ObjectiveThis study was conducted to reassess the concepts established over the past 20 years, in particular in the last 5 years, about the use of methylene blue in the treatment of vasoplegic syndrome in cardiac surgery.MethodsA wide literature review was carried out using the data extracted from: MEDLINE, SCOPUS and ISI WEB OF SCIENCE.ResultsThe reassessed and reaffirmed concepts were 1) MB is safe in the recommended doses (the lethal dose is 40 mg/kg); 2) MB does not cause endothelial dysfunction; 3) The MB effect appears in cases of NO up-regulation; 4) MB is not a vasoconstrictor, by blocking the cGMP pathway it releases the cAMP pathway, facilitating the norepinephrine vasoconstrictor effect; 5) The most used dosage is 2 mg/kg as IV bolus, followed by the same continuous infusion because plasma concentrations sharply decrease in the first 40 minutes; and 6) There is a possible "window of opportunity" for MB's effectiveness. In the last five years, major challenges were: 1) Observations about side effects; 2) The need for prophylactic and therapeutic guidelines, and; 3) The need for the establishment of the MB therapeutic window in humans.ConclusionMB action to treat vasoplegic syndrome is time-dependent. Therefore, the great challenge is the need, for the establishment the MB therapeutic window in humans. This would be the first step towards a systematic guideline to be followed by possible multicenter studies.
Lung cancers may extend along or grow through the pulmonary veins to invade or lie within the left atrium (LA). A 62-year-old man, previously healthy, presented with 1-month ventilatory-independent right hemithorax back pain, dry cough and large effort dyspnea. He also referred weight loss of 12 kg in 10 months and denied hemoptysis. As antecedents, he smoked for 40 years and moderate daily alcoholism. On physical examination, the patient was in good general condition, hydrated and regular respiration at rest [blood pressure (BP) =120/80 mmHg; heart rate (HR) =90 bpm; respiratory rate (RR) =16 rpm]. Cardiac auscultation revealed two standard rhythmic sounds without murmurs. Pulmonary auscultation revealed a slightly diminished vesicular murmur in the lower 1/3 of the right hemithorax without adventitious noises. Chest radiography showed a mass over the right lower lung. A CT scan confirmed the radiography image with the mass extending along the right inferior pulmonary vein and a tumor in the LA. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed large mass within the LA (occupying almost the entire cavity), measuring about 10 cm × 3 cm at its largest diameter, prolapsing into the left ventricle. Bronchoscopy, head CT scan, and whole-body bone scintigraphy investigation did not show any distant metastasis. The patient was successfully operated removing the intracardiac and inferior pulmonary vein tumor with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by a right inferior lobectomy carried out after 25 days. After 30 days from surgery presented seizures associated a brain metastasis evidenced by CT when adjuvant radio and chemotherapy was started. During the next 90 days, the clinical conditions worsened, and the patient died 4 months after the surgical treatment. The case report has two primary justifications, even considering the poor outcome: (I) rarity and (II) the possibility of the surgical treatment.
Infusion of dexmedetomidine without bolus seems to be an effective adjuvant to fentanyl on the promotion of sedation and control of hemodynamic responses during surgery for congenital cardiopathies in children.
Introduction Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) is a rare anomaly. Current data available regarding adult cases is derived from small series, information simultaneously presented in pediatric publications, and one classical multicenter study. This review, not aimed to exhaust the subject, has the purpose to examine the literature addressing presentation, diagnostic methodology, and management of afflicted adult patients. Methods A comprehensive search was undertaken in three major databases (PubMed, Cochrane, SciELO), using the keywords “congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries” and “adults”. Relevant articles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese were extracted and critically appraised in this review. Steps for study selection were: (1) identification of titles of records through databases searching, (2) removal of duplicates, (3) screening and selection of abstracts, (4) final inclusion in the study. Results Four hundred sixty-five publications on CCTGA in adult patients were retrieved, and 166 were excluded; 299 studies were used for this review including 76 full-text articles, 70 studies related to general aspects of the subject, and, due to the small number of publications, 153 case reports. Sixty-one articles referring to combined experiences in pediatric and adult patients and judged to be relevant, but retrieved from another sources, were also included. Conclusion Albeit clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria have been well stablished, there seems to be room for discussion related to clinical and surgical management of CCTGA in adults. Considering the rarity of the disease, well designed multicenter studies may provide answers.
Background. The purpose of this study was to access the effects of dexmedetomidine-fentanyl infusion on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) before surgical stimulation, on their changes to skin incision, and on isoflurane requirement during cardiac surgery in children. Methods. This study had a prospective, randomized, and open-label design. Thirty-two children aged 1 month to 10 years undergoing surgery for repair congenital heart disease (CHD) with CPB were randomly allocated into two groups: group MDZ received midazolam 0.2 mg·kg−1·h−1 and group DEX received dexmedetomidine 1 μg·kg−1·h−1 during the first hour followed by half of these rates of infusions thereafter. Both group received fentanyl 10 μg·kg−1, midazolam 0.2 mg·kg−1 and vecuronium 0.2 mg·kg−1 for induction. These same doses of fentanyl and vecuronium were infused during the first hour then reduced to half. The infusions started after induction and maintained until the end of surgery. Isoflurane was given briefly to control hyperdynamic response to skin incision and sternotomy. Results. In both groups, systolic blood pressure (sBP) and heart rate (HR) decreased significantly after one hour of infusion of the anesthetic solutions, but there were significantly less increase in diastolic blood pressure, sBP, and HR, and less patients required isoflurane supplementation to skin incision in the patients of the DEX group. Discussion. Dexmedetomidine infusion without a bolus appears to be an effective adjunct to fentanyl anesthesia in control of hemodynamic responses to surgery for repair of CHD in children.
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