Background No study has been conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of an opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) protocol in cardiac surgery to improve patient care. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of OFA on post-operative morphine consumption and the post-operative course. Methods After retrospectively registering to clinicaltrial.gov (NCT03816592), we performed a retrospective matched cohort study (1:1) on cardiac surgery patients with cardiopulmonary bypass between 2018 and 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: OFA (lidocaine, dexamethasone and ketamine) or opioid anaesthesia (OA) (sufentanil). The main outcome was the total postoperative morphine consumption in the 48 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were rescue analgesic use, a major adverse event composite endpoint, and ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS). Results One hundred ten patients were matched (OFA: n = 55; OA: n = 55). On inclusion, demographic and surgical data for the OFA and OA groups were comparable. The total morphine consumption was higher in the OA group than in the OFA group (15 (6–34) vs 5 mg (2–18), p = 0.001). The pain score during the first 48 post-operative hours did not differ between the two groups. Creatinine values did not differ on the first post-operative day (80 (IQR: 66–115) vs 77 mmol/l (IQR: 69–95), p = 0.284). Incidence of the composite endpoint was lower in the OFA group (25 patients (43%) vs 38 patients (68%), p = 0.021). The time to extubation and the ICU stays were shorter in the OFA group (3 (1–5) vs 5 (3–6) hours, p = 0.001 and 2 (1–3) vs 3 (2–5) days, p = 0.037). Conclusion The use of OFA was associated with lower morphine consumption. OFA might be associated with shorter intubation time and ICU stays. Further randomized studies are needed to confirm these results. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered to ct2 (identifier: NCT03816592 ) on January 25, 2019.

Extubation of patients under ECLS is safe and feasible. Furthermore, in extubated patients, we observed fewer cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia and better 30-day survival rates.

BackgroundMinimal invasive heart surgery (MIHS) presents several benefits, but provides intense and prolonged post-operative pain. Our objective was to compare efficacy of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) with continuous wound infiltration (CWI) for management of post-operative pain following MIHS.MethodsIt’s retrospective, monocentric study between November 2016 to April 2017. The study was performed at the University hospital of Dijon, Burgundy, France. All patients scheduled for MIHS was included. Data was collected retrospectively. During this period, 20 patients had SAPB and 26 had CWI. SAPB was performed before extubation with a single injection of 0.5 mg/kg of ropivacaïne (5 mg/ml). In the CWI group, catheter was inserted in the subcutaneous space by the surgeon at the end of the procedure. A 10 ml bolus of ropivacaïne (7.5 mg/mL) was followed by a continuous infusion (2 mg/ml) between 7 and 12 ml/h for 48 h. Morphine consumption and visual analog score (VAS) were recorded for 48 h. Length of stay in intensive care unit and hospital was also collected.ResultsMorphine consumption and VAS score were significantly lower in SAPB group (p < 0.01). Length of stay in intensive care and hospital was significantly was decreased in SAPB group.ConclusionSAPB appears effective in reducing postoperative MIHS pain.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12871-018-0614-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

No abstract

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has shown benefits in the management of refractory inhospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) by improving survival. Nonetheless, the results concerning out-of-hospital refractory cardiac arrests (OHCA) remain uncertain. The aim of our investigation was to compare survival between the two groups. We realized a single-center retrospective, observational study of all patients who presented IHCA or OHCA treated with ECLS between 2011 and 2015. Multivariate analysis was realized to determine independent factors associated with mortality. Over the 4-year period, 65 patients were included, 43 in the IHCA group (66.2%), and 22 (33.8%) in the OHCA group. The duration of low flow was significantly longer in the OHCA group (60 vs. 90 min, P 5 0.004). Survival to discharge from the hospital was identical in the two groups (27% in the OHCA group vs. 23% in the IHCA group, P 5 0.77). All surviving patients in the OHCA group had a cerebral performance categories score of 1-2. In multivariate analysis, we found that the initial lactate level and baseline blood creatinine were independently associated with mortality. We found comparable survival and neurological score in patients who presented IHCA and OHCA treated with ECLS. We believe that appropriate selection of patients and optimization of organ perfusion during resuscitation can lead to good results in patients with OHCA treated with ECLS. Key Words: Extracorporeal life support-Cardiac arrestCardiopulmonary resuscitation.Conventional management of cardiac arrest (CA) has evolved considerably in recent years, nevertheless mortality is still high (1,2). This is essentially related to the neurological prognosis and thus to cerebral damage due to ischemia and reperfusion injury. Given this, the management of CA should focus on maintaining effective circulation during the external cardiac massage and to manage adequately the return to spontaneous circulation.The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for the management of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has been widely described (3). Nonetheless, doubts have been expressed about the usefulness of ECLS in OHCA (4). Indeed, rapid ECLS implementation is a major concern. However, in large towns with heavy traffic, timely implementation of ECLS and restoration of effective circulation is sometimes very long.To update our management practices and to determine the usefulness of ECLS in OHCA, we conducted a retrospective study of all IHCA and OHCA treated with ECLS to compare survival and the neurological prognosis of our patients.

Aims Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly being used in circulatory failure. The main indications are cardiogenic shock, post-cardiotomy cardiac failure, and refractory cardiac arrest. However, VA-ECMO weaning is particularly challenging, and weaning failure is reported to be as high as 50%, with increased related mortality. Levosimendan is a novel long acting effect inodilator used in cardiogenic shock and terminal heart failure decompensation. Levosimendan use in VA-ECMO patients seems to reduce weaning failure regardless of the initial aetiology and to reduce mortality when administrated early after VA-ECMO initiation. However, studies are limited to retrospective analyses and reported case series. The aim of the WEANILEVO trial is to evaluate whether administration of levosimendan before VA-ECMO weaning is associated with a reduced rates of weaning failure and recourse to other temporary circulatory support. Methods and results WEANILEVO is a randomized, prospective, multicentre, double-blind, parallel-group, controlled trial. One hundred eighty patients will be enrolled if they had acute circulatory heart failure treated with VA-ECMO and for whom weaning is expected within 48 h. The study drugs are either levosimendan (0.2 μg/kg/min for 24 h) or a placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial is the absence of VA-ECMO weaning, recourse to another VA-ECMO, or other temporary circulatory assistance or death within 7 days of VA-ECMO weaning. Conclusions Levosimendan use in VA-ECMO appears to be beneficial for reducing weaning failure and mortality. The results of WEANILEVO should significantly influence decisions regarding the use of levosimendan for VA-ECMO weaning.

Background: To evaluate the effect of anaesthesia and ICU sedation with sevoflurane to protect the myocardium against ischemia-reperfusion injury associated to cardiac surgery assessed by troponin release. Methods: We performed a prospective, open-label, randomized study in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were randomized to an algorithm-based intervention group and a control group. The main outcome was the perioperative kinetic of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The secondary outcomes included composite endpoint, GDF-15 (macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1) value, arterial lactate levels, and the length of stay (LOS) in the ICU. Results: Of 82 included patients, 81 were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis (intervention group: n = 42; control group: n = 39). On inclusion, the intervention and control groups did not differ significantly in terms of demographic and surgical data. The postoperative kinetics of cTnI did not differ significantly between groups: the mean difference was 0.44 ± 1.09 μg/ml, P = .69. Incidence of composite endpoint and GDF-15 values were higher in the sevoflurane group than in propofol group. The intervention and control groups did not differ significantly in terms of ICU stay and hospital stay. Conclusion: The use of an anaesthesia and ICU sedation with sevoflurane was not associated with a lower incidence of myocardial injury assessed by cTnI. Sevoflurane administration was associated with higher prevalence of acute renal failure and higher GDF-15 values.

Coronavirus disease 2019 is characterized by its severe respiratory effects. Data early on indicated an increased risk of mortality in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. Early reports highlighted the multisystem inflammatory syndrome, cytokine storm, and thromboembolic events as part of the disease processes. The aim of this review is to assess the association between COVID-19 and its thrombotic complications, specifically related to the cardiovascular system. The role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is explored in the pathogenesis of the disease. The structure and anatomy of the virus are pivotal to its virulence in comparison to other α and β Coronaviridae (HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-HKU1). In particular, the host interaction and response may explain the variability of severity in patients. Angio tensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) activation may be implicated in the cardiovascular and throm bogenic potential of the disease. The virus may also have direct effects on the endothelial lining affecting hemostasis and resulting in thrombosis through several mechanisms. Dipyridamole may have a therapeutic benefit in NET suppression. Therapeutic avenues should be concentrated on the different pathophysiological steps involving the virus and the host.