The benefits of continuous ultrafiltration in pediatric cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammatory response and capillary leak syndrome, caused by extracorporeal circulation, have negative effects on the function of vital organs during the postoperative period. Modified ultrafiltration (MUF) has been developed as an alternative method to reduce the detrimental effects of cardiopulmonary bypass. The aim of this prospective, randomized study is to analyze the effects of MUF in a pediatric population undergoing congenital cardiac surgery. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients who underwent open-heart surgery at our institution were included in this prospective study. They were randomized into two groups as follows: Group I (n=14) of conventional ultrafiltration during bypass and Group II (n=13) receiving both conventional and modified ultrafiltration during and after the cessation of the bypass, respectively. The amount of prime volume, postoperative chest drain loss, transfusion requirements, hemodynamical parameters, duration of mechanical ventilatory support, and length of intensive care unit stay were compared between the two groups. During the postoperative period, the concentrations of hematological, biochemical and inflammatory parameters were also compared by analyzing the blood samples obtained at various time points. RESULTS: MUF resulted in a significant increase in hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet levels, and significantly reduced the amount of chest tube output and transfused blood and blood products. MUF also shortened the duration of postoperative mechanical ventilatory support, length of the intensive care unit stay and improved postoperative hemodynamical parameters. During the early postoperative hours, IL-8 is significantly reduced in patients undergoing MUF, however, the concentrations of IL-8 were similar in both groups at the end of 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: MUF decreases the duration of mechanical ventilatory support, the length of intensive care unit stay, the need for blood transfusion and improves postoperative hemodynamics. It is associated with increased levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets. We can conclude that MUF attenuates the inflammatory response by decreasing the levels of inflammatory mediators.     

Evaluation of perfusion modes on vital organ recovery and thyroid hormone homeostasis in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the effects of perfusion modes (pulsatile vs. nonpulsatile) on vital organs recovery and (ii) to investigate the influences of two different perfusion modes on the homeostasis of thyroid hormones in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures. Two hundred and eighty‐nine consecutive pediatric patients undergoing open heart surgery for repair of congenital heart disease were prospectively entered into the study and were randomly assigned to two groups: the pulsatile perfusion group (Group P, n = 208) and the nonpulsatile perfusion group (Group NP, n = 81). All patients received identical surgical, perfusional, and postoperative care. Study parameters included total drainage, mean urine output in the intensive care unit (ICU), intubation time, duration of ICU and hospital stay, the need for inotropic support, pre‐ and postoperative enzyme levels (ALT [alanine aminotransaminase] and AST [aspartate aminotransaminase]), c‐reactive protein, lactate, albumin, blood count (leukocytes, hematocrit, platelets), creatinine levels, and thyroid hormones (thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], FT₃[free triiodothyronine], FT₄[free thyroxine]). All patients survived the perioperative and postoperative periods. There were no statistically significant differences in either preoperative or operative parameters between the two groups. Group P, compared to Group NP, required significantly less inotropic support, had a shorter intubation period, higher urine output in ICU, and shorter duration of ICU and hospital stay. Lower lactate levels and higher albumin levels were observed in Group P and there were no significant differences in creatinine, enzyme levels, blood counts, or drainage amounts between two groups. TSH, Total T₃, Total T₄, and FT₃, FT₄ levels were markedly reduced versus their preoperative values in both groups. FT₃ and FT₄ levels were reduced significantly further in the nonpulsatile group both during CPB and at 72 h postoperation. The results of this study confirm our opinion that pulsatile perfusion leads to better vital organ recovery and clinical outcomes in the early postoperative period as compared to nonpulsatile perfusion in pediatric patients undergoing CPB cardiac surgery. The plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones are dramatically reduced during and after CPB, but pulsatile perfusion seems to have a protective effect of thyroid hormone homeostasis compared to nonpulsatile perfusion.     

Relationship between changes in thyroid hormone level and severity of the postoperative course in neonates undergoing open-heart surgery

Background: Our aim was to determine whether the changes in thyroid function after open‐heart surgery in neonates depend on the postoperative course. Methods: Twenty neonates undergoing open‐heart surgery for congenital heart disease were prospectively studied in the cardiac intensive care unit of a university‐affiliated children's hospital. The patients were divided into two groups by level of inotropic support (high or mild). Results: The groups were similar in age, bypass time and ultrafiltration volume. In both groups, there was a significant reduction in levels of thyroid‐stimulating hormone and FT₄ at 24 h postoperatively. However, in the high inotropic support group, FT₄ was lower for a longer time. This group also had a significantly higher score on The Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM; P < 0.042) and a longer duration of ventilation (P < 0.014). Conclusions: Neonates after open‐heart surgery undergo changes in thyroid function characteristic of euthyroid sick syndrome. The degree of hypothyroxinemia may be related to the severity of illness and the postoperative course.     

Analgesia and sedation after pediatric cardiac surgery

In recent years, the importance of appropriate intra-operative anesthesia and analgesia during cardiac surgery has become recognized as a factor in postoperative recovery. This includes the early perioperative management of the neonate undergoing radical surgery and more recently the care surrounding fast-track and ultra fast-track surgery. However, outside these areas, relatively little attention has focused on postoperative sedation and analgesia within the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This reflects perceived priorities of the primary disease process over the supporting structure of PICU, with a generic approach to sedation and analgesia that can result in additional morbidities and delayed recovery. Management of the marginal patient requires optimisation of not only cardiac and other attendant pathophysiology, but also every aspect of supportive care. Individualized sedation and analgesia strategies, starting in the operating theater and continuing through to hospital discharge, need to be regarded as an important aspect of perioperative care, to speed the process of recovery.     

Port-access minimally invasive cardiac surgery increases surgical complexity, increases operating room time, and facilitates early postoperative hospital discharge

BACKGROUND: Proposed advantages of port-access cardiac surgery have yet to be substantiated. The authors retrospectively compared patients undergoing port-access cardiac surgery with a matched group undergoing conventional cardiac surgery. METHODS: Forty-six patients who underwent port-access cardiac surgery were matched with 46 who underwent conventional cardiac surgery. Absolute criteria for matching included morning-of-surgery admission, procedure undergone, and care being delivered by one of two surgeons. If possible, matching included care delivered by one of two anesthesiologists. Patients were matched as closely as possible for preoperative demographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: All 46 pairs of patients were matched for procedure and admitted the morning of surgery. All 92 operations were performed by one of two surgeons, and 89% were performed by one of two anesthesiologists. Preoperative demographic and clinical characteristics were equivalent between groups. Compared with conventional cardiac surgery, port-access cardiac surgery increased surgical complexity (it almost tripled cardiopulmonary bypass time during coronary artery bypass grafting and increased it almost 40% during mitral valve procedures) and increased total operating room time (P < 0.0001). Port-access cardiac surgery had no beneficial effect on earlier postoperative extubation, decreased incidence of atrial fibrillation, or intensive care unit time, yet it decreased postoperative duration of stay (P = 0.029, all patients), a benefit observed primarily in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective analysis revealed that port-access cardiac surgery increases surgical complexity, increases operating room time, has no effect on earlier postoperative extubation or decreased incidence of atrial fibrillation or intensive care unit time, and may facilitate postoperative hospital discharge (primarily in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting). Properly designed prospective investigation is necessary to ascertain whether port-access cardiac surgery truly offers any benefits over conventional cardiac surgery.     

A randomized, controlled trial of aprotinin in neonates undergoing open-heart surgery

Background:  Neonates undergoing open-heart surgery are especially at risk for massive bleeding and pronounced inflammation. The efficacy of aprotinin, a serine protease inhibitor, at ameliorating these adverse effects of cardiopulmonary bypass has not been clearly demonstrated in neonates.
Methods:  Term neonates were enrolled and randomly assigned in a blinded fashion to receive saline (group P, placebo) or high-dose aprotinin (group A). Intraoperative management was standardized: surgeon, anesthesia, cardiopulmonary bypass and hemostasis therapy. Patients were admitted postoperatively to a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. Primary outcome measure of efficacy was duration of the postoperative mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcome measures were total volume and units of blood products transfused intraoperatively and for 24 h after surgery, duration of chest tube in situ , and intensive care and hospital stays after surgery.
Results:  Twenty-six neonates were enrolled; 13 received aprotinin and 13 received placebo. The study was halted prematurely because of US Food and Drug Administation's concerns about aprotinin's safety. Baseline patient, surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass characteristics were similar between groups. No outcome variables differed between groups ( P  > 0.05). Duration of postoperative ventilation was 115 ± 139 h (group A); 126 ± 82 h (group P); P  = 0.29, and total blood product exposure was 8.2 ± 2.6 U (group A); 8.8 ± 1.4 U (group P); P  = 0.1. Postoperative blood creatinine values did not differ between groups. In-hospital mortality rate was 4%.
Conclusions:  Aprotinin was not shown to be efficacious in neonates undergoing open-heart surgery. It is unclear whether adult aprotinin safety data are relevant to neonates undergoing open-heart surgery.     

Recovery of neuromuscular function after cardiac surgery: pancuronium versus rocuronium

The use of pancuronium in fast-track cardiac surgical patients may be associated with delays in clinical recovery. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of residual neuromuscular blockade after cardiac surgery in patients randomized to receive either pancuronium (0.08-0.1 mg/kg) or rocuronium (0.6-0.8 mg/kg). Eighty-two patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized to a pancuronium (n = 41) or rocuronium (n = 41) group. Intraoperative and postoperative management was standardized. In the intensive care unit, train-of-four (TOF) ratios were measured each hour until weaning off ventilatory support was initiated. Neuromuscular blockade was not reversed. After tracheal extubation, patients were examined for signs and symptoms of residual paresis. When weaning of ventilatory support was initiated, significant neuromuscular blockade was present in the pancuronium subjects (TOF ratio: median, 0.14; range, 0.00-1.11) compared with the rocuronium subjects (TOF ratio: median, 0.99; range, 0.87-1.21) (P < 0.05). Patients in the rocuronium group were more likely to be free of signs and symptoms of residual paresis than patients in the pancuronium group. Our findings suggest that the use of longer-acting muscle relaxants in cardiac surgical patients is associated not only with impaired neuromuscular recovery, but also with signs and symptoms of residual muscle weakness in the early postoperative period. IMPLICATIONS: The use of long-acting muscle relaxants in fast-track cardiac surgical patients is associated with significant residual neuromuscular block in the intensive care unit, including signs and symptoms of residual paresis.     

The interpretation of perioperative lactate abnormalities in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Hyperlactataemia and lactic acidosis are commonly encountered during and after cardiac surgery. Perioperative lactate production increases in the myocardium, skeletal muscle, lungs and in the splanchnic circulation during cardiopulmonary bypass. Hyperlactataemia has a bimodal distribution in the perioperative period. An early increase in lactate levels, arising intraoperatively or soon after intensive care unit admission, is a familiar and concerning finding for most clinicians. It is highly suggestive of tissue ischaemia and is associated with a prolonged intensive care unit stay, a prolonged requirement for respiratory and cardiovascular support and increased postoperative mortality. Its presence should prompt a thorough search for potential causes of tissue hypoxia. In contrast, late-onset hyperlactataemia, a less well recognised complication, occurs 4 to 24 hours after completion of surgery and is typically associated with preserved cardiac output and oxygen delivery. Risk factors for late-onset hyperlactataemia include hyperglycaemia, long cardiopulmonary bypass time and elevated endogenous catecholamines. Although patients with this complication may have a longer duration of ventilation and intensive care unit length of stay than those with normolactataemia, an association with increased mortality has not been demonstrated. The discovery of late-onset hyperlactataemia should not delay the postoperative progress of an otherwise stable patient following cardiac surgery.     

Postoperative intensive care in cardiac surgery

Postoperative intensive care in cardiac surgery is a growing area, fuelled by the increase in the number of cardiac surgical procedures performed. An increase in the number of patients has resulted in increased resource utilization. Much of the recent research in this field is concerned with the early extubation of cardiac surgical patients, reducing the length of stay in the intensive care unit and predicting which patients will have delayed extubation and a prolonged length of stay. A number of recent studies have been published advocating 'off pump' cardiac surgery as a way of reducing the physiological insult of cardiopulmonary bypass and thereby improving the postoperative course. There is still insufficient evidence that this approach reduces morbidity and intensive care unit length of stay in multi-vessel off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. The traditional design of post-cardiac surgical intensive care units and high dependency units has also recently been challenged. More flexible integrated units improve cost control and are more suited to modern cardiac surgery.     

Stress response in infants undergoing cardiac surgery: a randomized study of fentanyl bolus, fentanyl infusion, and fentanyl-midazolam infusion

There have been significant changes in the management of neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery in the past decade. We have evaluated in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study the effect of large-dose fentanyl anesthesia, with or without midazolam, on stress responses and outcome. Forty-five patients < 6 mo of age received bolus fentanyl (Group 1), fentanyl by continuous infusion (Group 2), or fentanyl-midazolam infusion (Group 3). Epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, adrenocortical hormone, glucose, and lactate were measured after the induction (T1), after sternotomy (T2), 15 min after initiating cardiopulmonary bypass (T3), at the end of surgery (T4), and after 24 h in the intensive care unit (T5). Plasma fentanyl concentrations were obtained at all time points except at T5. Within each group epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, glucose and lactate levels were significantly larger at T4 (P values < 0.01), but there were no differences among groups. Within groups, fentanyl levels were significantly larger in Groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.001) at T4, and among groups, the fentanyl level was larger only at T2 in Group 1 compared with Groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.006). There were no deaths or postoperative complications, and no significant differences in duration of mechanical ventilation or intensive care unit or hospital stay. Fentanyl dosing strategies, with or without midazolam, do not prevent a hormonal or metabolic stress response in infants undergoing cardiac surgery. IMPLICATIONS: We demonstrated a significant endocrine stress response in infants with well compensated congenital cardiac disease undergoing cardiac surgery, but without adverse postoperative outcome. The use of large-dose fentanyl, with or without midazolam, with the intention of providing "stress free" anesthesia, does not appear to be an important determinant of early postoperative outcome.     

Postoperative care of the adult cardiac surgical patient

Adult cardiac surgical patients are managed by standardized protocols after surgery. For most of the patients this is an extended recovery period following elective major surgery, and communication is crucial in the management of early postoperative period. Some patients are critically ill before surgery and undergo complex and emergency cardiac procedures. These patients are more likely to experience complications such as bleeding, cardiac tamponade, arrhythmias, infection, stroke, gut failure and renal failure. Some of these complications are life threatening and early diagnosis and treatment is essential. Near patient tests and transoesophageal echocardiography facilitate early diagnosis of bleeding and tamponade. Patients with renal or neurological dysfunction need to be managed in general intensive care unit. Cardiac advanced life support follows different algorithms for cardio pulmonary resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest because of the unique nature of the aetiology and facilities available. Advanced cardiac support in the form of mechanical devices such as intra-aortic balloon pump and ventricular assist devices is available for patient management.     

Computer based haemodynamic guidance system is effective and safe in management of postoperative cardiac surgery patients

A circulatory guidance system, Navigator, was evaluated in a prospective, randomised control trial at six Australian university teaching hospitals involving 112 scheduled postoperative cardiac surgical patients with pulmonary artery catheters placed and receiving 1:1 nursing care. The guidance system was used to achieve and maintain physician-designated cardiac output and mean arterial pressure targets and compared these with standard post open-heart surgery care. The primary efficacy endpoint was the standardised unsigned error between the targeted and the actual values for cardiac output and mean arterial pressure, time averaged over the duration of cardiac output monitoring - the average standardised distance. This was 1.71 (SD=0.65) for the guidance group and 1.92 (SD=0.65) in the control group (P=0.202). Rates of postoperative atrial fibrillation, adverse events, intensive care unit and hospital length-of-stay were similar in both groups. There were no device-related adverse events. Guided haemodynamic therapy with the Navigator device was non-inferior to standard intensive care unit therapy. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00468247.     

Port-access Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Increases Surgical Complexity, Increases Operating Room Time, and Facilitates Early Postoperative Hospital Discharge

Background: Proposed advantages of port-access cardiac surgery have yet to be substantiated. The authors retrospectively compared patients undergoing port-access cardiac surgery with a matched group undergoing conventional cardiac surgery.

Methods: Forty-six patients who underwent port-access cardiac surgery were matched with 46 who underwent conventional cardiac surgery. Absolute criteria for matching included morning-of-surgery admission, procedure undergone, and care being delivered by one of two surgeons. If possible, matching included care delivered by one of two anesthesiologists. Patients were matched as closely as possible for preoperative demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results: All 46 pairs of patients were matched for procedure and admitted the morning of surgery. All 92 operations were performed by one of two surgeons, and 89% were performed by one of two anesthesiologists. Preoperative demographic and clinical characteristics were equivalent between groups. Compared with conventional cardiac surgery, port-access cardiac surgery increased surgical complexity (it almost tripled cardiopulmonary bypass time during coronary artery bypass grafting and increased it almost 40% during mitral valve procedures) and increased total operating room time (P < 0.0001). Port-access cardiac surgery had no beneficial effect on earlier postoperative extubation, decreased incidence of atrial fibrillation, or intensive care unit time, yet it decreased postoperative duration of stay (P = 0.029, all patients), a benefit observed primarily in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (P = 0.002).     

Prophylaxe und Therapie von tachykarden Herzrhythmusstörungen nach herzchirurgischen Eingriffen

Cardiac arrhythmias are frequently observed in patients after cardiac surgery. Especially atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are observed in up to 39 % of patients in the early postoperative period following cardiac surgery. Arrhythmias are associated with an increased morbidity, resulting in longer stays in the intensive care unit and the hospital. In recent years, guidelines have been established offering substantial data and protocols in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias after cardiac surgery. This article, designed for junior members in the field of cardiovascular intensive care, serves as a short review integrating the database of recent key publications and defining the current state-of-the-art in diagnosis and therapy of cardiac arrhythmias after cardiac surgery.     

Who receives postoperative intensive and intermediate care?

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of preoperative and intraoperative factors that determine whether to provide postoperative intensive or intermediate care. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary-care university hospital. PATIENTS: 3,066 ASA physical status I, II, III, and IV adult patients, 1,233 of whom were transferred to floor or the ambulatory surgery unit after a short postoperative recovery room stay (group 1), whereas the other 1,883 were admitted to intermediate and intensive care areas (group 2). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic and clinical information including preoperative medical history, extent of intraoperative care, and postoperative course were collected. Intraoperative activities were examined with the Operative Complexity Score and the Intraoperative Therapeutic Intensity Score. RESULTS: Almost all patients undergoing complex surgery (cardiac surgery and neurosurgery) received postoperative intermediate or intensive care, even if they had no significant underlying systemic diseases (ASA physical status I and II). Patients with severe underlying diseases (ASA physical status III and IV), but who underwent less extensive surgery, tended to receive intensive and intermediate care. Postoperative mechanical ventilation was associated with receipt of intensive rather than intermediate care. Interestingly, 10% of the elective surgery patients in group 2 unexpectedly received intensive or intermediate care because of intraoperative and immediate postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Receipt of postoperative intermediate and intensive care is associated with distinct patterns of preoperative and intraoperative factors.     

Improved cardiac allograft function following triiodothyronine therapy to both donor and recipient

Brain death is associated with neuroendocrine changes, in particular with a significant reduction of plasma-free triiodothyronine (T3) that results in impaired aerobic metabolism. Myocardial energy stores are reduced and tissue lactate increased. Cardiac function deteriorates. Similar metabolic changes are seen in patients undergoing open-heart surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass, including those undergoing heart transplantation. Therapy with T3 leads to a reversal of these metabolic changes, resulting in improved cardiac function. One hundred and sixteen consecutive potential donors have been so treated, as have 70 of the recipients. Immediate posttransplant cardiac function was good in all but 3, and these hearts recovered to normal within a maximum of 24 hr of mechanical support. In 2 small randomized trials in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization on cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative T3 therapy was associated with a reduced need for inotropic support and diuretic therapy in the first study and improved cardiac output in the second study.     

吗啡为主的麻醉对心脏择期手术后患者的早期恢复更优于芬太尼

背景实验研究和临床资料显示吗啡具有独特的心脏保护和抗炎特性。本临床研究主要探讨手术中阿片类药物（吗啡或芬太尼）的选择是否会影响心脏手术后患者的早期恢复。方法90例行体外循环心脏手术的患者被随机分为两组，分别用40mg吗啡或600Ixg芬太尼联合异氟烷进行复合麻醉。在手术前以及手术后第1至第3天分别使用QoR-40调查问卷评估恢复情况，在手术后前3天使用100mm视觉模拟评分法（VAS）测定疼痛程度，记录各种静脉以及口服用药（吗啡或对乙酰氨基酚／羟考酮）的用量。同时评估血流动力学参数、气管插管保留时间、手术后发热反应情况、器官受损情况、ICU入住天数和住院时间。结果在不同时间点，吗啡组患者的QoR-40评分均高于芬太尼组，平均值分别为：手术后第1天（173与160，P〈0．0001），第2天（174与164，P〈0．0001），第3天（177与167，P〈0．001）。两组之间的差异主要表现在QoR-40量表中的情绪状态、身体舒适度以及疼痛等方面（P〈0．01。0．0001）。吗啡组患者的手术后VAS评分、ICU及手术室内疼痛药物用量以及手术后发热反应均较芬太尼组明显降低（均为P〈0．01）。气管插管保留时间、ICU以及总住院时间、手术后并发症等方面，两组间无明显差异。结论做为复合麻醉的一部分，手术中使用40mg吗啡对于择期行体外循环心脏手术的患者手术后生活质量以及疼痛的改善等方面较芬太尼更为优越。     

Regional anesthesia and pediatric cardiac surgery

Treatment of pain after cardiac surgery is the subject of a growing number of publications and presentations because of the current trend toward “fast-track” management. Tracheal extubation in the operating room or within a few hours of admission to the intensive care unit has become common practice after the repair of simple cardiac defects. This precludes the use of large doses of systemic opioids during and after surgery because of resultant respiratory depression. A multimodal approach to the treatment of postoperative pain is therefore required. The use of regional anesthesia in combination with general anesthesia for children undergoing cardiac surgery has been reported to facilitate early tracheal extubation and provide analgesia after cardiac surgery in children. In this article, the benefits and risks of regional anesthesia in infants and children having open heart surgery are reviewed. In addition, specific techniques in use are described. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.     

Cardiothoracic intensive care: operation and administration

The cardiothoracic surgery intensive care unit (CTICU) has evolved as a separate entity from the general surgical intensive care unit as management for cardiac surgery patients has become streamlined and algorithm driven. Critical care is best managed when the service is designed for a homogeneous population with a circumscribed set of medical and surgical issues. The repetition involved with the subspecialty care allows health care providers such as primary care nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other ancillary services to become appropriately focused on issues pertinent to this population. The goals of the CTICU include the attainment of rapid and safe recovery from surgery and anesthesia despite decreasing resources, increasing patient age and comorbidity, and increasing complexity of the operative procedure. The coordinated and systematic approach to the postoperative cardiac surgery patient under the direction of a staff physician offers the most effective opportunity to achieve these expectations at this time. The traditional model of staffing by a physician with responsibilities that conflict temporally with the immediacy often needed for the postoperative care of cardiac patients may expose patients to unnecessary risks. A responsible physician should be available in the CTICU, especially during the immediate postoperative period when physical assessment and direct hands-on involvement are essential. In an era when the operative team (ie, cardiac surgeon and cardiac anesthesiologist) must return to the surgical suite soon after the patient arrives in the intensive care unit, the presence of a physician dedicated to postoperative medical and surgical management becomes mandatory. According to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, "Each special care unit is properly directed and staffed according to the nature of the special patient care needs anticipated and scope of services provided." The assignment of staff is designed to match experience with patient acuity.     

Effects of single dose, postinduction dexamethasone on recovery after cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids have been recommended to facilitate rapid recovery after cardiac surgery. We previously reported that dexamethasone given after induction of anesthesia decreases the incidence of postoperative shivering. We performed a post hoc analysis of the data obtained during that study, focusing on secondary outcomes. METHODS: A total of 235 adult patients undergoing elective coronary or valvular heart surgery were randomized to receive dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg or placebo after induction of anesthesia. Patients who had pharmacologically treated diabetes mellitus, had hypersensitivity to dexamethasone, or were receiving treatment with corticosteroids were excluded. RESULTS: We found that, compared with placebo, patients receiving dexamethasone were more likely to remain tracheally intubated for 6 hours or less (26.4% vs 10.0%, p = 0.020) and had a lower incidence of early postoperative fever (20.2% vs 36.8%, p = 0.009) and new-onset atrial fibrillation during the first 3 days postoperatively (18.9% vs 32.3%, p = 0.027). However, we could not demonstrate a statistical difference in the intensive care unit or hospital length of stay, or in overall morbidity and mortality. The dexamethasone-treated patients were also more likely to have a higher blood glucose on admission to the intensive care unit (186 mg/dL vs 143 mg/dL, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone facilitates early tracheal extubation and is associated with a lower incidence of early postoperative fever and new-onset atrial fibrillation. Apart from a treatable decreased glucose tolerance, dexamethasone treatment was not shown to affect morbidity or mortality significantly.