Project description:Durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices revolutionized the treatment options for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). Implantation of durable mechanical support has become an integral treatment modality in end-stage HF patients and it is associated with improved quality of life and survival. There is no doubt that this needs an interdisciplinary and interprofessional approach of cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, perfusionists, intensivists, psychologists, assist device coordinators as well as physiotherapists and intensive care. Implantation of durable MCS is a challenging procedure for the anesthesiologist due to the patient's characteristics and comorbid diseases. It demands comprehensive training, high vigilance and quick response during the acute hemodynamic changes occurring during the surgery. Preoperative risk stratification is of major importance to guide perioperative medical treatment strategies. Most of these patients have several comorbidities and multiple medications. Therefore, to anticipate postoperative end-organ dysfunction such as cognitive dysfunction, pulmonary or renal failure, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary to optimize patient's prior surgery. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TTE and TEE), both play an invaluable role in diagnosing the cause and guiding the management in different unstable clinical situations. Especially prevention of postoperative right HF with subsequent necessity of temporary MCS is important as it is associated with higher mortality. The aim of this review is to provide an overview about the current concepts of perioperative management for durable MCS. A multimodal standard operating procedure supports early recovery after surgery and intensive care stay. Standardized perioperative care helps to ensure optimal medical treatment. This review focusses on several major skills of perioperative management of these high-risk surgical patients.
Project description:Heart failure continues to be a worldwide epidemic, effecting over 23 million persons. Despite advances in medical therapy, the disease is progressive and a significant proportion of patients will need advanced heart replacement therapy. Continuous flow assist devices have become a standard approach for many patients both as a bridge to cardiac transplantation and as destination therapy (DT). However, device related complications such as bleeding and thrombosis continue to hinder further advancements of this technology. The field is rapidly advancing and efforts to reduce pump complications are directed towards improving hemocompatibility and maximizing blood flow without clinically significant hemolysis, areas of stasis or turbulent flow.
Project description:Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs commonly in patients requiring mechanical circulatory support (MCS) after cardiothoracic surgery. The prognostic implications of AKI in this patient group relate closely to the pathophysiology and risk factors associated with the underlying disease; pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative variables; hemodynamic factors; and type of support device used. General approaches to AKI management, including prevention strategies, medical management, and hemodynamic support, are also applicable in patients requiring MCS. Approaches to renal replacement therapy vary depend on patient factors, device-specific factors, and local preferences and experience. In this invited narrative review, we discuss the pathophysiology, risk factors, and prognostic implications of AKI in post-operative adult patients following institution of MCS. Management strategies for AKI are presented with a focus on those supported with either extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or a ventricular assist device.
Project description:ObjectivesWe sought to determine utilization and outcomes of perioperative temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) in the current practice of cardiac surgery.BackgroundtMCS is an evolving adjunct to cardiac surgery not fully characterized in contemporary practice.MethodsUsing the nationwide inpatient sample we retrospectively analyzed hospital discharge data between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019. ICD-10-CM procedure codes were used to identify and divide patient hospitalizations into those who had preoperative tMCS (pre-tMCS) versus tMCS instituted the day of surgery or afterwards (sd/post-tMCS).ResultsIn all, 1,383,520 hospitalizations met inclusion criteria. 86,445 (6.25%) had tMCS. tMCS was utilized in 8.74% of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 2.58% of isolated valve, and 9.71% of valve/CABG; operations. 29,325 (33.9%) had pre-tMCS while 57,120 (66.1%) had sd/post-tMCS. The use of tMCS was associated with greater inpatient mortality (15.66% vs. 1.53%, p < .001), longer length of stay (LOS) (14.4 vs. 8.5 days, p < .001), and higher mean inflation-adjusted costs ($93,040 ± 1038 vs. $51,358 ± 296, p < .001) compared to no use. Inpatient mortality (5.98% vs. 20.63%, p < .001), LOS (13.87 vs. 14.68, p < .001), and cost ($82,621 ± 1152 SEM vs. $98,381 ± 1242) were all significantly lower with pre-tMCS compared to sd/post tMCS. When analyzed separately, mortality was higher with later utilization of tMCS (5.98% pre, 17.1% sd, and 49.05% postsurgical date insertion, p < .001).ConclusionsPerioperative tMCS is utilized in 6.25% of modern cardiac surgery, with two-thirds of cases instituted on the day of surgery or afterwards. The use of tMCS is associated with significantly higher mortality, longer LOS, and higher costs. Among patients undergoing tMCS, earlier utilization is associated with better outcomes.
Project description:Patients receiving durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) require life-long anticoagulation with a vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Due to alternations in hemostasis, concomitant therapy with antiplatelet agents and critical illness, they are at increased risk of thromboembolic and bleeding complications compared with the general population managed on VKAs. To prevent thrombotic events, current guidelines recommend that patients with MCS receive long-term anticoagulation with a VKA to maintain a target international normalized ratio (INR) as specified by device manufacturers, but limited data exist regarding specific routine management of anticoagulation therapy and its potential complications. To optimize anticoagulation management and minimize risk in these patients, we have centralized anticoagulation management in a collaborative approach between the inpatient hemostatic and antithrombotic (HAT) stewardship service and between ambulatory anticoagulation management service (AMS) and the advanced heart disease team. Patients are followed by these three services beginning when the device is implanted and extending the duration that patients have the device. The teams include multiple clinicians from cardiac surgery, cardiology, hematology, pharmacy, nursing, case management, nutrition, and psychiatry, therefore, in order to standardize practice among clinicians without compromising patient centered decision making, we assembled an interdisciplinary team to create multiple treatment guidelines. In addition to a centralized and collaborative approach, our guidelines ensure seamless transitions of care between the inpatient and outpatient settings. We believe our approach has demontrated a positive improvement in the care of these challenging patients. In this article, we present our comprehensive centralized anticoagulation management approach for patients with left ventricular assist systems (LVAS).
Project description:The management of end stage heart failure has changed dramatically in recent years with the advent of mechanical circulatory support devices as well as rapid improvement and increased availability of these devices. With the improvements in survival and quality of life in these patients, post-operative infections become a significant contribution to morbidity and mortality. Post-operative infections need to be adequately addressed in a timely fashion by early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Recognizing risk factors for infection and instituting good infection control measures is also key in caring for these patients. Multiple patient and device factors have been shown to be correlated with increased post-operative infections, and cellular immunity is also impaired in patients on ventricular assist devices (VAD). Cultures should be taken prior to starting antimicrobial treatment. Empirical treatment needs to account for common pathogens, local microbial resistance and subsequently be culture guided once results are available. Patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation present a unique challenge with drug dosing due to altered pharmacokinetics. VAD related and VAD specific infections require appropriate wound care and possible surgical intervention. This narrative review summarizes the literature available for the management and prevention of post-operative infections in patients with mechanical circulatory devices. Vigilance in identifying risk factors, prompt treatment and active prevention is crucial to the management.
Project description:BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing public health crisis that has led to many deaths due to multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS). This article describes the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients who survived the disease through mechanical circulatory support (MCS).MethodsWe studied 25 critically ill COVID-19 patients who underwent MCS from January 20, 2020, to April 10, 2020, at the Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.ResultsThirteen (52%) of the 25 patients survived with MCS support, while 12 (48%) died. At the time of their hospital admission, we identified significant differences in their peak cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, as well as in their lymphocyte count and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that receipt of renal replacement therapy (RRT) was associated with an approximately 20-fold improvement in survival [hazard ratio (HR) =0.049, 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.008 to 0.305]. The number of days spent on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support and the use of hydrogen (pH) at the time of MCS was also associated with an increase in survival. This contrasted with high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins (hs-CRP) and lactate, associated with a decrease in survival during MCS. Further analysis of the determinants relating to a COVID-19 patient's chance of survival on/after MCS was also indicated by levels of IL-6 (β=0.009, P=0.006), IL-8 (β=0.031, P=0.020), and TNF-α (β=0.107, P=0.014), which saw a significant increase in the 12 patients who died. This contrasts with the non-significant decrease in IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels in the 13 patients who survived.ConclusionsThese results indicate that pH, lactate, hs-CRP, ECMO duration, and RRT are important clinical determinants for assessing how MCS can increase the chances of critically ill COVID-19 patients surviving the disease.
Project description:Dr. O.P. Yadava, CEO and Chief Cardiac Surgeon, National Heart Institute, New Delhi, India, and Editor-in-Chief, Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, in conversation with Dr. Vivek Rao, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University of Toronto, discusses donation after circulatory death, role of pulsatility in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and current status of MCS versus heart transplant as a destination therapy.
Project description:There has been a significant increase in the utilisation of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices for the management of cardiogenic shock over recent years, with new devices being developed and introduced with the aim of improving outcomes for this group of patients. MCS devices may be used as a bridge to recovery or transplantation or intended as a destination therapy. Although these devices are not without their complications, good outcomes are achieved, but not without risk of significant complications. In this article, the complications of MCS devices have been reviewed, including the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), Impella, TandemHeart, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventricular assist devices (VAD)-temporary and durable.