Atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveNew-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is common, with rates up to 60%. POAF has been associated with early and late stroke, but its association with other cardiovascular outcomes is less known. The objective was to perform a meta-analysis of the studies reporting the association of POAF with perioperative and long-term outcomes in patients with cardiac surgery.MethodsWe performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of studies that presented outcomes for cardiac surgery on the basis of the presence or absence of POAF. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were assessed; 57 studies (246,340 patients) were selected. Perioperative mortality was the primary outcome. Inverse variance method and random model were performed. Leave-one-out analysis, subgroup analyses, and metaregression were conducted.ResultsPOAF was associated with perioperative mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-2.33), perioperative stroke (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.90-2.49), perioperative myocardial infarction (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54), perioperative acute renal failure (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.42-3.11), hospital (standardized mean difference, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.53-1.07) and intensive care unit stay (standardized mean difference, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86), long-term mortality (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.54; 95% CI, 1.40-1.69), long-term stroke (IRR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.21-1.46), and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (IRR, 4.73; 95% CI, 3.36-6.66).ConclusionsThe results suggest that POAF after cardiac surgery is associated with an increased occurrence of most short- and long-term cardiovascular adverse events. However, the causality of this association remains to be established.     

Effect of deuteration on the single dose pharmacokinetic properties and postoperative analgesic activity of methadone

Although methadone is effective in the management of acute pain, the complexity of its absorption-distribution-metabolism-excretion profile limits its use as an opioid of choice for perioperative analgesia. Because deuteration is known to improve the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicological properties of some drugs, here we characterized the single dose pharmacokinetic properties and post-operative analgesic efficacy of d₉-methadone.The pharmacokinetic profiles of d₉-methadone and methadone administered intravenously to CD-1 male mice revealed that deuteration leads to a 5.7- and 4.4-fold increase in the area under the time-concentration curve and maximum concentration in plasma, respectively, as well as reduction in clearance (0.9 ± 0.3 L/h/kg vs 4.7 ± 0.8 L/h/kg). The lower brain-to-plasma ratio of d₉-methadone compared to that of methadone (0.35 ± 0.12 vs 2.05 ± 0.62) suggested that deuteration decreases the transfer of the drug across the blood-brain barrier. The estimated LD₅₀ value for a single intravenous dose of d₉-methadone was 2.1-fold higher than that for methadone. Moreover, d₉-methadone outperformed methadone in the efficacy against postoperative pain by primarily activating peripheral opioid receptors. Collectively, these data suggest that the replacement of three hydrogen atoms in three methyl groups of methadone altered its pharmacokinetic properties, improved safety, and enhanced its analgesic efficacy.     

Atrial functional tricuspid regurgitation: An underappreciated cause of secondary tricuspid regurgitation

Secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) caused by right ventricular enlargement in the setting of left heart disease/pulmonary hypertension has been well described. In contrast, that associated with right atrial enlargement—atrial functional TR (AF‐TR)—remains largely underappreciated. AF‐TR most often occurs in the setting of lone atrial fibrillation, although it is also seen in its absence (idiopathic AF‐TR). Several recent studies have found that the prevalence, hemodynamic significance, and prognosis of AF‐TR are not inconsequential, suggesting increased physician awareness of this novel clinical entity is warranted. This article discusses the pathogenesis, echocardiographic findings, and treatment of this underappreciated cause of secondary TR.     

单孔加一孔联合ERAS在高位直肠及乙状结肠癌中的应用

目的 探讨单孔加一孔腹腔镜手术联合 ERAS 治疗高位直肠及乙状结肠癌的近期疗效。方法 回顾性分析 2017 年 11 月至2018 年 10 月在福建省肿瘤医院胃肠肿瘤外科进行加速康复外科干预的 92 例高位直肠及乙状结肠癌患者资料，根 据手术方式的不同，分为单孔加一孔手术联合快速康复外科组39 例及常规腹腔镜手术联合ERAS 组 53 例，对比两组围术 期情况。结果 两组患者基线资料无明显统计学差异（P ＞ 0.05），且在手术时间、出血量、上下切缘、清扫淋巴结数量及 并发症方面无明显统计学差异（P ＞ 0.05）。但单孔加一孔手术联合ERAS 组较常规手术联合ERAS 组，总切口长度更短 [（6.7±1.1）cm 比（8.5±1.3）cm，P=0.000]，术后首次下床时间更早 [（22.2±5.2）h 比（27.1±7.9）h，P=0.001]，首次排便 时间更早[（70.2±19.8）h比（83.1±20.4）h，P=0.005]，术后第一天C反应蛋白值更低[（43.5±28.6）mg/L比（57.2±33.2） mg/L，P=0.038]，术后住院时间更短 [（7.0±1.7）d 比（8.1±2.1）d，P=0.010]，且术后 2~4 天疼痛评分更低（P ＜ 0.05）。 结论 经验丰富的腔镜医师采用单孔加一孔手术治疗高位直肠及乙状结肠癌并联合 ERAS 干预是安全可行的，且单孔加一孔 手术可减低操作难度，具有疼痛轻、术后恢复快等优势，值得临床推广。