Thoracic epidural analgesia for off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The benefits of thoracic epidural analgesia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting are well documented. However, the literature available on the role of high thoracic epidural analgesia (HTEA) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) surgery is scarce. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to establish whether HTEA is beneficial in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing elective OPCAB surgery. After institutional ethics board approval and informed consent, 62 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients undergoing elective OPCAB were randomly grouped into two (n = 31 each). Both groups received general anesthesia (GA), but in the HTEA group patients, TEA was also administered. Standardized surgical and anesthetic techniques were used for both the groups. Pulmonary function tests were performed pre-operatively, 6 h and 24 h post-extubation and on days 2, 3, 4 and 5 along with arterial blood gas analysis (ABG) analysis. Time for extubation (h) and time for oxygen withdrawal (h) were recorded. Pain score was assessed by the 10-cm visual analogue scale. All hemodynamic/oxygenation parameters were noted. Any complications related to the TEA were also recorded. Patients in the HTEA group were extubated earlier (10.8 h vs. 13.5 h, P < 0.01) and their oxygen withdrawal time was also significantly lower (26.26 h vs. 29.87 h, P < 0.01). The VAS score, both at rest and on coughing, was significantly lower in the HTEA group at all times, post-operatively (P < 0.01). The forced vital capacity improved significantly at 6 h post-operatively in the HTEA group (P = 0.026) and remained significantly higher thereafter. A similar trend was observed in forced expiratory volume in the first second on day 2 in the HTEA group (P = 0.024). We did not observe any significant side-effects/mortality in either group. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients undergoing elective OPCAB surgery, HTEA is a good adjunct to GA for early extubation, faster recovery of pulmonary function and better analgesia.

Anesthetic management of right atrial mass removal and pulmonary artery thrombectomy in a patient with primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLAS) characterises a clinical condition of arterial and venous thrombosis associated with phospholipids directed antibodies. APLAS occurs in 2% of the general population. However, one study demonstrated that 7.1% of hospitalised patients were tested positive for at least one of the three anticardiolipin antibody idiotype. Antiphospholipid antibodies often inhibit phospholipids dependent coagulation in vitro and interfere with laboratory testing of hemostasis. Therefore, the management of anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass can be quite challenging in these patients. Here, we present a case of right atrial mass removal and pulmonary thrombectomy in a patient of APLAS.

Thoracic epidural analgesia in obese patients with body mass index of more than 30 kg/m 2 for off pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Perioperative Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is an important part of a multimodal approach to improve analgesia and patient outcome after cardiac and thoracic surgery. This is particularly important for obese patients undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). We conducted a randomized clinical trial at tertiary care cardiac institute to compare the effect of TEA and conventional opioid based analgesia on perioperative lung functions and pain scores in obese patients undergoing OPCAB. Sixty obese patients with body mass index >30 kg/m 2 for elective OPCAB were randomized into two groups (n=30 each). Patients in both the groups received general anesthesia but in group 1, TEA was also administered. We performed spirometry as preoperative assessment and at six hours, 24 hours, second, third, fourth and fifth day after extubation, along with arterial blood gases analysis. Visual analogue scale at rest and on coughing was recorded to assess the degree of analgesia. The other parameters observed were: time to endotracheal extubation, oxygen withdrawal time and intensive care unit length of stay. On statistical analysis there was a significant difference in Vital Capacity at six hours, 24 hours, second and third day postextubation. Forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second followed the same pattern for first four postoperative days and peak expiratory flow rate remained statistically high till second postoperative day. ABG values and PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio were statistically higher in the study group up to five days. Visual analogue scale at rest and on coughing was significantly lower till fourth and third postoperative day respectively. Tracheal extubation time, oxygen withdrawal time and ICU stay were significantly less in group 1. The use of TEA resulted in better analgesia, early tracheal extubation and shorter ICU stay and should be considered for obese patients undergoing OPCAB.

Lactic acidosis in critically ill patients.

Lactic acidosis is defined as increase in blood lactate levels in association with acidemia. It should be suspected in all patients presenting with shock & decreased mayocardial contractility. The patients with lactic acidosis have high mortality. However, the prognosis and case fatality are completely dependent on underlying disease in each patient with lactic acidosis being an independent indicator of severity of shock. All efforts should be directed towards treatment of underlying cause and concomitant correction of acidosis.

An observational study to know the association of leukocytosis and fever with infection in post cardiac surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Leukocytosis and fever in the absence of infection are common phenomena in post surgical period. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome induced by surgical trauma is a well-known entity, with resultant release of variety of inflammatory cytokines leading to fever and/or leukocytosis in spite of the absence of infection. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To know the association of leukocytosis and fever with infection in immediate post cardiac surgical period. METHODS: It was a retrospective, observational study including 569 patients, who underwent cardiac surgeries in our institute. All demographic data, comorbidities and other factors associated with fever and/or leukocytosis were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of fever and/or leukocytosis were analyzed for the diagnosis of infection. RESULTS: Out of 569 patients; 49 patients (9%) had evidence of infection on microbiological culture. Mean total leukocyte counts (TLC) on zero and 1st postoperative days were associated with infection with a sensitivity (75.5% and 63.3%) and specificity (15.8% and 24.0%) respectively. Mean maximum temperature (Tmax) on zero and 1st postoperative days were associated with infection with a sensitivity (20.4% and 24.5%) and specificity of (82.5% and 83.3%) respectively. The combined sensitivity and specificity of leukocytosis and fever for the diagnosis of infection on 2nd postoperative day was 14.3% and 91.5% respectively. CONCLUSION: Fever and leukocytosis are poor predictors of diagnosing infection on the first two postoperative days. However, fever and leukocytosis combined together have low sensitivity (14.3%) with high specificity (91.5%) for the diagnosis of infection on the 2nd and subsequent postoperative days.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis Presenting as Surgical Emphysema without Pneumothorax and/or Pneumomediastinum

Surgical emphysema as a presenting manifestation of pulmonary tuberculosis in the absence of pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum is not yet known. We report one such case in which surgical emphysema was probably the result of rupture of a pulmonary cavity into subcutaneous tissue resulting from caverno-pleuro-cutaneous fistula.

Cardiac herniation following atrial septal defect closure using port access surgery.

Cardiac herniation, a rare entity, is seen most commonly after traumatic rupture of the pericardium or following pneu-monectomy with partial pericardiactomy. It is rarely seen to occur following closure of a sinus venosus atrial septal defect through the port access technique. A review of the literature in English did not reveal any such case report.