Position paper on perioperative management and surgical risk in the patient with cirrhosis.

INTRODUCTION: Management of the patient with cirrhosis of the liver that requires surgical treatment has been relatively unexplored. In Mexico, there is currently no formal stance or expert recommendations to guide clinical decision-making in this context. AIMS: The present position paper reviews the existing evidence on risks, prognoses, precautions, special care, and specific management or procedures for patients with cirrhosis that require surgical interventions or invasive procedures. Our aim is to provide recommendations by an expert panel, based on the best published evidence, and consequently ensure timely, quality, efficient, and low-risk care for this specific group of patients. RESULTS: Twenty-seven recommendations were developed that address preoperative considerations, intraoperative settings, and postoperative follow-up and care. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment and care of patients with cirrhosis that require major surgical or invasive procedures should be overseen by a multidisciplinary team that includes the anesthesiologist, hepatologist, gastroenterologist, and clinical nutritionist. With respect to decompensated patients, a nephrology specialist may be required, given that kidney function is also a parameter involved in the prognosis of these patients.

The Long-Term Impact of Diastolic Dysfunction After Routine Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of diastolic dysfunction (DD) on survival after routine cardiac surgery. DESIGN: This was an observational study of consecutive cardiac surgeries from 2010 to 2021. SETTING: At a single institution. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing isolated coronary, isolated valvular, and concomitant coronary and valvular surgery were included. Patients with a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) longer than 6 months prior to their index surgery were excluded from the analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were categorized via preoperative TTE as having no DD, grade I DD, grade II DD, or grade III DD. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 8,682 patients undergoing a coronary and/or valvular surgery were identified, of whom 4,375 (50.4%) had no DD, 3,034 (34.9%) had grade I DD, 1,066 (12.3%) had grade II DD, and 207 (2.4%) had grade III DD. The median (IQR) time of the TTE prior to the index surgery was 6 (2-29) days. Operative mortality was 5.8% in the grade III DD group v 2.4% for grade II DD, 1.9% for grade I DD, and 2.1% for no DD (p = 0.001). Atrial fibrillation, prolonged mechanical ventilation (>24 hours), acute kidney injury, any packed red blood cell transfusion, reexploration for bleeding, and length of stay were higher in the grade III DD group compared to the rest of the cohort. The median follow-up was 4.0 (IQR: 1.7-6.5) years. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were lower in the grade III DD group than in the rest of the cohort. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that DD may be associated with poor short-term and long-term outcomes.

The impact of perioperative stroke and delirium on outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of stroke and delirium on postdischarge cognition and patient-centered health outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are not well characterized. Here, we assess the impact of postoperative stroke and delirium on these health outcomes in SAVR patients at 90 days. METHODS: Patients (N = 383) undergoing SAVR (41% received concomitant coronary artery bypass graft) enrolled in a randomized trial of embolic protection devices underwent serial neurologic and delirium evaluations at postoperative days 1, 3, and 7 and magnetic resonance imaging at day 7. Outcomes included 90-day functional status, neurocognitive decline from presurgical baseline, and quality of life. RESULTS: By postoperative day 7, 25 (6.6%) patients experienced clinical stroke and 103 (28.5%) manifested delirium. During index hospitalization, time to discharge was longer in patients experiencing stroke (hazard ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42-0.94; P = .02) and patients experiencing delirium (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.86; P = .001). At day 90, patients experiencing stroke were more likely to have a modified Rankin score >2 (odds ratio [OR], 5.9; 95% CI, 1.7-20.1; P = .01), depression (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.6-17.3; P = .006), a lower 12-Item Short Form Survey physical health score (adjusted mean difference -3.3 ± 1.9; P = .08), and neurocognitive decline (OR, 7.8; 95% CI, 2.3-26.4; P = .001). Delirium was associated with depression (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 0.9-5.3; P = .08), lower 12-Item Short Form Survey physical health (adjusted mean difference -2.3 ± 1.1; P = .03), and neurocognitive decline (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-4.0; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke and delirium occur more frequently after SAVR than is commonly recognized, and these events are associated with disability, depression, cognitive decline, and poorer quality of life at 90 days postoperatively. These findings support the need for new interventions to reduce these events and improve patient-centered outcomes.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS®) protocol adapted to the Brazilian reality: a prospective cohort study for thoracic patients.

BACKGROUND: In Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs), resource optimization and infrastructure availability are recurrently in debate. In order to assist the development and implementation of guidelines, LMICs often exemplify from High-Income Countries protocols. At the final, it will be: content adaption is often needed. In this study, we demonstrated the preliminary analysis of the Brazilian experience by adapting the ERAS® Protocol for thoracic surgery patients (PROSM). METHODS: Patients' data were extracted from the surgical group database that operated in the city of Sao Paulo. Patients' data were organized for analysis after the institution's ethics committee gave their approval. Patients' variables were analyzed and compared to a control group. Subgroup analysis included patients without ICU Admission. RESULTS: PROSM patients had reduced ICU length of stay (LOS) (Mean of 0.3±0.58 days, 1.2±1.65 days, P=0.001), Hospital LOS (Mean of 1.6±1.32 days, 3.9±3.25 days, P=0.001) and Chest Drain duration (Median 1.0±1.00 days, 3.0±3.00 days, P=0.001). Analyses of patients that were not admitted to the ICU demonstrated reduced Hospital LOS and Chest drain duration. Cost analysis, such as procedure, daily, and post-surgical costs were also significantly lower towards PROSM group. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed important aspects for improvement of the delivered care quality and opportunity for expenditure management. We expect to assist more countries to improve knowledge under the implementation of enhanced protocols.

Manejo del dolor en cirugía vascular periférica / Pain management in peripheral vascular surgery

Resumen: En cirugía vascular periférica, el manejo multimodal del dolor permite una movilización temprana, lo cual conlleva a una rápida recuperación y satisfacción del paciente. El fracaso en el control del dolor postoperatorio aumenta los costos, los días de estancia hospitalaria y el riesgo de complicaciones como infecciones y tromboembolismo. Antes de la cirugía, el uso de dexametasona, gabapentina y paracetamol mejora los niveles de analgesia postoperatoria. La analgesia peridural es la técnica que mayor alivio de dolor presenta en el postoperatorio, provocando una incidencia menor de dolor crónico; limitar el uso de opioides neuroaxiales disminuye el tiempo de bloqueo motor, permitiendo la movilización temprana y evitando las complicaciones asociadas con la postración (visita http://www.painoutmexico.com para obtener la versión completa del artículo y el diagrama de recomendaciones).

Abstract: In peripheral vascular surgery, multimodal pain management allows early mobilization, which leads to rapid recovery and patient satisfaction. Failure to control postoperative pain increases costs, days of hospital stay and increases the risk of complications such as infections and thromboembolism. Before surgery, using dexamethasone, gabapentin and paracetamol improves higher leves of postoperative analgesia. Epidural analgesia is the technique that provides the greatest pain relief in the postoperative period, causing a lower incidence of chronic pain; limiting the use of neuroaxial opioids decreases the motor block time, allowing early mobilization and avoiding complications associated with prostration (visit http://www.painoutmexico.com to see the full article and diagram of overall recommendations).

Prognostic factors for survival and surgical complications in Whipple's pancreatoduodenectomy during a 10-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Periampullary neoplasms account for over 30,000 cancer-related deaths per year in the United States. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is considered the surgical standard and is the only curative treatment option for these pathologies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to report the prognostic factors in survival and surgical complications in PD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 178 cases are reported, several variables were reviewed and the same surgical technique was used by the same surgeon. RESULTS: A total of 151 PD were reviewed. The most common initial symptoms were jaundice, 111 (73%), abdominal pain, 20 (13%), and oral intolerance, 10 (6%). Poor prognostic factors for survival were the presence of a previous pathology, days of hospitalization, positive margins, and weight loss. DISCUSSION: With the experience gained, a decrease in surgical time, intraoperative bleeding, and transfusions performed was achieved. Our complication rate remained at 20%, lower than that reported in literature. CONCLUSION: PD is the only option of cure for patients with pancreatic and periampullary tumors. This procedure has been linked to high morbidity and mortality even in high-volume centers. A pancreatic fistula is the most feared complication; therefore, multiple pancreatojejunostomy techniques have been described in literature. It is important to continue reporting these cases to reach a consensus on this technique.

ANTECEDENTES: Las neoplasias periampulares suponen más de 30.000 muertes relacionadas con el cáncer por año en los EE.UU. La pancreaticoduodenectomía (PD) se considera el estándar quirúrgico y es la única opción de tratamiento curativo para esta enfermedad. OBJETIVO: Reportar los factores de pronóstico en la supervivencia y las complicaciones quirúrgicas de la PD. ­. MÉTODO: Se reportaron 178 casos; se revisaron varias variables y se utilizó la misma técnica quirúrgica por el mismo cirujano. RESULTADOS: Se revisaron 151 DP. Los síntomas iniciales más comunes fueron ictericia (111; 73%), dolor abdominal (20; 13%) e intolerancia oral (10; 6%). Los factores de pronóstico para la supervivencia fueron la presencia de patología previa, los días de hospitalización, los márgenes positivos y la pérdida de peso. DISCUSIÓN: Con la experiencia adquirida, se logró una disminución del tiempo quirúrgico, del sangrado intraoperatorio y de las transfusiones realizadas. Nuestra tasa de complicaciones se mantuvo en un 20%, inferior a la reportada en la literatura. CONCLUSIÓN: La PD es la única opción de curación para los pacientes con tumores pancreáticos y periampulares. Este procedimiento se ha relacionado con una alta morbilidad y mortalidad incluso en centros de alto volumen. La fístula pancreática es la complicación más temida, por lo que se han descrito numerosas técnicas de pancreatoyeyunostomía. Es importante seguir informando de estos casos para llegar a un consenso sobre esta técnica.

Perioperative management of the diabetic patient referred to cardiac surgery

Abstract Currently there is a progressive increase in the prevalence of diabetes in a referred for cardiovascular surgery. Benefits of glycemic management (< 180 mg/dL) in diabetic patients compared to patients without diabetes in perioperative cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study is to present recommendations based on international evidence and adapted to our clinical practice for the perioperative management of hyperglycemia in adult patients with and without diabetes undergoing cardiovascular surgery. This update is based on the latest current literature derived from articles and guidelines regarding perioperative management of diabetic patients to cardiovascular surgery.

Manejo perioperatorio de pacientes usuarios de antiagregantes plaquetarios / Perioperative management of patients using antiplatelet agents

Resumen El uso de fármacos antiagregantes plaquetarios para prevención primaria y secundaria de eventos cardiovasculares es una práctica común en clínica. La terapia antiagregante plaquetaria disminuye significativamente la incidencia de eventos cardiovasculares, incluyendo infarto agudo al miocardio y accidente cerebro-vascular. Cada vez es más frecuente enfrentarse a pacientes en terapia antiagregante plaquetaria que serán sometidos a algún procedimiento quirúrgico, por tanto es fundamental conocer el manejo perioperatorio de estos fármacos, para disminuir los riesgos y complicaciones asociados a la suspensión o mantención de estas drogas en el período perioperatorio. Los antiagregantes plaquetarios de mayor uso en Chile son la aspirina y las tienopiridinas, siendo el clopidogrel el fármaco más utilizado en este grupo. El enfrentamiento perioperatorio de estos fármacos está supeditado al riesgo trombótico individual de cada paciente y al riesgo hemorrágico de cada cirugía. En cirugías no cardiacas, se sugiere mantener la aspirina, excepto en pacientes con bajo-moderado riesgo trombótico que serán sometidos a cirugías con alto riesgo de sangrado, en los cuales se recomienda suspenderla 5-7 días previo a la intervención quirúrgica. El clopidogrel se sugiere suspenderlo 5 días antes de la cirugía, excepto en pacientes con alto riesgo trombótico que se someterán a procedimientos quirúrgicos con riesgo hemorrágico bajo-moderado. En cirugías de revascularización miocárdica, se recomienda mantener aspirina y suspender clopidogrel 5 días antes del procedimiento. En relación al reinicio postquirúrgico de estos fármacos, se sugiere reanudar aspirina 6 h posterior a la cirugía y clopidogrel durante las primeras 24 h postoperatorias, asegurando previamente una adecuada hemostasia quirúrgica.

The use of antiplatelet drugs for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease events is a common clinical practice. Antiplatelet therapy significantly decreases the incidence of cardiovascular disease events, including acute myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident. It is increasingly common to face patients on antiplatelet therapy who will undergo some surgical procedure, so it is essential to know the perioperative management of these drugs, to reduce the risks and complications associated with the suspension or maintenance of these therapies in the perioperative period. The most common antiplatelet agents used in Chile are acetylsalicylic acid and thienopyridines, of which clopidogrel is the most frequent one. The perioperative management of these drugs has to be based on the individual thrombotic risk of each patient and the risk of hemorrhage of each surgery. In noncardiac surgeries, it is suggested to maintain acetylsalicylic acid, except in patients with low to moderate thrombotic risk who will undergo surgeries with a high risk of bleeding, in which case it is recommended to suspend it 5 to 7 days before surgery. Clopidogrel is suggested to be discontinued 5 days before surgery, except in patients with high thrombotic risk who will undergo surgical procedures with low to moderate risk of hemorrhage. In myocardial revascularization surgeries, it is recommended to maintain acetylsalicylic acid and to suspend clopidogrel 5 days before the procedure. Once assuring adequate surgical hemostasis, it is suggested to reinitiate acetylsalicylic acid 6 hours after surgery and to reinitiate clopidogrel during the first 24 postoperative hours.

Manejo perioperatorio de pacientes con tratamiento anticoagulante crónico / Perioperative management of patients with chronic anticoagulant therapy

Resumen La terapia anticoagulante es ampliamente utilizada en la práctica clínica, como profilaxis en pacientes con riesgo de presentar fenómenos tromboembólicos o como tratamiento en aquellos que han presentado algún evento trombótico. Cada vez es más frecuente enfrentarse a pacientes en tratamiento anticoagulante crónico que serán intervenidos mediante procedimientos quirúrgicos, por lo que es importante y necesario conocer el manejo perioperatorio de los diferentes fármacos anticoagulantes, para disminuir los riesgos y complicaciones asociados a la suspensión o mantención de estos en el período perioperatorio. Para lograr este objetivo se debe evaluar y balancear el riesgo de sangrado versus el riesgo de eventos tromboembólicos, considerando la condición médica de cada paciente y el tipo de procedimiento quirúrgico que recibirá. La recomendación para fármacos anticoagulantes orales antagonistas de vitamina K es mantenerlos en cirugías con bajo riesgo de sangrado y suspenderlos 5 días antes de procedimientos quirúrgicos con riesgo hemorrágico moderado y alto, controlando el international normalized ratio el día previo a la cirugía. Los nuevos anticoagulantes orales no requieren monitorización de rutina, recomendándose suspenderlos a las 24-96 h previas al procedimiento quirúrgico, dependiendo del riesgo hemorrágico de cada cirugía y de la función renal. En relación con los anticoagulantes parenterales, la heparina no fraccionada en infusión intravenosa se recomienda suspenderla 4-5 h antes de la cirugía, mientras que la utilizada vía subcutánea, 12 h previas a la intervención quirúrgica. Las heparinas de bajo peso molecular en dosis de tratamiento se sugiere descontinuarlas 24 h previas a la cirugía, mientras que las usadas en dosis profilácticas, solo 12 h antes.

Anticoagulant therapy is widely used in clinical practice, as prophylaxis in patients at risk of presenting thromboembolic phenomena or as treatment in those who have presented a thrombotic event. It is increasingly the number of patients on chronic anticoagulant therapy to undergo surgical procedures, so it is important and necessary to know the perioperative management of the different anticoagulant drugs to reduce the risks and complications associated with suspension or maintenance of these in the perioperative period. To achieve this goal, the risk of bleeding should be evaluated and balanced against the risk of thromboembolic events, considering the medical condition of each patient and the type of surgical procedure to which they have undergone. The recommendation for vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant drugs is to maintain them for surgeries at low risk of bleeding and to suspend them 5 days before surgical procedures with moderate and high bleeding risk, controlling 'International Normalized Ratio' the day before surgery. The new oral anticoagulants do not require routine monitoring, recommending suspending them 24-96 h prior to the surgical procedure, depending on the hemorrhagic risk of each surgery and renal function of patient. In relation to parenteral anticoagulants, unfractionated heparin in intravenous infusion is recommended to be discontinued 4-5 h prior to surgery, while the subcutaneous route, 12 h prior to surgery. Low-molecular-weight heparins in treatment doses should be suspended 24 h prior to surgery, while in prophylactic doses, only 12 h earlier.

Diaphragmatic pacing stimulation in spinal cord injury: anesthetic and perioperative management

OBJECTIVE: The standard therapy for patients with high-level spinal cord injury is long-term mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy. However, in some cases, this approach results in death or disability. The aim of this study is to highlight the anesthetics and perioperative aspects of patients undergoing insertion of a diaphragmatic pacemaker. METHODS: Five patients with quadriplegia following high cervical traumatic spinal cord injury and ventilator-dependent chronic respiratory failure were implanted with a laparoscopic diaphragmatic pacemaker after preoperative assessments of their phrenic nerve function and diaphragm contractility through transcutaneous nerve stimulation. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01385384. RESULTS: The diaphragmatic pacemaker placement was successful in all of the patients. Two patients presented with capnothorax during the perioperative period, which resolved without consequences. After six months, three patients achieved continuous use of the diaphragm pacing system, and one patient could be removed from mechanical ventilation for more than 4 hours per day. CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of a diaphragmatic phrenic system is a new and safe technique with potential to improve the quality of life of patients who are dependent on mechanical ventilation because of spinal cord injuries. Appropriate indication and adequate perioperative care are fundamental to achieving better results.