Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography to evaluate acute cessation of venous inflow during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Acute disruption of venous return during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may be due to malposition of the venous cannula, kinks or obstruction of the venous tubing by a smaller cannula, airlock, or mechanical disruption of blood flow. We describe an acute obstruction of the venous cannula by blood clots that were visualized on the transesophageal echocardiogram during CPB. Appropriate measures were taken by the surgeon to evacuate the clot and restore CPB. The clots were not seen on the transesophageal echocardiogram before CPB raising suspicion that they originated in a lower extremity and migrated to the right atrium resulting in venous cannula obstruction.

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of enoxaparin : implications for clinical practice.

Enoxaparin is a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) that differs substantially from unfractionated heparin (UFH) in its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. Some of the pharmacodynamic features of enoxaparin that distinguish it from UFH are a higher ratio of anti-Xa to anti-IIa activity, more consistent release of tissue factor pathway inhibitor, weaker interactions with platelets and less inhibition of bone formation. Enoxaparin has a higher and more consistent bioavailability after subcutaneous administration than UFH, a longer plasma half-life and is less strongly bound to plasma proteins. These properties mean that enoxaparin provides a more reliable anticoagulant effect without the need for laboratory monitoring, and also offers the convenience of once-daily administration. Clinical studies have confirmed that these pharmacological advantages translate into improved outcomes. There are important pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between enoxaparin, other LMWHs and UFH, and therefore these molecules cannot be regarded as interchangeable.

Hemodynamic stability, myocardial ischemia, and perioperative outcome after carotid surgery with remifentanil/propofol or isoflurane/fentanyl anesthesia.

This study compares remifentanil/propofol (remi/prop) with isoflurane/fentanyl (iso/fen) anesthesia to determine which provides the greater hemodynamic stability, lesser myocardial ischemia, and morbidity with better postoperative outcomes after carotid endarterectomy. Sixty patients undergoing unilateral carotid endarterectomy were randomized to receive either a remi/prop or iso/fen anesthetic. Hemodynamic variables were recorded during the surgical procedure. In addition, transesophageal echocardiography was used to assess evidence of intraoperative regional wall motion abnormalities suggestive of cardiac ischemia. Emergence and extubation times, recovery from anesthesia, hemodynamic instability, nausea, vomiting, and pain in post anesthesia recovery, discharge delays, ICU admittance, hospital discharge, and preoperative and postoperative troponin levels were compared using appropriate statistical methods with P < 0.05 considered significant. The groups were demographically alike. Hemodynamic variables were similar during intubation and throughout surgery. Twenty-two percent of patients receiving iso/fen developed intraoperative regional wall motion abnormalities suggestive of ischemia, whereas no remi/prop patients had changes (P < 0.05). There was no difference in ST-T wave changes after surgery, and no patient had an elevation in troponin I levels. Postoperative variables were similar except that patients who received iso/fen had lower Stewart recovery scores during the first 15 minutes after post anesthesia care unit admission and a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting the day after surgery, whereas patients receiving remi/prop had discharge delays secondary to hypertension. ICU admittance, time to first void, oral intake, and time to hospital discharge were similar between the groups. At 9 times the cost of an iso/fen anesthesia technique, remi/prop offers little advantage over inhalational anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy.

Motion of the diaphragm in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease while spontaneously breathing versus during positive pressure breathing after anesthesia and neuromuscular blockade.

BACKGROUND: Diaphragmatic excursion during spontaneous ventilation (SV) in normal supine volunteers is greatest in the dependent regions (bottom). During positive pressure ventilation (PPV) after anesthesia and neuromuscular blockade and depending on tidal volume, the nondependent region (top) undergoes the greatest excursion, or the diaphragm moves uniformly. The purpose of this study was to compare diaphragmatic excursion (during SV and PPV) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with patients having normal pulmonary function. METHODS: Twelve COPD patients and 12 normal control subjects were compared. Cross-table diaphragmatic fluoroscopy was performed while patients breathed spontaneously. After anesthetic induction and pharmacologic paralysis and during PPV, diaphragmatic fluoroscopy was repeated. For analytic purposes, the diaphragm was divided into three segments: top, middle, and bottom. Percentage of excursion of each segment during SV and PPV in normal subjects was compared with the percentage of excursion of each segment in patients with COPD. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the pattern of regional diaphragmatic excursion (as a percentage of total excursion)-top, middle, bottom-when comparing COPD patients with control subjects during SV and PPV. In the control subjects, regional diaphragmatic excursion was 16 +/- (5), 33 +/- (5), 51 +/- (4) during SV and 49 +/- (13), 32 +/- (6), 19 +/- (9) during PPV. In COPD patients, regional diaphragmatic excursion was 18 +/- (7), 34 +/- (5), 49 +/- (7) during SV and 47 +/- (10), 32 +/- (6), 21 +/- (9) during PPV. CONCLUSION: Regional diaphragmatic excursion in patients with COPD during SV and PPV is similar to that in persons with normal pulmonary function.