Outcomes of Octogenarians and Nonagenarians in a Contemporary Cardiac Care Unit　- Insights From 2,242 Patients Admitted Between 2019 and 2021.

Background: The number of octo- and nonagenarians admitted to cardiac care units (CCUs) has been increasing in the context of an aging society; however, clinical details and outcomes for these patients are scarce. Methods and Results: Data from 2,242 consecutive patients admitted to the CCU between 2019 and 2021 (age <80 years, 1,390 [62%]; octogenarians, 655 [29%]; nonagenarians, 197 [8.7%]) were reviewed using the in-hospital database for the Tokyo CCU Network. The primary cause of admission was acute coronary syndrome in younger patients and octogenarians (58% and 49%, respectively) and acute heart failure (AHF) in nonagenarians (42%). The proportions of females, underweight, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, stroke, previous heart failure, anemia, and malnutrition were higher among octo- and nonagenarians than among younger patients. In-hospital and 1-year mortality rates were greater in octo- and nonagenarians (younger vs. octogenarian vs. nonagenarian, 2.0% vs. 3.8% vs. 5.6% and 4.1% vs. 11.9% vs. 19.0%, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that 1-year mortality was associated with octo-/nonagenarian status (odds ratio [OR] 2.24 and 2.64), AHF (OR 2.88), body mass index (OR per 1-kg/m2 0.91), and albumin concentration (OR per 1-g/dL 0.27). Conclusions: Approximately 40% of patients admitted to the CCU were octo- or nonagenarians, and being an octo- or nonagenarian, having AHF, a lower body mass index, and lower albumin concentrations were associated with 1-year mortality after CCU admission.

Effect of cerebrospinal fluid drainage pressure in descending and thoracoabdominal aortic repair: a prospective multicenter observational study.

PURPOSE: Cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) is recommended during open or endovascular thoracic aortic repair. However, the incidence of CSFD complications is still high. Recently, CSF pressure has been kept high to avoid complications, but the efficacy of CSFD at higher pressures has not been confirmed. We hypothesize that CSFD at higher pressures is effective for preventing motor deficits. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 14 hospitals that are members of the Japanese Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists. Patients who underwent thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic repair were divided into four groups: Group 1, CSF pressure around 10 mmHg; Group 2, CSF pressure around 15 mmHg; Group 3, CSFD initiated when motor evoked potential amplitudes decreased; and Group 4, no CSFD. We assessed the association between the CSFD group and motor deficits using mixed-effects logistic regression with a random intercept for the institution. RESULTS: Of 1072 patients in the study, 84 patients (open surgery, 51; thoracic endovascular aortic repair, 33) had motor deficits at discharge. Groups 1 and 2 were not associated with motor deficits (Group 1, odds ratio (OR): 1.53, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.71-3.29, p = 0.276; Group 2, OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 0.62-4.82) when compared with Group 4. Group 3 was significantly more prone to motor deficits than Group 4 (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.27-5.17, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: CSFD is not associated with motor deficits in thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic repair with CSF pressure around 10 or 15 mmHg.

Cerebrospinal fluid drainage to prevent postoperative spinal cord injury in thoracic aortic repair.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) is recommended as a spinal cord protective strategy in open and endovascular thoracic aortic repair. Although small studies support the use of CSFD, systematic reviews have not suggested definite conclusion and a large-scale study is needed. Therefore, we reviewed medical records of patients who had undergone descending and thoracoabdominal aortic repair (both open and endovascular repair) at multiple institutions to assess the association between CSFD and postoperative motor deficits. METHODS: Patients included in this study underwent descending or thoracoabdominal aortic repair between 2000 and 2013 at 12 hospitals belonging to the Japanese Association of Spinal Cord Protection in Aortic Surgery. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate whether motor-evoked potential monitoring is effective in reducing motor deficits in thoracic aortic aneurysm repair. We use the same dataset to examine whether CSFD reduces motor deficits after propensity score matching. RESULTS: We reviewed data from 1214 patients [open surgery, 601 (49.5%); endovascular repair, 613 (50.5%)]. CSFD was performed in 417 patients and not performed in the remaining 797 patients. Postoperative motor deficits were observed in 75 (6.2%) patients at discharge. After propensity score matching (n = 700), mixed-effects logistic regression performed revealed that CSFD is associated with postoperative motor deficits at discharge [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 3.87; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.30-6.51]. CONCLUSION: CSFD may not be effective for postoperative motor deficits at discharge.

The Clinical Potential of Impella 5.0 Support in the Treatment of Recurrent Fulminant Viral Myocarditis with Profound Cardiogenic Shock.

We herein report the clinical potential of Impella 5.0 support, which is a catheter-mounted micro-axial left ventricular support device, in a 39-year-old man with recurrent fulminant viral myocarditis complicated with profound cardiogenic shock despite inotropic infusion and an intra-aortic balloon pumping. Switching from these therapies to the Impella 5.0 device provided sufficient systemic perfusion with well-controlled left ventricular diastolic properties to facilitate a prompt recovery from profound cardiogenic shock. The patient was uneventfully discharged on the 27th hospital day. Given its effect of cardiac protection with sufficient systemic perfusion, the Impella device should be considered the first-line therapy for the treatment of fulminant myocarditis complicated with cardiogenic shock.

Severe respiratory depression and bradycardia before induction of anesthesia and onset of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A 69-year-old woman undergoing treatment for hypertension and epilepsy was scheduled to undergo cataract surgery. All preoperative examination results were within normal limits. Despite being tense, she walked to the operating room. Approximately 2 minutes after an intravenous line was established by an anesthesia resident, severe hypoxia and bradycardia developed, and she lost consciousness. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated immediately, and after 1 minute, she regained consciousness, and her breathing and circulation recovered. After admission to the intensive care unit, emergency coronary angiography was performed. The blood flow in all the coronary arteries was normal. However, a decrease in the apical left ventricular wall motion and an increase in the basal wall motion were observed. Based on these findings, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was diagnosed. The wall motion gradually improved and the patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 15. The respiratory depression and bradycardia were thought to be due to an inadvertent bolus of remifentanil. We surmised that the patient had received a slight amount of retained medication when the anesthesia resident established the intravenous line, which caused severe respiratory depression. It is important to note that adverse effects such as severe respiratory depression and bradycardia can be caused by even small doses of remifentanil.

[Anesthetic Management for Cervicomedullary Decompression in a Patient with Achondroplasia--A Case Report].

This is a case report of a 42-year-old man who underwent suboccipital craniectomy and C-1 laminoplasty under general anesthesia. His weight and height were 32 kg and 110 cm, respectively. The patient had short limbs, a protruding forehead, a large tongue, and a short neck. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed marked stenosis of the foramen magnum and cervicomedullary compression and malacia, with the smallest anteroposterior diameter of 4.5 mm. Mask ventilation and tracheal intubation were not feasible; therefore, an Airtraq® laryngoscope and a bronchial fiberscope were used. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol, remifentanil, and fentanyl. After intubation and postural change, the patient was awakened, and we confirmed the absence of any limb movement disorder. Intraoperative motor evoked potentials were normal. After extubation, he experienced numbness of the limbs. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enlargement of the foramen magnum and the foramen of the atlas. However, the cervicomedullary malacia remained unchanged. The cause of numbness was unknown. After rehabilitation, he became ambulatory and could walk continuously for about 300 m at a slow pace.

[Perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and management for noncardiac surgery].

As a population ages, an increase in the number of patients with cardiac complications who undergo non-cardiac surgeries is observed. The perioperative mortality for noncardiac surgery is approximately 1-5%; approximately 20-35% of these cases are due to cardiovascular complications. Among them, perioperative myocardiac infarction/ischemia is a factor that leads to poor prognosis, and the ACC/AHA guidelines emphasize this aspect. An important task of the anesthesiologist is to accurately assess risks in patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries and avoid adverse cardiovascular events.

[Anesthesia for total and descending aorta replacement and aortic valve replacement for post-repair aneurysm of coarctation of aorta and aortic stenosis].

We experienced anesthesia for total arch and descending aorta replacement and aortic valve replacement for post-repair aneurysm of coarctation of aorta and aortic stenosis. Because there was possibility that post coarctectomy syndrome would occur after repair of coarctation of aorta, administration of depressor that acts on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and careful observation were needed postoperatively. In consideration of the development of collateral vessels, preoperative imaging evaluation was added and operative method in cardiopulmonary bypass was adjusted. Careful preoperative evaluation is very important in cardiac anesthesia.