BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal circulation causes a systemic inflammatory response, that may cause postoperative haemodynamic instability and end-organ dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the impact of minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) on the systemic inflammatory response compared with conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC).
METHODS: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to MiECC (n = 30) and CECC (n = 30). Primary endpoint was tumor necrosis factor-α. Secondary endpoints were other biochemical markers of inflammation (IL1β, IL6 and IL8, C-reactive protein, leukocytes), and markers of inadequate tissue perfusion and tissue damage (lactate dehydrogenase, lactate and creatine kinase-MB). In addition, we registered signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, haemodynamic instability, atrial fibrillation, respiratory dysfunction, and infection.
RESULTS: Patients treated with MiECC showed significantly lower levels of tumor necrosis factor-α than CECC during and early after extracorporeal circulation (median: MiECC 3.4 pg/mL; CI 2.2-4.5 vs. CECC 4.6 pg/mL; CI 3.4-5.6; p = 0.01). Lower levels of creatine kinase-MB and lactate dehydrogenase suggested less tissue damage. However, we detected no other significant differences in any other markers of inflammation, tissue damage or in any of the clinical outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of TNF-α after MiECC compared with CECC may reflect reduced inflammatory response, although other biochemical markers of inflammation were comparable. Our results suggest better end-organ protection with MiECC compared with CECC. Clinical parameters related to systemic inflammatory response were comparable in this study.
BACKGROUND: NCT03216720.

Cardiovascular surgery risk prediction models are widely applied in medical practice. However, they have been criticized for their low methodological quality and scarce external validation. An additional limitation added in Latin America is that most of these models have been developed in the United States or Europe, which present marked geographical differences. The objective of this study is to characterize the postoperative clinical events of cardiovascular surgeries with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass pump in a local setting and to evaluate the prediction of postoperative mortality using the EuroSCORE II predictive model.
Cross-sectional study in an urban university hospital in Buenos Aires. Patients ≥21 years of age were included, with a clinical indication for on-pump cardiovascular surgery. Patients with incomplete clinical data regarding EuroSCORE II variables or in-hospital survival, ≥95 years of age, or undergoing heart transplantation were excluded.
195 patients were enrolled. Postoperative mortality estimated by EuroSCORE II presented a clear underestimation of risk (3.0% vs 7.7%). Discrimination (AUC = 0.82; 95% CI 0.74-0.92) and goodness of fit of the model were adequate (χ2 = 7.91; p = 0.4418). The most frequent postoperative complications were postoperative heart failure (35.9%), vasoplegic shock (13.3%), and cardiogenic shock (10.26%).
The EuroSCORE II is an appropriate tool to discriminate between different risk categories in patients undergoing on-pump cardiovascular surgery, although it underestimates the risk.
Los modelos de predicción de riesgo de cirugías cardiovasculares se aplican ampliamente a la práctica médica. Sin embargo, han sido criticados por su baja calidad metodológica y escasa validación externa. En América Latina se agrega la limitación de que la mayoría de estos modelos fueron desarrollados en Estados Unidos o Europa, existiendo diferencias geográficas marcadas.
El objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar los eventos clínicos postoperatorios de cirugías cardiovasculares con uso de bomba de circulación extracorpórea en un escenario local y evaluar la predicción de mortalidad postoperatoria del modelo predictivo EuroSCORE II.
Corte transversal en un hospital universitario urbano de Buenos Aires. Se incluyeron a pacientes ≥21 años de edad, con indicación de cirugía cardiovascular con uso de bomba. Se excluyeron a pacientes con datos clínicos incompletos respecto a las variables del EuroSCORE II o respecto a la sobrevida intrahospitalaria, con ≥95 años de edad o sometidos a trasplante cardíaco.
Se enrolaron 195 pacientes. La mortalidad postoperatoria estimada por el EuroSCORE II presentó una clara subestimación del riesgo (3,0% vs 7,7%). La discriminación (AUC = 0,82; IC95% 0,74-0,92) y la bondad del ajuste del modelo fueron adecuadas (χ2 = 7,91; p = 0,4418). Las complicaciones postoperatorias más frecuentes fueron insuficiencia cardíaca postoperatoria (35,9%), shock vasopléjico (13,3%) y shock cardiogénico (10,26%).
El EuroSCORE II es una herramienta apropiada para discriminar entre diferentes categorías de riesgo en pacientes sometidos a cirugías cardiovasculares con uso de bomba, si bien subestima el riesgo.

Unilateral Tracheobronchial foreign body (TFB) present a common clinical disease, whereas bilateral TFB is a rare and acute condition associated with high mortality rates. This case study discusses a pediatric patient hospitalized due to respiratory distress following accidental ingestion of peanut kernels. A plain chest CT scan revealed obstructive emphysema in the right main bronchus and a foreign body at the opening of the left main bronchus. Surgical removal of the bilateral TFB under extracorporeal circulation resulted in a successful postoperative recovery, leading to discharge on the 9th day. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CNKI, spanning publications from January 2014 to October 2023, utilizing keywords \"bronchial foreign body\" and \"Peanut\". After deduplication and relevance screening, 9 pertinent literature sources were included. The objective of this study is to enhance clinical practitioners\' understanding of TFB management and improve diagnostic and treatment capabilities through analysis of age of onset, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment approaches in critically ill pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Tracheobronchial injuries caused by blunt chest trauma are rare in children, and such injuries usually involve multiple organs. Most cases involve respiratory failure on the way to the hospital, and the mortality rate is high. Herein, we describe the case of a 5-year-old patient who fell from an electric vehicle, causing complete rupture of the bilateral main bronchus.
METHODS: We treated a 5-year-old patient with complete bilateral main bronchus rupture. Chest computed tomography (CT) failed to detect bronchial rupture. Continuous closed thoracic drainage resulted in a large amount of bubble overflow. Tracheal rupture was suspected. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy revealed complete rupture of the right main bronchus and rupture of the left main bronchus. Emergency tracheoplasty was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). During the operation, we found that the bilateral main bronchi were completely ruptured. Postoperative recovery was smooth. The traditional surgical method for treating these injuries is lateral thoracotomy. However, a median sternotomy provides a better opportunity for selective repair. Extracorporeal circulation-assisted surgery is required for patients with unstable breathing.
CONCLUSIONS: Complete fractures of the bilateral main bronchi are rare. Bronchial rupture should be suspected in the presence of expansion defect-dropped lungs and massive air leakage despite tube thoracostomy in haemopneumothorax developing after thoracic trauma. Extracorporeal circulation-assisted tracheoplasty is a relatively safe option for children whose respiratory system is difficult to maintain, thus ensuring oxygenation ventilation and a clear surgical field.

Venovenous bypass (VVB) is a technique used in liver transplantation (LT) to maintain hemodynamic stability and abdominal organ perfusion and thereby improve patient outcomes. Despite its perceived benefits, VVB utilization has declined globally due to concerns related to heparinization, major bleeding and the need for expertise. Recent advancements, such as percutaneous cannulation techniques and improved extracorporeal technology have improved the safety of VVB in LT. This paper presents a modified VVB circuit with enhanced safety features. Cannulation plays a pivotal role in VVB establishment, with percutaneous methods increasingly favored. Studies demonstrate VVB\'s efficacy in improving patient outcomes with lower incidence of acute kidney injury and reduced operative time and blood loss, with no added morbidity or mortality. However, its routine use faces challenges, with alternative techniques gaining traction. Our experience highlights VVB\'s role in various clinical scenarios, including patients with high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores, challenging surgical anatomy, portal vein thrombosis and pre-existing cardiovascular disease, emphasizing its safety and efficacy. Continued research is needed to optimize VVB techniques and ensure better outcomes for liver transplant recipients.

Refractory pediatric intraoperative cardiac arrest is a rare but challenging situation for the anesthesiologist. This case describes an intraoperative extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in a 16-year-old male who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during elective thoracolumbar stabilization. The patient recovered to his pre-operative baseline without any neurological sequela secondary to cardiac arrest. Good quality of conventional resuscitation measures, prompt activation of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team, and a multidisciplinary coordinated approach were key factors in ECPR success. Despite the lack of robust evidence in pediatrics, case reports like ours outline the life-saving potential of intraoperative ECPR in refractory cardiac arrest scenarios.

BACKGROUND: The trial hypothesized that minimally invasive extra-corporeal circulation (MiECC) reduces the risk of serious adverse events (SAEs) after cardiac surgery operations requiring extra-corporeal circulation without circulatory arrest.
METHODS: This is a multicentre, international randomized controlled trial across fourteen cardiac surgery centres including patients aged ≥18 and <85 years undergoing elective or urgent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery, or CABG + AVR surgery. Participants were randomized to MiECC or conventional extra-corporeal circulation (CECC), stratified by centre and operation. The primary outcome was a composite of 12 post-operative SAEs up to 30 days after surgery, the risk of which MiECC was hypothesized to reduce. Secondary outcomes comprised: other SAEs; all-cause mortality; transfusion of blood products; time to discharge from intensive care and hospital; health-related quality-of-life. Analyses were performed on a modified intention-to-treat basis.
RESULTS: The trial terminated early due to the COVID-19 pandemic; 1071 participants (896 isolated CABG, 97 isolated AVR, 69 CABG + AVR) with median age 66 years and median EuroSCORE II 1.24 were randomized (535 to MiECC, 536 to CECC). Twenty-six participants withdrew after randomization, 22 before and four after intervention. Fifty of 517 (9.7%) randomized to MiECC and 69/522 (13.2%) randomized to CECC group experienced the primary outcome (risk ratio = 0.732, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.556 to 0.962, p = 0.025). The risk of any SAE not contributing to the primary outcome was similarly reduced (risk ratio = 0.791, 95% CI 0.530 to 1.179, p = 0.250).
CONCLUSIONS: MiECC reduces the relative risk of primary outcome events by about 25%. The risk of other SAEs was similarly reduced. Because the trial terminated early without achieving the target sample size, these potential benefits of MiECC are uncertain.

BACKGROUND: To describe the perioperative outcomes in patients treated with radical nephrectomy with cava thrombectomy at all thrombi levels using a multidisciplinary approach, with or without extracorporeal circulation (ECC), and to identify factors associated with perioperative morbidity.
METHODS: We retrospectively identified 42 patients who were diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and a vena cava thrombus and treated with radical nephrectomy and cava thrombectomy by a double surgical team at Lyon University Hospital from 2008 through 2021. The surgeons operated in the cardiothoracic operating theater to proceed with median sternotomy or ECC, if necessary. The primary endpoint of this study was perioperative morbidity and mortality assessed using the Clavien-Dindo scale. Complications were recorded until 90 days after surgery, and those classified as grade IIIa or higher were considered high-grade complications.
RESULTS: Overall, 32 (76%) patients required ECC. No intraoperative mortality occurred; however, two patients (5%) died within 30 days. Complications occurred within 30 days in 30 patients (72%), with severe complications observed in 10 patients (24%). No further complications occurred between 30 and 90 days. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, thrombus level, ECC, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, symptoms, and metastasis at presentation were not significantly associated with high-grade complications (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary approach is essential and frequent use of ECC, when achieved by a trained team, may facilitate surgery, and is associated with low perioperative morbidity, especially for patients with high-level thrombi.
METHODS: IV.

Airway compression resulting from thoracic tumors requires evaluation of the possibility of fatal ventilation failure when securing the airway. A woman presenting with a thoracic mass on the right side causing airway compression at the level of tracheal bifurcation required tumor removal to alleviate the compression; however, securing the airway proved challenging. Furthermore, differential lung ventilation was necessary for surgical management. We planned to secure the airway and manage breathing with the assistance of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) through an interdisciplinary conference and proceeded according to the plan. The intended tracheal tube could be placed, differential lung ventilation was initiated, and the ECMO was removed. The surgical procedure was carried out. In patients presenting with airway stenosis, the possibility of difficulty in securing the airway and ventilation should be assessed in advance. Creating a detailed treatment plan before surgery is recommended.

BACKGROUND: During cardiac surgery the use of a minimal extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) system may reduce the adverse effects for the patient. This is probably caused by reduced inflammation and hemodilution. For the use of a MiECC circuit, a venous bubble trap (VBT) is warranted for safety reasons. The aim of this study was to assess if an arterial filter with a small prime volume has the same (or better) air removal capacities as a VBT in a MiECC circuit and subsequentially may be used as an alternative.
METHODS: In an in vitro study, air removal properties were compared between the arterial filter and three VBT\'s on the market, VBT160 (Getinge), VBT 8 (LivaNova and VARD (Medtronic). In a MiECC circuit, the filter devices were placed in a venous position and challenged with massive and micro air. Gaseous microemboli (GME) were measured with a bubble counter proximal and distal of the VBT device.
RESULTS: More than 99.9 % of the air was removed after a bolus air challenge by all VBT\'s. Both the VARD and the AF100 showed better GME removal properties (not significant for the AF100) compared to the other devices. All filters showed GME generation after a challenge with massive air. Compared to the other filters, only the VARD showed no passing of larger bubbles when a volume of 50 mL of air was present in the filter.
CONCLUSIONS: The AF100 seems to be a safe and low prime alternative for use in a MiECC system as a venous air trap. A word of caution, placement of the AF100 arterial filter in the venous line is off label use.