Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2022
ReviewInhalational or total intravenous anesthetic for cardiac surgery: does the debate even exist?
Perioperative myocardial injury related to cardiac surgery is associated with organ dysfunction and increased mortality. Volatile anesthetics (VA) have been used during cardiac surgery for decades because of their direct and indirect preconditioning and protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. The current review provides a summary of the latest literature comparing pharmacological preconditioning and the potential benefits of using VA versus total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) for general anesthesia to improve outcomes after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Research findings regarding the use of volatile anesthetic versus TIVA for better outcomes after cardiac surgery are inconsistent. Variability in timing, duration, dosing, and type of VA as well as surgical and patient-related factors may have influenced these results. Therefore, either technique can reasonably be adopted depending on provider and institutional preference and used safely in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2022
ReviewCoronavirus disease 2019 and cardiovascular diseases: collateral damage?
Cardiovascular involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is relatively common and portends an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Manifestations of myocardial injury may exhibit significant overlap and result in diagnostic uncertainty. This review will summarize recent literature around cardiovascular complications of COVID-19. ⋯ Various forms of COVID-19-related myocardial injury have been associated with increased utilization of mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic deterioration, and mortality. Manifestations of myocardial injury in COVID-19 are varied, but share common drivers of illness including sequelae of sepsis, immune-mediated factors, and a prothrombotic state. Understanding the forms of myocardial injury in COVID-19 may aid in rapid diagnosis and treatment.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2022
ReviewPreoperative evaluation of geriatric patients undergoing liver transplantation.
As the population of the world is aging the number of geriatric patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) is also increasing. They pose a unique challenge for the caregivers, as they have age-related physiological changes, multiple comorbidities and cirrhosis-related pathologies. ⋯ Proportion of elderly patients who are undergoing LT continues to increase. These patients require comprehensive cardiopulmonary and frailty evaluation. Consensus-based practice advisories need to be developed to standardize preoperative evaluation of geriatric patients awaiting LT.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2022
ReviewCritically appraising the 2018 United Network for Organ Sharing donor allocation policy: adding life boats or rearranging the deck chairs?
Due to the growing mismatch between donor supply and demand as well as unacceptably high transplant waitlist mortality, the heart organ allocation system was revised in October 2018. This review gives an overview of the changes in the new heart organ allocation system and its impact on heart transplant practice and outcomes in the United States. ⋯ The new United Network for Organ Sharing allocation policy confers significant advantages over the prior algorithm, allowing for decreased waitlist times and improved waitlist mortality without major impact on posttransplant survival.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2022
ReviewMechanical circulatory support devices in geriatric patients: more than just age.
The use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, such as left ventricular assist device and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the elderly have been rapidly increasing in various clinical settings over the past two decades. This review briefly summarizes recent literature on the role and outcomes of such mechanical circulatory support devices use in the elderly. ⋯ MCS device use continue to rise in the elderly population. Meticulously selected elderly patients could be successfully supported with MCS devices with favorable outcomes and acceptable mortality and complication rate.