Evaluation of right ventricular function during liver transplantation with transesophageal echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of advanced liver cirrhosis may induce alterations in the circulatory system that may be challenging for the anesthesiologist to manage intraoperatively, and perioperative cardiovascular events are associated with worse outcomes in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation. It remains controversial whether right ventricular function is impaired during this procedure. Studies using transesophageal echocardiography for quantitative analysis of the right ventricle remain scarce in this setting, yielding conflicting results. The aim of this study was to perform a quantitative assessment of right ventricular function with two parameters derived from transesophageal echocardiography during liver transplantation. METHODS: Nineteen adult patients of both genders undergoing liver transplantation were evaluated in this observational study. The exclusion criteria were age under 18 or above 65 years old, fulminant hepatic failure, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, cardiopulmonary disease, and contraindications to the transesophageal echocardiogram. Right ventricular function was assessed at five stages during liver transplantation: baseline, hepatectomy, anhepatic, postreperfusion, and closure by measuring tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and right ventricular fractional area change obtained with transesophageal echocardiography. RESULTS: Right ventricular function was found to be normal throughout the procedure. The tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion showed a trend toward a decrease in the anhepatic phase compared to baseline (2.0 ± 0.9 cm vs. 2.4 ± 0.7 cm; P = 0.24) but with full recovery after reperfusion. Right ventricular fractional area change remained nearly constant during all stages studied (minimum: 50% ± 10 at baseline and anhepatic phase; maximum: 56% ± 12 at postreperfusion; P = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricular function was preserved during liver transplantation at the time points evaluated by two quantitative parameters derived from transesophageal echocardiogram.

Thoracic epidural analgesia and immediate extubation for less than 10 kg infants undergoing living donor liver transplantation: A report of two successful cases.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative pain management in small infants weighing <10 kg undergoing liver transplantation is challenging. The use of TEA in this setting has not been reported, as well as its potential role to facilitate IE, ie, in the OR. METHODS: We describe here the use of TEA in two small infants who had IE after a LDLT procedure. RESULTS: TEA was successfully performed and IE was achieved in both cases. Postoperative analgesia assessment in the OR was satisfactory according to the FLACC pain scale, with scores of 2 and 3 for each patient, respectively. There were no major complications in the postoperative period, and the two children were discharged home uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: The use of TEA and its influence on IE rate and other perioperative outcomes should be more explored in small infants undergoing LDLT.

Orotraqueal intubation training in the coronavirus pandemic: application of the rapid cycle deliberate practice / Treinamento de intubação orotraqueal na pandemia por coronavírus: aplicação da Prática Deliberada em Ciclos Rápidos

Abstract: Introduction: the coronavirus pandemic disclosed the need for safe orotracheal intubation not only for the patient, but also for the professionals involved in the procedure. Therefore, training and technique reviews became necessary. Objective: this article aims to propose the application of the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice (RCDP) strategy for the training of anesthesiologists in orotracheal intubation in people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and to present a guide for the application of this strategy in this situation. Method: This is a methodological study presenting the theoretical and operational aspects for the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice application and a guide constructed from the search for evidence published in journals and official recommendations published by the institutions linked to the Brazilian and international health area. Results: the main theoretical aspects reported are related to the three principles on which Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice is based: maximizing time in deliberate practice, targeted feedback, and explicit psychological security. As for the operational aspects, it is highlighted that the training must be carried out with a maximum of six people. An error must be interrupted, prescriptive feedback must be given, and the task must be performed again until the participant reaches mastery. As for the procedure technical specificity, a guide to the application of the rapid cycle deliberate practice is presented with the sequence for the adequate airway management of hypoxemic patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: it is concluded that the assessed instructional strategy showed to be promising for the training with mastery learning in all professionals who will perform the procedure of orotracheal intubation while facing the severe forms of COVID-19, minimizing the risk of contamination.

Resumo: Introdução: A pandemia por coronavírus revelou a necessidade de intubação orotraqueal de forma segura não apenas para o paciente, mas igualmente para os profissionais envolvidos no procedimento. Para isso, treinamentos e revisões de técnicas se tornam necessários. Objetivo: Este artigo tem por objetivos propor a aplicação da estratégia de Prática Deliberada em Ciclos Rápidos (PDCR) para treinamento de anestesiologistas na intubação orotraqueal em pessoas confirmadas ou suspeitas com Covid-19 e apresentar um guia para aplicação dessa estratégia nessa conjuntura. Método: Trata-se de estudo metodológico que apresenta aspectos teóricos e operacionais para a aplicação da PDCR e um guia de aplicação construído a partir da busca de evidências publicadas em periódicos e recomendações oficiais divulgadas pelos órgãos vinculados à área da saúde brasileira e internacional. Resultado: Os principais aspectos teóricos relatados são concernentes aos três princípios que baseiam a PDCR: maximização do tempo em prática deliberada, feedback direcionado e segurança psicológica explícita. Quanto aos aspectos operacionais, destaca-se que o treinamento deve ser realizado com o máximo de seis pessoas. Deve-se interromper o erro, fornecer um feedback prescritivo e pedir que a tarefa seja realizada novamente até atingir a maestria. Quanto às especificidades técnicas do procedimento, apresenta-se um guia de aplicação da PDCR com a sequência para o adequado manuseio de vias aéreas de pacientes hipoxêmicos suspeitos e positivos para Covid-19. Conclusão: A estratégia instrucional estudada mostra ser propícia a treinar com maestria os profissionais que realizarão o procedimento de intubação orotraqueal no enfrentamento das formas graves da Covid-19, visando minimizar o risco de contaminação.

Rotation thromboelastometry and the hypercoagulable state in Cushing's syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) can be used for hypercoagulability evaluation. Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with hypercoagulability; however, ROTEM® has never been evaluated in this setting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hypercoagulability in CS using ROTEM® and to correlate these parameters with coagulation markers and with the presence of deep vein thrombosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty patients with active CS (26 women) and 30 controls matched for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, ABO blood group and smoking were included. We measured levels of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), platelets, fibrinogen, D-dimer, factor VIII (FVIII), von Willebrand factor (vWF) and C-reactive protein. ROTEM® was used to evaluate the intrinsic (INTEM), extrinsic (EXTEM) and fibrinogen (FIBTEM) pathways. Doppler ultrasonography was performed to search for lower limbs deep vein thrombosis. RESULTS: INTEM clotting time using ROTEM® was shorter in patients than in controls (P = 0·04). Other ROTEM® parameters were not different. Mean aPTT was shorter in patients than in controls (P = 0·001). The FVIII, vWF and D-dimer levels were higher in patients than in controls (P = 0·001, 0·001 and 0·02, respectively). Obese CS patients presented higher levels of platelets and alterations in maximum clot formation (MCF), alpha angle and maximum speed of clot formation of INTEM (P = 0·03, 0·02 and 0·02, respectively) and an increase in the MCF of FIBTEM (P = 0·02). No deep vein thrombosis was found. CONCLUSIONS: Although FVIII and vWF were abnormal in CS patients, only the initiation clot formation was different in the ROTEM® methodology and no deep vein thrombosis was found.

Right ventricular ejection fraction during orthotopic liver transplantation: does anesthetic technique make a difference?

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) under 2 different anesthetic regimens: propofol vs isoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the hemodynamic data of 25 (n = 25) patients who underwent OLT during the last year (2008). All patients were monitored with a modified pulmonary artery catheter, which continuously measured the RVEF. Anesthetic technique consisted of either isoflurane or total intravenous anesthesia with propofol. Surgical technique was similar between groups. RESULTS: Ten (n = 10) patients comprised the isoflurane group (I), whereas 15 (n = 15) patients received propofol anesthesia (P). The RVEF was not significantly different between groups (I vs P, baseline: 41% ± 9% vs 40% ± 6%; anhepatic phase: 36% ± 8% vs 35% ± 6%; postreperfusion: 41% ± 6% vs 41% ± 8%; P = not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The choice between propofol and isoflurane seems to have minimal influence on the RVEF during OLT, which followed similar trends regardless of the anesthetic technique.

Perioperative coagulation profile in living liver donors as assessed by rotational thromboelastometry.

Transient postoperative coagulation abnormalities frequently occur in living liver donors, particularly after right liver resection. Usually, this coagulopathy is diagnosed by alterations in conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) such as the international normalized ratio (INR) of the prothrombin time. However, recent studies using other methods of coagulation monitoring have suggested that postoperative hypercoagulability may also occur in living donors. The rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) system is a coagulation monitor based on the viscoelastic properties of blood. The use of ROTEM for perioperative coagulation monitoring in the setting of living liver donors has not been reported. We evaluated the perioperative coagulation profile as assessed by ROTEM in 16 consecutive donors who underwent either right or left liver resection at our institution. ROTEM analysis and CCTs were performed at the baseline (before skin incision) and on postoperative days 1 and 3. According to the CCTs, hypocoagulability was revealed in all but 1 (left liver) donor. The INR was highest on postoperative day 1 [median = 1.67 (interquartile range = 1.37-1.8)]. In contrast, all donors had a normal coagulation profile as assessed by the ROTEM system throughout the study period. In conclusion, this study showed the disagreement between the CCTs and the ROTEM system, as no significant coagulation abnormalities could be revealed with the latter method during the study period. Further studies are needed to confirm the role of the ROTEM system as a perioperative coagulation monitor in this setting and ultimately its influence on the outcome of living donors.

Protamine sulphate for treatment of severe post-reperfusion coagulopathy in pediatric liver transplantation.

In this case report, we describe a child with biliary atresia who underwent a living LDLT and developed severe coagulopathy after reperfusion of the graft. The ROTEM analysis strongly suggested the presence of either a heparin effect or severe deficiency of coagulation factors. The former diagnosis was supported by a subsequent in-vitro HEPTEM. A small dose of protamine sulphate was then administered, which promptly restored hemostasis. The remainder of the procedure was uneventful.