The association between cardiopulmonary exercise testing and postoperative outcomes in patients with lung cancer undergoing lung resection surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Exercise capacity should be determined in all patients undergoing lung resection for lung cancer surgery and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) remains the gold standard. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between preoperative CPET and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing lung resection surgery for lung cancer through a review of the existing literature. METHODS: A search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and CINAHL from inception until December 2022. Studies investigating associations between preoperative CPET and postoperative outcomes were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUIPS tool. A random effect model meta-analysis was performed. I2 > 40% indicated a high level of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Thirty-seven studies were included with 6450 patients. Twenty-eight studies had low risk of bias. [Formula: see text] peak is the oxygen consumption at peak exercise and serves as a marker of cardiopulmonary fitness. Higher estimates of [Formula: see text] peak, measured and as a percentagege of predicted, showed significant associations with a lower risk of mortality [MD: 3.66, 95% CI: 0.88; 6.43 and MD: 16.49, 95% CI: 6.92; 26.07] and fewer complications [MD: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.12; 3.00 and MD: 9.82, 95% CI: 5.88; 13.76]. Using a previously defined cutoff value of > 15mL/kg/min for [Formula: see text] peak, showed evidence of decreased odds of mortality [OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.28-0.81] and but not decreased odds of postoperative morbidity [OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.64-1.00]. There was no relationship between [Formula: see text] slope, which depicts ventilatory efficiency, with mortality [MD: -9.60, 95% CI: -27.74; 8.54] however, patients without postoperative complications had a lower preoperative [Formula: see text] [MD: -2.36, 95% CI: -3.01; -1.71]. Exercise load and anaerobic threshold did not correlate with morbidity or mortality. There was significant heterogeneity between studies. CONCLUSIONS: Estimates of cardiopulmonary fitness as evidenced by higher [Formula: see text] peak, measured and as a percentage of predicted, were associated with decreased morbidity and mortality. A cutoff value of [Formula: see text] peak > 15mL/kg/min was consistent with improved survival but not with fewer complications. Ventilatory efficiency was associated with decreased postoperative morbidity but not with improved survival. The heterogeneity in literature could be remedied with large scale, prospective, blinded, standardised research to improve preoperative risk stratification in patients with lung cancer scheduled for lung resection surgery.

Ultrasound Hepatic Vein Ratios Are Associated With the Development of Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the use of hepatic venous and right-heart ultrasound parameters in predicting cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). DESIGN: This was a prospective, contextual, descriptive two-center study. Blood tests,clinical and ultrasound data were obtained preoperatively, and postoperative day one, and day four. The hepatic vein, inferior vena cava, and right-heart Doppler ultrasound parameters were obtained and analyzed. SETTING: The sites of the study were Johannesburg, South Africa, and Aarhus, Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients who satisfied inclusion criteria, between August 2019 and January 2020, were included, with a total of 152 participants. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) age of patients was 68 (55-73) years, predominantly male, and the majority were hypertensive. Of 152 patients analyzed, 54 (35%) patients developed AKI. Among these, 37 (69%) were classified as Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage I, 11 (20%) as stage II, while six (11%) were stage III. Age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.10 p = 0.031), The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II (AOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.80, p = 0.005], and preoperative serum creatinine (AOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08, p = 0.013) were predictive of AKI. Those who developed AKI had experienced longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times (p < 0.001). Preoperatively, hepatic vein S-wave measurements were significantly higher in patients with AKI (p < 0.05). On postoperative day one (D1), the hepatic vein flow ratios of patients with AKI were significantly decreased, driven by low S waves and high D waves, and accompanied by significantly elevated central venous pressure (CVP) levels. CVP levels on D1 postoperatively were predictive of AKI (AOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.11-1.55, p = 0.001). Measurements of right ventricular (RV) base, tricuspid annular plane excursion (TAPSE), and inferior vena cava were not associated with the development of AKI (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was an association between the development of AKI and a decrease in hepatic flow ratios on D1, driven by low S-wave and high D-wave velocities. The presence of venous congestion was reflected by significantly elevated CVP values, which were independently associated with AKI on D1. RV base and TAPSE measurements were, however, not associated with AKI. These parameters may reflect perioperative circumstances, including prolonged CPB times and potential fluid management, which can be modified in this period.

Factors associated with acute kidney injury and mortality during cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is known to contribute towards the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and peri-operative morbidity and mortality. There are several patient, anaesthetic and surgical factors that contribute to its occurrence. It is imperative to know the profile of a patient who is likely to develop this complication to mitigate for modifiable risks. This study aimed at describing a profile of AKI in an adult patient (over the age of 18 years) following cardiac surgery on CPB. Factors associated with the development of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) are described, as well as the relationship between CSA-AKI and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: This was a contextual, descriptive and retrospective single-centre study with data of 476 adult patients admitted post cardiac surgery between January 2016 and December 2017. Data were collected from Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) in South Africa. All adult patients who presented for elective cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass graft), valvular, aortic and other cardiac surgery on CPB were included. Peri-operative factors such as patient demographics, baseline renal function, co-morbid factors, length of CPB and aortic cross-clamp time, degree of hypothermia, use of assist devices, and post-operative serum creatinine (SCr) levels were collected. Incomplete essential peri-operative data and data for patients who presented on renal replacement therapy (RRT) already were excluded. AKI was defined by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-five (28%) patients developed CSA-AKI and 20, 5 and 3% were in KDIGO 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Older age (p = 0.024), female gender (p = 0.015), higher serum creatinine level (p = 0.025), and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (p = 0.025) were associated with the development of CSA-AKI, while a history of hypertension was predictive. Forty-six of the 476 patients died. Mortality rates were significantly higher in those with AKI compared to those without [28 (21%) vs 18 (5%), respectively (p = 0.001)]. The incidence was significantly worse in those with severe kidney injury, as evidenced by mortality rates of 44 versus 5% between KDIGO 3 and KDIGO 1 (p < 0.001). Pre-operative eGFR and CSA-AKI requiring RRT were significantly associated with mortality, while pre-operative eGFR was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval: 0.97-0.99, p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: A history of hypertension was predictive of the development of CSA-AKI, and pre-operative eGFR was an independent predictor of mortality in this cohort. Both factors are modifiable.