DHA-supplemented diet increases the survival of rats following asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation.

Accumulating evidence illustrates the beneficial effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cardiovascular diseases. However, its effects on cardiac arrest (CA) remain controversial in epidemiological studies and have not been reported in controlled animal studies. Here, we examined whether dietary DHA can improve survival, the most important endpoint in CA. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups and received either a control diet or a DHA-supplemented diet for 7-8 weeks. Rats were then subjected to 20 min asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest followed by 30 min cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation. Rat survival was monitored for additional 3.5 h following resuscitation. In the control group, 1 of 9 rats survived for 4 h, whereas 6 of 9 rats survived in the DHA-treated group. Surviving rats in the DHA-treated group displayed moderately improved hemodynamics compared to rats in the control group 1 h after the start of resuscitation. Rats in the control group showed no sign of brain function whereas rats in the DHA-treated group had recurrent seizures and spontaneous respiration, suggesting dietary DHA also protects the brain. Overall, our study shows that dietary DHA significantly improves rat survival following 20 min of severe CA.

The intraoperative decrease of selenium is associated with the postoperative development of multiorgan dysfunction in cardiac surgical patients.

OBJECTIVE: The trace elements selenium, copper, and zinc are essential for maintaining the oxidative balance. A depletion of antioxidative trace elements has been observed in critically ill patients and is associated with the development of multiorgan dysfunction and an increased mortality. Cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass provokes ischemia-reperfusion-mediated oxidative stress. We hypothesized that an intraoperative decrease of circulating trace elements may be involved in this response. DESIGN: Prospective observational clinical study. SETTING: University hospital cardiothoracic operation theater and intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Sixty patients (age 65 ± 14 yrs) undergoing cardiac surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Whole blood concentrations of selenium, copper, and zinc were measured after induction of anesthesia and 1 hr after admission to the intensive care unit. All patients were separated in a priori defined subgroups according to the development of no organ failure, single organ failure, and ≥ 2 organ failures in the postoperative period. RESULTS: Fifty patients exhibited a significant selenium deficiency already before surgery, whereas copper and zinc concentrations were within the reference range. In all patients, blood levels of selenium, copper, and zinc were significantly reduced after end of surgery when compared to preoperative values (selenium: 89.05 ± 12.65 to 70.84 ± 10.46 µg/L; zinc: 5.15 ± 0.68 to 4.19 ± 0.73 mg/L; copper: 0.86 ± 0.15 to 0.65 ± 0.14 mg/L; p < .001). During their intensive care unit stay, 17 patients were free from any organ failure, while 31 patients developed single-organ failure and 12 patients multiple organ failure. Multilogistic regression analysis showed that selenium concentrations at end of surgery were independently associated with the postoperative occurrence of multiorgan failure (p = .0026, odds ratio 0.8479, 95% confidence interval 0.7617 to 0.9440). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass resulted in a profound intraoperative decrease of whole blood levels of antioxidant trace elements. Low selenium concentrations at end of surgery were an independent predictor for the postoperative development of multiorgan failure.

Cirugía de revascularización miocárdica con y sin circulación extra corpórea / Myocardial revascularization surgery with and without extra-corporeal circulation

Introducción: Es controvertida la ventaja de la cirugía de revascularización miocárdica sin circulación extracorpórea. Objetivo: Comparar variables de evolución en cirugía de revascularización miocárdica (CRM) con y sin circulación extracorpórea. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo observacional analítico. Fueron incluidos pacientes sometidos a CRM en el Hospital San Juan de Dios de La Plata desde el 1º de abril de 2000 al 30 de marzo de 2008 (n = 142). Criterios de exclusión: urgencia y edad > 70 años. Registro de variables independientes: edad (p = 0,63), género (p = 0,42), experiencia del cirujano (p = 0,08), diabetes (p = 0,98), glucemia (p = 0,14)

Introduction: The advantage of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CRM) is in dispute. Objective: To compare the outcome of off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Materials and methods: Retrospective observational analytical study. Our study included 142 patients who underwent CRM at the Hospital San Juan de Dios in La Plata between April 1, 2007 and March 30, 2008. Exclusion criteria: urgency and age >70 years. Register of independent variables: age (p = 0,63), gender (p = 0,42), surgeons experience (CX) (p = 0,08), diabetes (p = 0,98), glycemia (p = 0,14) and lactacidemia (p = 0,21) on admission to operating room, and ASA (p = 0,001). Outcome variables: glycaemia and lactacidemia at the end of surgery (LE), inotropic support time, mechanical ventilation (MV) time; postoperative hospital stay (EP); re-operation and mortality. Database EPI-Info 6.0. Statistical analysis: To compare the difference between groups: squared Ji was used and the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare numeric variables between the groups. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 116 patients with cardiopulmonary by-pass (OC) and 26 without it (CE). Complicated postoperative evolution was observed in one pump CRM: hyperglycemia (p = 0.0001) and hyperlactacidemia (p = 0.0001) at the end of the surgery, higher inotropic time support (p = 0.0001) and mortality (p = 0.04). However in the analysis of the sample, the ASA Score and the number of grafts have statistical significance; this precludes hazarding definitive conclusions.(AU)

IntroduþÒo: Existem controvérsias sobre a vantagem da cirurgia de revascularizaþÒo miocárdica sem circulaþÒo extracorpórea. Objetivo: Comparar variáveis de evoluþÒo nas cirurgias de revascularizaþÒo miocárdica (CRM) com e sem circulaþÒo extracorpórea. Material e métodos: Estudo retrospectivo observacional analítico. Foram incluídos pacientes submetidos a CRM no Hospital San Juan de Dios de La Plata entre 1º de abril de 2007 e 30 de marþo de 2008 (n = 142). Critérios de exclusÒo: urgÛncia e idade > 70 anos. Registro de variáveis independentes: idade (p = 0,63), genero (p = 0,42), experiencia do cirurgiÒo (p = 0,08), diabetes (p = 0,98), glicemia (p = 0,14) e

Cirugía de revascularización miocárdica con y sin circulación extra corpórea / Myocardial revascularization surgery with and without extra-corporeal circulation

Introducción: Es controvertida la ventaja de la cirugía de revascularización miocárdica sin circulación extracorpórea. Objetivo: Comparar variables de evolución en cirugía de revascularización miocárdica (CRM) con y sin circulación extracorpórea. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo observacional analítico. Fueron incluidos pacientes sometidos a CRM en el Hospital San Juan de Dios de La Plata desde el 1° de abril de 2000 al 30 de marzo de 2008 (n = 142). Criterios de exclusión: urgencia y edad > 70 años. Registro de variables independientes: edad (p = 0,63), género (p = 0,42), experiencia del cirujano (p = 0,08), diabetes (p = 0,98), glucemia (p = 0,14) y lactacidemia (p = 21) al ingreso al quirófano, y ASA (p = 0,001) y número de puentes (p = 0,001). Variables de resultado: tiempo de apoyo inotrópico (AI), tiempo de ventilación mecánica (VM), estancia posoperatoria (EP), reoperación y mortalidad. Base de datos EPI-Info 6.0. Análisis estadístico: para comparar diferencias entre los grupos se utilizó ji al cuadrado, y para comparar variables numéricas entre los grupos, el test de Kruskal-Wallis. Se consideró significativa una p < 0,05. Resultados: 116 pacientes con derivación cardiopulmonar (DC) y 26 sin derivación cardiopulmonar. Se observó una evolución posoperatoria complicada en los casos de DC: hiperglucemia (p = 0,0001) e hiperlactacidemia (p = 0,0001) de egreso, mayor tiempo de apoyo inotrópico (p = 0,0001) y mortalidad (p = 0,04). Sin embargo, en el análisis de composición de la muestra, son significativos la puntuación ASA y el número de puentes, lo cual impide arriesgar conclusiones definitivas.

Introduction: The advantage of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CRM) is in dispute. Objective: To compare the outcome of off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Materials and methods: Retrospective observational analytical study. Our study included 142 patients who underwent CRM at the Hospital San Juan de Dios in La Plata between April 1, 2007 and March 30, 2008. Exclusion criteria: urgency and age >70 years. Register of independent variables: age (p = 0,63), gender (p = 0,42), surgeon's experience (CX) (p = 0,08), diabetes (p = 0,98), glycemia (p = 0,14) and lactacidemia (p = 0,21) on admission to operating room, and ASA (p = 0,001). Outcome variables: glycaemia and lactacidemia at the end of surgery (LE), inotropic support time, mechanical ventilation (MV) time; postoperative hospital stay (EP); re-operation and mortality. Database EPI-Info 6.0. Statistical analysis: To compare the difference between groups: squared Ji was used and the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare numeric variables between the groups. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 116 patients with cardiopulmonary by-pass (OC) and 26 without it (CE). Complicated postoperative evolution was observed in one pump CRM: hyperglycemia (p = 0.0001) and hyperlactacidemia (p = 0.0001) at the end of the surgery, higher inotropic time support (p = 0.0001) and mortality (p = 0.04). However in the analysis of the sample, the ASA Score and the number of grafts have statistical significance; this precludes hazarding definitive conclusions.

Introdução: Existem controvérsias sobre a vantagem da cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica sem circulação extracorpórea. Objetivo: Comparar variáveis de evolução nas cirurgias de revascularização miocárdica (CRM) com e sem circulação extracorpórea. Material e métodos: Estudo retrospectivo observacional analítico. Foram incluídos pacientes submetidos a CRM no Hospital San Juan de Dios de La Plata entre 1° de abril de 2007 e 30 de março de 2008 (n = 142). Critérios de exclusão: urgência e idade > 70 anos. Registro de variáveis independentes: idade (p = 0,63), genero (p = 0,42), experiencia do cirurgião (p = 0,08), diabetes (p = 0,98), glicemia (p = 0,14) e lactacidemia (p = 21), ao ingresso no quirófano, e ASA (p = 0.001) e número de pontes (p = 0,001). Variáveis de resultado: tempo de suporte inotrópico (AI), tempo de ventilação mecânica (VM), permanência hospitalar (EP), reoperação e óbitos. Base de dados EPI-Info 6.0. Análise estatística: foram utilizados, chi-quadrado para comparar diferenças entre os grupos, e o teste de Kruskal-Wallis para comparar variáveis numéricas entre os grupos; considerou-se significativa p < 0,05. Resultados: 116 pacientes com derivação cardiopulmonar (OC) e 26 sem derivação cardiopulmonar. Foi observada evolução pós-operatória complicada nos casos de DC: hiperglicemia (p = 0,0001) e hiperlactacidemia (p = 0,0001) de egresso, maior tempo de suporte inotrópico (p = 0,0001) e mortalidade (p = 0,04). Contudo, na análise de composição da amostra, sáo significativos o escore ASA e o número de pontes, o qual impede tirar conclusões definitivas.

Readmission and mortality in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery with fast-track recovery protocol.

The development of less invasive methods for myocardial revascularization such as "off-pump" cardiac surgery, and new methods of anesthesia and postoperative care protocols such as "fast-track recovery" (FTRC), have contributed to a significant reduction in postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay after cardiac surgical procedures. The objectives of this study were to identify perioperative risk factors of prolonged hospital stay, hospital mortality, and readmission rates in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) patients undergoing the FTRC protocol. Eighty consecutive patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery with FTRC protocol were included in the study. For the first purpose of this protocol, early extubation is defined as removal of the endotracheal tube within 6 h of arrival at the surgical ICU. The second purpose was to obtain a minimal length of stay in the ICU (<24 h) and hospital discharge within 5 days. We analyzed the influence of the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables on prolonged hospital stay, hospital mortality, and hospital readmission. Three patients died during hospitalization, giving a hospital mortality rate of 3.75%. The causes of hospital death were massive stroke and sepsis. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, hypertension (P = 0.0185), postoperative stroke (P = 0.0001), and sternal infection (P = 0.0007) were identified as independent predictors of hospital mortality. Mean hospital length of stay was 4.23 +/- 0.75 days. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that postoperative blood use (P = 0.0095) was the major independent predictor of prolonged hospital stay. During the 30-day observation period, seven patients were readmitted. One of these patients died on postoperative day 45 from mediastinitis and sepsis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age (P = 0.0033) and hypertension (P = 0.045) as independent predictors of hospital readmission. FTRC protocols can be performed safely in patients with off-pump CABG, and the mortality and readmission rates following this protocol were found to be within acceptable ranges.

Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting: does excessive preoperative anticoagulation increase bleeding complications and transfusion requirements?

Patients requiring urgent surgical revascularization due to unstable coronary artery disease are usually pretreated with multiple antithrombotic drugs. The perioperative risks of this type of treatment were investigated in 123 patients who underwent emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at our institution.Eighty-two patients (group A) received heparin and acetylsalicylic acid solely and 41 patients (group B) received additionally ADP-receptor antagonists (82.9%), glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (12.2%) or thrombolysis (14.6%) preoperatively. Both groups were similar regarding demographic data and overall clinical status. Preoperative coagulation parameters and intraoperative characteristics were comparable. Blood loss via chest tubes was not significantly different between groups. Transfusion of red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma were slightly, but not significantly increased in group B. Transfusion of pooled platelets was low in general and similar in both groups. Re-exploration rate, medium intensive care unit and hospital stay as well as perioperative mortality were comparable.Excessive antithrombotic pretreatment seems to bear no additional risk in emergency CABG and may be beneficial in this setting.

Deep hypothermic low flow cardiopulmonary bypass in small dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of and morbidity and mortality associated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using deep hypothermia and low flow perfusion in adult dogs weighing less than 10 kg. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive study. ANIMALS: Two groups of three dogs underwent CPB. Group 1 dogs underwent deep hypothermia (15 to 18 degrees C), 45 minutes of low perfusion flow (20 mL/kg/min) and 1 hour of aortic cross clamp time. In group 2, ultrafiltration of perfusate before discontinuation of bypass was added to the standard treatment. Complete blood counts, serum biochemistry, urine output, ejection fraction, and cardiac output were monitored before and for 7 days after surgery. RESULTS: All dogs were successfully weaned from bypass. Four of six dogs survived, three without major complications. One dog developed and recovered from septic pleuritis. Two dogs died or were euthanatized after surgery because of respiratory or gastrointestinal complications. Minor complications included anemia, hypoproteinemia, and electrolyte disturbances. Transfusion requirements and edema formation were reduced by ultrafiltration. CONCLUSIONS: The observations in this study support the feasibility of low flow hypothermic CPB. Meticulous tissue handling, precise equipment, ultrafiltration, and aggressive postoperative potassium supplementation are recommended for smaller patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased sensitivity to adverse sequelae of CPB may be associated with small patient size. Further evaluation is necessary before routine clinical application of low flow hypothermic CPB in this patient population.