David W. Barbara

The Perioperative Management of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery

OBJECTIVE To describe the perioperative management of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) who require general anesthesia while undergoing noncardiac surgery (NCS) at a single, large tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND METHODS Electronic medical records from September 2, 2005, through May 31, 2012, were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the perioperative management and outcomes in LVAD patients undergoing NCS. Patients were included only if they required a general anesthetic and had previously been discharged from the hospital after initial LVAD implantation. RESULTS Thirty-three patients with LVADs underwent general anesthesia for 67 noncardiac operations. The mean ± SD time from LVAD implantation to NCS was 317 ± 349 days. All but 1 patient had axial flow LVADs. Anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents were present within 7 days before NCS in 49 procedures (73%) and reversed in 32 of 49 (65%). No perioperative thrombotic complications related to anticoagulation or antiplatelet reversal were noted. Red blood cell, fresh frozen plasma, and platelet transfusions were administered during 10, 6, and 4 operations, respectively. The only intraoperative complication was surgical bleeding. Postoperative complications were present in 12 patients after NCS and were mainly composed of bleeding. Three patients died within 30 days of NCS, with the causes of death not attributed to NCS. CONCLUSION Patients with LVAD safely underwent NCS in a multidisciplinary setting that included preoperative optimization by cardiologists familiar with LVADs when feasible. Anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents were present preoperatively in most patients with LVADs and were safely reversed when necessary for NCS. The relatively high occurrence of postoperative bleeding is consistent with previous series.

Outcomes of general anesthesia for noncardiac surgery in a series of patients with Fontan palliation

To describe the experience of a single, tertiary care institution in the care of patients with Fontan physiology undergoing anesthesia for noncardiac surgery.

Cold agglutinins in patients undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJECTIVES Cold agglutinins (CA) are circulating autoantibodies present in most humans. They are active below normal body temperatures. Cold hemagglutinin disease involves the presence of CA sufficiently active at temperatures in the periphery to produce hemolysis or agglutination. Systemic hypothermia and cold cardioplegia may result in agglutination or hemolysis. We reviewed the experience of a large referral center in managing patients with CA and cold hemagglutinin disease undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS The electronic medical records from 2002 to 2010 were searched to identify patients with CA or cold hemagglutinin disease who underwent cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Information related to preoperative CA testing and treatment, surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative complications, and mortality was recorded. RESULTS Sixteen patients underwent 19 procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Six patients had cold hemagglutinin disease. The identification of CA was made intraoperatively in 3 patients. One patient underwent preoperative plasma exchange. Cold blood cardioplegia was used in 2 of 16 procedures using cardioplegia, with the remaining using warmer blood cardioplegia. The lowest recorded intraoperative core temperature was less than 34 °C in 1 case. CA-related postoperative hemolysis requiring transfusion was present in 1 patient, which was resolved with active warming. No patient had evidence of permanent myocardial dysfunction, had a neurologic event, required dialysis, or died within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS All patients with CA/cold hemagglutinin disease at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine safely underwent cardiac surgery without major adverse morbidity or mortality. Patients with CA but without evidence of cold hemagglutinin disease can safely undergo normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass at 37°C and warm cardioplegia without further testing. Patients with cold hemagglutinin disease should undergo laboratory testing including CA titers and thermal amplitude and hematology consultation before cardiac surgery.

Morbidity and Mortality Associated With Dental Extraction Before Cardiac Operation

BACKGROUND Dental extraction of abscessed or infected teeth before cardiac operation is often performed to decrease perioperative infection and late endocarditis. Literature to support dental extraction before cardiac operation is limited. The goal of this study was to evaluate the risk of major adverse outcomes in patients undergoing dental extraction before cardiovascular surgical procedures. METHODS A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who underwent dental extraction before planned cardiac operation. Major adverse outcomes within 30 days after dental extraction or until time of cardiac operation were recorded and defined as death, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, renal failure requiring dialysis, and need for postoperative mechanical ventilation. RESULTS Two hundred five patients underwent 208 dental extractions before 206 planned cardiac operations. Major adverse outcomes occurred in 16 of 205 patients (8%). Twelve patients (6%) died within 30 days after dental extraction, of which 6 (3%) occurred before cardiac operation, and 6 (3%) occurred after cardiac operation. CONCLUSIONS Patients with planned dental extraction before cardiac operation are at risk for major adverse outcomes, including a 3% risk of death before cardiac operation and an 8% risk of a major adverse outcome. The prevalence of major adverse outcomes should advise physicians to evaluate individualized risk of anesthesia and surgical procedures in this patient population.

Anesthesia for surgery related to Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: a review of 136 anesthetics.

BACKGROUND: Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare congenital malformation characterized by the triad of varicose veins or venous malformations, capillary malformations that may involve neurovascular structures, and bony or soft tissue hypertrophy in affected limbs. Areas such as the trunk, bowel, bladder, and spinal cord may be involved as well. KTS should not be confused with Klippel–Feil syndrome, which involves abnormalities of the cervical vertebrae. Anesthetic management for patients with KTS has only been described in limited case reports that caution about potential airway difficulty but do not report surgical hemorrhage requiring transfusion. METHODS: We performed an electronic search of the Mayo Clinic medical record database to identify patients who had undergone an anesthetic for surgery related to KTS. Review of medical records was performed for type of surgery, anesthetic technique, airway management and difficulty, medications used, intraoperative fluid administration, transfusion requirements, vascular access used, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Eighty-two unique patients were identified who underwent 134 general anesthetics and 2 lumbar neuraxial anesthetics for surgeries related to KTS. Preoperatively, 27% of patients had a history of recurrent bleeding, 24% recurrent cellulitis, 9% deep vein thrombosis, and 2% pulmonary embolism. The mean age at time of surgery was 21 ± 15 years. The majority of surgical procedures involved laser coagulation or varicose vein sclerotherapy or stripping. All of the 74 direct laryngoscopies and tracheal intubations were performed on the first attempt without difficulty. Mask ventilation was possible in all 131 patients for whom this was attempted, with only 1 requiring an oral airway. Documented estimated blood loss ranged from 20 to 18,000 mL, with a mean of 740 ± 2739 mL. Use of a tourniquet did not obviate the possibility of substantial blood loss. The only significant postoperative complication involved a calf hematoma after vein stripping and avulsion that required return to the operating room for evacuation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with KTS have multiple associated comorbidities relevant to perioperative management. In contrast to previous reports, difficulty with airway management was not encountered. Surgery related to severe KTS may be associated with massive hemorrhage despite tourniquet use, and the anesthesiologist should anticipate the need for appropriate fluid resuscitation. Neuraxial techniques may be considered only if the possibility of trauma to neurovascular malformations has been excluded with recent spine imaging.

Propofol induction resulting in green urine discoloration.

A 54-YR-OLD woman with intractable leg pain secondary to lumbar stenosis elected to undergo L4–L5 decompressive laminectomy. General anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, lidocaine, and propofol (200 mg) and maintained with isoflurane and nitrous oxide. Tracheal intubation was facilitated with succinylcholine, and neuromuscular blockade was maintained with vecuronium. Within the first hour of the surgery, without any additional medications administered besides vancomycin, the urine color changed from yellow to green. The discoloration then resolved by the end of the 2.5-h operation. The patient was discharged home 2 days later without complication. An uncommon side effect of propofol is green urine discoloration, which is reported most frequently after prolonged infusions. The 4-sulfate and 1or 4-glucuronide conjugates of 2,6-diisopropyl-1,4-quinol are renally excreted and may rarely result in green urine discoloration, as seen in this case. Alkalinization of the urine favors the formation of these phenolic metabolites. In addition, several colors of urine have been reported with propofol use, including pink, white, red, and brown. Other causes of green urine discoloration include obstructive jaundice, Pseudomonas infection, Hartnup disease (abnormal amino acid transport), indicanuria, triamterene, amitriptyline, indomethacin, methocarbamol, promethazine, cimetidine, food coloring, Listerine mouthwash, Clorets mints, indigo dyes, and methylene blue. (Our patient was taking none of these medications). This case demonstrates the pronounced urine discoloration that may occur after a single induction dose of propofol in a patient undergoing elective surgery. The transient presence of green urine that resolves after propofol discontinuation is benign and self-limited. Unnecessary testing should be avoided.

Incidence of and Risk Factors For Post-Intubation Hypotension in the Critically Ill

Background We aim to report the incidence of post-intubation hypotension in the critically ill, to report in-hospital mortality and length of stay in those who developed post-intubation hypotension, and to explore possible risk factors associated with post-intubation hypotension. Material/Methods Adult (≥18 years) ICU patients who received emergent endotracheal intubation were included. We excluded patients if they were hemodynamically unstable 60 minutes pre-intubation. Post-intubation hypotension was defined as the administration of any vasopressor within 60 minutes following intubation. Results Twenty-nine patients developed post-intubation hypotension (29/147, 20%). Post-intubation hypotension was associated with increased in-hospital mortality (11/29, 38% vs. 19/118, 16%) and length of stay (21 [10–37] vs. 12 [7–21] days) on multivariate analysis. Three risk factors for post-intubation hypotension were identified on multivariate analysis: 1) decreasing mean arterial pressure pre-intubation (per 5 mmHg decrease) (p-value=0.04; 95% CI 1.01–1.55); 2) administration of neuromuscular blockers (p-value=0.03; 95% CI 1.12–6.53); and 3) intubation complication (p-value=0.03; 95% CI 1.16–15.57). Conclusions Post-intubation hypotension was common in the ICU and was associated with increased in-hospital mortality and length of stay. These patients were more likely to have had lower mean arterial pressure prior to intubation, received neuromuscular blockers, or suffered a complication during intubation.

The perioperative management of patients undergoing combined heart-liver transplantation.

Background Combined heart-liver transplantation (CHLT) is an uncommonly performed procedure for patients with coexisting cardiac and liver disease. Methods A retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing CHLT at our institution from 1999 to 2013. Information related to preoperative organ function, intraoperative management, surgical approach, transfusions, postoperative findings, and 30-day mortality was reviewed. Results Twenty-seven CHLT were performed, with 4 of the 27 including simultaneous kidney transplantation. Familial amyloidosis was the indication for 21 CHLTs (78%), and 12 of these explanted livers were used for domino transplantations. Nineteen patients (70%) were receiving inotropic infusions at the time of organ availability. Median preoperative model for end-stage liver disease score was 12. Liver transplantation immediately preceded cardiac transplantation in 2 of the 27 cases because of the presence of high titer donor-specific antibodies and the potential of the liver to lead to a reduction in the antibody titer. Venovenous bypass was used in 14 operations (52%) which were performed with the caval interposition approach to liver transplantation, cardiopulmonary bypass during liver transplantation in two cases (7%), and no bypass in 11 operations (41%) performed with caval sparing (piggyback) surgical technique. Postoperatively, median duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay until discharge were 1 day, 5.5 days, and 15 days, respectively. Transfusions in the first 48 hr after CHLT were not substantial in most patients. One patient died within 30 days of CHLT. Conclusion Combined heart-liver transplantation is a life-saving operation that is performed with relatively low mortality and can be successfully performed in select patients with congenital or acquired cardiac disease.

Perioperative angioedema: background, diagnosis, and management

Angioedema is a potentially life-threatening condition that may present at any point in the perioperative care of patients. It requires prompt recognition and diagnosis; the primary concern during acute attacks is airway management. The pathophysiology, various causes of angioedema, and treatment strategies according to underlying etiology are presented.

Periprocedural Management of 172 Gastrointestinal Endoscopies in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

The number of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) continues to increase, and gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is commonly required in this patient population. We retrospectively reviewed the experience of a single tertiary care center in managing patients with LVADs undergoing GI endoscopy between 2006 and 2013. After hospital dismissal from the LVAD placement, 53 patients underwent 172 GI endoscopic procedures. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the indication for endoscopy in 73.8% of patients. Median age at endoscopy was 66 years, and median time from LVAD implantation to initial endoscopy was 271 days (range, 31–1681 days). Anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy was present within 1 week before 120 of 172 endoscopies (70%) and was withheld or actively reversed in 91 of 120 cases (76%). For sedation/anesthesia during endoscopy, 63 involved care by an anesthesiology team and 109 were performed with nursing sedation protocols. Noninvasive blood pressure techniques (conventional automated cuffs or Doppler pulses) were used for hemodynamic monitoring in 84%, arterial lines in 10%, and no blood pressure recordings documented/charted as inaccurate in 6%. Six patients died within 30 days of endoscopy with one death because of aspiration of blood and multiorgan failure. Patients with LVADs may safely undergo GI endoscopy with various individualized anesthetic/sedation models. Complications after endoscopy likely represent the acuity of this patient population.