Clinical application of ultrafast channel cardiac anesthesia assisted by serratus anterior plane block in right-thoracoscopic minimally invasive cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ultrafast channel cardiac anesthesia assisted by serratus anterior plane block on the post-operative rehabilitation of patients undergoing right-sided thoracoscopic minimally invasive cardiac surgery, as well as the safety and feasibility of the clinical application of this technique. Background: Regional nerve block has previously been used in cardiac surgery to reduce intraoperative opioid use and promote anesthesia in fast-track and ultra-fast-track cardiac surgery. However, the clinical application of ultrafast cardiac anesthesia assisted by serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in minimally invasive cardiac surgery under thoracoscopy has not been reported. Methods: A total of 102 patients who underwent right-sided thoracoscopic minimally invasive heart valve surgery in our center from January 2021 to August 2021 were enrolled and divided into two groups: an ultrafast channel cardiac anesthesia assisted by serratus anterior plane block (SAPB-GA) group (n=40) and a conventional general anesthesia (GA) group (n=62). The effects of ultrafast cardiac anesthesia assisted by serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on post-operative rapid recovery as well as the safety and feasibility of its clinical application were compared and analyzed. Results: Compared to the GA group, the intraoperative use of sufentanil in the SAPB-GA group was significantly reduced (66.25±1.025, 283.31±11.362, P<0.001); the incidence of postoperative analgesia in ICU was significantly decreased (17%, 48.8%, P<0.001); the incidence of postoperative NRS≥3 in ICU was significantly decreased (15%, 37.1%, P = 0.016); and the postoperative extubation time (1(1-1), 13.84 (10.25-18.36), P<0.001), ICU stay time (28.58±2.838, 61.69±4.125, P<0.001) and postoperative hospital stay (8.08±0.313, 9.74±0.356, P=0.02) were significantly shortened; and the 24 h postoperative thoracic blood drainage was significantly reduced (209.63±25.645, 318.23±20.713, P<0.001). No statistical difference was observed in the incidence of postoperative nausea, vomiting and atelectasis between the two groups (all P>0.05). Both of the groups reported no postoperative cardiovascular events. Conclusions: Ultrafast channel cardiac anesthesia assisted by SAPB could promote the rapid postoperative recovery of patients undergoing minimally invasive cardiac surgery under a thoracoscope. This approach is safe and feasible in the clinic.

Case Series: Video-Assisted Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery During Pregnancy

Surgical intervention is expected to improve maternal outcomes in pregnant patients with heart disease once the conservative treatment fails. For pregnant patients with heart disease, the risk of cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) must be balanced due to the high fetal loss. The video-assisted minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has been progressively applied and shows advantages in non-pregnant patients over the years. We present five cases of pregnant women who underwent a video-assisted minimally invasive surgical approach for cardiac surgery and the management strategies. In conclusion, the video-assisted MICS is feasible and safe to pregnant patients, with good maternal and fetal outcomes under the multidisciplinary assessment and management.

Perfusion Strategy for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has a number of proven advantages compared to median sternotomy. Safe cannulation and perfusion are some of the main components of the success of MICS. The aim. To present our perfusion strategy and describe the methods of cannulation, technical features, contraindications and potential complications. Materials and methods. We examined the results of 1088 adult patients who underwent primary cardiac surgery in our hospital (coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery, aortic surgery, left ventricle repair, congenital cardiac surgery and combined procedures) from July 2017 to May 2021. Of these, 851 patients were qualified for MICS. To select a safe cannulation strategy, we performed contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the aorta and main branches for all the patients, also we calculated the body surface area according to the DuBois and DuBois formula. Results. We performed 838 minimally invasive on-pump procedures, which is 98.5% of all patients qualified for MICS. According to the results of the preoperative CT scan, 13 (1.5%) patients were not operated with the minimally invasive approach due to the hazards related to the provision of cardiopulmonary bypass. Peripheral cannulation was performed in 754 (90%) patients and an alternative cannulation site was selected in 62 (8.2%) patients based on preoperative CT data. There were 10 (1.32%) patients who developed major complications (stroke, acute aortic dissection, acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis) after peripheral cannulation. Conclusions. Preoperative CT scan is mandatory for planning a perfusion strategy in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. The required surgical techniques should include cannulation of the right and left femoral and right axillary arteries.

Comparison of the safety and efficacy between minimally invasive cardiac surgery and median sternotomy in a low-risk mixed Asian population in Singapore

Introduction: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has attracted increasing attention, with institutions increasingly adopting this approach over conventional median sternotomy (MS). This study aimed to describe the outcomes of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in our institution as the only centre with an established MICS programme in Singapore. Methods: Patients who had undergone cardiac procedures such as heart valve replacement or repair, coronary artery bypass grafting or atrial septal defect repair were included in the study. We analysed 4063 patients who had undergone MS and 390 patients who had undergone MICS between January 2009 and February 2020. Results: Over the years, the number of MICS procedures performed increased, along with an increase in MICS operations with two or more concomitant cardiac procedures and a decrease in postoperative length of stay. Compared with patients who underwent MS, those who underwent MICS had shorter length of postoperative hospital stay (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, patients who underwent MICS had lower rates of atrial fibrillation (p = 0.021), reoperation (p = 0.028) and prolonged ventilation (p < 0.001). However, the rates of other postoperative complications were comparable between patients who underwent MICS and those who underwent MS. Conclusion: In our institution, MICS is a safe, reproducible and efficacious technique that yields superior outcomes compared with conventional MS procedures, in some aspects. The results of this study provide further evidence and support towards adopting the minimally invasive approach to cardiac surgery in a carefully selected group of cardiac patients in Singapore.

Intrathecal Morphine for Analgesia in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blinded Clinical Trial

Background Intrathecal morphine decreases postoperative pain in standard cardiac surgery. Its safety and effectiveness have not been adequately evaluated in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. The authors hypothesized that intrathecal morphine would decrease postoperative morphine consumption after minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Methods In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial, patients undergoing robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass received either intrathecal morphine (5 mcg/kg) or intrathecal saline before surgery. The primary outcome was postoperative morphine equivalent consumption in the first 24 h after surgery; secondary outcomes included pain scores, side effects, and patient satisfaction. Pain was assessed via visual analog scale at 1, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after intensive care unit arrival. Opioid-related side effects (nausea/vomiting, pruritus, urinary retention, respiratory depression) were assessed daily. Patient satisfaction was evaluated with the Revised American Pain Society Outcome Questionnaire. Results Seventy-nine patients were randomized to receive intrathecal morphine (n = 37) or intrathecal placebo (n = 42), with 70 analyzed (morphine 33, placebo 37). Intrathecal morphine patients required significantly less median (25th to 75th percentile) morphine equivalents compared to placebo during first postoperative 24 h (28 [16 to 46] mg vs. 59 [41 to 79] mg; difference, –28 [95% CI, –40 to –18]; P &lt; 0.001) and second postoperative 24 h (0 [0 to 2] mg vs. 5 [0 to 6] mg; difference, –3.3 [95% CI, –5 to 0]; P &lt; 0.001), exhibited significantly lower visual analog scale pain scores at rest and cough at all postoperative timepoints (overall treatment effect, –4.1 [95% CI, –4.9 to –3.3] and –4.7 [95% CI, –5.5 to –3.9], respectively; P &lt; 0.001), and percent time in severe pain (10 [0 to 40] vs. 40 [20 to 70]; P = 0.003) during the postoperative period. Mild nausea was more common in the intrathecal morphine group (36% vs. 8%; P = 0.004). Conclusions When given before induction of anesthesia for totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass, intrathecal morphine decreases use of postoperative opioids and produces significant postoperative analgesia for 48 h. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New