Hemodynamic management during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a narrative review of proper targets for safe execution and troubleshooting / 대한마취과학회지

Off-pump coronary surgery requires mechanical cardiac displacement, which results in bi-ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Although transient, subsequent hemodynamic deterioration can be associated with poor prognosis and, in extreme cases, emergency conversion to on-pump surgery, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Thus, appropriate decision-making regarding whether the surgery can be proceeded based on objective hemodynamic targets is essential before coronary arteriotomy. For adequate hemodynamic management, avoiding myocardial oxygen supply-demand imbalance, which includes maintaining mean arterial pressure above 70 mmHg and preventing an increase in oxygen demand beyond the patient’s coronary reserve, must be prioritized. Maintaining mixed venous oxygen saturation above 60%, which reflects the lower limit of adequate global oxygen supply-demand balance, is also essential. Above all, severe mechanical cardiac displacement incurring compressive syndromes, which cannot be overcome by adjusting major determinants of cardiac output, should be avoided. An uncompromising form of cardiac constraint can be ruled out as long as the central venous pressure is not equal to or greater than the pulmonary artery diastolic (or occlusion) pressure, as this would reflect tamponade physiology. In addition, transesophageal echocardiography should be conducted to rule out mechanical cardiac displacement-induced ventricular interdependence, dyskinesia, severe mitral regurgitation, and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with or without systolic motion of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve, which cannot be tolerated during grafting. Finally, the ascending aorta should be carefully inspected for gas bubbles to prevent hemodynamic collapse caused by a massive gas embolism obstructing the right coronary ostium.

Association of Pre- and Post-Donation Renal Function with Midterm Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Living Kidney Donors: A Retrospective Study

Purpose@#The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 6 months after donation (eGFR 6m) is strongly associated with the risk of end-stage renal disease in living kidney donors. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of eGFR 6m <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 eGFR 6m <60) and identify the risk factors that can predict the occurrence of eGFR 6m <60 in living kidney donors. @*Materials and Methods@#Living kidney donors who underwent nephrectomy at Severance Hospital between January 2009 and December 2019 were identified. We excluded 94 of 1233 donors whose creatinine values at 6 months after donation were missing. The risk factors for eGFR 6m <60 were assessed using multivariate regression analysis. The optimal cutoff points for candidate risk factors for predicting eGFR 6m <60 occurrence were determined using the Youden index. @*Results@#The eGFR 6m <60 occurred in 17.3% of the participants. Older age (≥44 years), history of hypertension, lower preoperative eGFR (<101 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), and degree of increase in creatinine levels on postoperative day 2 compared to those before surgery (ΔCr2_pre) (≥0.39 mg/dL) increased the risk of eGFR 6m <60. The addition of ΔCr2_pre to preoperative eGFR yielded a higher predictive accuracy for predicting eGFR 6m <60 than that with preoperative eGFR alone {area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.886 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.863–0.908] vs. 0.862 (95% CI, 0.838–0.887), p<0.001}. @*Conclusion@#The incidence of eGFR 6m <60 was 17.3%. Older age, lower preoperative eGFR, history of hypertension, and greater ΔCr2_pre were associated with the occurrence of eGFR 6m <60 after living donor nephrectomy. The combination of preoperative eGFR and ΔCr2_pre showed the highest predictive power for eGFR 6m <60.

Impact of transient decrease in mixed venous oxygen saturation on prognosis in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a retrospective cohort study / 대한마취과학회지

Background@#The prognostic consequences of transient hemodynamic deterioration due to cardiac displacement, which is most severe during left circumflex artery (LCX) grafting in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) 24 h, cerebrovascular accident, and acute kidney injury. @*Results@#Among 1,071 patients, the composite of morbidity endpoints occurred in 303 (28%) patients. SvO2 < 60% during LCX grafting was significantly associated with the composite of morbidity (OR: 2.72, 95% CI [1.60, 4.61], P < 0.001) along with advanced age, chronic kidney disease, ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to mitral annular early diastolic velocity, and EuroSCORE II. Other major hemodynamic variables including the cardiac index were not associated with the outcome. Additional regression analysis revealed pre-operative anemia as a predictor of SvO2 < 60% during LCX grafting (OR: 2.09, 95% CI [1.33, 3.29], P = 0.001). @*Conclusions@#A decrease in SvO2 < 60%, albeit confined to the period of cardiac displacement, was associated with a 2.7-fold increased risk of detrimental outcomes after OPCAB, implying the prognostic importance of this transient deterioration in oxygen supply-demand balance.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement versus Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement:A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose@#This study sought to compare clinical outcomes between transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR). @*Materials and Methods@#In total, 320 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR (n=254) or SU-AVR (n=66) at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital between July 2011 and September 2019 were included for analysis. Propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted adjustment were performed to adjust for confounding baseline characteristics. Outcomes defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 in 62 patients pairs were compared. @*Results@#Device success (79.0% vs. 79.0%, p>0.999) and 30-day mortality (4.8% vs. 0.0%, p=0.244) did not differ between the TAVR and SU-AVR groups. The TAVR group developed more frequent mild or moderate paravalvular leakage (59.7% vs. 8.1%, p<0.001), whereas SU-AVR was associated with higher rates of major or life-threatening bleeding (9.7% vs. 22.6%, p=0.040), acute kidney injury (8.1% vs. 21.0%, p=0.041), and new-onset atrial fibrillation (4.8% vs. 32.3%. p<0.001) at 30 days, along with longer stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) (1.9±1.6 days vs. 5.9±9.2 days, p=0.009) and hospital (7.1±7.9 days vs. 13.1±8.8 days, p<0.001). The TAVR group showed a trend towards a higher 1-year all-cause mortality, compared with the SU-AVR group (7.0% vs 1.7%, p=0.149). Cardiovascular mortality, however, did not differ significantly (1.6% vs 1.7%, p=0.960). @*Conclusion@#TAVR achieved a similar 1-year survival rate free from cardiovascular mortality as SU-AVR and was associated with a lower incidence of complications, except for paravalvular leakage, and shorter stays in the ICU and hospital.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement versus Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement:A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose@#This study sought to compare clinical outcomes between transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR). @*Materials and Methods@#In total, 320 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR (n=254) or SU-AVR (n=66) at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital between July 2011 and September 2019 were included for analysis. Propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted adjustment were performed to adjust for confounding baseline characteristics. Outcomes defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 in 62 patients pairs were compared. @*Results@#Device success (79.0% vs. 79.0%, p>0.999) and 30-day mortality (4.8% vs. 0.0%, p=0.244) did not differ between the TAVR and SU-AVR groups. The TAVR group developed more frequent mild or moderate paravalvular leakage (59.7% vs. 8.1%, p<0.001), whereas SU-AVR was associated with higher rates of major or life-threatening bleeding (9.7% vs. 22.6%, p=0.040), acute kidney injury (8.1% vs. 21.0%, p=0.041), and new-onset atrial fibrillation (4.8% vs. 32.3%. p<0.001) at 30 days, along with longer stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) (1.9±1.6 days vs. 5.9±9.2 days, p=0.009) and hospital (7.1±7.9 days vs. 13.1±8.8 days, p<0.001). The TAVR group showed a trend towards a higher 1-year all-cause mortality, compared with the SU-AVR group (7.0% vs 1.7%, p=0.149). Cardiovascular mortality, however, did not differ significantly (1.6% vs 1.7%, p=0.960). @*Conclusion@#TAVR achieved a similar 1-year survival rate free from cardiovascular mortality as SU-AVR and was associated with a lower incidence of complications, except for paravalvular leakage, and shorter stays in the ICU and hospital.

Perioperative management of patients receiving non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants: up-to-date recommendations

Indications of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), consisting of two types: direct thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) and direct factor Xa inhibitor (rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban), have expanded over the last few years. Accordingly, increasing number of patients presenting for surgery are being exposed to NOACs, despite the fact that NOACs are inevitably related to increased perioperative bleeding risk. This review article contains recent clinical evidence-based up-to-date recommendations to help set up a multidisciplinary management strategy to provide a safe perioperative milieu for patients receiving NOACs. In brief, despite the paucity of related clinical evidence, several key recommendations can be drawn based on the emerging clinical evidence, expert consensus, and predictable pharmacological properties of NOACs. In elective surgeries, it seems safe to perform high-bleeding risk surgeries 2 days after cessation of NOAC, regardless of the type of NOAC. Neuraxial anesthesia should be performed 3 days after cessation of NOACs. In both instances, dabigatran needs to be discontinued for an additional 1 or 2 days, depending on the decrease in renal function. NOACs do not require a preoperative heparin bridge therapy. Emergent or urgent surgeries should preferably be delayed for at least 12 h from the last NOAC intake (better if > 24 h). If surgery cannot be delayed, consider using specific reversal agents, which are idarucizumab for dabigatran and andexanet alfa for rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban. If these specific reversal agents are not available, consider using prothrombin complex concentrates.

Redesigning an anesthesiology resident training program to improve practical procedure competency / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Echocardiographic detection of left atrial mobile calcium debris of trido valve surgery: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Calcification of the cardiac chambers is among the challenges associated with reoperative cardiac surgeries by increasing the risk of systemic embolization. We experienced a case of an unexpected detected mass by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography during weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient undergoing trido mitral and tricuspid valve replacement surgery. The surgically removed mass was identified as calcified tissue. This case shows the importance of careful echocardiographic evaluation of the left heart in patients undergoing repeat valve surgery given their greater potential for embolic sources.

Effect of 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 as a Priming Solution on Coagulation and Inflammation Following Complex Heart Surgery

PURPOSE: Prolonged duration of cardiopulmonary bypass aggravates the degree of inflammation and coagulopathy. We investigated the influence of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 on coagulation and inflammation compared with albumin when used for both cardiopulmonary bypass priming and perioperative fluid therapy in patients undergoing complex valvular heart surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty four patients were randomly allocated into albumin-HES, albumin-nonHES, and HES-HES groups. The cardiopulmonary bypass circuit was primed with 5% albumin in the albumin-HES and albumin-nonHES group, and with HES in the HES-HES group. As perioperative fluid, only plasmalyte was used in the albumin-nonHES group whereas HES was used up to 20 mL/kg in the albumin-HES and albumin-HES group. Serial assessments of coagulation profiles using the rotational thromboelastometry and inflammatory markers (tissue necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8) were performed. RESULTS: Patients' characteristics and the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (albumin-HES; 137+/-34 min, HES-HES; 136+/-47 min, albumin-nonHES; 132+/-39 min) were all similar among the groups. Postoperative coagulation profiles demonstrated sporadic increases in clot formation time and coagulation time, without any differences in the actual amount of perioperative bleeding and transfusion requirements among the groups. Also, inflammatory markers showed significant activation after cardiopulmonary bypass without any differences among the groups. CONCLUSION: Even in the presence of prolonged duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, HES seemed to yield similar influence on the ensuing coagulopathy and inflammatory response when used for priming and perioperative fluid therapy following complex valvular heart surgery compared with conventional fluid regimen including albumin and plasmalyte.

The Influence of Hypothermia on Transfusion Requirement in Patients Who Received Clopidogrel in Proximity to Off-Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery

PURPOSE: Hypothermia adversely affects the coagulation that could be of clinical significance in patients receiving clopidogrel. We evaluated the influence of hypothermia on transfusion requirements in patients undergoing isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) who continued clopidogrel use within 5 days of surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Protocol-based, prospectively entered data of 369 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The time-weighted average of intraoperative temperatures and the temperature upon ICU admission (TWA-temp) was assessed. Patients were divided into normothermia (> or =36degrees C, n=224) and hypothermia (<36degrees C, n=145) group. The transfusion requirement for perioperative blood loss was assessed and compared. RESULTS: Patients with hypothermia were older and had lower body surface area (BSA) than patients with normothermia. Age and BSA adjusted transfusion requirement was significantly larger in the hypothermia group [patients requiring transfusion: 64% versus 48%, p=0.003; number of units: 0 (0-2) units versus 2 (0-3) units, p=0.002]. In multivariate analysis of predictors of perioperative multiple transfusion requirements, hypothermia was identified as an independent risk factor along with age, female gender, BSA, chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: Hypothermia was associated with increased transfusion requirement in patients undergoing OPCAB who received clopidogrel in proximity to surgery. Considering the high prevalence and the possibility of hypothermia being a modifiable risk factor, aggressive measures should be undertaken to maintain normothermia in those patients.

Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Identifying Potential Candidate for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the clinical usefulness of decision making by a multidisciplinary heart team for identifying potential candidates for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The multidisciplinary team consisted of two interventional cardiologists, two cardiovascular surgeons, one cardiac imaging specialist, and two cardiac anesthesiologists. RESULTS: Out of 60 patients who were screened as potential TAVI candidates, 31 patients were initially recommended as appropriate for TAVI, and 20 of these 31 eventually underwent TAVI. Twenty-two patients underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR), and 17 patients received only medical treatment. Patients who underwent TAVI and medical therapy were older than those who underwent surgical AVR (p<0.001). The logistic Euroscore was significantly highest in the TAVI group and lowest in the surgical AVR group (p=0.012). Most patients in the TAVI group (90%) and the surgical AVR group (91%) had severe cardiac symptoms, but only 47% in the medical therapy group had severe symptoms. The cumulative percentages of survival without re-hospitalization or all-cause death at 6 months for the surgical AVR, TAVI, and medical therapy groups were 84%, 75%, and 28%, respectively (p=0.007, by log-rank). CONCLUSION: TAVI was recommended in half of the potential candidates following a multidisciplinary team approach and was eventually performed in one-third of these patients. One-third of the patients who were initially considered potential candidates received surgical AVR with favorable clinical outcomes.

Erratum: Iatrogenic aortic insufficiency following concomitant septal myectomy and aortic valve replacement / 대한마취과학회지

The first author's name was misspelled as Saija Seo. The correct spelling is Saiju Seo.

Monitoring for fluid management: dynamic guides and fluid responsiveness

In the heart, ventricular end diastolic volume (EDV) before ejection (preload) is directly related to the amount of stroke volume. Generally, the filling pressures such as central venous pressure or pulmonary artery occlusion pressure are used as an indirect indicator of preload. Since cardiac compliance dose change, however, the filling pressure may not be an accurate indicator of the cardiac preload. As substitutes, volumetric parameters like right ventricular EDV or global end diastolic volume were developed and reported to be superior to the filling pressure in the assessment of preload. Preload responding volume resuscitation, however, is different according to the patient's condition. Whether any improvement is to be expected from volume resuscitation depends on whether the heart operates on the steep portion in its function curve. Under mechanical ventilation, because of the influence of positive pressure on vena caval and pulmonary venous return, arterial blood pressure and pulse pressure are maximum during inspiration and minimum a few heart-beats later, i.e., during the expiratory period. These periodic changes become prominent under the hypovolemic condition. Recently, various monitors continuously measuring pulse pressure variation (PPV) or stroke volume variation (SVV) using analysis of arterial wave is widely used as a dynamic guidance for volume resuscitation in mechanically ventilated patients. The ability of those variables to predict fluid responsiveness is better than those of filling pressure or EDV. Thus, PPV and SVV could be beneficially used to guide fluid therapy, while the safety limit of fluid therapy should be based on filling pressure.

Effects of ulinastatin on coagulation in high-risk patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Both systemic inflammatory reaction and regional myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury may elicit hypercoagulability after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). We investigated the influence of ulinastatin, which suppresses the activity of polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, on coagulation in patients with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) undergoing OPCAB. METHODS: Fifty patients whose preoperative hsCRP > 3.0 mg/L were randomly allocated into the ulinastatin (600,000 U) or control group. Serum concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) were measured preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and at 24 h after surgery, respectively. Secondary endpoints included platelet factor (PF)-4, amount of blood loss, and transfusion requirement. RESULTS: All baseline values of TAT, F1+2, and PF-4 were higher than the normal range in both groups. F1+2 was elevated in both groups at immediate, and at 24 h after surgery as compared to baseline value, without any significant intergroup differences. Remaining coagulation parameters, transfusion requirement and blood loss during operation and postoperative 24 h were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative administration of ulinastatin did not convey beneficial influence in terms of coagulation and blood loss in high-risk patients with elevated hsCRP undergoing multivessel OPCAB, who already exhibited hypercoagulability before surgery.

Iatrogenic aortic insufficiency following concomitant septal myectomy and aortic valve replacement / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Optimal Anticoagulation during Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass in Patients Recently Exposed to Clopidogrel

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to find an optimal range of activated clotting time (ACT) during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) yielding ischemic protection without the risk of hemorrhagic complications in patients with recent exposure to dual antiplatelet therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and five patients who received aspirin and clopidogrel within 7 days of isolated multi-vessel OPCAB were retrospectively studied. Combined hemorrhagic and ischemic outcome was defined as the occurrence of 1 of the following: significant perioperative bleeding (>30% of estimated blood volume), transfusion of packed red blood cell (pRBC) > or =2 U, or myocardial infarction (MI). This was compared in relation to the tertile distribution of the time-weighted average ACT-212-291 sec (first tertile), 292-334 sec (second tertile), 335-485 sec (third tertile). RESULTS: The amount of perioperative blood loss was 937+/-313 mL, 1014+/-340 mL, and 1076+/-383 mL, respectively (p=0.022). Significantly more patients in the third tertile developed MI (4%, 4%, and 12%, respectively, p=0.034). The incidence of significant perioperative blood loss and transfusion of pRBC > or =2 U were lower in the first tertile than those of other tertiles without statistical significance. In the multivariate analysis, the first tertile was associated with a 52% risk reduction of combined hemorrhagic and ischemic outcomes (95% confidence interval: 0.25-0.92, p=0.027). CONCLUSION: A lower degree of anticoagulation with a reduced initial heparin loading dose should be carefully considered for patients undergoing OPCAB who have recently been exposed to clopidogrel.

Comparison of Early Clinical Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement versus Optimal Medical Therapy in Patients Older than 80 Years with Symptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis

PURPOSE: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an attractive therapeutic strategy for severe aortic stenosis (AS) in elderly patients due to its minimally-invasive nature. Therefore, early results of its clinical outcomes in elderly Korean patients were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared early clinical outcomes of TAVI, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), and optimal medical therapy (OMT) in patients aged > or =80 years with symptomatic severe AS. Treatment groups were allocated as follows: TAVI (n=10), SAVR (n=14), and OMT (n=42). RESULTS: Baseline clinical characteristics including predicted operative mortality were similar among the three groups. However, patients with New York Heart Association functional class III or IV symptoms and smaller aortic valve area were treated with TAVI or SAVR rather than OMT. In-hospital combined safety endpoints (all-cause mortality, major stroke, peri-procedural myocardial infarction, life-threatening bleeding, major vascular complication, and acute kidney injury) after TAVI or SAVR were significantly lower in the TAVI group than in the SAVR group (10.0% vs. 71.4%, respectively, p=0.005), along with an acceptable rate of symptom improvement and device success. During the follow-up period, the TAVI group showed the lowest rate of 3-month major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, major stroke, and re-hospitalization (TAVI 0.0% vs. SAVR 50.0% vs. OMT 42.9%, p=0.017). CONCLUSION: Treatment with TAVI was associated with lower event rates compared to SAVR or OMT. Therefore, TAVI may be considered as the first therapeutic strategy in selected patients aged > or =80 years with symptomatic severe AS.

Efficacy of dexamethasone added to ramosetron for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in highly susceptible patients following spine surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Opioid-based patient controlled analgesia (PCA) provides adequate pain control following spinal surgeries at the expense of increased risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). We evaluated the efficacy of dexamethasone added to ramosetron, which is a newly developed five-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3 antagonist with a higher receptor affinity and longer action duration compared to its congeners, on preventing PONV in highly susceptible patients receiving opioid-based IV PCA after spinal surgery. METHODS: One hundred nonsmoking female patients undergoing spinal surgery were randomly allocated to either a ramosetron group (group R) or a ramosetron plus dexamethasone group (group RD)., Normal saline (1 ml) or 5 mg of dexamethasone was injected before anesthetic induction, while at the end of the surgery, ramosetron (0.3 mg) was administered to all patients and fentanyl-based IV PCA was continued for 48 hrs. The incidence and severity of PONV, pain score and the amount of rescue antiemetics were assessed for 48 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The number of patients with moderate to severe nausea (20 vs. 10, P = 0.029), and overall incidence of vomiting (13 vs. 5, P = 0.037) were significantly lower in the group RD than in the group R, respectively. Rescue antiemetic was used less in the RD group without significance. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of ramosetron and dexamethasone significantly reduced the incidence of moderate to severe nausea and vomiting compared to ramosetron alone in highly susceptible patients receiving opioid-based IV PCA after surgery.

Effects of ulinastatin treatment on myocardial and renal injury in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: We determined the protective effects of a high dose of ulinastatin on myocardial and renal function in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Sixty patients were assigned randomly to either the ulinastatin group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). In the ulinastatin group, ulinastatin (300,000 U) was given after the induction of anesthesia, ulinastatin (400,000 U) was added to the CPB pump prime, and then ulinastatin (300,000 U) was administered after weaning from CPB. In the control group, the same volume of saline was administered at the same time points. Creatine kinase-MB levels were assessed 1 day before surgery, and on the first and second postoperative day (POD 1 and 2). Serum creatinine and cystatin C levels were assessed 1 day before surgery, upon intensive care unit arrival, and on POD 1 and 2. The level of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin was assessed before induction of anesthesia, upon ICU arrival, and on POD 1. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in serum levels of creatine kinase-MB and biomarkers of renal injury between the two groups at any point during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Ulinastatin showed no cardiac or renal protective effects after CPB in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Effect of a single bolus of methylene blue prophylaxis on vasopressor and transfusion requirement in infective endocarditis patients undergoing cardiac surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The accentuated nitric oxide (NO) release that is induced by the systemic inflammatory response associated with infective endocarditis (IE) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may result in catecholamine refractory hypotension (vasoplegia) and increased transfusion requirement due to platelet inhibition. Methylene blue (MB) is an inhibitory drug of inducible NO. We aimed to evaluate the effect of prophylactic MB administration before CPB on vasopressor and transfusion requirements in patients with IE undergoing valvular heart surgery (VHS). METHODS: Forty-two adult patients were randomly assigned to receive 2 mg/kg of MB (MB group, n = 21) or saline (control group, n = 21) for 20 min before the initiation of CPB. The primary end points were comparisons of vasopressor requirements serially assessed after weaning from CPB and hemodynamic parameters serially recorded before and after CPB. The secondary endpoint was the comparison of transfusion requirements. RESULTS: Two patients in the control group received MB after weaning from CPB due to norepinephrine and vasopressin refractory vasoplegia and were thus excluded. There were no significant differences in vasopressor requirements and hemodynamic parameters between the two groups. The mean number of units of packed erythrocytes transfused per transfused patient was significantly less in the MB group. The numbers of patients transfused with fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrates were less in the MB group. CONCLUSIONS: In IE patients undergoing VHS, prophylactic MB administration before CPB did not confer significant benefits in terms of vasopressor requirements and hemodynamic parameters, but it was associated with a significant reduction in transfusion requirement.