Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
ReviewProtamine-Induced Coronary Graft Thrombosis: A Review.
Perioperative myocardial infarction is a serious complication affecting a significant portion of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. This may arise due to coronary graft thrombosis, a rare but potentially fatal phenomenon associated with both congenital and acquired risk factors. Multiple case reports implicate the role of protamine in the development of such thromboses. ⋯ However, discussion of its potential contribution to coronary graft thrombosis and mechanisms by which this may occur is lacking. Furthermore, its narrow therapeutic index and side effect profile are such that its appropriateness as a universal reversal agent to heparin requires reconsideration. This article reviews the current body of evidence regarding the use of protamine in cardiac surgery and the limited case reports pertaining to its potential role in the pathophysiology of coronary graft thrombosis.
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
ReviewProne Positioning in Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Narrative Review.
Limited data are available on the use of the prone position in cardiac surgery. Concerns in performing this maneuver in open cardiac surgery due to the risk of post-sternotomy wound infections and hemodynamic instability do not seem to be supported by existing evidence. ⋯ As a result, whether prone positioning also may be effective in reducing mortality in patients with postoperative acute respiratory failure, particularly in those who underwent surgery under extracorporeal circulation, remains to be clearly elucidated. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of available literature, which seems to suggest the efficacy of prone positioning, and to make an in-depth analysis of the studies on this topic by evaluating the efficacy of this maneuver on hard endpoints.
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
ReviewSpontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Rediscovering an Old Cause of Myocardial Infarction.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an uncommon, but not insignificant cause of acute coronary syndrome that overwhelmingly affects middle-aged women. The pathophysiology of coronary dissection appears to be an outside-in mechanism, where the initiating event is not an intimal tear but rather the formation of an intramural hematoma, which compromises blood flow by reducing the arterial lumen. Considering this mechanism, it is clear to see how intracoronary imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound, are most accurate in the diagnosis. ⋯ Perioperative evaluation of these patients must take into account several aspects of this disease. Most of these patients will be receiving single or dual antiplatelet therapy, so one must consider the timing of the event and the surgical hemorrhagic risk when deciding to stop these therapies. Extracoronary vascular disease also must be assessed because it can have an effect on patient monitoring and risk of postoperative complications.
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
ReviewSelected 2021 Highlights in Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia.
This article is a review of the highlights of pertinent literature of interest to the congenital cardiac anesthesiologist and was published in 2021. After a search of the United States National Library of Medicine PubMed database, several topics emerged where significant contributions were made in 2021. The authors of this manuscript considered the following topics noteworthy to be included in this review: risk stratification in adult congenital heart disease surgery, physician burnout in pediatric cardiac anesthesia, transfusion practice in pediatric congenital heart surgery, and racial disparity and outcomes in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease.
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
Multicenter StudyAssociation Between Gabapentinoids and Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery.
Perioperative gabapentinoids in general surgery have been associated with an increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), while resulting in equivocal pain relief. This study's aim was to examine the utilization of gabapentinoids in thoracic surgery to determine the association of gabapentinoids with PPCs and perioperative opioid utilization. ⋯ Perioperative gabapentinoid administration in elective thoracic surgery may be associated with a higher risk of PPCs and no opioid-sparing effect.