Perioperative complications in patients undergoing major liver resection with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Systemic chemotherapy is used increasingly prior to resection of hepatic colorectal metastases. Previous reports have indicated an increased risk of perioperative complications associated with the use of systemic chemotherapy prior to resection. The purpose of this study was to investigate perioperative complications in patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) with or without CPT-11 within 6 months of major liver resection. A retrospective review of 108 patients undergoing major liver resection for colorectal metastases with curative intent from 1997 to 2002 was performed. Patient and tumor characteristics, perioperative parameters, and morbidity and mortality were measured. Forty-seven patients (44%) received no chemotherapy, 27 patients (25%) received systemic 5-FU/LV, and 34 (31%) received systemic 5-FU/LV/CPT-11. A significantly higher number of patients in the group treated with preoperative 5-FU/LV plus CPT-11 had multiple tumors. Patients in this group also tended to have smaller tumors, fewer complications, and a higher R0 margin resection rate, but these findings were not statistically significant. Median blood loss and length of hospital stay were also not significantly different. There were no perioperative deaths. We conclude that the use of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy and CPT-11 prior to major liver resection is not associated with increased morbidity or mortality. It may therefore provide a better therapeutic option, particularly in patients with multiple colorectal metastases. Presented as an abstract at the Fourth Biennial Congress of the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA), Miami Beach, Florida, February 27–March 2, 2003.     

Prevalence and predictors of renal artery stenosis in patients undergoing peripheral and coronary angiography

Background

Renal artery stenosis is a potential cause of secondary hypertension, ischemic nephropathy and end-stage renal disease. Atherosclerosis is by far the most common etiology of renal artery stenosis in elderly. We investigated whether the presence of significant atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) with luminal diameter narrowing ≥50 % could be predicted in patients undergoing peripheral and coronary angiography.

Methods

The records of 3,500 consecutive patients undergoing simultaneous renal angiography along with peripheral and coronary angiography were reviewed. The patients with known renal artery disease were excluded.

Results

Prevalence of ARAS was 5.7 %. Significant ARAS (luminal diameter narrowing ≥50 %) was present in 139 patients (3.9 %). Hypertension with altered serum creatinine and triple-vessel CAD were associated with significant renal artery stenosis in multivariate analysis. No significant relationship between the involved coronary arteries like left anterior descending, left circumflex, right coronary artery and ARAS was found. Only hypertension and altered serum creatinine were associated with bilateral ARAS. Extent of CAD or risk factors like diabetes, hyperlipidemia or smoking did not predict the unilateral or bilateral ARAS.

Conclusion

Prevalence of ARAS among the patients in routine cardiac catheterization was 5.7 %. Hypertension is closely associated with significant ARAS. Significant CAD in the form of triple-vessel disease and altered renal function tests are closely associated with ARAS. They predict the presence of significant renal artery stenosis in patients undergoing routine peripheral and coronary angiography. Moreover, hypertension and altered renal functions predict bilateral ARAS.     

舒芬太尼用于不同心脏手术患者的药代动力学

目的 研究舒芬太尼用于不同心脏手术患者的药代动力学特征.方法 择期心脏手术患者16例,年龄56～64岁,体重52 ～ 78 kg,ASA分级Ⅱ或Ⅲ级,按手术类型分为非CPB下冠状动脉旁路移植术组(Ⅰ组)和心脏瓣膜置换术组(Ⅱ组),每组8例.麻醉诱导时前臂静脉注射舒芬太尼5μg/kg,于注药后1、3、5、10、20、30、60、120、180、240和360 min时采集桡动脉血样3ml,抗凝,用液相色谱-质谱法测定血浆舒芬太尼浓度,3P97药理学程序计算CPB前和CPB时的药代动力学参数.结果 舒芬太尼在心脏手术患者的药代动力学符合三室模型,其三指数函数方程Ⅰ组为:Cp(t)＝11.7e -0.47t+1.9 e-0.043t+ 0.27 e-0.0032t;Ⅱ组CPB前和CPB时分别为:Cp(t) ＝33.4 e-1.87t+7.1 e-0.103t+2.0e 0.0248t和Cp(t) ＝23.8 e-0.54t+5.2 e-0.054t+0.15 e-0.0017t.与Ⅰ组比较,Ⅱ组CPB前常数和速率常数(P、A、B、π、α、β、K21、K13、K31、K10)、消除半衰期、药物浓度-时间曲线下面积升高,快速分布半衰期、表观分布容积降低,CPB时P、A、β、消除半衰期、k21、K10和药物浓度-时间曲线下面积升高,B、β、k31、表观分布容积和清除率降低(P< 0.05或0.01).结论 舒芬太尼在心脏手术患者的药代动力学特征符合三室模型,心功能差和低温CPB导致药物代谢减慢,作用时间延长.     

股腘动脉闭塞腔内治疗的彩色多普勒超声随访检查

目的 评价彩色多普勒超声在股腘动脉闭塞腔内治疗患者随访中的临床应用价值.方法 应用彩色多普勒超声对57例股腘动脉闭塞腔内治疗患者进行随访,检测腔内治疗术后动脉内血流动力学变化.结果 本组57例均获随访,随访率100％.随访时间3～33个月,平均(13±7)个月.经彩色多普勒超声检查后发现患肢动脉轻度狭窄31例,中度8例,重度6例,完全闭塞12例;57例中FontaineⅠ期7例,Ⅱ期42例,Ⅲ期6例,Ⅳ期2例;ABI≥1.0有2例,0.8≤ABI＜ 1.0有10例,0.5≤ABI ＜0.8有31例,ABI＜0.5有14例.动脉狭窄程度与Fontaine分期和ABI指数均呈正相关性(r =0.47,P＜0.01;r =0.66,P＜0.01).29例同时接受DSA检查,超声和DSA检查结果具有显著一致性(Kappa值=0.61,P＜0.01),超声诊断股腘动脉闭塞的敏感性92.0％ (23/25),特异性75.0％ (3/4),准确性89.7％(26/29).结论 彩色多普勒超声可实时监测腔内治疗术后股腘动脉血流动力学变化,是评估临床疗效有效的无创检查方法.     

Clinical outcomes of low-risk patients undergoing beating-heart surgery with or without pulmonary artery catheterization

OBJECTIVE: For patients who undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery, pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) has been proposed as a useful intraoperative monitoring tool. This study was designed to determine if the choice of PAC versus central venous pressure monitoring (CVP) had any effect on outcome after OPCAB. This study compared these 2 methods of hemodynamic monitoring in low-risk patients undergoing beating-heart surgery via a median sternotomy and evaluated their effect on morbidity and in-hospital mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective database and medical record review. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Low-risk patients who had coronary revascularization via a median sternotomy on the beating heart. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A population of 2,414 low-risk patients who had beating-heart coronary revascularization between January 2000 and December 2003 was reviewed. Most patients (1,671 or 69.2%) received a PAC, whereas 743 (30.8%) had CVP monitoring. Risk-adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the effect of each technique on clinical outcomes. The groups were comparable in both baseline characteristics and Parsonett's mortality risk (1.5 +/- 0.9, p = 0.58). Univariate analysis failed to show a difference in operative mortality (p = 0.76), on-pump conversion rate for completion of aortocoronary bypasses (p = 0.82), postoperative low cardiac output (p = 0.10), or prolonged inotropic agent use (p = 0.22). Similarly, in the multivariate analysis, both groups had a similar rate of conversion to an on-pump procedure for completion of coronary artery grafting (p = 0.91), intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump use (p = 0.69), low cardiac output state (p = 0.16), or in-hospital mortality (p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: This single-institution, retrospective study suggests that in low-risk patients undergoing beating-heart surgery, CVP monitoring may be sufficient.     

Pulmonary function and inflammatory markers in patients undergoing coronary revascularisation with or without cardiopulmonary bypass

Lung injury after cardiac surgery is believed to result from cardiopulmonary bypass and its pro-inflammatory effects. To test this hypothesis, we compared the oxygenation ratios, extravascular lung water indices and systemic and pulmonary tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-8 at predetermined intervals in coronary artery surgery patients with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. No differences in oxygenation ratios or extravascular lung water indices were found. Serum values of TNF-α and IL-8 increased in both groups but were higher in the cardiopulmonary bypass group (end of surgery: mean (SD) TNF-α 3.68 (2.5) vs 2.20 (1.2) pg.ml⁻¹ (p  =  0.043 (CI 0.05–2.9)) and mean (SD) IL-8 19.45 (10.8) vs 6.31 (5.3) pg.ml⁻¹ (p  =  0.001 (CI 6.9–19.3)). In broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, TNF-α and IL-8 increased in both groups with no differences between the groups.     

Analysis of medical risk factors and outcomes in patients undergoing open versus endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVE: The emergence of endovascular repair (ER) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has provided surgeons with a new technique that should ideally improve patient outcomes. To more accurately characterize the advantages of ER versus traditional/open AAA repair (TOR), we compared the preoperative medical risk factors (PMRFs) and perioperative outcomes (PO) of those patients undergoing elective treatment of infrarenal AAA with ER and TOR over a recent 18-month period at our center. METHODS: Through our institutional vascular surgery patient registry, all patients undergoing aortic aneurysm repair of any type between December 1999 and June 2001 were identified. Only those patients undergoing elective infrarenal AAA repair were analyzed. Hospital records were examined for all patients, and PMRF and PO were assessed via Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery reporting guidelines. Student t, chi(2), Fisher exact, or Wilcoxon rank sum tests were applied where appropriate to determine differences among PMRF and PO according to method of aneurysm repair. RESULTS: During the 18-month study period, a total of 199 aortic aneurysms were repaired at our institution. Ninety-nine elective infrarenal AAA repairs made up the study cohort (ER, n = 33; TOR, n = 66). When examined by method of aneurysm repair, no differences existed in demographics or AAA size. Patients undergoing ER had a significantly greater degree of preoperative pulmonary comorbidity than patients undergoing TOR (P <.001). However, no differences existed in terms of American Society of Anesthesiologists classification or cardiac (P =.52), cerebrovascular (P =.44), diabetic (P =.51), hypertensive (P =.90), hyperlipidemia (P =.91) or renal (P =.23) comorbidities between the two groups. Perioperative morbidity and mortality rates were also not significantly different by method of repair. ER was associated with shorter operative time, intensive care unit stay, and overall hospital length of stay (P <.0001). However, subsequent operative procedures related to the AAA repair were performed more frequently after ER (TOR = 1.5% versus ER = 15.2%; P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ER offers improvements in hospital convalescent and operating room times but no beneficial impact on overall morbidity and mortality rates when similar PMRFs exist, especially when used at medical centers where low morbidity and mortality rates are already established for TOR. Other centers performing ER should undertake such an analysis to assess its impact on their patients.     

开放或血管腔内修复腹主动脉瘤21178例的荟萃分析

目的已有几个研究比较择期开放和血管腔内方法治疗腹主动脉瘤的预后，而结果并不一致。方法进行随机效应meta分析对手术结果、术后并发症、30天死亡率和术后患者长期存活率进行比较。以优势比（ORs）、加权平均差异（WMDs）或者log风险比（HRs）等合适的方法来比较事件终点。结果42个研究共21178例患者（开放10855例；血管腔内10323例）被纳入。在择期手术组（20715例），血管腔内方法的重症监护时间较短（WMD-36h；P〈0．001），术后总住院时间亦较短（WMD一5．4d；P〈0．001）。心脏并发症（OR1．76；P=0．002）和呼吸系统并发症（OR4．01；P〈0．001）在开放手术后更常见。在血管腔内组，30天死亡率较低（OR0．46；P〈0．001）。血管腔内手术的远期动脉瘤相关死亡率也较低（HR0．39；P〈0．001）。对于破裂性腹主动脉瘤（463例），这种微创手术的重症监护时间较短（WMD-100．4h；P=-0．005），30天死亡率也明显为低（OR0．45；P=0．005）。结论血管腔内修复腹主动脉瘤在降低术后不良事件和30天死亡率等方面成效显著。对于更远期，其动脉瘤相关死亡率也明显降低，但总体死亡率没有降低。     

Sevoflurane with or without antiemetic prophylaxis of dexamethasone in spontaneously breathing patients undergoing outpatient anorectal surgery

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the prophylactic use of dexamethasone with sevoflurane in outpatient anorectal surgery.DesignRandomized, controlled study.SettingOperating room and Postanesthesia Care Unit of a general hospital.Patients60 adult, ASA physical status I and II outpatients undergoing anorectal surgery.InterventionsPatients were randomized to receive either dexamethasone 5 mg intravenously (IV; Group D; n = 30) or an equal volume of saline (Group S; n = 30) before anesthesia induction. Anesthesia was induced with propofol 2.5 mg.kg^?1, fentanyl two μg.kg^?1, and 2% lidocaine one mg.kg^?1 followed by placement of a Laryngeal Mask Airway.MeasurementsFrequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, and patient satisfaction were recorded.Main ResultsFrequency of PONV and VAS pain scores were significantly lower in Group D than Group S (P < 0.05). The time required for “home readiness” was significantly shorter in Group D than Group S (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe prophylactic administration of 5 mg dexamethasone IV can reduce the frequency of PONV, lower VAS pain scores, facilitate recovery to home readiness, and improve satisfaction in outpatients undergoing anorectal surgery.     

Comparison of staple-line leakage and hemorrhage in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with or without Seamguard

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been recognized as a primary procedure for the surgical management of morbid obesity. Staple-line leaks and hemorrhage are two associated complications. Staple-line buttressing materials have been suggested to decrease these complications. When used during LSG, few published papers exist that compare the incidence of leak or hemorrhage to that of nonreinforced staple-lines. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of leak and hemorrhage in patients who did and did not receive reinforcement with Seamguard (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ). This is a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing LSG. All patients met National Institutes of Health criteria and each had an extensive preoperative evaluation. Data was collected from inpatient and outpatient medical records. Fifty-nine patients received reinforcement and 80 patients did not. There was no significant difference in mean body mass index, age, or gender make-up between the two groups. The overall incidence of leak was 3.60 per cent. The incidence was 3.39 per cent in patients who received reinforcement and 3.75 per cent in those who did not. This was not statistically significant. There was no incidence of staple-line hemorrhage in either group. There is no conclusive evidence that Seamguard reduces staple-line leakage or hemorrhage. Studies involving a larger number of patients are necessary before recommending staple-line reinforcement.     

Sirolimus-based therapy with or without cyclosporine: long-term follow-up in renal transplant patients

This open-label, phase 3b, extension trial in renal transplant recipients (Sirolimus Study 311) assessed the long-term safety of sirolimus (SRL) administered with cyclosporine (CsA) (SRL + CsA group, n = 98) or without CsA (SRL group, n = 69). Renal transplant recipients who had either completed one of seven previous SRL studies sponsored by Wyeth Research or had participated for > or =3 months and reached a protocol-designated endpoint were eligible for enrollment. Data were available for 167 patients, all of whom initially received steroids. Mean total SRL exposure was 1526 days, including previous study participation. After enrollment in the extension study, there were significantly more acute rejections in the SRL + CsA group (6.1% vs 0%, P < .05). Differences in rates of graft loss (3.1% vs 1.4%) and death (6.1% vs 1.4%) were not significantly different between SRL + CsA and SRL groups, respectively. At 48 months after transplantation, calculated GFR (53.4 vs 70.9 mL/min) and hemoglobin (124.9 vs 136.6 g/L) were significantly better in the SRL group. Lipid values were not significantly different between groups at 48 months. The incidence of treatment-emergent increased creatinine, anemia, hypertension, headache, epistaxis, abnormal kidney function, and upper respiratory infection were significantly higher in the SRL + CsA group, whereas no adverse events were significantly higher in the SRL group. Malignancies were reported more frequently (11.2% vs 0%) with SRL + CsA. Results from this extension study indicate that SRL-based therapy without CsA is a safe alternative to combination therapy with CsA, offering long-term improvement in renal function with no increased risk of late acute rejection.     

A prospective randomized study in 100 consecutive patients undergoing major liver resection with versus without ischemic preconditioning

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning in a prospective randomized study involving a large population of unselected patients and to identify factors affecting the protective effects. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Ischemic preconditioning is an effective protective strategy in several animal models. Protection has also been suggested in a small series of patients undergoing a hemihepatectomy with 30 minutes of inflow occlusion. Whether preconditioning confers protection in other types of liver resection and longer periods of ischemia is unknown. Therefore, we conducted a prospective randomized study to evaluate the impact of ischemic preconditioning in liver surgery. METHODS: A total of 100 unselected patients undergoing major liver resection (> bisegmentectomy) under inflow occlusion for at least 30 minutes were randomized during surgery to either receive or not receive an ischemic preconditioning protocol (10 minutes of ischemia followed by 10 minutes of reperfusion). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent factors affecting the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning. ATP contents in liver were measured as a possible mechanism of protection. RESULTS: Both groups (n = 50 in each) were comparable regarding age, gender, duration of inflow occlusion, and resected liver volumes. Postoperative serum transaminase levels were significantly lower in preconditioned than in control patients (median peak AST 364 U/L vs. 520 U/L, P = 0.028; ALT 406 vs. 519 U/L, P = 0.049). Regression multivariate analysis revealed an increased benefit of ischemic preconditioning in younger patients, in patients with longer duration of inflow occlusion (up to 60 minutes), and in cases of lower resected liver volume (<50%). Patients with steatosis were also particularly protected by ischemic preconditioning. ATP content in liver tissue was preserved by ischemic preconditioning in young but not older patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes ischemic preconditioning as a protective strategy against hepatic ischemia in humans. The strategy is particularly effective in young patients requiring a prolonged period of inflow occlusion, and in the presence of steatosis, and is possibly related to preservation of ATP content in liver tissue. Other strategies are needed in older patients.     

Myocardial damage in high-risk patients undergoing elective endovascular or open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) provides an objective assessment of the presence and extent of coronary artery disease. Therefore we compared cardiac outcome in patients at high-cardiac risk undergoing open or endovascular repair of infrarenal AAA using preoperative DSE results. METHODS: Consecutive patients with >or=3 cardiac risk factors (age >70 years, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, renal failure, and diabetes mellitus) undergoing infrarenal AAA repair were reviewed retrospectively. All underwent cardiac stress testing using DSE. Postoperatively data on troponin release and ECG were collected on day 1, 3, 7, before discharge, and on day 30. The main outcome measures were perioperative myocardial damage and myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: All 77 patients (39 endovascular, 38 open) had a history of cardiac disease. The number and type of cardiac risk factors were similar in both groups. Also DSE results were similar: 55 vs 56%, 24 vs 28%, and 21 vs 18% had no, limited, or extensive stress induced myocardial ischemia respectively. The incidence of perioperative myocardial damage (47% vs 13%, p=0.001) and the combination of myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death (13% vs 0%, p=0.02) was significantly lower in patients receiving endovascular repair. CONCLUSION: In patients with similar high cardiac risk, endovascular repair of infrarenal aortic aneurysms is associated with a reduced incidence of perioperative myocardial damage.     

Outcomes and perioperative hyperglycemia in patients with or without diabetes mellitus undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: The association between perioperative hyperglycemia and outcomes in patients with and without diabetes mellitus undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is not well defined. We measured the association between perioperative hyperglycemia and outcomes among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: We report a historic cohort study of 1574 patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting between 1998 and 1999, 545 (34.6%) with diabetes. Perioperative blood glucose level was defined as the average of all blood glucose tests obtained on the day of and the day after surgery. Outcomes were 30-day mortality, infection rates (sternum, harvest site, sepsis, pneumonia, urinary tract), and resource utilization. RESULTS: After adjusting for diabetes status and calculated preoperative mortality or mediastinitis risk scores, each 50 mg/dL (2.78 mmol/L) blood glucose increase was not statistically associated with higher mortality (odds ratio 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.98 to 1.92; p = 0.07), or higher infection rate (odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 0.94 to 1.60; p = 0.14). Each 50 mg/dL blood glucose increase was associated with longer postoperative days by 0.76 days (95% confidence interval 0.36 to 1.17 days; p < 0.001), increased hospitalization charges by 2824 dollars (95% confidence interval 1599 dollars to 4049 dollars; p < 0.001), and increased hospitalization cost by 1769 dollars (95% confidence interval 928 dollars to 2610 dollars; p < 0.001). In the unadjusted analysis, infections occurred more frequently in patients with diabetes (6.6% vs 4.1%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative hyperglycemia is associated with increased resource utilization in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with and without diabetes.