COVID-19 in the perioperative period of cardiovascular surgery: the brazilian experience

Abstract Introduction: We investigated the clinical course and outcomes of patients submitted to cardiovascular surgery in Brazil and who had developed symptoms/signs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the perioperative period. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study including 104 patients who were allocated in three groups according to time of positive real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2): group 1, patients who underwent cardiac surgery > 10 days after positive RT-PCR; group 2, patients with a positive RT-PCR within 10 days before or after surgery; group 3, patients who presented positive RT-PCR > 10 days after surgery. The primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and postoperative days of hospitalization. Results: The three groups were similar with respect to age, the European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score, and comorbidities, except hypertension. Postoperative complications and death were significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1, and no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 was seen. Group 2 showed a high prevalence of surgery performed as an urgent procedure. Although no significant differences were observed in ICU length of stay, total postoperative hospitalization time was significantly higher in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: COVID-19 affecting the postoperative period of patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery is associated with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality. Delaying procedures in RT-PCR-positive patients may help reduce risks of perioperative complications and death.

Alterações da função pulmonar após tratamento cirúrgico de cardiopatias congênitas com hiperfluxo pulmonar / Changes in pulmonary function after surgical treatment of congenital heart disease with pulmonary hyperflow

FUNDAMENTO: Análise das condições pulmonares dos pacientes no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca pediátrica. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o comportamento da complacência pulmonar e resistência da via aérea nos pacientes portadores de cardiopatias congênitas com hiperfluxo pulmonar, submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico com auxílio de circulação extracorpórea. MÉTODOS: Avaliaram-se, durante a cirurgia, 35 pacientes com medidas de complacência estática e resistência da via aérea, em quatro instantes distintos. As medidas pulmonares foram feitas de forma não-invasiva, com o método de oclusão da via aérea ao final da inspiração e uso de fórmulas matemáticas específicas. As variáveis observadas e relacionadas às alterações pulmonares foram: no período pré-operatório, idade, peso e relação entre fluxo sangüíneo sistêmico e pulmonar; no intra-operatório, tempos de perfusão, de anóxia e temperatura mínima; no pós-operatório, tempo de ventilação mecânica e de permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva. RESULTADOS: Ao final da cirurgia, a complacência pulmonar mostrou aumento significativo imediato (p < 0,001) em todos os pacientes. Os pacientes maiores de 30 meses tiveram maior aumento (p = 0,0004). Aqueles com peso superior a 10 kg também apresentaram maior aumento (p = 0,0006). Os pacientes com tempo de circulação extracorpórea maior que 50 minutos demoraram mais para apresentar aumento da complacência pulmonar (p = 0,04). A resistência da via aérea não apresentou alteração significativa ao final da correção cirúrgica (p = 0,393). CONCLUSÃO: A complacência pulmonar apresentou melhora ao final da cirurgia em todos os pacientes, sendo influenciada de forma significativa por fatores como idade, peso e tempo de circulação extracorpórea. A resistência da via aérea, entretanto, não se alterou.

BACKGROUND: Analysis of pulmonary status of pediatric patients in the postoperative phase of cardiac surgery. OBJECTIVE: To assess pulmonary compliance and airway resistance in patients with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hyperflow submitted to surgical treatment with the use of extracorporeal circulation. METHODS: Thirty-five patients were evaluated during surgery with measurements of static compliance and airway resistance at four different timepoints. Pulmonary measurements were performed non-invasively using end-inspiratory airway occlusion and specific mathematical formulas. The variables examined and related to pulmonary changes were: preoperative - age, weight, and relationship between systemic and pulmonary blood flow; intraoperative - perfusion times, anoxia times and minimum temperature; postoperative - time on mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the intensive care unit. RESULTS: Pulmonary compliance in all patients had an immediate and significant increase (P<0.001) at the end of surgery. Patients older than 30 months experienced a greater increase (P=0.0004). Those with more than 10kg also had a greater increase (P=0.0006). In patients on extracorporeal circulation for more than 50 minutes, the increase in pulmonary compliance took longer to occur (P=0.04). Airway resistance was not significantly changed at the end of surgery (P=0.393). CONCLUSION: All patients experienced improved pulmonary compliance at the end of surgery, and this was significantly influenced by age, weight and time on extracorporeal circulation. Airway resistance, however, was not changed.