Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in cardiovascular surgery. Consensus document from the Spanish Society of Anesthesia and Critical Care (SEDAR) and the Spanish Society of Endovascular and Cardiovascular Surgery (SECCE). / Ecocardiografía transesofágica intraoperatoria en cirugía cardiovascular. Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación (SEDAR) y Sociedad Española de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Endovascular (SECCE).

Transesophageal echocardiography is a semi-invasive technique that allows an evaluation of cardiac morphology and function in real time and it is a quality standard in cardiovascular surgery. It has become a fundamental tool for both monitoring and diagnosis in the intraoperative period that allows decide the correct surgical planning and pharmacological management. The goal of this document is to answer the questions of when and how the perioperative TEE should be performed in cardiovascular surgery, what are their applications in the intraoperative, who should perform it and how the information should be transmitted. The authors made a systematic review of international guidelines, review articles and clinical trials to answer by consensus to these questions.

Prognostic Value of High-Sensitivity Troponin-T to Identify Patients at Risk of Left Ventricular Graft Dysfunction After Heart Transplantation.

Primary graft dysfunction after heart transplantation (HTx) has a very high mortality rate, especially if the left ventricle (PGD-LV) is involved. Early diagnosis is important to select the appropriate therapy to improve prognosis. The value of high-sensitivity troponin T (HS-TNT) measurement obtained at patient arrival at the intensive care unit was analyzed in 71 HTx patients. Mild or moderate PGD-LV was defined by hemodynamic compromise with one of the following criteria: left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, hemodynamic compromise with right atrial pressure >15 mm Hg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >20 mm Hg, cardiac index <2.0 L/min/m2, hypotension (mean arterial pressure <70 mm Hg), and need for high-dose inotropes (inotrope score >10) or newly placed intra-aortic balloon pump. The mean recipient age was 54 ± 12 years (73% men), and donor age was 47 ± 11 years. Ischemic time was 200 ± 51 minutes, and coronary bypass time was 122 ± 31 minutes. Nine (13%) HTx patients were diagnosed with PGD-LV post-HTx, 8 with biventricular dysfunction. Four patients died, 2 with PGD-LV (22%) and 2 without PGD (4%). Mean HS-TNT before HTx was 158 ± 565 ng/L, and post-HT was 1621 ± 1269 ng/L. The area under the curve (receiver-operator characteristic) of HS-TNT to detect patients at risk of PGD-LV was 0.860 (P < .003). A cutoff value of HS-TNT >2000 ng/L had a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 87% to identify patients at risk of PGD-LV. Multivariate analysis identified HS-TNT >2000 ng/L (P < .02) and coronary bypass-time (P < .01) as independent predictors of PGD-LV. HS-TNT >2000 ng/L at intensive care admission after HT and prolonged coronary bypass time were the most powerful predictors of PGD-LV. HS-TNT may be helpful for early detection of HTx patients at risk of PGD-LV.

Abdomen agudo como forma atípica de presentación de una agenesia de la vena cava inferior: a propósito de un caso / Acute abdomen as an unusual presenting symptom of agenesis of the inferior vena cava: a case report

Introducción. La agenesia de la vena cava inferior (VCI) es una malformación congénita muy rara. Suele descubrirseen el estudio etiológico de un paciente con trombosis venosa profunda (TVP) unilateral con o sin factores deriesgo o de trombosis de la VCI. Caso clínico. Varón de 15 años de edad con un único antecedente de obesidad moderada,que fue intervenido por cirugía general por un cuadro de abdomen agudo con pruebas complementarias preoperatoriasno concluyentes. En la laparotomía exploradora sólo se observó la trombosis de la vena gonadal izquierda hipertrofiada.Se decidió su resección y en el estudio anatomopatológico se informó como un cavernoma venoso. A las 12 horasdel postoperatorio comenzó con una clínica de TVP del miembro inferior izquierdo. El estudio ecográfico confirmó laTVP ilíaca; en la tomografía axial computarizada no se identificó la VCI, por lo que se realizó una iliocavografía porla vía femoral derecha que confirmó una agenesia de la VCI infrarrenal y del segmento retrohepático con desarrollode la vena ácigos y venas paravertebrales. Se instauró un tratamiento compresivo y de anticoagulación con heparina debajo peso molecular y luego dicumarínicos con una buena evolución clínica. Se realizó un cribado familiar sin hallarseotros miembros con malformación. Conclusión. La agenesia de cava suele diagnosticarse en el contexto de una TVP.Otras formas de presentación como el abdomen agudo son anecdóticas

Introduction. Agenesis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a very rare congenital malformation. It is usuallydiscovered during the aetiological study of patients with unilateral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with or without riskfactors or thrombosis in the IVC. Case report. A 15-year-old male, with moderate obesity as the only relevant event in hismedical history, who underwent general surgery to treat symptoms of acute abdomen with non-conclusive findings in thepreoperative complementary tests. The exploratory laparotomy only revealed thrombosis in the hypertrophied leftgonadal vein. The decision was made to excise it and the findings of the pathological study showed it to be a veincavernoma. Twelve hours into the post-operative period, the patient began to display clinical symptoms of DVT in theleft lower limb. Ultrasound imaging confirmed the iliac DVT; the IVC was not identified in the computerised axialtomography scan, and so iliocavography was performed via the right femoral to confirm agenesis of the infrarenal IVCand the retrohepatic segment with the development of the azygos vein and the paravertebral veins. Compressive therapywas established together with low-molecular-weight heparin anticoagulation treatment and then dicumarols; the clinicalcourse of the patient progressed favourably. Familial screening was carried out but no other relatives with malformationswere found. Conclusions. Cava agenesis is usually diagnosed within the context of DVT. Other presenting symptoms,such as acute abdomen, are anecdotal

Tratamiento endovascular de estenosis venosas del acceso vascular para hemodiálisis / Endovascular treatment of venous stenoses in vascular accesses for haemodialysis

Objetivo. Evaluar los resultados obtenidos en la terapéutica endovascular de estenosis venosas del miembro del acceso vascular para hemodiálisis. Pacientes y métodos. Entre noviembre de 2001 y noviembre de 2005 se han realizado 13 procedimientos endovasculares en 11 pacientes, 46% hombres y 54% mujeres, con una edad media de 51,38 años. Las indicaciones fueron trombosis previa (38,5%), disfunción (23,1%) y primoimplante (38,5%), con clínica de edema del miembro en dos pacientes. La fístula problemática más frecuente fue humerocefálica (53,8%), y el sector tratado predominante, la vena subclavia (53,8%), seguido de la ilíaca (3) el tronco innominado (1), la humeral (1) y sólo una vena superficial (cefálica). Resultados. El éxito técnico fue del 92,3%, y el éxito funcional, del 76,9%, con una ganancia media de flujo de 112,5 mL/min en global (48,5 mL/min excluyendo primoimplantes) y un flujo medio postratamiento de 220 mL/min. Se colocó un stent en el 90,9% de las lesiones del sistema venoso central de 10 mm de diámetro medio (rango: 8-12 mm). A fecha de corte permanecen permeables el 25% de las fístulas arteriovenosas (485 días de supervivencia media postratamiento) y el 66,7% de los procedimientos endovasculares (tres fueron exitus estando permeables), con 877 días de permeabilidad media. Conclusiones. Tal como recomienda la bibliografía consultada, el tratamiento endovascular de las lesiones venosas es eficaz para aumentar la supervivencia de los accesos vasculares para hemodiálisis con una indicación adecuada. El uso de endoprótesis está indicado en grandes troncos venosos centrales, con una permeabilidad superior respecto a la angioplastia transluminal percutánea

Aim. To evaluate the results obtained in endovascular therapy of venous stenoses of the limb used for vascular access in dialysis. Patients and methods. Between November 2001 and November 2005, a total of 13 endovascular procedures were performed in 11 patients, 46% males and 54% females, with a mean age of 51.38 years. Indications were previous thrombosis (38.5%), dysfunction (23.1%) and first implant (38.5%), and two of the patients had a clinical picture of oedema in the limb. The most frequent problematic fistula was brachicephalic (53.8%) and the predominant sector treated was the subclavian vein (53.8%), followed by the iliac (3), the innominate artery (1), brachial (1) and only one superficial vein (cephalic). Results. Technical success rate was 92.3% and functional success was 76.9%, with a mean flow gain of 112.5 mL/min overall (48.5 mL/min excluding first implants) and a mean post-treatment flow of 220 mL/min. In 90.9% of the lesions in the central venous system a stent with a mean diameter of 10 mm was placed (range: 8-12 mm). At the cutoff date, 25% of the arteriovenous fistulas remained patent (average of 485 days’ survival after treatment) and 66.7% of the endovascular procedures (three died while being patent), with 877 days of average patency. Conclusions. As recommended in the literature that was consulted, the endovascular treatment of venous lesions is effective in increasing survival of vascular accesses for haemodialysis with an appropriate indication. The use of stents is indicated in large central venous trunks, with a patency that is higher than that of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

[Comparison of an auditory evoked potentials index and a bispectral index versus clinical signs for determining the depth of anesthesia produced by propofol or sevoflurane]. / Comparación de la efectividad de un índice de potenciales evocados auditivos y un índice biespectral con los signos clínicos en la determinación de la profundidad hipnótica durante anestesia con propofol o sevoflurano.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate an anesthetic depth index (ADI) obtained from auditory evoked potentials and a bispectral EEG index (BIS) in comparison with clinical assessment of anesthetic depth using the modified observer's assessment of awareness/sedation scale (MOAA/SS), for induction of anesthesia with propofol or sevoflurane as the only agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The ADI and BIS were recorded simultaneously in this prospective study and compared to the MOAA/SS during the anesthetic induction of 26 adults undergoing elective heart surgery. Assignment of patients to two groups was random. Group A (n = 13) patients were induced with propofol (target dose 5 micrograms.ml-1 in 5 min). Induction in group B (n = 13) was with sevoflurane (8% tidal volume). A scheme of awake-sleeping-awake-sleeping was followed. The means of the two indexes were compared (Mann-Whitney test) one minute before the patient slept (awake) and one minute later (sleeping), and the evolution of the indexes was compared during awake/sleep and sleep/awake phase changes and while the patients were in a stable sleep phase. The sensitivity and specificity of each index was analyzed in function of the MOAA/SS. We also analyzed the time elapsing from the moment the patient fell asleep (MOAA/SS 2) until the two indexes reached published reference values (ADI = 38, BIS = 60). RESULTS: After induction with propofol (group A) the ADI fell to 29.2 +/- 11.7 and the BIS fell to 63.5 +/- 13.4. After induction with sevoflurane (group B) the ADI fell to 33.8 +/- 14.9 and the BIS to 66.8 +/- 15. The ADI value that best discriminated between arousal and sleeping (sensitivity 100%) was 38; the BIS value that best discriminated was 60. The responses to sound in decibels (dB) during "awake/sleeping" and "sleeping/awake" phases were, respectively, -3.8 dB and -4.5 dB for the ADI and -1.5 dB and -0.8 dB for the BIS. With the patient in stable sleep, response to the two indexes was at -0.79 dB. In group A, the ADI detected MOAA/SS 2 significantly earlier (ADI 13.1 +/- 30 s; BIS 56 +/- 36 s; p < 0.05). No patient reported remembering the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring anesthetic depth with the ADI or BIS was technically easy and effective for detecting whether patients were awake or sleeping. The ADI response was faster and identified awake/sleeping and sleeping/awake phase changes better than did the BIS.

[Impossibility of intubation due to angioedema secondary to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor]. / Imposibilidad de intubación por angioedema secundario a IECA.

Angioedema secondary to treatment of one year's duration with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) (lisinopril) in a 56-year-old man scheduled for elective cardiac surgery led unexpectedly to impossible intubation. Surgical access (tracheostomy) was required when airway control was threatened. We review the clinical course, etiology and treatment of angioedema secondary to ACEI therapy. This is a life threatening complication which, though rare, is becoming increasingly frequent with increased use of such drugs.