Major Abdominal Surgery In Patients Research Articles

Benefits of dexmedetomidine during noninvasive mechanical ventilation in major abdominal surgery patients with postoperative respiratory failure.

The efficacy of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) on the postoperative ARF is conflicting and the failure rate of NIMV in this patient population is high. In our study, we hypothesized that the use of dexmedetomidine during NIMV in major abdominal surgical patients can reduce NIMV failure without significant side affect. Medical records of patients who underwent major abdominal surgery, admitted to our general surgery intensive care unit (ICU), developed postoperative ARF, received NIMV (with oro-nasal mask) and dexmedetomidine infusion were enrolled in this study. The infusion rate was adjusted to maintain a target sedation level of a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) (-2)-(-3). The sedation was stopped when NIMV was discontinued. A total of 60 patients, 42 (70.0%) male, and 18 (30.0%) female, with a mean age of 68 ± 11 years were included in the study. The mean APACHE II score was 20 ± 6. Dexmedetomidine was infused for a median of 25 h (loading dose of 0.2 mcg/kg for 10 min, maintained at 0.2-0.7 mcg/kg/h, titrated every 30 min). RASS score of all study group significantly improved at the 2 h of dexmedetomidine initiation (+3 vs. -2, p = 0.01). A targeted sedation level was achieved in 92.5% of patients. Six (10.0%) patients developed bradycardia and 5 (8.3%) patients had hypotension. The mean NIMV application time was 23.4 ± 6.1 h. Seven (11.6%) patients experienced NIMV failure, all due to worsening pulmonary conditions, and required intubation and invasive ventilation. Fifty-three (88.3%) patients were successfully weaned from NIMV with dexmedetomidine sedation and discharged from ICU. The duration of NIMV application and ICU stay was shorter in NIMV succeded group (21.4 ± 3.2 vs. 29.9 ± 6.4; p = 0.012). Our study suggests that dexmedetomidine demonstrates effective sedation in patients with postoperative ARF during NIMV application after abdominal surgery. Dexmedetomidine can be considered safe and capable of improving NIMV success.

Impact of wearable wireless continuous vital sign monitoring in abdominal surgical patients: before-after study.

Technological advances have enabled continuous monitoring of vital signs (CMVS) by wearable, wireless devices on general hospital wards to facilitate early detection of clinical deterioration, which could potentially improve clinical outcomes. However, evidence on the impact of these CMVS systems on patient outcomes is limited. This research aimed to explore the effect of CMVS on the clinical outcomes in major abdominal surgery patients in a general surgery ward. A single-centre before-after study was conducted from October 2019 to June 2022. Patients in the intervention group received CMVS in addition to conventional intermittent vital sign monitoring (standard care for control group). With CMVS, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured every 5 min by a patch sensor. Proactive vital signs trends assessments and, when necessary, subsequent nursing activities were performed every nursing shift. The primary outcome of interest was the length of hospital stay (LOS); also, 12 patient-related outcomes were analysed. In the CMVS group, follow-up nursing activities of deviating vital signs trends were described and patient acceptability was measured. Post-hoc subgroup analysis was performed for colorectal and hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. A total of 908 patients were included (colorectal: n = 650; hepatopancreatobiliary: n = 257). Overall, median LOS was lower in the CMVS group (5.0 versus 5.5 days; P = 0.012), respectively. Post-hoc subgroup analysis showed this reduction in LOS was mostly observed in the colorectal group and not in the hepatopancreatobiliary group. Apart from a decrease in nurse-to-house-officer calls (from 15.3% to 7.7%; P = 0.007), all secondary clinical outcomes were similar in CMVS and control groups. However, a non-significant trend towards less-severe complications and reduced ICU LOS was observed in the CMVS group. In CMVS patients, 109 additional nursing activities were performed and 83% of patients indicated CMVS was acceptable. CMVS was associated with a significant reduction in LOS, while other clinical outcomes were unchanged. CMVS triggered additional nursing activities such as extra patient assessments and therapeutic interventions.

Can supplementation of tryptophan in parenteral nutrition increase melatonin and alleviate inflammatory response?

Endogenous melatonin is produced from tryptophan which is an essential amino acid. Besides its role in the regulation of sleep patterns, melatonin has anti-inflammatory effects. In this case-control study, we aimed to compare tryptophan and melatonin levels and their relationship with the inflammatory response, specifically serum interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and c-reactive protein levels following major abdominal surgery in patients with food restriction and who receive parenteral nutritional therapy. We enrolled 40 patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years in the study. We collected blood and urine samples 48 h before the operation and on postoperative days 1, 3, and 5. The tryptophan levels in the experimental group were higher than in the control group but failed to reach any statistical difference. Melatonin levels were increased in both groups following the surgery compared with preoperative levels. The increase in the experimental group was statistically different 3 days after the surgery. The difference in the level of interleukin-1 between the control and the experimental groups was greatest on postoperative day 3. On postoperative day 3, the interleukin-6 level in the treatment group was slightly higher than in the control group. We did not find any difference in the levels of c-reactive protein between the groups. As a result, the levels of tryptophan and melatonin were increased in the parenteral nutrition group, irrespective of the postoperative inflammatory response.

The effect of bed exercises following major abdominal surgery on early ambulation, mobilization, pain and anxiety: A randomized-controlled trial.

This randomized-controlled trial aimed to investigate the effect of bed exercises on postoperative anxiety, pain, early ambulation and mobilization. This study was conducted with a randomized-controlled trial design and in the general surgical clinic of a research and training hospital. A total of 120 patients (60 in the experimental group and 60 in the control group) scheduled for major abdominal surgery took part in the study. The data were collected using a patient information form, the Anxiety Specific to Surgery Questionnaire and the Visual Analog Scale through face-to-face interviews. The patients in the experimental group performed 15-min bed exercises on the day of their operation, as well as on the postoperative first and second days, and the control group underwent only the routinely performed procedures in the clinic. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and t-tests. The sample of our study included major abdominal surgery patients. Ambulation was achieved at a mean time of 4 h earlier in the experimental group. On the postoperative first and second days, the patients in the experimental group had mean mobilization durations that were approximately 2 h longer compared with the patients in the control group. Moreover, the postoperative pain and anxiety levels of the patients in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the patients in the control group (p < 0.05). We recommend that bed exercises be performed to lower anxiety and pain severity, achieve early ambulation and increase the duration of mobilization among patients following major abdominal surgery.

SP3.9 The role of urinary biomarkers in predicting post operative kidney function

Abstract Aims Post-operative Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) has implications on recovery, conferring a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. A previous study of 488 major abdominal surgery patients demonstrated that urinary biomarkers could predict peri-operative AKI. The aim of this follow-up study was to assess the biomarkers (NGAL, KIM-1, DKK-3 and IGFBP-7*TIMP-2) for their ability to predict long-term changes in renal function. Methods Predictive ability for long term renal function derangement was assessed by classifying the participants change in their ‘CKD’ stage from the pre-operative status, determined by the measured eGFR at follow up as per the KDIGO criteria (at least 6 months from their operation). Biomarker performance was assessed utilising AUROC analysis. Biomarkers were also interrogated for their ability to predict mortality at one year. Results Follow up measurement of renal function was obtained in 446 of 488 patients. 40 patients died within 1 year of their operation. Median time of follow up renal function measurement was 398 days post operatively (IQR: 366 – 490 days). 169 patients developed an increase in their CKD stage. No biomarker showed good predictive ability for such a rise – all displayed AUC values of &amp;lt;0.6. Similarly, AUC values for the prediction of mortality within one year were low, with all AUC values &amp;lt;0.65. Discussion This study has determined that urinary AKI biomarkers are poor predictors for long term derangement in renal function and mortality at one year in the surgical patient. Such evidence suggests that biomarkers are best suited to detect changes in the immediate post operative period.

SP4.4 A Prospective Diagnostic study investigating Urinary Biomarkers of AKI in Major Abdominal Surgery (The AKI-BioMAS Study)

Abstract Aims To characterize biomarker performance in predicting Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Major Abdominal Surgery using both the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) serum creatinine (AKISCr) and urine output (AKIUO) criteria. Post-operative AKI is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Research assessing AKI biomarkers has focussed on cardiac, vascular and transplant surgery cohorts. Few studies have addressed Major Abdominal Surgery. Methods This prospective observational diagnostic study was conducted on 488 major abdominal surgery patients. Urine was collected four hours post-surgery. Biomarkers measured were NGAL, KIM-1, DKK-3 and IGFBP-7*TIMP-2. Diagnostic performance was assessed utilizing Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results 242 participants developed AKIUO (49.5%) and 43 AKISCr (8.8%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values for stage 1 AKISCr using NGAL was 0.741 (95%CI 0.699-0.770, p&amp;lt;0.001) and 0.871 (95%CI 0.838-.899, p&amp;lt;0.001) for stage 2. AUC values for IGFBP-7*TIMP-2 for stage 1 were 0.655 (95% CI 0.611-0.697, p0.003) and stage 2 0.803 (95%CI 0.764-0.837 p0.002). The AUC for KIM-1 was statistically significant for stage 1 (0.68, 95%CI 0.637-0.722) but not for stage 2. No AUC values for DKK-3 were statistically significant. Biomarkers performed poorly for stage 1 and 2 AKIUO with AUC values of &amp;lt;0.65. Conclusions AKI rates following Major Abdominal Surgery are dependent on criteria used. Given the numerous confounders affecting urine output post-operatively it may be that current AKIUO criteria in patients undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery may be inappropriate. This is reflected in poor diagnostic performance of biomarkers in this context. Biomarkers performed better when assessing AKISCr, with NGAL returning the highest AUC values.

Postoperative systemic inflammation after major abdominal surgery: patient-centred outcomes.

Postoperative systemic inflammation is strongly associated with surgical outcomes, but its relationship with patient-centred outcomes is largely unknown. Detection of excessive inflammation and patient and surgical factors associated with adverse patient-centred outcomes should inform preventative treatment options to be evaluated in clinical trials and current clinical care. This retrospective cohort study analysed prospectively collected data from 3000 high-risk, elective, major abdominal surgery patients in the restrictive vs. liberal fluid therapy for major abdominal surgery (RELIEF) trial from 47 centres in seven countries from May 2013 to September 2016. The co-primary endpoints were persistent disability or death up to 90 days after surgery, and quality of recovery using a 15-item quality of recovery score at days 3 and 30. Secondary endpoints included: 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality; septic complications; acute kidney injury; unplanned admission to intensive care/high dependency unit; and total intensive care unit and hospital stays. Patients were assigned into quartiles of maximum postoperative C-reactive protein concentration up to day 3, after multiple imputations of missing values. The lowest (reference) group, quartile 1, C-reactive protein ≤ 85 mg.l-1 , was compared with three inflammation groups: quartile 2 > 85 mg.l-1 to 140 mg.l-1 ; quartile 3> 140 mg.l-1 to 200 mg.l-1 ; and quartile 4> 200 mg.l-1 to 587 mg.l-1 . Greater postoperative systemic inflammation had a higher adjusted risk ratio (95%CI) of persistent disability or death up to 90 days after surgery, quartile 4 vs. quartile 1 being 1.76 (1.31-2.36), p < 0.001. Increased inflammation was associated with increasing decline in risk-adjusted estimated medians (95%CI) for quality of recovery, the quartile 4 to quartile 1 difference being -14.4 (-17.38 to -10.71), p < 0.001 on day 3, and -5.94 (-8.92 to -2.95), p < 0.001 on day 30. Marked postoperative systemic inflammation was associated with increased risk of complications, poor quality of recovery and persistent disability or death up to 90 days after surgery.

Effects of remote ischaemic preconditioning on myocardial injury after major abdominal surgery in patients at high risk for cardiovascular adverse events in China (RIPC-MAS): protocol for a randomised, sham-controlled, observer-blinded trial

IntroductionMyocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) caused by an ischaemic mechanism is common and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term prognoses. However, MINS is a recent concept, and few...

β-Blockade before Noncardiac Surgery: The Devil Is in the Details.

β-Blockade before Noncardiac Surgery: The Devil Is in the Details.

Endotypes of intraoperative hypotension during major abdominal surgery: a retrospective machine learning analysis of an observational cohort study

BackgroundIntraoperative hypotension is associated with myocardial injury, acute kidney injury, and death. In routine practice, specific causes of intraoperative hypotension are often unclear. A more detailed understanding of underlying haemodynamic alterations of intraoperative hypotension may identify specific treatments. We thus aimed to use machine learning – specifically, hierarchical clustering – to identify underlying haemodynamic alterations causing intraoperative hypotension in major abdominal surgery patients. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that there are distinct endotypes of intraoperative hypotension, which may help refine therapeutic interventions. MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of intraoperative haemodynamic measurements from a prospective observational study in 100 patients who had major abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia. We used stroke volume index, heart rate, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance index, and pulse pressure variation measurements. Intraoperative hypotension was defined as any mean arterial pressure ≤65 mm Hg or a mean arterial pressure between 66 and 75 mm Hg requiring a norepinephrine infusion rate exceeding 0.1 μg kg−1 min−1. To identify endotypes of intraoperative hypotension, we used hierarchical clustering (Ward's method). ResultsA total of 615 episodes of intraoperative hypotension occurred in 82 patients (46 [56%] female; median age: 64 [57, 73] yr) who had surgery of a median duration of 270 (195, 335) min. Hierarchical clustering revealed six distinct intraoperative hypotension endotypes. Based on their clinical characteristics, we labelled these endotypes as (1) myocardial depression, (2) bradycardia, (3) vasodilation with cardiac index increase, (4) vasodilation without cardiac index increase, (5) hypovolaemia, and (6) mixed type. ConclusionHierarchical clustering identified six endotypes of intraoperative hypotension. If validated, considering these intraoperative hypotension endotypes may enable causal treatment of intraoperative hypotension.

Effect of intraoperative personalized goal-directed hemodynamic management on acute myocardial injury in high-risk patients having major abdominal surgery: a post-hoc secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

Acute myocardial injury is common after noncardiac surgery and associated with mortality. Impaired intraoperative cardiovascular dynamics are a risk factor for acute myocardial injury. Optimizing intraoperative cardiovascular dynamics may thus reduce acute myocardial injury. We aimed to investigate the effect of intraoperative personalized goal-directed hemodynamic management on the incidence of acute myocardial injury. We hypothesized that personalized goal-directed hemodynamic management reduces the incidence of acute myocardial injury compared to routine hemodynamic management in high-risk patients having major abdominal surgery. We performed a post-hoc secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial including 180 high-risk major abdominal surgery patients that were randomized to personalized goal-directed hemodynamic management or routine hemodynamic management. We compared the incidences of acute myocardial injury—defined according to the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (2018)—between patients randomized to personalized goal-directed hemodynamic management or routine hemodynamic management by calculating the relative and absolute risk reduction together with 95% Wald confidence intervals and P values. Acute myocardial injury occurred in 4 of 90 patients (4%) in the personalized goal-directed hemodynamic management group and in 12 of 90 patients (13%) in the routine hemodynamic management group (relative risk: 0.33, 95% confidence interval: 0.11 to 0.99, P = 0.036; absolute risk reduction: − 9%, 95% confidence interval: − 17% to − 0.68%, P = 0.034). In this post-hoc secondary analysis, intraoperative personalized goal-directed hemodynamic management reduced the incidence of acute myocardial injury compared to routine hemodynamic management in high-risk patients having major abdominal surgery. This needs to be confirmed in larger prospective trials.

Dynamics of the baroreflex sensitivity during combined anesthesia with sevoflurane or propofol: a randomized trial

INTRODUCTION: A significant number of complications is still a serious problem in abdominal surgery. It is known that patients with low baroreflex sensitivity are more prone to hemodynamic instability during general anesthesia, which allows them to be identified as a risk group. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamics of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) during major abdominal surgery in patients with different risk of critical incidents under combined anesthesia with propofol or sevoflurane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized study was conducted in 160 patients (80 high-risk and 80 low-risk patients), who were randomized into subgroups according to the type of anesthesia (propofol or sevoflurane) to assess the effect of the type of anesthesia critical incidents and baroreflex dynamics. RESULTS: After the induction there was a trend towards a decrease in BRS, while in subgroups with initially low values of BRS, it decreased below 3 ms/mmHg. After the end of operation and 6 hours after extubation, there were no significant changes in comparison with intraoperative values. Evaluation of BRS after 24 hours showed that BRS in all subgroups was significantly higher than at previous time points, but did not return to baseline values. At 6 hours postoperatively, in low-risk patients, BRS values were below 3 ms/mmHg in 12.5 % with propofol, and in 10 % with sevoflurane, in high-risk patients — in 45 % and 42.5 % of cases, respectively. At 24 hours, in the low-risk group, only two patients in the propofol anesthesia group and one in the sevoflurane anesthesia subgroup experienced this dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Both anesthesia with propofol and anesthesia with sevoflurane lead to a decrease in the sensitivity of the arterial baroreflex, which is not fully restored 24 hours after the end of the operation. High-risk patients with initially reduced baroreflex sensitivity show more frequent postoperative baroreflex dysfunction.

The Relation Between Mean Arterial Pressure and Cardiac Index in Major Abdominal Surgery Patients: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Cardiac output is an important hemodynamic variable and determines oxygen delivery. In contrast to blood pressure, cardiac output is rarely measured even in high-risk surgical patients, suggesting that clinicians consider blood pressure to be a reasonable indicator of systemic blood flow. However, the relationship depends on constant vascular tone and volume, both of which routinely vary during anesthesia and surgery. We therefore tested the hypothesis that there is no clinically meaningful correlation between mean arterial pressure and cardiac index in major abdominal surgery patients. In this prospective observational study, we assessed the relationship between mean arterial pressure and cardiac index in 100 patients having major abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The pooled within-patient correlation coefficient calculated using meta-analysis methods was r = 0.34 (95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.40). Linear regression using a linear mixed effects model of cardiac index on mean arterial pressure revealed that cardiac index increases by 0.014 L·min-1·m-2 for each 1 mm Hg increase in mean arterial pressure. The 95% Wald confidence interval of this slope was 0.011 to 0.018 L·min-1·m-2·mm Hg-1 and thus within predefined equivalence margins of -0.03 and 0.03 L·min-1·m-2·mm Hg-1, thereby demonstrating lack of clinically meaningful association between mean arterial pressure and cardiac index. There is no clinically meaningful correlation between mean arterial pressure and cardiac index in patients having major abdominal surgery. Intraoperative blood pressure is thus a poor surrogate for cardiac index.

Positive Postoperative Blood Cultures in Major Abdominal Surgery Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Durban, South Africa

Background : Evidence from high-income countries suggests that bloodstream infection is an essential complication following major surgery. However, studies of bloodstream infections following major surgery in lower-income settings, particularly in Africa, are rare. This study aimed to determine the incidence of postoperative bloodstream infection and to explore any association with mortality in high-risk laparotomy patients in South Africa. Methods : This study was a retrospective study, reviewing 435 consecutive adults who underwent laparotomy at a South African tertiary hospital over a five-year period. Incident postoperative bloodstream infection, defined as a positive blood culture following surgery, was determined from laboratory reports in the patient’s medical chart. Source infections and the causative microorganisms were established from laboratory reports. Inpatient mortality was determined from the patient’s hospital discharge summary. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Potential associations between bloodstream infection and mortality were tested using the chi-square test. Results : The incidence of postoperative bloodstream infection was 7.4%. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 21.9%, 18.7%, and 15.6% of blood cultures. Mortality in patients with bloodstream infection was 46.9% vs. 16.1% in patients without bloodstream infection (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions : Postoperative bloodstream infection is an essential complication following major abdominal surgery with K. pneumoniae, E. coli, and S. aureus being the most common causative agents. Bloodstream infection is associated with a higher risk of postoperative mortality. Further studies are recommended to confirm the findings and improve patient management.

Validation of the Next-Generation Caretaker Continuous Physiological Monitor Using Invasive Intra-Arterial Pressures in Abdominal Surgery Patients

Introduction The reliable detection and, ultimately, prediction of hypotensive events in post-operative settings remains an unsolved problem, as patients are currently only monitored intermittently because of the lack of validated, non-invasive/non-intrusive and continuous physiological monitoring technologies. With this goal in mind, the aim of this study was to validate a next-generation platform version of the currently FDA-cleared non-invasive Caretaker (CT) physiological monitor in the hemodynamically challenging environment of abdominal surgeries in comparison with blood pressures obtained from arterial catheters, evaluated against ANSI/AAMI/ISO 81060–2:2019 standards as well as against current non-invasive standard of care measurements provided by clinical-grade automatic oscillometric cuffs. Methods Comparison data from 41 major abdominal surgery patients at Cooper Hospital (Camden NJ) were analyzed in this IRB approved study. Each patient was monitored with a radial arterial catheter and CT using a finger cuff applied to the contralateral middle finger. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures continuously collected from the arterial catheter and CT were compared using Pearson correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis. In addition, a trend analysis using 4Q plots was performed. Both the CT’s continuous BP tracking and the CT’s self-calibration capability were analyzed. Results The continuous data comparisons were performed with and without taking the CT recalibrations into account. With the recalibrations the mean differences and standard deviations (STDs) for systole and diastole were, respectively, -1.14 mmHg (13.82 mmHg) and -2.49 mmHg (9.42 mmHg), while the correlations were 0.80 and 0.78. Mean differences and STDs for an initial calibration and no subsequent recalibrations were, respectively for systole and diastole, -0.42 mmHg (16.73 mmHg) and -2.57 mmHg (10.36 mmHg), while the correlations were 0.64 and 0.67. For the CT’s self-calibrations alone, correlations for systole and diastole were, respectively, 0.83 and 0.75, while corresponding mean differences (STD) were -3.19 mmHg (10.86 mmHg) and -2.41 mmHg (8.18 mmHg). For 41% of total surgery time, both systole and diastole were within 8 mmHg of the arterial catheter Gold Standard. The concordances for systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes on a 30-second time scale were 0.87 and 0.86. The same comparison analysis for the automatic cuff and the arterial catheter data yielded: correlations for systole and diastole: 0.69 and 0.61, mean differences and STDs: 2.48 mmHg (15.82 mmHg) and 0.65 mmHg (10.68 mmHg). Conclusions The results of this study are significant in that they validate the future use of the CT physiological monitor, which utilizes Pulse Decomposition Analysis (PDA), in the post-operative monitoring scenario both as a monitor to detect hypotensive events to facilitate clinical intervention as well as provide signal inputs that could enable anticipatory measures.

Functional Diagnostic Methods in Cardiac Prognosis in Major Abdominal Surgery in Patients with Heart Disease or Over 65 Years Old

Purpose of the study. Evaluation of the value of the results of the use of cardiac functional examination methods for the stratification of the risk of developing cardiovascular complications in planned abdominal surgical interventions in patients over 65 years of age or with cardiac pathology.Materials and methods. The study included 179 patients over 65 years of age or with a history of heart disease who underwent elective abdominal surgery. The median age was 70 years. During the operation and for 30 days after it, cardiac complications were recorded: severe (myocardial infarction, stroke, death from cardiovascular disease), others (strokes of exertional angina, ischemic dynamics of the ST segment on the electrocardiogram – ECG – rest, paroxysmal fibrillation / flutter atrial). All patients underwent basic examination – examination, anamnesis, ECG, blood test, assessment of respiratory function, ECG monitoring. Additionally, echocardiography (EchoCG) and ergospirometry (ESM) were performed.Results. In 30 (16.8 %) patients, various MTRs were detected: 6 (3.4 %) of fatal myocardial infarctions, 2 (1.1 %) of fatal strokes; 3 (1.7 %) cases of sudden cardiac death, angina attacks were recorded in 4 (2.2 %) patients, 7 (3.9 %) had ischemic ECG dynamics, 11 (6.1 %) had fibrillation episodes or atrial flutter. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, intervention on the colon, blood hemoglobin level &lt;100 g / l, serum creatinine &gt;103 μmol / l, presence of any pathological changes in the resting ECG were associated with the development of SSO; according to EchoCG – VTI (linear velocity integral) in the outflow tract of the left ventricle (LV) &lt;21.5 cm, volume of the left atrium&gt; 57 ml, global LV myocardial deformity is less than 18 %, increase in heart rate (HR) at the 1st minute load test&gt; 27 %, peak oxygen consumption at ESM &lt;15.8 ml / kg / min. The optimal plan for preoperative examination in men is to perform a basic model, and for women it is advisable to combine a basic examination with an ESM or an assessment of the degree of myocardial deformity using the speckle-tracking method for EchoCG.Conclusion. The risk of perioperative MTS during planned abdominal operations in patients older than 65 years or with a history of heart disease is relatively high – 16.8 %. When assessing the risk associated with the operation, it is advisable to additionally conduct echocardiography with VTI assessment in the LV outflow tract and myocardial deformity indicators, as well as ESM with the determination of HR increase in the 1st minute of the test and peak oxygen consumption.

Continuous spinal versus continuous thoracic epidural anesthesia for major abdominal surgery in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Most anesthetists preferred general anesthesia for major abdominal surgery which was not devoid of complications in cases with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recently, the use of neuraxial anesthesia is supported to avoid or decrease these complications. This study aimed at the description, evaluation, and comparison between the use of continuous spinal anesthesia (CSA) and continuous thoracic epidural anesthesia (CTEA) as a sole anesthesia for major abdominal surgeries in cases with COPD. Patients and methods Sixty patients of both sexes aged 40–75 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classes II and III complaining of COPD scheduled for various elective major abdominal operations were included. According to the neuraxial block type, the patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups with 30 patients in each. The first group (CSA group) received continuous lumbar spinal anesthesia and the second group (CTEA group) received continuous thoracic epidural anesthesia. The data recorded included patients’ demographic data, characteristics of the used neuraxial blockade, hemodynamic changes, changes in pulmonary functions, incidence of the various side effects, and postoperative pain severity. Results The final statistical analysis included 55 patients where five patients were excluded from the study. Although there were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding demographics, hemodynamics, changes in pulmonary functions, side effects, surgeon, and patients’ satisfactions, and postoperative visual analog scale. The CSA group has faster block onset with less local anesthetic dose compared with the CTEA group (P<0.001). Also, there were statistically significant decrease in peak expiratory flow rate, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity at 1, 2, and 6 h postoperatively compared with the preoperative baseline values in both groups (P<0.05). Hypotension was significantly more frequent in the CTEA group than in the CSA group (P=0.047). Conclusion Although both CSA and CTEA can be used for anesthesia and for postoperative analgesia in major abdominal surgery in COPD patients, the CSA was easier, safer, had faster onset, gave more predictable block, with less hemodynamic instability, and less technical failure compared with CTEA. The preoperative optimization of the lung functions, intraoperative close observation, and postoperative neuraxial analgesia with chest physiotherapy improved the outcome.

Liver function assessment by indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate in patients with intra-abdominal hypertension after “non-hepatic” abdominal surgery

Background and objective: Liver function assessment in patients with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) after major abdominal surgery is complex and often confounding. Elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) often occurs after major abdominal surgery, and is associated with decreased abdominal blood flow and organ dysfunction, and it could cause abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), which is a life-threatening condition. Plasma disappearance rate (PDR) of indocyanine green (ICG) and ICG retention rate after 15 min (R15) were used to evaluate liver function and as a prognostic parameter after major abdominal surgery.Methods: In this prospective/observational study, 51 patients were followed in the surgical intensive care unit after major abdominal surgery (operation of the small and large intestine, stomach, pancreas, spleen, or resection of the abdominal aorta), 29 had IAH. The PDR-ICG and R15 were analyzed 24 h after surgery concurrently with IAP, APP, bilirubin, AST, ALT, prothrombin time, albumin, cardiac index, arterial lactate, oxygen delivery, MAP (mean arterial pressure), APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), SOFA (sequential organ failure assessment), and SAPS II (simplified acute physiology score). IAH has been defined as a peak intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) value of ≥12 mmHg, at a minimum, as two standardized measurements obtained 1–6 h apart.Results: The PDR-ICG measured 24 h after surgery was not different among groups (20.95% [SD = 10.34] vs 25.40% [SD = 7.42]), p = .094. ICG R15 was significantly higher in patients with IAH, 11.10% [SD = 13.82] vs 8.30 [SD = 11.46], p < .05, respectively. The PDR/ICG value was significantly lower in non-survivors than survivors (16.82 [SD = 10.87] vs 24.35 [SD = 8.48], p < .05).Conclusions: The results suggest that PDR/ICG and ICG R15 are useful dynamic tests for evaluation of complex liver function and survival prediction after major abdominal surgery in patients with IAH.

Major abdominal surgery in a patient with a metallic heart valve—balancing risks of thromboembolic events and perioperative bleeding

Surgical patients with mechanical valves are challenging, as their need for anticoagulation to reduce thromboembolic events is weighed against the risk for postoperative hemorrhage. Timing and bridging method for anticoagulation presents a great challenge for the surgeon. There is no protocol and consensus to our knowledge of managing acute major abdominal surgery in patients with metallic valves. We share our experience and review the current literature on this topic.

Enteral nutrition versus parenteral nutrition after major abdominal surgery in patients with gastrointestinal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To clarify the benefits of enteral nutrition (EN) versus total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer who underwent major abdominal surgery. Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were...