Abstracts from the #2 Heart Surgery Forum Meeting: Challenges and Solutions in Modern Cardiac Surgery

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Mark M. Levinson

Heart Surgery Forum meeting: Challenges and Solutions in Modern Cardiac Surgery held in Split, Croatia.

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Cheng ◽  
Changqing Gao

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common complications after cardiac surgery. Many studies have reported an incidence of 20%-40% in patients undergoing open heart surgery, and the peak incidence usually occurs between the postoperative days [Fuller 1989; Aranki 1996; Svedjeholm 2000; Maisel 2001]. AF is commonly self-limited and rarely results in postoperative death. However, postoperative AF (POAF) is often associated with complications, including stroke, heart failure, prolonged hospital stay, and increased costs [Maisel 2001; Bramer 2010]. Many pharmacological methods have been used to prevent this complication, and beta-blockers, which have been investigated in several studies, have demonstrated effectiveness [Ali 1997; Connolly 2003; Crystal 2004; Halonen 2006; Imren 2007]. There is currently a consensus in the use of beta-blockers for the prevention of POAF. However, whether the effect of beta-blockers on POAF is dose dependent has not been widely studied [Coleman 2004; Lucio 2004]. In addition, patients with different racial backgrounds have a different response to metoprolol based on body shape. In addition, the CYP2D6 genotypes are different among white and Asian patients. In this study dose-dependent prophylactic effects of beta-blockers, which were obtained in a single center.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Canturk Cakalagaoglu ◽  
Cengiz Koksal ◽  
Ayse Baysal ◽  
Gokhan Alici ◽  
Birol Ozkan ◽  
...  

<p><b>Aim:</b> The goal was to determine the effectiveness of the posterior pericardiotomy technique in preventing the development of early and late pericardial effusions (PEs) and to determine the role of anxiety level for the detection of late pericardial tamponade (PT).</p><p><b>Materials and Methods:</b> We divided 100 patients randomly into 2 groups, the posterior pericardiotomy group (n = 50) and the control group (n = 50). All patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG), valvular heart surgery, or combined valvular and CABG surgeries were included. The posterior pericardiotomy technique was performed in the first group of 50 patients. Evaluations completed preoperatively, postoperatively on day 1, before discharge, and on postoperative days 5 and 30 included electrocardiographic study, chest radiography, echocardiographic study, and evaluation of the patient's anxiety level. Postoperative causes of morbidity and durations of intensive care unit and hospital stays were recorded.</p><p><b>Results:</b> The 2 groups were not significantly different with respect to demographic and operative data (<i>P</i> > .05). Echocardiography evaluations revealed no significant differences between the groups preoperatively; however, before discharge the control group had a significantly higher number of patients with moderate, large, and very large PEs compared with the pericardiotomy group (<i>P</i> < .01). There were 6 cases of late PT in the control group, whereas there were none in the pericardiotomy group (<i>P</i> < .05). Before discharge and on postoperative day 15, the patients in the pericardiotomy group showed significant improvement in anxiety levels (<i>P</i> = .03 and .004, respectively). No differences in postoperative complications were observed between the 2 groups.</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> Pericardiotomy is a simple, safe, and effective method for reducing the incidence of PE and late PT after cardiac surgery. It also has the potential to provide a better quality of life.</p>


Author(s):  
Lauren R. Kennedy-Metz ◽  
Roger D. Dias ◽  
Rithy Srey ◽  
Geoffrey C. Rance ◽  
Heather M. Conboy ◽  
...  

Objective This novel preliminary study sought to capture dynamic changes in heart rate variability (HRV) as a proxy for cognitive workload among perfusionists while operating the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) pump during real-life cardiac surgery. Background Estimations of operators’ cognitive workload states in naturalistic settings have been derived using noninvasive psychophysiological measures. Effective CPB pump operation by perfusionists is critical in maintaining the patient’s homeostasis during open-heart surgery. Investigation into dynamic cognitive workload fluctuations, and their relationship with performance, is lacking in the literature. Method HRV and self-reported cognitive workload were collected from three Board-certified cardiac perfusionists ( N = 23 cases). Five HRV components were analyzed in consecutive nonoverlapping 1-min windows from skin incision through sternal closure. Cases were annotated according to predetermined phases: prebypass, three phases during bypass, and postbypass. Values from all 1min time windows within each phase were averaged. Results Cognitive workload was at its highest during the time between initiating bypass and clamping the aorta (preclamp phase during bypass), and decreased over the course of the bypass period. Conclusion We identified dynamic, temporal fluctuations in HRV among perfusionists during cardiac surgery corresponding to subjective reports of cognitive workload. Not only does cognitive workload differ for perfusionists during bypass compared with pre- and postbypass phases, but differences in HRV were also detected within the three bypass phases. Application These preliminary findings suggest the preclamp phase of CPB pump interaction corresponds to higher cognitive workload, which may point to an area warranting further exploration using passive measurement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-70
Author(s):  
Amir H Sadeghi ◽  
Wouter Bakhuis ◽  
Frank Van Schaagen ◽  
Frans B S Oei ◽  
Jos A Bekkers ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Increased complexity in cardiac surgery over the last decades necessitates more precise preoperative planning to minimize operating time, to limit the risk of complications during surgery and to aim for the best possible patient outcome. Novel, more realistic, and more immersive techniques, such as three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) could potentially contribute to the preoperative planning phase. This study shows our initial experience on the implementation of immersive VR technology as a complementary research-based imaging tool for preoperative planning in cardiothoracic surgery. In addition, essentials to set up and implement a VR platform are described. Methods Six patients who underwent cardiac surgery at the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between March 2020 and August 2020, were included, based on request by the surgeon and availability of computed tomography images. After 3D VR rendering and 3D segmentation of specific structures, the reconstruction was analysed via a head mount display. All participating surgeons (n = 5) filled out a questionnaire to evaluate the use of VR as preoperative planning tool for surgery. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that immersive 3D VR visualization of anatomy might be beneficial as a supplementary preoperative planning tool for cardiothoracic surgery, and further research on this topic may be considered to implement this innovative tool in daily clinical practice. Lay summary Over the past decades, surgery on the heart and vessels is becoming more and more complex, necessitating more precise and accurate preoperative planning. Nowadays, operative planning is feasible on flat, two-dimensional computer screens, however, requiring a lot of spatial and three-dimensional (3D) thinking of the surgeon. Since immersive 3D virtual reality (VR) is an upcoming imaging technique with promising results in other fields of surgery, we aimed in this study to explore the additional value of this technique in heart surgery. Our surgeons planned six different heart operations by visualizing computed tomography scans with a dedicated VR headset, enabling them to visualize the patient’s anatomy in an immersive and 3D environment. The outcomes of this preliminary study are positive, with a much more reality-like simulation for the surgeon. In such, VR could potentially be beneficial as a preoperative planning tool for complex heart surgery.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Aditi Sinha ◽  
Alexander Geragotellis ◽  
Guntaj Kaur Singh ◽  
Devika Verma ◽  
Daniyal Matin Ansari ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Vocal cord palsy is one of the recognised complications of complex cardiac surgery in the paediatric population. While there is an abundance of literature highlighting the presence of this complication, there is a scarcity of research focusing on the pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options available for children affected by vocal cord palsy. Materials and methods: Electronic searches were conducted using the search terms: “Vocal Cord Palsy,” “VCP,” “Vocal Cord Injury,” “Paediatric Heart Surgery,” “Congenital Heart Surgery,” “Pediatric Heart Surgery,” “Vocal Fold Movement Impairment,” “VFMI,” “Vocal Fold Palsy,” “PDA Ligation.” The inclusion criteria were any articles discussing the outcomes of vocal cord palsy following paediatric cardiac surgery. Results: The two main populations affected by vocal cord palsy are children undergoing aortic arch surgery or those undergoing PDA ligation. There is paucity of prospective follow-up studies; it is therefore difficult to reliably assess the current approaches and the long-term implications of management options. Conclusion: Vocal cord palsy can be a devastating complication following cardiac surgery, which if left untreated, could potentially result in debilitation of quality of life and in severe circumstances could even lead to death. Currently, there is not enough high-quality evidence in the literature to aid recognition, diagnosis, and management leaving clinicians to extrapolate evidence from adult studies to make clinical judgements. Future research with a focus on the paediatric perspective is necessary in providing evidence for good standards of care.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1979
Author(s):  
Frank R. Halfwerk ◽  
Jeroen H. L. van Haaren ◽  
Randy Klaassen ◽  
Robby W. van Delden ◽  
Peter H. Veltink ◽  
...  

Cardiac surgery patients infrequently mobilize during their hospital stay. It is unclear for patients why mobilization is important, and exact progress of mobilization activities is not available. The aim of this study was to select and evaluate accelerometers for objective qualification of in-hospital mobilization after cardiac surgery. Six static and dynamic patient activities were defined to measure patient mobilization during the postoperative hospital stay. Device requirements were formulated, and the available devices reviewed. A triaxial accelerometer (AX3, Axivity) was selected for a clinical pilot in a heart surgery ward and placed on both the upper arm and upper leg. An artificial neural network algorithm was applied to classify lying in bed, sitting in a chair, standing, walking, cycling on an exercise bike, and walking the stairs. The primary endpoint was the daily amount of each activity performed between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. The secondary endpoints were length of intensive care unit stay and surgical ward stay. A subgroup analysis for male and female patients was planned. In total, 29 patients were classified after cardiac surgery with an intensive care unit stay of 1 (1 to 2) night and surgical ward stay of 5 (3 to 6) nights. Patients spent 41 (20 to 62) min less time in bed for each consecutive hospital day, as determined by a mixed-model analysis (p < 0.001). Standing, walking, and walking the stairs increased during the hospital stay. No differences between men (n = 22) and women (n = 7) were observed for all endpoints in this study. The approach presented in this study is applicable for measuring all six activities and for monitoring postoperative recovery of cardiac surgery patients. A next step is to provide feedback to patients and healthcare professionals, to speed up recovery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Rizza ◽  
F Maranta ◽  
L Cianfanelli ◽  
R Grippo ◽  
C Meloni ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common arrhythmic complication following cardiac surgery. It may occur between the second and fourth postoperative days as acute POAF, or within 30 days as subacute POAF (sPOAF). The incidence varies from 15% to 60%, with the highest rates observed in patients undergoing valvular surgery. POAF is associated with longer hospital stay and higher thromboembolic risk, which consistently increase patients’ morbidity and mortality. Identification of high-risk categories may allow optimization of in-hospital prevention and treatment, possibly improving clinical outcomes. Aim of the study. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of sPOAF and to identify possible predictors in patients performing Cardiovascular Rehabilitation (CR) after Cardiac Surgery (CS). Methods. A single-centre retrospective study was performed on 383 post-cardiac surgery patients hospitalised in our CR Unit for inpatient rehabilitation. The entire population was on sinus rhythm at the admission in CR and continuous monitoring with 12-lead ECG telemetry was performed during the hospital stay. We calculated the incidence of sPOAF and then evaluated the predictive value of the following variables: anamnestic data, type of cardiac intervention, clinical course in both CS and CR Unit, laboratory parameters including baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Results. Median age was 65 years (63% male). sPOAF was documented in 122 cases (31.9%). Patients developing sPOAF were older [median age 69 (63-76) vs. 61 (51-70); p &lt; 0.001)], more frequently underwent complex surgical procedures (50% vs. 36%; p = 0.009) and were known for previous episodes of atrial fibrillation (27.9% vs. 11.2%; p &lt; 0.001). On the first day after surgery (T1), sPOAF group showed higher values of glycemia [median 155 (126.5–186.8) vs. 129 (106.5–164); p &lt; 0.001] and troponin T [median 721.5 (470.1–1084.3) vs. 488 (301.6-776.2); p &lt; 0.001]. The multivariate analysis identified advanced age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08; p = 0.023), acute POAF in the Cardiac Surgery Unit (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62-7.59; p = 0.001), baseline NLR (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.10-1.93; p = 0.008) and T1-troponin &gt; 552 ng/L (OR 4.16 95% CI 1.50-11.53; p = 0.006) as independent risk predictors of sPOAF during the CR period. Conclusions. sPOAF is common after cardiac surgery occurring in 31.9% of patients during CR. Age, acute POAF, baseline NLR and elevated troponin T on the first postoperative day were shown predictors of increased sPOAF risk. Recognition of new predictors of POAF could be helpful to better stratify patients, improving management strategies and outcomes.


Author(s):  
Kim Anh La ◽  
Camille Jutras ◽  
George Gerardis ◽  
Rachel Richard ◽  
Geneviève Du Pont-Thibodeau

AbstractThe postoperative course of infants following congenital heart surgery is associated with significant blood loss and anemia. Optimal transfusion thresholds for cardiac surgery patients while in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) remain a subject of debate. The goal of this study is to describe the epidemiology of anemia and the transfusion practices during the PICU stay of infants undergoing congenital heart surgery. A retrospective cohort study was performed in a PICU of a tertiary university-affiliated center. Infants undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CDH) before 6 weeks of age between February 2013 and June 2019 and who were subsequently admitted to the PICU were included. We identified 119 eligible patients. Mean age at surgery was 11 ± 7 days. Most common cardiac diagnoses were d-Transposition of the Great Arteries (55%), coarctation of the aorta (12.6%), and tetralogy of Fallot (11.8%). Mean hemoglobin level was 14.3 g/dL prior to surgery versus 12.1 g/dL at the PICU admission. Hemoglobin prior to surgery was systematically higher than hemoglobin at the PICU entry, except in infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The average hemoglobin at PICU discharge was 11.7 ± 1.9 g/dL. Thirty-three (27.7%) patients were anemic at PICU discharge. Fifty-eight percent of patients received at least one red blood cell (RBC) transfusion during PICU stay. This study is the first to describe the epidemiology of anemia at PICU discharge in infants following cardiac surgery. Blood management of this distinctive and vulnerable population requires further investigation as anemia is a known risk factor for adverse neurodevelopment delays in otherwise healthy young children.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Cocomello ◽  
Massimo Caputo ◽  
Rosie Cornish ◽  
Deborah A. Lawlor

ABSTRACTObjectiveRisk stratification in paediatric patients undergoing heart surgery remains a challenge. The improving partial risk adjustment in surgery (PRAIS2) is a risk model predicting 30-day mortality which has been recently developed and validated using a UK-based cohort from April 2009-March 2015. We aimed to perform an independent temporal external validation to explore its generalisability and clinical utility.MethodsPRAIS2 validation was carried out using a single centre (Bristol, UK) cohort from April 2004 to March 2009 and April 2015 to July 2019. For each subject PRAIS2 score was calculated according to the original formula. PRAIS2 performance was assessed in terms of discrimination by means of ROC curve analysis and calibration by using the calibration belt method.ResultsA total of 1330 (2004-2009) and 1187 (2015-2019) paediatric cardiac surgical procedures were included in the first and second independent validation, respectively (median age at the procedure 6.0 and 6.9 months). PRAIS2 score showed excellent discrimination for both independent validations (AUC 0.72 (95%CI: 0.65 to 0.80) and 0.87 (95%CI: 0.82 to 0.93), respectively). While PRAIS2 was only marginally calibrated in the first validation, with a tendency to underestimate risk P-value = 0.051), the second validation showed good calibration with 95% confidence belt containing the bisector for predicted mortality (P-value = 0.15); We also observed good performance in the subgroup of patients undergoing non-elective procedures (N = 482; AUC 0.78 (95%CI 0.68 to 0.87); Calibration belt containing the bisector (P-value=0.61).ConclusionsIn a single centre UK-based cohort, PRAIS2 showed excellent discrimination and calibration in predicting 30-day mortality in paediatric cardiac surgery including in those undergoing non-elective procedures. Our results support a wider adoption of PRAIS2 score in the clinical practice.Strengths and limitations of this studyA strength of the present study is that data were prospectively collected as part of the UK National Congenital Heart Disease Audit and as such they undergo continuous and inclusive systematic validation that includes the review of a sample of case notes by external auditors to ensure coding accuracy.We used a recently proposed method (calibration belt) which does not require patients to be categorised according to risk percentile but rather provides a risk function across all risk value with relative uncertainty measure (95% CI)A key limitation of this study is that the sample size is relatively small and considerably smaller than the cohort used to develop PRAIS2Key questionsWhat is already known about this subject? The improving partial risk adjustment in surgery (PRAIS2) is a risk model predicting 30-day mortality which has been recently developed and validated using a UK-wide cohort.What does this study add? The present study reported the first independent external validation of the PRAIS2 using a single centre cohort which confirmed excellent performance of the model and for the first time showed that it also accurately predicts mortality in patients undergoing non-elective proceduresHow might this impact on clinical practice? Our results support a wider adoption of the PRAIS2 in the clinical practice.


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