Development and Publication of Clinical Practice Parameters, Reviews, and Meta-analyses: A Report From the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Presidential Task Force.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) is committed to improving the quality, safety, and value that cardiothoracic anesthesiologists bring to patient care. To fulfill this mission, the SCA supports the creation of peer-reviewed manuscripts that establish standards, produce guidelines, critically analyze the literature, interpret preexisting guidelines, and allow experts to engage in consensus opinion. The aim of this report, commissioned by the SCA President, is to summarize the distinctions among these publications and describe a novel SCA-supported framework that provides guidance to SCA members for the creation of these publications. The ultimate goal is that through a standardized and transparent process, the SCA will facilitate up-to-date education and implementation of best practices by cardiovascular and thoracic anesthesiologists to improve patient safety, quality of care, and outcomes.

Transatlantic Educational Network: An Innovation Born of Necessity.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic brought about many changes in the delivery of healthcare, graduate medical education, and collaborative efforts across academic medicine. While there was a temporary disruption in the fluid delivery of services, longer-term benefits emerged with the leveraging of innovative technology and multicenter collaborations. These new opportunities led 14 centers in the United States and Europe to develop a novel, remote, and collaborative educational effort in cardiovascular and thoracic anesthesiology, known as the Transatlantic Educational Network. This paper describes the initial pilot structure and preimplementation data and provides a rationale for the development and expansion of the pilot program in other areas of anesthesiology.

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights From 2023.

This special article is the 16th in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief, Dr. Kaplan, and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series, namely the research highlights of the past year in the specialty of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology. The major themes selected for 2023 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main article. The literature highlights in the specialty for 2023 begin with an update on perioperative rehabilitation in cardiothoracic surgery, with a focus on novel methods to best assess patients in the preoperative and postoperative periods, and the impact of rehabilitation on outcomes. The second major theme is focused on cardiac surgery, with the authors discussing new insights into inhaled pulmonary vasodilators, coronary revascularization surgery, and discussion of causes of coronary graft failure after surgery. The third theme is focused on cardiothoracic transplantation, with discussions focusing on bridge-to-transplantation strategies. The fourth theme is focused on mechanical circulatory support, with discussions focusing on both temporary and durable support. The fifth and final theme is an update on medical cardiology, with a focus on outcomes of invasive approaches to heart disease. The themes selected for this article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialty during 2023. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on various topics, leading to improved perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.

Effect of targeted coagulopathy management and 5% albumin as volume replacement therapy during lung transplantation on allograft function: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation (LuTx) contributes substantially to early postoperative morbidity. Both intraoperative transfusion of a large amount of blood products during the surgery and ischemia-reperfusion injury after allograft implantation play an important role in subsequent PGD development. METHODS: We have previously reported a randomized clinical trial of 67 patients where point of care (POC) targeted coagulopathy management and intraoperative administration of 5% albumin led to significant reduction of blood loss and blood product consumption during the lung transplantation surgery. A secondary analysis of the randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of targeted coagulopathy management and intraoperative administration of 5% albumin on early lung allograft function after LuTx and 1-year survival was performed. RESULTS: Compared to the patients in the control (non-POC) group, those in study (POC) group showed significantly superior graft function, represented by the Horowitz index (at 72 h after transplantation 402.87 vs 308.03 with p < 0.001, difference between means: 94.84, 95% CI: 60.18-129.51). Furthermore, the maximum doses of norepinephrine administered during first 24 h were significantly lower in the POC group (0.193 vs 0.379 with p < 0.001, difference between the means: 0.186, 95% CI: 0.105-0.267). After dichotomization of PGD (0-1 vs 2-3), significant difference between the non-POC and POC group occurred only at time point 72, when PGD grade 2-3 developed in 25% (n = 9) and 3.2% (n = 1), respectively (p = 0.003). The difference in 1-year survival was not statistically significant (10 patients died in non-POC group vs. 4 patients died in POC group; p = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of a POC targeted coagulopathy management combined with Albumin 5% as primary resuscitative fluid may improve early lung allograft function, provide better circulatory stability during the early post-operative period, and have potential to decrease the incidence of PGD without negative effect on 1-year survival. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03598907).

How We Would Treat Our Own Lung Transplantation: A Multidisciplinary and International Perspective.

Lung transplantation is the ultimate treatment for end-stage lung disease (ESLD) arising from various etiologies. This manuscript will focus on selected aspects of a theoretical perioperative lung transplantation plan, highlighting data-driven and theoretical techniques the authors would employ if they were the index patient undergoing surgery. Beginning with looking for a transplant center using an Internet search, patient advocacy organizations, and artificial intelligence guidance, the authors lay out a course for multidisciplinary care throughout the entire patient journey, ending with ideal approaches to recovery 6 months posttransplantation. Although the index case will focus on a theoretical patient with pulmonary fibrosis, the general management principles will be applicable across the entire spectrum of patients with ESLD presenting for lung transplantation.

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2022.

This special article is the 15th in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief Dr. Kaplan and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series, namely the research highlights of the past year in the specialties of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology. The major themes selected for 2022 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main body of the article. The literature highlights, in the specialties for 2022, begin with an update on COVID-19 therapies, with a focus on the temporal updates in a wide range of therapies, progressing from medical to the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and, ultimately, with lung transplantation in this high-risk group. The second major theme is focused on medical cardiology, with the authors discussing new insights into the life cycle of coronary disease, heart failure treatments, and outcomes related to novel statin therapy. The third theme is focused on mechanical circulatory support, with discussions focusing on both right-sided and left-sided temporary support outcomes and the optimal timing of deployment. The fourth and final theme is an update on cardiac surgery, with a discussion of the diverse aspects of concomitant valvular surgery and the optimal approach to procedural treatment for coronary artery disease. The themes selected for this 15th special article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialties during 2022. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on a variety of topics, leading to the improvement of perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.

The Year in Cardiothoracic Transplant Anesthesia: Selected Highlights From 2020 Part I - Lung Transplantation.

This special article focuses on the highlights in cardiothoracic transplantation literature in the year 2020. Part I encompasses the recent literature on lung transplantation, including the advances in preoperative assessment and optimization, donor management, including the use of ex-vivo lung perfusion, recipient management, including those who have been infected with coronavirus disease 2019, updates on the perioperative management, including the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and long-term outcomes.

The Year in Graduate Medical Education: Selected Highlights From 2021.

This special article is the first in a planned annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia that will highlight significant literature from the world of graduate medical education (GME) that was published over the past year. The major themes selected for this inaugural review are the educational value of simulation and training workshops, the expanding role of social media and other information technologies in GME and recruitment, the state of residency and fellowship training before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the inevitable effects COVID-19 has had on graduate medical education. The authors would like to thank the editorial board for allowing us to shine a light on a small subset of the writing and research produced in this field, so that educators may understand how best to educate and train the next generation of anesthesiologists.

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2021.

This special article is the fourteenth in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Kaplan, and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series; namely, the research highlights of the past year in the specialty of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology. The major themes selected for 2021 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main body of the article. The literature highlights in the specialty for 2021 begin with an update on structural heart disease, with a focus on updates in arrhythmia and aortic valve disorders. The second major theme is an update on coronary artery disease, with discussion of both medical and procedural management. The third major theme is focused on the perioperative management of patients with COVID-19, with the authors highlighting literature discussing the impact of the disease on the right ventricle and thromboembolic events. The fourth and final theme is an update in heart failure, with discussion of diverse aspects of this area. The themes selected for this fourteenth special article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialty during 2021. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on a variety of topics, leading to improvement of perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2020.

THIS SPECIAL article is the 13th in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief, Dr Kaplan, and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series; namely, the research highlights of the past year in the specialty of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology.1 The major themes selected for 2020 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main body of the article. The literature highlights in the specialty for 2020 begin with an update on valvular disease, with a focus on updates in management of aortic and mitral valve disorders. The second major theme is an update on coronary artery disease, with discussion of both medical and surgical management. The third major theme is focused on the perioperative management of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with the authors highlighting literature discussing medical, surgical, and anesthetic considerations for their cardiac care. The fourth major theme is an update in heart failure, with discussion of medical, psychosocial, and procedural aspects of this complicated disease process. The fifth and final theme focuses on the latest analyses regarding survival in heart transplantation. The themes selected for this 13th special article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialty during 2020. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on a variety of topics, leading to improvement of perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.

The Year in Cardiothoracic Transplantation Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2019.

The highlights in cardiothoracic transplantation focus on the recent research pertaining to heart and lung transplantation, including expansion of the donor pool, the optimization of donors and recipients, the use of mechanical support, the perioperative and long-term outcomes in these patient populations, and the use of transthoracic echocardiography to diagnose rejection.

Intraoperative management of a hybrid extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit for lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) for intraoperative cardiopulmonary support during lung transplantation has been increasing in the recent years. Our group previously described a novel hybrid extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit for use in lung transplantation. TECHNIQUE: Our approach for intraoperative management of our novel hybrid ECMO circuit for lung transplantation is driven by two main goals: The first is to deliver management that ensures an appropriate balance between the native and ECMO cardiac outputs in order to provide a stable environment that promotes attenuation of ischemic-reperfusion injury during implantation. The second is to provide a stable hemodynamic environment that results in an appropriate global perfusion guided by multiple monitors and an organ systems-based approach during implantation. COMMENTS: Our novel technique for intraoperative management of this circuit during lung transplantation is described.

Anesthetic management of lung transplantation: impact of presenting disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent literature has described the emerging role of anesthesiologists as key members of the lung transplantation team and the impact of anesthetic management on outcomes. This review examines the impact of presenting cause of end-stage lung disease (ESLD) on anesthetic management. RECENT FINDINGS: The four primary causes of ESLD are suppurative, obstructive, or restrictive processes, and pulmonary hypertension. Our recent review of perioperative literature revealed new data regarding preoperative risk stratification, intraoperative management, and postoperative use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Major studies specifically about anesthetic management are lacking; however, the principles studied are readily applicable to the design of a perioperative care plan. The most compelling data have resulted in a revolutionary change in terms of intraoperative support and postoperative planning for pulmonary hypertension patients. Historically treated with cardiopulmonary bypass, significant data have been reported describing the successful use of ECMO both as an intraoperative support with superior outcomes, as well as postoperative support for improved stability during biventricular remodeling post graft implantation. SUMMARY: The application of these updated findings should assist anesthesiologists as they develop internal protocols and external guidelines to integrate within multidisciplinary teams caring for the lung transplant patient.