Assessment of Preoperative Anxiety in Cardiac Surgery Patients Lacking a History of Anxiety: Contributing Factors and Postoperative Morbidity.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to measure the level of preoperative anxiety in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, identify any influencing clinical factors, and assess the relationship between anxiety and postoperative morbidity. DESIGN: A prospective and consecutive study. SETTING: A single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 200 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Each patient was asked to grade his or her preoperative anxiety level using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety, Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale, and set of specific anxiety-related questions. Demographic data (age, sex, body mass index) and anesthetic and surgical data (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, EuroSCORE surgical risk, preoperative length of stay, and previous anesthetic experience) were registered. Also, postoperative morbidity was assessed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent of the patients developed high preoperative anxiety. The mean Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale score was 11.4 ± 4.3, and the mean Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety score was 48 ± 21. Patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery, who had no previous anesthetic experience, and who were hospitalized before surgery, had higher anxiety scores. Coronary bypass surgery (odds ratio 3.026; 1.509-6.067; p = 0.002) was associated independently with preoperative high-level anxiety. Anxiety most commonly was caused by waiting for surgery, not knowing what is happening, fearing not being able to awaken from anesthesia, and being at the mercy of staff. Anxiety did not modify the postoperative course. CONCLUSIONS: In patients waiting to undergo cardiac surgery, both fear of the unknown and lack of information, especially related to the surgery, are crucial factors in high levels of preoperative anxiety in cardiac surgery. Coronary bypass surgery is a determining factor for preoperative anxiety. The anxiety level did not modify the postoperative course in these patients.

Alteraciones de la hemostasia durante la cirugía con quimioterapia intraperitoneal hipertérmica en pacientes con carcinomatosis peritoneal / Alterations in hemostasis during cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis

INTRODUCCIÓN: La cirugía citorreductora seguida de quimioterapia intraperitoneal hipertérmica (HIPEC) se asocia frecuentemente a alteraciones de la hemostasia y a elevados requerimientos transfusionales perioperatorios. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar los trastornos hemostáticos asociados a cada una de las fases de este procedimiento terapéutico mediante tromboelastometría rotacional (ROTEM), niveles de fibrinógeno y recuento plaquetario, así como su posible relación con las necesidades transfusionales. MÉTODOS: Se efectuó un estudio prospectivo longitudinal. Se registraron niveles de hemoglobina, recuento plaquetario, niveles de fibrinógeno y parámetros tromboelastométricos: tiempo de coagulación (CT), tiempo de formación del coágulo (CFT), firmeza máxima del coágulo (MCF), y ángulo α (EXTEM, INTEM, FIBTEM). Las mencionadas determinaciones se realizaron: antes del inicio de la cirugía; al finalizar la cirugía citorreductora y al concluir la HIPEC. Se utilizaron los test estadísticos apropiados. Los valores de p < 0,05 se consideraron estadísticamente significativos. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó en el estudio a 41 mujeres con una mediana de edad de 54 años (rango: 34-76). Tras la cirugía citorreductora se observó una caída de la tasa de hemoglobina desde 11,4 ± 1,5 a 10,6 ± 1,6 g/dl; un descenso del fibrinógeno sérico desde 269 ± 69 hasta 230 ± 48 mg/dl (p < 0,01) y una reducción de MCF en FIBTEM desde 20 ± 10 hasta 16 ± 8 mm (p < 0,01). La HIPEC no se asoció a alteraciones hemostáticas. Se observó una moderada relación negativa entre el número de concentrados de hematíes administrados y los niveles de fibrinógeno (ρ = −0,5; p = 0,002) y los valores de MCF EXTEM (ρ = −0,43; p = 0,006) registrados tras la HIPEC. CONCLUSIONES: Las alteraciones hemostáticas observadas aparecen tras la cirugía citorreductora, probablemente a consecuencia de la hemorragia quirúrgica. Se requieren más estudios para confirmar una correlación entre las necesidades transfusionales y las pruebas de coagulación postoperatorias

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is frequently associated with coagulation impairment and perioperative blood transfusion. Our aim was to investigate the impact of each procedure step on hemostasis, as measured by rotational thromboelastometry™ (ROTEM), fibrinogen level and platelet count as a primary outcome, along with its relationship with transfusion needs. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was performed. Hemoglobin level, fibrinogen level, platelet count and ROTEM parameters: clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), maximum clot firmness (MCF), α-angle (EXTEM, INTEM, FIBTEM) were measured before the procedure, at the end of cytoreductive surgery and after HIPEC. Appropriate statistical tests were used for comparison. A P<.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Forty-one women, with median age 54 (range 34-76) were recruited. Cytoreductive surgery was followed by a reduction of hemoglobin level from 11,4 ± 1,5 g/dl to 10,6 ± 1,6 g/dl, a reduction of serum fibrinogen level from 269 ± 69 mg/dl to 230 ± 48 mg/dl (P<.01) and MCF decline from 20 ± 10 to 16 ± 8 mm (P<.01), in the FIBTEM test. HIPEC was followed by no hemostatic impairment. The number of packed red blood cells administered during patients stay kept a mild significant relationship with both fibrinogen level (ρ = −0.5, P=.002), and MCF EXTEM values (ρ= -0.43, P=0.006), recorded after HIPEC. CONCLUSIONS: The mild observed hemostatic impairment appeared after cytoreductive surgery instead of HIPEC, involving surgical hemorrhage as the most likely responsible factor. Further studies are required to confirm a correlation between transfusion needs and postoperative hemostatic tests

Alterations in hemostasis during cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is frequently associated with coagulation impairment and perioperative blood transfusion. Our aim was to investigate the impact of each procedure step on hemostasis, as measured by rotational thromboelastometry™ (ROTEM), fibrinogen level and platelet count as a primary outcome, along with its relationship with transfusion needs. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was performed. Hemoglobin level, fibrinogen level, platelet count and ROTEM parameters: clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), maximum clot firmness (MCF), α-angle (EXTEM, INTEM, FIBTEM) were measured before the procedure, at the end of cytoreductive surgery and after HIPEC. Appropriate statistical tests were used for comparison. A P<.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Forty-one women, with median age 54 (range 34-76) were recruited. Cytoreductive surgery was followed by a reduction of hemoglobin level from 11,4±1,5g/dl to 10,6±1,6g/dl, a reduction of serum fibrinogen level from 269±69mg/dl to 230±48mg/dl (P<.01) and MCF decline from 20±10 to 16±8mm (P<.01), in the FIBTEM test. HIPEC was followed by no hemostatic impairment. The number of packed red blood cells administered during patients stay kept a mild significant relationship with both fibrinogen level (ρ = -0.5, P=.002), and MCF EXTEM values (ρ= -0.43, P=0.006), recorded after HIPEC. CONCLUSIONS: The mild observed hemostatic impairment appeared after cytoreductive surgery instead of HIPEC, involving surgical hemorrhage as the most likely responsible factor. Further studies are required to confirm a correlation between transfusion needs and postoperative hemostatic tests.

[Primary non-lymphoid thymic neoplasms. A study of 58 cases]. / Neoplasias primarias del timo de estirpe no linfoide. Estudio de 58 casos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Primary non-lymphoid thymus tumors (PNLTT) are an uncommon though quite varied pathology. Our objective was to identify the clinical, therapeutic and histologic variables with a prognostic value in these neoplasms. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We studied 58 PNLTT cases, corresponding to 52 epithelial neoplams (PTEN), 4 thymolipomas (7%) and 2 neuroendocrine tumors (3%). Commonest clinical manifestations were myasthenia gravis (41%) and dyspnea (21%). Three patients were symptom-free (24%). We used Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression model. RESULTS: All patients underwent surgery which consisted of thymectomy. Four patients underwent a biopsy procedure alone. Perioperative mortality was 3% (n = 2) and morbidity was 31% (n = 18), mainly because of respiratory and wound problems. 24 patients with PTEN, Masaoka degrees III and IV, and a patient with a lymphoepithelial carcinoma received adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. With a follow-up of 13 + 5 years, 12 PTEN patients and one patient with a neuroendrocrine tumor died as a consequence of the evolution of the disease. Cumulative survival was 80% at 5 years, 71% at 7 years and 63% at 10 years. There are currently two local relapses in two PTEN cases after 9 and 8 years of follow-up, respectively. Main prognostic factors are the histologic type and subtype and the clinical stage (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In PNLTT early diagnosis is crucial in order to administer a correct treatment before the clinical stage is more advanced. Main prognostic factors are the histologic type and subtype and the clinical stage.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de los quistes mediastínicos no neoplásicos / Surgical treatment of non-neoplastic mediastinal cysts

Objetivo. La importancia de los quistes mediastínicos no neoplásicos (QMNN) radica en su difícil diagnóstico diferencial, y en la ausencia de un consenso sobre la mejor opción terapéutica. El objetivo es analizar el abordaje diagnostico terapéutico de estos quistes. Pacientes y métodos. Desde 1980 hasta 2000 se han intervenido 18 QMNN. Se analiza la forma de presentación, la clínica, las técnicas de imagen, la intervención quirúrgica, la morbimortalidad y el seguimiento. Resultados. Nueve (50 por ciento) corresponden a quistes broncogénicos, cuyo síntoma más frecuente fue el dolor torácico. La radiografía de tórax pone de manifiesto una masa en mediastino antero superior en 8 casos (88,9 por ciento), y la tomografía computarizada (TC), objetivó un tumor quístico en el mediastino anterior en 4 casos; todos fueron extirpados quirúrgicamente, y 2 pacientes (22,2 por ciento) presentaron complicaciones leves. Seis (33,3 por ciento) correspondieron a quistes pleuropericárdicos, tres de ellos (50 por ciento) asintomáticos. La radiografía de tórax evidenció una tumoración mediastínica paracardial derecha, que se confirmó con la TC(3 casos). Todos fueron extirpados quirúrgicamente, con una morbilidad del 33,3 por ciento (2 casos).Tres (16,7 por ciento) correspondieron a quistes entéricos. La radiografía de tórax puso de manifiesto una tumoración en el mediastino posterior, cuya naturaleza quística fue confirmada por la TC (2 casos). Se realizó exéresis del quiste en todos los casos, de los que correspondieron a quistes de duplicación dos esofágicos (66,7 por ciento) y uno gástrico. Todos permanecen asintomáticos y sin recidiva tras un seguimiento de 12 ñ 10 años. Conclusiones. Los QMNN son lesiones benignas en las que, en la actualidad, la TC permite con frecuencia realizar un diagnóstico prequirúrgico, y en las que el tratamiento de elección es la cirugía, pues presenta baja morbimortalidad, permite descartar malignidad y lo cura definitivamente (AU)