Tullio Manca

The Evolution of Cardiovascular Surgery in Elderly Patient: A Review of Current Options and Outcomes

Due to the increase in average life expectancy and the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease with advancing age, more elderly patients present for cardiac surgery nowadays. Advances in pre- and postoperative care have led to the possibility that an increasing number of elderly patients can be operated on safely and with a satisfactory outcome. Currently, coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic and mitral valve surgery, and major surgery of the aorta are performed in elderly patients. The data available show that most cardiac surgical procedures can be performed in elderly patients with a satisfactory outcome. Nevertheless, the risk for these patients is only acceptable in the absence of comorbidities. In particular, renal dysfunction, cerebrovascular disease, and poor clinical state are associated with a worse outcome in elderly patients. Careful patient selection, flawless surgery, meticulous hemostasis, perfect anesthesia, and adequate myocardial protection are basic requirements for the success of cardiac surgery in elderly patients. The care of elderly cardiac surgical patients can be improved only through the strict collaboration of geriatricians, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons, in order to obtain a tailored treatment for each individual patient.

Diagnostic value of chest ultrasound after cardiac surgery: a comparison with chest X-ray and auscultation.

OBJECTIVE Chest auscultation and chest x-ray commonly are used to detect postoperative abnormalities and complications in patients admitted to intensive care after cardiac surgery. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether chest ultrasound represents an effective alternative to bedside chest x-ray to identify early postoperative abnormalities. DESIGN Diagnostic accuracy of chest auscultation and chest ultrasound were compared in identifying individual abnormalities detected by chest x-ray, considered the reference method. SETTING Cardiac surgery intensive care unit. PARTICIPANTS One hundred fifty-one consecutive adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS All patients included were studied by chest auscultation, ultrasound, and x-ray upon admission to intensive care after cardiac surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Six lung pathologic changes and endotracheal tube malposition were found. There was a highly significant correlation between abnormalities detected by chest ultrasound and x-ray (k = 0.90), but a poor correlation between chest auscultation and x-ray abnormalities (k = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS Chest auscultation may help identify endotracheal tube misplacement and tension pneumothorax but it may miss most major abnormalities. Chest ultrasound represents a valid alternative to chest x-ray to detect most postoperative abnormalities and misplacements.

Parma tracheostomy technique: a hybrid approach to tracheostomy between classical surgical and percutaneous tracheostomies

BACKGROUND The aim of our study is to compare the classical surgical tracheostomy (TT) technique with a modified surgical technique designed and created by the cardiothoracic surgery staff of our department to reduce surgical trauma and postoperative complications. This modified technique combines features of percutaneous TT and surgical TT avoiding the use of specialized tools, which are required in percutaneous TT. METHODS From October 2008 to March 2014 we performed 67 tracheostomies using this New Modified Surgical Technique (NMST) and 56 TT with the Classical Surgical Technique (CST). We collected data about the early clinical complications, deaths TT-related, deaths due to other complications and the presence of late TTs complications were performed by a telephone follow-up. SPSS software (IMB version 21) was used for the statistical analysis. Categorical data were treated with chi-square test and continuous data were treated with t-test for independent samples. RESULTS NMST group had a significant lower number of early complications (P=0.005) compared to CST group (5 vs. 15). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in CST group (18 deaths vs. 4 in NMST group, P=0.001) but we registered only one case of TT-related mortality in CST group (P=0.280). We did not note other differences between the two groups regarding short or mid-long term complications. CONCLUSIONS In our experience the NMST demonstrated to be easily safe and reproducible with an amount of early, mid- and long-term complications similar to the CST; furthermore the aesthetic results of the procedure appear similar to those of percutaneous TT.

Renal Doppler Resistive Index as a Marker of Oxygen Supply and Demand Mismatch in Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Background and Objective. Renal Doppler resistive index (RDRI) is a noninvasive index considered to reflect renal vascular perfusion. The aim of this study was to identify the independent hemodynamic determinants of RDRI in mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac surgery. Methods. RDRI was determined in 61 patients by color and pulse Doppler ultrasonography of the interlobar renal arteries. Intermittent thermodilution cardiac output measurements were obtained and blood samples taken from the tip of pulmonary artery catheter to measure hemodynamics and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2). Results. By univariate analysis, RDRI was significantly correlated with SvO2, oxygen extraction ratio, left ventricular stroke work index, and cardiac index, but not heart rate, central venous pressure, mean artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, systemic vascular resistance index, oxygen delivery index, oxygen consumption index, arterial lactate concentration, and age. However, by multivariate analysis RDRI was significantly correlated with SvO2 only. Conclusions. The present data suggests that, in mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac surgery, RDRI increases proportionally to the decrease in SvO2, thus reflecting an early vascular response to tissue hypoxia.

Gender differences in outcomes after aortic aneurysm surgery should foster further research to improve screening and prevention programmes

Background Gender-related biases in outcomes after thoracic aortic surgery are an important factor to consider in the prevention of potential complications related to aortic diseases and in the analysis of surgical results. Methods The aim of this study is to provide an up-to-date review of gender-related differences in the epidemiology, specific risk factors, outcome, and screening and prevention programmes in aortic aneurysms. Results Female patients affected by aortic disease still have worse outcomes and higher early and late mortality than men. It is difficult to plan new specific strategies to improve outcomes in women undergoing major aortic surgery, given that the true explanations for their poorer outcomes are as yet not clearly identified. Some authors recommend further investigation of hormonal or molecular explanations for the sex differences in aortic disease. Others stress the need for quality improvement projects to quantify the preoperative risk in high-risk populations using non-invasive tests such as cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Conclusions The treatment of patients classified as high risk could thus be optimised before surgery becomes necessary by means of numerous strategies, such as the administration of high-dose statin therapy, antiplatelet treatment, optimal control of hypertension, lifestyle improvement with smoking cessation, weight loss and careful control of diabetes. Future efforts are needed to understand better the gender differences in the diagnosis, management and outcome of aortic aneurysm disease, and for appropriate and modern management of female patients.

Splenic Doppler Resistive Index Variation Mirrors Cardiac Responsiveness and Systemic Hemodynamics upon Fluid Challenge Resuscitation in Postoperative Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Objective To test if splenic Doppler resistive index (SDRI) allows noninvasive monitoring of changes in stroke volume and regional splanchnic perfusion in response to fluid challenge. Design and Setting. Prospective observational study in cardiac intensive care unit. Patients Fifty-three patients requiring mechanical ventilation and fluid challenge for hemodynamic optimization after cardiac surgery. Interventions SDRI values were obtained before and after volume loading with 500 mL of normal saline over 20 min and compared with changes in systemic hemodynamics, determined invasively by pulmonary artery catheter, and arterial lactate concentration as expression of splanchnic perfusion. Changes in stroke volume >10% were considered representative of fluid responsiveness. Results A <4% SDRI reduction excluded fluid responsiveness, with 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value. A >9% SDRI reduction was a marker of fluid responsiveness with 100% specificity and 100% positive predictive value. A >4% SDRI reduction was always associated with an improvement of splanchnic perfusion mirrored by an increase in lactate clearance and a reduction in systemic vascular resistance, regardless of fluid responsiveness. Conclusions This study shows that SDRI variations after fluid administration is an effective noninvasive tool to monitor systemic hemodynamics and splanchnic perfusion upon volume administration, irrespective of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac surgery.

Relevance of Chest Ultrasound in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Bedside ultrasonography can be very useful in the evaluation and management of mechanically ventilated patients. In intensive care units the role of ultrasound is not limited to diagnosis but can be used as a guide for management of mechanical ventilation from early stages to weaning. To obtain a comprehensive functional evaluation of critical care patients during mechanical ventilation, chest ultrasonography should include the examinations of the lungs, heart, and diaphragm. Lung ultrasound is an emerging and increasingly used imaging tool to investigate both in a semiquantitative and quantitative way lung aeration during mechanical ventilation, thus helping physicians to determine the best ventilator settings to reexpand collapsed lung regions, avoiding pulmonary stress and strain. Echocardiography is important to assess right and left ventricular function, to guide ventilation strategies such as low-plateau pressures, best positive end-expiratory pressure, pronation, and permissive hypoxia and hypercapnia. Monitoring the effects of mechanical ventilation on cardiac-lung interaction may prompt lung-heart protective ventilation strategy to avoid right ventricular failure, which is correlated with worse outcomes. Moreover, during weaning from mechanical ventilation chest ultrasound may give much information to the clinician, because weaning failure is due to cardiac reasons in a number of patients. Early echocardiography assessment and monitoring of weaning may lead to therapeutic interventions to improve left ventricular diastolic function and choose the best timing. Furthermore, ultrasound evaluation of diaphragm excursion and contractility may predict weaning failure.