Floating Tumor of the Aortic Arch: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Neoplasms of the aortic arch are rare tumors presenting a diagnostic challenge, regardless of whether they are benign or malignant. The most effective treatment method is surgical resection of the tumor. CASE PRESENTATION: This case presents a 62-year-old woman with cerebrovascular ischemia and right-sided hemiparesis. Further medical treatment showed a CT scan of a floating mass in the aortic arch. The patient underwent surgery after the initial diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In most patients, these types of tumors are detected after a peripheral arterial embolism. Surgical resection of the tumor is the most effective treatment method. The symptoms and presentation of this patient can be beneficial for future diagnosis of this type of tumor.

A combination of levobupivacaine and lidocaine for paravertebral block in breast cancer patients undergoing quadrantectomy causes greater hemodynamic oscillations than levobupivacaine alone.

AIM: To test for differences in hemodynamic and analgesic properties in patients with breast cancer undergoing quadrantectomy with paravertebral block (PVB) induced with a solution of either one or two local anesthetics. METHOD: A prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial was conducted from June 2014 until September 2015. A total of 85 women with breast cancer were assigned to receive PVB with either 0.5% levobupivacaine (n=42) or 0.5% levobupivacaine with 2% lidocaine (n=43). Hemodynamic variables of interest included intraoperative stroke volume variation (SVV), mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, episodes of hypotension, use of crystalloids, and use of inotropes. Analgesic variables of interest were time to block onset, duration of analgesia, and postoperative serial pain assessment using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Although the use of 0.5% levobupivacaine with 2% lidocaine solution for PVB decreased the mean time-to-block onset (14 minutes; P<0.001), it also caused significantly higher SVV values over the 60 minutes of monitoring (mean difference: 4.33; P<0.001). Furthermore, the patients who received 0.5% levobupivacaine with 2% lidocaine experienced shorter mean duration of analgesia (105 minutes; P=0.006) and more episodes of hypotension (17.5%; P=0.048) and received more intraoperative crystalloids (mean volume: 550 mL; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of 0.5% levobupivacaine in comparison with 0.5% levobupivacaine with 2% lidocaine solution for PVB had a longer time-to-block onset, but it also reduced hemodynamic disturbances and prolonged the analgesic effect.

Gastrostomy Under Paravertebral Block in High-Risk Patients with Esophageal Cancer - Two Case Reports.

Here we present two cases of gastrostomy insertion via laparotomy in patients with malignant esophageal disease. Patients were ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status III and IV. The patients presented as very high risk for general anesthesia, so we decided to use unilateral left sided paravertebral block (PVB) on four thoracic levels along with contralateral local infiltration at the gastrostomy insertion site. We present two cases, one of them a 57-year-old male ASA III patient scheduled for a gastrostomy procedure due to esophageal cancer with infiltration of the trachea. We also present a case of a 59-year-old male patient, ASA IV status, scheduled for the same procedure due to advanced esophageal cancer with a fistula between the left main bronchus and the esophagus and metastases in the left lung. The paravertebral space was identified with the use of an 8 Hertz (Hz) linear ultrasound probe and a nerve stimulator. Paravertebral block was successfully used for insertion of a gastrostomy, thereby enabling adequate anesthesia and perioperative analgesia without hemodynamic or respiratory complications.

Does Diabetes Have an Influence on Regional Deformation Parameters in Patients with Normal Systolic Function during Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the recovery of regional myocardial function of the left-ventricular septal wall and the septal site of the mitral valve (MV) annulus by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). METHODS: In 63 (32 diabetic and 31 control) patients having off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG), including the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), TDI measurements were performed before operation (baseline), 5 min after LIMA-LAD revascularization (early reperfusion) and after completion of all anastomoses (after revascularization). RESULTS: Compared to the patients with diabetes, the controls had higher peak systolic velocities of the mid septal segments in the early reperfusion measurement (p = 0.002). After revascularization, values of peak systolic strain at the basal (-10.13 vs. -13.36%, p = 0.044) and mid septal segments (-8.25 vs. -12.69%, p = 0.009) were decreased in the diabetic patients compared to the controls. There was no difference between the groups with respect to the velocities acquired at the septal site of the MV annulus. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates an insufficient recovery of regional myocardial function in patients with type II diabetes undergoing OPCABG.

Levosimendan reverses right-heart failure in a 51-year-old patient after heart transplantation.

Primary graft failure in the early postoperative period after heart transplantation, remains a main cause of a poor outcome. Current treatment options include pharmacological (catecholamines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors) and mechanical assist device support. Pharmacological support with catecholamines is related to elevated myocardial oxygen consumption and regional hypoperfusion leading to organ damage. On the other hand, levosimendan, as a calcium-sensitizing agent increases cardiac contractility without altering intracellular Ca(2+) levels and increase in oxygen demand. We present a case of a 51-year-old man, who was suffering from acute right-heart failure in the early postoperative period after heart transplantation. As a rescue therapy at the late stage of a low cardiac output state, levosimendan was started as continuous infusion at 0.1 µg/kg/min for 12 h and thereafter, at 0.2 µg/kg/min for the following 36 h. Levosimendan demonstrated an advanced pharmacological option as was portrayed in this case, where the right ventricle was under a prolonged severe depression and acutely overloaded after heart transplantation.

Early cardioprotective effect of sevoflurane on left ventricular performance during coronary artery bypass grafting on a beating heart: randomized controlled study.

AIM: To evaluate the cardioprotective effect of sevoflurane on a beating heart in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with normal preoperative left ventricular function. METHODS: The randomized controlled study included 32 patients induced with sevoflurane and then randomized to receive either 1 minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane (n=16) or propofol (n=16) 2 to 3 mg kg(-1) hour(-1). The acceleration of the aortic blood flow, cardiac index, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and central venous pressure were measured 5 minutes after anesthesia induction, at the beginning of ischemia, 15 minutes after ischemia, and 15 minutes after sternum closure. RESULTS: There were no differences in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and central venous pressure within each group and between groups during surgery. Acceleration increased in the sevoflurane group 15 minutes after ischemia (10.3+/-3.5 m/s(2); P=0.004) and 15 minutes after sternum closure (10.7+/-3.9 m/s(2); P<0.001). Acceleration in the propofol group decreased from the beginning of ischemia (P<0.001) and remained lower 15 minutes after sternum closure (P=0.001 and P=0.024, respectively). Acceleration was higher in the sevoflurane group at the beginning of ischemia and 15 minutes after sternum closure (P=0.017 and P=0.046, respectively). There were no significant differences in cardiac index values within the sevoflurane group. In the propofol group, significant decreases in cardiac index were seen at the beginning of ischemia (P<0.001). There were between-group differences in cardiac index values at the beginning of ischemia and 15 minutes after ischemia (P=0.002, and P=0.011, respectively). CONCLUSION: Cardiac function was better preserved in the patients anesthetized with sevoflurane than in patients anesthetized with propofol.

Perioperative blood pressure control in hypertensive and normotensive patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: prospective study of current anesthesia practice.

AIM: To analyze blood pressure changes during intra- and immediate postoperative period in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: The study included 355 consecutive patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting between January 5, 2004 and December 30, 2005. Out of these patients, 325 were allocated into groups with preoperative history of hypertension (n=115) and without preoperative history of hypertension (n=210). Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure was measured at the following four time points: on the day before surgery, before anesthesia induction, after the last graft, and on entry to intensive care unit. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure was significantly higher in patients with a history of hypertension on the day before surgery (97 vs 92 mm Hg, P=0.003, Mann-Whitney test) and before anesthesia induction (107 vs 98 mm Hg; P=0.003). It was higher at all measuring points (after the last graft, 79 vs 78 mm Hg; and on entry to intensive care unit, 88 vs 86 mm Hg), but this difference was neither statistically nor clinically significant. The study showed that mean arterial pressure followed similar dynamics over time in both patient groups (P<0.001 both), with no significant time-dependent between-group differences. CONCLUSION: Current anesthesia techniques that include deep opioid analgesia in combination with vasodilators provide a satisfactory control of intraoperative hypertension. Management of blood pressure changes during intra- and immediate postoperative period in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting patients with preoperative hypertension was no more difficult than in patients without preoperative hypertension.

Levosimendan as a new strategy during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

AIM: To determine if levosimendan could improve cardiac performance during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with normal preoperative left ventricular function. METHODS: Twenty-four patients included in this double-blind randomized controlled trial received either placebo (n=12) or 12 microg/kg loading dose of levosimendan (n=12) during a period of 15 minutes before the surgery. The heart rate, cardiac index, stroke volume index, and left ventricular ejection fraction were measured before and 10 and 60 minutes after the drug administration. RESULTS: The baseline measurements of hemodynamic parameters did not differ between the groups. Heart rate was not significantly different between the placebo and levosimendan group. Compared with placebo group, cardiac index and left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly higher 10 and 60 minutes (p=0.018 for all) after administration of levosimendan. After 60 minutes, the cardiac index increased from the baseline value of 2.18 to 2.84 L/min/m2. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased by 14% after 10 minutes, and by 10% after 60 minutes. Stroke volume index was significantly higher at 10 minutes (p=0.018), but not at 60 minutes (p=0.063) after the administration of levosimendan. CONCLUSION: Administration of 12 microg/kg of levosimendan enhances the left ventricular performance and offers a promising therapeutic option during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with good preoperative left ventricular function.

Levosimendan in off-pump coronary artery bypass: a four-times masked controlled study.

We tested the hypothesis that levosimendan produced beneficial hemodynamic effects during and after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with good preoperative left ventricular function. Levosimendan at low dose (12 microg/kg), high dose (24 microg/kg), or placebo were administered in thirty-one patients in a randomized and four-times masked controlled study. Heart rate was not significantly different between experimental groups. Significant increases in cardiac output and left ventricular ejection fraction occurred after high-dose (P < 0.001; P = 0.006) and low-dose levosimendan (P = 0.001; P = 0.002). Both doses of levosimendan produced significant increased stroke volume and decreased systemic vascular resistance. Mean arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and left ventricular end-systolic volume were not significantly different between groups. The low-dose levosimendan produced better hemodynamic response than high-dose and may be preferable in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Hemodynamic differences in sevoflurane versus propofol anesthesia.

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia on myocardial contractility during laparotomic cholecystectomy using transesophageal echo-Doppler. In the study, 40 patients were randomized into two groups, depending on whether they received sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia. Heart rate, cardiac index, stroke volume, left ventricular ejection time and acceleration were measured 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia, 1 minute and 25 minutes after incision. The results were analyzed using paired t-test and ANOVA. Significantly lower values were found for all parameters after the initial measurement (p < 0.05). In the sevoflurane group, stroke volume decreased from 66 +/- 6.2 ml/beat to 65 +/- 6.4 ml/beat and to 63 +/- 5.6 ml/beat 1 minute and 25 minutes after incision respectively. In the propofol group changes were from 64 ml/beat to 58 +/- 10.5 ml/beat to 58 +/- 8.6 ml/beat. Stroke volume was significantly higher in the sevoflurane than in the propofol group (p < 0.05). Sevoflurane anesthesia allows a better hemodynamic stability during laparotomic cholecystectomy.

Measuring cardiac output during dobutamine infusion after off-pump coronary artery bypass: comparison of transesophageal echo-Doppler and thermodilution.

AIM: To compare transesophageal echo-Doppler with thermodilution method for measuring cardiac output during dobutamine infusion after off-pump coronary artery bypass. METHOD: Using transesophageal echo-Doppler and thermodilution methods, we measured cardiac output in 30 patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass, immediately before and 5, 15, and 30 min after the introduction of continuous dobutamine infusion (3 microg/kg/min). Paired t-test and Bland-Altman analysis were used to compare the results obtained by two methods in this prospective study. RESULTS: Significant increase in cardiac output during dobutamine infusion was detected by both thermodilution (from 3.9 +/- 1.0 to 4.6 +/- 1.1 L/min; p < 0.001) and transesophageal echo-Doppler (from 3.8 +/- 1.2 to 4.8 +/- 1.4 L/min; p < 0.001). Initial measurement results of thermodilution and transesophageal echo-Doppler techniques showed clinically acceptable agreement, with a mean difference of only + 0.09 L/min (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.42 to + 0.61). Subsequently repeated measurements after 5, 15, and 30 min showed almost the same agreement between the methods. The highest mean difference between the initial and repeated measurements was found at 5 min after the introduction of dobutamine infusion (-0.29 L/min, 95% CI, -1.06 to + 0.48). CONCLUSION: Transesophageal echo-Doppler and thermodilution can be interchangeable as methods for measuring cardiac output after off-pump coronary artery bypass.