Comparison of 4% Albumin and Ringer's Acetate on Hemodynamics in On-pump Cardiac Surgery: An Exploratory Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: Compare hemodynamics between 4% albumin and Ringer's acetate.

Design: Exploratory analysis of the double-blind randomized ALBumin In Cardiac Surgery trial.

Setting: Single-center study in Helsinki University Hospital.

Hazardous alcohol consumption and perioperative complications in a cardiac surgery patient. A retrospective study.

Background: We investigated the prevalence and effects of hazardous alcohol consumption on perioperative complications in cardiac surgery patients. Preoperative hazardous alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications in noncardiac patient populations.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from the Finnish Intensive Care Consortium database and electronic patient records on all cardiac surgery patients treated in the intensive care units (ICUs) of Helsinki University Hospital (n = 919) during 2017.

Albumin and Cardioprotection in On-Pump Cardiac Surgery-A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Trial.

Objectives: To study the quantitative potency of plasma albumin on cardioprotection in terms of creatinine kinase-myocardial band mass (CK-MBm) in on-pump cardiac surgery.

Design: Post hoc analysis of a double-blinded randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Single-center study in the Helsinki University Hospital.

Albumin Infusion and Blood Loss After Cardiac Surgery.

Background: In the recent ALBICS (ALBumin In Cardiac Surgery) trial, 4% albumin used for cardiopulmonary bypass priming and volume replacement increased perioperative bleeding compared with Ringer acetate. In the present exploratory study, albumin-related bleeding was further characterized.

Methods: Ringer acetate and 4% albumin were compared in a randomized, double-blinded fashion in 1386 on-pump adult cardiac surgery patients.

Effect of 4% Albumin Solution vs Ringer Acetate on Major Adverse Events in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: In cardiac surgery, albumin solution may maintain hemodynamics better than crystalloids and reduce the decrease in platelet count and excessive fluid balance, but randomized trials are needed to compare the effectiveness of these approaches in reducing surgical complications.

Objective: To assess whether 4% albumin solution compared with Ringer acetate as cardiopulmonary bypass prime and perioperative intravenous volume replacement solution reduces the incidence of major perioperative and postoperative complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A randomized, double-blind, single-center clinical trial in a tertiary university hospital during 2017-2020 with 90-day follow-up postoperatively involving patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting; aortic, mitral, or tricuspid valve surgery; ascending aorta surgery without hypothermic circulatory arrest; and/or the maze procedure were randomly assigned to 2 study groups (last follow-up was April 13, 2020).

Epicardial Transplantation of Autologous Cardiac Micrografts During Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Cardio-regenerative cell therapies offer additional biologic support to coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and are aimed at functionally repairing the myocardium that suffers from or is damaged by ischemia. This non-randomized open-label study assessed the safety and feasibility of epicardial transplantation of atrial appendage micrografts (AAMs) in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Twelve consecutive patients destined for CABG surgery were included in the study.

Prevalence and impact of hazardous alcohol use in intensive care cohort: A multicenter, register-based study.

Background: Reports of the prevalence and impact of hazardous alcohol use among intensive care unit (ICU) patients are contradictory. We aimed to study the prevalence of hazardous alcohol use among ICU patients and its association with ICU length of stay (LOS) and mortality.

Methods: Finnish ICUs have been using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) to evaluate and record patients' alcohol use into the Finnish Intensive Care Consortium's Database (FICC).

Effect and safety of 4% albumin in the treatment of cardiac surgery patients: study protocol for the randomized, double-blind, clinical ALBICS (ALBumin In Cardiac Surgery) trial.

Background: In cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), large amounts of fluids are administered. CPB priming with crystalloid solution causes marked hemodilution and fluid extravasation. Colloid solutions may reduce fluid overload because they have a better volume expansion effect than crystalloids.

Cost-utility of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.

Background: The use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiogenic shock keeps increasing, but its cost-utility is unknown.

Methods: We studied retrospectively the cost-utility of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a five-year cohort of consequent patients treated due to refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest in a transplant centre in 2013-2017. In our centre, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is considered for all cardiogenic shock patients potentially eligible for heart transplantation, and for selected postcardiotomy patients.

Noninvasive Neuromonitoring of Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Aortic Surgery.

Background And Aims: Circulatory arrest carries a high risk of neurological damage, but modern monitoring methods lack reliability, and is susceptible to the generalized effects of both anesthesia and hypothermia. The objective of this prospective, explorative study was to research promising, reliable, and noninvasive methods of neuromonitoring, capable of predicting neurological outcome after hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients undergoing hypothermic circulatory arrest during surgery of the thoracic aorta were recruited in a single center and over the course of 4 years.

The origin of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in cardiac surgery.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common after heart surgery. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is produced in injured kidney. NGAL has been used as an early plasma biomarker for AKI in patients undergoing heart surgery.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory cardiogenic shock: patient survival and health-related quality of life.

Objectives: Our goal was to study the outcome of patients with cardiogenic shock who were treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO), including the subsequent long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 133 consecutive patients treated in a single centre from 2007 to 2016. The HRQoL was studied using the EuroQuol-5 dimensions-3 level questionnaire and the RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey at a minimum of 1 year after VA ECMO.

Glycocalyx Degradation and Inflammation in Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: Experimental inflammation induces degradation of glycocalyx. The authors hypothesized that inflammation is an important determinant of glycocalyx degradation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Design: A prospective observational study.

Long-Term Survival and Quality of Life After Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Aortic Surgery.

Background And Aims:: Hypothermic circulatory arrest carries a high risk of mortality and neurological complications. An important part of assessing surgical treatment is the evaluation of long-term survival and postoperative health-related quality of life.

Material And Methods:: In this prospective study, 30 patients undergoing hypothermic circulatory arrest during surgery of the thoracic aorta, and 31 comparison patients undergoing elective coronary artery surgery without hypothermic circulatory arrest were evaluated for long-term survival and health-related quality of life, using the RAND 36-Item Health Survey questionnaire.

Epicardial delivery of autologous atrial appendage micrografts during coronary artery bypass surgery-safety and feasibility study.

Background: The atrial appendages are a tissue reservoir for cardiac stem cells. During on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, part of the right atrial appendage can be excised upon insertion of the right atrial cannula of the heart-lung machine. In the operating room, the removed tissue can be easily cut into micrografts for transplantation.