Cardiac anaesthesia

This chapter discusses the anaesthetic management of cardiac surgery. It begins with preoperative considerations, risk scoring for cardiac surgery, transoesophageal echocardiography and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Surgical procedures covered include coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (including emergency and redo CABG); valve replacements and thoracic aortic surgery. Intraaortic balloon pumps and pulmonary hypertension are also covered.

The effect of ultra-fast track cardiac anaesthesia in infants and toddlers: a randomised trial

Background: The usefulness of ultra-fast track cardiac anaesthesia may give great benefits to patients; however, its usefulness has not been completely evaluated in infants and toddlers, who are generally considered the most difficult group for ultra-fast track cardiac anaesthesia. Method: A total of 130 children were allocated randomly into to a ultra-fast track cardiac anaesthesia group (Group D) or a conventional anaesthesia group (Group C) (each n = 65). In Group D, dexmedetomidine was administrated at a dosage of 1 µg/kg/hour after induction. The patient- controlled intravenous analgesia was dexmedetomidine and sufentanil. In Group C, patients were infused with of the same volume of normal saline, and sufentanil alone for patient-controlled intravenous analgesia. The dosages of sufentanil, extubation time, haemodynamic parameters, postoperative hospitalisation conditions, pain and sedation scores, blood gas analysis, and inotropic scores were all recorded. Results: The dosage of sufentanil (1.49 ± 0.05 vs. 3.81 ± 0.04 µg, p < 0.001) and extubation time (2.63 ± 0.52 vs. 436.60 ± 22.19 minutes, p < 0.001) in Group D were all significantly lower than those in Group C. Moreover, cardiac intensive care unit stay time, total hospital stay, hospitalisation costs, postoperative lactate levels, and inotropic scores were also significantly lower in Group D. Conclusions: Using of ultra-fast track cardiac anaesthesia in infants and toddlers is effective, it not only reduce the perioperative requirement for opioids and shorten the extubation time but also decreases the inotrope requirement and provide a better postoperative condition for young children.

Newer Volatile Anesthetic Agents in Cardiac Anesthesia: Review of Literature

Myocardial protection with volatile anesthetic agents have been suggested by multiple studies. These studies, however, are scattered and are often limited to a particular aspect of cardiac anesthesia. Older inhalational agents like halothane is known to cause significant hepatic damage in patients undergoing long duration surgeries while isoflurane is known to have marked vasodilating properties that also affects the coronary arteries leading to coronary “steal” phenomenon. Additionally, newer agents, like sevoflurane and desflurane, have shown more prominent cardioprotective effects than older agents. We searched ScholarOne, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library. The medical subject headings (MeSH) terms “anaesthesia, inhalational,” “anaesthesia, intravenous, or TIVA,” and “Cardiac anaesthesia or Cardiac Surgery” were used. Additional studies were identified by review of the reference sections of all eligible studies. The aim of this review article is to bring together the evidences with newer inhalational agents and provide a holistic view of their benefits and shortcomings in cardiac anesthesia.

Fast-track cardiac anaesthesia and early extubation

‘Fast-track’ cardiac anaesthesia and recovery is the term given to a multicomponent intervention during cardiac surgery and postoperatively, with the ultimate goal of early extubation (within 1–6 hours) in order to reduce duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and overall resource utilization. Key components of fast-track cardiac care include balanced anaesthesia (low-dose opioids together with inhaled or intravenous anaesthetics) and a time-directed extubation protocol. Fast-track cardiac care requires an interdisciplinary approach to anaesthesia during surgery, as well as a coordinated approach after surgery, in order to achieve early extubation and an overall streamlined approach to recovery and hospital discharge.