Quantitative Transthoracic Echocardiography of the Response to Dobutamine in Cardiac Surgery Patients With Low Cardiac Output Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the acute effects of dobutamine in postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) using transthoracic echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and blood biomarker monitoring and to assess its association with clinical outcomes. DESIGN: Observational prospective study. SETTING: Single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Echocardiographic parameters, hemodynamic data, and plasma biomarkers were obtained before and early after inotrope initiation. The diagnostic value of transthoracic echocardiographic parameters and their association with clinical outcome were evaluated. Thirty-eight LCOS patients and 12 control patients were included. The left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral was significantly lower in LCOS patients (11.75 v 19.08 cm; p < 0.001) and showed a marked improvement after dobutamine administration (∼37% increase). Dobutamine improved left and right ventricular function, increased mean arterial pressure and urine output, and lowered lactate levels. The duration of dobutamine support, but not in-hospital mortality, was associated with echocardiographic estimates of cardiac performance early after dobutamine initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Early transthoracic echocardiographic assessment and the acute response to inotropic therapy may provide rapid and highly valuable information in the diagnostic workup and risk evaluation of patients with suspected LCOS after cardiac surgery.

Role of biomarkers in early infectious complications after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Infections and primary graft dysfunction are devastating complications in the immediate postoperative period following lung transplantation. Nowadays, reliable diagnostic tools are not available. Biomarkers could improve early infection diagnosis. METHODS: Multicentre prospective observational study that included all centres authorized to perform lung transplantation in Spain. Lung infection and/or primary graft dysfunction presentation during study period (first postoperative week) was determined. Biomarkers were measured on ICU admission and daily till ICU discharge or for the following 6 consecutive postoperative days. RESULTS: We included 233 patients. Median PCT levels were significantly lower in patients with no infection than in patients with Infection on all follow up days. PCT levels were similar for PGD grades 1 and 2 and increased significantly in grade 3. CRP levels were similar in all groups, and no significant differences were observed at any study time point. In the absence of PGD grade 3, PCT levels above median (0.50 ng/ml on admission or 1.17 ng/ml on day 1) were significantly associated with more than two- and three-fold increase in the risk of infection (adjusted Odds Ratio 2.37, 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 5.30 and 3.44, 95% confidence interval 1.52 to 7.78, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of severe primary graft dysfunction, procalcitonin can be useful in detecting infections during the first postoperative week. PGD grade 3 significantly increases PCT levels and interferes with the capacity of PCT as a marker of infection. PCT was superior to CRP in the diagnosis of infection during the study period.

Risk Factors for Mortality in 272 Patients With Lung Transplant: A Multicenter Analysis of 7 Intensive Care Units.

BACKGROUND: One-year survival in lung transplant is around 85%, but this figure has not increased in recent years, in spite of technical improvements. METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study. Data from 272 eligible adults with lung transplant were recorded at 7 intensive care units (ICU) in Spain in 2013. The objective was to identify variables that might help to guide future clinical interventions in order to reducethe risk of death in the postoperative period. RESULTS: One patient (0.3%) died in the operating room and 27 (10%) within 90 days. Twenty (7.4%) died within 28 days, after a median of 14 ICU days. Grade 3 pulmonary graft dysfunction was documented in 108 patients, of whom 21 died, compared with 6 out of 163 without pulmonary graft dysfunction (P<.001). At ICU admission, non-survivors had significantly lower (P=.03) median PaO2/FiO2 (200mmHg vs 280mmHg), and the difference increased after 24hours (178 vs 297mmHg, P<.001). Thirteen required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and 7(53.8%) died. A logistic regression model identified pulmonary graft dysfunction (OR: 6.77), donor age>60yr (OR: 2.91) and SOFA>8 (OR: 2.53) as independent predictors of 90-day mortality. At ICU admission, higher median procalcitonin (1.6 vs 0.6) and lower median PaO2/FiO2 (200 vs 280mmHg) were significantly associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Graft dysfunction remains a significant problem in lung transplant. Early ICU interventions in patients with severe hypoxemia or high procalcitonin are crucial in order to lower mortality.

[Lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis: infectious events]. / Transplante pulmonar en la fibrosis quística: complicaciones infecciosas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lung transplantation is the only treatment for end-stage lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The presence of pathogens in the airways prior to transplantation is a risk factor for infections in the post-transplantation period; in fact, infections account for 80% of deaths within the first year. Our goal was to analyze the incidence of infectious complications in patients who underwent a lung transplantation due to cystic fibrosis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Descriptive transversal study of CF transplanted lung patients since the beginning of the transplantation programme (1991 to September 2004). We evaluated data regarding opportunistic infections, demographical information, lung function, mortality causes and survival. We used descriptive statistics and Kaplan Meier for survival. RESULTS: 267 lung transplants were done, 57 were due to CF, 30 men and 27 women, with an average age of 21 years (7.8 years. The average time on waiting list was 96 days (range 1-407). 57 bilateral lung transplants, 3 heart-lung transplants and one combined liver-lung transplant were performed. All patients received triple immunosuppression (tacrolimus/cyclosporine, azathioprine and prednisone). 16 patients (28%) died: 4 in early postoperative period (7%), 5 at 6 months after transplantation, and the remaining 7 patients died several years post transplantation. Survival was 82% at one year, 76% at three years, and 65% at five years; 75% of our patients survived a mean of 3.56 years. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections occurred in 26% of patients and were associated with chronic rejection (p < 0.05). Purulent bronchitis was the most frequent bacterial infection: 59% of cases were caused by multiresistant pathogens. There was a 8.77% cases of B cepacia infection with 2 patients dying because of it. There were 7 cases of airway infection due to Aspergillus fumigatus, and 5 fungal invasive forms that were associated with chronic rejection (p < 0.05). Two cases of tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) were registered, 1 case of M. abcessus lung disease and 1 case of visceral leishmaniosis. Infectious diseases accounted for 19% of early and 12% of late mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Although serious infections were seen after transplantation in our series, infectious events did not represent a high risk of postoperative mortality rate. Fungal disease was the only late relevant infectious complication, mainly associated with chronic rejections. Close CMV monitoring, and even pre-emptive antifungal therapy, are recommended for patients with chronic rejection.

Supplemental perioperative oxygen and the risk of surgical wound infection: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Supplemental perioperative oxygen has been variously reported to halve or double the risk of surgical wound infection. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that supplemental oxygen reduces infection risk in patients following colorectal surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial of 300 patients aged 18 to 80 years who underwent elective colorectal surgery in 14 Spanish hospitals from March 1, 2003, to October 31, 2004. Wound infections were diagnosed by blinded investigators using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Baseline patient characteristics, anesthetic treatment, and potential confounding factors were recorded. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to either 30% or 80% fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) intraoperatively and for 6 hours after surgery. Anesthetic treatment and antibiotic administration were standardized. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Any surgical site infection (SSI); secondary outcomes included return of bowel function and ability to tolerate solid food, ambulation, suture removal, and duration of hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients received 30% perioperative oxygen and 148 received 80% perioperative oxygen. Surgical site infection occurred in 35 patients (24.4%) administered 30% FIO2 and in 22 patients (14.9%) administered 80% FIO2 (P=.04). The risk of SSI was 39% lower in the 80% FIO2 group (relative risk [RR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-0.98) vs the 30% FIO2 group. After adjustment for important covariates, the RR of infection in patients administered supplemental oxygen was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.22-0.95; P = .04). None of the secondary outcomes varied significantly between the 2 treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving supplemental inspired oxygen had a significant reduction in the risk of wound infection. Supplemental oxygen appears to be an effective intervention to reduce SSI in patients undergoing colon or rectal surgery. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00235456.

Triple cardiac rupture.

Left ventricular free wall rupture and acute ischaemic mitral regurgitation are nowadays rare, but still potentially lethal mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction. We report a case of a sequential left ventricular free wall rupture, anterolateral papillary muscle disruption, secondary severe mitral regurgitation and subsequent posteromedial papillary muscle head rupture in a single patient during the same ischaemic episode after myocardial infarction, and their related successful surgical procedures and management until discharge. Prompt bedside diagnosis and emergent consecutive surgical procedures, as well as temporary left ventricular assistance, were crucial in the survival of this patient.

Factores predictores de mortalidad y estrategias de detección precoz de síndrome hepatopulmonar en pacientes trasplantados hepáticos / Predictors of mortality and early detection strategies for hepatopulmonary syndrome in liver transplant patients

Introduction: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a serious, progressive disease. Its pathophysiology resides in a hypoxic intrapulmonary shunt and severe clinical deterioration. Liver transplantation (LT) is the only effective treatment in appropriately selected patients. Objective: To acknowledge the importance of early diagnosis of HPS. Patients and methods: Observational, descriptive, retrospective trial including 8 patients with HPS that received LT between April 2006 and August 2014. The clinical data prior to transplantation and follow-up after the procedure were reviewed. A multivariate analysis (stepwise forward logistic regression analysis) was used to identify the variable that could potentially increase the risk of death. Results: Of the 8 patients, death could only be significantly predicted based on the pre-LT arterial blood partial oxygen pressure (PaO2) (p = 0.002). The average pre-LT PaO2 of the patients that died was 51.5 ±2.49 SD, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002). None of the variables was statistically significant for HPS reversibility. The survival rate of patients diagnosed with HPS following the LT was 62.5%. Conclusions: The level of pre-LT hypoxemia is an important predictor for immediate postoperative mortality. Early detection of the condition is critical to reduce the post LT morbidity and mortality so that the indication for transplant is made at the right time, regardless of the stage of liver disease. The most efficient clinical strategy could be the use of appropriate early detection protocols for HPS through screening of hypoxemia in patients with portal hypertension.

Introducción: El síndrome hepatopulmonar (SHP) es una enfermedad grave y progresiva cuya fisiopatología reside en un shunt intrapulmonar con hipoxia y deterioro clínico severo. Como único tratamiento efectivo se ha postulado el trasplante hepático (TH), en pacientes adecuadamente seleccionados. Objetivo: Reconocer la importancia del diagnostico temprano del SHP. Pacientes y métodos: Mediante un estudio observacional, descriptivo, con carácter retrospectivo de 8 pacientes con SHP, a los que se les realizó TH en el período entre Abril 2006-Agosto 2014. Se han revisado los datos clínicos previos al trasplante y el seguimiento tras este. Se empleó un estudio multivariante (stepwise forward logistic regression analisis), para determinar cual variable podría incrementar el riesgo de muerte. Resultados: De los 8 pacientes, el resultado de muerte sólo pudo ser predicho significativamente por el factor presión parcial de oxígeno en sangre arterial (PaO2) pre-TH (p=0,002). La PaO2 pre-TH promedio de los pacientes que fallecieron era de 51,5 +/- 2,49 DS, siendo la diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p=0,002). Ninguna variable resultó estadísticamente significativa para reversibilidad del SHP. La supervivencia de los pacientes con criterio de SHP posterior al TH fue de 62,5%. Conclusiones: El grado de hipoxemia pre-TH es un factor predictor importante de mortalidad en el postoperatorio inmediato. La precocidad en la detección de la entidad es fundamental tanto para disminuir la morbimortalidad post TH como para indicar éste en el momento óptimo independientemente del estadío de la enfermedad hepática. Protocolos adecuados de detección precoz del SHP mediante screening de hipoxemias en pacientes con hipertensión portal, puede ser la estrategia clínica más eficiente.