ABSTRACT
Microsurgical free tissue transfer has become a gold standard in a wide range of clinical situations. Thrombosis at the anastomotic site is not only the most common cause of failure of microsurgical operations, but it is also one of the factors resulting in microcirculatory intravascular thrombosis in free flaps. All conditions of thrombus formation, defined by Virchow in 1856, are encountered in free flap surgery. This literature review concerns the problem of thromboprophylaxis in microsurgery. All citations published this last ten years (1996-2005) concerning this problem are noted. Data are confronted with other specialties, particularly vascular surgery, or with large retrospective studies. Protocol used in our institution is presented at the end of this lecture.
Subject(s)
Microsurgery/methods , Surgical Flaps , Thrombosis/prevention & control , Vascular Surgical Procedures/methods , Anastomosis, Surgical/adverse effects , Anastomosis, Surgical/methods , Animals , Humans , Microcirculation , Microsurgery/adverse effects , Vascular Surgical Procedures/adverse effectsABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: We investigated hemodynamics and plasma catecholamine concentrations in eight consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for suspected pheochromocytoma. The same anesthesia protocol was used in all patients: a continuous infusion of sufentanil 0.5 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) and isoflurane 0.4% (end-tidal) in 50% N2O/O2. Systolic arterial pressure was maintained between 120 and 160 mm Hg by adjusting an infusion of nicardipine, a calcium-channel blocker, while tachycardia (>100 bpm) was treated by 1-mg boluses of atenolol. Hemodynamics (thermodilution technique) and plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured before surgery, after the induction of anesthesia, after turning the patient to the lateral position, during pneumoperitoneum, during tumor manipulation, after adrenalectomy, and at the end of surgery. Two events resulted in significant catecholamine release: creation of the pneumoperitoneum and adrenal gland manipulation. As a consequence, a twofold increase in cardiac output was recorded. Adjustments of nicardipine infusion (2-6 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) minimized changes in mean arterial pressure. Beta-adrenergic blockade was necessary in six patients. In conclusion, laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma results in marked catecholamine release during pneumoperitoneum and tumor manipulation. Titration of a nicardipine infusion allowed easy and quick control of the hemodynamic aberrancies related to these processes. IMPLICATIONS: Pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy, now used for adrenalectomy, may complicate anesthetic management of patients with pheochromocytoma. In this study, laparoscopic adrenalectomy was associated with catecholamine release during the creation of pneumoperitoneum and tumor manipulation. Adjustments of a nicardipine infusion readily attenuated the subsequent hemodynamic aberrancies.
