Sean Bennett

Sevoflurane versus isoflurane in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: A hemodynamic and recovery study☆

OBJECTIVE To determine if sevoflurane provides comparable hemodynamics and recovery characteristics to isoflurane in cardiac anesthesia. DESIGN A prospective, crossover, dose-response study using sevoflurane and isoflurane before the start of surgery, followed by randomization to sevoflurane or isoflurane for surgery with blinded assessment for recovery. SETTING Tertiary referral cardiac clinic and intensive care. PARTICIPANTS Sixteen elective patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting. INTERVENTIONS A pulmonary artery catheter was used to obtain a complete hemodynamic profile during the dose response study before surgery. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and an electrocardiogram (ECG) were used to assess myocardial ischemia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Both agents showed similar hemodynamic effects at 0.5 and 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). There was a tendency toward decreases in heart rate, blood pressure, vascular resistance, and cardiac output with a rise in central pressures. Ischemic changes were not detected by TEE or ECG. Times to eye opening and extubation were similar for both agents. CONCLUSION At MAC equivalent doses, sevoflurane showed comparable hemodynamics to isoflurane. Both agents when used as the primary anesthetic showed similar recovery characteristics, with no statistical difference between them at any stage of the study.

Catastrophic mitral prosthesis dehiscence diagnosed by three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography

In emergency situations, real‐time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT 3‐dimensional TEE) may provide unique anatomic insights on prosthetic valves when two‐dimensional imaging is inconclusive. We report the case of a 76‐year‐old woman, in cardiogenic shock, who had undergone mitral valve replacement 3 months ago. RT 3‐dimensional TEE revealed almost total, catastrophic prosthesis dehiscence following infective endocarditis, the prosthesis being perpendicular to the normal mitral plane. Corrective surgery was not feasible, and the patient died shortly after admission. Although the outcome was unfortunate, RT 3‐dimensional TEE helped rapidly reach a definitive diagnosis, essential for decision‐making. Three‐dimensional TEE should be used as a complementary technique in difficult cases.

Echocardiography in the Intensive Care Unit: Current Position, Future Directions

There are many indications for the use of echocardiography in the critically ill and little consensus about how best to provide training for intensivists in its use. There are a profusion of opinions, courses and accreditation pathways available for training in the UK. The National Point of Care Ultrasound working group aims to facilitate learning and training in both echocardiography and ultrasound. In this article, an intermediate level of training suitable for most general UK-based intensivists, that provides more depth than focused resuscitation-based protocols but less depth than British Society of Echocardiography accreditation pathways, is proposed which, if endorsed by Royal Colleges and specialist societies, could be developed into a viable national training programme within five years.

Angiotensin in cardiac surgery: efficacy in patients on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

Patients presenting for cardiac surgery are often treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), either for heart failure or hypertension. Control of systemic vascular resistance (SVR) during surgery can be difficult in such patients. Angiotensin II has been available as an unlicensed vasoconstrictor, but there is concern about renal damage and its use.

Isolated Double Orifice Mitral Valve - a Rare Finding in an Elderly Man.

We present herein several transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) images of a 60-year-old man referred to the cardiac surgeon for a triple coronary artery bypass graft procedure, in which a normally-functioning double orifice mitral valve (DOMV) was an incidental finding during routine intraoperative TEE. This is a very rare congenital malformation, even rarer as an isolated anomaly in an elderly patient. Three-dimensional TEE (3D-TEE) confirmed the diagnosis and provided complete and fast assessment of the mitral valve and the surrounding structures and all the information needed to reassess the surgical strategy in the very short pre‑bypass period.