A Multidisciplinary Approach to Anesthetic Management of a Parturient with Severe Aortic Stenosis.

In order to optimize anesthetic management and avoid adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, a clear understanding of the changes in cardiovascular physiology that occur during pregnancy is paramount. The effects of normal gestation on the cardiovascular system are particularly significant in a parturient with cardiac valvular pathology. We present a case of a 27-year-old G2P0 at 37 weeks with a past medical history of diabetes, macrosomia, congenital bicuspid aortic valve with severe stenosis (valve area 0.7 cm(2)) who was scheduled for elective C-section. A multidisciplinary discussion involving cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, obstetric surgeons, neonatal intensivists, perfusion staff, anesthesiologists, and nursing staff was held to formulate a plan for the perioperative management of this parturient. Also, contingency plans were formulated and discussed with the care providers, in the event of acute decompensation of the mother and baby and possible need for emergency aortic valvuloplasty and/or aortic valve replacement.

Activation and entrainment mapping of hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia using a percutaneous left ventricular assist device.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to investigate the effects of percutaneous left ventricular assist device (pLVAD) support during catheter ablation of unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT). BACKGROUND: Mechanical cardiac support during ablation of unstable VT is being increasingly used, but there is little available information on the potential hemodynamic benefits. METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive procedures in 22 patients (ischemic, n = 11) with structural heart disease and hemodynamically unstable VT were performed with either pLVAD support (n = 10) or no pLVAD support (intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation, n = 6; no support, n = 7). Procedural monitoring included vital signs, left atrial pressure, arterial blood pressure, cerebral perfusion/oximetry, VT characteristics, and ablation outcomes. RESULTS: The pLVAD group was maintained in VT significantly longer than the non-pLVAD group (66.7 min vs. 27.5 min; p = 0.03) and required fewer early terminations of sustained VT for hemodynamic instability (1.0 vs. 4.0; p = 0.001). More patients in the pLVAD group had at least 1 VT termination during ablation than non-pLVAD patients (9 of 10 [90%] vs. 5 of 13 [38%]; p = 0.03). There were no differences between groups in duration of cerebral deoxygenation, hypotension or perioperative changes in left atrial pressure, brain natriuretic peptide levels, lactic acid, or renal function. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with scar-related VT undergoing catheter ablation, pLVAD support was able to safely maintain end-organ perfusion despite extended periods of hemodynamically unstable VT. Randomized studies are necessary to determine whether this enhanced ability to perform entrainment and activation mapping will translate into a higher rate of clinical success.