 22.5 to 22.4 mmHg) for systolic arterial pressure (SAP), - 0.1(- 12.9 to 12.7 mmHg) for diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) and - 0.3(- 18.1 to 17.4 mmHg) for mean arterial pressure (MAP). The proportions of measurements in risk zones A-E were 86.9%, 13.1%, 0%, 0%, and 0% for MAP and 89.3%, 10.7%, 0%, 0%, and 0% for SAP. In this pilot study conducted in stable and awake patients admitted to the emergency department, the absolute agreement between the OptiBP™ and the reference method was moderate. However, when BP measurements were made immediately after an initial calibration, error grid analysis showed that 100% of measurement differences between the OptiBP™ and reference method were categorized as no- or low-risk treatment decisions for all patients.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04121624.

Evaluation of a new smartphone optical blood pressure application (OptiBP™) in the post-anesthesia care unit: a method comparison study against the non-invasive automatic oscillometric brachial cuff as the reference method.

We compared blood pressure (BP) values obtained with a new optical smartphone application (OptiBP™) with BP values obtained using a non-invasive automatic oscillometric brachial cuff (reference method) during the first 2 h of surveillance in a post-anesthesia care unit in patients after non-cardiac surgery. Three simultaneous BP measurements of both methods were recorded every 30 min over a 2-h period. The agreement between measurements was investigated using Bland-Altman and error grid analyses. We also evaluated the performance of the OptiBP™ using ISO81060-2:2018 standards which requires the mean of the differences ± standard deviation (SD) between both methods to be less than 5 mmHg ± 8 mmHg. Of 120 patients enrolled, 101 patients were included in the statistical analysis. The Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a mean of the differences ± SD between the test and reference methods of + 1 mmHg ± 7 mmHg for mean arterial pressure (MAP), + 2 mmHg ± 11 mmHg for systolic arterial pressure (SAP), and + 1 mmHg ± 8 mmHg for diastolic arterial pressure (DAP). Error grid analysis showed that the proportions of measurement pairs in risk zones A to E were 90.3% (no risk), 9.7% (low risk), 0% (moderate risk), 0% (significant risk), 0% (dangerous risk) for MAP and 89.9%, 9.1%, 1%, 0%, 0% for SAP. We observed a good agreement between BP values obtained by the OptiBP™ system and BP values obtained with the reference method. The OptiBP™ system fulfilled the AAMI validation requirements for MAP and DAP and error grid analysis indicated that the vast majority of measurement pairs (≥ 99%) were in risk zones A and B.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04262323.

Intraoperative hypotension during liver transplant surgery is associated with postoperative acute kidney injury: a historical cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently after liver transplant surgery and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While the impact of intraoperative hypotension (IOH) on postoperative AKI has been well demonstrated in patients undergoing a wide variety of non-cardiac surgeries, it remains poorly studied in liver transplant surgery. We tested the hypothesis that IOH is associated with AKI following liver transplant surgery. METHODS: This historical cohort study included all patients who underwent liver transplant surgery between 2014 and 2019 except those with a preoperative creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl and/or who had combined transplantation surgery. IOH was defined as any mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 65 mmHg and was classified according to the percentage of case time during which the MAP was < 65 mmHg into three groups, based on the interquartile range of the study cohort: "short" (Quartile 1, < 8.6% of case time), "intermediate" (Quartiles 2-3, 8.6-39.5%) and "long" (Quartile 4, > 39.5%) duration. AKI stages were classified according to a "modified" "Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes" (KDIGO) criteria. Logistic regression modelling was conducted to assess the association between IOH and postoperative AKI. The model was run both as a univariate and with multiple perioperative covariates to test for robustness to confounders. RESULTS: Of the 205 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 117 (57.1%) developed AKI. Fifty-two (25%), 102 (50%) and 51 (25%) patients had short, intermediate and long duration of IOH respectively. In multivariate analysis, IOH was independently associated with an increased risk of AKI (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.05; 95%CI 1.02-1.09; P < 0.001). Compared to "short duration" of IOH, "intermediate duration" was associated with a 10-fold increased risk of developing AKI (OR 9.7; 95%CI 4.1-22.7; P < 0.001). "Long duration" was associated with an even greater risk of AKI compared to "short duration" (OR 34.6; 95%CI 11.5-108.6; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative hypotension is independently associated with the development of AKI after liver transplant surgery. The longer the MAP is < 65 mmHg, the higher the risk the patient will develop AKI in the immediate postoperative period, and the greater the likely severity. Anesthesiologists and surgeons must therefore make every effort to avoid IOH during surgery.

Quick Assessment of the Lower Limit of Autoregulation by Use of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound During Cardiac Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Assessment of the individual safest minimal mean arterial pressure (MAP) during cardiac surgery remains empirical. The objective of this study was to evaluate the lower limit of autoregulation (LLA) within a short period (15 min). METHODS: After developing autoregulation software (OptiMAP) incorporated into transcranial Doppler ultrasound (Waki-Atys®, Lyon, France), we monitored the mean blood flow velocity (MV) and MAP. Thirty successive values of MV and MAP were automatically analysed to calculate the correlation (Mx) between the two parameters. We compared two methods of Mx sampling during a period of 15 min: Mx10s = long averaging windows (one MAP/MV pair recorded every 10 s), and Mx2s = short averaging windows (one MAP/MV pair recorded every 2 s). The LLA value calculated from the whole recording (Mx10s) was used as the reference. Autoregulation was considered impaired at an Mx value >0.35. RESULTS: Five patients were included in the study. The surgery lasted for 138 ± 32 min and cardiopulmonary bypass lasted for 72 ± 33 min. MAP and MV were recorded for 117 ± 24 min. MAP varied from 33 ± 10 to 92 ± 10 mmHg. LLA calculated from the whole recording (Mx10s) was similar to LLA calculated from the 15-min recording (Mx2s): 70 ± 2.5 versus 73 ± 3.5 mmHg. MAP remained below LLA during 48 ± 12% of the recording. During the 15-min recording, Mx10s was not able to calculate the LLA value. CONCLUSION: In cases of haemodynamic instability, decreasing the Mx sampling window seems to accurately detect LLA.

Does a two-minute mini-fluid challenge predict fluid responsiveness in pediatric patients under general anesthesia?

BACKGROUND: Very little evidence for predictive markers of fluid responsiveness has been reported in children as compared to adults. The impact of hypovolemia or hypervolemia on morbidity has driven interest in the fluid challenge titration strategy. AIM: The objective of this study was to explore the ability of a 3 mL kg-1 mini-fluid challenge over 2 minutes to predict fluid responsiveness in children under controlled ventilation. METHODS: Children scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia were included and received a fluid challenge of 15 mL kg-1 of crystalloid prior to incision administered over 10 minutes in two steps: 3 mL kg-1 over 2 minutes then 12 mL kg-1 over 8 minutes. Fluid responsiveness was defined as a change of ≥10% in cardiac output estimated by left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (VTI) as measured by transthoracic ultrasound before and after the fluid challenge of 15 mL kg-1 . RESULTS: Of the 55 patients included in the analysis, 43 were fluid responders. The increase in the VTI after the mini-fluid challenge (ΔVTIminiFC ) predicted fluid responsiveness with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.77; 95% CI (0.63-0.87), P = .004. Considering the least significant change which was 7.9%; 95% CI (6-10), the threshold was 8% with a sensitivity of 53%; 95% CI (38-68); and a specificity of 77%; 95% CI (54-100). CONCLUSION: ΔVTIminiFC weakly predicted the effects of a fluid challenge of 15 mL kg-1 of crystalloid in anesthetized children under controlled mechanical ventilation.

Ability of a New Smartphone Pulse Pressure Variation and Cardiac Output Application to Predict Fluid Responsiveness in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) can be used to predict fluid responsiveness in anesthetized patients receiving controlled mechanical ventilation but usually requires dedicated advanced monitoring. Capstesia (Galenic App, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) is a novel smartphone application that calculates PPV and cardiac output (CO) from a picture of the invasive arterial pressure waveform obtained from any monitor screen. The primary objective was to compare the ability of PPV obtained using the Capstesia (PPVCAP) and PPV obtained using a pulse contour analysis monitor (PPVPC) to predict fluid responsiveness. A secondary objective was to assess the agreement and the trending of CO values obtained with the Capstesia (COCAP) against those obtained with the transpulmonary bolus thermodilution method (COTD). METHODS: We studied 57 mechanically ventilated patients (tidal volume 8 mL/kg, positive end-expiratory pressure 5 mm Hg, respiratory rate adjusted to keep end tidal carbon dioxide [32-36] mm Hg) undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting. COTD, COCAP, PPVCAP, and PPVPC were measured before and after infusion of 5 mL/kg of a colloid solution. Fluid responsiveness was defined as an increase in COTD of >10% from baseline. The ability of PPVCAP and PPVPC to predict fluid responsiveness was analyzed using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC), the agreement between COCAP and COTD using a Bland-Altman analysis and the trending ability of COCAP compared to COTD after volume expansion using a 4-quadrant plot analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were studied before surgical incision and 29 after sternal closure. There was no significant difference in the ability of PPVCAP and PPVPC to predict fluid responsiveness (AUROC 0.74 [95% CI, 0.60-0.84] vs 0.68 [0.54-0.80]; P = .30). A PPVCAP >8.6% predicted fluid responsiveness with a sensitivity of 73% (95% CI, 0.54-0.92) and a specificity of 74% (95% CI, 0.55-0.90), whereas a PPVPC >9.5% predicted fluid responsiveness with a sensitivity of 62% (95% CI, 0.42-0.88) and a specificity of 74% (95% CI, 0.48-0.90). When measured before surgery, PPV predicted fluid responsiveness (AUROC PPVCAP = 0.818 [P = .0001]; PPVPC = 0.794 [P = .0007]) but not when measured after surgery (AUROC PPVCAP = 0.645 [P = .19]; PPVPC = 0.552 [P = .63]). A Bland-Altman analysis of COCAP and COTD showed a mean bias of 0.3 L/min (limits of agreement: -2.8 to 3.3 L/min) and a percentage error of 60%. The concordance rate, corresponding to the proportion of CO values that changed in the same direction with the 2 methods, was poor (71%, 95% CI, 66-77). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, PPVCAP and PPVPC both weakly predict fluid responsiveness. However, COCAP is not a good substitute for COTD and cannot be used to assess fluid responsiveness.

Monitoring of pulse pressure variation using a new smartphone application (Capstesia) versus stroke volume variation using an uncalibrated pulse wave analysis monitor: a clinical decision making study during major abdominal surgery.

Pulse pressure variation (PPV) and stroke volume variation (SVV) can be used to assess fluid status in the operating room but usually require dedicated advanced hemodynamic monitors. Recently, a smartphone application (Capstesia™), which automatically calculates PPV from a picture of the invasive arterial pressure waveform from any monitor screen (PPVCAP), has been developed. The purpose of this study was to compare PPVCAP with SVV from an uncalibrated pulse wave analysis monitor (SVVPC). In 40 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, we compared PPVCAP with SVVPC at post-induction, pre-incision, post-incision, end of surgery, and during every hypotensive episode (mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg). We classified PPVCAP and SVVPC into three categories reflecting the thresholds used for the decision to administer fluids: no fluid administration (PPV and SVV < 9%), gray zone (PPV and SVV 9-13%), and fluid administration (PPV and SVV > 13%). The agreement between SVVPC and PPVCAP for these three categories was measured by the number of concordant paired measurements divided by the total number of paired measurements and Cohen's kappa coefficient. In the 549 pairs of PPV-SVV data obtained, the overall agreement of PPVCAP with SVVPC was 79%, and the kappa coefficient was moderate (0.55). The highest agreement and kappa coefficient value were observed after the induction of anesthesia before surgical incision. PPVCAP and SVVPC would have resulted in completely opposite clinical decisions regarding fluid administration in 1% of the cases. In this clinical decision making study in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, we observed a moderate agreement between PPVCAP and SVVPC with regard to categories used to guide fluid administration. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials.gov (NCT03137901).

Effect of Levosimendan on Low Cardiac Output Syndrome in Patients With Low Ejection Fraction Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting With Cardiopulmonary Bypass: The LICORN Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Low cardiac output syndrome after cardiac surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients with impaired left ventricular function. Objective: To assess the ability of preoperative levosimendan to prevent postoperative low cardiac output syndrome. Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 13 French cardiac surgical centers. Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 40% and scheduled for isolated or combined coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled from June 2013 until May 2015 and followed during 6 months (last follow-up, November 30, 2015). Interventions: Patients were assigned to a 24-hour infusion of levosimendan 0.1 µg/kg/min (n = 167) or placebo (n = 168) initiated after anesthetic induction. Main Outcomes and Measures: Composite end point reflecting low cardiac output syndrome with need for a catecholamine infusion 48 hours after study drug initiation, need for a left ventricular mechanical assist device or failure to wean from it at 96 hours after study drug initiation when the device was inserted preoperatively, or need for renal replacement therapy at any time postoperatively. It was hypothesized that levosimendan would reduce the incidence of this composite end point by 15% in comparison with placebo. Results: Among 336 randomized patients (mean age, 68 years; 16% women), 333 completed the trial. The primary end point occurred in 87 patients (52%) in the levosimendan group and 101 patients (61%) in the placebo group (absolute risk difference taking into account center effect, -7% [95% CI, -17% to 3%]; P = .15). Predefined subgroup analyses found no interaction with ejection fraction less than 30%, type of surgery, and preoperative use of ß-blockers, intra-aortic balloon pump, or catecholamines. The prevalence of hypotension (57% vs 48%), atrial fibrillation (50% vs 40%), and other adverse events did not significantly differ between levosimendan and placebo. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with low ejection fraction who were undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass, levosimendan compared with placebo did not result in a significant difference in the composite end point of prolonged catecholamine infusion, use of left ventricular mechanical assist device, or renal replacement therapy. These findings do not support the use of levosimendan for this indication. Trial Registration: EudraCT Number: 2012-000232-25; clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02184819.

Impact of advanced monitoring variables on intraoperative clinical decision-making: an international survey.

To assess the relationship between the addition of advanced monitoring variables and changes in clinical decision-making. A 15-questions survey was anonymously emailed to international experts and physician members of five anesthesia societies which focused on assessing treatment decisions of clinicians during three realistic clinical scenarios measured at two distinct time points. The first is when typical case information and basic monitoring (T1) were provided, and then once again after the addition of advanced monitoring variables (T2). We hypothesized that the addition of advanced variables would increase the incidence of an optimal therapeutic decision (a priori defined as the answer with the highest percentage of expert agreement) and decrease the variability among the physician's suggested treatments. The survey was completed by 18 experts and 839 physicians. Overall, adding advanced monitoring did not significantly increase physician response accuracy, with the least substantial changes noted on questions related to volume expansion or vasopressor administration. Moreover, advanced monitoring data did not significantly decrease the high level of initial practice variability in physician suggested treatments (P = 0.13), in contrast to the low variability observed within the expert group (P = 0.039). Additionally, 5-10 years of practice (P < 0.0001) and a cardiovascular subspecialty (P = 0.048) were both physician characteristics associated with a higher rate of optimal therapeutic decisions. The addition of advanced variables was of limited benefit for most physicians, further indicating the need for more in depth education on the clinical value and technical understanding of such variables.