Perioperative echocardiographic strain analysis: what anesthesiologists should know.

PURPOSE: Echocardiographic strain analysis by speckle tracking allows assessment of myocardial deformation during the cardiac cycle. Its clinical applications have significantly expanded over the last two decades as a sensitive marker of myocardial dysfunction with important diagnostic and prognostic values. Strain analysis has the potential to become a routine part of the perioperative echocardiographic examination for most anesthesiologist-echocardiographers but its exact role in the perioperative setting is still being defined. CLINICAL FEATURES: This clinical report reviews the principles underlying strain analysis and describes its main clinical uses pertinent to the field of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine. Strain for assessment of left and right ventricular function as well as atrial strain is described. We also discuss the potential role of strain to aid in perioperative risk stratification, surgical patient selection in cardiac surgery, and guidance of anesthetic monitor choice and clinical decision-making in the perioperative period. CONCLUSION: Echocardiographic strain analysis is a powerful tool that allows seeing what conventional 2D imaging sometimes fails to reveal. It often provides pathophysiologic insight into various cardiac diseases at an early stage. Strain analysis is readily feasible and reproducible thanks to the use of highly automated software platforms. This technique shows promising potential to become a valuable tool in the arsenal of the anesthesiologist-echocardiographer and aid in perioperative risk-stratification and clinical decision-making.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: L'analyse échocardiographique de la déformation cardiaque (strain analysis) par suivi des marqueurs acoustiques (speckle-tracking) permet d'évaluer la déformation du myocarde au cours du cycle cardiaque. Ses applications cliniques se sont considérablement développées au cours des deux dernières décennies en tant que marqueur sensible du dysfonctionnement myocardique, avec des valeurs diagnostiques et pronostiques importantes. L'analyse de la déformation cardiaque a le potentiel de devenir une partie intégrante de l'examen échocardiographique périopératoire de routine pour la plupart des anesthésiologistes-échocardiographes, mais son rôle exact dans le cadre périopératoire est encore en cours de définition. CARACTéRISTIQUES CLINIQUES: Ce rapport clinique passe en revue les principes qui sous-tendent l'analyse de la déformation cardiaque et décrit ses principales utilisations cliniques pertinentes dans le domaine de l'anesthésiologie et de la médecine périopératoire. L'analyse de la déformation cardique pour l'évaluation de la fonction ventriculaire gauche et droite ainsi que de la déformation auriculaire sont décrites. Nous discutons également du rôle potentiel de l'analyse de la déformation cardiaque pour aider à la stratification du risque périopératoire, à la sélection des patients en chirurgie cardiaque, à l'orientation du choix des moniteurs anesthésiques, et à la prise de décision clinique en période périopératoire. CONCLUSION: L'analyse échocardiographique de la déformation cardiaque est un outil puissant qui permet de voir ce que l'imagerie 2D conventionnelle ne parvient parfois pas à révéler. Elle fournit souvent un aperçu physiopathologique de diverses maladies cardiaques à un stade précoce. L'analyse de la déformation cardiaque est facilement réalisable et reproductible grâce à l'utilisation de plateformes logicielles hautement automatisées. Cette technique est potentiellement prometteuse et pourrait devenir un outil précieux dans l'arsenal de l'anesthésiologiste-échocardiographe et aider à la stratification du risque périopératoire et à la prise de décision clinique.

Adsorption of Pb (II) Ions onto Hydroxyapatite Nanopowders in Aqueous Solutions.

Contamination of water with heavy metals such as lead is a major worldwide problem because they affect the physiological functions of living organisms, cause cancer, and damage the immune system. Hydroxyapatite, (Ca5(PO4)3OH) is considered one of the most effective materials for removing heavy metals from contaminated water. The hydroxyapatite nanopowders (N-HAp) obtained by a co-precipitation method were used in this research to determine the effectiveness in removing lead ions from contaminated solutions. In this study, we have investigated the structure and morphology of N-HAp nanopowders using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electronic transmission microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The structure information was also obtained by spectroscopy measurements. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy measurements revealed the presence of peaks corresponding to the phosphate and hydroxyl groups. The ability of N-HAp nanopowders to adsorb lead ions from aqueous solutions were established. The results of the kinetic and equilibrium studies on the removal of Pb (II) from aqueous solution revealed that the adsorption of lead (II) cations is due to the surface reaction with the hydroxyl terminal groups on the adsorbent and the combination of the positive charges of the metal cations with the negative charges on the adsorbent surfaces. These observations could validate the use of these ceramic nanopowders in ecological remediation strategies.

Objective assessment of Myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion: A prospective single-blinded validation study.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Despite the transition to competency-based education in surgery, few standardized assessment tools exist in otolaryngology training. In particular, myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion (M+T) is a common surgical procedure with few validated assessment tools available. Our objectives were to develop an objective structured assessment of operative skills in M+T and to provide validity evidence for the developed assessment tool within otolaryngology training. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study involving the evaluation of an assessment tool. METHODS: Through consultation with a panel of experts in otolaryngology and medical education we developed a Task-Specific Checklist and Global Rating Scale for M+T. Postgraduate year 2 junior residents, postgraduate year 3 senior residents, and attending otolaryngologists were video recorded performing M+T at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. The videos were subsequently reviewed and independently evaluated by three blinded raters from an unaffiliated academic institution. RESULTS: The average score of junior residents, senior residents, and attending otolaryngologists using the Task-Specific Checklist was 21.7/30 (±7.1), 26.3/30 (±3.5), and 27.3/30 (±6.2), respectively (P = .04). For the Global Rating Scale, the scores for junior residents, senior residents, and attending surgeons were 27.7/50 (±11.2), 34.5/50 (±9.5), and 45.1/50 (±4.6), respectively (P < .001). The inter-rater and intrarater reliability were both above 0.88. CONCLUSIONS: The Task-Specific Checklist and Global Rating Scale for M+T appear reliable, with validity evidence supporting their use in otolaryngology training. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 126:2140-2146, 2016.