A Multimodal Cardioprotection Strategy During Cardiac Surgery: The ProCCard Study.

OBJECTIVE: The ProCCard study tested whether combining several cardioprotective interventions would reduce the myocardial and other biological and clinical damage in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Multicenter tertiary care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: 210 patients scheduled to undergo aortic valve surgery. INTERVENTIONS: A control group (standard of care) was compared to a treated group combining five perioperative cardioprotective techniques: anesthesia with sevoflurane, remote ischemic preconditioning, close intraoperative blood glucose control, moderate respiratory acidosis (pH 7.30) just before aortic unclamping (concept of the "pH paradox"), and gentle reperfusion just after aortic unclamping. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was the postoperative 72-h area under the curve (AUC) for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hsTnI). Secondary endpoints were biological markers and clinical events occurring during the 30 postoperative days and the prespecified subgroup analyses. The linear relationship between the 72-h AUC for hsTnI and aortic clamping time, significant in both groups (p < 0.0001), was not modified by the treatment (p = 0.57). The rate of adverse events at 30 days was identical. A non-significant reduction of the 72-h AUC for hsTnI (-24%, p = 0.15) was observed when sevoflurane was administered during cardiopulmonary bypass (46% of patients in the treated group). The incidence of postoperative renal failure was not reduced (p = 0.104). CONCLUSION: This multimodal cardioprotection has not demonstrated any biological or clinical benefit during cardiac surgery. The cardio- and reno-protective effects of sevoflurane and remote ischemic preconditioning therefore remain to be demonstrated in this context.

Effects of Landiolol on Macrocirculatory Parameters and Left and Right Ventricular Performances Following Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a major complication after cardiac surgery, and an early postoperative introduction of beta-blockers is recommended to reduce its incidence. Landiolol, a new intravenous short-acting beta-1 blocker, could present a useful and safe macrohemodynamic profile after cardiac surgery. Detailed metabolic and hemodynamic effects of landiolol on cardiac performance, however, remain poorly documented. The authors aimed to investigate the dose-dependent hemodynamic and metabolic effects of landiolol in that specific setting. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study versus placebo. SETTING: A tertiary university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS: Incremental doses of intravenous landiolol (0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 µg/kg/min) were given within the 2 hours after arrival in the intensive care unit. Macrocirculatory parameters and cardiac performances were derived from transpulmonary thermodilution and transthoracic echocardiography. Metabolic data were obtained from arterial blood tests. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: From January to November 2019, 58 patients were analyzed and divided into a landiolol group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 28). Heart rate significantly decreased in the landiolol group (p < 0.01), whereas mean arterial pressure and stroke volume remained unchanged. No significant modification was found in both left and right systolic and diastolic performances. Metabolic variables were similar in both groups. New-onset POAF occurred in 9 (32%) versus 5 (17%) patients in the control and landiolol groups, respectively (p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: Infusion of landiolol in the range of 0.5-to-10 µg/kg/min during the early postoperative period presents a good macrohemodynamic safety profile in cardiac surgical patients and could be useful to prevent POAF.

Prevalence and time-course of diaphragmatic dysfunction following lung resection: A repeated ultrasonic assessment.

PURPOSE: Ultrasound (US) allows non-invasive repeated assessments of diaphragmatic excursion (DE) and thickening fraction (DTF) at the bedside, reflecting diaphragmatic dysfunction (DD). We aimed at determining the prevalence and time-course of DD following elective thoracic surgery and the association with postoperative complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, single-centre, observational study with consecutive patients undergoing thoracic surgery. DE/DTF were measured by two observers blinded to each other at 3 different time-points: prior to surgery, immediately after extubation and on postoperative day 3. The changes in DE/DTF of both hemi-diaphragms over time were compared according to the side (operated/non-operated) using a two-way-ANOVA. The association with postoperative complications was assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Fifty patients, 60% males, aged 60 ± 15 years were included. Surgical procedures included lobectomy (n = 30), wedge-resection (n = 17) or pneumonectomy (n = 3). On the operated side, we observed a decrease in DE/DTF at D0 (-0.71 ± 0.12 mm, P < 0.05; -44 ± 30%, P < 0.05) and D3 (-0.82 ± 0.19 mm, P < 0.05; -39 ± 19%, P < 0.05) with respect to preoperative and non-operated side values over the study period. Persistent DD on the operated side was associated with an increased risk of lung infection (OR: 9.0, 95% CI [1.92-65.93], P = 0.001), ICU-admission (OR: 3.9, 95% CI [1.10-15.53], P = 0.04) according to univariate analysis and a prolonged length in hospital (OR: 1.3, 95% CI [1.1-1.7], P = 0.016) according to multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic surgery generates DD mainly observed on the operated side, which persists at least up to postoperative D3 and is associated with an increase in hospital stay.

Impact of a Modified Institutional Protocol on Outcomes After Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Refractory Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the modification of the authors' institutional protocol on outcomes after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). DESIGN: An observational analysis. The protocol complied with national recommendations. A further eligibility criterion was added since January 2015: the presence of sustained shockable rhythm at extracorporeal life support (ECLS) implantation. To assess the impact of this change, patients were divided into two groups: (1) from January 2010 to December 2014 (group A) and (2) from January 2015 to December 2019 (group B). The primary endpoint was survival to hospital discharge with good neurologic outcome. Predictors of survival were searched with multivariate analyses. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients supported with ECPR for refractory OHCA. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: From January 2010 to December 2019, 85 patients had ECLS for OHCA (group A, n = 68, 80%; group B, n = 17, 20%). The mean age was 42.4 years, 78.8% were male. The rate of implantation of ECLS was significantly lower in group B (p = 0.01). Mortality during ECLS support was significantly lower (58.8 v 86.8%; p = 0.008), and the weaning rate was significantly higher (41.2 v 13.2%; p = 0.008) in group B. Survival to discharge with good neurologic outcome was significantly improved (23.5 v 4.4%; p = 0.027) in group B. A sustained shockable rhythm was the only independent predictor of survival to hospital discharge with good neurologic outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The modification of the authors' institutional protocol throughout the further criterion of sustained shockable rhythm yielded a favorable impact on outcomes after ECPR for OHCA.

Mottling Incidence and Mottling Score According to Arterial Lactate Level in Septic Shock Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Mottling score is estimated from 0-5 according to mottling over the knee and described as clinical evaluation of tissue perfusion. This score was developed with ancient definitions of sepsis without lactate level, a major prognostic parameter when superior to 2 mmol/L. This study describes mottling incidence and mottling score in septic shock patients according to lactate level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reanalyzed our prospective study in a French tertiary hospital in the intensive care unit (ICU) which studied mottling score and thermography correlation. Patients admitted to septic shock diagnosis and requiring vasoactive drugs were included. We recorded hemodynamic variables, mottling score, and lactate. Data collection was realized at ICU admission (H0) and after six hours (H6). RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included. Mean age was 67 (±4), mean sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was 11 (8-12), and SAPS II 58 ±20. Mortality rate at day 28 was 30%. Among patients with lactate ≥2 mmol/L, mottling was more prevalent in 82.6% vs 47.4% (p value = 0.016), and at H6 mottling score was higher (p value = 0.009). Although, mottling incidence was not different between dead (85%) and survivors (81%; p value = 0.795). CONCLUSION: A new sepsis definition implies a new epidemiology in mottling according to lactate threshold. Patients with lactate ≥2 mmol/L presented a higher incidence and score of mottling. However, mortality was not influenced by mottling in this study. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Arterial lactate is a major prognostic parameter when superior to 2 mmol/L.A new definition of sepsis was published in 2016 with a new paradigm and epidemiology of septic shockPatients with lactate ≥2 mmol/L presented a higher incidence and score of mottling.Mottling score is a clinical sign of microcirculatory alteration, related to lactate level in septic shock. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Ferraris A, Bouisse C, Thiollière F, Piriou V, Allaouchiche B. Mottling Incidence and Mottling Score According to Arterial Lactate Level in Septic Shock Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(8):672-676.

Mottling score and skin temperature in septic shock: Relation and impact on prognosis in ICU.

INTRODUCTION: Mottling score, defined by 5 areas over the knee is developed to evaluate tissue perfusion at bedside. Because of the subjective aspect of the score, we aimed to compare mottling score and skin temperature in septic shock with infrared thermography in ICU and the correlation to survival. METHODS: We conducted a prospective and observational study in a teaching hospital in France during 8 months in ICU. All patients with sepsis requiring vasoactive drugs were included. We recorded epidemiologic data, hemodynamic parameters, mottling score and skin temperature with a thermic camera of the 5 mottling areas around the knee (temperatures recorded with FLIR™ software) at bedside. Measures were performed at ICU admission (H0) and six hours after initial resuscitation (H6). RESULTS: 46 patients were included. Median age was 69 (60-78), SOFA score 11 (8-12) mean SAPS II was 57±20 and 28-day mortality rate was 30%. Patients with mottling (score≥1), had a skin temperature of the knee significantly lower (30.7 vs 33,2°C p = 0.01 at H6) than patients without mottling (score = 0). Skin temperatures of the knee in mottling groups 1 to 5 were similar at H0 and H6. Neither mottling score nor skin temperature of the knee were associated with prognostic regarding day-28 mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Skin temperature measured with infrared thermography technology around the knee is lower when mottling sign is present and sign microcirculation alterations. This method, compared to standard mottling score is objective and allows data collections. However, this method failed to predict mortality in ICU patients.

Four-wavelength near-infrared peripheral oximetry in cardiac surgery patients: a comparison between EQUANOX and O3.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a continuous and noninvasive technology that measures regional tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2). A new 4-wavelength generation of NIRS monitors is now available. We aimed to compare peripheral somatic rSO2 values given by the 4-wavelength EQUANOX™ 7600 device (Nonin Medical Inc., Plymouth, Mn) and O3™ device (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA). Twenty adult patients scheduled for conventional elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass over a 4-month period were included after local Ethics Committee approval. For each patient, 2 NIRS sensors (EQUANOX and O3) were placed over the medial part of the forearm. Thirteen couples of measurements were performed at predefined intraoperative time points. We compared 260 couples of absolute intraoperative rSO2 values. No significant difference was found between both monitors: EQUANOX median rSO2 60% (95% CI 57-62) versus O3 median rSO2 62% (95% CI 61-64), P = 0.103. Bias was 4.0% and limits of agreement were ±26.3%. Significant correlations were evidenced between EQUANOX and O3 rSO2 absolute values: rho = 0.758 (95% CI 0.701-0.806), P < 0.0001, and rSO2 percent maximum difference versus baseline: rho = 0.582 (95% CI 0.188-0.815), P = 0.007. While absolute values of rSO2 given by both devices were equivalent and well correlated, the clinical agreement is probably not acceptable, meaning that EQUANOX and O3 are not interchangeable in routine practice.