Background The type of fluid and volume regimen given intraoperatively both can impact patient outcome after major surgery. This two-arm, parallel, randomized controlled, double-blind, bi-center superiority study tested the hypothesis that when using closed-loop assisted goal-directed fluid therapy, balanced colloids are associated with fewer postoperative complications compared to balanced crystalloids in patients having major elective abdominal surgery. Methods One hundred and sixty patients were enrolled in the protocol. All patients had maintenance-balanced crystalloid administration of 3 ml · kg–1 · h–1. A closed-loop system delivered additional 100-ml fluid boluses (patients were randomized to receive either a balanced-crystalloid or colloid solution) according to a predefined goal-directed strategy, using a stroke volume and stroke volume variation monitor. All patients were included in the analysis. The primary outcome was the Post-Operative Morbidity Survey score, a nine-domain scale, at day 2 postsurgery. Secondary outcomes included all postoperative complications. Results Patients randomized in the colloid group had a lower Post-Operative Morbidity Survey score (median [interquartile range] of 2 [1 to 3] vs. 3 [1 to 4], difference –1 [95% CI, –1 to 0]; P < 0.001) and a lower incidence of postoperative complications. Total volume of fluid administered intraoperatively and net fluid balance were significantly lower in the colloid group. Conclusions Under our study conditions, a colloid-based goal-directed fluid therapy was associated with fewer postoperative complications than a crystalloid one. This beneficial effect may be related to a lower intraoperative fluid balance when a balanced colloid was used. However, given the study design, the mechanism for the difference cannot be determined with certainty.

AimsRecent studies indicate that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP 1 -32 ) may be truncated into BNP 3 -32 by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4) and that BNP 3 -32 has reduced biological activities compared with BNP 1 -32 . We investigated if DPP4 contributes to the cardiorenal alterations and to the attenuated response to BNP seen in heart failure. Methods and resultsHaemodynamic and renal assessment was performed in 12 pigs at baseline, 4 weeks after pacing-induced heart failure, and during BNP infusion. They were randomized to either placebo or treatment with a DPP4 inhibitor, sitagliptin. After 4 weeks of pacing, heart rate was reduced compared with baseline in the sitagliptin group (60 + 2 vs. 95 + 16 b.p.m., P , 0.01), and an increase in stroke volume was observed in the sitagliptin group compared with placebo (+24 + 6% vs. -17 + 7%, P , 0.01). Glomerular filtration rate declined at week 4 compared with baseline in the placebo group (1.3 + 0.4 vs. 2.3 + 0.3 mL/kg/min, P , 0.01) but remained preserved in the sitagliptin group [1.8 + 0.2 vs. 2.0 + 0.3 mL/kg/min, P ¼ NS (non-significant)]. In the sitagliptin group, BNP infusion improved end-systolic elastance (68 + 5 vs. 31 + 4 mmHg/kg/mL, P , 0.05), ventricular-arterial coupling, and mechanical efficiency. Compared with controls (n ¼ 6), myocardial gene expression of BNP, interleukin-6, Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger, and calmodulin was up-regulated in the placebo group, but not in the sitagliptin group. ConclusionIn pacing-induced heart failure, DPP4 inhibition preserves the glomerular filtration rate, modulates stroke volume and heart rate, and potentiates the positive inotropic effect of exogenous BNP at no energy expense.--

In a canine model of chronic myocardial infarction, bone marrow mononuclear cell transfer is superior to mesenchymal stem cell transfer in improvement of cardiac contractility and regional systolic function and reduction in infarct size and plasma N-terminal B-type natriuretic propeptide level. Functional improvement is associated with a favorable angiogenic environment and neovascularization.

Background: Major abdominal surgery is associated with endothelial glycocalyx disruption. The anti-inflammatory effects of lidocaine were recently associated with endothelial barrier protection. Methods: This was a single-centre, parallel group, randomized, controlled, double blind, pilot trial. Forty adult patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery were included between December 2016 and March 2017 in the setting of a University Hospital in Brussels (Belgium); reasons for non-inclusion were planned liver resection and conditions associated to increased risk of local anesthetics systemic toxicity. Patients were randomized to receive either lidocaine by continuous intravenous administration or an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline. The primary endpoint was the postoperative syndecan-1 concentration (difference between groups). Near-infrared spectroscopy of the thenar eminence in association with the vascular occlusion test, and contemporary analysis of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery were the secondary outcomes, along with haemodynamic data. Blood samples and data were collected before surgery (T0), and at 1-3 h (T1) and 24 h (T2) post-surgery. Results: Syndecan-1 concentration increased significantly post-surgery (P < 0.001), but without any difference between groups. The near-infrared spectroscopy-derived and flow-mediated dilation-derived variables showed minor changes unrelated to group assignment. Compared with the placebo group, the intervention group had a significantly lower peri-operative mean arterial pressure and cardiac index, despite equally conducted goal-directed haemodynamic management. Postoperative lactate concentrations were similar between groups. Conclusions: Lidocaine failed to have any effect on endothelial function. Since in comparisons to other types of clinical situations, syndecan-1 was only slightly upregulated, endothelial dysfunction after major abdominal surgery might be overestimated.

BackgroundHeart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and abnormal diastolic function is commonly observed after recovery from an acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiopathology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in a model of healed myocardial infarction in dogs.MethodsEchocardiography, levels of neurohormones and conductance catheter measurements of left ventricular pressure-volume relationships were obtained in 17 beagle dogs 2 months after a coronary artery ligation, and in 6 controls.ResultsHealed myocardial infarction was associated with preserved echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (0.57 ± 0.01, mean ± SEM) and altered Doppler mitral indices of diastolic function. NT-proBNP was increased, aldosterone was decreased, and norepinephrine was unchanged. Invasive measurements showed a markedly decreased end-systolic elastance (2.1 ± 0.2 vs 6.1 ± 0.8, mmHg/ml, p < 0.001) and end-systolic elastance to effective arterial elastance ratio (0.6 ± 0.1 vs 1.4 ± 0.2, p < 0.001), with altered active relaxation (dP/dtmin -1992 ± 71 vs -2821 ± 305, mmHg/s, p < 0.01) but preserved left ventricular capacitance (70 ± 6 vs 61 ± 3, ml at 20 mmHg, p = NS) and stiffness constant. Among echocardiographic variables, the wall motion score index was the most reliable indicator of cardiac contractility while E', E/A and E'/A' were correlated to dP/dtmin.ConclusionsIn the canine model of healed myocardial infarction induced by coronary ligation, heart failure is essentially characterized by an altered contractility with left ventricular-arterial uncoupling despite vascular compensation rather than by abnormal diastolic function