Prediction of intraoperative hypotension from the linear extrapolation of mean arterial pressure.

BACKGROUND: Hypotension prediction index (HPI) software is a proprietary machine learning-based algorithm used to predict intraoperative hypotension (IOH). HPI has shown superiority in predicting IOH when compared to the predictive value of changes in mean arterial pressure (ΔMAP) alone. However, the predictive value of ΔMAP alone, with no reference to the absolute level of MAP, is counterintuitive and poor at predicting IOH. A simple linear extrapolation of mean arterial pressure (LepMAP) is closer to the clinical approach. OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was to investigate whether LepMAP better predicts IOH than ΔMAP alone. DESIGN: Retrospective diagnostic accuracy study. SETTING: Two tertiary University Hospitals between May 2019 and December 2019. PATIENTS: A total of 83 adult patients undergoing high risk non-cardiac surgery. DATA SOURCES: Arterial pressure data were automatically extracted from the anaesthesia data collection software (one value per minute). IOH was defined as MAP < 65 mmHg. ANALYSIS: Correlations for repeated measurements and the area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were determined for the ability of LepMAP and ΔMAP to predict IOH at 1, 2 and 5 min before its occurrence (A-analysis, using the whole dataset). Data were also analysed after exclusion of MAP values between 65 and 75 mmHg (B-analysis). RESULTS: A total of 24 318 segments of ten minutes duration were analysed. In the A-analysis, ROC AUCs to predict IOH at 1, 2 and 5 min before its occurrence by LepMAP were 0.87 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.86 to 0.88), 0.81 (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.83) and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.66 to 0.71) and for ΔMAP alone 0.59 (95% CI, 0.57 to 0.62), 0.61 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.64), 0.57 (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.69), respectively. In the B analysis for LepMAP these were 0.97 (95% CI, 0.9 to 0.98), 0.93 (95% CI, 0.92 to 0.95) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.84 to 0.88), respectively, and for ΔMAP alone 0.59 (95% CI, 0.53 to 0.58), 0.56 (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.59), 0.54 (95% CI, 0.51 to 0.57), respectively. LepMAP ROC AUCs were significantly higher than ΔMAP ROC AUCs in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: LepMAP provides reliable real-time and continuous prediction of IOH 1 and 2 min before its occurrence. LepMAP offers better discrimination than ΔMAP at 1, 2 and 5 min before its occurrence. Future studies evaluating machine learning algorithms to predict IOH should be compared with LepMAP rather than ΔMAP.

Can levosimendan reduce ECMO weaning failure in cardiogenic shock?: a cohort study with propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been increasingly used over the last decade in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. ECMO weaning can, however, be challenging and lead to circulatory failure and death. Recent data suggest a potential benefit of levosimendan for ECMO weaning. We sought to further investigate whether the use of levosimendan could decrease the rate of ECMO weaning failure in adult patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. METHODS: We performed an observational single-center cohort study. All patients undergoing VA-ECMO from January 2012 to December 2018 were eligible and divided into two groups: group levosimendan and group control (without levosimendan). The primary endpoint was VA-ECMO weaning failure defined as death during VA-ECMO treatment or within 24 h after VA-ECMO removal. Secondary outcomes were mortality at day 28 and at 6 months. The two groups were compared after propensity score matching. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were analyzed (levosimendan group: n = 53 and control group: n = 147). No significant difference was found between groups on baseline characteristics except for ECMO duration, which was longer in the levosimendan group (10.6 ± 4.8 vs. 6.5 ± 4.7 days, p < 0.001). Levosimendan administration started 6.6 ± 5.4 days on average following ECMO implantation. After matching of 48 levosimendan patients to 78 control patients, the duration of ECMO was similar in both groups. The rate of weaning failure was 29.1% and 35.4% in levosimendan and control groups, respectively (OR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.25-1.88). No significant difference was found between groups for all secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: Levosimendan did not improve the rate of successful VA-ECMO weaning in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04323709 .

Correction to: Can levosimendan reduce ECMO weaning failure in cardiogenic shock?: a cohort study with propensity score analysis.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

PCO2 gap, its ratio to arteriovenous oxygen content, ScvO2 and lactate in high-risk abdominal surgery patients: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: The difference between arterial and central venous carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2 gap), a marker of oxygen delivery (DO2) and oxygen consumption (VO2) adequacy, has been evaluated as a promising prognostic tool in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We therefore sought to study the association between intraoperative PCO2 gap and postoperative complications (POC) in the perioperative setting of elective major abdominal surgery. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre prospective observational study. All adult patients who underwent major planned abdominal surgery were eligible. PCO2 gap was measured every 2 h during surgery, at ICU admission and repeated 12 h and 24 h later. Severe POC within 28 days after surgery were defined as complications graded 3 or more according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Following a univariate analysis, a multivariable analysis using a logistic regression model was performed. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included and divided into two groups according to the occurrence of POC. No significant difference was found between groups regarding baseline characteristics at inclusion. Thirty-nine (43%) patients developed postoperative complications. The median [IQR] intraoperative PCO2 gap was significantly higher in patients who had complications (6.5 [5.5-7.3] mmHg) compared to those who did not (5.0 [3.9-5.8] mmHg; p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for occurrence of POC was 0.78 for the PCO2 gap. After multivariable analysis, PCO2 gap was found independently associated with POC (OR: 14.9, 95% CI [4.68-60.1], p < 0.001) with a threshold value of 6.2 mmHg. The duration of surgery (OR: 1.01, 95% CI [1.00; 1.01], p = 0.04) and the need for vasoactive support during surgery (OR: 5.76, 95% CI [1.72; 24.1], p = 0.006) were also independently associated with POC. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative PCO2 gap is a relevant predictive factor of severe postoperative complications in high-risk elective surgery patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03914976.