Encuesta a los estudiantes tras diez años de enseñanza semipresencial continua de ecocardiografía / Student survey after ten years of continuous blended teaching of echocardiocraphy

Objetivo: Analizar el impacto durante 10 años de nuestro programa de enseñanza semipresencial en ecocardiografía. Métodos y resultados: Se envió una encuesta retrospectiva a todos los médicos especialistas que se graduaron en el programa, desarrollado en la Universidad de Chile, con un equipo docente de Chile y España. Un total de 140 de entre 210 estudiantes, graduados en nuestro programa de 2011 a 2020, respondieron voluntariamente a la encuesta. Entre quienes respondieron, el 53,57% fueron anestesiólogos y el 26,42% intensivistas. Más del 85% de los respondedores indicó que el periodo de enseñanza online cumplió sus expectativas, y el 70,2% indicó que la experiencia práctica cumplió sus objetivos. En un análisis retrospectivo utilizando datos autorreportados, se observaron incrementos significativos en cuanto a frecuencia del uso de ecocardiografía transtorácica y transesofágica del 24,29% al 40,71% y del 13,57% al 27,86%, respectivamente, tras el programa, en comparación con el periodo anterior al mismo. Se usó la ecocardiografía principalmente en el periodo perioperatorio (56,7%) y en cuidados intensivos (32,3%), mientras que solo el 11% de los respondedores la utilizó en unidades de urgencia. Además, el 92,4% de los respondedores reveló que la información aprendida durante el programa había sido muy útil para su práctica posterior. Conclusiones: A lo largo de una década de uso, el programa de aprendizaje semipresencial de ecocardiografía fue evaluado satisfactoriamente por los especialistas que se graduaron en el programa, siendo asociado a un incremento significativo del uso de ecocardiografía en el periodo perioperatorio y en cuidados intensivos. El principal desafío es establecer un periodo más prolongado de práctica, y lograr un mayor alcance en la medicina de urgencias.(AU)

Objective:To analyse the impact of 10 years of blended echocardiography teaching. Methods and results: A questionnaire was emailed to all medical doctors who graduated from the blended learning diploma in echocardiography developed by the University of Chile and taught by a team from Chile and Spain. One hundred and forty of the 210 students who graduated from the program between 2011 and 2020 completed the questionnaire: 53.57% were anaesthesiologists, and 26.42% were intensivists. More than 85% of respondents indicated that the online teaching met their expectations, and 70.2% indicated that the hands-on practice fulfilled the stated objectives. In a retrospective analysis using self-reported data, graduates reported that their use of transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography has increased from 24.29% to 40.71% and from 13.57% to 27.86%, repectively, after the programme compared to before the programme. They used echocardiography mainly in the perioperative period (56.7%) and during intensive care (32.3%), while only 11% of respondents used it in emergency care units. Nearly all (92.4%) respondents reported that the skills learned was very useful in their professional practice. Conclusions: Ten years after its launch, the blended learning diploma in echocardiography was well rated by graduate specialists, and is associated with a significant increase in the use of echocardiography in the perioperative period and during intensive care. The main challenges are to establish a longer period of practice and achieve greater implantation in emergency medicine.(AU)

Ecocardiografía transesofágica intraoperatoria en cirugía cardiovascular. Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación (SEDAR) y Sociedad Española de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Endovascular (SECCE) / Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in cardiovascular surgery. Consensus document from the Spanish Society of Anesthesia and Critical Care (SEDAR) and the Spanish Society of Endovascular and Cardiovascular Surgery (SECCE)

La ecocardiografía transesfofágica es una técnica semiinvasiva que permite una evaluación de la morfología y función cardiaca a tiempo real y que constituye, a día de hoy, un estándar de calidad en las intervenciones de cirugía cardiovascular. Se ha convertido en una herramienta fundamental tanto de monitorización como de diagnóstico en el perioperatorio que permite la correcta planificación quirúrgica y manejo farmacológico dirigido. El objetivo de este documento es dar respuesta de forma consensuada y avalada por la evidencia científica de cuándo y cómo debe hacerse la ecocardiografía transesfofágica intraoperatoria en cirugía cardiovascular, qué aplicaciones tiene en el intraoperatorio, quién debe realizarla y cómo debe transmitirse la información obtenida durante el estudio. Los autores han hecho una revisión sistemática de las guías internacionales, artículos de revisión y ensayos clínicos para dar respuesta a estas preguntas

Transesophageal echocardiography is a semi-invasive technique that allows an evaluation of cardiac morphology and function in real time and it is a quality standard in cardiovascular surgery. It has become a fundamental tool for both monitoring and diagnosis in the intraoperative period that allows decide the correct surgical planning and pharmacological management. The goal of this document is to answer the questions of when and how the perioperative TEE should be performed in cardiovascular surgery, what are their applications in the intraoperative, who should perform it and how the information should be transmitted. The authors made a systematic review of international guidelines, review articles and clinical trials to answer by consensus to these questions

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in cardiovascular surgery. Consensus document from the Spanish Society of Anesthesia and Critical Care (SEDAR) and the Spanish Society of Endovascular and Cardiovascular Surgery (SECCE). / Ecocardiografía transesofágica intraoperatoria en cirugía cardiovascular. Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación (SEDAR) y Sociedad Española de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Endovascular (SECCE).

Transesophageal echocardiography is a semi-invasive technique that allows an evaluation of cardiac morphology and function in real time and it is a quality standard in cardiovascular surgery. It has become a fundamental tool for both monitoring and diagnosis in the intraoperative period that allows decide the correct surgical planning and pharmacological management. The goal of this document is to answer the questions of when and how the perioperative TEE should be performed in cardiovascular surgery, what are their applications in the intraoperative, who should perform it and how the information should be transmitted. The authors made a systematic review of international guidelines, review articles and clinical trials to answer by consensus to these questions.

Importancia de la ecocardiografía transesofágica intraoperatoria en la decisión quirúrgica en cirugía cardiaca / The importance of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in the surgical decision in cardiac surgery

Objetivo. Determinar la importancia de la ecocardiografía transesofágica (ECOTE) intraoperatoria en la decisión quirúrgica en pacientes intervenidos de cirugía cardiaca. Pacientes y método. Estudio prospectivo observacional en pacientes de cirugía cardiaca intervenidos desde enero de 2009 hasta mayo de 2012, a los que se monitorizó con ECOTE por el anestesiólogo responsable. Los datos recogidos fueron: 1) tipo de cirugía; 2) diagnóstico ecocardiográfico preoperatorio (ECO basal); 3) diagnóstico ecocardiográfico antes de entrar en circulación extracorpórea (CEC) (ECOTE pre-CEC); 4) si había diferencias entre la ECO basal y la ECOTE pre-CEC (hallazgo nuevo pre-CEC) y si estas diferencias modificaban la cirugía planeada, y 5) diagnóstico ecocardiográfico después de la desconexión de CEC (hallazgo no esperado pos-CEC) y si estos hallazgos ecocardiográficos pos-CEC hacían reinstaurarla. Para el análisis de datos se utilizó el programa de software SPSS(R). Resultados. El total de pacientes estudiados fue de 1.273; la monitorización con ECOTE mostró «hallazgos nuevos pre-CEC» en 98 pacientes (7,7%) y en 43,8% de estos modificó la cirugía programada; de estos hallazgos, los más frecuentes fueron alteraciones de la válvula mitral que no habían sido diagnosticadas, lo que determinó la sustitución o reparación de la misma que no estaba programada. La incidencia de «hallazgos no esperados pos-CEC» fue del 6,2% (79 pacientes), y de estos, en el 46,8% se requirió reinstaurar la CEC y modificar la cirugía realizada. Las reparaciones valvulares fallidas y las prótesis valvulares disfuncionantes fueron las causas principales que motivaron la reentrada en CEC. En los 42 pacientes restantes, con «hallazgos no esperados pos-CEC», no hubo cambios en la conducta quirúrgica, ya que se consideró que el hallazgo ecocardiográfico no era lo suficientemente significativo como para reinstaurar la CEC y revisar o cambiar el procedimiento quirúrgico. Conclusión. En cirugía cardiaca, la monitorización intraoperatoria con ECOTE por el anestesiólogo aporta información importante antes y después de la CEC que modificó el manejo quirúrgico (AU)

Objective. To determine the importance of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (IOTEE) in the surgical decision in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients and method. Prospective observational study of patients undergoing cardiac surgery from January 2009 to May 2012, which was monitored with IOTEE by the anesthesiologist in charge. The data collected were: 1) type of surgery; 2) preoperative echocardiographic diagnosis (baseline ECHO); 3) echocardiographic diagnosis before entering cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (pre-CPB IOTEE); 4) any differences between the baseline ECHO and the pre-CPB IOTEE (new pre-CPB finding) and whether these differences modified the planned surgery, and 5) echocardiographic diagnosis after disconnection of CPB (unexpected post-CPB finding) and whether these post-CPB echocardiographic findings led to reinstating it. The software program SPSS(R) was used for data analysis. Results. The total number of patients studied was 1,273. Monitoring with IOTEE showed 'new pre-CPB' findings in 98 patients (7.7%), and 43.8% of these led to a change in the scheduled surgery. Of these findings, the most frequent were abnormalities of the mitral valve that had not been diagnosed, and which led to a replacement or repair that had not been scheduled. The incidence of 'unexpected post-CPB findings' was 6.2% (79 patients), and 46.8% of those required reinstating the CPB and modifying the surgery performed. The failed valve repairs and dysfunctional valve prostheses were the main causes that led to re-entry into CPB. In the remaining 42 patients, with 'unexpected post-CPB findings', there were no changes in the surgical procedure as the echocardiographic findings were not considered to be significant enough to re-establish CPB and revise or change the surgical procedure. Conclusion. Intraoperative monitoring with IOTEE by the anesthesiologist during surgery provides important information before and after the CPB that resulted in modifying surgical management (AU)

[The importance of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in the surgical decision in cardiac surgery]. / Importancia de la ecocardiografía transesofágica intraoperatoria en la decisión quirúrgica en cirugía cardiaca.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the importance of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (IOTEE) in the surgical decision in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective observational study of patients undergoing cardiac surgery from January 2009 to May 2012, which was monitored with IOTEE by the anesthesiologist in charge. The data collected were: 1) type of surgery; 2) preoperative echocardiographic diagnosis (baseline ECHO); 3) echocardiographic diagnosis before entering cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (pre-CPB IOTEE); 4) any differences between the baseline ECHO and the pre-CPB IOTEE (new pre-CPB finding) and whether these differences modified the planned surgery, and 5) echocardiographic diagnosis after disconnection of CPB (unexpected post-CPB finding) and whether these post-CPB echocardiographic findings led to reinstating it. The software program SPSS(®) was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The total number of patients studied was 1,273. Monitoring with IOTEE showed "new pre-CPB" findings in 98 patients (7.7%), and 43.8% of these led to a change in the scheduled surgery. Of these findings, the most frequent were abnormalities of the mitral valve that had not been diagnosed, and which led to a replacement or repair that had not been scheduled. The incidence of "unexpected post-CPB findings" was 6.2% (79 patients), and 46.8% of those required reinstating the CPB and modifying the surgery performed. The failed valve repairs and dysfunctional valve prostheses were the main causes that led to re-entry into CPB. In the remaining 42 patients, with "unexpected post-CPB findings", there were no changes in the surgical procedure as the echocardiographic findings were not considered to be significant enough to re-establish CPB and revise or change the surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative monitoring with IOTEE by the anesthesiologist during surgery provides important information before and after the CPB that resulted in modifying surgical management.

Manejo perioperatorio de la fibrilación auricular / Perioperative management of atrial fibrillation

La fibrilación auricular es una complicación frecuente en el periodo perioperatorio, y cuando aparece se incrementa el riesgo de morbimortalidad perioperatoria debido a ACV, tromboembolismo, fallo cardiaco, IAM, hemorragia debida a anticoagulación y reingresos hospitalarios. En el presente artículo se recogen las recomendaciones para el manejo de la fibrilación auricular perioperatoria basándose en las últimas Guías de Práctica Clínica de la fibrilación auricular publicadas por la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología y la Sociedad Española de Cardiología, prestando atención tanto a su optimización preoperatoria, como al manejo del episodio agudo perioperatorio. En este sentido se incluyen las últimas recomendaciones para control de la frecuencia cardiaca, control del ritmo y anticoagulación (AU)

Atrial fibrillation is a frequent complication in the perioperative period. When it appears there is an increased risk of perioperative morbidity due to stroke, thromboembolism, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, anticoagulation haemorrhage, and hospital readmissions. The current article focuses on the recommendations for the management of perioperative atrial fibrillation based on the latest Clinical Practice Guidelines on atrial fibrillation by the European Society of Cardiology and the Spanish Society of Cardiology. This article pays special attention to the preoperative management, as well as to the acute perioperative episode. For this reason, the latest recommendations for the control of cardiac frequency, antiarrhythmic treatment and anticoagulation are included (AU)

[Perioperative management of atrial fibrillation]. / Manejo perioperatorio de la fibrilación auricular.

Atrial fibrillation is a frequent complication in the perioperative period. When it appears there is an increased risk of perioperative morbidity due to stroke, thromboembolism, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, anticoagulation haemorrhage, and hospital readmissions. The current article focuses on the recommendations for the management of perioperative atrial fibrillation based on the latest Clinical Practice Guidelines on atrial fibrillation by the European Society of Cardiology and the Spanish Society of Cardiology. This article pays special attention to the preoperative management, as well as to the acute perioperative episode. For this reason, the latest recommendations for the control of cardiac frequency, antiarrhythmic treatment and anticoagulation are included.

Prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hemorragia en cirugía cardiaca / Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of bleeding in cardiac surgery

Los pacientes operados de cirugía cardiaca tienen un riesgo elevado de hemorragia y transfusión. Este riesgo ha ido aumentando en las últimas décadas y, pese a ser una de las complicaciones más frecuentes y con mayor morbimortalidad asociadas a esta cirugía, sigue existiendo una gran variabilidad en cuanto a su manejo entre las instituciones. El uso de algoritmos de manejo de la hemorragia ha demostrado que disminuye los requerimientos de transfusión y por tanto parece imprescindible establecer protocolos que incluyan medidas preventivas, mecanismos eficaces de diagnóstico y algoritmos de tratamiento. Por otra parte, la aparición de nuevos fármacos procoagulantes y de nuevos sistemas de monitorización de la hemostasia están cambiando nuestras posibilidades diagnósticas y terapéuticas. En este trabajo se revisan varios aspectos relacionados con las causas, la prevención, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la hemorragia asociada a la cirugía cardiaca y se presenta una propuesta de algoritmo para su manejo(AU)

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are at high risk of bleeding and transfusion. This risk has increased in recent years and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Moreover, despite being one of the most common complications associated with this surgery, there remains a large variability in its management between institutions. Implementation of algorithms for coagulation management has been shown to reduce transfusion requirements and therefore it seems essential to establish protocols that include preventive measures, effective mechanisms for diagnosis and treatment algorithms. On the other hand, the emergence of new drugs and the use of point of care coagulation monitoring systems, is changing our diagnostic and therapeutic options. This paper reviews several aspects related to the causes, diagnosis and treatment of bleeding associated with cardiac surgery and presents an algorithm for its management(AU)

[Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of bleeding in cardiac surgery]. / Prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hemorragia en cirugía cardiaca.

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are at high risk of bleeding and transfusion. This risk has increased in recent years and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Moreover, despite being one of the most common complications associated with this surgery, there remains a large variability in its management between institutions. Implementation of algorithms for coagulation management has been shown to reduce transfusion requirements and therefore it seems essential to establish protocols that include preventive measures, effective mechanisms for diagnosis and treatment algorithms. On the other hand, the emergence of new drugs and the use of point of care coagulation monitoring systems, is changing our diagnostic and therapeutic options. This paper reviews several aspects related to the causes, diagnosis and treatment of bleeding associated with cardiac surgery and presents an algorithm for its management.

Tricuspid valve surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The tricuspid valve has been taken as a non-critical valve in terms of acute or late mortality in a number of conditions. Tricuspid functional regurgitation is a cause of late operations with an increased morbidity. A number of techniques have been described and used in clinical practice in the past forty years and include simple suture techniques and the use of support for annuloplasty with the use of different types of prosthetic rings. The experience accumulated over the years indicates that tricuspid annuloplasty is mandatory to improve late results, which are superior, in general, to replacement of the valve. METHODS: The role of echocardiography in defining surgical planning, intraoperative results and follow-up is reviewed as echocardiography is a fundamental tool in cardiac surgery. Surgery for isolated lesions of the tricuspid valve has not received much attention and herein we report the results of the follow-up of a limited series of patients undergoing isolated tricuspid surgery. RESULTS: The correlation between echocardiographic measurements and surgical measurements was confirmed and was helpful at the time of the confirmation of repair (r=0.53). Forty-seven patients (18 repair, 29 replacement) underwent isolated surgery. Results of isolated tricuspid repair seemed to be superior when compared to those of tricuspid replacement. Survival was 20.7% for tricuspid valve replacement (N=18) and 50% for tricuspid valve repair (N=29) (p=0.04). Freedom from reoperation was 94.4±5.4% for repair and 67.3±12.1% for replacement (p= 0.0011). CONCLUSIONS: The tricuspid valve continues to be a surgical challenge.

Incidence and predictors of major perioperative adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in non-cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) represent the most common cause of serious perioperative morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to identify risk factors for MACCE in a broad surgical population with intermediate-to-high surgery-specific risk and to build and validate a model to predict the risk of MACCE. METHODS: A prospective, multicentre study of patients undergoing surgical procedures under general or regional anaesthesia in 23 hospitals. The main outcome was the occurrence of at least one perioperative MACCE, defined as any of the following complications from admittance to discharge: cardiac death, cerebrovascular death, non-fatal cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, new cardiac arrhythmia, angina, or stroke. The MACCE predictive index was based on ß-coefficients and validated in an external data set. RESULTS: Of 3387 patients recruited, 146 (4.3%) developed at least one MACCE. The regression model identified seven independent risk factors for MACCE: history of coronary artery disease, history of chronic congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, history of cerebrovascular disease, preoperative abnormal ECG, intraoperative hypotension, and blood transfusion. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 75.9% (95% confidence interval, 71.2-80.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The risk score based on seven objective and easily assessed factors can accurately predict MACCE occurrence after non-cardiac surgery in a population at intermediate-to-high surgery-specific risk.

[Survey of perioperative hemostasis and transfusion management in cardiac surgery: how do anesthesiologists practice?]. / Encuesta de hemostasia y transfusión perioperatoria en cirugía cardiaca: cómo actuamos los anestesólogos?

OBJECTIVE: To determine practices related to control of perioperative hemostasis and transfusion in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in Spain, including the extent to which protocols are being used. METHODS: A questionnaire was created to collect information from physicians in anesthesiology and postoperative recovery care between July 1 and September 20, 2007. The physicians were asked about practice in the 12 months prior to the survey. RESULTS: Thirty-four hospitals responded. Seventy percent reported that they did not have protocols or guidelines for the control of hemostasis during cardiac surgery. Forty-four percent did not have information on the proportion of patients who received transfusions; 47% gave transfusions to 75% of patients. The standard preoperative tests were platelet counts, activated partial thromboplastin time, and prothrombin time. Acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel were suspended before surgery at 15 (44%) and 25 (73%) hospitals, respectively. In cases of resistance to heparin, additional doses of the drug were injected, in combination with plasma or antithrombin in 29% and 12% of the hospitals, respectively. In the intensive postoperative recovery care unit, only 1 hospital used thromboelastography. Only 1 other hospital used a platelet function analyzer. CONCLUSIONS: Hemostasis, perioperative coagulation, and criteria for transfusion vary widely among the hospitals surveyed. Few guidelines are available and they are not often being followed. A high percentage of patients receive transfusions, although not all hospitals can cite a figure. New technology has not been widely applied.

Encuesta de hemostasia y transfusión perioperatoria en cirugía cardiaca: ¿cómo actuamos los anestesiólogos? / Survey of perioperative hemostasis and transfusion management in cardiac surgery: how do anesthesiologists practice?

OBJETIVO: Conocer el control perioperatorio de lahemostasia, la práctica transfusional y su grado de protocolizaciónen pacientes intervenidos de cirugía cardiacaen diferentes hospitales de España.MÉTODO: Se elaboró un cuestionario dirigido a facultativosde Anestesiología y Reanimación. Los datos, enreferencia a los 12 meses previos a la encuesta, se recogierondesde el 1 de julio al 20 de septiembre de 2007.RESULTADOS: Se registraron datos de 34 centros, de loscuales el 70% manifestaron no disponer de protocolos oguías sobre el control de la hemostasia en cirugía cardiaca.El 44% de centros desconocían el porcentaje depacientes que habían sido transfundidos. Un 47% de loscentros transfunde más del 75% de los pacientes. Laspruebas estándar en el preoperatorio fueron el recuentode plaquetas, el tiempo parcial de tromboplastina activadoy el tiempo de protombina. El tratamiento preoperatoriocon ácido acetilsalicílico y clopidogrel era suspendidoantes de la cirugía en 15 (44%) y 25 (73%)centros, respectivamente. En caso de resistencia a laheparina, se administraban dosis adicionales de heparina,asociando plasma o antitrombina en el 29% y 12%respectivamente. En UCI/Reanimación, sólo un centroutilizaba tromboelastografía y otro centro utilizabaPFA-100 (analizador de la función plaquetaria).CONCLUSIONES: La hemostasia, la coagulación perioperatoriay los criterios transfusionales varían ampliamenteen los hospitales consultados. Existen pocas guíasy su seguimiento no es amplio. El porcentaje de pacientestransfundidos es elevado, aunque este dato no essiempre conocido. Las nuevas tecnologías no han tenidouna amplia implantación(AU)

OBJECTIVE: To determine practices related to controlof perioperative hemostasis and transfusion in patientsundergoing cardiac surgery in Spain, including theextent to which protocols are being used.METHODS: A questionnaire was created to collectinformation from physicians in anesthesiology andpostoperative recovery care between July 1 andSeptember 20, 2007. The physicians were asked aboutpractice in the 12 months prior to the survey.RESULTS: Thirty-four hospitals responded. Seventypercent reported that they did not have protocols orguidelines for the control of hemostasis during cardiacsurgery. Forty-four percent did not have information onthe proportion of patients who received transfusions;47% gave transfusions to 75% of patients. The standardpreoperative tests were platelet counts, activated partialthromboplastin time, and prothrombin time.Acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel were suspendedbefore surgery at 15 (44%) and 25 (73%) hospitals,respectively. In cases of resistance to heparin, additionaldoses of the drug were injected, in combination withplasma or antithrombin in 29% and 12% of thehospitals, respectively. In the intensive postoperativerecovery care unit, only 1 hospital usedthromboelastography. Only 1 other hospital used aplatelet function analyzer.CONCLUSIONS: Hemostasis, perioperative coagulation,and criteria for transfusion vary widely among thehospitals surveyed. Few guidelines are available andthey are not often being followed. A high percentage ofpatients receive transfusions, although not all hospitalscan cite a figure. New technology has not been widelyapplied (AU)

[Serious mechanical complications associated with pulmonary artery catheters in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery]. / Complicaciones graves de tipo mecánico asociadas al catéter de arteria pulmonar en cirugía cardiovascular y torácica.

OBJECTIVE: Although the use of pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) in managing critical patients is a subject of debate, they continue to be inserted in many cases and possible complications should be taken into account. Our objective was to review the serious or potentially serious complications associated with PACs in our hospital in the past 15 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of seious mechanical complications of PAC use in patients who underwent vascular, cardiac, and thoracic surgery. RESULTS: The study included the records 7540 patients; 9 cases of serious complications were detected. These complications included 5 cases of pulmonary artery rupture (3 of which resulted in death), 1 perforated internal mammary vein, 1 knotted catheter, 1 bent one, and 1 case of a PAC becoming trapped in the surgical suture. CONCLUSIONS: The 0.12% incidence of complications is lower than rates found in the literature. Although these complications are rare, it is necessary to take precautions against their unexcepted appearance by carefully selecting the patients in whom PACs are placed and by paying special attention to the characteristic clinical and radiological signs of complications.

Complicaciones graves de tipo mecánico asociadas al catéterde arteria pulmonar en cirugía cardiovascular y torácica / Serious mechanical complications associated with pulmonary artery catheters in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery

OBJETIVOS: A pesar de la discusión sobre la utilidaddel catéter de arteria pulmonar (CAP) en el manejo delpaciente crítico, se sigue utilizando frecuentemente y esconveniente tener en cuenta también sus posibles complicaciones.El objetivo del estudio es revisar las complicacionesmecánicas graves o potencialmente graves asociadasa CAP ocurridos en nuestro centro en los últimos15 años.PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Se ha realizado un estudioobservacional retrospectivo sobre los pacientes sometidosa cirugía vascular, cardiaca y torácica en los que secolocó un CAP, considerándose las complicaciones gravesde origen mecánico.RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 7.540 pacientes, detectándosenueve casos de complicaciones graves entre los quese incluyen cinco rupturas de arteria pulmonar, tres deellas con resultado de muerte; una perforación de venamamaria interna; un nudo; un acodamiento y un atrapamientodel catéter en la sutura quirúrgica.CONCLUSIONES: Esto supone una incidencia de 0,12%,menor a la publicada. Aunque la frecuencia de estascomplicaciones es baja, su aparición inesperada obliga aestar alerta ante su posible aparición, con una cuidadosaselección de los pacientes en que se emplea el CAP yespecial vigilancia de los signos clínicos y radiológicoscaracterísticos de complicaciones (AU)

OBJECTIVE:Although the use of pulmonary artery catheters(PACs) in managing critical patients is a subject of debate, theycontinue to be inserted in many cases and possiblecomplications should be taken into account. Our objective wasto review the serious or potentially serious complicationsassociated with PACs in our hospital in the past 15 years.PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective studyof seious mechanical complications of PAC use in patientswho underwent vascular, cardiac, and thoracic surgery.RESULTS: The study included the records 7540 patients;9 cases of serious complications were detected. Thesecomplications included 5 cases of pulmonary arteryrupture (3 of which resulted in death), 1 perforatedinternal mammary vein, 1 knotted catheter, 1 bent one, and1 case of a PAC becoming trapped in the surgical suture.CONCLUSIONS: The 0.12% incidence of complications islower than rates found in the literature. Although thesecomplications are rare, it is necessary to take precautionsagainst their unexcepted appearance by carefullyselecting the patients in whom PACs are placed and bypaying special attention to the characteristic clinical andradiological signs of complications (AU)

Transoesophageal echocardiography accurately detects cardiac output variation: a prospective comparison with thermodilution in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative Doppler ultrasound can be used to measure cardiac output by transoesophageal echocardiography. Recently, its reliability, when compared to the thermodilution technique, has been questioned. The purpose of this study was to compare intraoperative changes in cardiac output measured by echo-Doppler and by thermodilution in cardiac surgery. We also assessed the agreement between the techniques. METHODS: Fifty cardiac surgical patients (38 male, 12 female, mean age of 63.4 +/- 14.3 yr) were prospectively included after approval by the Ethics Committee of the Institution. Cardiac output was assessed by thermodilution, with 10 mL saline at 12 degrees C, and simultaneously and blindly by echo-Doppler in deep transgastric view with pulsed wave Doppler at the level of the left ventricular outflow tract. Matched thermodilution cardiac output and echo-Doppler cardiac output measurements were taken three times at the end of expiration, both pre- and post-cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: Echo-Doppler measurements were obtained in 44 patients (88%). In three patients, Doppler recordings could not be obtained adequately, and three developed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction after bypass. Bland-Altman analysis revealed a bias of 0.015 L min(-1), with narrow limits of agreement (-1.21 to 1.22 L min(-1)) and 29.1% error. Echo-Doppler was accurate (92% sensitivity and 71% specificity, P = 0.008 by receiver operating characteristic curves) for detecting more than 10% of change in thermodilution cardiac output. There were no complications related to the study. CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between cardiac output by echo-Doppler and by thermodilution is clinically acceptable and transoesophageal echocardiography is a reliable tool to assess significant cardiac output changes in a population of selected patients.

Plasma magnesium in patients submitted to cardiac surgery and its influence on perioperative morbidity.

BACKGROUND: To determine the changes in magnesaemia in cardiac surgical patients submitted to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and their influence on perioperative morbidity. SETTING: the cardiovascular surgery department of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 60 patients of both sexes, mean age 60+/-12 yrs, operated on consecutively for myocardial revascularization or valve replacement. INTERVENTIONS: plasma Mg2+ levels were measured preoperatively, during CPB, postCPB and throughout the first 24 hrs after operation. Preoperative plasma Mg2+ levels of these patients were compared with those of 15 non-cardiac surgical patients and 11 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Mean values of Mg2+ similar in the three populations although in the group of cardiac patients the number of hypomagnesaemic patients was significantly higher (16 patients=26.6%). In these 16 patients, preoperative hypomagnesaemia had a statistically significant relationship with the preoperative treatment with beta-blockers and previous history of arrhythmias (p<0.05). A progressive statistically significant decrease of Mg2+ was observed throughout the surgery that remained low at 24 hours postoperatively (p<0.05). Normomagnesemic patients needed significantly more shocks and electrical energy to obtain heart defibrillation after CPB. The incidence of both postoperative arrhythmias and postoperative low cardiac index (<2.5 L.m2) was statistically significantly more frequent in hypomagnesaemic patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative hypomagnesaemia was more frequent in this small sample of cardiac surgical patients than in non-cardiac surgical patients and was related to preoperative treatment with b-blockers. Hypomagne-saemia caused by CPB persisted 24 hrs after operation and was associated with higher incidence of both postoperative arrhythmias and low cardiac index.