Fatal diffuse pulmonary fat microemboli following reperfusion in liver transplantation with the use of marginal steatotic allografts.

Organ shortage is a major cause of delayed liver transplantation and increased waitlist time. The level of donor steatosis is a significant determinant in organ selection. Scarcity of organs has led some programs to expand their acceptable criteria for the percentage of steatosis. We report two cases of liver transplantation of steatotic donor organs that resulted in mortality within hours from transplantation. Postmortem analysis showed evidence of diffuse pulmonary fat microemboli likely originating from the donor organ, with marked preservation reperfusion injury. The mechanism of diffuse fat microemboli in this setting and possible relationship to other perioperative syndromes (transfusion-related lung injury, acute kidney injury, and postreperfusion syndrome) is discussed.

Effects of Pectus Excavatum Repair on Right and Left Ventricular Strain.

BACKGROUND: The cardiopulmonary benefits of pectus excavatum repair have been debated. Echocardiographic speckle-tracking strain and strain rate have been used to evaluate and detect subclinical myocardial dysfunction in patients receiving cardiotoxic chemotherapy, and patients with valvular heart disease. This technology was applied to evaluate the effects of pectus excavatum surgery on left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function. METHODS: Speckle tracing strain evaluation was performed on intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic images acquired immediately before and after Nuss repair in adult patients (aged 18 years or more) from 2011 to 2014. Standard severity and compression indices were measured on chest imaging performed before pectus excavatum repair. RESULTS: In total, 165 patients with transesophageal echocardiographic images during repair were reviewed (71.5% male; mean age 33.0 years; range, 18 to 71; Haller index 5.7; range, 2.3 to 24.3). Significant improvement after repair was seen in global RV longitudinal strain (-13.5% ± 4.1% to -16.7% ± 4.4%, p < 0.0001) and strain rate (-1.3 ± 0.4 s-1 to -1.4 ± 0.4 s-1, p = 0.0102); LV global circumferential strain (-18.7% ± 5.7% to -23.5% ± 5.8%, p < 0.0001) and strain rate (-1.5 ± 0.5 s-1 to -1.9 ± 0.8 s-1, p = 0.0003); and LV radial strain (24.1% ± 13.5% to 31.1% ± 16.4%, p = 0.0050). There was a strong correlation between preoperative right atrial compression on transesophageal echocardiogram and improvement in RV global longitudinal strain rate immediately after pectus repair. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical compression and impaired RV and LV strain is improved by Nuss surgical repair of pectus deformity.

Revision of failed, recurrent or complicated pectus excavatum after Nuss, Ravitch or cardiac surgery.

Pectus excavatum (PE) can recur after both open and minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) techniques. The cause of recurrence may differ based on the initial repair procedure performed. Recurrence risks for the open repair are due to factors which include incomplete previous repair, repair at too young of age, excessive dissection, early removal or lack of support structures, and incomplete healing of the chest wall. For patients presenting after failed or recurrent primary MIRPE repair, issues with support bars including placement, number, migration, and premature removal can all be associated with failure. Connective tissue disorders can complicate and increase recurrence risk in both types of PE repairs. Identifying the factors that contributed to the previous procedure's failure is critical for prevention of another recurrence. A combination of surgical techniques may be necessary to successfully repair some patients.

Randomized trial of epidural vs. subcutaneous catheters for managing pain after modified Nuss in adults.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) is now performed in adults. Managing adult patients' pain postoperatively has been challenging due to increased chest wall rigidity and the pressure required for supporting the elevated sternum. The optimal pain management regimen has not been determined. We designed this prospective, randomized trial to compare postoperative pain management and outcomes between thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) and bilateral subcutaneous infusion pump catheters (On-Q). METHODS: Patients undergoing MIRPE (modified Nuss) underwent random assignment to TEA or On-Q group. Both groups received intravenous, patient-controlled opioid analgesia, with concomitant delivery of local anesthetic. Primary outcomes were length of stay (LOS), opioid use, and pain scores. RESULTS: Of 85 randomly assigned patients, 68 completed the study [52 men, 76.5%; mean (range) age, 32.2 (20.0-58.0) years; Haller index, 5.9 (range, 3.0-26.7)]. The groups were equally matched for preoperative variables; however, the On-Q arm had more patients (60.3%). No significant differences were found between groups in mean daily pain scores (P=0.52), morphine-equivalent opioid usage (P=0.28), or hospital stay 3.5 vs. 3.3 days (TEA vs. On-Q; P=0.55). Thirteen patients randomized to TEA refused the epidural and withdrew from the study because they perceived greater benefit of the On-Q system. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative pain management in adults after MIRPE can be difficult. Both continuous local anesthetic delivery by TEA and On-Q catheters with concomitant, intravenous, patient-controlled anesthesia maintained acceptable analgesia with a reasonable LOS. In our cohort, there was preference for the On-Q system for pain management.