Does Diabetes Have an Influence on Regional Deformation Parameters in Patients with Normal Systolic Function during Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the recovery of regional myocardial function of the left-ventricular septal wall and the septal site of the mitral valve (MV) annulus by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). METHODS: In 63 (32 diabetic and 31 control) patients having off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG), including the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), TDI measurements were performed before operation (baseline), 5 min after LIMA-LAD revascularization (early reperfusion) and after completion of all anastomoses (after revascularization). RESULTS: Compared to the patients with diabetes, the controls had higher peak systolic velocities of the mid septal segments in the early reperfusion measurement (p = 0.002). After revascularization, values of peak systolic strain at the basal (-10.13 vs. -13.36%, p = 0.044) and mid septal segments (-8.25 vs. -12.69%, p = 0.009) were decreased in the diabetic patients compared to the controls. There was no difference between the groups with respect to the velocities acquired at the septal site of the MV annulus. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates an insufficient recovery of regional myocardial function in patients with type II diabetes undergoing OPCABG.

Levosimendan reverses right-heart failure in a 51-year-old patient after heart transplantation.

Primary graft failure in the early postoperative period after heart transplantation, remains a main cause of a poor outcome. Current treatment options include pharmacological (catecholamines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors) and mechanical assist device support. Pharmacological support with catecholamines is related to elevated myocardial oxygen consumption and regional hypoperfusion leading to organ damage. On the other hand, levosimendan, as a calcium-sensitizing agent increases cardiac contractility without altering intracellular Ca(2+) levels and increase in oxygen demand. We present a case of a 51-year-old man, who was suffering from acute right-heart failure in the early postoperative period after heart transplantation. As a rescue therapy at the late stage of a low cardiac output state, levosimendan was started as continuous infusion at 0.1 µg/kg/min for 12 h and thereafter, at 0.2 µg/kg/min for the following 36 h. Levosimendan demonstrated an advanced pharmacological option as was portrayed in this case, where the right ventricle was under a prolonged severe depression and acutely overloaded after heart transplantation.

Perioperative blood pressure control in hypertensive and normotensive patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: prospective study of current anesthesia practice.

AIM: To analyze blood pressure changes during intra- and immediate postoperative period in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: The study included 355 consecutive patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting between January 5, 2004 and December 30, 2005. Out of these patients, 325 were allocated into groups with preoperative history of hypertension (n=115) and without preoperative history of hypertension (n=210). Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure was measured at the following four time points: on the day before surgery, before anesthesia induction, after the last graft, and on entry to intensive care unit. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure was significantly higher in patients with a history of hypertension on the day before surgery (97 vs 92 mm Hg, P=0.003, Mann-Whitney test) and before anesthesia induction (107 vs 98 mm Hg; P=0.003). It was higher at all measuring points (after the last graft, 79 vs 78 mm Hg; and on entry to intensive care unit, 88 vs 86 mm Hg), but this difference was neither statistically nor clinically significant. The study showed that mean arterial pressure followed similar dynamics over time in both patient groups (P<0.001 both), with no significant time-dependent between-group differences. CONCLUSION: Current anesthesia techniques that include deep opioid analgesia in combination with vasodilators provide a satisfactory control of intraoperative hypertension. Management of blood pressure changes during intra- and immediate postoperative period in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting patients with preoperative hypertension was no more difficult than in patients without preoperative hypertension.

Levosimendan as a new strategy during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

AIM: To determine if levosimendan could improve cardiac performance during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with normal preoperative left ventricular function. METHODS: Twenty-four patients included in this double-blind randomized controlled trial received either placebo (n=12) or 12 microg/kg loading dose of levosimendan (n=12) during a period of 15 minutes before the surgery. The heart rate, cardiac index, stroke volume index, and left ventricular ejection fraction were measured before and 10 and 60 minutes after the drug administration. RESULTS: The baseline measurements of hemodynamic parameters did not differ between the groups. Heart rate was not significantly different between the placebo and levosimendan group. Compared with placebo group, cardiac index and left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly higher 10 and 60 minutes (p=0.018 for all) after administration of levosimendan. After 60 minutes, the cardiac index increased from the baseline value of 2.18 to 2.84 L/min/m2. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased by 14% after 10 minutes, and by 10% after 60 minutes. Stroke volume index was significantly higher at 10 minutes (p=0.018), but not at 60 minutes (p=0.063) after the administration of levosimendan. CONCLUSION: Administration of 12 microg/kg of levosimendan enhances the left ventricular performance and offers a promising therapeutic option during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with good preoperative left ventricular function.

Levosimendan in off-pump coronary artery bypass: a four-times masked controlled study.

We tested the hypothesis that levosimendan produced beneficial hemodynamic effects during and after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with good preoperative left ventricular function. Levosimendan at low dose (12 microg/kg), high dose (24 microg/kg), or placebo were administered in thirty-one patients in a randomized and four-times masked controlled study. Heart rate was not significantly different between experimental groups. Significant increases in cardiac output and left ventricular ejection fraction occurred after high-dose (P < 0.001; P = 0.006) and low-dose levosimendan (P = 0.001; P = 0.002). Both doses of levosimendan produced significant increased stroke volume and decreased systemic vascular resistance. Mean arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and left ventricular end-systolic volume were not significantly different between groups. The low-dose levosimendan produced better hemodynamic response than high-dose and may be preferable in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.