Cardiac Surgery Concepts Flashcards
Procedure that restores normal blood flow to an area of the heart by creating new routes around obstructive coronary arteries
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
Explain the steps of a CABG
- Blood vessel(s) from the body are removed (harvested)
- Harvested vessels (grafts) are sewn proximal and distal to an atherosclerotic coronary artery
- Blood now flows through the harvested vessel and “bypasses” the blocked coronary artery
What blood vessels can be harvested for a CABG?
- Saphenous vein
- Left internal mammary artery (LIMA)
- Radial artery
Where is the proximal anastomosis in a CABG?
On the aorta
Where is the distal anastomosis in a CABG?
On the coronary artery, distal to the obstruction
What anastomosis does the surgery typically sew on first?
Distal (coronary artery)
The LIMA only requires a (proximal/distal) anastomosis?
Distal
Most commonly used graft for CABG
Left Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA)
Where is LIMA usually anastomosed?
With the LAD
Why are arterial grafts preferred over venous grafts for CABG?
Coronary arterial pressure will damage the saphenous endothelium more quickly, leading to a reocclusion rate at 10 years for venous grafts of ~60%
Types of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
Balloon angioplasty and cardiac stenting
Alternative to CABG, less invasive, used for less severe cases of CAD
Cardiac stenting
Tends to show better 5 year survival and patency rates, but carries a higher risk of stroke at 5 years
CABG
Summary of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine
-Functions as both heart and lung by draining deoxygenated blood from the body, oxygenating it and removing CO2, then pumps oxygenated blood back into the body
Purpose of the cardiopulmonary bypass machine (reasons to use it)
-When the heart needs to be stopped or empty
Why would you want to drain blood from the heart?
If you need to open it to expose a valve for open valve repair
True/false: the heart has to be arrested for heart surgery
False. It is not mandatory in all situations
Why would a surgeon stop the heart for surgery if it is not necessary?
It is easier to operate on a non-moving target
When is the heart commonly arrested?
When a patient goes on CPB, although it is not required
Solution used to arrest the heart
Cardioplegia
Components of cardioplegia
Potassium rich solution with glucose, magnesium, calcium, bicarb, buffers and free radical scavengers (Mannitol)
Can cardioplegia be injected with blood?
Yes, cardioplegia can be mixed and injected with blood
Most common way of arresting the heart
Antegrade cardioplegia via the aortic root
What is antegrade cardioplegia?
- Injecting cardioplegia (CP) into the coronary arteries through the coronary os
- Can be into the aortic root through a cardioplegia cannula or direct cannulation of the coronary os
How is CP injected into the aortic root?
- A cross clamp is placed on the ascending aorta to keep the CP from washing out into the body
- Injected through a cardioplegia cannula
How can the heart get sufficient oxygen in cases where 1. an ascending aortic cross clamp is placed or 2. the heart needs to be arrested
Cardioplegia lines bc they can also infuse blood into the coronary arteries
Where is retrograde CP injected?
Coronary sinus
How do you prevent coronary sinus damage with retrograde CP?
Measure the pressure within the coronary sinus as CP is injected so it does not rupture
When is retrograde CP used?
For aortic valve replacement
How is pressure monitored with retrograde cardioplegia?
- The surgeon throws sterile, non-compliant tubing over the drape
- Anesthetist hooks tubing to either CVP or PAP stopcock on triple transducer
- When the heart is arrested, stopcock is turned off to the patient and open to the retrograde line
Why can’t you hook up retrograde cardioplegia monitoring to the A-line transducer?
You need to measure the A-line during bypass
True/false: You can measure CVP/PAP while monitoring retrograde cardioplegia
False
What stopcock position can measure CVP/PAP?
To the side
What stopcock position can measure retrograde cardioplegia pressure?
Up (toward the patient)
Indications for retrograde CP
- Arrests areas of the heart distal to high grade obstructions
- Where antegrade CP would easily wash out (ascending aorta repair, open aortic valve repair)
Describe the CPB machine circuit
- De-oxygenated blood is drawn away from the heart through a venous cannula
- Venous blood is stored in a venous reservoir
- The venous blood is sent through an oxygenator, heat exchanger and arterial filter
4/5. Oxygenated blood is reinfused into the body via a “main pump” that pumps the blood into the aorta through an arterial cannula - An aortic cross clamp is usually placed on the ascending aorta
Where is the venous cannula is usually placed?
In the R atrium
Where can the venous cannula be placed?
R atrium
SVC/IVC
Femoral vein
What does the venous reservoir do?
Stores a surplus of blood and helps remove any air that inadvertently entered the bypass circuit
What is the purpose of the aortic cross clamp?
- Prevent blood from the arterial cannula from backing up into the heart
- Allow the heart to stay arrested by keeping the injected cardioplegia in the heart
What are the components of the bypass machine? (9)
- Venous cannula(s)
- Venous reservoir
- Main pump
- Oxygenator
- Heat exchanger
- Arterial filter
- Arterial cannula
- Ultrafilter
- Cell salvage suction (cardiotomy suction, cell saver suction and left ventricular vent)
When can you NOT use a venous cannula in the R atrium?
During R sided heart operations bc it wouldn’t prevent blood from gushing out of the surgical site or keep air from being sucked in
Where would a venous cannula be placed in the traditional open R sided heart operation?
In the superior and inferior vena cavas
How do you place a venous cannula without opening the chest?
Through the femoral vein, threaded up into the R atrium
How can an arterial cannula be placed without opening the chest?
Through the femoral artery, threaded up in the aorta
When is femoral arterial and venous cannulation particularly useful?
When CPB must be initiated emergently
2 primary purposes of the venous reservoir in CPB
- The venous cannula can remove any air that inadvertently enters the venous drainage line
- The venous reservoir also stores a surplus of blood in the bypass circuit
Main pump options
- Non-pulsatile (more common, uses centrifugal pump)
2. Pulsatile (newer, “roller” or “diagonal” pump
Purpose of the main pump in CPB
Pumps blood to the body via the arterial cannula via pulsatile or non-pulsatile flow
Advantages of pulsatile flow
Perfusion is better because it is more physiologic
Disadvantages of pulsatile flow
- Difficult for perfusionist
2. More damage to blood elements
Purpose of the heat exchanger in CPB
Cools and heats blood to control temperature of the pt
Modest hypthermia temperature
34 C
Purpose of modest hypothermia
34 C implemented while the pt is on CPB for organ protection
Advantages of modest hypothermia
- Decreases O2 requirements
2. Decreases anesthetic requirements
A decrease in body temperature 1C decreases cerebral O2 consumption by ___%
5%
A decrease in body temperature 10C decreases cerebral O2 consumption by ___%
50%
Disadvantages of hypothermia
- Increases the chances of coagulopathy (increases bleeding risk)
- Increases blood viscocity, which can decrease perfusion
Role of the oxygenator in CPB
- Oxygenates the blood
- Removes CO2
- Site of volatile agent entry into the bypass machine
2 types of oxygenators in CPB
- Bubble oxygenator
2. Membrane oxygenator
Advantages and disadvantages of bubble oxygenators in CPB
- Simple and lower cost
- More trauma to the blood
- Rarely used
Advantages and disadvantages of membrane oxygenators in CPB
- Less blood trauma
- Increased complexity and cost
- Standard oxygenator used today
Biggest problem with the oxygenator
Damages the blood
Role of the arterial filter in CPB
Removes fat globules and air bubbles from the bypass circuit
Role of the ultrafilter in CPB
Sometimes added to the circuit to remove excess water and electrolytes from the circulating volume, concentrating the blood in a pt with undesirably low hematocrit
Why would you want to use an ultrafilter in CPB?
To concentrate blood in a pt with an undesirably low hematocrit
Types of suction used in CPB
- Standard (regular OR suction)
2. Blood salvage suction (cardiotomy suction, cell saver suction, left ventricular vent)
Suctioned blood that will eventually be returned to the patient in CPB
Blood salvage suction
Advantage of blood salvage suction in CPB
Decreases the chances of the pt needing a donor transfusion
In CPB, takes blood from the field and returns it to a “cardiotomy reservoir” before ultimately ending up in the venous reservoir
Cardiotomy suction
When is cardiotomy suction used in CPB
After the pt is heparinized while the pt is on the bypass machine
Advantage of cardiotomy suction
- It is whole blood, so it includes clotting factors, platelets and PRBCs
Disadvantages of cardiotomy suction
- Blood going through is damaged by the bypass machine, therefore is associated with a more pronounced systemic inflammatory response and coagulopathy
- Significant contributor to the hemolysis and particulate emboli that occurs during CPB
In CPB, suctioned blood from the field is washed and centrifuged, which separates RBCs from the plasma, platelets and particulate matter. RBCs are moved to an infusion bag and transfused back to the patient
Cell saver
Hematocrit of cell saver blood
50-70%
Advantages of cell saver
- Particles such as fat, air and tissue are filtered out of the blood
- Blood is less damaged when it gets returned to the patient
Disadvantages of cell saver
- It is NOT whole blood
2. Takes longer before it can be reinfused into the patient
Removes all venous blood that was not picked up by the venous reservoir (blood from bronchial and Thebesian veins)
Left ventricular vent
Where is the left ventricular vent inserted?
Into the left ventricle through the pulmonary vein