Effect of Goal-directed Hemodynamic Therapy in Postcardiac Surgery Patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) provides preset goals to be achieved by intravenous fluid therapy and inotropic therapy with earliest detection of change in the hemodynamic profile. Improved outcome in cardiac surgery patients has been shown by perioperative volume optimization, while postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay can be decreased by improving oxygen delivery. Our aim of this study was to study the outcome of EGDT in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective single institute study involving a total of 478 patients. Patients were divided into group I, who received standard hospital care, and group II, who received EGDT. Postoperatively, patients were observed in ICU for 72 hours. Hemodynamics, laboratory data, fluid bolus, inotrope score, complication, ventilatory time, and mortality data were collected. RESULTS: Postoperative ventilatory period (11.12 ± 10.11 vs 9.45 ± 8.87, p = 0.0719) and frequency of change in inotropes (1.900 ± 0.9 vs 1.19 ± 0.61, p = 0.0717) were lower in group II. Frequency of crystalloid boluses (1.33 ± 0.65 vs 1.75 ± 1.09, p = 0.0126), and quantity of packed cell volume (PCV) used (1.63 ± 1.03 vs 2.04 ± 1.42, p = 0.0364) were highly significant in group II. Use of colloids was higher in group II and was statistically significant (1.98 ± 1.99 vs 3.05 ± 2.17, p = 0.0012). The acute kidney injury (AKI) rate was (58 (23.10%) vs 30 (13.21%), p = 0.007) lower and statistically significant (p = 0.007) in group II. CONCLUSION: Early goal-directed therapy reduces the postoperative ventilatory period, frequency of changes in inotropes, and incidence of AKI, and decreases ventilation hours, number of times inotropes changed, and AKI. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Patel H, Parikh N, Shah R, Patel R, Thosani R, Shah P, et al. Effect of Goal-directed Hemodynamic Therapy in Postcardiac Surgery Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(5):321-326.

Repairing the rheumatic mitral valve in the young: The horizon revisited.

Objective: Most of the rheumatic mitral valve repair literature focuses on older patients with burnt out disease. We present our midterm results of rheumatic mitral valve repair in young patients. Methods: In this retrospective-prospective study, 106 consecutive children (<18 years) underwent mitral valve repair for rheumatic etiology (2013-2017). Patients were evaluated at regular intervals. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 13.1 ± 3.2 years; 30 (29.6%) patients had recent rheumatic activity (<8 weeks); 80 (78.4%) had mitral regurgitation; 8 (7.8%) had mitral stenosis; 14 (13.7%) had mixed lesions; 11 underwent emergency surgery for intractable heart failure; and 34 (33.3%) patients underwent autologous pericardial augmentation. All patients underwent annuloplasty (ring, band, or other); 40 (39.2%) required chordal procedures. Operative mortality was 1%. Mean follow-up was 25.6 ± 9.5 months and was 100% complete. At last follow-up, mean mitral regurgitation grade was 1.2 ± 0.3, mean mitral valve gradient was 2.96 ± 0.18, and 94.8% of patients were in New York Heart Association class I. Four patients developed recurrent rheumatic carditis (resulting in severe mitral regurgitation), but there were no thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events. Actuarial survival and freedom from reoperation at 2.5 years were 96.2% (number at risk, 38), and 97.1% (number at risk, 38), respectively. Conclusions: Rheumatic valves in children are eminently repairable. The surgeon who ventures to repair a rheumatic mitral valve should consider all lesions of the various components of the mitral valvular apparatus and must have numerous techniques in the armamentarium to effect a successful repair.

Elective nasal continuous positive airway pressure to support respiration after prolonged ventilation in infants after congenital cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: We sought to compare the effectiveness of oxygen (O2) treatment administered by an O2 mask and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in infants after congenital cardiac surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, 54 infants undergoing corrective cardiac surgery were enrolled. According to the anesthesiologist's preference, the patients ventilated for more than 48 h were either put on NCPAP or O2 mask immediately after extubation. From pre-extubation to 24 h after treatment, arterial blood gas and hemodynamic data were measured. RESULTS: After 24 h of NCPAP institution, the patients showed a significant improvement in oxygenation compared to O2 mask group. Respiratory rate (per minute) decreased from 31.67 ± 4.55 to 24.31 ± 3.69 (P < 0.0001), PO2 (mmHg) increased from 112.12 ± 22.83 to 185.74 ± 14.81 (P < 0.0001), and PCO2 (mmHg) decreased from 42.88 ± 5.01 to 37.00 ± 7.22 (P < 0.0076) in patients on NCPAP. In this group, mean pediatric cardiac surgical Intensive Care Unit (PCSICU) stay was 4.72 ± 1.60 days, with only 2 (11.11%) patients requiring re-intubation. CONCLUSION: NCPAP can be used safely and effectively in infants undergoing congenital cardiac surgery to improve oxygenation/ventilation. It also reduces the work of breathing, PCSICU stay, and may reduce the likelihood of re-intubation.

Clonidine and ketamine for stable hemodynamics in off-pump coronary artery bypass.

BACKGROUND: The current era of fast-track extubation and faster recovery after cardiac surgery requires agents that provide perioperative sedation, suppress sympathetic response, reduce opioid requirement, and maintain hemodynamic stability. METHODS: In a prospective randomized double-blind study, 75 off-pump coronary artery bypass patients were divided into 3 groups of 25 each: group A had clonidine 1 µg·kg(-1), group B had clonidine 1 µg·kg(-1) and ketamine 1 mg·kg(-1), and group C had a saline placebo. Perioperative changes in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, sedation score, pain score, and requirement of analgesics, beta blockers, fentanyl, propofol, and inotropes were recorded, as well time to extubation, intensive care unit stay, and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: The combination of clonidine and ketamine led to stable hemodynamics and reduced beta-blocker dosage. The sedation score was highest in groups A and B up to 24 h postoperatively. The pain score was lowest in group B in the first 24 h, and the total dose of analgesics was highest in group C. Clonidine and ketamine or clonidine alone reduced extubation time, but intensive care unit stay was unchanged CONCLUSIONS: Combined low-dose clonidine and ketamine produced perioperative sedation and effective suppression of sympathetic response with stable hemodynamics. Intraoperative beta-blocker use was reduced without increasing inotrope requirement. This combination prolonged the analgesic effect of opioids, reducing postoperative pain score and analgesic requirement. Low-dose clonidine alone produced sedation but did not completely block sympathetic response. Intensive care unit stay and patient outcome were not affected by clonidine or ketamine.

Safe and easy method with little modification in technique is useful for successful internal jugular vein cannulation on the same side even after intra-arterial puncture without using ultrasound guidance in adult cardiac patients.

BACKGROUND: The modification in technique is useful for successful right-sided internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation on the same side even after intra-arterial puncture without using ultrasound guidance in adult patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in total 160 adult patient from American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade II to III patients male (n = 95) and female (n = 65) who underwent cardiac surgery where cannulation was done on right sided by triple lumen catheter (7 French) using Seldinger technique. RESULTS: Majority of patients were cannulated successfully by Seldinger technique with single or double attempt except for five patients in which arterial puncture occurred. All five patients were cannulated successfully on the same side with this modified technique without any significant major complications. They were managed by application of blocker at the end of arterial needle puncture without removing it. In our routine practice, we were used to removing this needle and applying compression for few minutes to prevent hematoma formation after an arterial puncture. In this study, cannula was used as a marker or guideline for the relocation of IJV on the same side and recannulation was performed by changing the direction of needle on same side lateral to the previous one and without going towards the same direction to prevent the arterial puncture again. CONCLUSION: Most simple and useful modified technique for institutes where the complications are most common with trainee doctors and in hospitals where there is no advanced facility like ultrasound-guided cannulation available. By this modification, it will be time saving, very comfortable, and user-friendly technique with high success rate.

Minimally invasive combined aortic and mitral valve replacement.

A technique is described here to carry out combined aortic and mitral valve replacement (DVR) in a patient with rheumatic valve disease utilising a minimally invasive approach without major modification in the conventional technique. An incision of approximately 5 cm is made on the upper sternum followed by partial sternal split with 'J' extension in the right third inter costal space (ICS). The mitral and aortic valves can be replaced with ease and excellent outcome. The technique is reproducible and does not require any special instrumentation. We carried out DVR with this approach in 17 patients.