Double-lung versus heart-lung transplantation for precapillary pulmonary arterial hypertension: a 24-year single-center retrospective study.

Transplant type for end-stage pulmonary vascular disease remains debatable. We compared recipient outcome after heart-lung (HLT) versus double-lung (DLT) transplantation. Single-center analysis (38 HLT-30 DLT; 1991-2014) for different causes of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH): idiopathic (22); heritable (two); drug-induced (nine); hepato-portal (one); connective tissue disease (four); congenital heart disease (CHD) (24); chronic thromboembolic PH (six). HLT decreased from 91.7% [1991-1995] to 21.4% [2010-2014]. Re-intervention for bleeding was higher after HLT; (P = 0.06) while primary graft dysfunction grades 2 and 3 occurred more after DLT; (P < 0.0001). Graft survival at 90 days, 1, 5, 10, and 15 years was 93%, 83%, 70%, 47%, and 35% for DLT vs. 82%, 74%, 61%, 48%, and 30% for HLT, respectively (log-rank P = 0.89). Graft survival improved over time: 100%, 93%, 87%, 72%, and 72% in [2010-2014] vs. 75%, 58%, 42%, 33%, and 33% in [1991-1995], respectively; P = 0.03. No difference in chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD)-free survival was observed: 80% & 28% for DLT vs. 75% & 28% for HLT after 5 and 10 years, respectively; P = 0.49. Primary graft dysfunction in PH patients was lower after HLT compared to DLT. Nonetheless, overall graft and CLAD-free survival were comparable and improved over time with growing experience. DLT remains our preferred procedure for all forms of precapillary PH, except in patients with complex CHD.

Xenon as an Adjuvant to Propofol Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Xenon was shown to cause less hemodynamic instability and reduce vasopressor needs during off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery when compared with conventionally used anesthetics. As xenon exerts its organ protective properties even in subanesthetic concentrations, we hypothesized that in patients undergoing OPCAB surgery, 30% xenon added to general anesthesia with propofol results in superior hemodynamic stability when compared to anesthesia with propofol alone. METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing elective OPCAB surgery were randomized to receive general anesthesia with 30% xenon adjuvant to a target-controlled infusion of propofol or with propofol alone. The primary end point was the total intraoperative dose of norepinephrine required to maintain an intraoperative mean arterial pressure >70 mm Hg. Secondary outcomes included the perioperative cardiorespiratory profile and the incidence of adverse and serious adverse events. RESULTS: Adding xenon to propofol anesthesia resulted in a significant reduction of norepinephrine required to attain the predefined hemodynamic goals (cumulative intraoperative dose: median [interquartile range]: 370 [116-570] vs 840 [335-1710] µg, P = .001). In the xenon-propofol group, significantly less propofol was required to obtain a similar depth of anesthesia as judged by clinical signs and the bispectral index (propofol effect site concentration [mean ± SD]: 1.8 ± 0.5 vs 2.8 ± 0.3 mg, P≤ .0001). Moreover, the xenon-propofol group required significantly less norepinephrine during the first 24 hours on the intensive care unit (median [interquartile range]: 1.5 [0.1-7] vs 5 [2-8] mg, P = .048). Other outcomes and safety parameters were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty percent xenon added to propofol anesthesia improves hemodynamic stability by decreasing norepinephrine requirements in patients undergoing OPCAB surgery.

Prospective evaluation of clinical outcomes in all-comer high-risk patients with aortic valve stenosis undergoing medical treatment, transcatheter or surgical aortic valve implantation following heart team assessment.

OBJECTIVES: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been proposed as a treatment alternative for patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) at high or prohibitive risk for surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). We aimed to assess real-world outcomes after treatment according to the decisions of the multidisciplinary heart team. METHODS: At a tertiary centre, all high-risk patients referred between 1 March 2008 and 31 October 2011 for symptomatic AS were screened and planned to undergo AVR, TAVI or medical treatment. We report clinical outcomes as defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium. RESULTS: Of 163 high-risk patients, those selected for AVR had lower logistic EuroSCORE and STS scores when compared with TAVI or medical treatment (median [interquartile range] 18 [12-26]; 26 [17-36]; 21 [14-32]% (P = 0.015) and 6.5 [5.1-10.7]; 7.6 [5.8-10.5]; 7.6 [6.1-15.7]% (P = 0.056)). All-cause mortalities at 1 year in 35, 73 and 55 patients effectively undergoing AVR, TAVI and medical treatment were 20, 21 and 38%, respectively (P = 0.051). Cardiovascular death and major stroke occurred in 9, 8 and 33% (P < 0.001) and 6, 4 and 2% (P = 0.62), respectively. For patients undergoing valve implantation, device success was 91 and 92% for AVR and TAVI, respectively. The combined safety endpoint at 30 days was in favour of TAVI (29%) vs AVR (63%) (P = 0.001). In contrast, the combined efficacy endpoint at 1 year tended to be more favourable for AVR (10 vs 24% for TAVI, P = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who are less suitable for AVR can be treated safely and effectively with TAVI with similar outcomes when compared with patients with a lower-risk profile undergoing AVR. Patients with TAVI or AVR have better survival than those undergoing medical treatment only.

Effect of sutureless implantation of the Perceval S aortic valve bioprosthesis on intraoperative and early postoperative outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Prolonged aortic crossclamping can increase mortality and morbidity after aortic valve replacement in elderly and high-risk patients. Sutureless implantation of the prosthesis has the potential to shorten aortic crossclamp time. METHODS: The Perceval S valve (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Sallugia, Italy), a sutureless implantable aortic bioprosthesis, was used in 32 patients (median age, 78 years; median logistic euroSCORE, 9.99) requiring aortic valve replacement with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. Hemodynamic parameters and clinical outcome were obtained at discharge, at 6 months, and up to 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Aortic crossclamp time needed for aortic valve replacement was 18 ± 6 minutes. Hemodynamics at discharge showed good function of all Perceval S valves with low transvalvular pressure gradients (mean, 12 ± 5 mm Hg and peak, 23 ± 9 mm Hg) and low incidence of paravalvular or valvular leakage. Operative mortality was 0%. Follow-up at 1 year showed 3 non-valve-related deaths. Survivors showed good clinical outcome and stable hemodynamic function of the valve prosthesis, except for 1 patient in whom endocarditis developed. Despite a moderate decrease in platelet counts persisting up to 12 months, freedom of bleeding and thromboembolic events was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to implant a well-functioning sutureless stent-mounted valve in the aortic position in less than 20 minutes of aortic crossclamping. This is associated with excellent early clinical and hemodynamic outcome in high-risk patients. Moderate changes in hematologic parameters persisted but were not related to clinical events.

Jet ventilation for laryngotracheal surgery in an ex-premature infant.

A 4-month-old ex-premature infant with severe airway obstruction from subglottic cysts presented for surgical cyst removal. Laryngeal and tracheal surgical procedures in children may present difficulties for the anesthetist because the airway is shared with the surgeon. We report the use of high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) to maintain ventilation and provide adequate surgical access. Anesthesia was induced using sevoflurane in oxygen and was maintained with intravenous infusions of propofol 7.5 mg.kg(-1).h(-1) and remifentanil 0.4 microg.kg(-1).min(-1). The suction channel of the ENT laryngoscope was used to introduce an 8-FG ureteric drainage catheter into the larynx and this catheter was used to provide HFJV. Obstruction to expiratory flow was a major concern and was dependent on good positioning of the rigid laryngoscope. Complications such as barotrauma, pneumopericardium, CO2-retention, necrotizing tracheobronchitis, and gastric rupture dictate a fastidious technique.

Anaesthesia for children with congenital heart disease undergoing diagnostic and interventional procedures.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Anaesthesiologists are often asked to administer sedation and anaesthesia to infants and children with congenital heart disease undergoing diagnostic and interventional procedures. A number of issues are pertinent to a safe and effective provision of care for these patients. The anaesthetic should ensure haemodynamic stability, provide real-life circumstances to ensure diagnostic accuracy, should be easy and reliable to titrate in order to cope with rapidly changing loading conditions and intense but short-lived haemodynamic disturbances. The anaesthetic drugs should not interfere with electrophysiological processes in the cardiac conduction system, and above all anaesthetic recovery should be swift and devoid of side-effects. RECENT FINDINGS: In recent years, new agents have been introduced in the anaesthetic care of these patients. One has studied the haemodynamic and electrophysiological properties of agents such as remifentanil, desflurane, sevoflurane and propofol and their use in children with congenital heart disease. New and older drugs have been combined in balanced techniques to decrease the side-effects associated with monotherapy. Besides these anaesthetic concerns, the controversy about the presence of an anaesthesiologist versus a non-anaesthesiologist still continues. SUMMARY: The newer anaesthetic agents, such as desflurane, remifentanil, sevoflurane and propofol are an integral part of our armamentarium to care for children with congenital heart disease. The combination of these and older drugs allow us to provide anaesthetic care in an effective and efficient way.