Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Anemia reduces the blood's ability to carry and deliver oxygen. Following cardiac surgery, anemia is very common and affects up to 90% of patients. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data examining the prognostic value of postoperative anemia. In this narrative review, we present findings from the relevant literature on postoperative anemia in cardiac surgery patients, focusing on the incidence, risk factors, and prognostic value of postoperative anemia. We also explore the potential utility of postoperative anemia as a therapeutic target to improve clinical outcomes. ⋯ In cardiac surgery patients, postoperative anemia is a common and prognostically important risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, there is a lack of data on whether active management of postoperative anemia is feasible or effective in improving patient outcomes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Modelling the potential increase in eligible participants in clinical trials with inclusion of community intensive care units patients in Alberta, Canada: a decision tree analysis.
Critical care research in Canada is conducted primarily in academically affiliated intensive care units (ICUs) with established research infrastructure. Efforts are made to engage community hospital ICUs in research, although the impacts of their inclusion in clinical research have never been explicitly quantified. We therefore sought to determine the number of additional eligible patients that could be recruited into critical care trials and the change in time to study completion if community ICUs were included in clinical research. ⋯ Inclusion of community ICU patients in critical care research trials has the potential to substantially increase enrolment and decrease time to trial completion.
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The aim of this project was to collect data on the delivery of anesthesia in Canada. Specifically, our goal was to increase knowledge by identifying provider demographics and different models of anesthesia delivery, and to explore relationships among specialist anesthesiologists (SAs) and family practice anesthetists (FPAs) with a focus on mentoring. ⋯ This survey shows perceived capacity to expand surgical services in rural areas, a precedent for a mixed SA-FPA model of anesthesia delivery at the same site, and desire for anesthesia providers to engage in mentoring. Such options should be considered to strengthen the physician-led anesthesiology profession in Canada.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of 5% albumin on endothelial glycocalyx degradation during off-pump coronary artery bypass.
The integrity of the endothelial glycocalyx (EG), a critical player in vascular homeostasis, reportedly influences the outcomes of critically ill patients. We investigated the effect of 5% albumin, which preserved EG integrity in preclinical studies, vs balanced crystalloid solution on EG degradation in patients undergoing off-pump coronary surgery. ⋯ Off-pump coronary surgery was associated with significant EG degradation. Yet, intraoperative fluid therapy with 5% albumin could not ameliorate EG degradation when compared with balanced crystalloid solution.
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It has been suggested that a larger heparin dose during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with reduced perioperative coagulopathy and thromboembolic complications. We investigated the effect of different heparin doses during routine elective cardiac surgery. Our primary outcomes include blood loss and transfusion and secondary outcomes investigate the effects on coagulation biomarkers. ⋯ This pilot study indicates that, while larger heparin dosing for routine cardiac surgery results in subtle biochemical changes in coagulation, there is no demonstrable benefit in postoperative blood loss or transfusion requirements.