Thoracic Flashcards
What are some complications from thoracic surgery?
What are patient risk factors for increased complications?
How can you decrease respiratory complications in high-risk patients?
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Pulmonary morbidity: leading cause of complications following thoracic surgery
- Occurance: 15-20% thoracic sx pts
- Mortality: 3-4%
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Cardiac: 10-15% thoracic sx patients
- Arrythmias: commonly atrial
- Ischemia → 5% (peak risk POD 2 & 3)
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Other Complications:
- Atelectasis
- Pneumonia
- Respiratory failure (wean failure)
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Patient Risk Factors:
- advanced age
- poor general health status
- COPD
- BMI > 30 kg/m2 (obesity)
- low FEV1
- low predicted postop FEV1
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Decrease Respiratory Complications in HIGH RISK pts:
- Smoking cessation
- Physiotherapy prior to sx
- Thoracic epidural analgesia
What is a key question to ask prior to thoracic surgery?
What are 3 elements to preoperative assessment of lung function for thoracic cases?
- Key question: Is this operable?
- Will the patient tolerate resection with acceptable risk?
- 3 elements:
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Lung mechanical function
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Most valid test: Predictive Postop FEV1 (ppoFEV1)
- Increased risk → < 30-40%
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Most valid test: Predictive Postop FEV1 (ppoFEV1)
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Pulmonary parenchymal function
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Most valid test: Predictive Postop Diffusing Capacity (ppoDLCO)
- Increased risk → < 30-40%
- Parenchymal tissue → “gas exchanging tissue”
- Increased risk → < 30-40%
-
Most valid test: Predictive Postop Diffusing Capacity (ppoDLCO)
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Cardiopulmonary reserve
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Most valid test: Maximal Oxygen Consumption
- Increased risk → < 15 ml/kg/min
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Most valid test: Maximal Oxygen Consumption
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Lung mechanical function
Summary of the preop assessment?
What are the 4 m’s you should consider for cancer patients?
(4 things to consider prior to sx)
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All patients: Assess
- Exercise tolerance
- Estimate ppoFEV1%
- Discuss postop analgesia
- d/c smoking
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If ppoFEV1% < 40% pts:
-
Obtain testing →
- DLCO (diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide)
- V/Q scan
- VO2max
-
Obtain testing →
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Cancer pts:
- Consider the four M’s:
- Mass effects
- Metabolic effects
- Metastases
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Medications
- Ex:
-
Bleomycin → use loest FiO2 and closely monitor oximetry
- exacerbates O2-inducted pulmonary toxicity
-
Cisplatin → do not admin NSAIDs
- Elevation of serum creatinine
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Bleomycin → use loest FiO2 and closely monitor oximetry
- Ex:
- Consider the four M’s:
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COPD pts:
- Arterial blood gas
- Physiotherapy
- Bronchodilators
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Increased renal risk:
- Creatinine
- BUN
How do we appropriately assess the respiratory system prior to thoracic surgery? What laboratory tests and diagnostics are pertinent?
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History & Physical Examination
- Inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion
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Exercise tolerance:
-
**primary determinant of outcome in older patients
- Preop exercise capacity is BEST predictor of postthoracotomy outcome in older pts.
- Formal exercise testing required for:
- Unable to give reliable history (or)
- Limited ability to climb stairs bc comorbidities
- ⇓ risk: Ability to climb > 3 flights
- ⇑risk: unable to climb 2 flights
- *QOL measures alone have poor correlation w/ FEV1, DLCO, and exercise testing and should not substitute actual testing → get testing
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**primary determinant of outcome in older patients
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Laboratory Tests
- Routine labs
- H/H
- Coags
- Chemistry
- sputum gram stain
- culture and cytology
- LFTs
- ABG’s
- Renal: BUN, Cr
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Predictive factors for renal dysfx:
- Preop HTN
- ARBs
- Hydoxyethel starch
- Open thoracotomies
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Predictive factors for renal dysfx:
- Routine labs
- Diagnostics
- Chest Radiograph
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Pulmonary Function Testing
- How operational or functional will the remaining lung be after resection.
- Pre-op bronchoscope → evaluate tumor/bx of bronchial nodes
What CXR findings have specific anesthesia implications?
- CXR → MOST USEFUL predictor of DIFFICULT endobronchial intubation
Some radiographic findings have specific anesthesia implications:
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Tracheal deviation and obstruction
- difficulty with intubation or ventilation
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Mediastinal mass
- Ventilation difficulty → can compress AW
- dangerous to cease spontaneous ventilation
- Superior vena cava syndrome
- PA compression
- Ventilation difficulty → can compress AW
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Pleural Effusions
- ⇓ VC
- ⇓FRC
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Cardiac enlargement
- HF pts → don’t do well with one-lung vent d/t V/Q mismatching
- susceptible to depressant effects of heart
- HF pts → don’t do well with one-lung vent d/t V/Q mismatching
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Bullous cyst
- PPV → risk for pneumothorax
- prone to rupture
- PPV → risk for pneumothorax
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Parenchymal reticulation consolidation (pneumonia)
- prone to atelectasis, edema, respiratory fx postop
What are some types of pulmonary function testing?
- Classifications:
- Tests assessing abnormalities of gas exchange:
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ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS- review interpretation
- ROME
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PULSE OXIMETRY- review
- based on Beer Lambert law
- Wavelength for pulse ox is 660 (deoxyhgb- red light) and 940 nm (oxyhgb- infrared light)
- light emission frequencies
- based on Beer Lambert law
- CAPNOGRAPHY- review phases of capnogram and normal and abnormal waveforms (see picture)
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Ventilation Perfusion Scintigraphy: V/Q scan
- Function/nonfunctional tissues
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ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS- review interpretation
- Tests assessing mechanical dysfunction of lungs and chest wall (respiratory mechanics)
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SPIROMETRY
- Required for all patients undergoing pulmonary resection
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SPIROMETRY
- Tests assessing abnormalities of gas exchange:
What is the goal of spirometry?
- Primary goal: recognize high or prohibitive risk pts for postop pulmonary complications
- ppoFEV1
- ppoDLCO
- Identify patients who will benefit from aggressive perioperative pulmonary therapy
- Ex: maximal bronchodilators
- Smoking cessation
- Nutritional/exercise programming
- Identify those in whom surgery should be avoided entirely
- Ex: ppoFEV1 or ppoDLCO = < 20%
- High risk → think about R vs B (video assisted?)
- Ex: ppoFEV1 or ppoDLCO = < 20%
- NO single test or combination of tests will definitively predict which patients will develop postoperative pulmonary complications
What surgical patients need PFTs preop?
Why do we do PFTs?
WHO Needs PFTs ?
- evidence of COPD
- Smokers w/ persistent cough
- Wheezing or Dyspnea hx
- Restrictive Lung disease:
- Chest wall
- Spinal deformities
- Morbidly obese
- esp. those with coexisting lung dx
- Upper abdominal surgery candidates
- Thoracic surgery candidates (open)
- > 70 yo
Why Test?
Identifies patients with abnormal lung function
- Improves the outcome of patients at risk
- Reduces incidence of post-operative respiratory and ventilatory compromise
- Resolves questions about resectability
What is forced vital capacity?
What is normal?
- Maximal inspiration followed by rapid forceful exhalation
- Reflection → flow resistance in airway
- Normal/Healthy pts → little/no difference b/t VC and FVC
- Should be same in healthy patient!
- Air trapping → major difference b/t VC and FVC
- Small AW collapse and air trapping
- Normal/Healthy pts → little/no difference b/t VC and FVC
- Reflection → flow resistance in airway
- Considerations:
- Exhalation → measured as a function of volume/time.
- Effort + cooperation dependent
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Interpretation of % predicted:
- Normal: 80-120%
- Mild: 70-79%
- Moderate: 50%-69%
- Severe: < 50%
FRC in healthy lungs?
COPD?
Fibrotic lung?
Lung resection?
Healthy Lungs
- Tidal volume (VT, usually 0.5 L) is inspired from the resting lung volume reached at end-expiration (FRC, 2.0 L).
- With increased ventilation, as in exercise →
- VT is increased
- FRC may be reduced by approximately 0.5 L.
Old/COPD lungs → ⇑ FRC
- FRC increases w/ age as elastic lung tissue is lost
- → this reduces lung recoil force countering the outward chest wall force → the lung assumes a higher volume.
- The rate of this aging process is accelerated in COPD because of the contributions of chronic air trapping and marked loss of elastic tissue.
Fibrotic Lung Disease → ⇓ FRC
- sometimes to 1.5 L
Lung Resection →⇓ FRC
- Compensatory Emphysema → remaining lung will expand to fill the lung tissue void partially
Airway Obstruction
- Exhalation is impeded such that inspiration commences before the usual resting lung volume is reached; thus end-expiratory volume is increased. Such air trapping reduces the resistance to gas flow in the narrowed airways, but because the lung tissue is hyperinflated and mechanically disadvantaged, the work of breathing overall is increased.
What is FEV1?
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FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in 1st second of FVC measurement
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Normal: 75-80% of FVC (declining with age)
- Effort and cooperation dependent
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Normal: 75-80% of FVC (declining with age)
- Useful assessment!
- Good assessment for COPD severity
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Most valid test for postop respiratory complications: (equation)
- ppoFEV1 %= preoperative FEV1 % × (1 −% functional lung tissue removed/100)
How is COPD categorized?
American Thoracic Society categorizes:
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Stage I: FEV1 > 50% predicted
- Should not have significant dyspnea, hypoxemia, or hypercarbia
- Stage II: FEV1 35-50%
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Stage III: FEV1 < 35%.
- Stage II or III COPD → have an elevated PaCO2 at rest.
What is closing volume?
- The lung volume at which airways begin to close or stop contributing to the expired gas
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Normal: 15-20% of VC
- ** in healthy pt/sitting position**
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Smokers: ⇑ CV
- Reflects loss of elastic recoil and/or small airway pathology
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Normal: 15-20% of VC
What is VO2max?
- Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) during exercise testing
- ⇓ by 4% during exercise → high risk
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Values:
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VO2max: > 20 ml/kg/min
- Most have no pulm complications
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High risk → < 15 mL/kg/min (preop)
- High M&M
- Very high risk → < 10 ml/kg/min
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VO2max: > 20 ml/kg/min
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Testing: 6-minute test
- Requires little/no lab equipment
- VO2max can be estimated from 6-minute walk test: [distance walked (meters) / 30] = VO2max
- 6 min walk (~450 m) → estimated VO2max = 450/30 = 15 mL/kg/min
- Examples: VO2max
- 5 flights = > 20 mL/kg/min
- 2 flights = 12 mL/kg/min.
- ⇑ risk → SpO2 decrease > 4%
- Examples: VO2max
- 6 min walk (~450 m) → estimated VO2max = 450/30 = 15 mL/kg/min
What is DLCO?
Diffusing Capacity (ppoDLCO)
- Diffusing capacity (DLCO) is the ability of the lung to perform gas exchange (pt. inhales carbon monoxide and tested)
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High risk → < 40% of postop predicted value
- correlates with both increased respiratory and cardiac complications
- independent of FEV1 (even if FEV1 normal)
- correlates with both increased respiratory and cardiac complications
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DLCO (not FEV1) → negatively affected by preoperative chemotherapy
- may be the most important predictor of complications in this subgroup of patients.
- Some authors feel a higher cutoff risk-threshold for ppoDLco of < 50% may be more appropriate.
- Measured- CO inhalation
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High risk → < 40% of postop predicted value
How do you predict postop pulmonary function?
- One method of estimating the percent of functional lung tissue is based on a calculation of the number of functioning subsegments of the lung removed
- Right lung: 3 lobes
- Left lung: 2 lobes
- Number of subsegments of each lobe is used to calculate the predicted postoperative (ppo) pulmonary function (picture →)
- ppoFEV1 = preop FEV1 (or DLco) % × ( 1 – segment % /100)
- Ex: After a RLL lobectomy
- Taking 12 segments out of 42 segments → 12/42= 29%
- Taking out 29% of total lung tissue
- Equation:
- Given: Preop FEV1 [or DLco] 70% of normal
- 70% × ( 1 − 29/100) = 50% ppoFEV1
- Taking 12 segments out of 42 segments → 12/42= 29%
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Postresection respiratory complications:
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ppoFEV1:
- low risk = > 40%
- risk = < 40% (complications)
- high risk = < 30%
- unacceptably high risk = < 20%
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ppoFEV1:
How do we estimate operative risk?
- ALWAYS asses Functional Capacity
- Functional capacity > 2 METS → need spirometry
- *ppoFEV1
- *ppoDLCO
- > 60% (both) → pt should do well
- 30-60% → 6 min walk test (get VO2max)
- 6 min walk test
- Walk > 400 m → proceed to sx
- Walk < 400 m → get exercise testing and formally calculate O2 consumption
- > 10 ml/kg/min → increased risk
- < 10 ml/kg/min → hold sx and optimize (consider video thoracoscopy)
- Functional capacity > 2 METS → need spirometry
- Traditionally arterial blood gas data such as PaO2 less than 60 mm Hg or PaCO2 greater than 45 mm Hg have been used as cut-off values for pulmonary resection. Cancer resections have now been successfully done or even combined with volume reduction in patients who do not meet these criteria, although they remain useful as warning indicators of increased risk.
What factors characterize average risk? Elevated risk?
- Average risk
- FEV1>2 L or 80% predicted
- PPO FEV1 >80$ predicted
- PPO FEV1 + PPO DLCO both >40%
- VO2 max >15 ml/kg/min
- ability to climb 3 flights stairs
- Elevated risk
- FEV1 <2L or <40% predicted
- PPO FEV1 <40% predicted
- PPO DLCO <40% predicted
- VO2 max <10 mL/kg/min (on 6 min walk test)
- inability to climb one flight stairs
- o2 desat >4% during exercise
The National Emphysema Treatment Trial:
- preoperative FEV1 or DLCO < 20% → unacceptably high perioperative mortality rate.
- These can be considered as the absolute minimal values compatible with a successful outcome.
Preop eval of patients for pulmonary sx?
- Evaluate comorbidities
- Smoking related complications (CAD?)
- Cor pulmonale
- Paraneoplasm effects
- Secreting hormones?
- CV dx
- MI w/in 6 wks?
- Chemo
- EKG/CXR
- Labs
- Lung function testing:
- FEV1 and DLCO
- VO2max
- COPD → blood gas and response to bronchodilators
CV preop eval for pulmonary patients?
- Cardiac complications are the second most common cause of peri-operative morbidity and mortality
- Elective pulmonary resection is considered “intermediate risk” for cardiac morbidity
- CAD secondary to smoking may lead to ischemia
- Risk of post-thoracotomy ischemia = 5% (peaks POD 2 & 3)
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Arrhythmia risk:
- 30-50% → post op arrhythmia after pulmonary resection (1st week highest risk)
- Most common: A-fib (60-70%)
-
β-Adrenergic blockers → most effective drug to prevent arrhythmias
- Caution: Concerns regarding use in reactive airways diseases.
- Diltiazem (CCB) → most useful drug for postthoracotomy arrythmia prophylaxis
- 30-50% → post op arrhythmia after pulmonary resection (1st week highest risk)
What factors increase arryhtmia risk around pulmonary surgery?
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Factors effecting increased arrythmia incidence:
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Extent of lung resection
- pneumonectomy- 60%
- lobectomy- 40%
- nonresection thoracotomy- 30%
- Intrapericardial dissection
- Blood loss intraop
- Age (older)
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy
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Extent of lung resection
- Two factors in the early postthoracotomy period interact to produce atrial arrythmias:
- (1) increased flow resistance through pulmonary vascular bed bc of permanent (lung resection) or transient (atelectasis, hypoxemia) causes with attendant strain on the right side of the heart
- (2) increased sympathetic stimuli and oxygen requirements
- maximal on 2nd postop day as patients become more mobile
- Considerations:
- COPD pts → more resistant to pharmacologic-induced HR control when they develop posthoracotomy a fib
- Require multiple drugs
- COPD pts → more resistant to pharmacologic-induced HR control when they develop posthoracotomy a fib
- Most common arrhythmia → Atrial fib/flutter
- Due to atrial stretch
- Contributing factors
- Greater incidence in patients > 60 years old
- Surgical procedure: Left pneumonectomy (Right makes more sense?)
- Prophylaxis:
- Digoxin
- Diltiazem/Verapamil/CCB’s
- Beta blockers- Esmolol
- Amiodarone
What are some recommendations for prevention of postop a fib in thoracic sx?
- Consider those at highest risk for A fib:
- anterior mediastinal mass
- Lobectomy
- Pneumonectomy
- Esophagectomy
- Diltiazem (if preserved CV fx and not taking BB)
- Amiodarone
- Statins
- All patients:
- Continue BB preop
- Magnesium level
- Optimize
What is the CV response to COPD and CAD?
Consideration for tmanagement in thoracic surgery patients?
- CV response to COPD & CAD → pHTN
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Pulmonary hypertension- 40-50% pts w/ severe lung disease
- Increased pulmonary vascular resistance
- Right ventricular hypertrophy and dilation
- LV dysfunction due to CAD, MI, HTN
- Vascular Resistance measurements – PA, PAOP/PCWP, C.O., PV Compliance
- PAP (pulm artery pressure) > 25 or systolic >35:
- Increased risk respiratory complications
- prolonged intubation
- PAP (pulm artery pressure) > 25 or systolic >35:
- Management:
- ECG/ECHO
- Needed to determine severity of associated CV disease/pulm HTN
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AVOID HoTN
- *vasopressin to maintain BP
- ECG/ECHO
- After pulmonary resection → right ventricular dysfunction proportional to the amount of functioning pulmonary vascular bed that has been removed.
- The exact etiology and duration of dysfx unknown.
- Hemodynamic problem minimal when the patient is at rest
-
Dramatic when exercises → leading to:
- elevation of pulmonary vascular pressures
- limited CO
- absence of normal decrease in PVR usually seen with exertion
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Dramatic when exercises → leading to:
Management of pHTN secondary to Lung Disease (chart →)
- 2 main types of pHTN we focus on:
- pHTN d/t left heart disease
-
*pHTN d/t lung disease
- noncardiac surgery more likely to have pHTN due to lung disease
- Paravertebral blocks preferred over thoracic epidural in this population
- May need PA cath to monitor pressures (CO)
What can be done preoperatively to help prevent respiratory complications in thoracic sx patients?
- Stop Smoking
- Dilate Airways
- B2-sympathomemitic
- Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
- Inhaled anticholinergics and/or steroids
- Mucolytics
- Loosen/Remove Secretion
- Treat infections
- Nutrition/exercise/physiotherapy: Measures to increase motivation and postoperative care
- Chest physiotherapy → improve exercise tolerance if > 1 mo
- little improvement if < 1 mo
- Chest physiotherapy → improve exercise tolerance if > 1 mo
What are come cardiac and respiratory effects of smoking?
Smoking cessation guidance prior to surgery?
-
Cardiac effects of smoking:
- Risk factor for developing CV dx
- Carbon monoxide →
- decreases O2 delivery
- increases myocardial work
- Releases catecholamines → coronary vasoconstriction
- Exercise capacity decreases
-
Respiratory effects of smoking:
- Risk factor for developing pulm dx
- Mucocilliary activity decrease
- Hyperreactive AW
- Pulm immune fx decrease
-
Smoking cessation:
- > 4 wks d/c smoking → Pulmonary complications⇓
- > 12 hrs d/c smoking → Carboxyhgb [] ⇓
- There is no rebound increase in pulmonary complications if patients stop for shorter (< 8 weeks) periods before surgery. Intensive smoking-cessation interventions are the most successful.
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Important to avoid smoking postop
- Smoking leads to prolonged period of tissue hypoxemia.
- Wound tissue oxygen tension correlates with wound healing and resistance to infection.
What are some common COPD meds patients may be taking?
- B adrenergic agnoists (ie albuterol, terbutaline)
- increase adenylate cyclase-→ increase cAMP→ decrease smooth muscle tone→ bronchodilation
- Methylxanthines (ie aminophyllin, theophylline)
- phosphodiesterase inhibition→ increase cAMP→ potentiates endogenous catecholamine
- improve diaphragmatic contracility, central respiratory stimulant
- phosphodiesterase inhibition→ increase cAMP→ potentiates endogenous catecholamine
- Corticosteroids (ie methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, cortisol)
- antiinflammatory, membrane stabilizing, inhibits histamine release
- potentiates b agonists
- Anticholinergic (ie glyco, ipratropium)
- blocks acetylcholine at postganglionic receptors, decrease cGMP, relaxes airway smooth muscle
- Antileukotriene (ie montelukast)
- inhibit leukotriene production
- antiinfallmatory
- used in addition to steroids
- inhibit leukotriene production
What is the classification, assessment and pathological manifestations of obstructive disease?
- Classification: Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
- Causative Factors:
- Tobacco Abuse - MAJOR
- Alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency→emphysema in young patients
-
Manifestation: impairment of expiratory flow
- Retention of gases
-
Patho (from coexist)
-
Preventable/treatable dx characterized by progressive airflow limitation
- decrase in elastic recoil
- decrease in bronchiole wall rigidity
- active bronchospasm
- increase gas flow velocity
- increase in goblet cell hypertrophy
-
Preventable/treatable dx characterized by progressive airflow limitation
- Causative Factors:
- Assessment of severity based on FEV1 % of predicted values
- stage I: > 50% predicted
- stage II: 35 - 50%
- stage III: < 35%.
- Stage I patients should not have significant dyspnea, hypoxemia, or hypercarbia, and other causes should be considered if these are present.
- Stage II and III → do have those symptoms
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Pathological manifestations:
-
CV:
- RV dysfunction (up to 50% COPD pts)
-
Pulm:
- Increased dead space ventilation
- result in diversion of inspired air into (nonobstructed) ventilated, but poorly perfused, regions of lung.
- Increased FRC
- gas trapping
- flow limitation
- Stage II or III → increased CO2 at rest
- Increased dead space ventilation
-
CV:
Anesthetic management for patients with COPD?
-
Management:
- Preop: ALL COPD patients should have maximal bronchodilator therapy
- Need to admin O2 postop d/t unavoidable fall in FRC
- The attendant rise in Paco2 should be anticipated and monitored (blood gases)
-
Dysfunctional right ventricle → poorly tolerant of sudden increase in afterload
- Ex: change from SV to controlled ventilation → compromised RV fx
- RV fx becomes critical in maintaining CO as pulmonary artery pressure rises.
- RV ejection fraction does not increase with exercise in COPD patients as it does in normal patients. Chronic recurrent hypoxemia is the cause of the RV dysfunction and the subsequent progression to cor pulmonale.
- Ex: change from SV to controlled ventilation → compromised RV fx
-
Bullae:
- Normal SV → intrabulla pressure slightly negative in comparison to surrounding parenchyma
- PPV → pressure in bulla becomes positive in relation to adjacent lung tissue
- Bulla expands w/ attendant risk of rupture, tension pneumo, and bronchopleural fistula
- OK to do PPV → but keep aw pressures low
- high suspicion of pneumo
- have equipment ready for chest drain/one lung isolation if necessary
- OK to do PPV → but keep aw pressures low
- Bulla expands w/ attendant risk of rupture, tension pneumo, and bronchopleural fistula
-
Auto-PEEP:
- Auto-PEEP becomes even more important during mechanical ventilation.
- Directly proportional to TV
-
inversely proportional to expiratory time.
- Allow for adequate expiratory time
- Auto-PEEP has been found to develop in most COPD patients during one-lung anesthesia
- Auto-PEEP becomes even more important during mechanical ventilation.
- Patients with obstructive disease → risk for both intraoperative & post-operative pulmonary complications
-
GOAL: Minimize the risk of postop respiratory failure.
- VA blunt airway reflexes and reflex bronchoconstriction (bronchodilation)
- → consider the CV effects
- VA blunt airway reflexes and reflex bronchoconstriction (bronchodilation)
-
GOAL: Minimize the risk of postop respiratory failure.
- Judicious use of opioids – prevent and/or treat postop pain but avoid respiratory depression.
Should you administer extra oxygen to COPD patients? Why or why not?
- Previously thought chronically hypoxemic/hypercapnic patients relied on hypoxic stimulus for ventilatory drive and became insensitive to Paco2.
- This explained the clinical observation that COPD patients in incipient respiratory failure could be put into a hypercapnic coma by the administration of a high concentration of oxygen (FiO2).
-
In actuality, only minor fraction of increase Paco2 in such patients is caused by a diminished respiratory drive, bc minute ventilation is basically unchanged.
- The Paco2 rises because a high FiO2 causes a relative decrease in alveolar ventilation and an increase in alveolar dead space and shunt by the redistribution of perfusion away from lung areas of relatively normal ˙ V/˙ Q matching to areas of very low ˙ V/˙ Q ratio because regional hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is decreased and also as a result of the Haldane effect.
- However, supplemental oxygen must be administered to these patients postoperatively to prevent hypoxemia associated with the unavoidable fall in functional residual capacity (FRC). The attendant rise in Paco2 should be anticipated and monitored. To identify these patients preoperatively, all stage II and III COPD patients need an arterial blood gas analysis.
What is one precaution to be mindful of during induction on COPD patients?
At risk for hemodynamic collapse with positive pressure manual ventilation via bag valve mask.
- Severely flow-limited patients are at risk for hemodynamic collapse with the application of positive-pressure ventilation because of dynamic hyperinflation of the lungs. Even the modest positive airway pressures associated with manual ventilation with a bag/mask at induction can lead to hypotension because these patients have no increased resistance to inspiration but a marked obstruction of expiration. In some of these patients, this has contributed to the “Lazarus” syndrome, in which patients have recovered from a cardiac arrest only after resuscitation and positive-pressure ventilation were discontinued
Empysema vs bronchitis?
Emphysema
- PaO2: >60
- PaCO2: Normal
- Appearance:
- Thin, anxious, purse lips
- Accessory muscles
- Dyspnea
- Scant secretions
- Markedly diminished breath sounds
- With resp infx r-sided heart compromise
- CXR: hyperinflation low diaphragm
Bronchitis
- PaO2 < 60
- PaCO2 > 45
- Appearance:
- Overweight, cyanosis dusky appearance
- “Blue bloater”
- Cough
- Copious secretions
- Diminished breath sounds
- R-sided heart failure /cor pulmonale
- CXR: bronchovascular markings
Ventilation recommendations for obstructive dx?
- Controlled ventilation
- slower frequency 6-10 bpm
- Larger TV
- keep PIP <40 cm H2O
- longer Expiration time to minimize V:Q mismatch
- Ventilator setting:
- larger TV
- slower RR
- longer I:E ratio
- Ventilator setting:
- Considerations:
- Judicious use of opioids
- No N2O
- due to risk of bullae
- Regional techniques with sensory above T6 are not recommended