The general anesthetic propofol protects the adult heart against ischemia and reperfusion injury; however, its efficacy has not been investigated in the immature heart. This work, for the first time, investigates the cardioprotective efficacy of propofol at clinically relevant concentrations in the immature heart. Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts (7–12 days old) were exposed to 30 minutes' global normothermic ischemia followed by 40 minutes' reperfusion. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and coronary flow were monitored throughout. Lactate release into coronary effluent was measured during reperfusion. Microscopic examinations of the myocardium were monitored at the end of reperfusion. Hearts were perfused with different propofol concentrations (1, 2, 4, and 10 μg/mL) or with cyclosporine A, prior to ischemic arrest and for 20 minutes during reperfusion. Propofol at 4 and 10 μg/mL caused a significant depression in LVDP prior to ischemia. Propofol at 2 μg/mL conferred significant and maximal protection with no protection at 10 μg/mL. This protection was associated with improved recovery in coronary flow, reduced lactate release, and preservation of cardiomyocyte ultrastructure. The efficacy of propofol at 2 μg/mL was similar to the effect of cyclosporine A. In conclusion, propofol at a clinically relevant concentration is cardioprotective in the immature heart.

Objective: To determine pulmonary functional changes that predict early clinical outcomes in valve surgery requiring long cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods: This retrospective study included 225 consecutive non-emergency valve surgeries with fast-track cardiac anesthesia between January 2014 and March 2020. Blood gas analyses before and 0, 2, 4, 8, and 14 h after CPB were investigated. Results: Median age and EuroSCORE II were 71.0 years (25–75 percentile: 59.5–77.0) and 2.46 (1.44–5.01). Patients underwent 96 aortic, 106 mitral, and 23 combined valve surgeries. The median CPB time was 151 min (122–193). PaO2/FiO2 and AaDO2/PaO2 significantly deteriorated two hours, but not immediately, after CPB (both p < 0.0001). Decreased PaO2/FiO2 and AaDO2/PaO2 were correlated with ventilation time (r2 = 0.318 and 0.435) and intensive care unit (ICU) (r2 = 0.172 and 0.267) and hospital stays (r2 = 0.164 and 0.209). Early and delayed extubations (<6 and >24 h) were predicted by PaO2/FiO2 (377.2 and 213.1) and AaDO2/PaO2 (0.683 and 1.680), measured two hours after CPB with acceptable sensitivity and specificity (0.700–0.911 and 0.677–0.859). Conclusions: PaO2/FiO2 and AaDO2/PaO2 two hours after CPB were correlated with ventilation time and lengths of ICU and hospital stays. These parameters suitably predicted early and delayed extubations.

Background: Early extubation (EEx) after cardiac surgery has been essentially studied in patients with short cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Whether preoperative spirometry can predict EEx remains controversial. Objectives: To investigate whether EEx can be a goal and predicted by preoperative spirometry in valve surgery requiring long CPB. Methods: Nonemergent consecutive 210 patients who underwent valve surgery from January 2014 to August 2019 were investigated retrospectively. Results: EEx (<8 h) was achieved in 93 (44.3%) patients without increasing adverse events. Patients with EEx had shorter ICU and hospital stays than those without EEx. Multivariate analysis showed that higher estimated glomerular filtration rate and mitral valve repair were significant protective factors for EEx. Conversely, moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease defined by spirometry, longer operation, CPB, and aortic cross-clamp time were significant risk factors. Conclusions: EEx should be the goal in current valve surgery. Preoperative spirometry is a significant predictor.

Objective: Cerebrovascular atherosclerosis is known to play a crucial role in perioperative stroke in coronary arterial bypass grafting (CABG). This study is to identify the degree of severity of cerebrovascular lesions for which patients can still undergo CABG with an acceptably low risk in current techniques. Methods: Cerebrovascular atherosclerosis was evaluated and graded for 200 consecutive patients prior to CABG. Grading was initially based on the level of stenosis in carotid, vertebral, and cerebral arteries: grade-0: normal or mild stenosis in cerebral arteries or stenosis <50% in other arteries; grade-1: moderate in cerebral arteries or 50%-69% in others; grade-2: severe in cerebral arteries or 70%-89% in others; grade-3: occlusion in cerebral arteries or 90%-100% in others. The grading was finally adjusted to a risk of regional ischemia by considering symptoms, number of lesions, and brain perfusion in scintigram. Therefore, some patients were upgraded. Off-pump CABG was scheduled for all patients. The lowest systolic arterial pressure during surgery was differently controlled in each grade: grade-0: ≥70 mmHg; grade-1: ≥80 mmHg; grade-2: ≥80 mmHg with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP); grade-3: ≥90 mmHg with IABP; grade-4: ≥90 mmHg with IABP and administration of thyamiral. Results: Grade-1 and-2 included 38 and 29 patients respectively. Grade-3 initially included 36 patients and 14 of them were upgraded to grade-4 (extremely high risk patients). Stroke was seen in one patient (0.5%), for whom mild speaking disturbance occurred on the fifth day from CABG. Conclusion: Patients with severe cerebrovascular atherosclerosis can undergo CABG with a low risk of stroke. Intraoperative management of blood pressure may be critical for stroke prevention in CABG.

A 62-year-old woman underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. Her hemodynamics deteriorated with ST-T depression 6 hours postoperatively. Emergency coronary catheterization showed diffuse right coronary artery spasm. The spasm persisted despite intracoronary infusion of nitrates and calcium antagonists. Intracoronary adenosine triphosphate infusion finally resolved the spasm and stabilized the cardiac function.