Patient blood management in India - Review of current practices and feasibility of applying appropriate standard of care guidelines. A position paper by an interdisciplinary expert group.

In a developing country like India, with limited resources and access to healthcare facilities, dealing with massive hemorrhage is a major challenge. This challenge gets compounded by pre-existing anemia, hemostatic disorders, and logistic issues of timely transfer of such patients from peripheral hospitals to centers with adequate resources and management expertise. Despite the awareness amongst healthcare providers regarding management modalities of bleeding patients, no uniform Patient Blood Management (PBM) or perioperative bleeding management protocols have been implemented in India, yet. In light of this, an interdisciplinary expert group came together, comprising of experts working in transfusion medicine, hematology, obstetrics, anesthesiology and intensive care, to review current practices in management of bleeding in Indian healthcare institutions and evaluating the feasibility of implementing uniform PBM guidelines. The specific intent was to perform a gap analysis between the ideal and the current status in terms of practices and resources. The expert group identified interdisciplinary education in PBM and bleeding management, bleeding history, viscoelastic and platelet function testing, and the implementation of validated, setting-specific bleeding management protocols (algorithms) as important tools in PBM and perioperative bleeding management. Here, trauma, major surgery, postpartum hemorrhage, cardiac and liver surgery are the most common clinical settings associated with massive blood loss. Accordingly, PBM should be implemented as a multidisciplinary and practically applicable concept in India in a timely manner in order to optimize the use the precious resource blood and to increase patients' safety.

Six-year study on peripheral venous catheter-associated BSI rates in 262 ICUs in eight countries of South-East Asia: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium findings.

BACKGROUND: Short-term peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection rates have not been systematically studied in Asian countries, and data on peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections incidence by number of short-term peripheral venous catheter days are not available. METHODS: Prospective, surveillance study on peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections conducted from 1 September 2013 to 31 May 2019 in 262 intensive care units, members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium, from 78 hospitals in 32 cities of 8 countries in the South-East Asia Region: China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. For this research, we applied definition and criteria of the CDC NHSN, methodology of the INICC, and software named INICC Surveillance Online System. RESULTS: We followed 83,295 intensive care unit patients for 369,371 bed-days and 376,492 peripheral venous catheter-days. We identified 999 peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections, amounting to a rate of 2.65/1000 peripheral venous catheter-days. Mortality in patients with peripheral venous catheter but without peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections was 4.53% and 12.21% in patients with peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections. The mean length of stay in patients with peripheral venous catheter but without peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections was 4.40 days and 7.11 days in patients with peripheral venous catheter and peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections. The microorganism profile showed 67.1% were Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (22.9%), Klebsiella spp (10.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.3%), Enterobacter spp. (4.5%), and others (23.7%). The predominant Gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (11.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Infection prevention programs must be implemented to reduce the incidence of peripheral venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections.

Six-year multicenter study on short-term peripheral venous catheters-related bloodstream infection rates in 204 intensive care units of 57 hospitals in 19 cities of India: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) findings.

BACKGROUND: Short-term peripheral venous catheters-related bloodstream infections (PVCR-BSIs) rates have not been systematically studied in developing countries, and data on their incidence by number of device-days are not available. METHODS: Prospective, surveillance study on PVCR-BSI conducted from September 1, 2013 to May 31, 2019 in 204 intensive care units (ICUs), members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 57 hospitals in 19 cities of India. We applied US INICC definition criteria and reported methods using the INICC Surveillance Online System. RESULTS: We followed 7,513 ICU patients for 296,893 bed-days and 295,795 short term peripheral venous catheter (PVC)-days. We identified 863 PVCR-BSIs, amounting to a rate of 2.91/1,000 PVC-days. Mortality in patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 4.14%, and 11.59% in patients with PVCR-BSI. The length of stay in patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 4.13 days, and 5.9 days in patients with PVCR-BSI. The micro-organism profile showed 68% of gram negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (23%), Klebsiella spp (15%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5%), and others. The predominant gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (10%). CONCLUSIONS: PVCR-BSI rates found in our ICUs were much higher than rates published from industrialized countries. Infection prevention programs must be implemented to reduce the incidence of PVCR-BSIs.

ASSIST - Patient satisfaction survey in postoperative pain management from Indian subcontinent.

INTRODUCTION: To compare pain scores at rest and ambulation and to assess patient satisfaction between the different modalities of pain management at different time points after surgery. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The ASSIST (Patient Satisfaction Survey: Pain Management) was an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter survey conducted among 1046 postoperative patients from India. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pain scores, patient's and caregiver's satisfaction toward postoperative pain treatment, and overall pain management at the hospital were captured at three different time points through a specially designed questionnaire. The survey assessed if the presence of acute pain services (APSs) leads to better pain scores and patient satisfaction scores. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the statistical significance between different modalities of pain management, and paired t-test was used to compare pain and patient satisfaction scores between the APS and non-APS groups. RESULTS: The results indicated that about 88.4% of patients reported postoperative pain during the first 24 h after surgery. The mean pain score at rest on a scale of 1-10 was 2.3 ± 1.8 during the first 24 h after surgery and 1.1 ± 1.5 at 72 h; the patient satisfaction was 7.9/10. Significant pain relief from all pain treatment was reported by patients in the non-APS group (81.6%) compared with those in the APS (77.8%) group (P < 0.0016). CONCLUSION: This investigator-initiated survey from the Indian subcontinent demonstrates that current standards of care in postoperative pain management remain suboptimal and that APS service, wherever it exists, is yet to reach its full potential.

Anesthetic management of robot-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare disorder involving neuromuscular junction. In conjunction with medical therapy, thymectomy is a known modality of treatment of MG and has shown to increase the probability of remission and overall symptomatic improvement. For minimally invasive thymectomy, video-.assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been the preferred surgical approach till recently. The robotic surgical procedure must necessarily bring new challenges to the anesthesiologists to effectively meet the specific requirements of the technique. At present, there is a paucity of literature regarding the anesthetic concerns of robotic assisted thymectomy, patient in question specifically posed a challenge since different maneuvers and techniques had to be tried to obtain optimum surgical conditions with stable ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters. Concerns of patient positioning and hemodynamic monitoring have also been discussed.

Device-Associated Infection Rates in 20 Cities of India, Data Summary for 2004-2013: Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium.

OBJECTIVE: To report the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium surveillance data from 40 hospitals (20 cities) in India 2004-2013. METHODS: Surveillance using US National Healthcare Safety Network's criteria and definitions, and International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium methodology. RESULTS: We collected data from 236,700 ICU patients for 970,713 bed-days Pooled device-associated healthcare-associated infection rates for adult and pediatric ICUs were 5.1 central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)/1,000 central line-days, 9.4 cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAPs)/1,000 mechanical ventilator-days, and 2.1 catheter-associated urinary tract infections/1,000 urinary catheter-days In neonatal ICUs (NICUs) pooled rates were 36.2 CLABSIs/1,000 central line-days and 1.9 VAPs/1,000 mechanical ventilator-days Extra length of stay in adult and pediatric ICUs was 9.5 for CLABSI, 9.1 for VAP, and 10.0 for catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Extra length of stay in NICUs was 14.7 for CLABSI and 38.7 for VAP Crude extra mortality was 16.3% for CLABSI, 22.7% for VAP, and 6.6% for catheter-associated urinary tract infections in adult and pediatric ICUs, and 1.2% for CLABSI and 8.3% for VAP in NICUs Pooled device use ratios were 0.21 for mechanical ventilator, 0.39 for central line, and 0.53 for urinary catheter in adult and pediatric ICUs; and 0.07 for mechanical ventilator and 0.06 for central line in NICUs. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a lower device use ratio in our ICUs, our device-associated healthcare-associated infection rates are higher than National Healthcare Safety Network, but lower than International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium Report.

Assessment of feasibility and efficacy of Class IV laser therapy for postoperative pain relief in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery patients: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Laser therapy, for its established analgesic properties with minimal side effects, has been used for the treatment of chronic pain. However, it has not been used for the treatment of acute postoperative pain. This pilot study was designed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of Class IV laser on postoperative pain relief following off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG) surgery, as a component of multimodal analgesia (MMA) technique. METHODS: This open observational prospective study comprised of 100 adult patients (84 male, 16 female) who underwent OPCABG through sternotomy. For postoperative analgesia, they were subjected to laser therapy subjected to laser therapy in addition to the standard institutional pain management protocol comprising of IV infusion/bolus of tramadol and paracetamol and fentanyl bolus as rescue analgesic. Pain intensity was measured by Verbal Rating Scale (VRS). The laser therapy was scheduled as once a day regime for three consecutive postoperative days (PODs) starting on POD 1, 30 min following tracheal extubation. The subsequent laser applications were also scheduled at the same time of the day as on day 1 if VRS was ≥5. 10 W Class IV laser was applied over 150 cm² sternal wound area for 150 s. VRS was used to assess pain severity and was recorded for statistical analysis using Friedman Test. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) VRS of all the 100 patients just before application of the first dose of laser was 7.31 (0.94) while on MMT; the same fell to 4.0 (1.279) and 3.40 (2.697) at 1 h and 24 h respectively following first dose of laser. The change of VRS over first 24 h among all the 100 patients was statistically significant (P = 0.000). Laser was re-applied in 40 patients whose VRS was ≥5 (mean [SD] - 6.38 [0.868]) at 24th h. After receiving the 2nd dose of laser the VRS scores fell significantly (P = 0.000) and became 0 at 54th h. No patients required 3rd dose of the laser. No patient required rescue analgesic while on laser therapy. CONCLUSION: Class IV laser can be an effective technique for postoperative analgesia following OPCABG surgery through sternotomy when included as a component of MMA technique.

Concomitant coronary bypass and below knee amputation in a diabetic patient.

A 57-year-old man presented with unstable angina and uncontrolled diabetes with diabetic foot. It was decided to perform right below knee amputation with coronary revascularization in a single stage. Right below knee amputation was carried out first. The left anterior descending artery, ramus intermedius, and second obtuse marginal branch of the circumflex were bypassed on a beating heart, using saphenous vein grafts. The patient was discharged on the 7th postoperative day after a course of antibiotics.

Management of a patient with unstable angina, left main coronary artery disease, and respiratory insufficiency due to eventration of the diaphragm.

The incidence of eventration of diaphragm before cardiac surgery is rare. We describe the management of a patient with eventration of the diaphragm who underwent a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for left main coronary artery disease followed by left diaphragm plication with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for the postoperative respiratory insufficiency.

Aortic valve replacement in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Valvular heart disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Current therapy includes symptomatic measures and valve replacement. SLE can present major challenges because of accrued organ damage, coagulation defects and complex management regimes. The peri-operative goals are to maintain strict asepsis, avoid use of nephrotoxic drugs and thereby renal insult, and to promote early ambulation post-operatively.

Comparison of transthoracic electrical bioimpedance cardiac output measurement with thermodilution method in post coronary artery bypass graft patients.

Transthoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB) has been proposed as a non-invasive, continuous, and cost-effective method of cardiac output (CO) measurement. In this prospective, non-randomized, clinical study, we measured CO with NICOMON (Larsen and Toubro Ltd., Mysore, India) and compared it with thermodilution (TD) method in patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) graft surgery. We also evaluated the effect of ventilation (mechanical and spontaneous) on the measurement of CO by the two methods. Forty-six post-OPCAB patients were studied at five predefined time points during controlled ventilation and at five time points when breathing spontaneously. A total of 230 data pairs of CO were obtained. During controlled ventilation, TD CO values ranged from 2.29 to 6.74 L/min (mean 4.45 ± 0.85 L/min), while TEB CO values ranged from 1.70 to 6.90 L/min (mean 4.43 ± 0.94 L/min). The average correlation (r) was 0.548 (P = 0.0002), accompanied by a bias of 0.015 L/min and precision of 0.859 L/min. In spontaneously breathing patients, TD CO values ranged from 2.66 to 6.92 L/min (mean 4.66 ± 0.76 L/min), while TEB CO values ranged from 3.08 to 6.90 L/min (mean 4.72 ± 0.82 L/min). Their average correlation was relatively poor (r = 0.469, P= 0.002), accompanied by a bias of -0.059 L/min and precision of 0.818 L/min. The overall percent errors between TD CO and TEB CO were 19.3% (during controlled ventilation) and 17.4% (during spontaneous breathing), respectively. To conclude, a fair correlation was found between TD CO and TEB CO measurements among post-OPCAB patients during controlled ventilation. However, the correlation was weak in spontaneously breathing patients.

Propensity case-matched analysis of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with atheromatous aorta.

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe atheromatous disease of the aorta who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting have an increased risk of stroke and death. We hypothesize that in these high-risk patients off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with lower rates of stroke and mortality. METHODS: From January 1995 through June 2004, a total of 24,107 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 18,501, of which 6,991 (29.0%) were found to have severe atheromatous disease in the ascending aorta or aortic arch. Propensity matched-pairs analysis was used to match patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 3,000) with 3,000 patients undergoing conventional coronary artery bypass grafting by age, sex, ejection fraction, diabetes, preoperative intraaortic balloon pump, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, history of stroke or cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, carotid artery disease, atrial fibrillation, emergency surgery, or previous cardiac surgery. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed decreased hospital mortality (1.4% versus 3.3%; p < 0.001) and stroke prevalence (0.50% versus 0.97%; p = 0.05) in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting compared with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting. Multivariate analysis revealed that increased mortality was associated with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (odds ratio, 2.6; p = 0.001), age (odds ratio, 2.1; p = 0.003), acute myocardial infarction (odds ratio, 1.8; p = 0.03), history of stroke or cerebrovascular disease (odds ratio, 1.6; p = 0.04), congestive heart failure (odds ratio, 2.1; p = 0.04), and diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 1.9; p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting technique was the only independent predictor of decreased stroke rate (odds ratio, 1.4; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery in patients with atheromatous disease of the aorta is associated with lower risk of stroke and death. Routine intraoperative evaluation of the aorta is helpful in identifying the disease and directs the appropriate surgical technique.

Mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Ischemic mitral regurgitation contributes to poor survival in patients with heart failure. The intermediate-term outcome of mitral reconstruction in 15 patients who had ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation requiring surgical intervention was studied. They underwent mitral valve repair along with coronary artery bypass surgery. The mitral valve coaptation depth was considered an important parameter in deciding on repair. Ages ranged from 43 to 72 years. Left ventricular ejection fractions were 15-38% (mean, 26.5% +/- 4.3%). The operative technique in all 15 patients was posterior annuloplasty using Dacron felt. At a mean follow-up of 4.6 +/- 1.2 months (1-8 months), postoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed mild mitral regurgitation in 2 patients and none in 13. There was a significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional class from 3.9 +/- 1.1 to 1.9 +/- 0.3. Mitral valve repair by posterior felt annuloplasty provides favorable results in the intermediate-term in selected patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Post-operative outcome of ventricular reshaping by septal exclusion in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Post-myocardial infarction, anteroseptal dysfunction or akinesia is treated by septal reshaping to improve the surgical outcome in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between February 2003 to December 2003, 30 consecutive patients with previous anterior wall myocardial infarction and severe ventricular dysfunction underwent septal reshaping. All the dyskinetic and akinetic septal areas were excluded using an oval dacron patch which was sutured from the healthy septal area to the anterior wall, resulting in formation of a new apex. There were two mortalities in the group. After a mean follow-up of 4.2 +/- 1.6 months (1-7 months) it was seen that this procedure resulted in significant reduction of ventricular volume, increase in ejection fraction, an improvement in New York Heart Association class from 2.9 +/- 1.1 to 1.7 +/- 0.3, and a better apical geometry. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients with left anterior descending artery occlusion resulting in anteroseptal dyskinesia or akinesia, septal exclusion technique provides good clinical and morphological results with significant improvement in left ventricular function.