Risk factors for prolonged intensive care unit stays in patients after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass:A retrospective observational study

Objectives:Patients after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)require a stay in the ICU postoperatively.This study aimed to investigate the incidence of prolonged length of stay(LOS)in the ICU after cardiac surgery with CPB and identify associated risk factors.Methods:The current investigation was an observational,retrospective study that included 395 ICU patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB at a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou from June 2015 to June 2017.Data were obtained from the hospital database.Binary logistic regression modeling was used to analyze risk factors for prolonged ICU LOS.Results:Of 395 patients,137(34.7%)had a prolonged ICU LOS(>72.0 h),and the median ICU LOS was 50.9 h.Several variables were found associated with prolonged ICU LOS:duration of CPB,prolonged mechanical ventilation and non-invasive assisted ventilation use,PaO2/FiO2 ratios within 6 h after surgery,type of surgery,red blood cell infusion during surgery,postoperative atrial arrhythmia,postoperative ventricular arrhythmia(all P<0.05).Conclusions:These findings are clinically relevant for identifying patients with an estimated prolonged ICU LOS,enabling clinicians to facilitate earlier intervention to reduce the risk and prevent resulting delayed recovery.

Cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac surgery:An important underutilized treatment strategy

Physical inactivity remains in high levels after cardiac surgery,reaching up to 50%.Patients present a significant loss of functional capacity,with prominent muscle weakness after cardiac surgery due to anesthesia,surgical incision,duration of cardiopulmonary bypass,and mechanical ventilation that affects their quality of life.These complications,along with pulmonary complications after surgery,lead to extended intensive care unit(ICU)and hospital length of stay and significant mortality rates.Despite the well-known beneficial effects of cardiac rehabilitation,this treatment strategy still remains broadly underutilized in patients after cardiac surgery.Prehabilitation and ICU early mobilization have been both showed to be valid methods to improve exercise tolerance and muscle strength.Early mobilization should be adjusted to each patient’s functional capacity with progressive exercise training,from passive mobilization to more active range of motion and resistance exercises.Cardiopulmonary exercise testing remains the gold standard for exercise capacity assessment and optimal prescription of aerobic exercise intensity.During the last decade,recent advances in healthcare technology have changed cardiac rehabilitation perspectives,leading to the future of cardiac rehabilitation.By incorporating artificial intelligence,simulation,telemedicine and virtual cardiac rehabilitation,cardiac surgery patients may improve adherence and compliance,targeting to reduced hospital readmissions and decreased healthcare costs.

Quality of life and functional capacity in patients after cardiac surgery intensive care unit

Coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis are prevalent cardiovascular diseases worldwide,leading to morbidity and mortality.Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG)and surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR)have therapeutic benefits,including improved postoperative quality of life(QoL)and enhanced patient functional capacity which are key indicators of cardiac surgery outcome.In this article,we review the latest studies of QoL outcomes and functional capacity in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.Many standardized instruments are used to evaluate QoL and functional conditions.Preoperative health status,age,length of intensive care unit stay,operative risk,type of procedure,and other pre-,intra-,and postoperative factors affect postoperative QoL.Elderly patients experience impaired physical status soon after cardiac surgery,but it improves in the following period.CABG and SAVR are associated with increases of physical and mental health and functional capacity in the immediate postoperative and the long long-term.Cardiac rehabilitation improves patient functional capacity,QoL,and frailty following cardiac surgery.

Abnormal ACT in a Patient with Prekallikrein Deficiency Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Prekallikrein deficiency is a disorder that often remains undiagnosed. Prekallikrein activates factor XII, which initiates the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Prekallikrein deficiency results in prolonged Partial Thromboplastin Time and Activated Clotting Time in absence of anticoagulants or active bleeding. This case report describes the anesthesia management of a patient with Prekallikrein deficiency who underwent cardiac surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass for correction of a congenital cardiac malformation. We highlight the importance of understanding the different tests available for the diagnosis of coagulation factors deficiency during administration of heparin in the setting of cardiovascular procedures under general anesthesia.

Effect of preoperative renin-angiotensin system blockade on vasoplegia after cardiac surgery:A systematic review with metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Vasoplegia is a common complication of cardiac surgery but its causal relationship with preoperative use of renin angiotensin system(RAS)blockers[angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEIs)and angiotensin receptor blockers(ARB)]is still debated.AIM To update and summarize data on the effect of preoperative use of RAS blockers on incident vasoplegia.METHODS All published studies from MEDLINE,EMBASE,and Web of Science providing relevant data through January 13,2021 were identified.A random-effects metaanalysis method was used to pool estimates,and post-cardiac surgery shock was differentiated from vasoplegia.RESULTS Ten studies reporting on a pooled population of 15672 patients(none looking at ARBs exclusively)were included in the meta-analysis.All were case-control studies.Use of ACEIs was associated with an increased risk of vasoplegia[pooled adjusted odds ratio(Aor)of 2.06,95%CI:1.45-2.93]and increased inotropic/vasopressor support requirement(pooled aOR 1.19,95%CI:1.10-1.29).Post-cardiac surgery shock was increased in the presence of left ventricular dysfunction(pooled aOR 2.32,95%CI:1.60-3.36;I249%)but not increased by the use of beta blockers(pooled aOR 0.78,95%CI:0.36-1.69;I277%).Two randomized control trials(RCTs),not eligible for the meta-analysis,did not show an association between continuation of RAS blockers and vasoplegia.CONCLUSION Preoperative continuation of ACEIs is associated with an increased need for inotropic support postoperatively and with an increased risk of vasoplegia in observational studies but not in RCTs.The absence of a consensus definition of vasoplegia should lead to the use of perioperative cardiovascular monitoring when designing RCTs to better understand this discrepancy.

Safety and effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in cardiac surgery:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Lack of mobilization and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit(ICU)are major factors resulting in the development of ICU-acquired muscle weakness(ICUAW).ICUAW is a type of skeletal muscle dysfunction and a common complication of patients after cardiac surgery,and may be a risk factor for prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation,associated with a higher risk of readmission and higher mortality.Early mobilization in the ICU after cardiac surgery has been found to be low with a significant trend to increase over ICU stay and is also associated with a reduced duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay.Neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES)is an alternative modality of exercise in patients with muscle weakness.A major advantage of NMES is that it can be applied even in sedated patients in the ICU,a fact that might enhance early mobilization in these patients.AIM To evaluate safety,feasibility and effectiveness of NMES on functional capacity and muscle strength in patients before and after cardiac surgery.METHODS We performed a search on Pubmed,Physiotherapy Evidence Database(PEDro),Embase and CINAHL databases,selecting papers published between December 2012 and April 2023 and identified published randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that included implementation of NMES in patients before after cardiac surgery.RCTs were assessed for methodological rigor and risk of bias via the PEDro.The primary outcomes were safety and functional capacity and the secondary outcomes were muscle strength and function.RESULTS Ten studies were included in our systematic review,resulting in 703 participants.Almost half of them performed NMES and the other half were included in the control group,treated with usual care.Nine studies investigated patients after cardiac surgery and 1 study before cardiac surgery.Functional capacity was assessed in 8 studies via 6MWT or other indices,and improved only in 1 study before and in 1 after cardiac surgery.Nine studies explored the effects of NMES on muscle strength and function and,most of them,found increase of muscle strength and improvement in muscle function after NMES.NMES was safe in all studies without any significant complication.CONCLUSION NMES is safe,feasible and has beneficial effects on muscle strength and function in patients after cardiac surgery,but has no significant effect on functional capacity.

Exploring the Role of Serum Cystatin C in Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury among On-Pump Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Single-Center Investigation in Bangladesh

Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) stands as a prominent postoperative complication in on-pump cardiac surgery, with repercussions on morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization duration. Current diagnostic criteria relying on serum creatinine levels exhibit a delayed identification of AKI, prompting an exploration of alternative biomarkers. Aims and Objectives: This study is designed to overcome diagnostic constraints and explore the viability of serum Cystatin C as an early predictor of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in individuals undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery. The investigation aims to establish the relationship between serum Cystatin C levels and the onset of AKI in patients subjected to on-pump cardiac surgery. Primary objectives involve the assessment of the diagnostic effectiveness of serum Cystatin C, its comparison with serum creatinine, and the exploration of its potential for the early identification and treatment of AKI. Methodology: Conducted as a single-center study at the cardiac surgery department of BSMMU in Bangladesh from September 2020 to August 2022, a comparative cross-sectional analysis involved 31 participants categorized into No AKI and AKI groups based on Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Data collection encompassed preoperative, post-CBP (cardiopulmonary bypass) conclusion at 2 hours, postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2 intervals. Statistical analyses included Chi-squared tests, independent Student’s t-tests, and one-sample t-tests. Significance was set at P Results: The study revealed no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the No AKI and AKI groups, except for CPB time and cross-clamp time. Serum Cystatin C levels in the AKI group exhibited statistical significance at various time points, highlighting its potential as an early detector. Conversely, Serum Creatinine levels in the AKI group showed no statistical significance. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis further supported the efficacy of serum Cystatin C, with an Area under the ROC Curve of 0.864 and a cut-off value of 0.55 (p Conclusion: This study supports the superior utility of serum Cystatin C as an early detector of AKI in on-pump cardiac surgery patients compared to serum creatinine. Its ability to identify AKI several hours earlier may contribute to reduced morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. The findings underscore the significance of exploring novel biomarkers for improved post-cardiac surgery renal function assessment.

Results of the First 10 Cases of Coronary Bypass Surgery in Senegal

This is a review of the first 10 coronary artery bypass surgeries performed by the local team. The mean age was 62 years old [45 - 74]. The patients were predominantly male, with a M/F ratio of 4:1. Cardiovascular risk factors were mainly myocardial infarction (MI) (60%), hypertension (50%), obesity (40%) and diabetes (30%), with at least two risk factors per patient. Angina was the main symptom (80%). The average time from presentation to surgery was 8 months. The mean Euroscore 2 was 2.92 ± 1.65 [1.33 - 6.60]. Coronary angiography revealed an average of 2 lesions per patient, with 3-vessel involvement in 70% of cases: the Interventricular artery (IVA) (100%), the right coronary artery (90%) and the circumflex artery (70%). On echocardiography, the mean Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 59% [33% - 76%]. All patients underwent median sternotomy with bypass grafting. The average duration of the cardiopulmonary bypass was 150 min [46 - 275 min];that of aortic clamping, 120 min [43 - 232 min]. The grafts used were internal thoracic artery (ITA) in 100% of cases (80% on the left and 20% on the right), and the great saphenous vein (GSV) in 60% of cases (50% on the left and 10 on the right). Double bypass was performed in 60% of cases, single bypass in 30% and triple bypass in 10%. The bypasses were performed on the IVA (100%), the middle lateral of the circumflex (30%) and the bisector (20%). The average time to extubation was 11 hours and the length of stay in the intensive care unit was 7 days [03 - 17 days]. One patient had a reoperation on Day 0 post-op. The average hospital stay was 13 days [06 - 27 days]. Complications occurred in nine of the patients (90%), with a predominance of infectious and neurological complications. Overall operative mortality was 3%, all in intensive care.

Intraoperative Blood Glucose Levels and Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Patients Having Congenital Heart Surgery under Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Purpose:This study sought to explore the effect of intraoperative mean blood glucose levels and variability on postoperative acute kidney injury(AKI)in children undergoing congenital cardiac surgery.Methods:We conducted a prospective nested case-control study in children(age<18 years)undergoing congenital heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)at the Fuwai Hospital between April 01,2022 and July 30,2022.Cases were individuals who developed AKI within the first postoperative 7 days(AKI group)and controls were those without AKI(Non-AKI group)according to KDIGO criteria.AKI and Non-AKI groups unmatched and 1:1 matched by age,sex,and baseline serum creatinine were separately analyzed.Multivariate logistic and conditional logistic regressions were used to assess the associations between blood glucose variables and AKI.Results:688 consecutively approached patients were included in the final analysis.On multivariate analysis,intra-CPB(adjusted odds ratio[OR]0.802;95%confidence interval[CI],0.706 to 0.912;p=0.001)and post-CPB(adjusted OR 0.830;95%CI,0.744 to 0.925;p=0.001)blood glucose levels were associated with postoperative AKI.There were no significant differences in pre-CPB blood glucose(adjusted OR 0.926;95%CI,0.759 to 1.129;p=0.446)or intraoperative glycemic fluctuations(adjusted OR 0.905;95%CI,0.723 to 1.132;p=0.382)between AKI and Non-AKI groups.Results based on matched cases and controls were consistent with those from the unmatched analyses.Conclusion:Higher intraoperative blood glucose levels during and after CPB were protective factors against postoperative AKI in pediatric patients after congenital heart surgery.

Level of Cardiac Biomarkers in Immediate Post-Operative Period after Off-Pump CABG and Its Comparison with On-Pump CABG: A Prospective Analytical Study

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an important modality of treatment for ischemic heart disease. Both off-pump and on-pump CABG have direct effect on the level cardiac biomarkers in the perioperative period. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross-clamping may cause additive myocardial damage leading to further elevation of blood markers. The present study is aimed at measuring and comparing the cardiac biomarker levels in immediate post-operative period after on-pump CABG (ONCAB) and off-pump CABG (OPCAB). Methods: All the patients who underwent CABG from January 2015 to June 2016 on elective or emergency basis at Nilratan Sircar Medical College & Hospital have been included in the study. Total 106 patients were operated for CABG of which 75 patients were operated for OPCAB and 31 patients were operated for ONCAB. For the comparison of data the blood markers Troponin-T (Trop-T) and Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB) are measured during anesthesia before surgery, post-operatively after 1 hour, post-operatively after 4 hours and post-operatively after 20 hours. All recorded data are analyzed using standard statistical methods. Results: We found the markers are elevated immediately after surgery and gradually come down within 24 hours after surgery in both OPCAB and ONCAB groups. The elevation is more after ONCAB than OPCAB group in immediate post-operative period but the difference is not significant after 20 hours of surgery. Conclusion: Elevated levels of cardiac biomarkers in the immediate post-operative period indicate myocardial damage during surgery, especially after ONCAB in comparison to OPCAB. This may attribute to the better hemodynamic stability in the immediate post-operative period after OPCAB than ONCAB assuming comparable and adequate revascularization in patients of both groups. The avoidance of CPB and cross-clamp may explain better myocardial functioning immediately after OPCAB. But after 20 hours, the level of cardiac markers is comparable in both groups indicating little difference in post-operative recovery and long-term prognosis.

Patient Frailty Can Increase the Risk of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery: Pilot Study

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe common postoperative complication of cardiac surgery (CS). It increases the risk of mortality by up to 80%. Therefore, it is essential to have preoperative risk evaluation tools. Frailty is a marker of deterioration of physiologic systems and may be associated with AKI. Purpose: The study aimed to determine the utility of frailty as a predictor of AKI after CS. Method: We enrolled 91 patients undergoing CS with cardiopulmonary bypass to determine if they had frailty before surgery and were associated with postoperative AKI. The diagnosis of postoperative AKI was based on the serum creatinine criteria of the Acute Kidney Injury Network classification up to 7 days following CS. Results: The incidence of postoperative AKI was 62% in the frail group and 21% in the non-frail group. Frailty was associated with a higher risk of AKI (relative risk [RR] = 3.00, 95% CI 1.56 - 5.77, p = 0.00). In regression models, there were associations between frailty and postoperative AKI. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that frailty could be a predictor for post-CS AKI. Therefore, frailty assessment should become an essential part of the preoperative evaluation to help the anesthesiologist to estimate the surgical risk and develop preoperative and transoperative strategies to preserve the renal function and improve the cardiac surgery outcome.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture on myocardial protection and postoperative rehabilitation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass:a systematic review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture(EA)intervention on myocardial protection and postoperative rehabilitation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).METHODS:Eight databases,including Pub Med,Embase,the Cochrane Library,Web of Science,Chinese Bio Medical Literature Database,China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,Wanfang Data,China Science and Technology Journal Database,and two clinical trial registries,were searched.All randomized controlled trials(RCTs)related to EA intervention in cardiac surgery with CPB were collected.Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria,two researchers independently screened articles and extracted data.After the quality evaluation,RevMan 5.3 software was used for analysis.RESULTS:Fourteen RCTs involving 836 patients were included.Compared with the control treatment,EA significantly increased the incidence of cardiac automatic rebeat after aortic unclamping[relative risk(RR)=1.15,95%confidence interval(CI)(1.01,1.31),P<0.05;moderate].Twenty-four hours after aortic unclamping,EA significantly increased the superoxide dismutase[standardized mean difference(SMD)=0.96,95%CI(0.32,1.61),P<0.05;low],and interleukin(IL)-2[SMD=1.33,95%CI(0.19,2.47),P<0.05;very low]expression levels and decreased the malondialdehyde[SMD=-1.62,95%CI(-2.15,-1.09),P<0.05;moderate],tumour necrosis factor-α[SMD=-1.28,95%CI(-2.37,-0.19),P<0.05;moderate],and cardiac troponin I[SMD=-1.09,95%CI(-1.85,-0.32),P<0.05;low]expression levels as well as the inotrope scores[SMD=-0.77,95%CI(-1.22,-0.31),P<0.05;high].There was no difference in IL-6 and IL-10 expression levels.The amount of intraoperative sedative[SMD=-0.31,95%CI(-0.54,-0.09),P<0.05;moderate]and opioid analgesic[SMD=-0.96,95%CI(-1.53,-0.38),P<0.05;low]medication was significantly lower in the EA group than in the control group.Moreover,the postoperative tracheal intubation time[SMD=-0.92,95%CI(-1.40,-0.45),P<0.05;low]and intensive care unit stay[SMD=-1.71,95%CI(-3.06,-0.36),P<0.05;low]were significantly shorter in the EA group than in the control group.There were no differences in the time to get out of bed for the first time,total days of antibiotic use after surgery,or postoperative hospital stay.No adverse reactions related to EA were reported in any of the included studies.CONCLUSIONS:In cardiac surgery with CPB,EA may be a safe and effective strategy to reduce myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury and speed up the recovery of patients after surgery.These findings must be interpreted with caution,as most of the evidence was of low or moderate quality.More RCTs with larger sample sizes and higher quality are needed to provide more convincing evidence.

Remimazolam benzenesulfonate anesthesia effectiveness in cardiac surgery patients under general anesthesia

BACKGROUND Sedation with propofol injections is associated with a risk of addiction,but remimazolam benzenesulfonate is a comparable anesthetic with a short elimination half-life and independence from cell P450 enzyme metabolism.Compared to remimazolam,remimazolam benzenesulfonate has a faster effect,is more quickly metabolized,produces inactive metabolites and has weak drug interactions.Thus,remimazolam benzenesulfonate has good effectiveness and safety for diagnostic and operational sedation.AIM To investigate the clinical value of remimazolam benzenesulfonate in cardiac surgery patients under general anesthesia.METHODS A total of 80 patients who underwent surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery from August 2020 to April 2021 were included in the study.Using a random number table,patients were divided into two anesthesia induction groups of 40 patients each:remimazolam(0.3 mg/kg remimazolam benzenesulfonate)and propofol(1.5 mg/kg propofol).Hemodynamic parameters,inflammatory stress response indices,respiratory function indices,perioperative indices and adverse reactions in the two groups were monitored over time for comparison.RESULTS At pre-anesthesia induction,the remimazolam and propofol groups did not differ regarding heart rate,mean arterial pressure,cardiac index or volume per wave index.After endotracheal intubation and when the sternum was cut off,mean arterial pressure and volume per wave index were significantly higher in the remimazolam group than in the propofol group(P<0.05).After endotracheal intubation,the oxygenation index and the respiratory index did not differ between the groups.After endotracheal intubation and when the sternum was cut off,the oxygenation index values were significantly higher in the remimazolam group than in the propofol group(P<0.05).Serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-αlevels 12 h after surgery were significantly higher than before surgery in both groups(P<0.05).The observation indices were re-examined 2 h after surgery,and the epinephrine,cortisol and blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the remimazolam group than in the propofol group(P<0.05).The recovery and extubation times were significantly lower in the remimazolam group than in the propofol group(P<0.05);there were significantly fewer adverse reactions in the remimazolam group(10.00%)than in the propofol group(30.00%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with propofol,remimazolam benzenesulfonate benefited cardiac surgery patients under general anesthesia by reducing hemodynamic fluctuations.Remimazolam benzenesulfonate influenced the surgical stress response and respiratory function,thereby reducing anesthesia-related adverse reactions.

Perfusionist strategies for blood conservation in pediatric cardiac surgery

There is increasing concern about the safety of homologous blood transfusion during cardiac surgery,and a restrictive transfusion practice is associated with improved outcome.Transfusion-free pediatric cardiac surgery is unrealistic for the vast majority of procedures in neonates or small infants;however,considerable progress has been made by using techniques that decrease the need for homologous blood products or even allow bloodless surgery in older infants and children.These techniques involve a decrease in prime volume by downsizing the bypass circuit with the help of vacuumassisted venous drainage,microplegia,autologous blood predonation with or without infusion of recombinant(erythropoietin),cell salvaging,ultrafiltration and retrograde autologous priming.The three major techniques which are simple,safe,efficient,and cost-effective are:a prime volume as small as possible,cardioplegia with negligible hydric balance and circuit residual blood salvaged without any alteration.Furthermore,these three techniques can be used for all the patients,including emergencies and small babies.In every pediatric surgical unit,a strategy to decrease or avoid blood bank transfusion must be implemented.A strategy to minimize transfusion requirement requires a combined effort involving the entire surgical team with pre-,peri-,and postoperative planning and management.

Effect of Xuebijing injection on myocardium during cardiopulmonary bypass:A prospective,randomized,double blind trial

BACKGROUND Cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)is an essential procedure for maintaining the blood supply to vital organs in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.However,perioperative cardiac injury related to CPB remains a severe complication in these patients.Cardiac protection is important for patients undergoing CPB.AIM To evaluate the potential cardioprotective efficacy of the Chinese medicine preparation Xuebijing injection(XBJ)in patients undergoing CPB.METHODS Sixty patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB were randomly allocated to the XBJ and control groups(saline).XBJ was administered intravenously three times:12 h prior to surgery,at the beginning of the surgery,and 12 h after the second injection.Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography 48 h after surgery.Circulating inflammation-and oxidative-stress-related markers were measured.Clinical outcomes related to intensive care unit(ICU)stay were recorded.RESULTS Compared to control treatment,XBJ was associated with improved PaO2/FiO2 and cardiac systolic function,but reduced troponin I and creatine kinase fraction after surgery(all P<0.05).The circulating concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin(IL)-1βand IL-8 in the XBJ group were significantly lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05),whereas the circulating concentration of IL-10 was significantly higher in the XBJ group(P<0.05).In addition,the lengths of ICU stay and hospitalization after surgery tended to be shorter in the XBJ group than in the control group,although the differences were not significant.CONCLUSION Perioperative administration of XBJ was associated with attenuated cardiac injury during CPB,likely via anti-inflammatory and antioxidative mechanisms.

EFFECTS OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON PLASMA CATECHOLAMINE AND ANGIOTENSION Ⅱ IN OPEN HEART SURGICAL PATIENTS UNDERGOING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS

To study the effects of electroacupuncture on sympathetic adrenomedullary(SA) system and renin angiotensin aldosterone (RAA) system in open heart surgical patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 30 patients with atrial septal defect were randomly divided into general anesthesia (GA) group, acupuncture anesthesia (AA) group and acupuncture with general anesthesia (AGA) group. Peripheral blood samples were taken before anesthesia and 30 min after CPB. The plasma concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), epinphrine (E) and angiotensinⅡ(AⅡ) were detected. Results: Plasma NE and E of post CPB increased significantly in GA group and AA group, but decreased significantly in AGA group. Plasma AⅡ of post CPB increased significantly in GA group, but no marked changes were found in AA group and AGA group. Conclusions: Acupuncture can improve the AⅡ response to cardiac surgery and CPB. AGA but not AA can inhibit the catecholamine (CA) response to cardiac surgery and CPB.

THE STUDY ON THE CHANGES OF ZINC, COPPER, CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM IN PLASMA AND ERYTHROCYTES DURING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS

Objective To study the changes and their influence factors involved of zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium in plasma and erythrocytes during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB). Methods Zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium values in plasma and erythrocytes were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer during CPB. Results Zinc and copper levels in plasma were significantly elevated above preinduction level before perfusion, but calcium and magnesium levels did not change significantly; zinc, copper and calcium levels in plasma were significantly below preoperation level during CPB, but magnesium level in plasma was significantly increased above preoperation; zinc level in plasma was increased to preoperation level after CPB and began to decrease again at 8 hours after CPB, copper level in plasma was increased to preoperation level at 20 hours after CPB, calcium in plasma was increased significantly from beginning to 8 hours after CPB, magnesium level in plasma was decreased to preoperation level at 8 hours afterCPB. Concentration of zinc , copper, calcium and magnesium in erythrocytes did not change significantly. Conclusion During CPB, the changes of zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium had relation to hemodilution, operative wound, carrier protein, stress and component of priming solution and cardioplegic solution, but no relation to transfer from plasma erythrocytes. The results indicate that it is beneficial to patient's recovery to supplement zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium properly by different ways during cardiac perioperation.

Cardio-Protective Effects of Oral Nicorandil in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Valve Surgery

Background: Reduction of myocardial reperfusion injury during cardiopulmonary bypass is an essential requirement for increasing the success rate, decreasing morbidity and mortality of open-heart surgery. Aim: To study the role of pre-operative oral nicorandil in decreasing reperfusion cardiac injury in patients subjected to cardiac valve surgery. Patients and Methods: The study included 62 patients, who were equally randomized into two groups: nicorandil group and control group. Pre-operative, intra-operative and post- operative data were reported and analyzed. Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction (LVEF) was estimated pre-operatively and postoperatively for both groups. Troponin I, creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured before surgery by 24 hours then 4, 12 and 48 hours after aortic cross clamp removal. Results: Nicorandil considerably decreased TNF-α and IL-6 after 4 and 12 hours following the removal of aortic clamping. It also reduced troponin-I and CKMB at the same time points. However, there were no important changes in IL-6, TNF-α, troponin-I and CK-MB levels in control group in comparison to nicorandil group in the next 48 hours following the removal of aortic clamping. Conclusions: Pre-operative oral nicorandil expressively decreased myocardial reperfusion damage during open heart valve operations, this evidenced by the decrease in the postoperative use of inotropic drugs, considerable reduction of postoperative elevation of cardiac enzymes and inflammatory cytokines with no reported complications.

Redo Cardiac Surgery: Bleeding Control

Redo cardiac surgery increases?mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine if aprotinin was superior to tranexamic acid concerning control bleeding loss after redo valve surgery. A retrospective study was conducted from January 1994 until December 2014. 221 patients underwent redo cardiac valve surgery and separated into two groups: aprotinin group (n?=?85) and tranexamic acid group (n?=?136). Univariate tests were applied for data analysis. A total of 221 patients were enrolled in this study. This cohort was separated into two groups: aprotinin group (n?=?85) and tranexamic acid group (n?=?136). Euroscore in tranexamic acid group was higher: 5.96 ± 3.04 vs.?5.17 ± 2.83 in aprotinin group?(p?=?0.055). There was no statistical difference in postoperative mortality between the two groups (p?= 0.153). No statistical differences were reported concerning: total blood loss (p?= 0.51), red blood cells transfusion (p?= 0.215), reexploration for bleeding (p?= 0.537) and postoperative renal failure (p?= 0.79). There were statistical differences concerning mechanical ventilation time, which is longer in tranexamic acid group (p?= 0.008) and the use of inotropic drug support, which is more frequent in the tranexamic acid group (p?= 0.001). Our results demonstrated that tranexamic acid and aprotinin reduce transfusion requirement and blood loss. Due to financial reason, we chose tranexamic acid in preventing blood loss in redo valve surgery.

Cardiac Surgery during Pregnancy—Our Experience

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) continues to be endemic in developing countries like India, thus a number of female patient present with valvular heart disease complicating pregnancy. Surgery is lifesaving in patients who are symptomatic on medical management. Objective: To study maternal and fetal outcome in patient’s refractory to medical treatment undergoing cardiac surgery during pregnancy. Methodology: Analysis of 8 pregnant patients who underwent cardiac surgery during 5 years from Jan 2012 to Dec 2016 in a Medical college setup in Central India. Results: Maternal age ranged between 20 - 35 mean of 23.75, NYHA class IV, refractory to medical treatment. The underlying cardiac lesion was rheumatic heart disease 7 (87.5%) cases, 6 (85.7%) had mitral valve lesion. 7 primigravida (87.5%) patients were taken as elective procedure in second trimester (18 - 26 weeks), one multipara patient as emergency after failed Balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) in third trimester of pregnancy (32 weeks) was the only maternal death. 5 (62.5%) patients progressed to term pregnancy and delivered vaginally. The cardiopulmonary bypass variables studied were Median bypass time 51.25 minutes (range 37 - 78), median cross-clamp time 25.62 minutes (range 16 - 48), Median flow rate 2.4 l/min/m2 (range 2.2 - 2.6) mean perfusion pressure during CPB 65 - 89 (range 55 - 120) and median perfusate temperature 37&deg;C (range 32 - 38). 2 (29%) patients had a long term follow-up and have delivered at term in their next pregnancies at the institute. Conclusion: Cardiac Surgery can be performed during pregnancy in patients’ refractory to medical management. The outcome is better with mother than fetus. Multidisciplinary team approach is the strategy for care.