Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Sep 2019
ReviewUltrasound Imaging for Diaphragm Dysfunction: A Narrative Literature Review.
Of the various muscles that make up the respiratory system, the diaphragm is the prima donna. In the past, only specialist research centers were able to estimate and challenge the effort of this muscle; this was achieved by measuring transdiaphragmatic pressure-an invasive technique involving a double-balloon probe inserted through the esophagus-or by measuring twitch pressure (ie, the pressure generated at the outside tip of the endotracheal tube). However, the prevalence of diaphragm dysfunction in critically ill patients requiring intubation can exceed 60% (at the time of hospital admission) and may rise to as high as 80% in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation and experiencing difficult weaning. ⋯ Furthermore, US enables the course of diaphragmatic function to be followed on a day-to-day basis, from intensive care admission to discharge, and it can help us understand the different causes of underlying disease: trauma, infection (eg, sepsis-induced diaphragm dysfunction), cancer, weaning problems (eg, ventilation-induced diaphragm dysfunction), etc. Today, the assessment of diaphragm dysfunction with US provides an important first step toward improving the detection of diaphragm dysfunction and as a protective and supportive strategy for its management. The purposes of this review are as follows: (1) to explore which US method is best for evaluating diaphragm function in the intensive care unit and how and when it should be used, and (2) to discuss which diseases may involve the diaphragm, and what therapies should be used.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Sep 2019
ReviewMyasthenia Gravis and Thymoma Surgery: A Clinical Update for the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterized by skeletal muscle weakness. Patients with MG who have thymoma and thymic hyperplasia have indications for thymectomy. ⋯ If NMBs are used, sugammadex appears to be the drug of choice to restore adequately the neuromuscular transmission. In patients with postoperative myasthenic crisis, plasma exchange or intravenous immune globulin and mechanical support is recommended.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Sep 2019
Observational StudyIncorporating Perioperative Point-of-Care Ultrasound as Part of the Anesthesia Residency Curriculum.
The purposes of this study were to establish whether implementing a curriculum of perioperative point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the heart and lungs for current in-training anesthesia residents during their required month of cardiac anesthesia was feasible and whether an evaluation tool would demonstrate improvement in the residents' baseline knowledge of POCUS. ⋯ This study demonstrates that integrating a curriculum dedicated to perioperative POCUS of the heart and lungs as part of the goals and objectives during the rotation of cardiac anesthesia is feasible and that anesthesia residents who received the training proposed by the authors improved their cognitive and technical skills.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Sep 2019
Comparative Study Observational StudyGrading Aortic Valve Stenosis With Dimensionless Index During Pre-cardiopulmonary Bypass Transesophageal Echocardiography: A Comparison With Transthoracic Echocardiography.
The authors hypothesized that grading valvular aortic stenosis (AS) with dimensionless index (DI) during intraoperative pre-cardiopulmonary bypass (pre-CPB) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) would match the grade of AS during preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the same patients more often than when using peak velocity (Vp), mean pressure gradient (PGm), or aortic valve area (AVA). ⋯ The authors could not demonstrate that DI was better than Vp, PGm, or AVA at matching AS grades between intraoperative pre-CPB TEE and preoperative TTE. When DI was used, pre-CPB TEE was more likely to overestimate than underestimate the severity of AS compared with TTE. However, when Vp or PGm was used, pre-CPB TEE was more likely to underestimate the severity of AS compared with TTE. A comprehensive approach without overemphasis on 1 parameter should be used for AS assessment by intraoperative TEE.