Postcardiotomy Shock Syndrome: A Narrative Review of Perioperative Diagnosis and Management.

Postcardiotomy shock (PCS) is generally described as the inability to separate from cardiopulmonary bypass due to ineffective cardiac output after cardiotomy, which is caused by a primary cardiac disorder, resulting in inadequate tissue perfusion. Postcardiotomy shock occurs in 0.5% to 1.5% of contemporary cardiac surgery cases, and is accompanied by an in-hospital mortality of approximately 67%. In the last 2 decades, the incidence of PCS has increased, likely due to the increased age and baseline morbidity of patients requiring cardiac surgery. In this narrative review, the authors discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of PCS, the rationale and evidence behind the initiation, continuation, escalation, and discontinuation of mechanical support devices in PCS, and the anesthetic implications.

Mitral Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the most frequently encountered types of valvular heart disease in the United States. Patients with significant MR (moderate-to-severe or severe) undergoing noncardiac surgery have an increased risk of perioperative cardiovascular complications. MR can arise from a diverse array of causes that fall into 2 broad categories: primary (diseases intrinsic to the valvular apparatus) and secondary (diseases that disrupt normal valve function via effects on the left ventricle or mitral annulus). This article highlights key guideline updates from the American College of Cardiologists (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) that inform decision-making for the anesthesiologist caring for a patient with MR undergoing noncardiac surgery. The pathophysiology and natural history of acute and chronic MR, staging of chronic primary and secondary MR, and considerations for timing of valvular corrective surgery are reviewed. These topics are then applied to a discussion of anesthetic management, including preoperative risk evaluation, anesthetic selection, hemodynamic goals, and intraoperative monitoring of the noncardiac surgical patient with MR.

Successful Management of a Patient With Possible Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Undergoing Pulmonary Embolectomy: A Case Report.

We report the successful perioperative management of a patient with presumed mastocytosis undergoing pulmonary embolectomy. Postoperatively the patient went into vasodilatory shock, which was partly attributed to mast cell mediator release. H1- and H2-antagonists, steroids, and a single dose of methylene blue were given with improvement of hemodynamics. The patient was weaned off vasoactive substances and extubated by postoperative day 2. We discuss the perioperative management of patients with mastocytosis, briefly review the literature concerning anesthetic management for cardiac surgery in patients with this disorder, and discuss our patient's alternative but related diagnosis of idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome.