In this episode, Dr. Carly Fabrizio (Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Physician at Christiana Care Hospital), CardioNerds Critical Care Series Co-Chair Dr. Mark Belkin (Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Fellow at University of Chicago) and CardioNerds Co-Founder Dr. Amit Goyal (Cleveland Clinic) join Dr. Gavin Hickey (Director of the AHFTC Fellowship and medical director of the left ventricular assist device program at UPMC) and Dr. David Kaczorowski (Surgical Director for the Advanced Heart Failure center, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UPMC) for a discussion on post-cardiotomy shock. Audio editing by CardioNerds Academy Intern, student doctor, Shivani Reddy.
Post-cardiotomy shock is characterized by heart failure that results in the inability to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass or develops post cardiac surgery. Patients who develop post-cardiotomy shock typically require inotropic support and may ultimately require temporary mechanical circulatory support. Post-cardiotomy shock carries a high mortality rate. However, early recognition and prevention strategies can help mitigate the risk for developing post-cardiotomy shock.
The CardioNerds Cardiac Critical Care Series is a multi-institutional collaboration made possible by contributions of stellar fellow leads and expert faculty from several programs, led by series co-chairs, Dr. Mark Belkin, Dr. Eunice Dugan, Dr. Karan Desai, and Dr. Yoav Karpenshif.
Pearls • Notes • References • Production Team
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Pearls and Quotes - Post-cardiotomy Shock
Weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass is an intricate process that includes: rewarming the patient, de-airing the cardiac chambers, ensuring a perfusing heart rhythm, confirming adequate ventilation and oxygenation, removing the intracardiac catheters and cannulas and slowly reducing the blood diverted to the cardiopulmonary circuit and returning it small aliquots to the patient. Much to monitor during the process!
Assessing the risk for post-cardiotomy shock prior to going to the OR is important. Consider left ventricular, right ventricular, and valvular function, and don’t forget about the value of hemodynamic assessments (pulmonary artery catheter evaluations) to ensure patients are adequately compensated.
Close peri-operative monitoring of hemodynamics, hemo-metabolic derangements, and acid/base status can help identify patients who are failing therapy and may require upgrade to temporary MCS.
RV assessment is challenging. Utilizing both imaging and hemodynamic evaluations can help understand which RV’s will require more support.
Multi-disciplinary discussions with a heart team approach prior to cardiac surgery are valuable in identifying high risk patients for post cardiotomy shock and discussing contingency plans if issues arise.
Show notes - Post-cardiotomy Shock
(drafted by Dr. Carly Fabrizio)
How can we diagnose post cardiotomy shock?We can diagnose post cardiotomy shock as patients who are undergoing cardiac surgery that develop hypotension and or tachycardia with hypoperfusion and end organ dysfunction.
How can assess the risk of developing postcardiotomy shock prior to going to the OR?LV systolic function is not the only evaluation of cardiac functionDon’t ignore the RV!Valvular function must be evaluated in conjunction with LV/RV functionHemodynamics can be helpful prior to going to the ORFilling pressures and CO/CI evaluation --> the more normal range - the less risk of post cardiotomy shockIf going in more deranged --> more complications are likely to occurThink about what options are available post operatively if issues ariseInclude a multi-disciplinary discussions and planning prior to going to the OR
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