Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2006
Comparative StudyDirect versus guidewire-assisted pediatric radial artery cannulation technique.
Radial artery cannulation is a more difficult procedure in pediatric patients. Direct technique commonly fails in these patients, and several techniques have been developed for successful arterial cannulation. The purpose of this study was to compare direct radial artery cannulation with guidewire-assisted cannulation in children undergoing cardiac or aortic surgery. The hypothesis was that the guidewire-assisted technique would lead to fewer attempts and provide better long-term blood pressure monitoring and blood sampling. ⋯ The authors recommend the use of a guidewire-assisted radial artery cannulation technique rather than a direct technique. The guidewire-assisted technique provided easy, safe, and quick cannulation and allowed for long-term satisfactory blood pressure monitoring and blood sampling because of the longer length of the Teflon catheter advanced into the artery over the guidewire, and a low rate of dissection of the radial artery.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2006
Postoperative white blood cell count predicts atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.
Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in as many as 50% of cardiac surgery patients and represents the most common postoperative rhythm complication. The cause of AF after cardiac surgery is incompletely understood, and its prevention remains suboptimal. Currently the role of inflammation and oxidative stress on electrical remodeling is under investigation, and recent studies have demonstrated that C-reactive protein levels are elevated in AF. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the postoperative white blood cell (WBC) count as a marker of inflammation and the development of postoperative AF after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Cardiac surgery is associated with an elevated postoperative WBC count that represents a common marker of inflammation. A more pronounced increase in postoperative WBC count independently predicts development of postoperative AF. These data provide additional evidence to support the association between the inflammatory response and postoperative AF.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2006
Clinical predictors for prolonged intensive care unit stay in adults undergoing thoracic aortic surgery requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.
The purpose of this study was to describe clinical predictors for prolonged length of stay in the intensive care unit (PLOS-ICU) after adult thoracic aortic surgery requiring standardized deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA); and to determine the incidence of PLOS-ICU after DHCA, univariate predictors for PLOS-ICU, and multivariate predictors for PLOS-ICU. ⋯ PLOS-ICU after DHCA is common. The identified multivariate predictors merit further hypothesis-driven research to enhance perioperative protection of the brain, kidney, and cardiovascular system.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2006
Cardiac output measurement during infrarenal aortic surgery: echo-esophageal Doppler versus thermodilution catheter.
Aortic surgery is associated with various hemodynamic and cardiac output modifications. These disorders may be partly caused by blood flow redistribution between supra-aortic and descending aorta regions during clamping and unclamping. A new echo-esophageal Doppler (Hemosonic 100; Arrow, Reading, PA) calculates cardiac output from a simultaneous measurement of blood flow velocity and diameter of the descending aorta. This calculation may be affected by blood redistribution during aortic clamping. The aim of this study was to compare cardiac output measured by echo-esophageal Doppler and by bolus thermodilution catheter during infrarenal aortic surgery. ⋯ Bias between both methods was clinically acceptable, and limits of agreement were not significantly modified by aortic clamping. However, larger studies including homogenous aortic pathologies are necessary to validate this method during infrarenal aortic surgery.
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Major vascular surgery such as aortic aneurysm repair may be associated with prolonged in-patient hospitalization. Certain patients undergo a tracheostomy to aid in weaning from mechanical ventilation or for secretion management. The authors hypothesized that tracheostomy after aortic reconstruction for aneurysmal disease was associated with poor outcomes. ⋯ Tracheostomy in patients after aortic reconstruction for aneurysmal disease is associated with a high incidence of in-hospital mortality. Patients who survive to ICU discharge are likely to be transferred to a CVDU for further respiratory management. The preoperative diagnosis of COPD is associated with improved survival, whereas postoperative sepsis is associated with an increased mortality. These observations should be considered when counseling patients and their families regarding tracheostomy after aortic surgery.