Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Mar 2024
Case ReportsA Case of Abnormal Right Ventricular Color-Flow Doppler Jet.
Transthoracic echocardiography is used routinely during the follow-up after heart transplant surgery to screen possible complications and adverse events such as rejection. It often results in incidental findings that bring diagnostic challenges for sonographers. This E-challenge shows a Doppler flow abnormality associated with a rare cardiovascular diagnosis. Its physiopathology and its association with echocardiography findings are reviewed.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Mar 2024
Cardiac Tamponade Complicating Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry Analysis.
Cardiac tamponade is a potentially life-threatening complication during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In this study, the authors assessed the incidence, patient characteristics, and risk factors for mortality of cardiac tamponade during ECMO. ⋯ Cardiac tamponade is a rare complication during ECMO that, despite being potentially reversible, is associated with high hospital mortality. Venoarterial ECMO is the most common configuration. ECMO for pulmonary support was associated with higher survival, and ECPR was associated with higher mortality. In these patients, other ECMO-related complications were frequently reported and associated with hospital mortality.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Mar 2024
A Multidisciplinary Protocolized Approach for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Management: A Retrospective Before-After Study.
To investigate whether implementation of a multidisciplinary protocol for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) management reduces rates of adverse complications. ⋯ Implementation of a multidisciplinary protocol for the management of a rAAA may reduce rates of adverse complications and improve the quality of care.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Mar 2024
Beating Heart Transplants-Overview and Implications for Anesthesiologists.
As the demand for heart allografts for transplantation continues to rise, ex vivo organ perfusion strategies are playing an increasingly important role in the preservation of organs from donation after circulatory death and extended-criteria donors. One such method uses the Organ Care System (TransMedics, Andover, MA). ⋯ In a novel surgical technique pioneered at the authors' institution, heart allograft implantation no longer requires a second cardioplegic arrest. This article discusses the surgical approach for this procedure, the advantages and disadvantages of this approach, and analogs to current clinical practice to theorize what impact this may have on cardiac transplantation volumes in the future.