Disseminated intravascular and intracardiac thrombosis after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Massive intracardiac and intravascular thrombosis is a rare complication following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Most of the cases of the disseminated thrombosis have been reported in patients undergoing complex cardiac surgeries and those receiving antifibrinolytic agents during CPB. We report the occurrence of disseminated intravascular and intracardiac thrombosis after CPB in a patient undergoing mitral valve replacement in which no antifibrinolytic agent was used. The possible pathophysiology and management of the patient is discussed.

Myocardial protection with isoflurane during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the hemodynamic effects and myocardial injury using troponin-T and creatine phosphokinase (CPK-MB) with isoflurane and compare it with a control group in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. DESIGN: This prospective, randomized study was performed in patients scheduled for elective OPCAB surgery during February 2007 to February 2009. SETTING: Tertiary care, university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five patients undergoing elective OPCAB surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allotted to receive either isoflurane (inspired concentration between 1.0% and 2.5%) or propofol (1.5 to 3.5 mg/kg/h) during OPCAB surgery. The concentration of these agents was titrated such that the BIS value was maintained between 50 and 60. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The hemodynamic data were measured and recorded after induction of anesthesia (baseline), during the distal anastomosis of each coronary artery, and 5 and 30 minutes after giving protamine. In addition, blood samples for troponin-T and CPK-MB were obtained after induction (baseline), after 6 hours and 24 hours postoperatively. The cardiac index was significantly higher in the isoflurane group at all stages, except during distal anastomosis of the diagonal branch of the left anterior descending artery (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in troponin-T levels at 6 and 24 hours after surgery in the propofol group (from 0.037 ± 0.013 ng/mL to 0.098 ± 0.045 ng/mL and 0.081 ± 0.025 ng/mL, respectively, p < 0.05). Significant increases in the troponin-T levels were observed at 6 hours (from 0.033 ± 0.011 ng/mL to 0.052 ± 0.025 ng/mL, (p < 0.05) in the isoflurane group, and the levels in the propofol group were significantly higher than the isoflurane group at 6 and 24 hours after surgery (p < 0.05). The CPK-MB levels increased in both groups, but were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: Isoflurane provides protection against myocardial damage in a clinically used dosage as documented by lower levels of troponin-T in patients undergoing OPCAB surgery.

Supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with severe rheumatic mitral valve disease.

A rare association of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) along with severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation is presented. The patient, a 28-year-old female, underwent successful repair of the TAPVC along with pericardial patch closure of the atrial septal defect and replacement of the mitral valve with a mechanical prosthesis.

Comparison of hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and intubation with Truview PCD™, McGrath® and Macintosh laryngoscope in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: A randomized prospective study.

CONTEXT: We hypothesized that reduced oropharyngolaryngeal stimulation with video laryngoscopes would attenuate hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. AIM: Comparison of hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation with video laryngoscopes and Macintosh (MC) laryngoscope. SETTING AND DESIGN: Superspecialty tertiary care public hospital; prospective, randomized control study. METHODS: Sixty adult patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were randomly allocated to three groups of 20 each: MC, McGrath (MG), and Truview™. Hemodynamic parameters were serially recorded before and after intubation. Laryngoscopic grade, laryngoscopy, and tracheal intubation time, ST segment changes, and intra-/post-operative complications were also recorded and compared between groups. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: SPSS version 17 was used, and appropriate tests applied. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Heart rate and diastolic arterial pressure increased at 0 and 1 min of intubation in all the three groups (P < 0.05) while mean arterial pressure increased at 0 min in the MG and TV groups and at 1 min in all three groups (P < 0.05). A significant increase in systolic arterial pressure was only observed in TV group at 1 min (P < 0.05). These hemodynamic parameters returned to baseline by 3 min of intubation in all the groups. The intergroup comparisons of all hemodynamic parameters were not significant at any time of observation. Highest intubation difficulty score was observed with MC (2.16 ± 1.86) as compared with MG (0.55 ± 0.88) and TV (0.42 ± 0.83) groups (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively). However, duration of laryngoscopy and intubation was significantly less in MC (36.68 ± 16.15 s) as compared with MG (75.25 ± 30.94 s) and TV (60.47 ± 27.45 s) groups (P = 0.000 and 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Video laryngoscopes did not demonstrate any advantage in terms of hemodynamic response in patients with normal airway undergoing CABG.

Where does the pulmonary artery catheter float: transesophageal echocardiography evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary artery (PA) catheter provides a variety of cardiac and hemodynamic parameters. In majority of the patients, the catheter tends to float in the right pulmonary artery (RPA) than the left pulmonary artery (LPA). We evaluated the location of PA catheter with the help of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to know the incidence of its localization. Three views were utilized for this purpose; midesophageal ascending aorta (AA) short-axis view, modified mid esophageal aortic valve long-axis view, and modified bicaval view. METHODS: We enrolled 135 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery where both the PA catheter and TEE were to be used; for this prospective observational study. PA catheter was visualized by TEE in the above mentioned views and the degree of clarity of visualization by three views was also noted. Position of the PA catheter was further confirmed by a postoperative chest radiograph. RESULTS: One patient was excluded from the data analysis. PA catheter was visualized in RPA in 129 patients (96%) and in LPA in 4 patients (3%). In 1 patient, the catheter was visualized in main PA in the chest radiograph. The midesophageal AA short-axis, modified aortic valve long-axis, and modified bicaval view provided good visualization in 51.45%, 57.4%, and 62.3% patients respectively. Taken together, PA catheter visualization was good in 128 (95.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the PA catheter has a high probability of entering the RPA as compared to LPA (96% vs. 3%) and TEE provides good visualization of the catheter in RPA.

Left atrial thrombus formation immediately after mitral valve replacement: a case report.

Mechanical dysfunction from valve thrombosis is a dreaded complication of valve replacement surgery, usually presenting months to years after the procedure. Here we report acute deterioration of prosthetic valve function due to intraoperative obstruction by a thrombus.

Anesthetic management for emergency cesarean section and aortic valve replacement in a parturient with severe bicuspid aortic valve stenosis and congestive heart failure.

Asymptomatic women with mild aortic stenosis (AS) and normal left ventricular functions can successfully carry pregnancy to term and have vaginal deliveries. However, severe AS (valve area <1.0 cm2) can result in rapid clinical deterioration and maternal and fetal mortality. So, these patients require treatment of AS before conception or during pregnancy preferably in the second trimester. In suitable patients percutaneous balloon aortic valvotomy appears to carry lower risk. It can also be used as a palliative procedure allowing deferral of aortic valve replacement until after delivery. The present patient had severe critical AS with congestive heart failure that was refractory to medical therapy and the fetus was viable (>28 wks). So, combined lower segment cesarean section and aortic valve replacement were performed under opioid based general anesthesia technique to reduce the cardiac morbidity and mortality.

Anesthetic management of patient with myasthenia gravis and uncontrolled hyperthyroidism for thymectomy.

The relationship between myasthenia gravis (MG) and other autoimmune disorders like hyperthyroidism is well known. It may manifest earlier, concurrently or after the appearance of MG. The effect of treatment of hyperthyroidism on the control of MG is variable. There may be resolution or conversely, deterioration of the symptoms also. We present a patient who was diagnosed to be hyperthyroid two and half years before the appearance of myasthenic symptoms. Pharmacotherapy for three months neither improved the myasthenic symptoms nor the thyroid function tests. Thymectomy resulted in control of MG as well as hyperthyroidism. In conclusion, effective control of hyperthyroidism in the presence of MG may be difficult. The authors opine that careful peri-operative management of thymectomy is possible in a hyperthyroid state.

Repair of atrial septal defects on the perfused beating heart.

We present our experience in repairing all varieties of atrial septal defects with the aid of continuous antegrade perfusion of an empty beating heart with normothermic blood.From September 1999 through December 2008, 266 patients (140 females and 126 males; ages 3-53 yr) underwent atrial septal defect closure by this method. Of these patients, 236 had ostium secundum, 21 had sinus venosus, and 9 had ostium primum defects. Three patients also had rheumatic mitral incompetence requiring mitral valve implantation, and 2 also had mitral stenosis requiring valvuloplasty. Preoperative diagnoses were established by 2-dimensional echocardiography and color-flow Doppler study. The size of atrial septal defects ranged from 2 cm through 4.5 cm. Direct repair was performed in 52 patients, and the rest received an autologous pericardial patch. Normothermic perfusion at 4 to 5 mL/(kg.min) kept the heart beating throughout the procedure. All patients survived the procedure with no complication. Twelve patients with ostium secundum atrial septal defect were extubated on the table and discharged within 24 hours of hospitalization. They are categorized as ambulatory cases. All patients remained in sinus rhythm. One patient with a residual shunt required revision of a patch; postoperative echocardiography showed normal left ventricular function and no residual shunt. Total intensive care unit stay was less than 24 hours for all patients.The primary aim of the beating-heart technique is to avoid ischemic-reperfusion injury. It is a safe and effective technique for the closure of all varieties of atrial septal defect.

Anaesthetic considerations for noncoronary surgery on a perfused beating heart under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Myocardial revascularisation on a beating heart with or without cardiopulmonary bypass has significantly reduced the incidence of cardioplegic myocardial injury. With this advantage in view, noncoronary open heart surgery was performed on a beating heart under cardiopulmonary bypass. We discuss the anaesthetic management of such cases. Thirty-three patients aged 14-56 years underwent open heart surgery on a perfused beating heart. Eleven of them underwent open mitral valvotomy, eighteen underwent mitral valve replacement, repair of atrial septal defect was performed in 3 patients and one had removal of left atrial myxoma. Cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted with aortic and bicaval cannulation. At normothermia, aorta was cross-clamped and continuous coronary perfusion was maintained through an aortic root needle at a rate of 4-6 mL/Kg/minute facilitating a beating heart. Trans-oesophageal echocardiography was routinely deployed. Anaesthetic considerations were focused towards the maintenance of the beating state of the heart, that included, strict control of electrolyte balance, maintenance of adequate perfusion pressure and ST segment monitoring. All the patients could be weaned off cardiopulmonary bypass without defibrillation or significant inotropic support. There was no operative mortality. Open heart surgery on a beating heart for non-coronary cardiac conditions appears to be a good and reproducible option to protect the myocardium from deleterious effects of cardioplegic arrest.

Preoperative autologous plateletpheresis in patients undergoing open heart surgery.

Blood conservation is an important aspect of care provided to the patients undergoing cardiac operations with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). It is even more important in patients with anticipated prolonged CPB, redo cardiac surgery, patients having negative blood group and in patients undergoing emergency cardiac surgery. In prolonged CPB the blood is subjected to more destruction of important coagulation factors, in redo surgery the separation of adhesions leads to increased bleeding and difficulty in achieving the haemostasis and in patients with negative blood group and emergency operations, the availability of sufficient blood can be a problem. Harvesting the autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) can be a useful method of blood conservation in these patients. The above four categories of patients were prospectively studied, using either autologous whole blood donation or autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) harvest in the immediate pre-bypass period. Forty two patients were included in the study and randomly divided into two equal groups of 21 each, control group (Group I) in which one unit of whole blood was withdrawn, and PRP group (Group II) where autologous plateletpheresis was utilised. After reversal of heparin, autologous whole blood was transfused in the control group and autologous PRP was transfused in the PRP group. The chest tube drainage and the requirement of homologous blood and blood products were recorded. Average PRP harvest was 643.33 +/- 133.51 mL in PRP group and the mean whole blood donation was 333.75 +/- 79.58 mL in the control group. Demographic, preoperative and intra operative data showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The PRP group patients drained 26.44% less (p<0.001) and required 38.5% less homologous blood and blood products (p<0.05), in the postoperative period. Haemoglobin levels on day zero (day of operation) and day three were statistically not different between the two groups. We conclude that autologous plateletpheresis is a better method of blood conservation in terms of better haemostasis, and less requirement of blood and blood products in the postoperative period as compared with the autologous whole blood donation. This technique can be especially useful in the above-mentioned categories of patients.