The effect of an infusion of esmolol on the incidence of myocardial ischaemia during tracheal extubation following coronary artery surgery

The aim of this randomised controlled study was to determine whether an esmolol infusion affected the incidence of ST segment changes during weaning from intermittent positive pressure ventilation and tracheal extubation after coronary artery surgery. Thirty-one patients received an infusion of esmolol 0-300 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) and 37 patients comprised the control group. ST segment changes were monitored using a continuous ambulatory surveillance system. The electrocardiogram, direct arterial pressure and pulse oximetry were monitored continuously. The period of analysis was from 120 min before until 180 min after tracheal extubation. Three patients in the esmolol group developed myocardial ischaemia during the study period compared with 12 in the control group (p = 0.05). Heart rate increased with time during the study period (p = 0.002) in the control group but was unchanged in the esmolol group. Mean heart rate was significantly higher in the control group than in the esmolol group from 40 min before until 180 min after tracheal extubation. Seven patients in the esmolol group suffered adverse events related to the esmolol infusion. Although the use of esmolol reduced the incidence of myocardial ischaemia, the incidence of adverse effects makes it unsuitable prophylaxis for patients after coronary artery surgery.


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The effect of an infusion of esmolol on the incidence of myocardial ischaemia during tracheal extubation following coronary artery surgery

SM Kurian, R Evans, NO Fernandes and KM Sherry
Northern General Hospital NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK Introduction: Silent myocardial ischaemia (SMI) has been shown to be temporally associated with tracheal extubation in up to 27% of patients after coronary artery bypass operations [1]. Patients who develop SMI during tracheal extubation are more likely to have a higher heart rate [1,2] and arterial pressure [2]. The aim of this study was to determine whether an esmolol infusion could affect the incidence of SMI during the weaning from intermittent positive pressure ventilation and tracheal extubation following coronary artery surgery. Patient haemodynamics and adverse events were also assessed. Methods: Ethics Committee Approval and informed consent were obtained. The study was conducted in the intensive care unit (ICU) on patients who had undergone elective coronary artery surgery. Preoperative exclusion criteria were: digoxin therapy, electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy or left bundle branch block, cardiac pacemaker, asthma, a previous intolerance to beta adrenergic blockade or renal impairment. Postoperative exclusion criteria were first degree heart block or beta adrenergic agonist infusion at the time of study entry. Thirty-eight patients were randomized to the control group (group C) and 34 to receive a sliding scale infusion of esmolol (group E) with a target heart rate between 55-75 bpm. The study period extended from 120 min before until 180 min after tracheal extubation. Myocardial ischaemia, reversible ST segment depression ≥2 mm or elevation ≥3 mm for more than 60 s was detected using the Compas com-puterized ambulatory ECG system (S-pace Medical, Sheffield, UK). Heart rate and arterial pressure were recorded at 10-min intervals. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: One patient from each group was withdrawn because of ECG lead faults. Two patients from group E were withdrawn because of hypotension. The patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The esmolol group had a lower incidence of myocardial ischaemia compared with the control group (3/31 versus 12/37; χ 2 analysis, P = 0.05). Heart rate increased in group C (analysis of variance, P = 0.002) and was unchanged in group E. Arterial pressure in both groups showed increases during tracheal extubation. Four patients from group E had a high heart rate that was difficult to control and a further three patients developed hypotension.
Conclusions: Esmolol does reduce the incidence of myocardial ischaemia in association with tracheal extubation following coronary artery surgery. However, the high incidence of adverse events limits its use in this patient population. Beating heart coronary surgery and renal function: a prospective randomised study ATM Tang*, R Thomas, J Knott, J Nanson, SK Ohri* and D Smith Departments of Anaesthesia and *Cardiac Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK Introduction: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is widely regarded as an important contributor to renal failure, a well recognised complication, following coronary artery surgery (CABG). Off-pump coronary surgery (OPCAB) is intuitively considered renoprotective. We examine the extent of renal glomerular and tubular injury in lowrisk patients undergoing either OPCAB or on-pump coronary artery bypass (ONCAB). Methods: Forty patients awaiting elective CABG were prospectively randomized into those undergoing OPCAB (n = 20) and ONCAB (n = 20). Table 1 illustrates the exclusion criteria. Glomerular and tubular injury were assessed, respectively, by urinary excretion of microalbumin and retinol binding protein (RBP) indexed to urinary creatinine [1]. Daily measurements were made from admission to postoperative day 5. Fluid balance, serum creatinine and blood urea were also monitored. Results: No mortality or renal complication was observed. Both groups had similar demographic make-up. The OPCAB group received fewer coronary grafts than their counterparts (1.8 versus 2.8; P = 0.002). Serum creatinine and blood urea remained normal in both groups throughout the study. A dramatic and similar rise in mean ± 2SD urinary RBP : creatinine ratio occurred in both groups peaking on day 1 (3183 ± 2534 versus 4035 ± 4078; P = 0.43) before returning to baseline levels. These trends were also observed with the urinary microalbumin : creatinine ratio (5.05 ± 2.66 versus 6.77 ± 5.76; P = 0.22). ONCAB patients had  [2]. The actual relationship between force and transthoracic impedance has not been established. Methods: 55 patients (36 male, 19 female) undergoing general anaesthesia for cardiac surgery were investigated. Male chests were shaved. A pair of gel pads and paddles were placed in the anterior-apical position according to the ILCOR guidelines. The endotracheal tube was opened to air and paddles instrumented with force sensors were applied to the chest wall with progressive force to a maximum of 12 kgf. The resultant TTI was recorded at 10 measurements per second to a hard drive. Results: Light pressure results in a high TTI that rapidly decreases as paddle force increases (Fig. 1). An 18.7% fall in overall TTI occurs when applying force from 0.5 to 6.0 kg. Increasing paddle force from 6 to 12 kg results in a further decrease in TTI of 3.2%. Conclusion: A minimum of 6 kg force applied to each paddle is necessary to achieve 83% of the overall decrease in TTI seen at 12 kgf. Further decrease in TTI as force is applied in excess of 6 kgf is small and a force of 12 kgf only reduces TTI by a further 3.2% compared with TTI at 6 kgf. The additional clinical benefit of applying 12 kgf as opposed to 6 kgf is questionable.

Figure 1
The relationship between force and mean TTI for 55 patients.

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Does a remifentanil bolus attenuate the haemodynamic response to rigid bronchoscopy?

NM Agnew, CNH Tan, NDA Scawn, SH Pennefather and GN Russell
The Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK

Introduction:
The pressor response to rigid bronchoscopy resulting in tachycardia and hypertension is well recognized. Patients undergoing this procedure are often elderly and many have coexisting cardiovascular impairment. Haemodynamic stability is therefore crucial. Propofol alone causes an initial drop in blood pressure, which then rises above control levels after intubation with a significant rise in the patients' heart rate. Several studies have shown that a remifentanil bolus attenuates the pressor response to intubation. The rapid recovery afforded by remifentanil is ideal for daycase bronchoscopies. The aim of this prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was to assess the efficacy of a remifentanil bolus given before propofol in attenuating the haemodynamic responses to rigid bronchoscopy.
Methods: Eighty patients were randomly assigned to receive a bolus of one of four drugs: remifentanil 1 µg/kg, remifentanil 2 µg/kg, alfentanil 10 µg/kg or saline (control). The anaesthetist was blinded to the solution used. Anaesthesia was then induced with a target controlled infusion (TCU) of propofol, and suxamethonium (1.5 mg/kg) was used as relaxant. Heart rate and noninvasive arterial pressures were recorded at minute intervals throughout the procedure. Repeated measures analysis of variance and area under curve analysis were used. Power analysis required 20 patients in each group to achieve a power of 0.9 and significance of P < 0.05. Results: Patient characteristics were similar. The TCI propofol requirement was significantly higher in the saline group (P = 0.0018). Changes in heart rate and arterial pressure were significantly higher in the saline group (P = 0.0075 and P < 0.0001, respectively; Fig. 1). No clinically significant difference was seen between the opioids. No patients complained of nausea and there were no differences in time to return of spontaneous ventilation, wake up times or use of rescue vasopressors.

Conclusion:
An opioid bolus significantly attenuates the haemodynamic response to rigid bronchoscopy without delaying recovery. However, remifentanil, in a dose of either 1 µg/kg or 2 µg/kg, was not clinically superior to alfentanil 10 µg/kg.

Figure 1
Mean (SE) changes in heart rate from baseline during rigid bronchoscopy.

The effect on coagulation parameters of the transfusion of cell saved blood after cardiac surgery V Bates, JMT Pierce, RS Gill and D O'Shaughnessy Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
Introduction: Intraoperative cell salvage (IOCS) minimizes exposure to donor blood. However, the process removes plasma and platelets and may worsen the coagulopathy induced by heparinization and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Accordingly, we under-took a prospective observational study to examine the changes in coagulation parameters following the retransfusion of IOCS blood. Methods: Following Regional Ethical Committee approval and written informed patient consent, 50 patients undergoing elective cardiac shed mediastinal blood prior to heparinization and following protamine reversal was salvaged in addition to the CPB residue after the termination of CPB. Blood samples were drawn prior to incision (T1), 5 min after protamine reversal of heparin (T2) and 15 min after retransfusion of IOCS blood (T3), and analysed for ionised calcium, albumin, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time ratio, factors VII and IX, fibrinogen, antithrombin, activated protein C, platelet count, haemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV) and thromboelastogram. IOCS blood was analysed in five patients. Statistical analysis used the appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests.
Significance was taken at the 5% level.
Results: Nine patients were given intraoperative blood or blood products and were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 41 patients (mean age 64.6 years and mean weight 84 kg), 35 were male. Mean CPB was 74 min and mean cross clamp was 46 min. The median volume of IOCS was 613 ml (7.3 ml/kg). There were almost undetectable amounts of coagulation factors present in IOCS blood. Table 1 presents the coagulation data. Conclusions: IOCS blood in routine cardiac surgical practice raises the PCV to a point at which red cell transfusion is not necessary. There are no deleterious effects on coagulation. We recommend its routine use. To minimize unnecessary exposure to blood products, where transfusion is protocol driven, coagulation studies should follow IOCS blood transfusion. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by a Haematology Educational Grant. There were no conflicts of interest.

A randomized, controlled trial of blood conservation technologies in elective coronary artery bypass surgery NA McGill, D O'Shaughnessy, MJ Herbertson and RS Gill Shackleton Department of Anaesthesia, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of two mechanical methods of blood conservation in reducing the exposure to transfusion of allogenic red blood cells or any blood products during elective coronary artery bypass (CAB) surgery. Introduction: The reduction of allogenic blood transfusion is a national priority. Acute Normovolaemic Haemodilution (ANH) and Intraoperative Cell Salvage (ICS) are two mechanical strategies used to achieve this. A recent meta-analysis of effectiveness of ICS [1] found no trials in cardiac surgery that employed these devices intraoperatively. ANH trials in cardiac surgery have been equivocal as to their benefit [2]. Methods: After local ethical approval and informed consent, 252 patients for routine CAB surgery were randomised into either a control group (who received a standard cardiac anaesthetic and operation), or an ICS group (where an ICS device was used during the operation and the residual circuit volume washed), or an ANH group (where 10 ml/kg of blood was extracted post induction and replaced with colloid, in addition to the use of an ICS device used as above). Outcome measures were proportions of patients exposed to allogenic blood or blood products and total units used. Standard transfusion thresholds were employed. Data was analysed using a non-parametric ANOVA.
Results: There were no significant differences between the three groups with respect to age, weight, Parsonnet score, bypass and cross-clamp times. Hospital length of stay, and median and total mediastinal drainage were similar across groups. Outcome measures (exposures, units of blood and P values) are shown in Table 1.

Conclusions:
In elective CAB surgery, ICS significantly reduces the risk of exposure to allogenic blood and blood products. ANH does not confer any additional benefit. The sequestration of drugs, such as fentanyl [1,2], thiopental, nitroglycerine and propofol [3] in the extracorporeal circuit in vitro has been well described. This phenomenon can change the pharmacokinetic behaviour of drugs during cardiopulmonary bypass, thus potentially leading to problems in achieving adequate dosing regimens.
Objective: The aim of this in vitro laboratory study was to compare the binding of propofol to different oxygenator membranes, and to examine the effects of the type of prime solution and temperature on the rate of binding. Methods: Samples of three types of membrane oxygenators were used: the SM-35 (polydimethylsiloxane in sheet form), the CML (polypropylene in sheet form) and the SAFE II (polypropylene in hollow fibre form). 14 C-propofol in either crystalloid solution or diluted bovine blood was incubated with samples of membranes at 28°C or 37°C. Membrane samples were removed at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min and rinsed. The mass of propofol bound to the various membranes was then measured using liquid scintillation counting. This experiment was carried out for both types of prime solution at 28°C and 37°C. Results: See Table 1. The SM-35 membrane bound significantly more propofol than the membranes from the CML and the SAFE II. Binding of propofol in diluted blood was significantly less than in crystalloid solution. Temperature had little effect on propofol binding in either prime solution type.