Cardiac index-guided therapy to maintain optimised postinduction cardiac index in high-risk patients having major open abdominal surgery: the multicentre randomised iPEGASUS trial.

Background: It is unclear whether optimising intraoperative cardiac index can reduce postoperative complications. We tested the hypothesis that maintaining optimised postinduction cardiac index during and for the first 8 h after surgery reduces the incidence of a composite outcome of complications within 28 days after surgery compared with routine care in high-risk patients having elective major open abdominal surgery.

Methods: In three German and two Spanish centres, high-risk patients having elective major open abdominal surgery were randomised to cardiac index-guided therapy to maintain optimised postinduction cardiac index (cardiac index at which pulse pressure variation was <12%) during and for the first 8 h after surgery using intravenous fluids and dobutamine or to routine care.

Impact of Introducing a PACU24 Concept on the Perioperative Outcome of Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery.

Introduction: Patients with ovarian cancer who undergo multivisceral surgery usually require intensive care monitoring postoperatively. In view of the ever-fewer numbers of high-care/intensive care beds and the introduction of fast-track treatment concepts, it is increasingly being suggested that these patients should be cared for postoperatively in 24-h Post Anesthesia Care Units (PACU24). No analyses have been carried out to date to investigate whether such a postoperative care concept might be associated with a potential increase in postoperative complications in this patient cohort.

Effect of thoracic epidural anesthesia on postoperative outcome in major liver surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Postoperative complications after major liver surgery are common. Thoracic epidural anesthesia may provide beneficial effects on postoperative outcome. We strove to compare postoperative outcomes in major liver surgery patients with and without thoracic epidural anesthesia.

Retrospective analysis of central venous catheters in elective intracranial surgery - Is there any benefit?

Background: It remains unclear whether the use of central venous catheters (CVC) improves a patient's clinical outcome after elective intracranial supratentorial procedures.

Methods: This two-armed, single-center retrospective study sought to compare patients undergoing elective intracranial surgery with and without CVCs. Standard anaesthesia procedures were modified during the study period resulting in the termination of obligatory CVC instrumentation for supratentorial procedures.

Airway management and perioperative adverse events in children with mucopolysaccharidoses and mucolipidoses: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Children suffering from mucopolysaccharidoses (subtypes I, II, III, IV, VI, and VII) or mucolipidoses often require anesthesia, but are at high risk for perioperative adverse events. However, the impact of the disease subtype and the standard of care for airway management are still unclear.

Aims: This study aimed to assess independent risk factors for perioperative adverse events in individuals with mucopolysaccharidoses/mucolipidoses and to analyze the interaction with the primary airway technique implemented.

Continuous Noninvasive Arterial Pressure Monitoring in Obese Patients During Bariatric Surgery: An Evaluation of the Vascular Unloading Technique (Clearsight system).

Background: Continuous monitoring of arterial pressure is important in severely obese patients who are at particular risk for cardiovascular complications. Innovative technologies for continuous noninvasive arterial pressure monitoring are now available. In this study, we compared noninvasive arterial pressure measurements using the vascular unloading technique (Clearsight system; Edwards Lifesciences Corp, Irvine, CA) with invasive arterial pressure measurements (radial arterial catheter) in severely obese patients during laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Individualized, perioperative, hemodynamic goal-directed therapy in major abdominal surgery (iPEGASUS trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery is high, especially in patients who are at risk of complications and undergoing major surgery. We hypothesize that perioperative, algorithm-driven, hemodynamic therapy based on individualized fluid status and cardiac output optimization is able to reduce mortality and postoperative moderate and severe complications as a major determinant of the patients' postoperative quality of life, as well as health care costs.

Methods/design: This is a multi-center, international, prospective, randomized trial in 380 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery including visceral, urological, and gynecological operations.

Continuous Noninvasive Arterial Pressure Monitoring Using the Vascular Unloading Technique (CNAP System) in Obese Patients During Laparoscopic Bariatric Operations.

Background: Increasing rates of obesity create new challenges for hemodynamic monitoring in the perioperative phase. Continuous monitoring of arterial pressure (AP) is important in severely obese patients who are at particular risk for cardiovascular complications. Innovative technologies for continuous noninvasive AP monitoring are now available.

The influence of PEEP and positioning on central venous pressure and venous hepatic hemodynamics in patients undergoing liver resection.

Purpose: In order to assess the occurrence of blood congestion in the liver during liver resection, we aimed to evaluate the influence of a positive-end-expiratory-pressure (PEEP) and positioning of patients on central venous pressure (CVP) and venous hepatic blood flow parameters. We further analyzed correlations between CVP and venous hepatic blood flow parameters.

Methods: In 20 patients scheduled for elective liver resection we measured CVP and quantified venous hepatic hemodynamics by ultrasound assessment of flow-velocity and diameter of the right hepatic vein and the portal vein after equilibration following these maneuvers: M1: 0° supine position, PEEP 0 cmHO; M2: 0° supine position, PEEP 10 cmHO; M3: 20° reverse-trendelenburg position; PEEP 10 cmHO; M4: 20° reverse-trendelenburg position, PEEP 0cmHO.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for quantification of pulmonary edema in acute lung injury.

Background: Assessment of pulmonary edema is a key factor in monitoring and guidance of therapy in critically ill patients. To date, methods available at the bedside for estimating the physiologic correlate of pulmonary edema, extravascular lung water, often are unreliable or require invasive measurements. The aim of the present study was to develop a novel approach to reliably assess extravascular lung water by making use of the functional imaging capabilities of electrical impedance tomography.

Severe hyperlactatemia, lactate clearance and mortality in unselected critically ill patients.

Purpose: Hyperlactatemia may occur for a variety of reasons and is a predictor of poor clinical outcome. However, only limited data are available on the underlying causes of hyperlactatemia and the mortality rates associated with severe hyperlactatemia in critically ill patients. We therefore aimed to evaluate the etiology of severe hyperlactatemia (defined as a lactate level >10 mmol/L) in a large cohort of unselected ICU patients.

Bispectral index guided titration of sevoflurane in on-pump cardiac surgery reduces plasma sevoflurane concentration and vasopressor requirements: a prospective, controlled, sequential two-arm clinical study.

Background: Electroencephalographic-based monitoring systems such as the bispectral index (BIS) may reduce anaesthetic overdose rates.

Objective: We hypothesised that goal-directed sevoflurane administration (guided by BIS monitoring) could reduce the sevoflurane plasma concentration (SPC) and intraoperative vasopressor doses during on-pump cardiac surgery.

Design: A prospective, controlled, sequential two-arm clinical study.

Prediction of volume-responsiveness during one-lung ventilation: a comparison of static, volumetric, and dynamic parameters of cardiac preload.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of static, volumetric, and dynamic parameters of cardiac preload to predict volume responsiveness during one-lung ventilation (OLV).

Design: Prospective experimental study.

Setting: Laboratory of the animal facility of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.

An assessment of global end-diastolic volume and extravascular lung water index during one-lung ventilation: is transpulmonary thermodilution usable?

Background: The thermodilution curve assessed by transpulmonary thermodilution is the basis for calculation of global end-diastolic volume index (GEDI) and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI). Until now, it was unclear whether the method is affected by 1-lung ventilation. Therefore, aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of 1-lung ventilation on the thermodilution curve and assessment of GEDI and EVLWI.

Thermodilution-derived indices for assessment of left and right ventricular cardiac function in normal and impaired cardiac function.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether thermodilution-derived parameters of right and left ventricular cardiac function (right ventricular ejection fraction, global ejection fraction, cardiac function index) are able to track changes of cardiac contractile function and whether they are influenced by substantial preload reduction.

Design: Prospective animal study.

Setting: University-affiliated animal research laboratory.