Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
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Acute kidney injury is a prevalent but underdiagnosed complication that is associated with increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality. The importance of this complication is being increasingly recognized. The lack of timely diagnostic methods and effective preemptive and therapeutic strategies make its perioperative management challenging. ⋯ Previous studies demonstrated improved patients' outcome following remote ischemic preconditioning in high-risk patients. Other studies reached an opposite result. To date, renal replacement therapy is the "gold standard" for the treatment of severe acute kidney injury, although the ideal timing, technique, and application of this therapy remain under debate.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Sep 2017
ReviewImpact of volume status and volume therapy on the kidney.
Volume resuscitation to correct hypotension in surgical and critically ill patients is a common practice. Available evidence suggests that iatrogenic volume overload is associated with worse outcomes in established acute kidney injury. Intraoperative arterial hypotension is associated with postoperative renal dysfunction, and prompt correction with fluid management protocols that combine inotrope infusions with volume therapy targeted to indices of volume responsiveness should be considered. ⋯ Available evidence and expert opinion suggest that balanced crystalloid solutions are preferable to isotonic saline for volume resuscitation. Moreover, albumin has a similar safety profile as crystalloids. Hetastarch-containing colloids have a clear association with acute kidney injury.
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End-stage heart failure manifests as severe and often relentless symptoms that define the clinical syndrome of heart failure, namely congestion and hypoperfusion. These patients suffer from dyspnea, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and ultimately cardiac cachexia. Renal and hepatic dysfunction frequently further complicates the process. ⋯ Among appropriate candidates, advanced therapies such as orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) can significantly extend survival and improve the quality of life. Left ventricular assist devices have been used with increasing frequency as a bridge to OHT or as a destination therapy in appropriately selected candidates where they have a demonstrable mortality benefit over medical therapy. Importantly, a multidisciplinary patient-centered approach is crucial when considering these advanced therapies.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2017
ReviewAnesthetic management of the patient with extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support.
The use of short-term mechanical circulatory support in the form of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in adult patients has increased over the last decade. Cardiothoracic anesthesiologists may care for these patients during ECMO placement and for procedures while ECMO support is in place. An understanding of ECMO capabilities, indications, and complications is essential to the anesthesiologist caring for these patients. Below we review the anesthetic considerations for the implantation of ECMO and concerns when caring for patients on ECMO.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2017
ReviewAnesthetic management of the patient undergoing heart transplantation.
Cardiac transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage heart failure. Over the years, significant advances in patient selection, donor optimization and selection, and optimization of immunosuppression strategies have markedly improved outcomes. In this review, we highlight patient selection, donor management and procurement, heart transplantation procedure, and intraoperative and postoperative management of heart transplants.