Early outcome of surgical treatment of 20 cases of postinfartion ventricular septal rupture by extended sandwich patch technique via right ventricle approach

Objective: Different techniques have been described to repair post myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR), each method may result in residual shunting, bleeding, and post-operative mortality. The aim of this report is to describe early results of extended sandwich technique through right ventricle in 20 consecutive patients. Patients and Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study on 20 patients underwent surgery for myocardial infarction VSR by extended sandwich technique through right ventricle from 12/2018 to 3/2021 in Hanoi Heart Hospital. Result: 20 consecutive patients (10 women and 10 men) with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture (mean age 72 years, range 48-84) underwent surgical repair for by extended sandwich technique performed through right ventricle from December 2018 to August 2021 in our institute. Reconstruction of the septum was performed by two patches according to the method described by Asai et al. The mean aortic clamp time was 101. The mean extracorporeal circulation time was 143 min. Postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay averaged 4 days (range, 1-10 days). There was 30% hospital mortality. 10% postoperative residual shunting was detected, and no patient needed reoperation for bleeding. Conclusion: This method of extended sandwich technique through right ventricle was safe, simple, and it could be performed in acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Italian survey on non-intubated thoracic surgery: results from INFINITY group

Background Non-Intubated Thoracic Surgery (NITS) is becoming increasingly adopted all over the world. Although it is mainly used for pleural operations,, non-intubated parenchymal lung surgery has been less frequently reported. Recently, NITS utilization seems to be increased also in Italy, albeit there are no multi-center studies confirming this finding. The objective of this survey is to assess quantitatively and qualitatively the performance of NITS in Italy. Methods In 2018 a web-based national survey on Non-Intubated management including both thoracic surgeons and anesthesiologists was carried out. Reference centers have been asked to answer 32 questions. Replies were collected from June 26 to November 31, 2019. Results We raised feedbacks from 95% (55/58) of Italian centers. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents perform NITS but only 38% of them used this strategy for parenchymal surgery. These procedures are more frequently carried out in patients with severe comorbidities and/or with poor lung function. Several issues as obesity, previous non-invasive ventilation and/or oxygen therapy are considered contraindications to NITS. The regional anesthesia technique most used to provide intra- and postoperative analgesia was the paravertebral block (37%). Conversion to general anesthesia is not anecdotal (31% of answerers). More than half of the centers believed that NITS may reduce postoperative intensive care unit admissions. Approximately a quarter of the centers are conducting trials on NITS and, three quarters of the respondent suppose that the number of these procedures will increase in the future. Conclusions There is a growing interest in Italy for NITS and this survey provides a clear view of the national management framework of these procedures.

COMPARISON OF TRANS-RIGHT ATRIAL VERSUS COMBINED (TRANS-RIGHT ATRIAL, TRANS-RIGHT VENTRICULAR) APPROACH FOR INTRA-CARDIAC REPAIR OF TETRALOGY OF FALLOT: SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE

Background and Objective: We compared trans-right atrial (t-RA) versus combined (trans-right-atrial and trans-ventricular (t-RA/RV) approaches for intra-cardiac repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) for the pre-operative and post-operative right ventricular (RV) function. The RV function was calculated using a tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) using two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study. Fifty-three patients operated for the intra-cardiac repair of TOF between August 2019 and March 2021 were included in the study and divided into two groups based on the approach for repair as follows: t-RA or combined (t-RA/RV) approach. The first group (t-RA) had twenty-one patients, and the second group (combined t-RA/RV approach) had thirty-two patients. The assessment of pre-operative and post-operative RV function was done using TAPSE. Records of follow-up at 1 month and 3 months were evaluated. Results: Age, body surface area (BSA), preoperative saturation, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross?clamp time, postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and hospital stay were similar in both groups. However, t?RA/RV group had more pleural effusions (9 vs. 1 patients, P < 0.05), but had more improvements in Right Ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) gradients. There were no differences in arrhythmias in either group. Pre-operative TAPSE for both groups was similar (1.46 ± 0.27 vs. 1.61 ± 0.31, P > 0.05) and so was the post?operative TAPSE at discharge (1.54 ± 0.31 vs. 1.49 ± 0.33, P > 0.05), at 1 months (1.64 ± 0.25 vs. 1.48 ± 0.32, P > 0.05) and 3months (1.75 ± 0.19 vs. 1.7 ± 0.15, P > 0.05). Conclusion: Both approaches provide adequate palliation with effective improvements in RVOT gradients for patients with TOF. A limited right ventriculotomy does not adversely affect early RV function or increase the incidence of arrhythmias at the immediate post-operative period and early follow-up. More extensive studies with prospective randomized design and longer follow-ups are needed to address these issues further. Keywords: Tetralogy of Fallot, transatrial approach, intracardiac repair.

Clinical Outcomes and Cost of Ventilator Weaning and Endotracheal Extubation Guided by An Established Ventilator Weaning Protocol in Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Surgery

Objective: To compare successful early extubation rates, complications, and cost before and after the use of anestablished ventilator weaning protocol in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.Materials and Methods: Subjects were adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery who were clinically stablewithin 2 hours after surgery. The control group underwent conventional ventilator weaning at the discretion of theirattending staff. The intervention group underwent protocol-guided ventilator weaning. The primary outcome wasa successful early extubation (within 6 hours after surgery). Secondary outcomes were complications from weaningto 24 hours after surgery, and the relevant cost related to respiratory and cardiovascular care within 24 hours afteradmission to the postoperative intensive care unit.Results: The primary outcome occurred in 37 out of 65 patients (56.9%) in the intervention group and in 5 out of65 patients (7.7%) in the control group (adjusted odds ratio 20.6; 95% confidence interval 6.7–62.9, p<0.001). Thecomplication rates were not statistically different between the intervention and control groups (26.2% vs. 20.0%,p=0.41). The relevant cost, approximated by the service charges, related to respiratory and cardiovascular care wassignificantly less in the intervention group than in the control group (median 2,491 vs. 2,711 Thai baht, p<0.001).Conclusion: The use of the established ventilator weaning protocol after elective cardiac surgery was associated witha higher rate of successful early extubation and lower cost related to respiratory and cardiovascular care comparedto the conventional practices of ventilator weaning and extubation. The rates of overall complications were notsignificantly different.

The need for nutritional assessment and interventions based on the prognostic nutritional index for patients with femoral fractures: a retrospective study

Background The incidence of adverse perioperative outcomes in surgery for femoral fractures is high and associated with malnutrition. Here, we identified independent factors and assessed the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) for perioperative adverse outcomes in patients with femoral fractures. Methods This retrospective study included 343 patients who underwent surgery for a single femur fracture. Demographic characteristics, surgery and anaesthesia records and blood test results at admission, 1 day postoperatively and before discharge were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. The discriminatory ability of the independent factors was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and DeLong’s test was used to compare the area under the curve (AUC). Results Overall, 159 patients (46.4%) experienced adverse perioperative outcomes. Amongst these, 123 (35.9%) had lower limb vein thrombus, 68 (19.8%) had hospital-acquired pneumonia, 6 (1.7%) were transferred to the postoperative intensive care unit, 4 (1.2%) had pulmonary embolism, 3 (0.9%) died during hospitalisation and 9 (2.6%) had other adverse outcomes, including incision disunion, renal and liver function impairment, acute heart failure, acute cerebral infarction and stress gastroenteritis. The PNI at admission, age, postoperative hospital stay, time to admission, hypertension, combined injures and surgery type were independent factors for adverse perioperative outcomes. Based on the AUC (PNI at admission: 0.772 [0.723–0.821], P < 0.001; age: 0.678 [0.622–0.734], P < 0.001; postoperative hospital stay: 0.608 [0.548–0.668], P = 0.001; time to admission: 0.585 [0.525–0.646], P = 0.006), the PNI at admission had optimal discrimination ability, indicating its superiority over other independent factors (age vs. PNI at admission, P = 0.002; postoperative hospital stay vs. PNI at admission, P < 0.001; time to admission vs. PNI at admission, P < 0.001). Conclusions Patients with femoral fractures require a nutritional assessment and appropriate nutritional intervention at admission, and that the PNI value at admission may be a good nutritional assessment indicator.

Outcome of major abdominal surgeries in COVID-19 positive patients with awake anaesthesia: surgeons’ perspective

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of locoregional anaesthesia has gained popularity as the greatest number of the major abdominal surgical cases which were usually done under general anaesthesia (GA) is now shifted towards awake anaesthesia due to fear of aerosol generation. In a COVID era, with evolving risk of aerosol generation in surgery under GA and the urge for reserving ICU beds for needy patients, this study was undertaken to assess the adequacy of surgery and other benefits with awake anaesthesia. A retrospective observational study for 8 COVID-19 positive patients, undergoing emergency major abdominal surgeries with locoregional anaesthesia in pre-operatively diagnosed COVID positive from May 2020 to May 2021 was conducted. Low to medium risk patients (ASA 1-2) were considered following assessment by anaesthesiologist. We retrospectively analysed data including perioperative events, post-op follow up. The mean operative time was 103 minutes (minimum 50 minutes; maximum 170 minutes). In one case, conversion to general anaesthesia was necessary. Post-operative pain was always well controlled. None of them required postoperative intensive care support. No perioperative major complications (Clavien Dindo ≥3) occurred. Early readmission after surgery never occurred. In our experience in the COVID-19 era, RA may help to limit the intubation-related risk of contagions inside theatres and could be feasible, safe, and painless alternative to GA in selected cases and this approach could become part of an ICU-preserving strategy.