1,721,354 research outputs found
Preventing mortality in cardiac surgery with anesthetic drugs and techniques. There is need for a consensus conference
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Anesthetic management of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
No full text"Purpose of review: The revolution in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for the treatment of aortic stenosis has been well described by the large number of randomized trials, registries, and single and multicenter experiences published during 2010–2011. The aim of this review is to describe the challenges of the anesthetic management related to TAVI.. . Recent findings: Recent data show that TAVI is clinically effective in patients with inoperable aortic stenosis when compared with standard therapy. It can be accomplished in high-risk patients with favorable outcomes compared with surgery as predicted by standard estimates of mortality and is associated with functional and hemodynamic improvement. Currently, TAVI is targeted at high-risk patients, but may be extended to lower risk groups in the near future. Outstanding questions concerning TAVI are related to its long-term durability and to procedural complications.. . Summary: Preprocedural, multidisciplinary assessment of the patient is essential prior to TAVI and should include a full anesthetic evaluation, consideration of patient comorbidities, and determination of technical feasibility. The role of scoring systems for risk prediction requires further scrutiny. Multidevice\/multiple access approaches allow for treatment of a wide range of patients. Anesthetic techniques and supportive measures vary depending on procedural concerns, patient comorbidity, and severe, often unstable cardiac disease. Echocardiography is fundamental to preoperative evaluation, procedure guidance, and assessment of complications. Planned bailout strategies should be discussed with all members of the medical team. Postoperative standardized monitoring and management protocols are essential.. .
Preventive and therapeutic noninvasive ventilation in cardiovascular surgery
No full textPURPOSE OF REVIEW:Postoperative pulmonary complications are common after cardiac and vascular surgery, and they are associated with a marked worsening in hospital survival and length of stay. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been successfully applied in the prevention and treatment of postoperative acute respiratory failure (ARF), including the cardiovascular setting.RECENT FINDINGS:Recent findings confirm that ARF is still highly associated with reintubation and ICU readmission, affecting hospital and long-term mortality. The most recent studies suggest that NIV can be effective both in early and in severe ARF, both in ICU and in surgical ward; on the contrary, NIV efficacy, when applied as a preventive tool in unselected patients, is not demonstrated. Limited but promising data are available on NIV use in pediatric patients and in ancillary procedures like coronarography and transesophageal echocardiography.SUMMARY:NIV seems effective when applied to treat postoperative ARF. Its role as a preventive tool is still controversial, and probably should be limited to high-risk patients. Promising findings were reported for NIV application in pediatric patients and in ancillary procedures. So far, a cautious approach should be applied, as NIV failure is associated with poor outcomes if not quickly detected
Halogenated anaesthetics and cardiac protection in cardiac and non-cardiac anaesthesia
No full textVolatile anaesthetic agents have direct protective properties against ischemic myocardial damage. The implementation of these properties during clinical anaesthesia. can provide an additional tool in the treatment or prevention, or both, of ischemic cardiac dysfunction in the perioperative period. A recent meta-analysis showed that desflurane and sevoflurane reduce postoperative mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction following cardiac surgery, with significant advantages in terms of postoperative cardiac troponin release, need for inotrope support, time on mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit and overall hospital stay. Multicentre, randomised clinical trials had previously demonstrated that the use of desflurane can reduce the postoperative release of cardiac troponin I, the need for inotropic support, and the number of patients requiring prolonged hospitalisation following coronary artery bypass graft surgery either with and without cardiopulmonary bypass. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines recommend volatile anaesthetic agents during non-cardiac surgery for the maintenance of general anaesthesia in patients at dsk for myocardial infarction. Nonetheless, evidence in non-coronary surgical settings is contradictory and will be reviewed in this paper together with the mechanisms of cardiac protection by volatile agents
Addition of clonidine to epidural morphine enhances postoperative analgesia after cesarean delivery
No full textBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The randomized, double-blind, dose-response study was designed to evaluate the effects of the addition of clonidine to epidural morphine on postoperative analgesia and side effects in patients undergoing cesarean delivery.METHODS: Sixty patients, undergoing cesarean delivery under epidural anesthesia, were randomly divided in three equal groups to receive, at the end of surgery, an epidural analgesic mixture consisting of 10 mL solution containing 2 mg of morphine diluted with 0.125% bupivacaine plus 1:800,000 epinephrine and 0, 75, or 150 micrograms of clonidine. Duration of analgesia was assessed as the pain-free interval between the end of surgery and patient's first analgesic request. The analgesic mixture was repeated, on patient's request, to 36 hours after the operation. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and side effects were noted. The total amount of morphine and clonidine delivered was also noted.RESULTS: The addition of clonidine (0, 75, or 150 micrograms) to morphine significantly increased the duration of postoperative analgesia (P < .0001) (6.27 versus 13.25 and versus 21.55 hours) and reduced the mean total dose of morphine (9.40 mg versus 5.0 mg versus 3.60 mg) (P < .0001). No significant differences in side effects were noted.CONCLUSIONS: A low dose of clonidine such as 75 micrograms doubled the duration of analgesia produced by 2 mg of morphine and a dose of 150 micrograms further increased the duration of postoperative complete analgesia without increasing the incidence of side effects. The morphine requirements during the postoperative period (36 hours) was greatly reduced by the addition of clonidine to the analgesic epidural mixture
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