Non-ventilated lung deflation during one-lung ventilation with a double-lumen endotracheal tube: a randomized-controlled trial of occluding the non-ventilated endobronchial lumen before pleural opening.

PURPOSE: Lung deflation during one-lung ventilation (OLV) is thought to be faster using a double-lumen endotracheal tube (DL-ETT) than with a bronchial blocker, especially when the non-ventilated lumen is opened to allow egress of air from the operative lung. Nevertheless, ambient air can also be entrained into the non-ventilated lumen before pleural opening and subsequently delay deflation. We therefore hypothesized that occluding the non-ventilated DL-ETT lumen during OLV before pleural opening would prevent air entrainment and consequently enhance operative lung deflation during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). METHODS: Thirty patients undergoing VATS using DL-ETT to allow OLV were randomized to having the lumen of the operative lung either open (control group) or occluded (intervention group) to ambient air. The primary outcome was the time to lung collapse evaluated intraoperatively by the surgeons. The T50, an index of rate of deflation, was also determined from a probabilistic model derived from intraoperative video clips presented in random order to three observers. RESULTS: The median [interquartile range] time to lung deflation occurred faster in the intervention group than in the control group (24 [20-37] min vs 54 [48-68] min, respectively; median difference, 30 min; 95% confidence interval [CI], 14 to 46; P < 0.001). The estimated T50 was 32.6 min in the intervention group compared with 62.3 min in the control group (difference, - 29.7 min; 95% CI, - 51.1 to - 8.4; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Operative lung deflation during OLV with a DL-ETT is faster when the operative lumen remains closed before pleural opening thus preventing it from entraining ambient air during the closed chest phase of OLV. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03508050); registered 27 September 2017.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: On pense que la déflation pulmonaire pendant la ventilation unipulmonaire (VUP) est plus rapide à l'aide d'un tube endotrachéal à double lumière (TET-DL) qu'avec un bloqueur bronchique, surtout lorsque la lumière non ventilée est ouverte pour permettre l'évacuation de l'air du poumon opéré. Néanmoins, l'air ambiant peut également être entraîné dans la lumière non ventilée avant l'ouverture pleurale et ainsi retarder la déflation. Nous avons donc émis l'hypothèse que l'occlusion de la lumière non ventilée du TET-DL pendant la VUP avant l'ouverture de la plèvre empêcherait l'entraînement d'air et accélérerait par conséquent la déflation du poumon opéré pendant une chirurgie thoracoscopique vidéo-assistée (VATS). MéTHODE: Trente patients subissant une VATS avec un TET-DL pour permettre une VUP ont été randomisés à une ouverture (groupe témoin) ou à une occlusion (groupe intervention) de la lumière du poumon opéré à l'air ambiant. Le critère d'évaluation principal était le temps jusqu'au collapsus du poumon tel qu'évalué pendant l'opération par les chirurgiens. Le T50, un indice du taux de déflation, a également été déterminé à partir d'un modèle probabiliste dérivé de clips vidéo peropératoires présentés de façon randomisée à trois observateurs. RéSULTATS: Le temps médian [écart interquartile] jusqu'à la déflation du poumon était plus court dans le groupe d'intervention que dans le groupe témoin (24 [20-37] min vs 54 [48-68] min, respectivement; différence médiane, 30 min; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, 14 à 46; P < 0,001). Le T50 estimé était de 32,6 min dans le groupe d'intervention comparativement à 62,3 min dans le groupe témoin (différence, -29,7 min; IC 95 %, -51,1 à -8,4; P = 0,008). CONCLUSION: La déflation du poumon opéré pendant une VUP avec un TET-DL est plus rapide quand la lumière opératoire reste fermée avant l'ouverture pleurale, l'empêchant ainsi d'entraîner l'air ambiant pendant la phase pré ouverture pleurale de la VUP. ENREGISTREMENT DE L'éTUDE: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03508050); enregistrée le 27 septembre 2017.

Unusual Cause of Life-Threatening Hemoptysis During Cardiac Operation: Surgical Management Revisited.

The surgical management of life-threatening perioperative hemoptysis has been vastly replaced by radiologic embolization. In some situations, surgical therapy can prove useful. This case report describes life-threatening hemoptysis of an unusual cause during coronary artery bypass grafting, managed through an original technique of temporary pulmonary vascular exclusion by thoracotomy.

Management of anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with allergy to heparin and heparin-like compounds: a case-report.

Hypersensitivity to heparin and heparin-like compounds is a rare condition that represents therapeutic challenges for patients requiring a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We here report the case of a woman with a combined allergy to heparins (fractionated and unfractionated), danaparoid and fondaparinux. She underwent a mitral valve replacement under CBP using lepirudin for systemic anticoagulation. The use of lepirudin instead of unfractionated heparin (UFH) in this setting has many important implications. Lepirudin therapeutic index is narrow and so, overdosing can lead to catastrophic bleeding, whereas underdosing can result in clotting in the CPB tubing. Monitoring of lepirudin activity is essential. The usual activated clotting time monitoring is not a reliable method to monitor anticoagulation with lepirudin in the operating theater. Our experience suggests that the diluted thrombin time provides a valuable alternative during CPB.

Effect of systemic steroids on post-tonsillectomy bleeding and reinterventions: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of postoperative bleeding and reintervention with the use of systemic steroids in patients undergoing tonsillectomy. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Intute, Biosis, OpenSIGLE, National Technical Information Service, and Google Scholar were searched. References from reviews identified in the search and from included studies were scanned. REVIEW METHODS: Randomised controlled trials comparing the administration of systemic steroids during tonsillectomy with any other comparator were eligible. Primary outcome was postoperative bleeding. Secondary outcomes were the rate of admission for a bleeding episode, reintervention for a bleeding episode, blood transfusion, and mortality. RESULTS: Of 1387 citations identified, 29 randomised controlled trials (n=2674) met all eligibility criteria. Seven studies presented a low risk of bias, but none was specifically designed to systematically identify postoperative bleeding. Administration of systemic steroids did not significantly increase the incidence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding (29 studies, n=2674 patients, odds ratio 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.66 to 1.40), I²=0%). We observed a significant increase in the incidence of operative reinterventions for bleeding episodes in patients who received systemic steroids (12, n=1178, 2.27 (1.03 to 4.99), I²=0%). No deaths were reported. Sensitivity analyses were consistent with the findings. CONCLUSIONS: Although systemic steroids do not appear to increase bleeding events after tonsillectomy, their use is associated with a raised incidence of operative reinterventions for bleeding episodes, which may be related to increased severity of bleeding events. Systemic steroids should be used with caution, and the risks and benefits weighed, for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after tonsillectomy before further research is performed to clarify their condition of use.

Perioperative intravenous lidocaine infusion for postoperative pain control: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Various strategies have been proposed for postoperative pain control. Among those, intravenous lidocaine infusion (IVLI) has gained in interest. However, its clinical benefit remains unclear. This systematic review is an evaluation of the analgesic efficacy and safety of IVLI during general anesthesia. METHODS: A systematic search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and SCOPUS databases, likewise, grey literature. The review included all randomized controlled trials that used a placebo or any comparator and evaluated IVLI during general anesthesia for any type of surgery. Primary outcomes were pain control and opioid requirement. Secondary outcomes were mortality, length of stay, ileus recovery time, nausea/vomiting, and adverse events. Random effects models were used and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 index. RESULTS: From 5,472 citations retrieved, 29 studies involving a total of 1,754 patients met eligibility. At six hours postoperatively, intravenous lidocaine infusion reduced pain at rest (weighted mean difference [WMD]-8.70, 95% confidence intervals [CI] -16.19 to -1.21), during cough (WMD -11.19, 95% CI -17.73 to -4.65), and during movement (WMD -9.56, 95% CI -17.31 to-1.80). Intravenous lidocaine infusion also reduced opioid requirement (morphine) (WMD -8.44 mg, 95% CI -11.32 to -5.56), time to first flatus (WMD -7.62 hr, 95% CI-10.78 to -4.45), time to first feces (WMD -10.71 hr, 95% CI -16.14 to -5.28), nausea/vomiting (risk ratios = 0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.90), and hospital length of stay (WMD -0.17 days, 95% CI -0.41 to 0.07). Abdominal surgery was strongly associated with benefit. For the 12 studies that systematically screened adverse events, the incidence of cardiac and neurologic adverse events was comparable. Eight studies observed toxic plasma levels. DISCUSSION: Perioperative IVLI reduced postoperative pain and opioid requirement, as well as ileus recovery time, hospital length of stay, and nausea/vomiting. Intravenous lidocaine infusion was effective mainly in abdominal surgery populations. Considering that toxic levels were detected and that adverse events were not systematically screened for in most studies, dose and safety of IVLI should be established before recommending its use.