Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Research Articles

STS/SCA/AmSECT/SABM Update to the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Patient Blood Management

Owing to the constantly evolving nature of the medical literature, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) clinical practice guidelines periodically undergo evaluation and updating. A multidisciplinary panel of experts was convened by STS, which includes members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA), the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology (AmSECT), and the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM), to review the latest data on patient blood management and to update the 2011 Update to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Blood Conservation Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Blood Conservation and Hemostasis in Cardiac Surgery: A Survey of Practice Variation and Adoption of Evidence-Based Guidelines.

Blood conservation and hemostasis are integral parts of reducing avoidable blood transfusions and the associated morbidity and mortality. Despite the publication of blood conservation guidelines for cardiac surgery, evidence suggests persistent variability in practice patterns. Members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) created a survey to audit conformance to existing guidelines and use the results to help narrow the evidence-to-practice gap. Members of the SCA and its Continuous Practice Improvement (CPI)- Blood Conservation Work Group developed a 48-item Blood Conservation and Hemostasis in Cardiac Surgery (BCHCS) survey. The questionnaire included the components of the Anesthesia Quality Institute's (AQI) composite measure AQI49. The survey was distributed to the entire SCA membership by e-mail via the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) Consortium between the fall of 2017 and early 2018. Of 3152 SCA members, 536 returned surveys for a response rate of 17%. Most responders worked at academic institutions. The median transfusion trigger after cardiopulmonary bypass was hemoglobin (Hgb) 7.0 to 8.0 g/dL. There are 4 components to AQI49, and the composite conformance to all of them was low due to 1 specific component: the use of transfusion algorithms supplemented with point-of-care (POC) testing. There was good conformance to the other 3 components of AQI49: use of antifibrinolytics, minimization of hemodilution and use of red cell salvage. Overall, practices with a multidisciplinary patient blood management (PBM) team were the most successful in meeting all 4 AQI49 criteria. The survey demonstrated widespread adoption of several best practices, including the tolerance of lower hemoglobin transfusion triggers, use of antifibrinolytics, minimization of hemodilution, and use of red cell salvage. The survey also confirms that gaps remain in preoperative anemia management and the use of transfusion algorithms supplemented with POC hemostasis testing. Serial use of this survey can be used to identify barriers to implementation and audit the effectiveness of interventions described in this article. This instrument could also help harmonize local, regional, and national efforts and become an essential component of an implementation strategy for PBM in cardiac surgery.

A Short Course on the Teachings of Paul Barash.

A Short Course on the Teachings of Paul Barash.

EACTA/SCA Recommendations for the Cardiac Anesthesia Management of Patients With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Infection: An Expert Consensus From the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists With Endorsement From the Chinese Society of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesiology

The European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology (EACTA) and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) aimed to create joint recommendations for the perioperative management of patients with suspected or proven severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection undergoing cardiac surgery or invasive cardiac procedures.To produce appropriate recommendations, the authors combined the evidence from the literature review, reevaluating the clinical experience of routine cardiac surgery in similar cases during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) outbreak and the current pandemic with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, and the expert opinions through broad discussions within the EACTA and SCA. The authors took into consideration the balance between established procedures and the feasibility during the present outbreak. The authors present an agreement between the European and US practices in managing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.The recommendations take into consideration a broad spectrum of issues, with a focus on preoperative testing, safety concerns, overall approaches to general and specific aspects of preparation for anesthesia, airway management, transesophageal echocardiography, perioperative ventilation, coagulation, hemodynamic control, and postoperative care.As the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading, it will continue to present a challenge for the worldwide anesthesiology community. To allow these recommendations to be updated as long as possible, the authors provided weblinks to international public and academic sources providing timely updated data.This document should be the basis of future task forces to develop a more comprehensive consensus considering new evidence uncovered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Potential Renoprotective Strategies in Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Survey of Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Members to Explore the Rationale and Beliefs Driving Current Clinical Decision-Making

The authors sought to (1) characterize the rationale underpinning anesthesiologists' use of various perioperative strategies hypothesized to affect renal function in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, (2) characterize existing belief about the quality of evidence addressing the renal impact of these strategies, and (3) identify potentially renoprotective strategies for which anesthesiologists would most value a detailed, evidence-based review. Survey of perioperative practice in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Online survey. Members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA). None. The survey was distributed to more than 2,000 SCA members and completed in whole or in part by 202 respondents. Selection of target intraoperative blood pressure (and relative hypotension avoidance) was the strategy most frequently reported to reflect belief about its potential renal effect (79%; 95% CI: 72-85). Most respondents believed the evidence supporting an effect on renal injury of intraoperative target blood pressure during cardiac surgery was of high or moderate quality. Other factors, including a specific nonrenal rationale, surgeon preference, department- or institution-level decisions, tradition, or habit, also frequently were reported to affect decision making across queried strategies. Potential renoprotective strategies most frequently requested for inclusion in a subsequent detailed, evidence-based review were intraoperative target blood pressure and choice of vasopressor agent to achieve target pressure. A large number of perioperative strategies are believed to variably affect renal injury in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with wide variation in perceived quality of evidence for a renal effect of these strategies.

Anesthesia Management at Fuwai Hospital:Practice, Evidence and Outcomes

Fuwai Hospital was established in 1956 and the Anesthesia Department of Fuwai Hospital was one of the earliest anesthesia departments then in China. Under the leadership of several department directors and with the concerted efforts of all generations of colleagues, the Anesthesia Department of Fuwai Hospital has dramatically transformed, upgraded and modernized. For more than six decades, the Anesthesia Department has been providing high-quality peri-operative anesthesia care for cardiovascular surgeries, conducting innovative experimental and clinical researches, and offering comprehensive training on cardiovascular anesthesiology for professionals across China. Currently, Fuwai Hospital is the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China and one of the largest cardiovascular centers in the world. The present review introduces the Anesthesia Department of Fuwai Hospital, summarizes its current practice of anesthesia management, the outcomes of cardiovascular surgeries at Fuwai Hospital, accumulates relevant evidence, and provides prospects for future development of cardiovascular anesthesiology.

Commentary: The aggregation of marginal gains for spinal cord protection

Commentary: The aggregation of marginal gains for spinal cord protection

Multicentric survey on the use of intraoperative echocardiography in cardiovascular surgery in Spain

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an essential tool in the intraoperative and postoperative period of cardiac surgery with recently wide diffusion. We aimed to know the current situation of TEE in the field of cardiovascular anesthesiology in Spain through a national survey that explores the availability of equipment, indication and use of this technique as well as the training and accreditation of professionals involved. The findings show that in Spain intraoperative TEE is an integral part of cardiovascular procedures today and in most centers it is performed by anesthesiologists highly involved in this type of surgery. Despite the absence of structured training in the curriculum of our specialty, anesthesiologists acquire the skills through specific short-term rotations and a high percentage of them have obtained official accreditation. La ecocardiografía transesofágica (ETE) es una herramienta fundamental en el intraoperatorio y postoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca con una gran difusión en los últimos años. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer la situación actual de la ETE en el ámbito de la anestesiología en cirugía cardiaca en España a través de una encuesta nacional que explora la disponibilidad de equipos, indicación y utilización de dicha técnica, así como la formación y acreditación de los profesionales responsables. Los hallazgos muestran que en España la ETE intraoperatoria es parte integral de los procedimientos cardiovasculares hoy en día y en la mayor parte de los centros es realizada por anestesiólogos altamente involucrados en este tipo de cirugías. A pesar de la ausencia de formación estructurada en el currículum formativo de nuestra especialidad, los anestesiólogos adquieren las competencias mediante rotaciones específicas de corta duración y un alto porcentaje de ellos ha obtenido la acreditación oficial.

Is it time to incorporate point-of-care ultrasound into the anesthesiology resident's training curriculum?

BackgroundThe role of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) continues to expand, yet in most anesthesia residency programs, trainees have limited exposure to a specific curriculum. Furthermore, anesthesiologists in private practice have even less exposure or access to training pathways. MethodsWe searched peer-reviewed literature using PubMed for this review article, which discusses the training pathways and certifications for ultrasound in perioperative patient care, the evolution of POCUS, and the ways that skilled anesthesiologists can use the technique for cardiac and noncardiac surgery. We also discuss the possible specific curriculum and pathways for POCUS training among anesthesiologists. ResultsIn 1996, the American Society of Echocardiography and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists developed the first set of guidelines for a comprehensive intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination. Subsequently several countries and organizations have published guidelines on perioperative TEE training requirements and certifications. In the United States, the primary organizations include the American Society of Echocardiography and Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists. To date, there have been no published training requirements or certification processes for anesthesiology trainees in POCUS in perioperative patients. ConclusionsAny examination evaluating the competency use of POCUS would need to be comprehensive and involve a technical skill as well as written/audiovisual examination.

The Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database: 2020 Update on Quality and Outcomes.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, in partnership with The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, has developed the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. The goal of this landmark collaboration is to advance clinical care, quality, and knowledge, and to demonstrate the value of cardiac anesthesiology in the perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients. Participation in the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section has been optional since its inception in 2014 but has progressively increased. Opportunities for further growth and improvement remain. In this first update report on quality and outcomes of the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section, we present an overview of the clinically significant anesthesia and surgical variables submitted between 2015 and 2018. Our review provides a summary of quality measures and outcomes related to the current practice of cardiothoracic anesthesiology. We also emphasize the potential for addressing high-impact research questions as data accumulate, with the overall goal of elucidating the influence of cardiac anesthesiology contributions to patient outcomes within the framework of the cardiac surgical team.

The Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database: 2020 Update on Quality and Outcomes

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, in partnership with The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, has developed the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. The goal of this landmark collaboration is to advance clinical care, quality, and knowledge, and to demonstrate the value of cardiac anesthesiology in the perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients. Participation in the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section has been optional since its inception in 2014 but has progressively increased. Opportunities for further growth and improvement remain. In this first update report on quality and outcomes of the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section, we present an overview of the clinically significant anesthesia and surgical variables submitted between 2015 and 2018. Our review provides a summary of quality measures and outcomes related to the current practice of cardiothoracic anesthesiology. We also emphasize the potential for addressing high-impact research questions as data accumulate, with the overall goal of elucidating the influence of cardiac anesthesiology contributions to patient outcomes within the framework of the cardiac surgical team.

The Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database: 2020 Update on Quality and Outcomes

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, in partnership with The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, has developed the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section of the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. The goal of this landmark collaboration is to advance clinical care, quality, and knowledge, and to demonstrate the value of cardiac anesthesiology in the perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients. Participation in the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section has been optional since its inception in 2014 but has progressively increased. Opportunities for further growth and improvement remain. In this first update report on quality and outcomes of the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Section, we present an overview of the clinically significant anesthesia and surgical variables submitted between 2015 and 2018. Our review provides a summary of quality measures and outcomes related to the current practice of cardiothoracic anesthesiology. We also emphasize the potential for addressing high-impact research questions as data accumulate, with the overall goal of elucidating the influence of cardiac anesthesiology contributions to patient outcomes within the framework of the cardiac surgical team.

Коррекция дефицита антитромбина в периоперационном периоде у кардиохирургических пациентов

Введение: В качестве антикоагулянта у пациентов с сочетанием порока митрального клапана (МК) и ишемической болезнью сердца (ИБС) в периоперационном периоде используется гепарин. Терапевтическая активность гепарина зависит от уровня активности антитромбина (АТ). Дефицит АТ увеличивает риск тромбоза. Цель исследования: оценить эффективность и безопасность препаратной коррекции дефицита АТ в интраоперационном периоде у пациентов с сочетанием по рока МК и ИБС. Материалы и методы: Обследовано 30 доноров и 46 пациентов с ИБС и патологией МК. Измерение аналитов проводили на 3 этапах: до кожного разреза, после ушивания операционной раны, через 24 ч после начала операции. В зависимости от уровня активности АТ (cut-off 60%) пациенты с этапа 2 были разделены на 2 группы. Пациенты обеих групп получали лечение в соответствии со стандартным анестезиологическим протоколом, пациентам группы 2 дополнительно для коррекции дефицита АТ вводили препарат Антитромбин- III (Бакстер АГ, Австрия). Результаты: Не обнаружено разницы между группами по объему послеоперационной кровопотери, продолжительности искусственной вентиляции легких и времени пребывания в отделении реанимации и интенсивной терапии. Более низкая активность АТ в группе 2 сохранялась на всех этапах исследования. При нормировании снижения уровня АТ в группе 2 обнаружена более выраженная динамика. Аналогичные результаты получены для этапов 2 и 3 при нормировании восстановления активности АТ. Обнаружена умеренная отрицательная корреляция снижения активности АТ и времени пережатия аорты, уровня Д-димера и активности АТ на этапе окончания операции. Заключение: Исходная активность АТ у всех обследованных пациентов была ниже, чем в группе доноров. У пациентов с исходно низким уровнем АТ документирована более выраженная динамика его снижения. Восстановление активности АТ после препаратной коррекции его дефицита происходило значимо эффективнее. Пациентам с сочетанием порока МК и ИБС рекомендуется интраоперационная коррекция Антитромбином при снижении активности < 60% к моменту окончания операции. Применение препарата безопасно и не ведет к увеличению кровопотери. Background: Heparin is used as an anticoagulant perioperatively in patients with combined cardiac pathology. The heparin therapeutic activity depends on the level of antithrombin (AT) activity. AT defi ciency increases the risk of thrombosis. Objectives: to access the effectiveness and safety of drug correction of AT defi ciency in the intraoperative period in patients with combined mitral valve defect (MVD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Patients/Methods: 30 healthy blood donors and 46 patients with IHD and MVD were examined. The analytes were measured at 3 stages: before the skin incision, after suturing the operating wound, and 24 hours after the start of the operation. Depending on the AT activity at the second stage (cut-off 60%) patients were divided into 2 groups. All patients received treatment according to the standard anesthetic protocol; group 2 patients were given Antithrombin III (Baxter AG, Austria) to correct AT defi ciency. Results: There was no difference between the groups in the postoperative blood loss, duration of ventilation and ICU stay. The lower activity of AT in group 2 patients remained at all study stages. When the decrease in AT level was rationed, more pronounced dynamics was found in group 2. Similar results were found at stages 2 and 3 after the AT activity restoration also was rationed. Moderate negative correlation at the stage 2 was found between the drop of AT activity and the time of aortic clamping, and between the D-dimer level and AT activity. Conclusions: The initial AT activity in all examined patients was lower than in the blood donor group. In patients with an initially low AT level a more pronounced dynamic of its decrease was documented. Recovery of AT activity was significantly more effective after drug correction of its defi ciency. For patients with MVD and IHD combination intraoperative correction with Antithrombin is recommended if the activity decreases by < 60% by the end of the operation. The use of the drug is safe and does not lead to increased blood loss.

A Survey of the Practice of Thoracic Anesthesia in India

The aim of the survey was to understand the contemporary thoracic anesthesia practice in India. A prospective questionnaire-based survey. The survey was conducted at the Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesiologists 2018 (IACTACON-2018). After the conference, the questionnaire was distributed again to the conference participants electronically to increase the response rate. Anesthesiologists from India attending IACTACON-2018. Hard copies of a validated questionnaire (n = 430) were distributed among Indian anesthesiologists attending IACTACON 2018. The questionnaire included 17 questions pertaining to preanesthesia checkup, lung isolation devices, intraoperative management, postoperative analgesia, and infrastructure available at their institutions. Following the conference, the survey was continued online by sending the link of the online survey to all registered participants (n = 421) from India, taking care to avoid duplication of responses. Collected data were analyzed using frequency distributions and chi-square tests. Total responses were 166 (110 hardcopies and 56 online responses) of 430, with the response rate being 38.6%. A double-lumen tube (DLT) was the most commonly preferred for lung isolation (160/166: 96.4%). Nearly 55% of anesthesiologists preferred auscultation for confirmation of DLT, as 38% of anesthesiologists reported unavailability of the pediatric bronchoscope. Nearly 80% of anesthesiologists were compliant with the principles of protective one-lung ventilation. Preference for inhalation anesthetic agents during one-lung ventilation, use of restrictive intravenous fluids, and regional blocks for postoperative analgesia commonly were followed by the Indian anesthesiologists. Despite the challenges offered by limited resources, the practice of thoracic anesthesia in India is at par with the standards followed across the world.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in cardiac arrest: results of a hands-on training for a simplified TEE protocol

BackgroundIntegration of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FoCUS) can impact decision-making, assist in the diagnosis of reversible etiologies and help guiding resuscitation of patients with cardiac arrest.ObjectiveTo evaluate the ability of emergency physicians (EPs) to obtain and maintain skills in performing resusTEE after a course with clinical training in the cardiac surgery theatre.MethodsTen EPs without previous TEE experience underwent a resusTEE course, based on a 2-h workshop and an 8-h hands-on training. The training was performed in a cardiac surgery theatre tutored by cardiovascular anesthesiologists. The six taught views were mid-esophageal four-chamber (ME4CH), mid-esophageal long axis (MELAX), mid-esophageal two-chamber (ME2CH), mid-esophageal bicaval view (MEbicaval), transgastric short axis (TGSAX) and aorta view (AOview). The EPs were evaluated by a cardiovascular anesthesiologist at the end of the course as well as after 12 weeks according to a standardized evaluation method. Once the course was completed, resusTEE exams, performed by EPs in Emergency Department (ED), were monitored for a 12-week period.ResultsThe average assessment of the ten EPs by the tutors was higher than 4 points out of 5, both at the end of the course and after 12 weeks. Probe insertion, acquisition and interpretation of the different views scored on average more than 4 points out of 5 except for TGSAX that showed worsening after 12 weeks. Trainees performed twelve resusTEE exams in ED in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) over 12 weeks after the course. EPs used only four out of six taught views in clinical practice, in the following order of frequency: ME4CH, AOview, MEbicaval and MELAX.ConclusionsEPs, after a course with clinical training in the cardiac surgery theatre, can successfully acquire and maintain the skills needed to perform resusTEE. However, among the six views learned in the course, EPs used only four of them (ME4CH, MEbicaval, MELAX and AOview).

Anesthetic management of lung transplantation: Results from a multicenter, cross-sectional survey by the society for advancement of transplant anesthesia.

Current protocols for the perioperative care of lung transplant (LTX) recipients lack rigorous evidence and are often empiric, based upon institutional preferences. We surveyed LTX anesthesiologists to determine the most common practices. We developed a survey of 40 questions regarding perioperative care of LTX recipients using Qualtrics software. The survey was sent out to members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists performing LTX at geographically diverse sites to facilitate data collection for as many practices as possible. The responses were center-weighed (127 responses, 85% from academic settings). The clamshell approach was commonly used (70%). Cardiopulmonary bypass was preferred by 56%, ex vivo lung perfusion utilized by 43%, and 49.4% indicated they use lungs from donation after circulatory determination of death. Most (69%) used oximetric pulmonary artery catheters, 60% used tissue oximetry, and 89.3% utilized transesophageal echocardiography. Inhaled nitric oxide was preferred by 48%, restrictive fluid management by 48%, and systemic analgesia advocated by 49% of participants. Inspired oxygen concentration <30% was applied to the new lung on reperfusion by 28% of the respondents. Variations in healthcare delivery and utilization for LTX recipients indicate gaps in knowledge and potential opportunities to improve the quality of care.

Specific Considerations for the Protection of Patients and Echocardiography Service Providers When Performing Perioperative or Periprocedural Transesophageal Echocardiography during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak: Council on Perioperative Echocardiography Supplement to the Statement of the American Society of Echocardiography Endorsed by the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists

Protecting health care workers and preventing the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) should be a top priority during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) carries a heightened risk for SARS-CoV-2 spread in nonintubated patients due to possible direct droplet transmission and/or viral aerosolization during insertion and removal of the probe, as well as coughing. Although performing TEE in an already intubated patient may reduce the risk for viral aerosolization, viral transmission may still occur through direct contact with the patient's secretions, resulting in contaminated hands and surfaces.

Lumbar drain complications in patients undergoing fenestrated or branched endovascular aortic aneurysm repair: Development of an institutional protocol for lumbar drain management

ObjectiveLumbar drain placement with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage is an effective adjunct for reducing the risk of spinal cord ischemia in patients undergoing complex aortic aneurysm repair. However, lumbar drain placement is a challenging procedure with potential for significant complications. We sought to characterize complications of lumbar drain placement in a large, single-center experience of patients who underwent fenestrated or branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F/BEVAR). MethodsAll patients who underwent F/BEVAR and attempted lumbar drain placement from 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. All lumbar drains were placed by four cardiovascular anesthesiologists who compose the complex aortic anesthesia team. Lumbar drain placement was guided by a set protocol and used whenever the aortic stent graft coverage was planned to extend more proximal than 40 mm above the celiac artery. Details relating to lumbar drain placement, management, and frequency and type of associated complications were characterized. ResultsDuring the study period, 256 patients underwent F/BEVAR, of whom 100 (39%) were planned for lumbar drain placement. Successful placement occurred in 98 (98%) of the cases. All lumbar drains were placed before induction of general anesthesia, using fluoroscopy guidance in 28 cases (28%). The most common level of placement was L4-5 (n = 42 [42%]). The majority (n = 82 [82%]) were left in place ≤48 hours; 21% were removed during the first 24 hours, and 61% were removed between 24 and 48 hours. Nonfunctionality was the most common complication, occurring in 16 (16%) patients. Catheter dislodgment or fracture, CSF leak, and postdural puncture headache were observed in 4 (4%), 7 (7%), and 4 (4%) patients, respectively. The most common bleeding complication was the presence of asymptomatic blood in the CSF (n = 11 [11%]), whereas subarachnoid hemorrhage combined with intraventricular hemorrhage occurred in three patients (3%); none of these patients required surgical drainage or intervention. No infectious complications were observed. ConclusionsLumbar drain placement for CSF drainage is a commonly employed adjunct to prevent spinal cord ischemia in F/BEVAR. Our experience demonstrates that lumbar drain placement can be performed successfully but is associated with a significant rate of nonfunctionality and a diverse range of complications that, fortunately, do not commonly have significant long-term sequelae.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Clinical Practice Improvement Advisory for Management of Perioperative Bleeding and Hemostasis in Cardiac Surgery Patients: Erratum.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Clinical Practice Improvement Advisory for Management of Perioperative Bleeding and Hemostasis in Cardiac Surgery Patients: Erratum.

Whose Voices Are Heard? Speaker Gender Representation at the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting

Gender disparities in academic medicine continue to be prevalent despite significant advances in the number of women entering medicine over the last decades. The purpose of the present study was to investigate gender representation of speakers at Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Annual Scientific Sessions meetings from 2015 to 2018. Observational study. Internet analysis and cross-sectional survey. Speakers at the SCA Annual Scientific Sessions meetings from 2015 to 2018. Individual speakers in the main program, problem-based learning discussions, workshops, and fellow sessions were analyzed for speaker gender. Speakers' names, pronouns, institutional biographies, and accompanying images were matched with public online data and were used to identify gender. Gender data from the 2019 SCA Diversity Survey respondents were used to estimate gender of the SCA membership. Between 2015 and 2018, the number of lectures given by women was 22% to 25%. A statistically significant difference was found in the expected versus observed proportion of women in speaking slots for all combined sessions (2015-2018; p = 0.0027, 0.0023, 0.0018, 0.025, respectively). There also was a statistically significant difference in the expected versus observed proportion of women in speaking slots in the main sessions (2015-2018; p ≤ 0.0001, 0.00069, 0.00019, 0.00019, respectively). For the workshops, problem-based learning discussions, and fellow sessions, no statistically significant difference was found in the observed versus expected proportion of women in speaker slots. Between 2015 and 2018, the majority of lectures at the SCA annual meetings were given by men, with women consistently giving 22% to 25% of individual lectures. When all sessions were combined, there was a statistically significant difference in the expected versus observed proportion of women in speaking slots.