Impact of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Duration on Fibrinogen Replacement Efficacy Cryoprecipitate Vs. Fibrinogen Concentrate
Researchers from the University of Toronto (Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management), Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine), Queen’s University (Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine), and the University of Toronto (Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation) examined how the…
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Classifying Infection Risk After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Using Trained Models
In April 2023, Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers utilized logistic regression and machine learning methods to classify the risk of postoperative infections based on various inputs. The complete manuscript by Kaitlin C. Williamson and Daniel Fabbri is available in the AMIA Annual Symposium Proceedings Archive. Postoperative infections are frequent complications of pediatric cardiac surgery, occurring in…
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Recommendations for Anticoagulation Management in New-Onset Post-Cardiac Surgery Atrial Fibrillation
Researchers from Saint Mary Mercy Hospital (Department of Internal Medicine), Detroit Medical Center (Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Cardiovascular Medicine), West Virginia University (Department of Cardiology), and Thomas Jefferson University (Department of Cardiology) evaluated professional society recommendation, studies, and expert thoughts on anticoagulation management in new-onset post-cardiac surgery atrial fibrillation (PCSAF). The complete…
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Gaseous Micro-Embolic Activity and Goal-Directed Perfusion Management in a Closed System for Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Minimally Invasive Extracorporeal Circulation during Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.
The world of extracorporeal technologies is rapidly expanding. In particular, we are trying to make cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) more physiological for end-organ protection by reducing complications related to biocompatibility, inflammation, hemodilution, coagulation management, and gaseous micro-embolic activity. The literature describes various extracorporeal techniques that seek to eliminate air-blood contact and reduce hemodilution and the contact…
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The Role of The Alternative Pathway in Complement Activation by HIT Immune Complexes
Researchers from Duke University Medical Center (Division of Hematology), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medicine), Texas A&M University (Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology), and East Carolina University (Department of Microbiology & Immunology examined how the alternative pathway contributes to complement activation…
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The Role of Regional Anesthesia in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
An insightful article acknowledges the prevalent practice of prolonged postoperative ventilatory management with delayed extubation in pediatric cardiac surgery centers worldwide. It also highlights the increasing trend towards early extubation, emphasizing its benefits. The complete manuscript by Tomohiro Yamamotoa and Ehrenfried Schindlerb is available in Current Opinion in Anesthesiology. Below, we will discuss the findings of this study…
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ECMO: A bridge to Patient Care
ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) has dramatically evolved since its introduction in the 1960s with Dr. Gibbon’s first version of a heart-lung machine to Dr. Robert Bartlett’s first neonatal survivor in 1974 to the process we now experience. Since 1989, over 204,000 ECMO cases have been submitted to ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization). Although most ECMO…
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Improving Heart Surgery Recovery – A New Technique for Perfusionists
Cardiac surgery is evolving to focus on survival rates and enhanced recovery through Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERACS) programs. Perfusion strategies during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are pivotal in achieving these goals. An insightful article was posted in the Journal of Extracorporeal Technology, exploring the effectiveness of Hematic Antegrade Repriming (HAR) in reducing hemodilution priming and…
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Mannitol Is Associated with Less Postoperative Delirium after Aortic Valve Surgery in Patients Treated with Bretschneider Cardioplegia
In cardiac surgeries that use extracorporeal circulation (ECC), postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication. This condition is associated with extended hospital stays, increased costs, and higher morbidity. According to a recent retrospective study that focused on the effects of intraoperative mannitol during aortic valve replacement (AVR), mannitol could potentially decrease the incidence of POD,…
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How Do We Forecast Tomorrow’s Transfusion: Infectious Safety?
Transfusion medicine is constantly evolving, and Pathogen Reduction Technologies (PRTs) are at the forefront, offering distinct advantages and challenges. PRTs aim to minimize the risk of infections transmitted through transfusion while addressing immune responses associated with blood product transfusion. However, the efficacy of PRT-treated blood products can be compromised, potentially escalating the demand for blood…
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How can the healthcare system deliver sustainable performance? A scoping review
This scoping review aims to understand how the literature defines, conceptualizes, and measures the sustainable performance of healthcare systems (SPHS). The research was conducted on peer-reviewed articles and editorials published up to February 2021. The study focused on five aspects of SPHS – definitions, measurement, challenges, possible solutions, and the scaling of these solutions. The…
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Standardized Definitions for Bioprosthetic Valve Dysfunction Following Aortic or Mitral Valve Replacement
In August 2022, researchers from the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, University of Pennsylvania, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Columbia University, University of Washington Medical Center, Beaumont Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ N.H.S. Foundation Trust, Cambridge University and King’s College Hospital, University of Edinburgh (B.H.F. Centre for Cardiovascular Science), St Paul’s and Vancouver General Hospital,…
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