Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Nov 2020
ReviewHandheld Point-of-Care Ultrasound Probes: The New Generation of POCUS.
Recent advances in ultrasound technology have made ultrasound equipment more versatile, portable, and accessible than ever. Modern handheld, ultra-portable ultrasound devices have been developed by multiple companies and are contributing to make bedside ultrasound evaluation a practice available to all physicians. ⋯ Among obstacles that have been identified as precluding achievement of the goal of widespread utilization of POCUS among anesthesia professionals and trainees, are the availability of equipment for all physicians when it is needed and lack of instructor supervision for trainees who desire to use ultrasound but do not always have an instructor knowledgeable in POCUS with them when an ultrasound examination is warranted. Herein, the characteristics, advantages, and limitations of available ultra-portable, handheld ultrasound devices are analyzed, with a focus on the Butterfly iQ (Butterfly Network, Inc, Guilford, CT) pocket probe, which is available at the authors' institution, and how some of its features, such as the capacity to emulate multiple transducers and its cloud-sharing and teleguidance technology, may contribute to increase the availability and use of POCUS by anesthesia clinicians.
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Nov 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Thoracic Muscle Plane Block on Postoperative Opioid Consumption After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study.
The postoperative analgesic efficacy of transversus thoracic muscle plane block (TTMPB) has not yet been evaluated sufficiently. This randomized controlled study evaluated the effect of TTMPB on postoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ A single preoperative TTMPB provided effective analgesia and decreased opioid requirements in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Nov 2020
ReviewLung Ultrasonography and Cardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review.
Pulmonary complications are common after cardiac surgery and are closely related to postoperative heart failure and adverse outcomes. Lung ultrasonography (LUS) is currently a widely accepted diagnostic approach with well-established methodology, nomenclature, accuracy, and prognostic value in numerous clinical conditions. The advantages of LUS are universally recognized and include bedside applicability, high diagnostic sensitivity and reproducibility, no radiation exposure, and low cost. ⋯ Furthermore, this review describes the methodology and the diagnostic and prognostic accuracies of LUS. A summary of ongoing clinical trials evaluating the clinical outcomes related to LUS also is provided. Finally, this review discusses the rationale for upcoming clinical research regarding whether routine use of LUS can modify current intensive care practice and potentially affect the clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery.
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Nov 2020
Multicenter StudyA Nomogram for Predicting Long Length of Stay in The Intensive Care Unit in Patients Undergoing CABG: Results From the Multicenter E-CABG Registry.
Many papers evaluated predictive factors for prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay after cardiac surgery, but efforts in translating those models in practical clinical tools is lacking. The aim of this study was to build a new nomogram score and test its calibration and discrimination power for predicting a long length of stay in the ICU among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). ⋯ The authors defined a nomogram model that can provide an individual prediction of long length of ICU stay in cardiovascular surgical patients undergoing CABG. This type of model would allow an early recognition of high-risk patients who might receive different preoperative and postoperative treatments to improve outcomes.