BackgroundSeveral studies have shown in animal models that remote ischemic preconditioning (rIPC) has a neuroprotective effect. However, a randomized controlled trial in human subjects to investigate the neuroprotective effect of rIPC after cardiac surgery has not yet been reported. Therefore, we performed this pilot study to determine whether rIPC reduced the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) surgery.MethodsSeventy patients who underwent OPCAB surgery were assigned to either the control or the rIPC group using a computer-generated randomization table. The application of rIPC consisted of four cycles of 5 min ischemia and 5 min reperfusion on an upper limb using a blood pressure cuff inflating 200 mmHg before coronary artery anastomosis. The cognitive function tests were performed one day before surgery and again on postoperative day 7. We defined postoperative cognitive dysfunction as decreased postoperative test values more than 20% of the baseline values in more than two of the six cognitive function tests that were performed.ResultsIn the cognitive function tests, there were no significant differences in the results obtained during the preoperative and postoperative periods for all tests and there were no mean differences observed in the preoperative and postoperative scores. The incidences of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the control and rIPC groups were 28.6% (10 patients) and 31.4% (11 patients), respectively.ConclusionsrIPC did not reduce the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction after OPCAB surgery during the immediate postoperative period.

IntroductionSaline-based and hydroxyethyl starch solutions are associated with increased risk of renal dysfunction. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that balanced solutions and a limited volume of hydroxyethyl starch solution (renal protective fluid management [RPF] strategy) would decrease the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB).MethodsWe investigated 783 patients who underwent elective OPCAB. All patients who underwent OPCAB between 1 January 2010 and 4 July 2012 formed the control group and were given intravenous fluids with saline-based solutions and unlimited volumes of colloid solutions. All patients who underwent OPCAB between 5 July 2012 and 31 December 2013 formed the RPF group and were given intravenous fluids with RPF. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative AKI. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of severe AKI, requirement for renal replacement therapy, renal outcome at the time of discharge, and other clinical outcomes.ResultsPostoperative AKI occurred in 33 patients (14.4 %) in the RPF group compared with 210 patients (37.9 %) in the control group (P < 0.001). The incidences of severe AKI and persistent AKI after OPCAB were significantly lower, and the postoperative extubation time and duration of hospital stay were significantly shorter, in patients in the RPF group than in those in the control group. After adjustment by multivariate regression analyses and inverse probability of treatment weighting adjustment, the RPF group was independently associated with a lower incidence of postoperative AKI, severe AKI, and persistent AKI and a shorter postoperative extubation time and duration of hospital stay.ConclusionsThe RPF strategy is associated with a significantly decreased incidence of postoperative, severe, and persistent AKI in patients undergoing OPCAB, although residual confounding may be present.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-015-1065-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a useful and safe procedure for treating hepatic neoplasm. However, liver RFA causes severe pain, which thereby increases the demand for monitored anesthesia care (MAC). Here, we compared the efficacy and safety of propofol and dexmedetomidine, which are commonly administered during MAC when performing RFA to assess hepatic neoplasm.In this randomized controlled trial, 40 patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups for elective RFA. Patients received either dexmedetomidine (group D) or propofol (group P). Both groups received the continuous infusion of remifentanil for pain control. The primary outcomes were opioid consumption and differences in partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) between pre- and postprocedure RFA. In addition, hemodynamic parameters, patient satisfaction, and interventional radiologist satisfaction were determined.There were significant differences in opioid consumption (50.1 ± 16.8 ng/kg/min [group D] vs 71.2 ± 18.7 ng/kg/min [group P]; P = 0.001) and delta PaCO2 (10.4 ± 6.4 mm Hg vs 17.2 ± 9.2 mm Hg, respectively; P = 0.016). Moreover, respiratory rates were significantly different between groups during RFA (P < 0.001). However, blood pressure and heart rate did not significantly change during RFA. Neither patient nor interventional radiologist satisfaction was significantly different between groups.Dexmedetomidine provides better respiratory stability and reduces opioid consumption in comparison with propofol when administered under MAC when performing RFA for hepatic neoplasm.

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A shorter interval between coronary angiography and surgery influenced the occurrence of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass. However, the interval is not an independent risk factor for the development of postoperative acute kidney injury in patients who undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after surgery and increases costs, morbidity, and mortality of hospitalized patients. While radical cystectomy associates significantly with an increased risk of serious complications, including AKI, risk factors of AKI after radical cystectomy has not been reported. This study was performed to determine the incidence and independent predictors of AKI after radical cystectomy.Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy in 2001-2013 in a single tertiary-care center were identified. Their demographics, laboratory values, and intraoperative data were recorded. Postoperative AKI was defined and staged according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria on the basis of postoperative changes in creatinine levels. Independent predictors of AKI were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results: Of the 238 patients who met the eligibility criteria, 91 (38.2%) developed AKI. Univariate logistic regression analyses showed that male gender, high serum uric acid level, and long operation time associated with the development of AKI. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, preoperative serum uric acid concentration (odds ratio [OR] = 1.251; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.048-1.493; P = 0.013) and operation time (OR = 1.005; 95% CI = 1.002-1.008; P = 0.003) remained as independent predictors of AKI after radical cystectomy.Conclusions: AKI after radical cystectomy was a relatively common complication. Its independent risk factors were high preoperative serum uric acid concentration and long operation time. These observations can help to prevent AKI after radical cystectomy.

Percutaneous trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is recommended for inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis at high risk for conventional aortic valve replacement. Originally, TAVI was mostly performed under general anesthesia. Here we describe two cases of transfemoral TAVI performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with dexmedetomidine. Dexmedetomidine provides sedation, analgesia with minimal respiratory depression. Although MAC during transfemoral TAVI has limitations, such as unexpected patient movement and difficulty in intra-procedural use of transesophageal echocardiography, MAC with dexmedetomidine is feasible with close monitoring, fluoroscopic guidance and the participation of experienced anesthesiologists.