Reduce intraoperative albumin utilisation in cardiac surgical patients: a quality improvement initiative.

BACKGROUND: Albumin continues to be used routinely by cardiac anaesthesiologists perioperatively despite lack of evidence for improved outcomes. The Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) data ranked our institution as one of the highest intraoperative albumin users during cardiac surgery. Therefore, we designed a quality improvement project (QIP) to introduce a bundle of interventions to reduce intraoperative albumin use in cardiac surgical patients. METHODS: Our institutional MPOG data were used to analyse the FLUID-01-C measure that provides the number of adult cardiac surgery cases where albumin was administered intraoperatively by anaesthesiologists from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2022. The QIP involved introduction of the following interventions: (1) education about appropriate albumin use and indications (January 2021), (2) email communications reinforced with OR teaching (March 2021), (3) removal of albumin from the standard pharmacy intraoperative medication trays (April 2021), (4) grand rounds presentation discussing the QIP and highlighting the interventions (May 2021) and (5) quarterly provider feedback (starting July 2021). Multivariable segmented regression models were used to assess the changes from preintervention to postintervention time period in albumin utilisation, and its total monthly cost. RESULTS: Among the 5767 cardiac surgery cases that met inclusion criteria over the 3-year study period, 16% of patients received albumin intraoperatively. The total number of cases that passed the metric (albumin administration was avoided), gradually increased as our interventions went into effect. Intraoperative albumin utilisation (beta=-101.1, 95% CI -145 to -56.7) and total monthly cost of albumin (beta=-7678, 95% CI -10712 to -4640) demonstrated significant decrease after starting the interventions. CONCLUSIONS: At a single academic cardiac surgery programme, implementation of a bundle of simple and low-cost interventions as part of a coordinated QIP were effective in significantly decreasing intraoperative use of albumin, which translated into considerable costs savings.

Pain trajectories after bilateral orthotopic lung transplantation surgery performed via a clamshell incision.

INTRODUCTION: The nature, intensity, and progression of acute pain after bilateral orthotopic lung transplantation (BOLT) performed via a clamshell incision has not been well investigated. We aimed to describe acute pain after clamshell incisions using pain trajectories for the study cohort, in addition to stratifying patients into separate pain trajectory groups and investigating their association with donor and recipient perioperative variables. METHODS: After obtaining IRB approval, we retrospectively included all patients ≥18 years old who underwent primary BOLT via clamshell incision at a single center between January 1, 2017, and June 30, 2022. We modeled the overall pain trajectory using pain scores collected over the first seven postoperative days and identified separate pain trajectory classes via latent class analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred one adult patients were included in the final analysis. Three separate pain trajectory groups were identified, with most patients (72.8%) belonging to a well-controlled, stable pain trajectory. Uncontrolled pain was either observed in the early postoperative period (10%), or in the late postoperative period (17.3%). Late postoperative peaking trajectory patients were younger (p = .008), and sicker with a higher lung allocation score (p = .005), receiving preoperative mechanical ventilation (p < .001), or VV-ECMO support (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Despite the extensive nature of a clamshell incision, most pain trajectories in BOLT patients had a well-controlled stable pain profile. The benign nature of pain profiles in our patient population may be attributed to the routine institutional practice of early thoracic epidural analgesia for BOLT patients unless contraindicated.

Higher Cardiovagal Baroreflex Sensitivity Predicts Increased Pain Outcomes After Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Excessive postoperative pain can lead to extended hospitalization and increased expenses, but factors that predict its severity are still unclear. Baroreceptor function could influence postoperative pain by modulating nociceptive processing and vagal-mediated anti-inflammatory reflexes. To investigate this relationship, we conducted a study with 55 patients undergoing minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery to evaluate whether cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) can predict postoperative pain. We assessed the spontaneous cardiovagal BRS under resting pain-free conditions before surgery. We estimated postoperative pain outcomes with the Pain, Enjoyment, and General Activity scale and pressure pain thresholds on the first (POD1) and second (POD2) postoperative days and persistent pain 3 and 6 months after hospital discharge. We also measured circulating levels of relevant inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, albumin, cytokines) at baseline, POD1, and POD2 to assess the contribution of inflammation to the relationship between BRS and postoperative pain. Our mixed-effects model analysis showed a significant main effect of preoperative BRS on postoperative pain (P = .013). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between preoperative BRS and postoperative pain on POD2, even after adjusting for demographic, surgical, analgesic treatment, and psychological factors. Moreover, preoperative BRS was linked to pain interfering with general activity and enjoyment but not with other pain parameters (pain intensity and pressure pain thresholds). Preoperative BRS had modest associations with postoperative C-reactive protein and IL-10 levels, but they did not mediate its relationship with postoperative pain. These findings indicate that preoperative BRS can independently predict postoperative pain, which could serve as a modifiable criterion for optimizing postoperative pain management. PERSPECTIVE: This article shows that preoperative BRS predicts postoperative pain outcomes independently of the inflammatory response and pain sensitivity to noxious pressure stimulation. These results provide valuable insights into the role of baroreceptors in pain and suggest a helpful tool for improving postoperative pain management.

Direct oral anticoagulants and their antagonists in perioperative practice.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Review management strategies for patients receiving nonvitamin K direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs). RECENT FINDINGS: Updated clinical trials and guidelines continue to further define optimal management for patients on DOACs requiring emergency surgery or procedural interventions. In addition, specific bleeding management strategies that include either specific or nonspecific antagonists are becoming available. SUMMARY: Most currently used DOACs are factor Xa inhibitors and should be stopped for 24-48 h for elective surgical procedures in patients at risk for bleeding and potentially longer for dabigatran, depending on renal function. Idarucizumab, a specific dabigatran reversal agent, has been studied in surgical patients and is currently approved for use. For Xa inhibitors apixaban and rivaroxaban, although andexanet alfa is approved for medical bleeds, it is not approved for surgical patients, has a short duration of effect, and costs $12 500 per gram. When managing DOAC-treated patients requiring emergency surgery, when stopping the DOAC and delaying surgery is not feasible, standard approaches should include hemostatic, hemodynamic, and transfusional support. Due to higher risk associated with therapeutic agents used to manage DOAC-related bleeding, increasing data supports the potential off-label use of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC).

Pain Trajectories After Valve Surgeries Performed via Midline Sternotomy Versus Mini-Thoracotomy.

OBJECTIVES: Controlling moderate-to-severe pain remains a major challenge after cardiothoracic surgery. Several outcomes have been compared extensively after valve surgery performed via midline sternotomy versus mini-thoracotomy, but postoperative pain (POP) was not adequately examined. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that there is no difference in POP trajectories in patients undergoing valve surgery via midline sternotomy versus mini-thoracotomy. DESIGN: An Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective study. SETTING: At a single, large academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients who underwent mitral or aortic valve surgeries over a 5-year period. INTERVENTIONS: The authors compared the characteristics of pain between valve surgery patients receiving either midline sternotomy or mini-thoracotomy. To identify pain score trajectories, the authors employed latent class linear mixed models and then used multinomial regression models to study the association between incision type and pain trajectory class. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The authors' cohort consisted of 1,660 surgical patients-544 (33%) received a midline sternotomy, and 1,116 (66%) received a mini-thoracotomy. The authors identified the following 4 pain trajectory classes: stationary, rapidly improving, slowly improving, and acute worsening pain. Compared to the rapidly improving class, the odds of belonging to the stationary (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] [95% CI] 1.45 [1.01- 2.08]; p = 0.04) or the acute worsening class (aOR [95% CI] 1.71 [1.10-2.67] p = 0.02) were significantly higher for sternotomy patients compared to mini-thoracotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Midline sternotomies are associated with higher odds of having an acute worsening or stationary versus a rapidly improving pain trajectory compared to mini-thoracotomies. Therefore, the choice of incision may play an important role in determining POP trajectory after valve surgery.

Heated Humidified Breathing Circuit Rewarming in Hypothermic Patients Post-Cardiopulmonary Bypass-Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Hypothermia on intensive care unit (ICU) admission after cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass is common. It contributes to postoperative complications including shivering, coagulopathy, increased blood loss and transfusion requirements, morbid cardiac events, metabolic acidosis, increased wound infections, and prolonged hospital length of stay. The current standard of care for rewarming ICU patients is forced air warming blankets. However, high-quality evidence on additional benefit rendered by other warming methods, such as heated humidified breathing circuits (HHBC), is lacking. Therefore, the authors conducted a pilot study to examine whether the addition of HHBC to standard forced air warming blankets in hypothermic patients (≤35°C) admitted to the ICU after cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass reduced time to normothermia. DESIGN: Prospective study conducted at a single large academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: The study group was composed of 14 patients who were enrolled prospectively between April 1 and June 14, 2019. The study group was compared with a 2:1 matched retrospective control group. The matched group consisted of 28 patients from a 12-month period from July 1, 2018 June 30, 2019. INTERVENTIONS: Study patients received warming via forced air warming blankets and HHBC and were compared with patients in a control group who received only warming blankets. Time to normothermia, time to extubation, time to normal pH, blood loss, blood transfusions, and coagulation profile laboratory values were compared between the study and control groups. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The present study found no statistical difference in time to normothermia, for which the standard-of-care retrospective group achieved normothermia after a median (Q1-Q3) 4.8 (4.0-6.0) hours compared with 4.4 (3.5-5.5) hours in the prospective group receiving HHBC. All secondary outcomes, including time to extubation, time to normal pH, ICU blood product transfusion, chest tube output, and coagulation profile, were similar. CONCLUSIONS: The present pilot study detected a similar time to normothermia, extubation, and normal pH when HHBC were added to standard forced air warming blankets in hypothermic patients (≤35°C) admitted to the ICU after cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. A future larger prospective study designed to detect smaller, but clinically meaningful, reductions in the time to key clinical events for patients treated with HHBC is feasible and warranted.

Patient-Reported Chronic Pain Outcomes After Lung Transplantation.

Chronic pain after lung transplantation is a significant concern, in particular given the heterogeneity of the patient population and the challenges of achieving adequate pain control amid concerns related to complex immunosuppressant regimens and the possibility of respiratory depression. We undertook a patient-reported outcomes (PRO) survey administered via our electronic health care portal to examine the postoperative incisional pain prevalence in a cohort of lung transplant recipients at a single, high-volume center where bilateral thoracosternotomy is the preferred surgical approach. The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health and Pain Intensity short forms were sent to a total of 173 lung transplant recipients who were more than 2 months postsurgery at the time of the study. A total of 64 patients responded to both PROMIS surveys (response rate 38%). In the cohort of survey respondents, we observed a chronic pain incidence of 58% after lung transplantation (median pain score 1/10) and an overall good quality of life score (median score 4/5); however, only 9.4% reported moderate-severe pain (pain score ≥5/10). Survey nonrespondents had higher rates of pretransplant opioid and psychiatric medication use compared with respondents. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of using an electronic PRO survey for assessing postoperative pain outcomes after lung transplantation. However, measuring pain outcomes using this type of tool highlights issues of response rate and potential selection bias. Larger studies are needed to adequately assess the risk and predictors of chronic pain after lung transplantation and its impact on quality of life.

Intravenous Acetaminophen Does Not Decrease Persistent Surgical Pain After Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the hypothesis that perioperative acetaminophen reduces incisional pain at 30 and 90 days. DESIGN: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. SETTING: Tertiary-care hospital (single center) cardiac surgery unit. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were assigned randomly to intravenous (IV) acetaminophen or IV placebo. Patients were given 4 doses of 1 g of IV acetaminophen or an equal volume of saline placebo over 15 minutes every 6 hours for 24 hours starting in the operating room after sternal closure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Study participants were assessed by phone for incisional pain severity 30 and 90 days after surgery. Those reporting any incisional pain were asked to complete the Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire-Short Form and the modified Brief Pain Inventory. Patients were compared on 30- and 90-day incisional pain severity using separate multivariable linear regression models. IV acetaminophen had no effect on 30- and 90-day incisional pain, with an estimated difference in means (confidence interval) of 0.06 (-0.87 to 0.99) at 30 days (p = 0.88) and 0.07 (-0.71 to 0.86) at 90 days (p = 0.83). Low pain severity, neuropathic pain, and interference at both 30 and 90 days after surgery, regardless of treatment group, were observed. CONCLUSIONS: IV acetaminophen did not reduce the incidence or intensity of incisional pain at 30 days and 90 days after surgery.

Intravenous acetaminophen analgesia after cardiac surgery: A randomized, blinded, controlled superiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain after cardiac surgery traditionally has been controlled by intravenous opioids and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. An intravenous analgesic with fewer adverse effects is needed. Therefore, we tested the primary hypothesis that intravenous acetaminophen is more effective than placebo for pain management, which was defined a priori as superior on either pain intensity score and/or opioid consumption and not worse on either. METHODS: In this single-center, double-blind trial, 147 patients having cardiac surgery via median sternotomy were randomized to receive either 1 g of intravenous acetaminophen (73 patients) every 6 hours for 24 hours or comparable placebo (74 patients) starting in the operating room after sternal closure. Cumulative opioid consumption (in morphine equivalents) and pain intensity scores (on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale) were measured at 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours after surgery. We estimated ratio of mean opioid consumption by using multivariable linear regression (noninferiority delta = 1.15) and pain score difference by using repeated measures regression (noninferiority delta = 1). RESULTS: Acetaminophen was superior to placebo on mean pain intensity scores and noninferior on opioid consumption, with estimated difference in mean pain (95% confidence interval) of -0.90 (-1.39, -0.42), P < .001 (superior), and estimated ratio of means in opioid consumption (90% confidence interval) of 0.89 (0.73-1.10), P = .28 (noninferior; not superior). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous acetaminophen reduced pain after cardiac surgery, but not opioid consumption. Intravenous acetaminophen can be an effective analgesic adjunct in patients recovering from median sternotomy.

Cardiac herniation through a pericardial defect after minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery has been increasingly performed because of its presumed advantages over traditional surgery performed through median sternotomy. Cardiac herniation is an extremely rare complication initially reported by Bettman and Tannenbaum in 1948. It is usually reported after blunt chest trauma or pneumonectomy, but can potentially occur after any minimally invasive surgery involving a pericardial incision. In this case report, we present 2 cases of cardiac herniation occurring after minimally invasive mitral valve surgery; the 2 cases had different surgical exposures and clinical presentations. Early diagnosis is crucial for a timely lifesaving definitive management.

Propensity matched comparison of outcomes in older and younger patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: By 2050, the number of people in the United States aged 85 years and older is expected to increase from 4.2 to 20.8 million. We therefore compared outcomes after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients aged 85 years and older with those 55 to 65 years old. METHODS: Propensity matching and multivariable analysis were used to compare morbidity and mortality outcomes in 132 patients aged 85 years and older and in 5243 patients aged 55 to 65 years who underwent CABG between 1993 and 2004. Variables of interest were compared using Student t, Wilcoxon rank sum, chi(2), or Fischer exact tests, as appropriate. RESULTS: After propensity matching, each group had 122 patients who were matched on all baseline and intraoperative variables except number of intraoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, which was greater in the older group. Atrial arrhythmias occurred more frequently and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths of stay (LOS) were longer in the older group. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that atrial arrhythmias and catheter-related sepsis were more common in the older group. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients received more RBC transfusions, presumably reflecting a lower threshold to transfuse older patients. Atrial arrhythmias were more common in the older group, this can account for their longer ICU and hospital LOS, which can also explain their greater incidence of catheter sepsis. The two age groups had similar mortality and morbidity. Advanced age is not associated with substantively worse outcome after CABG compared with a propensity-matched younger age group.