Tranexamic acid in cardiac surgery: Are low doses enough?

OBJECTIVES: Tranexamic acid is used to prevent hyperfibrinolysis and reduce postoperative bleeding and blood transfusions in on-pump cardiac surgery. We evaluate the efficacy of low or high dose tranexamic acid in a prospective cohort study conducted in Valencia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 427 patients were recruited between January 2019 and January 2020, 207 in the Hospital General Universitario (low dose [LD]) and 220 in the Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (high dose [HD] and intermediate dose [ID]). We recorded the presence of hyperfibrinolysis on rotational thromboelastometry, intra- and postoperative administration of blood products, chest tube output within the first 12 h, and incidence of convulsions. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were performed. Univariate analysis of all categories was performed after propensity score matching between LD and HD and between LD and ID. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in: appearance of hyperfibrinolysis, administration of blood products, postoperative chest tube output within the first 12 h, or occurrence of convulsions. Group LD received less fibrinogen than group HD (P = .014) and ID (P = .040) but more fresh frozen plasma than group ID (P = .0002). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of low-dose tranexamic acid is as effective as higher doses in hyperfibrinolysis prophylaxis and the prevention of postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery.

Tranexamic acid in cardiac surgery: Are low doses enough? / Ácido tranexámico en cirugía cardíaca: ¿las dosis bajas son suficientes?

OBJECTIVES: Tranexamic acid is used to prevent hyperfibrinolysis and reduce postoperative bleeding and blood transfusions in on-pump cardiac surgery. We evaluate the efficacy of low or high dose tranexamic acid in a prospective cohort study conducted in Valencia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 427 patients were recruited between January 2019 and January 2020, 207 in the Hospital General Universitario (low dose [LD]) and 220 in the Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (high dose [HD] and intermediate dose [ID]). We recorded the presence of hyperfibrinolysis on rotational thromboelastometry, intra- and postoperative administration of blood products, chest tube output within the first 12h, and incidence of convulsions. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were performed. Univariate analysis of all categories was performed after propensity score matching between LD and HD and between LD and ID. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in: appearance of hyperfibrinolysis, administration of blood products, postoperative chest tube output within the first 12h, or occurrence of convulsions. Group LD received less fibrinogen than group HD (P=.014) and ID (P=.040) but more fresh frozen plasma than group ID (P=.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of low-dose tranexamic acid is as effective as higher doses in hyperfibrinolysis prophylaxis and the prevention of postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery.

¿Qué hemos hecho en nuestra UCI de Anestesia para mantener la comunicación en la pandemia? / What have we done in our anesthesia ICU to maintain communication in the pandemic?

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Evaluación del flujo renal con Doppler pulsado durante la circulación extracorpórea pulsátil. Estudio piloto / Pulsed-Doppler evaluation of renal perfusion during pulsatile extracorporeal circulation. A pilot study

Introducción: El fracaso renal agudo (FRA) tras la cirugía cardiaca es un factor de riesgo asociado a mortalidad y consumo de recursos. Algunos estudios encuentran efectos beneficiosos del flujo pulsátil en la circulación extracorpórea (CEC) sobre la función renal. El objetivo de este estudio es describir la morfología ecográfica de la onda arterial renal modificando los parámetros de la CEC pulsátil. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo de 10 pacientes intervenidos mediante cirugía cardiaca con CEC sin FRA previo. Se realizó ecografía renal pre-, intra- y poscirugía. Durante la CEC pulsátil se modificaron la amplitud y el flujo base. Se obtuvieron registros de Doppler pulsado en arterias intrarrenales, se midió la velocidad máxima sistólica y la velocidad mínima diastólica, el índice de resistencia (IR) y el tiempo de aceleración (TAcel). Resultados: La ecografía previa a la CEC (pre-CEC) muestra que hay diferencias significativas cuando se compara con los valores obtenidos en la modalidad A50F50 (p = 0,013), A50F30 (p = 0,013) y A60F50 (p = 0,003). No las hay para la modalidad A30F30 (p = 0,125). Conclusiones: La disminución de la amplitud y del flujo base de la pulsatilidad durante la CEC permite obtener una morfología ecográfica renal más parecida a la fisiológica. Estudios posteriores utilizando estas características durante la CEC pulsátil podrían mostrar la repercusión de este modo de perfusión sobre el FRA que se produce tras la cirugía cardiaca

Introduction: Acute renal failure (ARF) after cardiac surgery is a risk factor associated with mortality and use of resources. Some studies have reported beneficial effects of pulsatile flow on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on renal function. The aim of this study is to describe the echographic morphology of the renal arterial wave modifying the parameters of pulsatile CPB. Material and method: Descriptive study was performed on 10 patients without previous AFR and undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. Pre-, intra- and post-surgery renal ultrasound was performed. During pulsatile CPB, the amplitude and the baseline flow were modified. Recordings of pulsed Doppler in intrarenal arteries were obtained by measuring maximum systolic velocity, minimum diastolic velocity, resistance index (RI) and acceleration time (AT). Results: Statistical differences were found in ultrasounds pre-CPB between A50F50 modality (P=.013), A50F30 (P=.013) and A60F50 (P=.003). No statistically significance was found with A30F30 modality (P=.125). Conclusions: The decrease in the amplitude and the baseline flow of pulsatility during CPB shows a renal ultrasound morphology that is more similar to the physiological one. Subsequent studies using these characteristics during pulsatile CPB could thus show perfusion over the ARF that occurs after cardiac surgery

Pulsed-Doppler evaluation of renal perfusion during pulsatile extracorporeal circulation. A pilot study. / Evaluación del flujo renal con Doppler pulsado durante la circulación extracorpórea pulsátil. Estudio piloto.

INTRODUCTION: Acute renal failure (ARF) after cardiac surgery is a risk factor associated with mortality and use of resources. Some studies have reported beneficial effects of pulsatile flow on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on renal function. The aim of this study is to describe the echographic morphology of the renal arterial wave modifying the parameters of pulsatile CPB. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive study was performed on 10 patients without previous AFR and undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. Pre-, intra- and post-surgery renal ultrasound was performed. During pulsatile CPB, the amplitude and the baseline flow were modified. Recordings of pulsed Doppler in intrarenal arteries were obtained by measuring maximum systolic velocity, minimum diastolic velocity, resistance index (RI) and acceleration time (AT). RESULTS: Statistical differences were found in ultrasounds pre-CPB between A50F50 modality (P=.013), A50F30 (P=.013) and A60F50 (P=.003). No statistically significance was found with A30F30 modality (P=.125). CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in the amplitude and the baseline flow of pulsatility during CPB shows a renal ultrasound morphology that is more similar to the physiological one. Subsequent studies using these characteristics during pulsatile CPB could thus show perfusion over the ARF that occurs after cardiac surgery.

[Intramucosal intraoperative gastric pH (pHi) during cardiac surgery] surgery]. / pH intramucoso gástrico (pHi) durante el intraoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the monitoring of intramucosal pH (pHi) and standard pH (pHs) during heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and moderate hypothermia. The correlations of pHi and pHs and the postoperative APACHE III score after surgery were analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with cardiac output > 0.4 scheduled for coronary bypass surgery, or aortic or mitral valve replacement were studied. Arterial pH (pHa), pHi and pHs were measured and the difference between pHa and pHi was calculated before starting ECC (T0), during ECC and hypothermia (T1) and after termination of ECC (T2). The APACHE III score was recorded 18 h after surgery. RESULTS: No significant differences between the pHi and pHs were observed in these patients. pHi was significantly higher during ECC with hypothermia (T1) than at baseline (T0). pHi and pHs were significantly correlated during the study period. There was no correlation between the APACHE III score in the immediate postoperative period and either pHi or pHs during surgery. CONCLUSION: Periods of splanchnic hypoxia (pHi < 7.32) during heart surgery with moderate hypothermia were not seen in patients with cardiac output > 0.4. pHs is a reliable measurement of pHi. There is no relation between APACHE III scores in the early postoperative period and pHi or pHs levels during surgery.