Intraoperative glycemic control using an artificial endocrine pancreas in a patient with a recurrent pleural solitary fibrous tumor producing insulin-like growth factor 2: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Non-islet cell tumor producing insulin-like growth factor 2 involves hypoglycemia. During tumor resection, intense fluctuation of blood glucose level may occur. An artificial endocrine pancreas has been reported as beneficial for patients with insulinoma as it maintains stable glycemic levels, although scarcely described with insulin-like growth factor 2-releasing tumor. CASE PRESENTATION: An 84-year-old man had a recurrent left pleural solitary fibrous tumor releasing high molecular weight insulin-like growth factor 2 and experienced a frequent syncope accompanied by hypoglycemia. After anesthesia induction, an artificial endocrine pancreas, STG-55, was connected to the patient. Blood glucose level was stable at around 150 mg/dl during the resection surgery. The patient followed an uneventful course and was discharged without any complications. CONCLUSIONS: An artificial endocrine pancreas may have the potential to stabilize the intraoperative blood glucose change in insulin-like growth factor 2-releasing tumor resection.

Preventative management against thromboembolism using fresh frozen plasma in a coronary artery bypass graft patient with protein S deficiency: a case report.

Protein S deficiency patient is characterized by recurrent thrombosis, and its risk is higher intraoperatively, especially in cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass. Two heparin cessation periods are defined in cardiac surgery. One is the period between the cessation of heparin 4 to 5 h before surgery and the heparinization prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. The other is the period between protamine administration and resumption of heparin postoperatively. Because the risk of thromboembolism is high during the period of heparin cessation, other anticoagulants are necessary. Although fresh frozen plasma, rich in protein S, is often used in cardiac surgery for protein S deficiency patients, the most appropriate times and volume of its administration to prevent thromboembolism remain poorly understood. We herein report a case of on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with protein S deficiency who received fresh frozen plasma targeting the two heparin cessation periods. Some qualitative measurements to identify the effect of fresh frozen plasma on the protein S level are desirable to evaluate whether our present administration strategy has any beneficial effects on protein S deficiency patients.

Spike in glucose levels after reperfusion during aortic surgery: assessment by continuous blood glucose monitoring using artificial endocrine pancreas.

OBJECTIVES: Although strict blood glucose control during cardiovascular surgery is essential to avoid postoperative complications, the various changes in glucose levels that occur during surgery have not been investigated in detail. In this study, we continuously monitored blood glucose changes during aortic surgery using the STG-55Ⓡ artificial endocrine pancreas (Nikkiso Inc., Tokyo). METHODS: Between December 2015 and 2016, we performed continuous blood glucose monitoring in 22 patients (14 men and 8 women, 72 ± 11 years old), who required hypothermic circulatory arrest during an ascending/aortic arch surgery, at the Jichi Medical University Hospital. Ascending aorta replacements were performed in two patients and partial/total arch replacement, in 20. All the patients required selective cerebral perfusion and hypothermic circulatory arrest (bladder temperature at 25-26 °C) during distal anastomosis. Closed-loop continuous blood glucose monitoring was performed during cardiopulmonary bypass using the STG-55Ⓡ artificial endocrine pancreas (Nikkiso Co., LTD, Tokyo). RESULTS: Blood glucose concentrations did not increase significantly from the time of the commencement of cardiopulmonary bypass to lower body ischemia. However, they dramatically increased immediately after reperfusion following lower body ischemia, and this hyperglycemia was sustained until the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. CONCLUSION: The current study clarified the peak glucose concentration during aortic surgery. These data may contribute to the management of blood glucose levels during aortic surgery.

[Pediatric patient sedation and analgesia for diagnostic medical procedures].

There is an increasing demand for anesthesiologists to work outside the operating room in order to provide general anesthesia or monitored sedation for a variety of medical investigations or procedures in infants and children. The concept that treatment should be a pain- and stress-free experience is now well accepted, and this has placed additional responsibilities on anesthesiologists. We describe pediatric anesthesia and monitored sedation for diagnostic medical procedures. Children requiring a painful procedure and prolonged examination should be provided with optimal sedation and analgesia. The child should be monitored with standard ASA monitors. In the case of medical procedures such as gastrointestinal endoscopy, transesophageal echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization, general endotracheal anesthesia with neuromuscular block is recommended. Several short-acting anesthetic drugs, including sevoflurane, propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium, have become available in Japan, and the safety and efficacy of pediatric general anesthesia for diagnostic medical procedures have improved. Infants who require a noninvasive and short examination may not be provided with anesthetics. The feed and wrap method is recommended. Satisfactory immobilization of the child during noninvasive medical procedures, including magnetic resonance imaging, may be achieved by intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Monitored intravenous sedation using propofol is the most widely used for healthy children; general anesthesia with a laryngeal mask airway or endotracheal intubation and controlled ventilation is required for a critically ill child.

The usefulness of near-infrared spectroscopy in the anesthetic management of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) may be a useful method for monitoring the regional oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) of the lower extremity during endovascular aortic repair. Eighteen patients with thoracic descending and/or abdominal aortic aneurysm were enrolled in this study. NIRS probes were placed bilaterally on the calves. Muscular rSO(2) (mrSO(2)) was monitored every 30 s throughout the operation. In the leg in which the femoral artery was clamped, mrSO(2) values were selected at 3 or 4 points-just before clamping (control value), 30 min after clamping, 10 min after the first declamping, and 10 min after the second declamping following repair of the femoral artery, if necessary. In all patients, mrSO(2) decreased significantly during clamping, from 64 ± 11 % (mean ± SD) of the control value to 32 ± 15 %. After declamping, mrSO(2) recovered to 69 ± 14 % of the control value in 16 patients. In the 2 other patients, however, mrSO(2) did not recover after the first declamping, because of femoral artery dissection. After additional repair, mrSO(2) recovered quickly to the control value. These data suggested NIRS may objectively and quantitatively reflect oxygenation of the lower extremities, and may indicate an ischemic event that needs additional repair during endovascular aortic repair.

[Strategies for prevention from spinal cord ischemia during thoracic endovascular aortic repair].

Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is one of the most serious complications in patients who undergo thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). The incidence of SCI after TEVAR has been supposed to be lower than the one after traditional open surgical repair. However, not a few cases regarding SCI after TEVAR have been reported recently. Since the detailed mechanism of the SCI is still not fully understood, preventive strategies against SCI including preoperative identification of critical segmental artery (CSA) applying the artery of Adamkiewicz, preservation of the CSA, motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage are routinely performed during TEVAR in our practice.

Effects of sevoflurane on cytokine balance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of sevoflurane on proinflammatory cytokines related to ischemic-reperfusion injury are not clear. The hypothesis was tested that sevoflurane decreases myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. SETTING: A medical university heart center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery allocated randomly into 2 groups. INTERVENTIONS: Anesthesia for 23 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery was maintained using either fentanyl (30 microg/kg) with propofol (2-8 mg/kg/h) in the control group (n = 10) or fentanyl (30 microg/kg) with 0.5% to 1.0% sevoflurane in the sevoflurane group (n = 13). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Troponin-T and creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) were measured by enzyme immunoassay and ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. Serum IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in both groups increased significantly over baseline from 60 minutes after declamping the aorta (p < 0.001). The increases were greater in the control group than in the sevoflurane group (p < 0.05). Serum IL-10 and IL-1ra concentrations in both groups increased significantly over baseline from 60 minutes after declamping the aorta (p < 0.001). There were no differences between the two groups. Serum troponin-T and CK-MB concentrations increased significantly in both groups from 60 minutes after declamping the aorta (p < 0.001); the increases were greater in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane suppressed the production of IL-6 and IL-8, but not IL-10 and IL-1ra. Changes in the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may be one of the most important mechanisms of myocardial protection caused by sevoflurane.

[Changes in cardio-pulmonary function during laparoscopic colectomy and postoperative quality of life--comparison with laparotomy].

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether laparoscopic colectomy would affect the degree of respiratory and circulatory changes during surgery and could improve postoperative quality of life (QOL) as compared with laparotomy. METHODS: Fifty-one patients (ASA 1-3) scheduled for elective colectomy under general anesthesia with epidural anesthesia were enrolled in the study. All patients were divided into two groups (laparoscopic group: n = 33 and laparotomy group: n = 18) by surgical indication. Respiratory functions and hemodynamic changes were measured during surgery. Postoperative complications, pain scores, the time to start of walking and the period of hospital stay were examined. The serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1 ra) and KL-6 were measured perioperatively. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that pneumoperitoneum and postural tilt had a bad influence on respiratory functions especially on pulmonary compliance and a-ET(D)co2 in laparoscopic group. The serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines were significantly lower and the number of rescue for postoperative pain were less in laparoscopic group. The patients in laparoscopic group could begin to walk and leave hospital earlier after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Severe complication did not occurr in both groups during the perioperative period. Laparoscopic surgery could improve postoperative QOL.

Nicorandil attenuates NF-kappaB activation, adhesion molecule expression, and cytokine production in patients with coronary artery bypass surgery.

Nicorandil (NCR), a KATP channel opener, has been reported to preserve microvascular integrity in patients with reperfused myocardial infarction. We tested the hypothesis that NCR suppresses myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury via the attenuation of cytokine production. Forty patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery were studied. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, i.e., the patients with NCR (4-6 mg/h; N group, n = 20) or without NCR (C group, n = 20). Cardiac surgery was performed under anesthesia using fentanyl and propofol. Blood were sampled at the time of induction of anesthesia, pre-cardiopulmonary bypass, 60 min after aortic occlusion, and 60, 120, and 180 min after declamping the aorta. The activation of NF-kappaB, expression of adhesion molecules, and cytokine production were evaluated in blood samples from the control volunteers by flow cytometric analysis with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in vitro. Serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels in both groups increased 60 min after declamping the aorta compared with the preoperative value (P < 0.001); the increases of these parameters in N group were lower than those in C group (P < 0.05). Serum creatine kinase with muscle and brain subunits and troponin-T levels increased 60 min after declamping the aorta in two groups (P < 0,001), but the increases of both parameters in N group were lower than those in C group (P < 0.05). NF-kappaB activation, CD11b/CD18 expression, and the production of TNF-alpha, IL-8, and IL-6 in monocytes and granulocytes were inhibited by NCR in vitro. NCR suppressed the increase of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 levels, and reduced myocardial reperfusion injury. The inhibition on NF-kappaB activation, adhesion molecule expression, and cytokine production may be one of the important mechanisms of myocardial protection of NCR.

Usefulness of nitric oxide treatment for pulmonary hypertensive infants during cardiac anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The beneficial effect of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) on pulmonary hypertension is well known. However, the indications for NO inhalation therapy for pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart lesions are still unclear. The aim of the current study was to seek a measure that would predict the effectiveness of inhaled NO in infants undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Forty-six infants with pulmonary hypertension were studied. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) measured at the time of cardiac catheterization was used as an indicator and compared with pulmonary arterial pressure/systemic blood pressure ratio (Pp/Ps) at the time of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. The effect of 40 ppm of inhaled NO for 15 min was evaluated in patients whose Pp exceeded systemic values. RESULTS: Preoperative PVR correlated positively with Pp/Ps at the time of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (r2 = 0.86; P < 0.05; n = 46). A Pp/Ps greater than or equal to 1 was not observed in any cases in which the preoperative PVR values were less than 7 Wood units m2; Pp/Ps ratio greater than or equal to 1 occurred in four patients. Each of these had PVR values greater than 7 Wood units m2. Three of these patients who had PVR values in the 7-12 Wood units m2 range were responsive to inhaled NO. The fourth patient, whose PVR value was greater than 15 Wood units m2, was unresponsive. Lung biopsy specimens were obtained in two patients whose preoperative PVR values were greater than 10 Wood units m2. CONCLUSION: Preoperative PVR correlates reasonably well with postbypass Pp/Ps.