1. Definition of the Problem
A) Purpose of the Guideline
The main aim of the guidelines is to update the concepts promulgated by its two
predecessors, namely, the I and II Guidelines for Perioperative Evaluation of
the Brazilian Society of Cardiology published in 2007 and 2011,
respectively.
1
When the
systematic review of the collected evidence was conducted after five years since
the last publication, we noticed a remarkable evolution of the knowledge on the
subject, particularly in cardiology. In the perioperative environment, the
physician needs to simultaneously gather concepts from different specialties to
understand different aspects of the same problem and to optimize the language
among clinicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensivists. Although
problems related to other disciplines are addressed in this III Guidelines, we
decided that the text should adopt the point of view of a cardiologist. In line
with this decision, the III Guidelines incorporated the term cardiovascular and
was thus termed Guidelines for Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation. Based on
new findings, some novelties were included, such as new oral anticoagulants and
surgical interventions in patients with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), in
patients with last generation stents. Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents
were discussed in more detail for specific surgical procedures, such as dental,
dermatological, endoscopic, and ophthalmologic.
B) Methodology and Evidence
The systematic review performed to elaborate the III Guidelines considered
aspects related to the serious allegations of fraud involving the work of the
group led by Don Poldermans of the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands.
The group published studies, known as DECREASE trials, which investigated
important aspects in the perioperative environment, such as the use of
β-blockers and biomarkers and invasive stratification, in significant
groups of patients. The report released by the Erasmus Medical Center describes
several problems in these studies, including neglect and scientific
inaccuracies, especially in DECREASE IV.
2
Other studies from the same group, such as DECREASE V
and VI, also presented similar problems, although to a lesser extent.
3,4
The conclusions of the report led to the dismissal of
Don Poldermans from the Erasmus Medical Center and to the notification of the
journals where these papers were published. However, as of the date of the
publication of the III Guidelines, the published studies are still available on
the sites of the journals and have not been withdrawn. The members of the
writing committee of the III Guidelines discussed the matter and unanimously
decided that the recommendations should NOT consider the findings of DECREASE
IV, V, and VI and that the readers would be informed of this decision.
The methodology and levels of evidence considered for III Guidelines are as
follows:
2. Preoperative Evaluation
A) History
Collection of clinical history is the first approach in perioperative evaluation.
Anamnesis performed with the patient or family members may provide information
on the clinical conditions that determine the estimated surgical risk. The
algorithms for perioperative risk assessment use the data obtained by clinical
history and physical examination. The study of medical records in medical charts
and anesthetic records is useful for retrieving previous information.
5,6
To guide the evaluation of surgical risk, the following data are obtained in
clinical history: Information of the underlying disease, which indicates the
surgical procedure, including information from the surgeon on the risk and
location of the procedure, the availability of technical support regarding
personnel and equipment, the type of anesthesia, the estimated surgical time,
and the need for transfusion; clinical, sociodemographic, and cultural data,
such as age, gender, blood type, positive serology for hepatitis C virus, and
acceptance of transfusion; data to assess the patient’s
psychological/psychiatric condition; thorough investigation of surgical or
anesthetic history that may reveal potentially preventable complications or
allergies; determination of functional capacity, investigating daily activities
(Chart 1).
Chart 1
Questionnaire to evaluate the functional capacity
Can you...
METS*
Take care of yourself: dressing, eating, and
bathing?
2.75
Walk a block or two, with no hills?
2.75
Climb stairs or go up a hill?
5.50
Run a short distance?
8.00
Do light work at home, such as picking up trash or
washing dishes?
2.70
Do moderate work at home, such as vacuuming,
sweeping floors, or storing/carrying groceries?
3.50
Do heavy work at home, such as scrubbing/washing
floors or lifting or moving heavy furniture?
8.00
Do garden/yard work, such as using a scrub,
gathering leaves, or using a lawn mower?
4.50
Have sexual activity?
5.25
Participate in moderate recreational activities,
such as bowling, dancing, or playing tennis in doubles?
6.00
Participate in sports activities, such as swimming,
individual tennis, or football?
7.50
Adapted from Hlatky et al.
7
*
MET < 4 is considered low functional capacity. MET: metabolic
equivalent.
Investigation of the clinical condition and the need to compensate for coexisting
diseases, with a focus on identifying the presence of serious cardiovascular
conditions in the perioperative stage (Chart
2).
Chart 2
Severe cardiovascular conditions in the perioperative period
Acute coronary syndrome
Unstable diseases of the thoracic aorta
Acute pulmonary edema
Cardiogenic shock
Heart failure NYHA functional class III/IV*
Angina CCS functional class III/IV*
Severe bradyarrhythmias or tachyarrhythmias (third
degree AV block, VT)
Uncontrolled systemic hypertension (BP > 180
× 110 mmHg)
Atrial fibrillation with high ventricular rate (HR
> 120 bpm)
Symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension
*
Patients with these conditions who are stable and whose treatment was
already optimized should have the risk-benefit ratio of the surgical
intervention analyzed due to the risk of complications. NYHA: New
York Heart Association; CCS: Canadian Cardiovascular Society; BP:
blood pressure; HR: heart rate; AV: atrioventricular; VT:
ventricular tachycardia
In patients more than 65 years old, verification of the degree of
fragility;
8-18
identification of the presence
of valvular heart disease (item 4.D), valvular prostheses, and the need for
prophylaxis for bacterial endocarditis (item 7.E); investigation of risk factors
for cardiopathies; record of the presence of pacemaker or
cardioverter/implantable defibrillator and adequate management (item 4.G);
diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency, cerebral vascular
disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), liver disease, hemorrhagic disorders, thyroid
disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic lung disease; use of drugs,
phytotherapics, alcohol, illicit drugs, and evaluation of potential interference
with the operative procedure.
Doubts of the patient and their relatives regarding the procedure and its risks.
Awareness and agreement on the risks and benefits of the procedures. Awareness
that surgical risk is not limited to the intraoperative period and, eventually,
a prolonged follow-up will be needed. Awareness that complications are not
limited to the cardiovascular system;
The data obtained in the clinical evaluation should be dated and recorded in
appropriate documents. The day and time of receiving the request and writing the
evaluation response should be recorded. Establish a system that expedites
preoperative consultation requests in the institution. The information must be
available in a legible and explicit format, and the most relevant should be
underlined. The preoperative consultation may not be finalized in the first
evaluation; ensure that the preoperative consultation has been forwarded and, if
necessary, contact the surgeon or anesthesiologist in person or by other means
of communication;
Consider the patient’s expectations regarding return to appointments, performance
of tests, scheduled date for surgery, waiting list for the surgical procedure,
precocity of the procedure, availability of appointments, and operating
room.
B) Physical Examination
Physical examination is useful during the perioperative risk assessment process
and should not be limited to the cardiovascular system. This examination aims to
identify pre-existing or potential cardiopathy (risk factors), define the
severity and stability of the heart disease, and identify possible
comorbidities.
Patients with heart disease whose general condition is compromised by other
conditions, such as neurological diseases, renal failure, infections, liver
abnormalities, malnutrition, and pulmonary dysfunction, are at a higher risk of
cardiac complications because such conditions exacerbate surgical stress.
Patients with peripheral vascular disease have a high incidence of ischemic
heart disease, which is a prognostic factor of perioperative complication.
Evidence of, for example, changes in arterial pulses or carotid bruit should be
investigated in physical examination. On the other hand, turgid jugulars in
preoperative consultation, indicating high central venous pressure (CVP),
suggest that the patient may develop postoperative pulmonary edema.
19
The evidence of a third heart
sound (S3) in the preoperative evaluation is indicative of poor prognosis with
an increased risk of pulmonary edema, myocardial infarction, or cardiac death.
The evidence of lower limb edema (bilateral) should be analyzed in combination
with the presence or absence of jugular venous distention. If CVP is increased,
visualized by the height of the oscillation of the pulse of the internal jugular
vein, then cardiopathy and pulmonary hypertension (PH) are responsible, at least
partially, for the patient’s edema. If CVP is not increased, other causes, such
as liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, chronic peripheral venous insufficiency,
or use of some medication, are responsible for the edema. Evidence of edema
alone and without knowledge of the patient’s CVP is not a definite sign of heart
disease.
20
In the
presence of heart murmurs, the physician should be able to distinguish between
organic and functional murmurs, determine if they are significant or not, and
identify their origin. The origin will indicate whether endocarditis prophylaxis
or evaluation of valvular lesion severity is necessary (items 4.D and 7.E).
In elderly patients, a brief assessment of fragility can be performed using the
timed up and go test. In this test, time is measured in seconds with a timer
starting from the point when the patient is given the command to get up from a
chair and walk three meters forward and return, and ending when the patient sits
back in the chair. A test time equal to or greater than 20 seconds is considered
poor/low. A test time equal to or greater than 15 seconds is associated with
postoperative complications and increased mortality in a period of one
year.
15
C) Additional Tests
In the perioperative evaluation of patients scheduled for surgical procedures,
requesting of preoperative tests [electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and
laboratory tests] is a common and routine clinical practice. However, this is
not related to the reduction or prediction of perioperative complications and
has a high economic cost for the health system. Therefore, revisions elaborated
by several societies have recommended the rational use of tests.
21-23
In the literature, few studies have evaluated the benefit and impact of
preoperative routine tests. Cataract surgery is the surgical procedure that
presents the best evidence. Three randomized studies compared performing and not
performing routine preoperative examinations and the occurrence of postoperative
events in patients undergoing cataract surgery.
24-26
The
systematic review of these three studies, involving 21,531 patients, showed a
similar frequency of complications between the two groups. The authors concluded
that performing preoperative tests does not increase the safety of cataract
surgery and is associated with a 2.5-fold higher cost when compared to the group
that did not perform preoperative tests.
27
Despite the evidence in the literature, routinely
requesting preoperative tests is still common in clinical practice. In a cohort
study with 440,857 patients, the authors observed that more than half of the
patients undergoing cataract surgery had a preoperative test, especially when
the evaluation is performed by ophthalmologists.
28
For other surgeries, only one randomized study investigated the effect of routine
preoperative tests on the occurrence of postoperative events and
complications.
29
The
population of this study mainly consisted of patients with low clinical risk,
without serious diseases or decompensated clinical conditions, who underwent
small and outpatient surgeries. In this study, the patients were randomized to
perform the proposed surgery with or without preoperative tests (ECG, chest
X-ray, blood count, urea, creatinine, electrolytes, and glucose). No difference
in perioperative morbidity and mortality was found between patients who
performed preoperative evaluation with complementary tests and those who did not
perform additional tests. The American National Institute of Health conducted an
observational study on 73,596 patients undergoing low-risk and selected
outpatient procedures (hernia surgeries). The authors reported that 54% of those
without comorbidities underwent preoperative tests. The frequency of
perioperative complications was extremely low (0.3%). The performance of
preoperative tests or the presence of abnormalities in these tests did not
predict complications.
30
An extensive review of the literature has shown very limited evidence of clinical
effectiveness to recommend routine preoperative tests. No study has demonstrated
the cost-effectiveness of preoperative tests in healthy individuals undergoing
low-risk or intermediate non-cardiac surgeries.
31
Abnormal findings in routine tests are
relatively frequent, but these results rarely lead to changes in surgical
procedure or surgery suspension. In addition, changes in preoperative tests do
not predict complications.
In conclusion, there is no indication to perform routine laboratory tests in the
preoperative evaluation in asymptomatic patients submitted to low-risk
procedures. The indication of preoperative tests should be customized in
accordance to the history and physical examination, the diseases and
comorbidities presented by the patients, as well as the type and extent of the
proposed surgery.
I. Electrocardiogram
The ECG analysis may complement cardiologic evaluation and allow the
identification of patients at high cardiac risk. The ECG can detect
arrhythmias, conduction disorders, previous myocardial ischemia or acute
myocardial infarction (MI), ventricular overloads, and changes due to
electrolyte disorders or drug effects. In addition, a baseline
electrocardiographic tracing is important for perioperative comparative
evaluation in patients at high risk for cardiovascular events.
However, routine application of a test with limited specificity may lead to
false-positive results in asymptomatic patients, since electrocardiographic
abnormalities often concern the surgical and anesthetic staff and may prompt
the unnecessary cancelation of the surgery.
32
Abnormalities found on the ECG tend to
increase with age and the presence of comorbidities, and these
electrocardiographic changes usually have a low prognostic value regarding
complications.
33,34
In a retrospective study
involving more than 23,000 patients, the presence of preoperative
electrocardiographic changes was associated with higher incidence of cardiac
deaths within 30 days.
35
This result was corroborated by two prospective studies that found similar
results, where preoperative ECG abnormalities predicted perioperative
cardiovascular events.
36,37
However, in the group of
patients submitted to low to moderate risk surgery, preoperative ECG
presented limited prognostic information.
Therefore, the indication for preoperative ECG depends on clinical history,
surgery type, and diseases presented by the patient.
II. Chest X-ray
Studies evaluating the routine use of chest radiography (X-ray) in the
preoperative evaluation have shown that the result of the test rarely
interferes with the management of the anesthetic technique and does not
predict perioperative complications. Abnormalities found in the X-ray are
usually related to chronic diseases, such as COPD and/or cardiomegaly, and
are more frequent in male patients older than 60 years, with a higher
cardiac risk and with more comorbidities.
40,41
The indication for preoperative chest X-ray should be based on an initial
careful evaluation by using the clinical history and physical exams of the
patients. There is no indication for routine chest X-rays in asymptomatic
patients as part of the preoperative evaluation.
D) Perioperative Evaluation Algorithms
Over the years, several indices have been developed to estimate the risk of
perioperative events in noncardiac surgeries. Based on these risk indexes,
algorithms/flowcharts are suggested to facilitate the perioperative evaluation
process and propose strategies to reduce the risk of the events.
I. Risk Indices
Several papers in the literature have compared the accuracy of existing
indices for different populations of surgical patients.
42-44
Most of these studies show that the various
existing indices, although not very accurate, can predict events and should
be used in perioperative assessment.
Among the risk indices with cardiovascular outcomes, we highlight the Lee’s
Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI),
45
the index developed by the American College of
Physicians (ACP),
46,47
and the Multicenter
Perioperative Evaluation Study (EMAPO-www.consultoriodigital.com.br
48
- the Multicenter Perioperative Evaluation
Study was developed and validated in the Brazilian population. All indices
have advantages and disadvantages that must be considered during their use.
When estimating risk, we should consider which outcome we are predicting:
the ACP algorithm predicts the occurrence of AMI and cardiovascular death.
The RCRI estimates the risk of AMI, acute pulmonary edema, total
atrioventricular block, and cardiorespiratory arrest. The RCRI is widely
validated in the literature and shows moderate level of accuracy in
predicting events in noncardiac surgeries; this index is less accurate in
patients undergoing arterial aortic vascular surgeries and peripheral
revascularizations.
49
Thus, in a specific evaluation guideline on risk
assessment in patients undergoing vascular surgeries,
50
the VSG-CRI (Vascular
Study Group of New England Cardiac Risk Index) is proposed as an alternative
to the RCRI; it is adapted from RCRI with additional variables.
51
When the aim is to estimate global risk, not only related to cardiovascular
morbidity and mortality, the ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator (www.riskcalculator.facs.org),
which has been recently
developed by the American College of Surgeons, can be used. This tool was
developed using data from more than 1 million surgeries in 393 hospitals in
the United States. It had good prediction accuracy in that population. This
index includes, in addition to the specific type of surgical procedure, 21
clinical variables, providing a risk assessment of 8 different
outcomes.
52
On the
other hand, this tool presents some limitations related to subjective
variables and still needs validation in other populations.
As already discussed, risk indices have advantages and limitations, and none
of them is perfect. It should be kept in mind that the risk index selected
should be used as a complement, but never a replacement, to the evaluator’s
opinion. Data or evidence is not always available in the literature for all
situations. Thus, assessment should be customized. In those cases where the
evaluating physician considers that the index is underestimating the actual
risk, this observation should be mentioned in the evaluation.
In addition to the risk indices already mentioned, other features related to
surgical procedure and patient should be considered in the evaluation of the
risk of perioperative events. We recommend using a flowchart proposed in
this guideline (Figure 1).
Figure 1
Flowchart of the III Guideline Perioperative Cardiovascular
Evaluation
II. Emergency and Urgent Surgeries vs. Elective
Surgeries
In situations when the prognosis of the underlying disease that led to
surgical indication demands an emergency intervention, the role of the
cardiologist should be restricted to monitoring measures and interventions
to reduce the risk in the intra and postoperative periods, with no
indication of complementary tests that delay the proposed surgery. For
urgent surgeries, there is time to optimize the cardiovascular therapy or to
perform complementary tests, such as transthoracic echocardiography, when
indicated (item 3.A). On the other hand, the request of functional tests to
evaluate myocardial ischemia should not be performed, because the result
will not change the plan and the proposed surgery cannot be postponed for 6
weeks (time required for preoperative myocardial revascularization or
antiplatelet therapy, if indicated - see items 7.A.V and 7.B).
III. Severe Cardiovascular Conditions in the Perioperative
The first step in elective surgeries is the verification of the patient’s
baseline clinical conditions. There are clinical circumstances in which the
spontaneous risk of complications is very high, regardless of the surgical
procedure. Identification of such conditions is fundamental, because their
treatment should take priority over elective surgery, which should be,
whenever possible, postponed and reconsidered only after clinical
compensation (Chart 2).
IV. Intrinsic Risk of the Procedure
The intrinsic risk of the surgical procedure corresponds to the probability
of occurrence of perioperative cardiovascular events, independently of the
clinical variables of the patients. It is related to the duration of the
procedure, hemodynamic stress, and loss of blood and fluids that occurs
during the intervention. Patients with stable clinical conditions who do not
present high-risk cardiac conditions may be referred for low intrinsic risk
procedures without the need for further evaluation. Despite the difficulty
in determining a specific risk for surgical procedures, since they occur in
different circumstances, a risk classification of cardiovascular events
(death or non-fatal AMI) was proposed for noncardiac surgeries (Chart 3).
53
Chart 3
Classification of the intrinsic risk of cardiac complications of
non-cardiac surgeries
HIGH (Cardiac risk > 5%)
Vascular surgeries (aortic and other major
vascular surgery, peripheral vascular surgery)
Urgent or emergency surgeries
INTERMEDIATE (Cardiac risk
between 1 and 5%)
Carotid endarterectomy and endovascular repair
of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Head and neck surgery
Intraperitoneal and intrathoracic surgeries
Orthopedic surgeries
Prostate surgeries
LOW (Cardiac risk <
1%)
Endoscopic procedures
Superficial procedures
Cataract surgery
Breast surgery
Outpatient surgery
Adapted from Fleisher et al.53
V. Functional Capacity
Patients with low functional capacity are more prone to perioperative
complications.
18,54
Functional capacity can be
measured objectively using the exercise stress test (which is not always
possible or desirable) or clinical history. Limitations in performing
activities of daily living, such as walking quickly, climbing stairs, doing
household activities or exercising regularly, are evaluated (Chart 1). In addition
to the greater
probability of poor perioperative evolution, patients with low functional
capacity may have their symptoms underestimated due to their restrictions.
Therefore, this can be considered when deciding to request complementary
tests, such as, for example, non-invasive testing of ischaemic heart
disease.
VI. Perioperative Evaluation Flowchart
Based on the above, the III Guideline for Perioperative Cardiovascular
Evaluation of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology proposes a flowchart for
perioperative evaluation by using the existing risk indices and relevant
risk variables for this period (Figure
1). The algorithm contains the conditions that must be analyzed
sequentially according to their relevance for the determination of the
risk.
Depending on the estimated risk and the nature of the risk, interventions for
clinical treatment or additional risk stratification with complementary
tests are proposed. This applies to increased risk of ischemic events,
decompensation of HF/valvular heart disease, and arrhythmias, considering
the current specific guidelines for each case. As an example, if the nature
of the risk is ischemic, non-invasive testing of ischaemic heart disease
should be considered.
In addition, for patients classified as intermediate or high risk by the
algorithms, surveillance for postoperative cardiac events must be performed,
including, monitoring in a semi-intensive or intensive care unit (ICU), ECG
and troponin being performed once daily up to the third postoperative
day.
Perioperative evaluation is a unique opportunity to identify and advice
patients about cardiovascular risk factors. During this period, diagnosis of
previously unknown diseases, which can be optimized for a better
perioperative evolution and, more importantly, for a better long-term
prognosis, is often possible.
55
3. Additional Preoperative Evaluation
A) Evaluation of Ventricular Function at Rest
Resting echocardiography in the preoperative period of noncardiac surgery is not
a routine test. However, in specific situations, it may offer additional risk
information that may be useful for future therapeutic decisions. The use of this
procedure in preoperative patients is to evaluate right and left ventricular
dysfunction and signs of myocardial ischemia or valvular abnormalities, which
are not detected previously in the clinical examination, chest X-ray, or even
the ECG. Although controversial, it may be indicated in patients with a surgical
risk that justifies this investigation.
56,57
Transthoracic echocardiography is the main diagnostic method in patients with
suspected or known HF. By using this method, including refined methods of
analysis, such as myocardial strain imaging and three-dimensional
echocardiography, we can accurately assess ventricular volume, ejection
fraction, cardiac output, longitudinal strain, and degree of hemodynamic
impairment. Assessment can be performed by determining the diastolic function
and pressures in the pulmonary artery and left atrium using the E/e’ ratio and
the presence and location of cardiac dys-synchrony in patients with a left
ventricular ejection fraction < 35% or with a QRS > 120 ms.
58-60
However, routine echocardiography is not indicated in
all patients because no evidence exists to support that its use is associated
with increased survival or shorter hospital stays. Several studies suggest that
echocardiography increases hospitalization time, without leading to clinical
benefit.
61
Additionally, in patients with acute HF, clinical compensation should be
performed, whenever possible, prior to the intervention.
62
In patients with known or suspected valve disease, particularly those with
moderate or severe aortic stenosis, severe mitral stenosis, severe mitral or
aortic regurgitation, and those with intracardiac prostheses, transthoracic or
transesophageal echocardiography should be used to determine the severity of the
valve disease, help preoperative clinical treatment and guide prophylaxis or
therapy for infective endocarditis (item 7.E).
63-67
B) Noninvasive Tests to Detect Myocardial Ischemia
I. Electrocardiogram Exercise Testing
The pathophysiology of perioperative MI differs from that of spontaneous MI.
Perioperative MI can be caused by plaque rupture in approximately half of
the cases or by imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply (anemia, low
flow, etc.) and demand (tachycardia and hypertension).
68-70
Exercise ECG testing is a safe, useful, and effective tool to detect
myocardial ischemia, which is produced by an imbalance between supply and
demand. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that detection of
abnormalities while performing this test may be reproducible during the
perioperative period and its varying levels of stress. However, whether this
strategy leads to reduction of perioperative cardiovascular events in all
cases is unknown. It should also be considered that lower prevalence of
coronary disease in a population results in lower positive predictive value
of the exercise ECG testing.
Considering that risk stratification aims to reduce perioperative risk,
performing the test in a population already stratified as low risk by the
recommended algorithms is not logical. Therefore, in cases of low prevalence
of coronary artery disease (CAD), the exercise ECG testing would not add
value to the perioperative clinical stratification. It could also delay the
surgery and require more specific tests to differentiate the true results
from the false-positive.
71,72
Even in high-risk individuals, such as those undergoing preoperative vascular
surgery, the predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of the exercise
ECG testing (10%, 74%, and 69%, respectively) are low, but with a high
negative predictive value (98%).
73
On the other hand, in a cohort study, performance
of provocative ischemic preoperative tests in high-risk patients, with three
or more clinical risk factors, is associated with shorter hospital stays and
lower mortality.
71
Thus,
among asymptomatic individuals with a higher prevalence of the disease, the
exercise ECG testing could be requested only if the result would influence
the prognosis and, consequently, preoperative decisions, or to provide a
more intensive clinical therapy or even a myocardial revascularization
procedure.
57
In
this case, the onset of ischemic response at low load is associated with a
higher number of perioperative cardiac events. On the other hand, patients
with exercise tolerance up to 4-5 METS have a good perioperative
prognosis.
65,74
II. Stress Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy
The exercise ECG testing is safe, useful, and effective to detect myocardial
ischemia and has a good cost-risk-benefit ratio,
75
but has limitations, such as patients with
physical limitations, patients who present abnormal ST-segment changes or
left bundle bock in the baseline ECG. The alternative for such patients is
an imaging method with pharmacological stress (adenosine, dobutamine, or
dipyridamole).
In this context, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS), when possible
associated with exercise and, within the physical limitations,
pharmacological stress, has a good accuracy and prognostic value.
70
In a meta-analysis of
1,179 patients submitted to vascular surgery, MPS with dipyridamole
demonstrated a greater number of perioperative cardiovascular events,
proportional to the presence and extent of perfusion defects. Those with
reversible ischemia in up to 20% of the left ventricular extension had the
same events with those without ischemia. However, when the area affected was
20-29%, 30-49%, and above 50%, the probability of cardiac events was 1.6,
2.9, and 11 times higher, respectively.
76
Another meta-analysis with the same method and similar profile of patients
showed that patients without perfusion defect, with fixed defect, and with
reversible defect presented mortality and nonfatal MI rates of 1%, 7%, and
9%, respectively. Patients with two or more perfusion defects have a high
incidence of cardiac events.
77
Gated-associated MPS, which allows assessment of both myocardial perfusion
and cardiac function, has been recently shown to be a useful tool for risk
stratification in vascular surgeries. In one study, abnormal final systolic
volume (more than twice the standard deviation) was the only independent
variable to predict cardiac events. Patients with normal perfusion but with
changes in contractility had significantly more cardiac events than those
with normal contractility and perfusion (16% x 2%; p < 0.0001).
78
In conclusion, in the perioperative evaluation, the indications for
Gated-associated MPS are similar to those of the exercise ECG testing. It is
the best option for patients with physical limitations. It is also the best
alternative when the ECG is impossible to interpret due to baseline changes
of the ST-segment and when the result of the exercise ECG testing is a
possible false positive
III. Stress Echocardiography with Dobutamine
Stress echocardiography is an accurate and reliable tool to identify patients
with CAD and has an important role in the prognosis of cardiac
events
79,80
Dobutamine and exercise stress echocardiography have similar diagnostic
accuracies, which are higher than that of dipyridamole stress.
81
If a dobutamine stress
echocardiography does not demonstrate the presence of residual ischemia in a
patient with a history of infarction, the prognosis is good and the
probability of reinfarction, death, and acute pulmonary edema is low in the
perioperative period of a noncardiac surgery.
73
The use of dobutamine stress echocardiography in perioperative risk
assessment is already well documented in the literature, with a positive
predictive value ranging from 25-55% and a negative predictive value of
93-100% for cardiac events in patients undergoing noncardiac
surgery,
73,82
The results were generally
used to determine preoperative clinical decisions, particularly the decision
to perform coronary angiography or myocardial revascularization before or
after the elective surgery.
A meta-analysis of 15 studies was performed to compare dipyridamole
thallium-201 and dobutamine stress echocardiography in vascular risk
stratification before surgery. It demonstrated that the prognostic value of
the abnormalities is similar in both imaging methods for perioperative
ischemic events.
77
C) Invasive Coronary Angiography
Coronary angiography is a well-established invasive procedure, but it is rarely
indicated for risk assessment in noncardiac surgeries. The available data are
insufficient to recommend the use of coronary angiography in all patients (i.e.,
routine tests), including those undergoing high-risk surgeries. In general, the
indications for coronary angiography in the preoperative period are similar to
those for angiography in other situations. In addition, invasive coronary
angiography assessment may cause unnecessary and unpredictable delay to an
already scheduled surgical intervention, as well as add the risk of the
procedure.
83
Notably,
in services where non-invasive tests are unavailable for the detection of
myocardial ischemia, coronary angiography should not be requested as an
alternative to these tests.
D) Additional Tests
I. Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography
Coronary Angio-CT has been increasingly used to evaluate patients with
suspected CAD. It presents high sensitivity for the detection of coronary
stenosis, including multiarterial disease and lesion in the left coronary
trunk.
84-87
However, it has not been
extensively investigated in the perioperative period of noncardiac
surgeries.
Ahn et al.
88
analyzed
retrospective data and concluded that angiotomography may be advantageous in
reclassifying the risk of patients assessed by Lee’s revised score (RCRI),
when submitted to intermediate risk procedures.
45,88
On the other hand, a cohort showed a fivefold higher probability of
overestimating the risk of angiotomography in patients who present an
event.
89
A few studies have shown an association between elevated coronary calcium
score and cardiovascular events. Angiotomography could still be applied as
an instrument for risk reclassification.
88,90
Nevertheless, the information obtained through such tests was still not
correlated with new interventions (revascularization, pharmacoprotection, or
monitoring) to reduce perioperative coronary events. Therefore,
angiotomography or coronary calcium score is not recommended in the
preoperative period.
91
II. Ankle-brachial Index
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is one of the preferred methods for the
diagnosis of peripheral occlusive arterial disease (PAOD). Values ≤
0.9 show good accuracy for the diagnosis. ABI is associated with poor
cardiovascular prognosis, significantly increasing the risk of amputation,
CAD, and cerebrovascular disease.
92,93
It can be
used as a risk reclassification tool in conjunction with the Framingham risk
score, increasing the mortality risk due to all causes in all risk
categories.
94
Although ABI is a promising method because of its low cost, rapid
standardization, good acceptance by patients, and low intra- and
inter-observer variability, it is poorly investigated in the perioperative
context.
95
Flu et
al.
96
showed that
patients with ABI ≤0.9 submitted to vascular surgery had an odds
ratio (OR) of 2.4 for the occurrence of myocardial injury. Two other studies
evaluated ABI in patients undergoing noncardiac and nonvascular surgeries
and obtained ORs of 10.2 and 7.0 for the occurrence of major cardiovascular
events, including isolated increase of troponin.
97,98
Association of this test with perioperative risk scores has not yet been
studied, and the risk reclassification capacity is unknown. Therefore,
routine use of ABI is not recommended as a risk estimation tool. For
patients with previously known vasculopathies, focusing on the
pharmacological prevention of cardiovascular events and monitoring, as
discussed in other topics of this guideline, is recommended.
III. Holter
Holter is a continuous electrocardiographic monitoring tool that identifies
the presence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and their complexity. It
also identifies dynamic changes of the ST-segment that are indicative of
myocardial ischemia. This method is not routinely used in the evaluation of
preoperative ischemia, because other diagnostic methods are more sensitive
and specific for this purpose. Its possible application during the
perioperative period is monitoring ischemic events that occur in the intra-
and postoperative periods, which can have a particularly high incidence in
some specific groups of patients.
Electrocardiographic monitoring in the postoperative period using Holter was
not very sensitive (50%), although very specific (92%), for the diagnosis of
reinfarction in patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries and who had a
previous history of myocardial infarction.
99
Therefore, routine use of this test is not
recommended. Requesting a Holter in the preoperative period follows the same
indications of other contexts.
E) Biomarkers
I. Cardiac Troponins
The increased sensitivity of the available troponin kits provided a greater
accuracy and rapidity in the diagnosis of MI in patients with chest pain in
the emergency room.
100
On
the other hand, in the perioperative period of noncardiac operations, the
available scientific evidence does not include all troponins (I and T) or
all assays used, which have different detection limits and reference values.
For this reason and due to the importance of this diagnostic tool, we
decided to include a detailed explanation of the available methods before
the recommendations in this guideline.
The detection limit represents the minimum value that is detected by the
method. The reference value of normality is determined using the 99th
percentile, which is obtained by performing the test in a normal population,
and indicates that 99% of normal individuals have values below this
cut-off.
Troponin assays can be classified as low sensitivity (conventional), medium
sensitivity (contemporary or sensitive), or high sensitivity. This
classification is based on the percentage of healthy individuals in whom
troponin can be detected. Contemporary troponin assays (medium sensitivity)
can detect values above the 99% percentile (altered values); however,
troponin is only detected in a few normal individuals. High sensitivity
assays can determine values of this marker (limit of detection) in 50-95% of
normal individuals.
101
Table 1 presents some troponin
assays and their classification and respective reference values of
normality.
101,102
To properly interpret
and request troponin as a biomarker in the perioperative period, the
physician must be familiar with the troponin assay used in their hospital.
Notably, in the preoperative period, only the Roche high-sensitivity
troponin T (hs-TnT) assay has been tested in the available studies and may
have clinical applicability. In the postoperative period, most studied
troponins are conventional and some are sensitive (as specified in item
7.F).
Table 1
Troponin assays, sensitivity, and reference values
Troponin assay
Detection limit (ng/L)
Reference value (99th percentile) –
(ng/L)
Conventional (low sensitivity) *
Troponin T 4th generation Roche Elecsys
10
Unknown **
Contemporary (medium
sensitivity/sensitive)
Troponin I Siemens ADVIA Centaur Ultra
s-cTnI
6
40
Troponin I Abbott Architect s-cTnI
9
28
Beckman-Coulter Access Accu-cTnI
10
40
Troponin I Roche Elecsys TnI
100
160
High sensitivity (hs)
Troponin T hs-TnT Roche Elecsys
5
14
Troponin I Siemens Dimension Vista hs-TnI
0,5
9
Troponin I Abbott Architect hs-cTnI
1,9
26,2
Beckman-Coulter Access hs-cTnI
2
9,2
*
No longer used in modern hospitals;
**
Most individuals have values below the detection limit, thus, the
99th percentile is impossible to determine.
Some published papers demonstrate the efficacy of high sensitivity
preoperative troponin as a marker of perioperative cardiovascular
complications and general mortality in noncardiac surgeries. Nagele et
al.
103
studied
608 patients who underwent noncardiac surgery. They showed that 41% had
increased values of hs-TnT above the 99th percentile (> 14 ng/L) in the
preoperative period. The increase in preoperative hs-TnT was associated with
a higher total mortality during a 3-year follow-up.
103
These findings were
confirmed in a study involving 455 patients undergoing vascular surgeries.
In this study, patients with increased hs-TnT in the preoperative period
presented a greater number of cardiovascular events in the postoperative
period.
104
In a
comparison to Lee’s RCRI algorithm in 979 patients aged more than 55 years
with at least one cardiovascular risk factor submitted to noncardiac
surgeries, preoperative hs-TnT presented an area under the ROC curve (0.78)
similar to the RCRI (0.68; p = 0.07) in predicting combined cardiovascular
events (mortality, MI, recovered cardiac arrest, and acute HF). In addition,
in a multivariate analysis, increased hs-TnT in the preoperative period was
an independent predictor of these combined events (HR 2.6; p = 0.008). As
for general mortality, hs-TnT was superior to RCRI (area under the curve
0.81 × 0.66, p = 0.006).
105
The prevalence of preoperative hs-TnT increases
varies between 21% and 41%, depending on the age and risk factors, such as
diabetes, CAD, systemic arterial hypertension, and renal failure.
103-107
No study has evaluated the role of high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) in
predicting cardiovascular events in the preoperative period.
Contemporary/sensitive TnI was evaluated in 560 patients undergoing
noncardiac surgeries, with only 5% presenting preoperative values above the
99th percentile. Its use did not improve the prediction of risk of
perioperative cardiovascular events.
108
In conclusion, measurement of troponins with conventional or
contemporary/sensitive assays is not useful in the preoperative period and
should not be performed. On the other hand, the hs-TnT measurement in the
preoperative period can be used as a tool for risk stratification associated
with the use of the algorithms. In addition, these data help to establish a
baseline value in patients with indication for postoperative monitoring,
facilitating the interpretation of postoperative values of hs-TnT and the
diagnosis of postoperative MI (items 7.F and 8.A).
II. Natriuretic Peptides
OThe risk scores usually used in the perioperative evaluation enable to
estimate the risk of cardiovascular events in the perioperative period with
moderate accuracy. Tests to evaluate ischemia, as well as biomarkers
(troponins and natriuretic peptides), allow to refine the risk assessment
before surgery.
109
Natriuretic peptides are released into the bloodstream by the heart in
response to multiple physiological stimuli, such as myocardial stress and
ischemia. Several studies demonstrated that high preoperative levels of BNP
are potent predictors of perioperative cardiovascular
complications.
110
The two studies by Biccard et al.
111
conducted investigations on patients submitted to
arterial vascular surgery. In 2011, they reported that preoperative BNP was
an independent predictor of increased postoperative troponin levels in a
cohort of 267 patients undergoing vascular surgery. They also reported that
the use of this biomarker improved the risk prediction of Lee’s RCRI in
38-70% in patients classified as intermediate risk.
111
In 2012, the authors
evaluated 788 patients undergoing vascular surgery and showed that increased
preoperative BNP levels was an independent predictor of cardiac events in a
period of 30 days (OR = 5.0; p < 0.001).
108
A meta-analysis involving individual data from six different studies
evaluated natriuretic peptides as predictors of events in patients
undergoing vascular surgeries. The study confirmed that increased
preoperative natriuretic peptide level is an independent predictor of events
(cardiac death or nonfatal MI) in up to 30 days after surgery. It was also
observed that it improves the predictive value of the RCRI.
112
With regard to patients undergoing nonvascular surgeries, there are no
studies that exclusively evaluate this population. The vast majority of the
studies involve both vascular and nonvascular surgeries.
In a meta-analysis published in 2009, including 15 prospective observational
studies and 4,856 patients submitted to vascular or nonvascular surgeries,
the authors found that increased preoperative BNP or NT-proBNP levels was
associated with a high (nearly 20-fold higher) risk of major cardiovascular
events, cardiac mortality, and mortality due to all causes (almost 10-fold)
in the perioperative period (< 43 days after surgery).
113
However, whether
prognostic information was improved in these studies, considering the
existing risk indices, were not determined.
114
More recently, a prospective multicenter observational study analyzed 979
patients aged more than 55 years with at least one cardiovascular risk
factor (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, family history) in
the preoperative period of noncardiac surgery. The study aimed to assess
increases in hs-Tn as a risk predictor compared to the Lee’s RCRI, with 93%
of the patients with RCRI < 2. In this study, the authors also evaluated
the role of natriuretic peptides as risk predictors in noncardiac surgery.
They observed that both hs-Tn levels and NTproBNP levels were higher in
individuals with cardiovascular events and seemed to provide additional
information to the RCRI.
105
Finally, a meta-analysis conducted in 2014 included 18 prospective
observational studies. The authors assessed individual data from 2,179
patients undergoing noncardiac (vascular and nonvascular) surgery. They
demonstrated that postoperative levels of BNP and NTproBNP provide
additional risk prediction of death or nonfatal infarction in a period of 30
and 180 days to a risk prediction model that includes preoperative BNP. They
also showed that high values of BNP/NTproBNP both in the postoperative (OR =
3.7; p < 0.001) and preoperative (OR = 1.9; p < 0.001) periods were
independent predictors of death or nonfatal MI in a period of 30
days.
115
Therefore, we consider that BNP/NTproBNP measurement can provide additional
prognostic information on the risk stratification of patients undergoing
vascular and nonvascular arterial surgeries.
4. Diseases and Conditions with Specific Features in the Perioperative
Period
A) Coronary Artery Disease
Objectively discriminating the surgical risk for each specific coronary artery
disease (CAD) condition is critical for preventing and reducing morbidity of
perioperative events. About four decades ago, perioperative risk analysis of CAD
patients consisted of measuring the temporal relationship between a given
cardiac ischemic event and the proposed surgery. At present, in addition to the
mentioned interval,
116
we
consider all the relevant factors for the prognosis of patients with CAD,
independently of the perioperative context. These factors include presence of
angina, HF, electrocardiographic signs, extent, and threshold of ischemia, and
coronary anatomy, if relevant. The routine and indiscriminate performance of
additional tests, such as functional tests and invasive coronary angiography,
has no proven benefit, even in the population already diagnosed with CAD. A
careful anamnesis associated with propaedeutics of the circulatory system and
basic additional tests, such as rest ECG and chest X-ray, is often sufficient to
determine the surgical risk of CAD patients. The request for functional tests
must comply with the indications mentioned in item 3.B.IV.
B) Systemic Arterial Hypertension
Systemic arterial hypertension is a very common clinical condition, not only in
the general population but also in patients who undergo surgical procedures.
This condition, especially if uncontrolled, is one of the most common reasons
for cancelling surgery.
117
This is because systemic hypertension is associated with increased perioperative
mortality.
118
On the
other hand, a study of carotid endarterectomy suggested that a patient with
hypertension under control may not have an increased risk of perioperative
morbidity and mortality, which suggests the importance of adequate
control.
119
Major hemodynamic changes can occur during a surgical procedure, being more
pronounced in patients with hypertension. These hemodynamic changes, which are
associated with pain and anxiety, are aggravated by withdrawal of
antihypertensive drugs on the day before the procedure.
120
Increasing knowledge on the
pathophysiology of hypertension and antihypertensive therapy, as well as the
development of new anesthetics and muscle relaxants with minimal hemodynamic
effects, in addition to postoperative pain control protocols, have contributed
to minimize the occurrence of complications during the perioperative period of
hypertensive patients.
One of the mechanisms involved is the sympathetic activation observed during
anesthetic induction and in the postoperative period. Increases in sympathetic
activity may cause significant increases in blood pressure, particularly in
patients with uncontrolled arterial hypertension. Supporting the importance of
sympathetic hyperactivity, evidence suggests that clonidine, when used in the
perioperative period of hypertensive patients, significantly reduces blood
pressure and heart rate variation, as well as reduces the need for anesthetic
(isoflurane) and narcotic administration in these patients.
121
Despite this, no evidence is
available on the choice of antihypertensive agents in the perioperative
period.
120
In general, stage 2 hypertension with SBP > 180 mmHg and DBP > 110 mmHg
must be controlled before surgery. However, in mild or moderate hypertension, in
which metabolic or cardiovascular changes do not occur, no evidence has been
established on the benefits of postponing surgery.
57,120
The perioperative strategy should generally be to maintain blood pressure within
20% of the preoperative values (provided this value is not too uncontrolled),
which implies flexibility in the control, not necessarily to normal levels. This
may reduce the occurrence of hypertensive emergencies in the perioperative
period.
Patients with some degree of autonomic dysfunction (such as that in hypertensive
patients) are more susceptible to intraoperative hypotension than normotensive
patients. This phenomenon appears to be more frequent in patients who use
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in the preoperative period. In
most cases, this may be related to reduced intravascular volume; thus, avoiding
perioperative hypovolemia is fundamental. However, abrupt withdrawal of these
drugs should not be performed, because both uncontrolled blood pressure and
decompensated HF may increase the risk of cardiovascular complications.
Patients with suspected secondary hypertension should be investigated prior to
surgery, except in urgent/emergency cases. There is no conclusive evidence on
the increase in perioperative risk in patients with secondary hypertension;
however, patients with undiagnosed pheochromocytoma have a mortality rate of
approximately 80% during surgery.
122
Cardiac and blood pressure monitoring in hypertensive patients is essential
during the surgical procedure to detect variations of blood pressure and signs
of ischemia as early as possible. In addition to being a risk factor for CAD,
hypertension is associated with ventricular hypertrophy, systolic dysfunction,
renal failure, and cerebrovascular events during the perioperative period. This
aspect should be considered in the perioperative volume management of
hypertensive patients with altered ventricular geometry and arterial elasticity,
particularly the elderly.
123
In the intraoperative period, the ideal antihypertensive agent should be easily
titrated, rapid acting, have minimal side effects, and inexpensive. Several
antihypertensive classes are available, including β-blockers (esmolol,
labetalol), calcium channel blockers (nicardipine), and nitrates (sodium
nitroprusside and nitroglycerin).
C) Heart Failure
HF affects about 1-2% of the general population in developed countries and more
than 10% of the population aged more than 70 years,
65,124
CVDs are the main cause of death in Brazil, representing approximately 29% of
the deaths in the country. Ischemic heart disease and HF are responsible for
approximately 39% of these CVD deaths.
125
HF is a well-known risk factor for perioperative cardiac events. Data from a
large registry of noncardiac surgeries, which included more than 150,000
procedures, revealed that the presence of HF was associated with a 63% increase
in the risk of perioperative mortality and a 51% increase in the risk of
rehospitalization in a period of 30 days, when compared to the group with CAD
without HF.
126
Reduced ejection fraction is considered a strong predictor of events in patients
undergoing vascular surgery. However, most of studies analyzed ejection fraction
as a categorical variable (higher or lower than 40%). A recent study involving
174 patients with HF revealed that only severely reduced ejection fraction (<
30%) is an independent predictor of mortality. Moderate (30-40%) or mild
(40-50%) ejection fraction reduction and preserved ejection fraction HF (>
50%) were not independent predictor of death in a period of 30 days.
127
Despite the predictive value
of ejection fraction, performing routine echocardiography for all patients
undergoing noncardiac surgery is not indicated. A Canadian cohort study
involving more than 250,000 patients (15% with preoperative echocardiography)
revealed that preoperative echocardiography is not associated with improvement
in survival or reduction of hospitalization time after major noncardiac
surgery.
61
Increased level of natriuretic peptides in the preoperative period is related to
worse prognosis in the perioperative period, because it is related to worsening
of ventricular function and higher rate of cardiovascular events.
128,129
Measurement of these biomarkers may aid in the risk
stratification of patients with HF. However, clinical evaluation and functional
condition are even more relevant in the perioperative assessment of patients
with HF.
Clinical management in the perioperative period requires special care regarding
the blood volume of the patient. Both hypovolemia, which may intensify
hypotension, and hypervolemia, which may lead to pulmonary and systemic
congestion, should be avoided.
Patients with preserved fraction HF due to increased left ventricular stiffness
are also susceptible to pulmonary edema, secondary to volume overload.
Therefore, the use of diuretics and vasodilators may be necessary to avoid
hypervolemia and afterload increases.
D) Valvular Heart Disease
Patients with valvular heart disease have a higher risk of presenting
cardiovascular complications in the perioperative period of noncardiac
surgeries.63 The risk varies depending on the valvular heart disease and its
anatomic severity, as well as the type of noncardiac surgery to be
performed.
45
The main
cardiovascular complications in the perioperative period of noncardiac surgeries
in patients with valvular heart disease are as follows: pulmonary
congestion/acute pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, MI, tachyarrhythmias,
embolic events, bleeding, and infective endocarditis.
130,131
In patients with valvular heart disease, particularly if anatomically relevant,
clinical evaluation performed by a cardiologist should be considered in the
preoperative period of noncardiac surgeries.
When valvular heart disease is suspected after detailed medical history and
physical examination, transthoracic echocardiography should be performed with
the following objectives: quantify the anatomic severity of valvular disease,
assess ventricular function and remodeling of cardiac chambers, and estimate
right chamber pressure. If doubt persists, other diagnostic methods may be
performed, such as transesophageal echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging,
computed tomography, and cardiac catheterization.
Stenotic valvular heart disease have a higher perioperative risk than regurgitant
valvular heart disease . Therefore, additional care should be given to patients
with aortic (AoS) or mitral (MS) stenosis undergoing noncardiac surgery.
Symptomatic patients with anatomically relevant valvular heart disease already
present high morbidity and mortality in the history of valvular heart disease
and are indicated for interventional valve treatment.
132,133
This patient group presents a high risk of perioperative cardiac complications
if submitted to noncardiac surgery. Therefore, they should initially treat
valvular heart disease and subsequently undergo noncardiac surgery. However, if
the noncardiac surgery is an emergency, it should be performed without prior
correction of valvular heart disease, even if it is anatomically relevant.
The use of statins in the perioperative period of patients with valvular heart
disease has not been evaluated in prospective studies. Therefore, statins should
not be prescribed without another indication. Similarly, the use of
nitroglycerin or even the use of intraoperative cardiac output monitoring has
not been evaluated in these patients.
On the other hand, although there is no formal indication for the use of
β-blockers in valvular heart disease patients in the perioperative period
of noncardiac surgeries, these drugs can be used in patients with MS.
I. Aortic Stenosis
AoS is the most common valvular heart disease in elderly patients, affecting
2-4% of adults aged more than 65 years. The prevalence of AoS is expected to
double in the next 20 years, with the progressive aging of the
population.
134,135
Several studies have shown that patients with moderate to severe AoS may have
a high risk of cardiac complications during noncardiac surgery.
19,136-139
However, in many of these studies, the definition and degree of AoS were
ambiguous or based on few details. Since most studies included symptomatic
or ventricular dysfunction patients, it is unclear whether aortic valve
replacement surgery should precede the noncardiac procedure. The study by
Calleja et al., which included 30 patients with anatomically relevant AoS
and 60 controls (mild to moderate AoS), was the only one to exclude
symptomatic patients. They showed similar MI or death rates during
noncardiac surgery, mostly with low or intermediate risk.
64
For these reasons, Samarendra et al. recommended a new flowchart to assess
the perioperative risk of noncardiac surgeries in patients with AoS.
Patients with a high risk of cardiac complications are those with an average
gradient > 45-50 mmHg and/or valvular area < 0.8 cm2; left
ventricular systolic dysfunction; symptomatic AoS; significant mitral
regurgitation or other associated valvular diseases; increase in ≥ 18
mmHg in the average gradient during exercise; and associated CAD.
67
Furthermore, in a recent study with 218 patients, Mizuno et al.
140
demonstrated that
patients with AoS who underwent a major noncardiac surgery present a faster
progression of aortic valve disease compared to controls with AoS who did
not undergo surgical intervention.
For the above reasons, it is recommended to first correct the anatomically
relevant AoS, even if asymptomatic, in patients who will undergo
intermediate- or high-risk noncardiac surgeries.
On the other hand, some patients with relevant AoS scheduled for noncardiac
surgery have clinical indication for correction of valvular heart disease ,
but present a high risk for cardiac surgery or are ineligible for the
conventional cardiac procedure. For these cases, a transcatheter aortic
valve implantation (TAVI) is an option preceding noncardiac
surgery.
141-143
When patients with relevant AoS are submitted to urgent/emergency noncardiac
surgery, preoperative clinical compensation is recommended with the use of
diuretics, as well as postoperative period in an ICU, with hemodynamic and
electrocardiographic monitoring and serial measurement of myocardial
necrosis markers.
II. Mitral Stenosis
Patients with MS and formal indication for surgical or percutaneous
correction of valvular heart disease should be submitted to the valve
procedure before elective noncardiac surgery.
144
If noncardiac surgery is an emergency,
it can be performed with invasive hemodynamics monitoring, optimization of
blood volume, and prevention of tachycardia and hypotension. Increased heart
rate, particularly if there is development of atrial fibrillation (AF), can
lead to congestion and pulmonary edema. Therefore, β-blockers and/or
diuretics may be used during the perioperative period.
III. Aortic Insufficiency and Mitral Insufficiency
Regurgitant valvular heart disease are associated with increased cardiac risk
during noncardiac surgery, but are better tolerated than stenotic valve
lesions.
145,146
However, aortic
insufficiency (AoI) and mild or moderate mitral insufficiency (MI) do not
increase the risk of cardiovascular complications during noncardiac
surgery.
On the other hand, patients with symptomatic AoI or MI associated with
ventricular dysfunction have a high risk of cardiovascular complications,
and valvular heart disease should be performed before elective noncardiac
surgery. Urgent or emergency noncardiac procedure should be performed after
optimization of pharmacological treatment and optimal hemodynamic stability
through the preferential use of vasodilators and diuretics, in addition to
the postoperative period in an ICU.
IV. Valve Prosthesis
Patients with valve prostheses with normal function, without left ventricular
dysfunction, may undergo noncardiac surgery without additional risk. For
mechanical prosthesis, oral anticoagulation and bridge with heparin should
be performed as described in section 7.D.
132
E) Cardiac Arrhythmias
Cardiac arrhythmias are common in patients with or without structural
cardiopathy. The impact on morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period
is mainly related to the underlying diseases, because arrhythmias that occur in
patients without structural cardiopathy generally do not increase the risk of
cardiac complications.
45
This
distinction must be made by the cardiologist before the elective procedures.
There is limited data in the literature on the real impact of arrhythmias in this
period, impairing the selection of a specific approach. Therefore, the
recommendations are usually extrapolated from routine evaluation and outpatient
or emergency decisions.
147
The factors that can trigger supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias and
should be investigated include electrolyte imbalances (hypokalemia,
hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia), hypoxemia, proarrhythmic drugs (antidepressants,
stimulants, positive inotropes, anesthetics), and metabolic disorders
(hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism). The priority is the correction of
reversible factors in the preoperative or intraoperative period in cases of
urgent or emergency surgery.
I. Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
Supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardias are more prevalent in structurally
normal youngsters and rarely present hemodynamic intolerance. They can occur
by atrial tachycardia, ortho-ventricular atrioventricular tachycardia (in
patients with accessory pathway), and nodal reentrant tachycardia.
Asymptomatic patients who present ECGs with ventricular pre-excitation also
have a low risk of perioperative complication. Attention should be only
given to the occurrence of supraventricular tachycardia and pre-excited AF,
and treatment follows the ACLS standard care.
148
In this period, occurrence of pain, nausea, gagging, hypothermia, sympathetic
blockade in anesthesia, laparoscopic insufflation, laryngoscopy,
hyperventilation, anesthetics, and cholinergic drugs may precipitate
arrhythmia due to autonomic imbalance. Such stimuli may trigger
supraventricular tachycardias but do not increase surgical morbidity and
mortality.
Controlling triggering factors mentioned above can minimize the occurrence of
arrhythmias. In patients taking antiarrhythmic drugs, these drugs should be
continued because preoperative interruption may promote arrhythmia.
II. Ventricular Extrasystoles and Tachycardias
Detection of extrasystolic arrhythmias in the preoperative period is common
in high-risk patients. On the other hand, about 20% of the population can
present these arrhythmias in the 24-hour Holter exam performed
routinely.
Evaluation of extrasystolic arrhythmias includes collecting personal and
family history. The occurrence of symptoms of hemodynamic intolerance
(syncope or pre-syncope, precordial pain) may indicate complex or sustained
arrhythmias. The presence of family history of sudden cardiac death may
indicate the need for specific evaluation. In asymptomatic young patients
with no personal or family history of heart disease, isolated monomorphic
ventricular extrasystoles may generally be benign and with no implications
in the perioperative period. In low-risk surgeries, evaluation of the ECG
and cardiac area by chest X-ray may be sufficient and suspension of
noncardiac surgery is unnecessary.
149
Suspicion of adjacent structural disease can be detected in ECG. ECG can
identify ventricular overload, inactive area, conduction system diseases,
and other rarer arrhythmic syndromes. Thoracic radiography is an important
screening procedure for pulmonary diseases and detection of increased
cardiothoracic index. Echocardiogram is a sensitive method that should be
used for additional morphological analysis. An exercise ECG testing may be
useful to demonstrate the presence of ischemia as a triggering factor for
ventricular arrhythmias or to demonstrate benignity when dealing with
idiopathic arrhythmias, which are suppressed by sinus tachycardia at the
peak of the exercise.
149
Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) is often due to myocardial scarring.
Polymorphic tachycardia may indicate ischemia, which reinforces the need for
further investigation according to the specific guidelines.
149
The first preoperative treatment of ventricular arrhythmias is correction of
reversible causes. There is no evidence that unsusceptible extrasystoles or
VTs worsen the perioperative prognosis, nor is there is a proven benefit of
suppression with antiarrhythmics.
150
III. Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter
AF is the most common sustained tachyarrhythmia and its prevalence increases
with age. Patients who present a previous diagnosis of AF with adequate
clinical control, considering symptoms and basal heart rate, do not need
special considerations, except recommendations on anticoagulation (see item
7.D).
151
In the preoperative period of elective surgeries, β-blockers or
non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem) are
essential to control heart rate when patients have persistent AF/Flutter
with high ventricular response. Administration of these drugs should
preferably be performed slowly to avoid hypotension, which is known to be
deleterious postoperatively. Calcium channel blockers may cause depression
of myocardial function, particularly in patients with structural
cardiopathy.
152
Digoxin may be attenuated by surgical hyperadrenergic condition.
65
There are specific
situations, such as pre-excited AF, in which ablation can be considered
before surgery.
153
It
should be noted that patients with AF with ventricular response above 120
bpm have a severe cardiovascular condition. In these cases, surgery should
be postponed until the heart rate is controlled.
Control of rhythm, i.e., reversal of AF, could be an option before the
procedure, depending on the symptoms and specific evaluation by
cardiologists based on the current guidelines. However, interruption of
anticoagulation for the procedure could only be performed after 4 weeks, and
perioperative adrenergic stress facilitates recurrence.
152,154
Regardless of the control strategy selected (rhythm or heart rate), patients
should be assessed for risk of cardioembolism and risk of bleeding using the
CHA2DS2Vasc and HAS-BLED scores, respectively.
152
Prevention of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Sinus
Rhythm
The occurrence of postoperative AF (POAF) is associated with increased time
in ICU, increased morbidity (including stroke, with incidence of 1.3-1.7%)
and mortality, and consequently increased hospital costs. The AF preventive
measures are adequate hydroelectrolytic control in the pre- and
postoperative periods (normovolemia, magnesium and potassium monitoring, and
replacement), in addition to maintenance of drugs previously used if
hemodynamically tolerated.
155
Some drugs have been investigated to reduce the incidence of POAF and its
deleterious consequences. Preventive antiarrhythmic therapy with amiodarone
or venous magnesium should be discussed individually. Retrospective studies
showed that the use of amiodarone for anesthetic induction in patients
submitted to esophagectomy may reduce the rate of POAF, but did not reduce
the mortality and hospitalization rates. Moreover, its use in patients
submitted to pulmonary resection is associated with reduced POAF and
decreased time in ICU.
156-158
Riber et al.
159
conducted a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled study. They demonstrated that
administration of 300 mg of intravenous amiodarone in the early
postoperative period, followed by 1200 mg of oral drug per day for 5 days,
in hemodynamically stable patients reduced the POAF rate (9% versus 32% in
the control group). On the other hand, Khalil et al.
160
compared the use of
amiodarone in the immediate postoperative period for 48 hours (attack of 5
mg/kg, followed by 15 mg/kg) with venous magnesium sulfate (attack of 80
mg/kg, followed by 8 mg/kg/h) and with a control group from a retrospective
analysis in patients submitted to pulmonary resection. Their results showed
POAF rates of 10, 12.5, and 20.5%.
Other medications were studied to reduce the incidence of POAF. A
meta-analysis with statins showed a potential role in the prevention of AF,
although, of the 16 trials included, only 4 were conducted in noncardiac
surgeries.
161
Thus, its benefit to this population remains inconclusive.
Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug, is being studied for prevention in
high-risk patients submitted to thoracic surgery.
155
IV. Hereditary Arrhythmias
Genetically determined arrhythmias are a heterogeneous group of diseases and
may occur due to defects in ion channels (channelopathies). Protein defects
lead to atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, which may be manifested by
tachycardic palpitations, arrhythmic characteristic syncope, or sudden
death. The most prevalent channelopathies are Brugada Syndrome (1:5,000) and
Long QT Syndrome (1:5,000). Other rarer diseases are catecholaminergic
polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and short QT syndrome.
The estimated cardiovascular risk in this population is very variable and
there is no complementary test that adequately stratifies it. The surgical
and perioperative risk of these patients is poorly known, but some
recommendations are well established by specialists.
162
In a retrospective
analysis of 1,700 cases of early sudden death, 50 occurred postoperatively
in young patients with no history of cardiopathy and a part may represent
primary arrhythmias.
163
Symptomatic patients (syncope or palpitation) have a higher risk and
sometimes need drugs (quinidine, β-blockers) or pacemaker
defibrillators.
164
Except for urgent surgeries, these patients should be
evaluated by cardiologists before surgical release.
Channelopathies present specific anesthetic indications and immediate
therapeutic interventions, which make perioperative management of these
patients a challenge for the anesthesiologist.
162
In addition to cardiac monitoring and
adequate electrolyte balance, all the drugs used in the perioperative period
should be checked on specific sites, such as www.brugadadrugs.org, for Brugada Syndrome,
and www.crediblemed.org, mainly for Long QT Syndrome, and also
for all other channelopathies.
164
F) Conduction Disorders and Provisional Pacemaker Indications
Atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction disorders are uncommon in the
perioperative period. When they occur, identification of the cause and drug
therapy are usually sufficient for treatment. Even in individuals with
bifascicular block or left bundle branch block and first-degree AV block,
progression of the block or severe bradycardia in the perioperative period is
rare.
165,166
First-degree AV block, second-degree type Mobitz I, and uni- or bifascicular
blocks, particularly in asymptomatic individuals, during the preoperative
evaluation represent benign conditions that do not pose a greater risk. On the
other hand, individuals presenting syncope, dyspnea or dizziness and type II
second degree AV block, advanced AV block, and complete AV block constitute a
higher risk group. A more rigorous evaluation is necessary in the preoperative
period, and implantation of a pacemaker should be considered. If the surgery is
urgent or an emergency, when it is not possible to comply with the ideal time
between implantation of the definitive pacemaker and noncardiac surgery, the
provisional pacemaker should be implanted in the preoperative period.
Indications for implantation of the device under these conditions have already
been considered in the Brazilian Guidelines for Implantable Electronic Cardiac
Devices.
167
Indications for a temporary transvenous pacemaker include syncope at rest or
hemodynamic impairment due to bradyarrhythmia or occurrence of ventricular
tachycardia in response to bradycardia. These recommendations may be based on
clinical experience rather than on scientific studies.
168
In rare occasions, these devices may be
electively indicated to assist in procedures that may promote bradycardia or for
general anesthesia in patients with second- or third-degree AV block,
intermittent AV block, bifascicular block with first-degree AVB, and
first-degree AV block with left bundle branch block.
168
G) Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices
Technological progress of artificial cardiac pacing has greatly developed in the
last years with the emergence of a wide variety of implantable devices able to
provide new interactions with the cardiac rhythm. In addition, an increasing
number of patients receive treatment with these new technologies each year. In
the USA, approximately 500,000 individuals have these prostheses, and
approximately 115,000 new devices are implanted annually. In Brazil, around
25,320 devices are implanted per year (average of the last 5 years) according to
the Brazilian Pacemaker Registry.
A concern in the perioperative period of patients with these implantable devices
is the possibility of electromagnetic interference when using an electric
scalpel and other equipment during surgical procedures.169 Prostheses currently
implanted may be functionally simple or have great complexity. We will address
conventional pacing (uni or bicameral) (CP), cardiac resynchronizers (CR),
implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and combined prostheses. These
prostheses are generally referred to as cardiac implantable electronic devices
(CIED).
I. Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices Implanted Less than 60
Days
Most current pacemakers have active fixation electrodes, which enable them to
be actively fixed to the endocardium and cardiac veins. Displacement of
these electrodes is rare, but it is a possible complication at this stage.
The area where the generator is implanted is in the process of surgical
recovery. Inflammatory responses, bruises, edema, rejections, and even
infections, which could still be subclinical at that stage, can occur with
various intensities. The CIED and electrodes are susceptible to infections
by organisms originating from other areas and even from surgical
manipulations. If possible, it is recommended to wait until the end of the
second post-implant month to perform elective noncardiac surgery to minimize
the risk of complications.
II. Near End-of-life Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices Battery
Depletion
End-of-life CIEDs due to advanced battery wear should be replaced with newer
and more modern units before elective noncardiac surgeries. These devices
may present adverse behavior when subjected to extreme operating conditions
(repeated interrogations and schedules), which may occur during surgery. In
addition, these CIEDs can enter the end-of-life mode, changing the behavior
and even disabling several important functions to save battery, which could
be important in the perioperative period.
III. Safe Cardiac Stimulation
For elective noncardiac surgeries, patients should be evaluated by their CIED
physicians, which will perform a complete verification of the stimulation
system. The physician will determine the need for special programming,
report the care that should be taken by the surgeon and anesthesiologist,
and describe the possible behaviors of the CIED during surgery or even
indicate the need for a stimulus during the procedure to make necessary
perioperative schedules, which is usually required in patients at higher
risk and with more complex CIED, such as defibrillators.
170
The biggest concern usually involves those patients scheduled for major
surgeries with the use of electric scalpels. In such cases, a safety
evaluation must be performed always in a pacemaker evaluation unit and by a
qualified physician. The physician should program the pacemaker in
asynchronous mode only in cases where the patient depends on pacing and has
no arrhythmia history (avoiding competition between pacemaker pace and
self-pacing). The physician should also advise the surgical team to use
bipolar or ultrasonic scalpel when possible, as these types of devices
interfere less with the CIED.
The report should contain at least the recommendations described below for
surgeries without the presence of the physician who programmed the
pacemaker:
Continuous cardiac monitoring with an ECG and a pulse oximeter
(heart rhythm monitoring is possible even when using an electric
scalpel).
Use a bipolar electric scalpel. If it is not possible, use a
unipolar scalpel and place the dispersive electrode (scalpel
plate) away from the pacemaker (see below). Subsequently,
prepare the skin in the region and eliminate oils by using an
alcohol. If the dispersive electrode is reusable, apply a thin
and homogeneous layer of electrolytic paste on its surface.
The dispersive electrode should be placed away from the CIED,
preferably close to the surgical region to minimize the electric
field. Thus, in an abdominal or pelvic surgery, the dispersive
electrode should be placed close to the coccyx; in a right-hand
surgery, the dispersive electrode should be placed on the right
forearm; and in a head surgery, the dispersive electrode should
be placed on the neck (nape). The CIED and its electrodes should
be always away from the electric field generated by the electric
scalpel.
Ground the scalpel by connecting it to an efficient ground
wire.
Limit the use of the electric scalpel as much as possible to
short and irregular intervals and evaluate the ECG or pulse.
During this procedure, the ECG monitor is usually unreadable.
Monitoring can be performed using plethysmography, which does
not interfere with the electric scalpel.
If bradycardia or tachycardia occurs while using the electric
scalpel (due to electromagnetic interference), place a magnet on
the pacemaker every time the electric scalpel is used and then
remove it immediately. The magnetic response of each pacemaker
may be different and it may not exist in some cases (if it was
programmed to be turned off). A good practice is to perform a
few tests before surgery, but the patient must be continuously
monitored to observe the magnetic response of the device. In
addition, the magnetic behavior of each patient’s pacemaker
should be reported by the specialist physician, as this depends
on the program of the device.
171
In defibrillators, placing a
magnet on the device may turn off antitachycardia therapies,
leaving the patient unprotected.
The patient should be advised to return to the pacemaker
assessment clinic after the postoperative recovery period so
that the normal set-up of the generator is re-established and
the pacemaker functions are re-evaluated.
In patients with resynchronizers, the presence of a greater number of
electrodes in the heart undeniably increases the possibility of
complications due to external interferences on the stimulation system. Most
stimulation electrodes used in the venous system of the left ventricle are
used in unipolar mode. Therefore, they are more susceptible to external
interferences, particularly those produced by the electric scalpel. However,
there is a current trend of using bipolar and even multi-polar electrodes.
Notably, many unipolar implants that have already been implanted will remain
active for many years. The presence of more electrodes and unipolar
electrodes forces physicians to take rigorous measures and pay more
attention to signs of interference in the multisite stimulation system.
IV. Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
The complexity and diversity of the behavior of ICD, the risk of serious
arrhythmias during surgery, and the potential electromagnetic interferences
from an electric scalpel with the release of inappropriate shocks lead us to
recommend, whenever possible, the presence of the specialist in the
operating room with the ICD equipment. The equipment enables to program the
ICD during the procedure in accordance to the clinical and metabolic needs
of the patient. The antitachycardia function should be turned off, and the
patient must be properly monitored. Turning off the function makes the
patient unprotected. The physician should be prepared to treat a high-risk
arrhythmia by using an external defibrillator and antiarrhythmic drugs.
Following the experts’ advice, this type of patient must stay in the ICU
during the postoperative period to allow monitoring during the critical
stage. At the end of the surgery, the ICD parameters should be
re-established and even adjusted to the patient’s clinical condition. The
antitachycardia function of the ICD must be switched back on.
V. Emergency Electrical Cardioversion or Defibrillation
During the perioperative period, patients with CIED may present complications
that require application of electrical cardioversion or defibrillation.
Although generators can theoretically withstand shocks, it is advisable to
avoid them whenever possible.172 When necessary, some care should be taken
to preserve the pacemaker or defibrillator, the electrodes, and the
heart-electrode interface, as described below:
If the patient has an implantable defibrillator, internal
cardioversion is recommended because it uses a small amount of
energy, biphasic pulse, and internal safety features of the
device itself.
For external shocks, prefer biphasic cardioverters with adhesive
pads. Place them in an anteroposterior position (embracing the
left ventricle) in accordance to the polarity given by the
manufacturer. The classic arrangement of the pads (between the
base and tip of the heart - parallel to the electrodes) should
be avoided because of the risk of myocardial injury due to
contact with the electrode tip.
Adhere the pads in the chest as far as possible from the
generator and the electrodes.
Use as little energy as possible. Modern biphasic external
cardioverters should be preferred, whenever possible, because
they use less energy;
Place a magnet over the pacemaker generator. Older pacemakers
invariably switch off when a magnet is placed over them and
become asynchronous. In current devices, the magnetic response
is programmable and may exhibit different behavior. Therefore,
placing a magnet over the generator does not guarantee
protection during cardioversion.
Placing a magnet over the ICD is not recommended because the
antitachycardic function can be switched off if it remains over
the ICD for more than 30 seconds.
After the procedure, re-evaluate the sensitivity and command
thresholds. Consider reassessing the device in 24 hours, and
monitor the patient during this period.
VI. Lithotripsy
Shocks generated by lithotripsy have been related to transitory events of
loss of sensitivity and command of the CIED, as well as reversion to the
safe mode; however, these situations are extremely rare.
173
When lithotripsy is
required in patients with pacemaker and/or defibrillator, direct the focus
away from the area of the apparatus and electrodes.
Turn off atrial stimulation when ECG-triggered lithotripsy is used to avoid
the device from synchronization with the atrium. Programming the atrial
channel with less energy and in the bipolar mode may be another option,
keeping the bicameral stimulation more physiological. A test can be
performed before the application to observe the behavior and the interaction
of the devices. Do not immerse the part of the body that contains the
pacemaker or ICD when performing immersion lithotripsy.
It is also recommended to monitor the patient throughout the procedure and,
whenever possible, the physician should stay in the room with the CIED
programmer to adjust the program of the device as needed. Since lithotripsy
is usually outpatient, the patient may perform a regular assessment of the
CIED and the specialist can be requested to provide specific guidelines for
the procedure. Placing a magnet over the CIED during lithotripsy should not
be a rule because, as previously discussed, the device may have different
behaviors and may deactivate therapies.
VII. Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging should not be performed on patients with older
CIEDs. There is a risk of dysfunction of the prosthesis, electrodes, and
even displacement due to the magnetic field generated.
174
The recent advancement of the CIED industry has led to the production of
devices that support the field of resonance, including tests of the chest
area with a field strength of up to 1.5 Tesla. In this case, both the CIED
and electrodes need to be compatible with this technology. Some patients
with new devices but with old electrodes (connected or abandoned) could not
undergo magnetic resonance imaging.
175
Despite the development in this field, even patients with CIED and compatible
electrodes require the presence of a physician and a programmer during the
test because a specific program is required, which should be deactivated at
the end of the procedure. The most appropriate recommendations in these
cases are previous evaluation of the patient in a pacemaker evaluation unit
and guidance from the specialist on whether the patient should undergo
testing. It is important to note that not only the images present artifacts
due to the presence of the prosthesis but the patient may also experience
local discomfort. This local discomfort is frequently described as burning
and palpitations or dizziness related to inhibitions/deflagrations of the
CIED.
VIII. Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy can be used if the radiation focus is not directed to the CIED.
If the device is close to the radiation focus, the area should be covered
with a lead screen. If the irradiated site is located exactly in the region
of the implant or very close to it and many radiotherapy sessions are
necessary, reimplantation of the CIED away from the irradiation site should
be evaluated.
Direct radiotherapy on the CIED may cause transient or definitive dysfunction
of the device and premature battery wear.
176,177
Each radiotherapy application may put the CIED in
safety mode, even if local protection measures are taken; thus, evaluation
of the CIED is required after each radiotherapy session.
178
Electrodes may also be affected with radiotherapy, especially at the site of
contact with the endocardium, which may suffer fibrosis and loss of control.
This phenomenon can occur from days to months after radiotherapy. Therefore,
particular attention should be given to these patients, especially those
that depend on stimulation. Under these conditions, a greater frequency of
electronic evaluations (weekly/monthly) should be stipulated after the
procedure. CIEDs that enable remote evaluation can facilitate this
monitoring.
179
IX. Dental Procedures
Dental procedures in patients with CIEDs are increasingly common in dental
practice. In addition to the risk of infection in prostheses, interaction
between the equipment used in the dental treatment and the CIED,
particularly the electric scalpel, is also possible.
180
In this situation, care
taken should be the same as covered in item 4.G.III for general
surgeries.
In patients with ICD, the device may interpret the thermocautery interference
as an arrhythmia and release low- or high-energy therapy, placing both the
patient and the dental surgeon at risk of receiving an inappropriate shock.
Placing a magnet on the generator does not provide adequate protection and
should be avoided.
In dental procedures, where the use of thermocautery is mandatory and the
patient has ICD, it is essential to disable the antitachycardia therapy,
keeping only the pacemaker function.
To prevent untreated risk of arrhythmias in this condition, the patient
should be monitored and an external defibrillator should be available on
site. The decision to perform the procedure in a hospital environment should
always be considered due to the presence of necessary equipment for
electrical emergencies, besides the support of the arrhythmologist. General,
simple, and routine dentistry procedures carried out in dental practices do
not require additional precaution, in addition to the usual therapeutic
recommendations. Analgesia should be effective, and the use of anesthetics
with vasoconstrictors at recommended doses (vasoconstrictor concentration
and amount) should not be avoided. According to case studies and systematic
reviews, these anesthetics do not interfere with cardiovascular parameters
and do not predispose to coronary events, and when they induce arrhythmias,
the risk is low.
181
X. Small Outpatient Surgical Procedures under Local Anesthesia
Minor surgeries may be performed with the usual care for patients with CIED
provided that the thermocautery is not used. Analgesia should be efficient
in dental treatments, and local anesthetics with vasoconstrictors at the
usual doses can be administered to patients with cardiopathies because of
the low risk of complications.
The cardiologist should, whenever possible, provide guidance in advance to
the person responsible for the surgical procedure. If this is not possible,
the use of the thermocautery should be avoided. Placing a magnet over the
CIED does not guarantee protection in all cases and is not recommended in
all situations.
XI. Recommendations
The operative period was divided into preoperative evaluation; preoperative
preparation; and intraoperative and postoperative care. The recommendations
were grouped to facilitate follow-up of patients with CIED. The suggested
sequence should be followed for each patient.
5. Interventions and Procedures with Specific Features in the Perioperative
Period
A) Transplants
I. Liver
Liver transplantation remains the procedure of choice for the treatment of
terminal liver disease. However, changes occurring both intraoperatively and
post-transplantation have increased the existing cardiovascular morbidity in
these patients. This may be due to several risk factors that affect the
population of the same age group (such as age, diabetes, male gender,
smoking, previous history of CAD) or it may be related to liver disease and
its etiology, such as alcohol-related cardiomyopathy, deposition of amyloid
substances, and alterations due to cirrhosis-associated
cardiomyopathy.
184
Studies have shown that cardiac events can occur in up to 70% of
post-transplant patients, depending on the criteria.
185
Among the most common
are arrhythmias, pulmonary edema, and systolic ventricular dysfunction, but
sudden death and myocardial infarction may also occur.
186
Therefore, careful investigation of heart disease in candidates for liver
transplantation is required.
187
However, due to liver disease, cardiological
investigation in these patients is difficult because the hemodynamic changes
and limitations resulting from the disease do not allow the same sensitivity
and specificity in cardiology tests, when compared to other
populations.
188
Approximately 50% of patients with cirrhosis show an increase in the QT
interval.
189
β-adrenergic receptors respond only slightly to sympathetic stimuli,
leading to dubious responses in studies of dobutamine
echocardiography.
190
The hyperdynamic state and its consequent chronic
vasodilatation impair the vasodilator-induced response, such as dipyridamole
in myocardial scintigraphy. Terminal liver disease is often accompanied by
renal dysfunction, which impairs the use of contrast agents, such as in
coronary angiography or coronary Angio-CT.
However, there are tests and approaches that have become routinely used in
the preoperative evaluation of liver transplant candidates due to their
cost-effectiveness. Moreover, some cardiovascular comorbidity
characteristics of cirrhotic patients should be ruled out because they lead
to high morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period. The most
important characteristics to note are as follows:
I. A. Cardiomyopathy Associated with Cirrhosis
It is characterized by the triad: systolic dysfunction, mainly due to a
deficit in the contractile response induced by stress, and ejection fraction
at rest below 55%; diastolic dysfunction, typically with E/A < 1 and
prolonged isovolumetric relaxation time; and electrophysiological changes,
particularly increased QT interval, chronotropic deficit and bradycardia,
changes in ventricular repolarization, increased left atrium and myocardial
mass, and increased levels of BNP, NTpro-BNP, and TnI.
187,188,191
Although these findings increase morbidity and mortality in liver transplant
candidates, no benefit has been demonstrated in the specific treatment of
these alterations.
I. B. Cardiomyopathy Associated with Alcohol
Cardiomyopathy associated with alcohol accounts 21-32% of patients with
dilated cardiomyopathy in some medical centers. Excessive ingestion of
alcohol leads to myocyte apoptosis, reduced calcium sensitivity, depressed
myocyte contractile function, and myocardial fibrosis.
192
Considering that
alcoholic cirrhosis is among the major causes of liver disease, concomitant
occurrence of cirrhosis and dilated cardiomyopathy is relatively common.
Interruption of alcohol intake in the early phase of this cardiomyopathy may
lead to partial or total recovery of ventricular function, which reduces
cardiovascular morbidity in these patients.
193
I. C. Port-Pulmonary Hypertension
The hyperdynamic state of the patient with portal hypertension may cause
vasoconstriction and remodeling of the pulmonary vessels, leading to
pulmonary hypertension (PH). These changes affect 5-10% of the transplant
candidates and, depending on the pulmonary artery average pressure, may be
mild (> 25 and < 35 mmHg), moderate (> 35 and < 45 mmHg), and
severe (> 45 mmHg).
194
Although there are studies on endothelin receptor antagonists and
phosphodiesterase inhibitors, there are no definitive guidelines for
moderate to severe PH. Perioperative mortality in the latter is close to
100%, therefore representing a contraindication for isolated liver
transplantation, and combined lung-liver transplantation may be indicated in
specific medical centers.
195
I. D. Hepatopulmonary Syndrome
Although sometimes confused with PH, hepatopulmonary syndrome presents
several different characteristics. It is defined as hypoxia in the presence
of hepatic disease that worsens with upright posture, with evidence of
intrapulmonary vasodilation. Hypoxia is due to the accumulation of pulmonary
vasodilators, particularly nitric oxide, leading to intrapulmonary
arteriovenous shunt.
196
Unlike for PH, the selected treatment for hepatopulmonary syndrome is liver
transplantation, although non-definitive data correlates the degree of
hypoxia with perioperative mortality.
197
I. E. Coronary Artery Disease
As previously mentioned, the risk factors for CAD are either similar or more
in cirrhotic patients than in the general population, especially diabetes.
Although CAD increases the morbidity and mortality of these patients, the
degree of impairment of stenosis does not seem to correlate with worse
prognosis.
Computerized coronary tomography with quantification of the calcium score has
been recently shown to be useful, and a calcium score above 400 has a high
predictive value for early cardiovascular events in these
patients.
198
However, the use of this test cannot be routinely indicated for this
population.
The choice of treatment for these patients should consider that lack of
intervention may lead to an excessive risk during and after surgery.
However, the best treatment is not established and should be customized for
each patient.
An important controversy concerns the use of drug eluting stents that
requires antiplatelet agents for a longer time in patients with
thrombocytopenia, and the risk of bleeding is always present.
199
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) should be, whenever possible,
postponed until after transplantation because of the high probability of
hemorrhagic events or worsening of the hepatic condition with the
surgery.
200
Myocardial revascularization before the transplant should be only performed
in patients for whom the risk of death due to CAD exceeds the risk of death
due to liver disease.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the cardiologist is part of the
multidisciplinary team that accompanies these patients. For this reason, a
possible contraindication of the procedure should always be discussed and
customized with the multiprofessional team and the patient.
II. Kidney
Patients with terminal renal disease are one of the highest cardiovascular
risk groups, with mortality rates from cardiovascular disease 5 to 100 times
higher than those found in the general population.
201
Cardiovascular disease is the leading
cause of death after renal transplantation, particularly due to
CAD.
202
In the
first 30 days after successful kidney transplantation, approximately half of
the deaths are due to MI.
203
Similarly, in the late follow-up, chronic ischemic
heart disease accounts for more than a third of deaths in patients with a
functioning graft.
204
Therefore, the preoperative evaluation of renal transplant candidates aims
not only to reduce cardiovascular risk in the short term, related to the
surgical procedure, but also to reduce cardiovascular events in late
follow-up.
205
During the evaluation of renal transplant candidates, the identification and
presence of CAD are of fundamental importance because they allow the medical
team to establish more precisely the risk-benefit of transplantation, the
possible need for coronary intervention in the preoperative period, the use
of cardioprotective measures in the perioperative period, and the control of
risk factors in the postoperative period.
This section aims to provide the cardiologist with the most appropriate
methods to determine cardiovascular risk in a very special population of
patients, almost always excluded from the risk stratification studies. The
main aim is to identify those most likely to be diagnosed with CAD among
kidney transplant candidates. Thus, the recommendations included in this
section should be applied only to asymptomatic patients or patients with
atypical symptoms. For those individuals with clinical evidence and/or
diagnostic investigations suggestive of coronary disease, further
investigation and treatment should follow the proposed rules for the general
population.
Identification of relevant CAD is challenging in renal transplant candidates.
Patients with terminal renal disease often have atypical symptoms, or are
even asymptomatic, in the presence of advanced CAD.
206
The use of non-invasive
methods, such as exercise ECG testing, MPS, and stress echocardiography, all
routinely performed in the general population has lower sensitivity and
specificity than in individuals with normal renal function, providing
numerous false negative results.
207-209
On the
other hand, coronary angiography should not be performed indiscriminately
because it is an invasive method, with risk of complications and high cost.
In addition, the prevalence of significant CAD in patients routinely
assessed invasively is less than 50%.
207,209,210
Observational studies show that patients with terminal chronic kidney disease
and CAD undergoing PCI or CABG have a risk of cardiovascular events similar
to those with terminal chronic kidney disease without significant CAD. Those
with obstructive coronary disease who did not undergo myocardial
revascularization had significantly higher rates of cardiovascular
events.
207,208
Therefore, it is necessary to define a strategy that allows identification of
patients more likely to have relevant CAD and who should therefore be
referred for angiographic study. With this, we would reduce the number of
patients inadequately classified as being of low cardiovascular risk due to
failure in the preoperative risk stratification and consequently their
exposure to a higher risk of cardiovascular events.
Risk Stratification of the Presence of Coronary Artery Disease
The clinical parameters most strongly associated with ischemic heart disease
after kidney transplantation are age > 50 years, DM, and previous
evidence of cardiovascular disease (clinical history and/or
tests).
211
The
prevalence of relevant CAD (stenosis ≥ 70%) increases with the number
of risk factors. These three risk factors have been the basis for the
formulation of algorithms to investigate coronary disease in patients with
chronic kidney disease. Other factors considered as predictors of
cardiovascular events in this population are systemic arterial hypertension,
left ventricular hypertrophy, smoking, dyslipidemia, and dialysis for more
than one year.
212
Based on the results of existing studies, we proposed a risk stratification
model for asymptomatic chronic renal patients from a cardiovascular
perspective, evaluated for renal transplantation, according to the presence
or absence of the three previously mentioned risk factors.
213-216
If there is any latency between initial
stratification and transplantation, we suggest a period of three years for a
new stratification if the patient is stable and without new cardiovascular
events or symptoms.
B) Bariatric Surgery
With the obesity epidemic and the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes,
bariatric or metabolic surgical interventions have become a very interesting
option. The results of long-term (though not randomized) studies seem to
indicate the benefit of these interventions in reducing mortality. However,
there are still many uncertainties, in particular, which patient profile may
benefit and what type of surgical intervention to perform for each case. Once
the bariatric surgical procedure is considered, it is important to pay attention
to the contraindications for this type of surgery: type 1 diabetes, drug or
alcohol abuse, uncontrolled psychiatric disease, lack of understanding about
risks, alternatives, and complications of the intervention, and lack of
commitment to the need for nutritional supplementation and clinical
follow-up.
In Brazil, four different types of bariatric surgery (besides the intragastric
balloon, which is not considered surgical) are approved: gastric bypass,
adjustable gastric band, duodenal switch, and vertical gastrectomy. However,
there are no conclusive data to support the selection of procedure based, for
example, on the higher or lower incidence of complications. On the other hand,
several variables, such as age, gender, BMI, presence of comorbidities, and the
patient’s desire, should be considered. Thus, for example, the presence of
important hiatal hernia contraindicates vertical gastrectomy, the patient with a
very high BMI cannot receive an adjustable gastric banding, vertical gastrectomy
is less efficient in a patient who continually eats, or gastric bypass will
probably work better if the patient is a long-term diabetic.
Regarding the perioperative evaluation for patients with indication for bariatric
surgery, in addition to the general recommendations described for obese patients
in another item of this guideline (item 9 D), there are some specific
considerations that consider studies that observed the occurrence of
complications. DeMaria et al. evaluated 2,075 patients undergoing bariatric
surgery (all undergoing gastric bypass) using the obesity surgery mortality risk
stratification score and found increased risk of death in the presence of
certain factors: pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) or risk for PTE, BMI > 50
kg/m2, male gender, systemic arterial hypertension, and > 45
years of age. The risk for PTE was defined as previous PTE, presence of a vena
cava filter, right HF and/or PH, chronic venous stasis, and obstructive sleep
apnea syndrome. Basing on these data, the authors developed a risk score based
on the number of risk factors: A (0-1), B (2-3), and C (4-5), which correspond
to an estimated perioperative mortality risk of 0.31, 1.90, and 7.56%,
respectively.
217
Patients undergoing bariatric surgery in the National Surgical Quality
Improvement Program (NSQIP) of the USA were evaluated. Tools were developed and
validated for mortality
218
and morbidity
219
risk,
specifically for this type of intervention, and this can be accessed and used
online:
http://www.surgicalriskcalculator.com/bariatric-surgery-risk-calculator
The largest prospective study performed to date is the longitudinal assessment of
bariatric surgery (LABS), with results published in July 2009. A total of 4,776
bariatric surgical interventions were analyzed, and lower complication rates
were observed, which is not in agreement with the findings of DeMaria et
al.
217
The authors
found a general mortality rate of 0.3% in a period of 30 days and an outcome
composed of death, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), PTE, reintervention, and
hospitalization > 30 days in 4.3% of the patients. Some predictors of the
outcome were similar to those found by DeMaria,
217
such as BMI > 70 kg/m2, DVT or
prior PTE (8.8% of events), and sleep apnea (5.0% of events). The authors also
found a correlation between the outcome and diabetes (5.5% of events), and type
of surgery and low functional capacity (inability to walk more than 61 meters
without dyspnea with 15.9% of events). In this study, the type of surgery with
the best outcome was laparoscopic gastric banding (1.0%) compared to
laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (4.8%) and open surgery Roux-en-Y gastric
bypass (7.8%).
220
Another study with more than 91,000 patients observed that venous thromboembolism
occurred in the first 30 days postoperatively in 0.29% of the cases of obese
patients undergoing bariatric or metabolic surgery. However, more than 80% of
the cases of thromboembolism occurred after hospital discharge. HF, paraplegia,
dyspnea at rest, and resurgery were associated with a higher risk of
thromboembolism. The authors suggested that routine pharmacological
thromboprophylaxis should be considered for high-risk patients (>
0.4%).
221
However, there is no consensus with regard to the most appropriate prophylactic
measure. A recent meta-analysis found no benefit for any of the different
strategies, with enoxaparion ranging from 40 mg per day to 60 mg twice a
day.
222
On the other hand, a study analyzed the strategy of dividing the groups of
patients submitted to bariatric surgery (93% gastric bypass) according to the
BMI, administering 40 mg twice a day to the group with BMI lower than or equal
to 50 kg/m2 and 60 mg twice a day to the group with BMI > 50
kg/m2. The study reported that 74% of the patients reached
anti-Xa therapeutic levels and only 1.79% needed blood transfusion.
223
In addition to the recommendations for obese patients described in another item
in this guideline (item 9D), the following recommendations are added for
patients with indication for surgical intervention:
C) Arterial Vascular Surgeries
Arterial vascular surgeries represent the group of interventions associated with
a higher incidence of cardiovascular complications, with rates of almost 50% in
some cases, which questions the validity of performing the procedure.
224
On the other hand, it is important to know the indications based on evidences
that showed favorable risk-benefit ratio and to identify all variables involved
in risk estimation of this type of intervention. This is discussed in more
detail in the updated version of the II Guideline for Perioperative Evaluation,
with a focus on arterial vascular surgeries, which can be accessed using the
link:
50,225
http://publicacoes.cardiol.br/consenso/2013/II_Diretriz_de_Avalia%C3%A7%C3%A3o_Perioperat%C3%B3ria.asp.
The recommendations and general care in this guideline are also necessary for
this specific population; however, there are additional specific issues that are
addressed below.
226,227
D) Low-risk Procedures
I. Dental
The preparation of dental procedures in patients with heart disease is not
based solely on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis, vasoconstrictors, and/or
control of postoperative bleeding. The presence of infectious foci in the
oral cavity may represent a factor of postoperative complication. The
incidence of odontogenic bacteremia increases significantly in the presence
of infectious foci, such as in periodontal disease and endodontic
lesions.
Although the occurrence of bacteremias is commonly reported during dental
procedures, they occur with similar frequency during oral hygiene and
chewing.
228
For
this reason, assessment of oral health with elimination of infectious foci
and intensive oral hygiene control of hospitalized patients is advisable
whenever possible prior to surgical procedures in patients with or without
heart disease to reduce perioperative complications.
In general, patients with controlled heart disease under optimized medication
can undergo a dental procedure safely with the usual routine care.
Individuals with pacemakers and implantable automatic defibrillators do not
present changes with high or low rotation motors, amalgamators, electric
pulp tests, electric toothbrushes, endodontic ultrasound, periodontal
ultrasound, and radiography. The use of an electric scalpel has specific
guidelines discussed in this guideline (item 4.G.III). Further studies are
needed to determine the possible effect of the laser on pacemakers.
I. A. Local Anesthetics: to Use or Not to Use Local
Vasoconstrictors
The use of local anesthetics with vasoconstrictors in patients with heart
disease has generated controversy. The administration of vasoconstrictors in
combination with local anesthetics increases the quality and duration of
pain control and promotes reduction of bleeding.
229
Local anesthetic without vasoconstrictor
has a short duration, rapid absorption (high toxic potential), and
inadequate pain control. It can also generate hemodynamic changes and even
cardiac arrhythmias, besides promoting mild vasodilation, increasing
bleeding.
Lidocaine with epinephrine has been the most widely used local anesthetic
worldwide. Although the interaction of epinephrine with β-blockers,
tricyclic antidepressants, diuretics, and cocaine has been reported in the
literature, the use of two to three 2.0% lidocaine tubes with 1:100,000
epinephrine (36-54 µg epinephrine) is well tolerated in most
patients. This also applies to individuals with hypertension or other
cardiovascular disease, situations where the use of this vasoconstrictor has
more benefits than risks.
229
I. B. Patients Using Antithrombotic Agents (Antiplatelet Agents and Oral
Anticoagulants)
Most dental procedures have low risk of bleeding. Therefore, warfarin should
not be discontinued in most patients submitted to dental procedures,
including dental extractions.
230
A meta-analysis
231
and smaller studies
232-234
have demonstrated safety in performing
dental procedures in anticoagulated patients with international normalized
ratio (INR) < 4.0 by using local measures to reduce bleeding. Major
procedures, and consequently with greater risk of bleeding, such as
extraction > 3 teeth, should have customized discussion based on the
thrombotic risk of each patient to determine interruption of therapy and
possible bridge therapy, as discussed in specific section in this
guideline.
To date, evidence of bleeding risk in patients using new anticoagulants
(NOACs) in dental procedures is limited.
235
There are also no recommendations
available for perioperative measures.
Regarding antiplatelet agents, several studies in the literature show the
safety of performing dental procedures usually using aspirin or clopidogrel
monotherapy.
236-239
Although bleeding
increases, this is easily controlled with local hemostatic
measures.
240-242
Therefore, patients in
secondary prevention of cardiovascular events using aspirin or clopidogrel
monotherapy should keep using the drugs in the perioperative period of the
procedures.
Patients on DAPT with a recent PCI (6 weeks after bare metal stent (BMS) and
6 months after drug eluting stent - DES) or acute coronary syndrome for less
than one year should maintain the use of the drugs, if dental procedures are
required in the period of highest risk of intra-stent thrombosis. There is
already evidence in the literature on the safety of this strategy when local
hemostatic measures are increased. Studies with ticagrelor or prasugrel
remain scarce,
243
but the
recommendation is to maintain them in these conditions of DAPT in periods of
increased risk of intra-stent thrombosis.
When using antithrombotic therapy, dental procedures may be performed
following some precautions.
Specific considerations that may be suggested to dentists
Some precautions and measures may be considered to reduce bleeding in
patients taking antithrombotic drugs.
I. C. Use of Antibiotics with Anticoagulants
The use of antibiotics for endocarditis prophylaxis is indicated in patients
with previous history of endocarditis or valve disease who will undergo
procedures involving manipulation of gingival tissue, periodontal region, or
perforation of the oral mucosa, as discussed in a specific section in this
guideline (item 7.E.I). Antibiotics often used for this purpose may
interfere with the metabolism of oral anticoagulants, particularly warfarin.
Patients taking anticoagulants should be alerted to a possible increase in
bleeding and control the INR, if necessary. There is no need to change the
anticoagulant regimen when a single dose of prophylactic antibiotic is
used.
II. Dermatological
Dermatological surgical procedures are low-risk procedures for both
cardiovascular and bleeding events. Data from the literature suggest that
approximately 50% of patients scheduled for dermatological procedures are
using antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy.
244,245
In these cases, the surgical team and the
anesthesiologist should be informed about the drugs used and the necessary
care, including a more time-consuming and cautious hemostasis, because in
most cases the risk associated with discontinuation of antithrombotic
therapy outweighs the risk of bleeding inherent in the procedure.
Suspension of the use of aspirin for secondary prevention of cardiovascular
events is not necessary before performing any dermatological surgical
intervention.
246,247
For patients using
double antiplatelet therapy for stent implantation who are not in the period
of greatest thrombotic risk, the recommendation is to suspend the second
antiplatelet drug,
248,249
considering the
intervals already described in this guideline (see section on antiplatelet
agents - item 7.A.V).
For individuals taking warfarin, the recommendation is to continue its use
and adjust the INR to ≤ 3.5 to minimize the risk of
bleeding.
248
However, some studies have not demonstrated the correlation between INR
levels and the risk of increased bleeding in patients taking
warfarin.
250
Although evidence is scarce, it is recommended that patients taking one of
the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) can perform most of the dermatological
procedures during the medications.
248
This is to ensure that the surgical intervention
is scheduled, whenever possible, a few hours before the next dose to avoid
the peak serum level of the drug.
III. Endoscopic
Considering the risk analysis of cardiovascular events, endoscopic procedures
are low risk.
251
Thus,
suspension of the procedure is not required for cardiovascular intervention,
except in severe cardiovascular conditions already mentioned in the section
of perioperative evaluation algorithms of this guideline. In addition, most
drugs that are included in the cardiovascular therapy do not need to be
discontinued and can be ingested with minimal water. In fact, the most
important issue is whether the patient makes use of antithrombotic drugs due
to the potential risk of endoscopic bleeding and thromboembolic events
caused by discontinuation of these drugs.
Endoscopic procedures have different bleeding potentials, which is very
important to determine the strategy to be used. The risk varies with the
type of procedure and is mainly related to the existence of therapeutic
interventions. Chart 4 presents the
risks of bleeding attributed to common endoscopic procedures in clinical
practice.
252
The
risk of thromboembolic events with discontinuation of antithrombotic therapy
varies with the therapy proposed and individual patient conditions.
Chart 4
Bleeding risk in endoscopic procedures*
High-risk procedures
Low-risk procedures
Polypectomy
Diagnostics (UDE, colonoscopy, flexible
sigmoidoscopy), including mucosal biopsy
Biliary or pancreatic sphincterotomy
ERCP with stent placement or balloon dilatation
without sphincterotomy
Balloon-assisted therapeutic enteroscopy
Balloon-assisted diagnostic enteroscopy and
push enteroscopy
Endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy or
jejunostomy
Endoscopic capsule
Endoscopic ultrasonography with fine needle
biopsy
Endoscopic ultrasonography without fine needle
biopsy
Cystogastrostomy
Placing intestinal stent
Esophageal dilatation
Barrett's esophagus ablation
Mucosectomy and submucosal dissection
Coagulation with argon plasma
Ablation of tumors
*
Adapted from Acosta RD et al.
252
UDE: upper digestive
endoscopy; ERCP: endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography.
Management of Antiplatelet Agents in Endoscopic Procedures
For endoscopic procedures classified as low risk of bleeding, antiplatelet
therapy may be maintained, either in the form of monotherapy (independent of
the agent) or DAPT.
252-255
For procedures
considered as high risk of bleeding, some points should be considered.
Patients taking DAPT for a recent PCI (6 weeks after BMS stent and 6 months
after DES) or acute coronary syndrome in the past year present the highest
risk if antiplatelet therapy is discontinued. Therefore, elective high-risk
bleeding endoscopic procedures should be postponed, whenever possible, until
the end of this period of increased risk. However, for procedures that
require to be performed during this period, the most accepted strategy is to
maintain aspirin and withdraw the second antiplatelet drug,
255,256
although evidence for this strategy is
limited.
Patients taking aspirin monotherapy for secondary prevention of
cardiovascular events may maintain the treatment in the perioperative period
of endoscopic procedures, even in those considered to be high risk for
bleeding, because most evidence in the literature shows a low risk of
significant bleeding in these situations.
257-266
Some studies have demonstrated increased bleeding in
procedures, such as submucosal dissection in patients with gastric
neoplasia
267
and
mucosectomy in colonic tumors larger than 20 mm,
268
these procedures should be analyzed
individually according to the risk of thrombotic events with suspension of
aspirin.
255
There
is some evidence showing the safety of clopidogrel monotherapy during
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, and its maintenance may be considered
in this situation.
258
Evidence for the use of prasugrel and ticagrelor in high-risk bleeding
endoscopic procedures is scarce.
If antiplatelet therapy is discontinued, the intervals between the suspension
and the procedure should follow the recommendations of this guideline in the
antiplatelet management section (item 7.A.V.C). Antiplatelet therapy may be
resumed after the procedure as soon as hemostasis is achieved. An attack
dose may be considered in patients who are at high risk for cardiovascular
events.
256
Management of Anticoagulants in Endoscopic Procedures
For endoscopic procedures classified as low risk of bleeding, anticoagulant
therapy with warfarin may be maintained
252,253,255,269
and should be discontinued in those
considered to be at high risk of bleeding.
260,266
To date, no evidence has been reported regarding the
use of new anticoagulants (NOACs) in these situations, suggesting that they
should be maintained in low-risk bleeding procedures and suspended in those
with high risk for bleeding.
252
Intervals for the suspension and resumption of NOACs and warfarin (including
consideration of bridge therapy in those patients considered to be at a
greatest risk for thromboembolic events) should follow the guidelines in the
perioperative management section of this guideline (section 7.D).
IV. Ophthalmologic
Ophthalmologic surgical interventions are relatively frequent procedures in
the elderly population. The presence of cardiovascular comorbidities that
require the use of antithrombotic drugs and their associated treatment
during the perioperative period is a subject of intense debate between
ophthalmological surgeons and cardiologists. In Brazil, the fear of
hemorrhagic complications, including bruising in the periorbital region, is
responsible for the indiscriminate interruption of aspirin and warfarin in
82.7% of patients who undergo glaucoma surgeries.
270
The limited evidence regarding the occurrence of complications shows that
this fear is not reasonable. The rate of hemorrhagic complications described
in observational studies is low and without major consequences, particularly
in cataract surgeries using conventional anesthetic techniques.
271-275
Some ophthalmologic surgical interventions, such as trabeculectomy
276,277
and vitrectomy,
278,279
which are used to treat glaucoma and
retinal diseases, respectively, present a greater hemorrhagic risk.
Nevertheless, the evidence does not demonstrate an increased risk of
significant hemorrhagic complications in these surgeries with the use of
aspirin.
277,280,281
In such cases, the decision should be
customized, but maintaining this agent is generally recommended in the
perioperative period.
282
Patients receiving a DAPT for a recent PCI (6 weeks after BMS stent and 6
months after DES) or acute coronary syndrome in the past year are those at
highest risk of events due to discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy.
Therefore, ophthalmologic procedures, whenever possible, should be postponed
until this period of greatest risk ends.
For procedures that required to be performed in this period, the strategy
depends on the hemorrhagic risk of the intervention. For interventions with
low hemorrhagic risk (intravitreal injections, cataract, and peribulbar
anesthesia), aspirin and P2Y12 receptor inhibitors should be maintained. For
interventions with higher hemorrhagic risk, such as vitrectomy and
trabulectomy, the most accepted recommendation is the maintenance of aspirin
and suspension of the second antiplatelet, considering the intervals already
described in a specific section of this guideline (item 7.A.V.C). However,
the evidence for this strategy is limited.
Similar to patients taking ASA monotherapy, evidence in the literature favors
the maintenance of clopidogrel monotherapy in the perioperative period of
cataract surgeries.
274,275
Evidence is more limited
in glaucoma and retinal surgeries. The recommendation is to suspend
clopidogrel in the perioperative period of these interventions, considering
the 5-day period between the suspension and the procedure.
With regard to patients taking warfarin, the evidence in the literature
favors their maintenance in surgeries with lower hemorrhagic risk, such as
cataract surgeries, ensuring that the INR is in the therapeutic
range.
271,272
A meta-analysis of
observational studies including patients submitted to cataract surgery and
using warfarin found a bleeding incidence of around 10%. This incidence was
mostly self-limiting, subconjunctival, and with no visual loss.
273
On the contrary, in
glaucoma and retinal disease surgeries, warfarin should be discontinued.
Perioperative management should follow the strategy described in this
guideline in the perioperative anticoagulation management section (item
7.D), considering the individual risk of thrombotic events of the
patients.
To date, evidence of risk of bleeding during ophthalmologic surgeries in
patients using new anticoagulants (NOACs) is limited. No recommendations
have been established for their perioperative management.
Recommendations, particularly for patients with coronary stents and
mechanical valvular prostheses, should be customized, considering the
relationship between thrombotic and hemorrhagic risks. For patients
recommended to maintain anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet agents, the
surgeon should be informed of the need to ensure adequate hemostasis. A
suggestion that can be considered and discussed with the anesthesiologist,
who makes the final decision, is the use of a specific type of anesthesia
that is less associated with hemorrhagic complications.
275
For antiplatelets, if
the decision is to interrupt the drug, it should be restarted
postoperatively as soon as possible. In addition, the procedure must be
performed in a hospital with competence for urgent hemodynamic intervention
(PCI), if necessary.
6. Considerations for High-Risk Patients
A) When the Cardiovascular Risk is Very High - to Perform Surgery or Not to
Perform Surgery?
After the patient, the surgeon is the most interested person to define whether a
surgery should be performed based on the balance between the risk of
complications and the benefit of the intervention. The surgeon generally does
not perform surgery if there is a high risk of surgical complications, which is
sometimes against the expectations of the patient and his family.
283
However, there are situations in which perioperative evaluation concludes that
the risk of cardiaovascular complications, such as myocardial infarction and
stroke is high. In this case, it is important that the cardiologist knows the
prognosis of the underlying disease to determine whether the risk-benefit ratio
is unfavorable and whether the intervention should not be performed. Such
information regarding the prognosis of the underlying disease should be
requested to the surgeon who requested the evaluation. Class of
recommendation I, Level of evidence C.
Noncardiac surgery should be contraindicated when there is objective information
that the risk of serious cardiovascular complications, such as cardiac death,
nonfatal infarction, and stroke, does not exceed the risk of death from the
underlying disease. Class of recommendation IIa, Level of evidence
C.
B) Hospital Choice
An important part of the perioperative evaluation by the cardiologist is the
analysis of the health institute where the surgical procedure will be performed.
Studies have demonstrated that a hospital with a cohesive multiprofessional team
who focuses on prompt diagnosis and therapeutics of the complications has a
positive influence on the perioperative results.
284-287
In addition, there is evidence that hospitals with a higher number of procedures
have lower perioperative mortality compared with those with fewer procedures,
even after adjusting for other variables.
288
In conclusion, in the evaluation of surgical risk, it is imperative to analyze
the variables related to the health institute where the procedure will be
performed. The analysis provides our patients with more comprehensive
counseling. Class of recommendation I, Level of evidence C.
7. Measures to Reduce Surgical Risk from a Cardiovascular Perspective
A) Perioperative Drug Therapy
I. β-blockers
The recommendations regarding the use of β-blockers in the
perioperative period of noncardiac surgical interventions have been under
intense debate in recent years because of the results of large clinical
studies. These studies presented limitations that generate discussions in
the academic and care communities.
Pioneering studies in the 1990s suggested that perioperative use of
β-blockers could reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in a
broad spectrum of patients. Three randomized trials conducted between 2005
and 2006 did not confirm the protective effect of β-blockers in the
vascular perioperative period of low- or intermediate-risk patients,
highlighting the potential harm, given the association with a higher
incidence of bradycardia and hypotension.
289-291
The benefit of β-blockers was later questioned in
meta-analyses.
292,293
On the other hand, the
largest retrospective study on the use of β-blockers in the
perioperative period, which analyzed more than 780,000 patients submitted to
noncardiac surgery, showed that the impact of β-blockers depends on
the estimation of cardiac risk. In high-risk patients, β-blockers are
associated with lower mortality, whereas in low-risk patients, no benefit
was found and the β-blockers could be harmful.
294
In 2008, the POISE study
was conducted. In this study, 8,351 patients who were mostly having an
intermediate risk of complications were randomized to receive metoprolol
succinate or placebo starting 2-4 hours prior to noncardiac surgery, with
doses up to 400 mg in the first 24 hours. The results showed a lower
incidence of MI, reversed cardiac arrest, and cardiac mortality in the group
with β-blockers. However, the authors observed two times higher
incidence of stroke and greater overall mortality in this group. The high
incidence of hypotension and bradycardia was strongly associated with higher
mortality and stroke.
295
Careful analysis of these data shows a great heterogeneity among studies,
mainly regarding the dosage of β-blockers used and time of onset.
There are studies that initiated β-blockers a few hours before the
surgery, with no time to determine the doses conferring adequate heart rate
control.
289-291
In other studies, some
patients continued to receive β-blockers despite the occurrence of
bradycardia and/or hypotension and most importantly without time for
hemodynamic adaptation.
295
On the other hand, there are studies that started β-blockers earlier,
at least one week before the surgery, to determine the adequate
dose.
296
These
were the studies that showed benefit. In 2008, even before the publication
of the POISE study, an interesting publication reviewed data from the two
main meta-analyses previously cited
292,293
based
on the heart rate control obtained for each study. The authors divided the
data into two groups according to degree of heart rate control, and observed
that the trials in which patients achieve the most effective control of
heart rate were associated with a reduced incidence of postoperative MI,
suggesting that effective control of heart rate is important for achieving
cardioprotection.
297
Thus, once the specific indications have been evaluated, the use of
β-blockers in the perioperative period must always comply with safety
principles. The time of onset should be as early as possible (at least one
week before the surgery) to ensure adequate time to evaluate the hemodynamic
response of each patient, avoiding bradycardia and hypotension. Low doses
should be prescribed, with progressive titration to a HR of 55 to 65 bpm,
without hypotension (SBP > 100 mmHg). During the perioperative period,
frequent monitoring of HR and BP must be done. If HR < 50 bpm or SBP <
100 mmHg is detected, the β-blockers should be suspended until
hemodynamic and chronotropic balance is restored. On the other hand, from
the point of view of effectiveness, the benefit of the β-blockers is
associated with adequate heart rate control. Therefore, we should target for
a HR of 55 to 65 bpm in the pre- and postoperative periods.
Finally, β-blockers should not be withdraw in the perioperative period
of patients who receive them chronically for various indications. Acute
β-blocker suspension is associated with a significant increase in
postoperative mortality.
298
II. Statins
In addition to reducing cholesterol levels, statins have a pleiotropic effect
of reducing inflammation and stabilizing plaques of atherosclerosis. The use
of statins to prevent cardiovascular events after vascular surgeries is well
established and is based on prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled
studies.
In 2004, in the first randomized study published, the authors demonstrated
that the use of 20 mg of atorvastatin is associated with a large decrease in
major cardiovascular events (death, MI, stroke, unstable angina) in the
perioperative period and after 6 months of follow-up. This effect occurred
regardless of baseline cholesterol levels.
299
In 2009, the use of 80 mg of slow-release fluvastatin in 250 patients
submitted to vascular surgeries was shown to reduce the occurrence of
postoperative myocardial ischemia and the combined outcome of MI and cardiac
death in a period of 30 days compared to the placebo group (247
patients).
300
This result was confirmed in a recent meta-analysis involving 23,536
patients, in which the use of statins in the perioperative vascular period
reduces overall mortality and MI and stroke rates.
301
The specific benefits of statins for
each type of vascular procedure can be found in a specific guideline for
vascular surgeries.
50
The
administration of 20 mg of atorvastatin (or 40 mg of simvastatin) in
patients submitted to vascular surgery should be preferably performed two
weeks before the procedure and maintained for 30 days. Subsequently, the
dose should be adjusted to the individual LDL goal of each patient.
On the other hand, evidence on the use of statins for the prevention of
cardiovascular complications in nonvascular surgeries is obtained from
retrospective studies. Lindenauer et al.
302
evaluated 780,591 patients submitted to
noncardiac surgeries (92% nonvascular surgeries) in a retrospective cohort
study with 77,082 patients (9.9%) receiving statins. In this study, the
patients who received statins had lower mortality during hospital stays.
Another retrospective case-control study with only nonvascular surgeries,
including 989 patients who died postoperatively within 30 days and 1879
controls, showed that the use of statins is also associated with a reduction
in mortality (OR = 0.4; CI 0.24-0.68).
303
In a retrospective cohort that included 752
patients submitted to nonvascular surgeries, the authors demonstrated a
reduction in the combined outcome of nonfatal MI, AF, and mortality in a
period of 30 days in patients using statins.
304
Recently, in an analysis of the patients
included in the VISION study,
305
Berwanger et al.
306
evaluated 2,842 patients receiving
statins and 4,492 patients without statins. They compared the occurrence of
mortality, isolated elevation of troponin levels (defined as troponin
increased levels, without MI or other cause), and stroke in a period of 30
days by using propensity score matching. About 10% of the patients were
submitted to vascular surgeries and the rest to nonvascular procedures.
Patients receiving statins showed reduction in the risk of the combined
outcome (RR 0.83; 95% CI 0.73-0.95; p = 0.007). The use of statins reduced
overall mortality (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.40-0.83; p = 0.003), cardiovascular
mortality (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.76; p = 0.004), and the occurrence of
isolated increase of troponin levels (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.73-0.98; p = 0.02).
There was no reduction in noncardiovascular mortality and in the rate of MI
or stroke. It should be noted that, despite propensity score matching, the
patients in the statin group had CAD, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease,
aspirin use, and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers more
frequently than the patients in the group without statins. Although
presenting more risk factors, the patients in the statin group had fewer
cardiovascular events.
306
Basing on these studies, we can conclude that the patients with higher
cardiovascular risk and those using statins due to comorbidities (CAD,
diabetes, peripheral vascular disease) may benefit with the administration
of statins in perioperative nonvascular surgeries.
Statins are often withdraw postoperatively. The main reasons for statin
withdrawal are as follows: postoperative ileus and inability to administer
oral medications, hemodynamic instability, concern with the occurrence of
side effects, and lack of awareness of the importance of maintaining
statins.
307
Perioperative statin suspension in patients who use this medication on a
chronic basis is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events following
vascular surgeries.
308,309
The use of statins in
the perioperative period is safe. Although patients using statins have a
higher baseline CPK level, the occurrence of increases above 5 times their
reference value or rhabdomyolysis is rare.
310
Therefore, in patients who already use
statins, it should be maintained in the perioperative period.
III. Alpha-agonists
Alpha2-agonists modulate the response of catecholamines to surgery and
anesthesia, decreasing the release of noradrenaline and reducing blood
pressure and heart rate. The first randomized studies that used clonidine to
prevent cardiovascular complications following noncardiac surgeries
demonstrated a reduction in myocardial ischemia, but without a reduction in
clinical events or mortality.
311,312
On the
other hand, a meta-analysis demonstrated that α2-agonists reduce
mortality and MI in patients submitted to vascular surgeries, but not in
those submitted to nonvascular surgeries.
313
The European Mivazerol Trial (EMIT) evaluated the use of mivazerol in 1,897
patients with CAD submitted to noncardiac surgeries. The authors found a
decrease in general mortality and MI or cardiac death only in the subgroup
of patients submitted to vascular surgeries.
314
A randomized study with 190 patients demonstrated reductions in myocardial
ischemia and mortality with the use of perioperative prophylactic clonidine
in patients with CAD or risk factors for CAD,
315
but these results were not
confirmed.
Recently, the POISE-2 study included 10,010 patients submitted to noncardiac
surgery in 23 countries. The patients were randomized to receive clonidine
or placebo in the perioperative period of noncardiac surgeries. The use of
clonidine did not reduce the incidence of death or MI in a period of 30 days
(HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.93-1.26; p = 0.29). Furthermore, patients on clonidine
more frequently presented clinically significant hypotension (HR 1.3, 95% CI
1.24-1.4, p < 0.001) and reversed cardiac arrest (HR 3.2, 95% CI
1.17-8.76, p = 0.02).
316
Therefore, the introduction of clonidine in the preoperative period is not
recommended to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
IV. Calcium Channel Blockers
Evidence for the use of calcium channel blockers with the aim to reduce
cardiovascular risk in the perioperative period of noncardiac surgeries is
scarce. In a meta-analysis of 11 studies involving 1,007 patients, there was
no reduction in mortality or MI with verapamil, diltiazem, or
dihydropyridine.
317
Another study evaluated 1,000 patients submitted to
aortic aneurysm surgeries, and the results demonstrated an increase in
perioperative mortality with the use of calcium channel blockers.
318
Therefore, the use of calcium channel blockers to prevent cardiovascular
events in the perioperative period of noncardiac surgeries is not
recommended.
V. Antiplatelet Agents
Operating patients who use antiplatelet therapy implies an increased risk of
bleeding;
247
however, the suspension is known to be associated with rebound
effect
319
and
clinical atherothrombotic events.
247,320
In
general, the decision should be based on the discussion between the
surgical, clinical, and anesthetic teams. The team should consider the risk
of exacerbation of bleeding inherent to the surgical procedure and, on the
other hand, the thrombotic burden that led to the prescription of the
antiplatelet agent.
V. A. Acetylsalicylic Acid
POISE-2 study, which was published in 2014, is the largest randomized,
placebo-controlled study evaluating the impact of ASA in the perioperative
period.
321
In
this study, 10,010 patients with risk factors for perioperative
complications receiving ASA or placebo were evaluated. Patients who never
took ASA were included, as well as patients who were already on chronic use,
randomized to placebo, or continued ASA at the study doses of 200 mg
immediately prior to surgery and 100 mg daily for 30 days. The authors did
not show a significant difference in the primary outcome (death or MI) or in
the secondary outcome of the study (death, MI or stroke). No difference was
observed based on the history of use of pre-randomization ASA. On the other
hand, they observed a higher incidence of bleeding in the ASA group: 4.6%
× 3.8%, p = 0.04, especially at the surgical site.
Some considerations should be made regarding the clinical profile of patients
who mostly (almost 70% of the population) had no history of cardiovascular
disease and used ASA for primary prevention. Another extremely relevant fact
is the non-inclusion of patients with PCI with DES in the last year or BMS
in the last 6 weeks. Most surgeries in the study were orthopedic, general,
or gynecological, with 605 vascular procedures, for which the main results
of the study are maintained.
321
Thus, the most practical applicability of POISE-2
results is to recommend the non-use of ASA in the perioperative period of
individuals in primary prevention. For patients who are already using ASA
for primary prevention and are scheduled for noncardiac surgery, suspension
of antiplatelet treatment 7 days before is recommended.
Oscarsson et al.
322
conducted a much smaller study than POISE-2. It included 210 patients. The
study design was interesting because it did not investigate the initiation
of ASA, but the suspension or maintenance in the noncardiac perioperative
period of patients chronically using ASA. Patients scheduled for vascular
surgeries were not included (the authors thought that it was unethical to
withdraw the antiplatelet treatment in the vascular perioperative period).
They observed a lower incidence of cardiovascular events in the group that
maintained ASA, without a higher incidence of bleeding. Anecdotally, the
subjective notion of the surgeon on the bleeding tendency due to impaired
hemostasis during the surgery did not allow discriminating patients
receiving placebo or antiplatelets.
322
In the STRATAGEM study, the patients using ASA only for secondary
cardiovascular prevention were randomized to receive 75 mg of ASA or placebo
in the perioperative period. The results showed no increased incidence of
bleeding or significant difference in thrombotic complications.
323
However, this study
included only 20% of the planned patients, which hinders definitive
conclusions for patients at higher risk.
In the vascular perioperative period, evidence suggests the beneficial use of
ASA for protection of infrainguinal grafts, but without conclusion about
systemic outcomes. On the other hand, Calderaro et al.
324
analyzed patients in the
elective vascular perioperative who were already on chronic use of ASA and
observed that those individuals with lower platelet responsivity up to 100
mg daily (according to the aggregability test after stimulation with
arachidonic acid) presented more than twice the systemic atherothrombotic
events, when compared to the more responsive individuals, without an
increase in bleeding rate.
324
For patients receiving ASA for secondary prevention, it is recommended to
maintain it at a maximum dose of 100 mg daily. Meta-analysis data suggest
that this ratio is favorable for most perioperative patients.
247
Neurosurgeries due to
high morbidity and mortality associated with bleeding, even small ones,
represent an absolute indication for ASA suspension 7 days before.
247
Patients scheduled for transurethral resection of the prostate using the
conventional technique should also suspend ASA owing to the high risk of
bleeding.
247
Urologists recently acknowledged that ASA can be maintained using the
hemostatic technique called laser green-light in patients scheduled for
transurethral resection.
325,326
This
example demonstrates the benefit of new techniques for more complex patients
and the constant need for a multidisciplinary approach to the perioperative
decision process. At present, there is no recommendation for routine ASA
withdrawal for transrectal prostate biopsy, an extremely common urological
procedure.
325
There is no recommendation to start ASA before noncardiac surgeries. If we
evaluate patients with established vascular disease but who erroneously omit
using antiplatelets, it is the opinion of this guideline by consensus of the
specialists that this therapy should be implemented at the time of hospital
discharge. However, no study has supported the administration of the drug
before surgery.
V. B. Dual Antiplatelet Therapy
Approximately 20% of patients submitted to PCI will require noncardiac
surgery in the subsequent 2 years.
327,328
This
implies perioperative management not only of ASA but also of the second
antiplatelet agent (clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor), particularly in
cases with less than one year between interventions. This is a common and
quite complex situation because evidence on the safety of maintaining DAPT
in the noncardiac perioperative period is scarce and indirect. The evidence
is mainly extrapolated from the cardiac surgery data, which reveals a great
increase in the rate of bleeding.
329,330
On the
other hand, the potential for treatment suspension is also quite high,
especially after PCI, with DAPT suspension being one of the main predictors
of stent thrombosis.
331
An interesting study was conducted in France evaluating 1,134 patients with
PCI who required subsequent noncardiac surgery. The study identified DAPT
suspension for more than 5 days before the surgery as one of the independent
predictors of perioperative cardiovascular complications.
332
The best way to deal with DAPT in the perioperative period is to maintain the
optimal duration of this therapy and not to perform elective surgeries
during this period (see the topic of prophylactic myocardial
revascularization in this guideline - item 7.B): 6 weeks after PCI with BMS;
6 months after DES or one year after PCI in the context of acute coronary
syndromes. Some elective procedures, such as oncological treatment, cannot
be postponed without consequences. In this situation, it is recommended to
maintain ASA alone and suspend clopidogrel. Clopidogrel should be suspended
5 days before the surgery and restarted as soon as possible, ideally before
completing 10 days without DAPT. The postoperative deadline for restarting
the drug depends on adequate hemostasis control and should be individually
established between the surgical and clinical teams. Basing on the evidence
of relative safety of withdrawal of the second antiplatelet in up to 10
days, we recommend not to exceed a total of 10 days without DAPT outside the
perioperative context.
333
Evidence is even scarcer for the newer antiplatelet drugs. The TRITON-TIMI 38
study included patients receiving prasugrel or clopidogrel associated with
ASA and requiring cardiac surgery. Prasugrel showed higher rates of bleeding
than clopidogrel, even with suspension of clopidogrel or prasugrel for up to
7 days.
334
This
observation supports the recommendation to discontinue prasugrel 7 days
before noncardiac surgeries.
Although pharmacokinetic data support the suspension of ticagrelor for a
shorter period,
335
the current recommendation is still 5 days.
Sub-analysis of patients who required myocardial revascularization in the
PLATO study (patients randomized to ASA + ticagrelor vs. ASA + clopidogrel)
demonstrated less bleeding with ticagrelor than with clopidogrel. This
finding is in agreement with the idea of a faster platelet activity recovery
after suspension of ticagrelor in comparison with clopidogrel.
336,337
The new drug eluting stents are less thrombogenic; thus, the ideal interval
for noncardiac surgery is shortened to 6 months in cases of elective PCI
(see specific session of prophylactic myocardial revascularization in this
guideline - item 7.B). Notably, maintenance of DAPT can be considered for
some procedures performed in compressible sites or by endovascular technique
depending on multidisciplinary consensus.
Patients at very high risk of stent thrombosis, such as diabetic or with PCI
involving grafts, or in the context of acute coronary syndromes or
complicated PCI, may be considered for “bridge” therapy with parenteral
antiplatelet consisting of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
338
There is no
recommendation for “bridge” therapy with LMWH because recent clinical
evidence has demonstrated the harm of such measure, in addition to the
pharmacological need of inhibition of platelet activity rather than
coagulation.
339
B) Myocardial Revascularization
The first studies that analyzed the role of myocardial revascularization before
noncardiac surgery suggested that it could be indicated to reduce perioperative
cardiovascular risk.
340,341
This strategy aimed at
reducing the risk of ischemic events related to severe and fixed coronary
stenosis(342). Nevertheless, the events related to the instability of
atherosclerotic plaques are not reduced. Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is a
pathophysiological mechanism known to be involved in the genesis of ischemic
events in the perioperative context.
68
Recent evidence in the literature has failed to demonstrate the beneficial role
of prophylactic myocardial revascularization (CABG or PCI) in patients with
stable CAD in the preoperative period in noncardiac surgeries.
343,344
In addition, the development of drug therapy and
consequent perioperative pharmacoprotection have made the potential benefits of
prophylactic myocardial revascularization increasingly restricted. Therefore,
indications for preoperative myocardial revascularization in noncardiac
surgeries are identical to those outside the perioperative context.
345
The indications aimed not
only to reduce perioperative ischemic events but also to improve long-term
prognosis.
In cases with unequivocal indication of myocardial revascularization in patients
who are in the preoperative period of noncardiac surgeries, information, such as
clinical stability of the patient, prognosis of the underlying disease that led
to the indication of the surgical procedure, and the potential risk of bleeding
of this procedure, should be considered in decision-making. In these cases, the
interval between myocardial revascularization and noncardiac surgery is an
important factor, particularly in cases of PCI.
346-349
When the surgery must be performed during the endothelization period of the
stent, the risk of stent thrombosis and the risk of hemorrhagic complications
associated with the use of double antiplatelet therapy increase. In the
perioperative period, the French registry of more than 1,000 patients submitted
to noncardiac surgery after PCI with stent (DES in one third of them) reaffirmed
that one of the main predictors of cardiac complications is the suspension of
DAPT more than 5 days before the surgery, regardless of the type of
stent.
332
Therefore,
elective operations must be performed whenever possible after the end of this
high-risk period.
In contrast to what we observed in the context of isolated coronary disease, DES
present an enormous fear in the perioperative period and a potentially higher
risk than BMS because of the greater and more lasting thrombogenicity associated
to them. Thus, when noncardiac surgery is required in a near future (formerly a
year, with paclitaxel stents or first-generation sirolimus stents), the use of
DES is contraindicated.
331
Consequently, when the surgical procedure needs to be performed shortly, PCI
with BMS or even balloon PCI without stent should be considered, provided they
present favorable primary outcome.
With most modern DES, recent evidence suggests that the duration of DAPT can be
shortened to 6 months
350-352
and exceptionally 3
months.
353,354
On the other hand, when PCI
is performed to treat acute coronary syndromes, especially in cases of MI,
duration of DAPT should be one year, regardless of the type of stent
implanted.
354
Contextualizing these most recent data on shortening the duration of DAPT in the
perioperative period, Holcomb et al. demonstrated that the risk of complications
following noncardiac surgeries is significantly reduced from the 6th month of
PCI with DES.
355
The authors
analyzed more than 20,000 cases of noncardiac surgeries after coronary PCI, with
approximately half of them with DES. Notably, they also introduced another
important concept of interventional treatment of acute coronary disease in the
perioperative period. When PCI was performed in the context of MI even after one
year, the risk of thrombotic complications is still greater than in cases where
PCI was performed electively.
356
C) Prophylaxis for Venous Thromboembolism
The adequate prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in the perioperative
evaluation involves detailed knowledge of the risk factors of each patient
together with the risks inherent to the surgical procedure.
It is important to consider that most hospitalized patients have one or more risk
factors for venous thromboembolism
357-366
and that
these factors have a cumulative character (Chart 5).
360
Chart 5
Risk factors for venous thromboembolism
Risk factors
Surgery
Trauma (major traumas or lower limbs)
Immobility, paresis of lower limbs
Neoplasia
Cancer therapy (hormonal, chemotherapy,
angiogenesis inhibitor, or radiotherapy)
Previous venous thromboembolism
Venous compression (tumor, hematoma, arterial
abnormality)
Advanced age
Pregnancy and postpartum
Estrogen contraceptives or hormone replacement
therapy
Selective estrogen receptor modulators
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents
Acute clinical disease
Heart or respiratory failure
Inflammatory bowel disease
Nephrotic syndrome
Myeloproliferative diseases
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Obesity
Smoking
Central venous catheterization
Acquired or hereditary thrombophilia
The incidence of confirmed thromboembolism in hospitalized patients without
adequate thromboprophylaxis may vary widely, depending on the type of surgery
performed, as outlined in table
2.
367
Table 2
Venous thromboembolism risk stratification with the type of surgery
Surgical population
Estimated risk in the absence of
thromboprophylaxis* (%)
Most outpatient surgeries
< 0.5
Spinal surgery for non-malignant diseases
1.5
Gynecologic surgery for non-neoplastic
disease Most thoracic surgeries Spinal surgery
for malignant disease
3,0
Bariatric surgery Gynecological surgery due
to neoplasia Pneumectomy Craniotomy
Traumatic brain injury Spinal cord injury Other
major trauma Knee or hip prosthesis surgeries
6,0
*
Mechanical or pharmacological
There is strong evidence in the literature that adequate thromboprophylaxis in
surgical patients is cost-effective, with an optimal cost-benefit
ratio.
368
Despite the
evidence available, with more than 20 guidelines recommending its use since
1986, it is not frequently applied, compromising patient safety.
369,370
Mechanical thromboprophylaxis should be the primary method to prevent VTE in
patients at high risk of bleeding. When pharmacological prophylaxis is
indicated, the doses recommended by each manufacturer should be followed. In
general, we consider the following doses: UFH, 5,000 IU, subcutaneously (SC),
12/12h or 8/8h; LMWH (dalteparin 5,000 IU, SC, 1x/day; tinzaparin 4,500 IU, SC,
1x/day; enoxaparin 40 mg, SC, 1x/day); and fondaparinux, 2.5 mg, SC, 1x/day (in
individuals > 50 kg). Aspirin should not be used alone in any group of
patients as thromboprophylaxis for VTE.
Evaluation of renal function is fundamentally important when considering the use
and dose of LMWH, fondaparinux, or other thrombotic agents excreted by the
kidneys, especially in elderly, diabetic, or at high risk of bleeding
individuals. In such circumstances, the use of antithrombotic drugs with renal
metabolism should be avoided. Smaller doses of the drug should be used, or serum
levels of the drug and its anticoagulant effect should be monitored.
I. Recommendations for Prophylaxis in Non-Orthopedic Surgeries
We now use more objective scores to assess the risk of thromboembolism
associated with each type of surgery to better guide prophylaxis. One of
these scores that can stratify the risk for venous thromboembolism with
greater accuracy is the Caprini risk assessment model.
371,372
In this model, a score is assigned to
each clinical or laboratory variable (Chart
6). Based on the number of these variables and the score
obtained, the categories of risk are defined (very low, low, moderate, and
high) according to the risk of VTE (Chart
7).
367
Chart 6
Caprini risk assessment model:
371,372
risk stratification of general, abdominal,
pelvic, urological, gynecological, vascular, and plastic and
reconstructive surgeries
1 point
2 points
3 points
5 points
Age 41-60 years Small
surgery BMI > 25 kg/m2
Edema
of MMII Varicose veins Pregnancy or
postpartum Hx of recurrent and unexplained
spontaneous abortion Contraceptive or HRT
Sepsis < 1 month Severe lung disease,
including pneumonia < 1 month Abnormal
lung function MI HF (< 1 month)
Hx of inflammatory bowel disease Patient restricted
to the bed
Age 61-74 years
Arthroscopic surgery Open surgery > 45 m
Laparoscopic surgery > 45 m Neoplasia
Patient restricted to the bed > 72 hours Central
catheter Immobilization with plaster
Age > 75 years Previous
Hx of VTE Familiar Hx of VTE Factor V of
Leiden Prothrombin polymorphism 20210A Lupus
anticoagulant Anticardiolipin antibody High
homocystein eHeparin-induced
thrombocytopenia Other congenital or
acquired thrombophilia
EVA < 1 month Elective
hip or knee arthroplasty Fracture of hip, pelvis, or
lower limbs Acute spinal cord injury (< 1
month)
BMI: body mass index; Hx: history; HRT: hormone replacement
therapy; MI: acute myocardial infarction; HF: heart failure; m:
minutes; VTE: venous thromboembolism; EVA: encephalic vascular
accident.
Chart 7
Venous thromboembolism risk stratification in the absence of
mechanical or pharmacological prophylaxis according to Caprini risk
score
Risk category
Caprini score
VTE risk (%)
Very low
0
< 0.5
Low
1-2
1.5
Moderate
3-4
3.0
High
≥ 5
6.0
In addition to the risk of venous thromboembolism, according to risk factors
attributed to the condition of the patient or to the surgical procedure, it
is important to analyze risk factors for bleeding that may modify the choice
of the best thromboprophylaxis. Risk factors for severe bleeding
complications are described in chart
8.
367
A. General Risk Factors
Chart 8 - Risk factors for severe hemorrhagic complications A.
General risk factors
A. General risk factors
Active bleeding
Previous major bleeding
Known untreated hemorrhagic
disease
Severe renal or hepatic
insufficiency
Thrombocytopenia
Acute encephalic vascular
accident
Uncontrolled systemic arterial
hypertension
Lumbar puncture, epidural or spinal
anesthesia in the last 4 hours or within the next 12
hours
Concomitant use of anticoagulant,
antiplatelet agent, or thrombolytic drugs
B. Specific risk factors of
the procedures
B1. Abdominal surgery
Male, preoperative Hb < 13 g/dL,
neoplasia, complex surgery (defined by two or more
procedures, difficulty dissecting or more than one
anastomosis)
B2. Pancreatoduodenectomy
Sepsis, pancreatic fistula, sentinel
bleeding
B3. Hepatic resection
Number of segments, concomitant extrahepatic
organ resection, primary liver neoplasia, low preoperative
hemoglobin level, and thrombocytopenia
B4. Thoracic surgery
Pneumectomy or extensive resection
B5. Procedures in which hemorrhagic
complications can have serious consequences
Craniectomy Spinal cord
surgery Spinal trauma Reconstructive
procedures involving free grafting
Next, we present the recommendations for specific non-orthopedic surgeries.
The recommendations are no longer guided by the Caprini risk score, but
according to the risk characteristics of each surgery.
II. Recommendations for Prophylaxis for Orthopedic Surgeries
The risk of VTE associated with major orthopedic surgeries (hip and knee
prosthesis surgeries and hip fracture surgery) is one of the highest of all
surgical specialties. The combined risk of VTE in a postoperative period of
35 days in untreated patients is currently estimated at 4.3%.
373
Table 3 describes the components of
this risk.
373
Next, we
present the recommendations for prophylaxis for VTE in major orthopedic
surgeries.
Table 3
Estimated frequency of symptomatic, nonfatal venous thromboembolism
after major orthopedic surgeries
Initial prophylaxis (0-14 days
PO)
Prolonged prophylaxis (15-35 days
PO)
Accumulated (0-35 days PO)
No prophylaxis
VTE 2.8% (PTE 1.0%, DVT 1.8%)
VTE 1.5% (PTE 0.5%, DVT 1.0%)
VTE 4.3% (PTE 1.5%, DVT 2.8%)
LMWH
VTE 1.15% (PTE 0.35%, DVT 0.80%)
VTE 0.65% (PTE 0.20%, DVT 0.45%)
VTE 1.80% (PTE 0.55%, DVT 1.25%)
LMWH: low-molecular-weight heparin; PO: postoperative; PTE:
pulmonary thromboembolism; DVT: deep venous thrombosis, VTE:
venous thromboembolism.
For patients submitted to major orthopedic surgeries, regardless of the
possibility of using IPC or duration of treatment, LMWH is preferred
compared with other antiplatelet agents suggested as alternatives. When
using LMWH, it is suggested to start administration at least 12 hours before
surgery or at least 12 hours after the surgical procedure.
373
Whenever possible, mechanical prophylaxis should be associated with IPC
during hospital stay (Class of Recommendation IIa, Level of evidence C). In
addition, use of apixaban or dabigatran is preferred for patients rejecting
IPC or multiple subcutaneous injections.
373
The doses of the new anticoagulants used in the studies for prophylaxis of
VTE in major orthopedic surgeries are outlined in chart 9.
Chart 9
Doses of new anticoagulants in hip and knee prosthesis surgeries
(adjust doses in patients with decreased renal function)
Rivaroxaban
Hip prosthesis: 10 mg/d starting
6-10h PO for 35 days
Knee prosthesis:
10 mg/d starting 6-10h PO for 12 days
Dabigatran
Hip prosthesis: 220 mg/d
starting with 110 mg 1-4h PO for 35 days
Knee
prosthesis: 220 mg/d starting with 110 mg 1-4h PO
for 10 days
Apixaban
Hip prosthesis: 2.5 mg 2x/d
starting 12-24h PO for 35 days
Knee
prosthesis: 2.5 mg 2x/d starting 12-24h PO for 12
days
PO: postoperative period.
D) Anticoagulation Management in the Perioperative Period
The major challenges of anticoagulation management in the perioperative period
are the interruption of anticoagulation, which temporarily increases the risk of
thromboembolism and its maintenance during invasive procedures, which may
increase the risk of hemorrhagic complications. Both challenges increase the
risk of death.
374-379
When assessing perioperative thromboembolic risk, recognizing the different risk
situations for thromboembolism is necessary. One of them is the patient
receiving anticoagulation for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Another risk situation is the patient receiving anticoagulation in the presence
of mechanical cardiac prostheses and/or AF for the prevention of arterial
thromboembolism. Table 4 presents a
proposal for the risk stratification of these patients. High-risk patients are
those with >10% annual risk of thromboembolism; moderate risk, 5-10% annual
risk of thromboembolism; and low risk, < 5% annual risk of
thromboembolism.
380
Table 4
Risk stratification for thromboembolism380
Risk category
Indication for antiplatelet therapy
Cardiac mechanical prosthesis
Atrial fibrillation
VTE
High*
Any mechanical mitral prosthesis Old
mechanical aortic prostheses Recent stroke or TIA (<
6 months)
CHADS2 score of 5 or 6 Recent stroke or
TIA (< 3 months) Rheumatic valve disease
Recent VTE (< 3 months) Severe
thrombophilia†
Moderate
Mechanical aortic prostheses and at least one
risk factor: AF, TIA, or previous stroke, SAH, DM, CHF, age >
75 years
CHADS2 score of 3 or 4
VTE 3-12 months ago Mild
thrombophilia‡
New VTE Active neoplasia
Low
Mechanical aortic prosthesis without AF or other
risk factors for stroke
CHADS2 score of 0 to 2 (no previous
stroke or TIA)
VTE > 12 months without other risk
factors
CHADS2 score = ICC: 1 point, SA = 1 point, age > 75 years = 1
point, DM = 1 point, stroke/TIA = 2 points.
*
High-risk patients may also include those with stroke or TIA > 3
months prior to the planned surgery and CHADS2 < 5, those who had
thromboembolism during the temporary cessation of antiplatelet
agents, or those undergoing certain types of surgery associated with
a high risk of stroke or other type of thromboembolism (heart valve
replacement surgery, carotid endarterectomy, major vascular
surgeries).
†
Severe thrombophilia: deficiency of protein C, S, antithrombin or
presence of antiphospholipid antibodies.
‡
Mild thrombophilia: heterozygous mutation of Leiden's Factor V or
prothrombin gene. VTE: venous thromboembolism; SAH: systemic
arterial hypertension; DM: diabetes mellitus; TIA: transient
ischemic attack; CHF: congestive heart failure.
In addition to assessment of thromboembolic risk, we should consider the risk of
bleeding that certain surgical procedures present during the use of
antithrombotic medications. The risk of bleeding associated with each type of
surgical procedure is shown in chart
10.
375
In
general, we divided the procedures in those with high risk of severe bleeding in
2 to 4 days (2 to 4%) and those with low risk (0 to 2%). Severe bleeding is
generally defined as a bleeding that results in death or is intracranial or
requires reoperation to be stagnant or causes a decrease in hemoglobin ≥
2 g/dL or requires transfusion of ≥ 2 units of red blood cells.
381
Chart 10
Bleeding risk according to the surgical procedure
High risk (greater risk of bleeding in
2 days between 2 and 4%)
Abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery
Any major surgery (duration> 45 minutes)
Bilateral knee prosthesis surgery
Endoscopically guided fine needle aspiration
procedures
Renal biopsy
Laminectomy
Urologic, head and neck, abdominal, neurosurgery,
breast cancer
Polypectomy, esophageal varices, biliary
sphincterotomy, pneumatic dilatation
Transurethral resection of the prostate
Low risk (greater risk of
bleeding in 2 days between 0 and 2%)
Abdominal hernioplasty
Abdominal hysterectomy
Dissection of axillary nodule
Bronchoscopy with or without biopsy
Carpal tunnel surgery
Ophthalmic surgery
Removal of central venous catheter
Cholecystectomy
Skin, bladder, prostate, breast, thyroid, and lymph
node biopsies
Dilation and curettage
Gastrointestinal endoscopy, with or without biopsy,
enteroscopy, biliary or pancreatic stent without
sphincterotomy
Hemorrhoid surgery
Hydrocele surgery
Prosthesis surgery of knee or hip, hand, shoulder,
foot, and arthroscopy
Non-coronary angiography
Extractions and other dental surgeries
In addition to assessment of the risk of bleeding based on the type of surgical
procedure, there are clinical conditions inherent to each patient that may
confer a greater risk of bleeding. There are scores that can quantify the risk
of bleeding based on the clinical features of patients undergoing antiplatelet
therapy, such as the HAS-BLED score, which is summarized in chart 11.
382
A HAS-BLED score ≥ 3 is associated to
higher risk of bleeding (HR 11.8, 95% CI 5.6-24.9).
Chart 11
Components of the HAS-BLED bleeding score
Letter
Clinical features*
Points
H
Hypertension (uncontrolled blood pressure)
1
A
Abnormal kidney and liver function (1 point
each)
1 or 2
S
Stroke
1
B
Tendency or predisposition to Bleeding
1
L
Labile INR (for patients taking warfarin)
1
E
Age > 65 years (Elderly)
1
D
Drugs (concomitant use of aspirin or NSAIDs) or
alcoholism (1 point each)
1 or 2
*
Hypertension is defined as systolic BP > 160 mmHg. Abnormal kidney
function is defined by the presence of chronic dialysis or renal
transplantation or serum creatinine > 2.26 mg/dL. Abnormal liver
function is defined as chronic liver disease (cirrhosis) or
biochemical evidence of significant liver dysfunction (bilirubin 2
times above the upper normal value, associated with liver enzymes
three times higher than the normal upper value). Tendency or
predisposition to bleeding is defined as history of previous
bleeding or predisposition to bleeding (anemia, hemorrhagic
diathesis). Labile INR refers to high INR, unstable, or within the
therapeutic level for a short time (< 60% of the time).
Drugs/alcoholism refers to the concomitant use of drugs, such as
antiplatelet agents and non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs.
NSAIDs: non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs. Modified table from
Lip et al.
383
I. Warfarin
380,384
Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist; its anticoagulant effect takes days to
disappear (half-life from 36 to 42 hours) and may require similar time to
reach adequate levels after surgery. Thus, patients at high risk for
thromboembolism may require “bridge therapy” with parenteral antiplatelet
agents, such as UFH and subcutaneous LMWHs. These two agents present faster
onset and a shorter half-life, which would allow the possibility of
suspending warfarin as close to the surgical procedure as possible,
minimizing thromboembolic risk as much as possible.
Since the metabolism of warfarin may be influenced by several factors, such
as patient age, renal function, and drug interactions, the INR should be
measured on the day before surgery to ensure that it is <1.5. If the INR
is >1.5, reverse it with oral vitamin K administration (1 to 2 mg) and
re-evaluate it the following day.
The decision to suspend or not to suspend warfarin before the surgical
procedure will depend on the combined analysis of thromboembolic risk (Table 4), risk
of bleeding (Chart 11), and the patient’s own
risk.
I. B. Patients with Moderate Risk of Thromboembolism
There is little evidence on the best course of action in patients with
moderate risk of thromboembolism regarding whether to use or not to use
bridge therapy. Thus, the choice should be based on the individual
characteristics of each patient and the proposed surgery. Whether the
patient requires bridge therapy is decided by the attending physician.
I. D. Urgent or Emergency Procedures
385
The therapeutic measures used for the reversal of oral anticoagulation with
warfarin will depend on how quickly normalization of prothrombin time,
measured by the INR, is reached. For surgeries that can wait 18-24 hours,
suspension of warfarin associated with intravenous vitamin K1 at a dose of
2.5-5 mg usually normalizes the INR when it is within the therapeutic
range.
380
If rapid normalization of INR is needed, it is necessary to replace the
deficient coagulation factors with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and prothrombin
complex concentrate. The Resolution - RDC No. 10 of January 23, 2004 from
the Brazillian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) states that “for the
correction of hemorrhage due to coumarin antiplatelet agents or rapid
reversal of the effects of coumarins”, the product of choice is the
prothrombin complex. As this type of concentrate is not yet broadly
available in Brazilian hospitals, the use of FFP is an acceptable
alternative.
386
For the FFP, the recommended dose is 15 mL/kg of body weight and volume
overload should be avoided.
387
No standard procedure has been established for the
prothrombin concentrate. Table 5
shows the doses used in health services in the United Kingdom. However,
regardless of what is used to replace vitamin K-dependent factors, using
vitamin K1 (2.5-5.0 mg, oral or slow venous administration) is necessary to
maintain normal prothrombin values during the preoperative period.
380
Table 5
Dose of prothrombin complex concentrate to be administered for
reversal of anticoagulation according to the INR
INR
Dose based on factor IX
2.0-3.9
25 U/kg
4.0-5.9
35 U/kg
≥ 6.0
50 U/kg
II. Dabigatran
375,384,388-391
Dabigatran is an anticoagulant drug that acts as a direct inhibitor of
thrombin, reversibly blocking the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin (factor
IIa). It is a drug that acts rapidly. Its concentration peaks after 30-120
minutes. Dabigatran has a half-life of 12-17 hours and is predominantly
renally excreted (80%).
This drug is approved for preventing stroke in patients with non-valvular AF,
in the treatment of VTE (DVT/PE), and for the prevention of recurrent VTE
and VTE in major orthopedic surgeries. However, its use is not authorized
for the prevention of arterial thromboembolism in patients with mechanical
valve prostheses. Because of its rapid action and shorter half-life, there
is no need for bridge therapy associated with this drug.
One of the concerns associated with the use of dabigatran is the lack of
specific antidotes until recently. The available possibilities were limited
to the use of the prothrombin complex and hemodialysis, which had limited
success. The first antidote for thrombin inhibitors (dabigatran), the
idarucizumab, was FDA approved in the USA in October 2015. Idarucizumab
completely reversed the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran in phase I and
phase III studies. Another promising agent under study is Arapazine
(PER-977), which has been shown to reverse the anticoagulant action of
dabigatran, as well as rivaroxaban, apixaban, and LMWH.
392
III. Rivaroxaban
375,384,388,389,391
Rivaroxaban is a drug that acts as a factor Xa inhibitor, blocking its
enzymatic function of converting prothrombin to thrombin. It is also a
fast-acting substance. Its concentration peaks after 2-4 hours and has a
short half-life (5-9 hours in young people and 11-13 hours in the elderly).
This drug undergoes liver metabolism and renal excretion (66%).
Rivaroxaban is approved for the prevention of stroke in patients with
non-valvular AF, in the treatment of VTE (DVT/PE), in the prevention of
recurrent VTE, and in the prevention of VTE in major orthopedic surgeries.
However, its use is not authorized for the prevention of arterial
thromboembolism in patients with mechanical valve prostheses. Since it is
fast-acting and has a shorter half-life, there is no need for bridge therapy
associated with this drug.
In the past, only the prothrombin complex was available to reverse the effect
of rivaroxaban since there were no specific antidotes available. Currently,
Andexanet alfa (PRT064445) is a specific antidote against factor Xa
inhibitors. It shows a rapid reversal of the anticoagulant effect of
apixaban and rivaroxaban in minutes, as observed in two recent parallel
phase III studies, ANEXA-A and ANEEXA-R, respectively. Currently, ANNEXA-4,
a phase IV study, is being performed. Another promising agent under study is
Arapazine (PER-977), which shows an effect in reversing the anticoagulant
action of dabigatran, as well as rivaroxaban, apixaban, and LMWH.
392
IV. Apixaban
375,388,389,391
Apixaban is also a factor Xa inhibitor that blocks the conversion of
prothrombin to thrombin. It has a rapid onset of action. Its concentration
peaks after 3 hours and has a short half-life (8-15 hours). This drug
undergoes liver metabolism and renal (27%) and fecal excretion. Apixaban is
approved for the prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular AF,
prevention of VTE in major orthopedic surgeries, and treatment of DVT and
PE. Its use is not authorized for the prevention of arterial thromboembolism
in patients with mechanical valve prostheses. Due to its rapid onset of
action and shorter half-life, there is no need for bridge therapy associated
with this drug.
Currently, Andexanet alfa (PRT064445) is the specific antidote against factor
Xa inhibitors. It shows a rapid reversal of the anticoagulant effect of
apixaban and rivaroxaban in minutes, as observed in two recent parallel
phase III studies, ANNEXA-A and ANEEXA-R, respectively. A phase IV study,
ANNEXA-4, is underway. Another promising agent under study is Arapazine
(PER-977), which shows an effect in reversing the anticoagulant action of
dabigatran, as well as rivaroxaban, apixaban, and LMWH.
392
V. Edoxaban
393
Edoxaban is also a factor Xa inhibitor. It has a rapid onset of action. Its
concentration peaks in 1-2 hours. This drug has a short half-life (10-14
hours) and undergoes renal (50%) and biliary and intestinal (50%) excretion.
Edoxaban is indicated for the prevention of arterial thromboembolic
phenomena in patients with non-valvular AF and in the treatment of DVT or
PE, but it has not yet been released in Brazil.
At present, there are no studies investigating specific antidotes for
edoxaban. An option would be to use the prothrombin complex for the
occurrence of bleeding that necessitates the reversal of its effect. Because
it is the newest oral anticoagulant, studies evaluating its use in the
perioperative period are very limited.
In principle, the most accepted approach is interruption of edoxaban 24 hours
before surgeries with low risk of bleeding and interruption 48-72 hours
before surgeries associated with high risk of bleeding (Chart 10).
E) Prophylaxis of Infective Endocarditis
Despite advances in health care, infective endocarditis remains a disease of high
morbidity and mortality.
394,395
In the last decades, we have
witnessed major debates on which strategies are truly effective in reducing its
prevalence.
The main cause for the occurrence of endocarditis is endothelial lesion due to
cardiac anatomic predisposition. Consequently, there is deposition of platelets
and fibrin in the endocardium, generating non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis.
The presence of circulating microorganisms in the bloodstream may result in
infective endocarditis. Other predisposing factors are the presence of vascular
devices and/or infectious agent of high virulence. These can cause the disease
even in individuals with a structurally normal heart.
395
Bacteria are the most common etiological
agents. Thus, several studies have evaluated the risk of spontaneous bacteremia
related to routine activities and invasive procedures.
I. Dental Procedures
Early studies correlated dental extraction with the presence of transient
bacteremia.
396,397
Others indicated that
endodontic and periodontal manipulation may lead to similar levels of
bacteremia.
398-400
Based on this,
experimental animal models confirmed the reduction of bacteremia after
dental manipulation with the use of prophylactic antibiotic
therapy.
401,402
Since then, this
recommendation has been established for individuals with an anatomical
predisposition to endocarditis.
More recently, the impact of prophylaxis on the prevention of endocarditis
has been questioned. Clinical trials showed a low prevalence of infectious
endocarditis (IE) presumably related to dental treatments, ranging from 2.7
to 13%.
403-405
Moreover, it has been
shown that daily activities, such as mastication, tooth brushing, and
flossing are related to transient bacteremia.
400,406-409
Other
arguments against the use of prophylaxis are risk of anaphylaxis associated
with the use of penicillin, efficacy proven only in experimental studies,
and possibility of induction of bacterial resistance.
408,410
Based on these arguments, the recommendation not to use prophylaxis for
endocarditis has been instituted in the United Kingdom by the National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) since 2008.
411
In France, prophylaxis
has been recommended for high-risk individuals only since 2002.
412
The same recommendation
has been made by the American Heart Association (AHA) since 2007
413
and the European Society
of Cardiology (ESC) since 2009.
414
The population considered to be at high risk is
composed of individuals with a greater chance of developing complications
and die due to illness (severe IE risk conditions). The individuals
described in chart 12 are considered
at risk of IE.
413,414
Chart 12
Patients with infectious endocarditis risk
Severe IE Risk Conditions
Valve heart prosthesis
Valvular heart disease corrected with
prosthetic material
History of infective endocarditis
Uncorrected cyanogenic congenital heart
disease
Congenital cardiomyopathy corrected with
prosthetic material (first 6 months)
Corrected cyanogenic congenital cardiomyopathy
with residual lesion
Valvular heart disease in a transplanted
cardiac patient
Other risk conditions for IE
Valvular heart disease (mild, moderate, or
severe)*
*
In case of prolapse of mitral valve, only if moderate or severe
valve insufficiency is present. IE: infectious endocarditis.
Recent observational studies have shown no increase in the number of
endocarditis following recommendations for prophylaxis in high-risk
individuals in France and the United States.
415-417
However, an observational study in the United Kingdom
showed an increase in the incidence of infective endocarditis since the NICE
recommendations in 2008.
418
In this country, a study performed in 2012 revealed
that most cardiologists and cardiac surgeons believed that prophylaxis
should be performed in cases of valve prosthesis and previous
endocarditis.
419
In the USA, following the new AHA recommendations in 2007, one study showed
an increase in the incidence of hospitalizations for streptococcal
endocarditis.
420
On the other hand, the limitations imposed on observational cohorts should
be considered.
Considering that most patients with valvular heart disease in Brazil present
characteristics different from those currently observed in the USA and
European countries (young people with rheumatic sequelae and higher
lethality due to endocarditis) and the lack of prophylaxis studies in
Brazil, prophylaxis is recommended for patients with native valve injury,
although they do not have a valve prosthesis. Another difference of our
population compared to the American and European populations is the higher
prevalence of individuals with low access to health care and therefore with
lower dental hygiene and higher risk of bacteremia after invasive dental
procedures.
400,421
Although cited in the international literature, a significant adverse effect
of antimicrobial therapy is a rare event. Therefore, use of prophylaxis for
endocarditis is recommended prior to dental procedures involving the
manipulation of gingival tissue, periodontal region, or oral mucosa
perforation (Chart 13) for all
individuals with anatomically relevant valve disease (Chart 12). The antibiotic should
be given as a single
dose 30-60 minutes before the procedure (Table 6).
Chart 13
Dental procedures and indication for prophylaxis of infective
endocarditis
Prophylaxis indicated
For patients scheduled for procedures
involving manipulation of gingival tissue, periodontal
region, or perforation of the oral mucosa
Prophylaxis not
indicated
Local anesthesia in uninfected tissue
Dental radiography
Placement, adjustments, or removal of
orthodontic appliances
Natural fall of baby tooth
Bleeding from trauma to the oral mucosa or
lips
Table 6
Prophylaxis schemes before dental procedures
Route of administration
Antibiotic
Adult dose
Child dose
Oral
Amoxicillin
2 g
50 mg/kg
Allergy to penicillin
Clindamycin
600 mg
20 mg/kg
Cephalexin
2 g
50 mg/kg
Azithromycin
500 mg
15 mg/kg
Clarithromycin
500 mg
15 mg/kg
Parenteral (IV or IM)
Ampicillin
2 g
50 mg/kg
Cefazolin
1 g
50 mg/kg
Ceftriaxone
1 g
50 mg/kg
Allergy to penicillin
Clindamycin
600 mg
20 mg/kg
Cefazolin
1 g
50 mg/kg
Ceftriaxone
1 g
50 mg/kg
It should be noted that infective endocarditis is a more frequent result of
bacteremia from daily activities than after dental procedures. There is no
doubt that maintaining good oral health is the best strategy to prevent
endocarditis. In individuals with periodontal and endodontic diseases, the
incidence and magnitude of bacteremia in daily care and during procedures
are higher compared to individuals with healthy teeth.
421
Thus, we recommend
emphasizing daily dental care and biannual dental evaluation.
II. Respiratory Tract Procedures
Patients submitted to an incision or biopsy of the respiratory tract mucosa,
such as otorhinolaryngological surgeries, should receive an antibiotic
treatment scheme similar to the one used before dental treatment with high
risk of bacteremia. There is no recommendation for prophylaxis for
bronchoscopy, laryngoscopy, and orotracheal intubation. For infection
treatments, such as abscess drainage, antibiotic prophylaxis with
antistreptococcal action should also be administered.
414
III. Genitourinary and Gastrointestinal Tract Procedures
Despite limited evidence, it is believed that patients at high risk for
infective endocarditis (Chart 12)
would probably benefit from prophylaxis before genitourinary or
gastrointestinal procedures. Patients with non-high-risk valvular heart
disease may also benefit from prophylaxis before these procedures (Chart 12). The
recommended antibiotic
treatment scheme for this group is in table
7.
Table 7
Prophylaxis schemes before genitourinary and gastrointestinal
procedures
Antibiotic
Adult dose
Child dose
Venous ampicillin* +
2 g
50 mg/kg
Venous gentamicin
1,5 mg/kg
1,5 mg/kg
Allergy to penicillin:
Venous vancomycin +
1 g
20 mg/kg
Venous gentamicin
1,5 mg/kg
1,5 mg/kg
*
Reinforcement with venous ampicillin 1 g 6h after the
procedure.
IV. Dermatological and Skeletal Muscle Procedures
For treatment of infections, such as abscess drainage, antibiotic prophylaxis
should be administered with antistaphylococcal and antistreptococcal
action.
414
V. Piercing and Tattooing
The number of reports of infective endocarditis related to piercing and
tattooing has increased, mainly associated with tongue piercing, but the
risk was not estimated.
422
Therefore, patients should be warned about this
risk.
F) Surveillance for Cardiovascular Complications
Early detection of cardiovascular events is critical to reduce mortality after
noncardiac surgeries. MI can occur in the absence of chest pain and is thus
necessary to develop monitoring strategies for its diagnosis.
ST-segment monitoring, serial 12-lead ECG, and measurement of cardiac troponin
levels are methods used to monitor complications. Studies evaluating the use of
continuous ST-segment monitoring have shown that this method has a large
sensitivity (between 55 and 100%) and specificity (between 37 and 85%) range for
the detection of perioperative ischemia (intra- and postoperatively) because its
effectiveness depends on the technique used and the baseline features of the
population.
423-426
The occurrence of
postoperative ischemia detected with continuous monitoring in patients submitted
to vascular surgeries has prognostic implication and is an independent predictor
of long-term cardiovascular events.
427,428
However,
since measurement of perioperative troponin levels (a simpler test) became
available, the use of automatic monitoring for diagnosis and prognosis of
perioperative myocardial ischemia has been discontinued. It has not been studied
further and is therefore not recommended.
In the absence of electrocardiographic changes or clinical condition suggestive
of ischemia or echocardiographic changes compatible with MI, increases in
conventional troponin levels following noncardiac surgeries is associated with a
higher rate of cardiovascular events in the short and long term, as shown in
several studies.
428-433
In a meta-analysis of
patients submitted to vascular surgeries in 2011, the authors demonstrated that
increases in TnI levels postoperatively without MI features was a mortality
predictor in a period of 30 days, with a mortality rate of 11.6%. Patients with
normal troponin levels and patients with MI had mortality rates of 2.3% and
21.6%, respectively.
434
In
2012, in the VISION study involving 15,133 patients, the authors demonstrated a
significant association between the peak of fourth-generation troponin T (TnT)
and mortality rate in a period of 30 days.
305
Although there is no sufficient evidence regarding the
best strategy to manage cases of increase in troponin levels, we recommend
performing a non-invasive or invasive complementary investigation with cardiac
risk stratification based on the specific evaluation of the cardiologist before
hospital discharge.
The use of hs-Tn kits significantly improved the accuracy to rapidly confirm or
exclude diagnosis of MI in patients with chest pain in the emergency
room.
100,435
However, its interpretation
is still a challenge in the perioperative period. Since 2011, observational
studies have evaluated the behavior of hs-TnT in the postoperative period. The
studies found an increase of hs-TnT levels above the 99th percentile (14 ng/L)
in 45-60% of patients after noncardiac surgeries.
103,104,106,107
In some studies, this increase is related to mortality
in the long term.
103
Recently, a study correlated the increase of hs-TnT with noncardiac
complications in a period of 30 days after abdominal surgeries.
436
Only one study with 135 patients investigated the hs-TnI in the perioperative
period. The authors observed a correlation between increases in hs-TnI levels
and mortality.
437
To date,
the relevance of isolated increases in hs-Tn levels in the postoperative period
remains uncertain. Several conditions may be related to a baseline (chronic)
increase in hs-Tn, such as advanced age, HF, CAD, valve diseases, chronic renal
failure, or other chronic noncardiac diseases. Therefore, hs-Tn should be dosed
preoperatively to determine its baseline value (see item 3.E.I). Even so, no
reference value has been established for the value of the variation (delta) that
correlates with cardiovascular events or mortality.
438
Whether an increase in perioperative hs-TnT
is related only to general mortality or cardiovascular events is difficult to
differentiate. Thus, it is harder in clinical practice to determine whether
performing additional cardiovascular risk stratification measures will improve
the prognosis of the patients.
On the other hand, whenever the patient shows increased troponin levels alone,
alternative diagnoses that may lead to increases in troponin and are frequent in
the perioperative period, such as pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), acute
pericarditis, decompensated HF, arrhythmias, myocarditis, sepsis, shock, or
renal failure, should be avoided.
439
We recommend the use of the flowchart shown in figure 2 for the evaluation of patients
with
hs-Tn levels above the 99th percentile after surgery.
Figure 2
Flowchart for the evaluation of patients with hs-Tn in the
postoperative period
Most cardiovascular events occur until the third postoperative day. The use of
serial 12-lead ECG during this period is a simple and effective method for
detecting events. In a study involving 3,564 patients more than 50 years old,
detection of ischemia using postoperative ECG is an independent predictor of
cardiovascular events. However, a negative ECG for ischemia does not reduce the
risk of events.
440
In another
study comparing serial ECG with 3-lead Holter in 55 patients submitted to
vascular surgeries, the ECG is as effective as the Holter for detecting
myocardial ischemia.
441
Troponin dosage associated with serial ECG until the third postoperative period
is the best strategy for the diagnosis of MI.
442
Notably, these ECG studies were performed
before the availability of highly sensitive troponins.
8. Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Complications in the Perioperative
Period
A) Acute Coronary Syndromes in the Perioperative
MI is the most feared cardiac complication in the perioperative period, occurring
in 0.3-3% of low-risk patients with no history of CAD and reaching 33% in
high-risk patients with a history of CAD.
69
MI shows high mortality rates (40-50%),
443
probably related to the
existence of comorbidities, diagnostic difficulty, and limitations to use of
antithrombotic and antiplatelet drugs. About 50% of perioperative MI is due to
instability of atherosclerosis plaques, and the remainder is due to imbalances
between supply and consumption of oxygen,
68
which should be considered not only in acute treatment
but also in the establishment of prevention strategies.
Although clinical consequences of perioperative MI are extremely serious,
diagnosis is often not obvious and requires a high degree of clinical suspicion.
Most perioperative ischemic events occur within the first three days after the
surgical procedure. The classic clinical feature of precordial pain is absent in
more than half of the patients,
68,69,444
which is partially explained
by the residual effect of analgesics or sedatives used in that period. In
addition, when chest pain is present, it is often attributed to other more
obvious etiologies, such as incisional pain or position of the patient. Other
manifestations, such as dyspnea and nausea, have alternative explanations in
this period (atelectasis, medication effect). Thus, perioperative MI is
frequently undervalued by the medical team. Since it is difficult to interpret
the clinical findings, analysis of complementary tests is fundamental for the
diagnosis of perioperative myocardial ischemia. Among these, the ECG, the
markers of myocardial necrosis, and the transthoracic echocardiogram should be
considered.
Regarding the analysis of ECG, ischemic alterations should be distinguished from
other causes of ECG alterations, such as electrolytic imbalances, hypothermia,
drug effects, and incorrect positioning of the leads. Evolutionary pattern
should also be considered in the analysis of ECG. It is important to compare the
changes in the traces before and after the event.
Among the markers of myocardial necrosis, troponin is undoubtedly the most used
due to its high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of myocardial
injury. However, this marker is increased in other situations of myocardial
injury, in addition to the one caused by obstructive coronary disease. Other
complications commonly present in the postoperative period of noncardiac
surgeries are pulmonary embolism, HF, arrhythmias, and sepsis, which also
increase the levels of markers of myocardial necrosis and should be considered
in the differential diagnosis. In addition, patients with renal failure commonly
present increases in troponin levels, particularly TnT, but show a steady
evolutionary behavior without the typical increase and decrease pattern of MI.
On the other hand, CKMB dosage is less useful for the diagnosis of perioperative
MI because of its lower sensitivity and specificity compared to troponin. This
marker may increase after skeletal muscle injury during surgery, and its
relationship with CPK has low reliability in the identification of perioperative
myocardial injury.
428
Transthoracic echocardiography is an important tool for the diagnosis. Although a
normal test does not exclude the diagnosis, presence of a new alteration in
segmental contractility in patients with suspected myocardial ischemia
corroborates the diagnosis. It can also provide indirect data for alternative
diagnoses, such as pulmonary embolism and non-ischemic HF.
It is important to note that analysis of isolated data cannot confirm or exclude
the diagnosis of perioperative myocardial ischemia. Although recent publications
define very clearly the criteria for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction,
perioperative MI remains without well-defined criteria.
445
The diagnostic strategy
proposed by this guideline for the identification of patients with perioperative
MI is presented in figure 3.
Figure 3
Strategy for the diagnosis of perioperative MI. ECG:
Electrocardiogram.
In 2014, the authors of this study proposed prognostic criteria for patients with
isolated troponin increases postoperatively based on data from the VISION
study.
446
Patients
were diagnosed if they presented increases in fourth-generation TnT above the
99th percentile (30 ng/L) without another alternative diagnosis that could
explain this result. Although the authors did not use the universal definition
of MI, they created the first prognostic score for these patients. They found
that age above 75 years (1 point), presence of anterior wall ischemia on ECG (1
point), and alterations in ST-segment (2 points) are independent predictors of
mortality in a period of 30 days (Table
8).
446
Table 8
30-day mortality risk score in patients with isolate increase in troponin
levels
Score
Mortality (%)
0
6
1
9.4
2
22.1
3
29.4
4
62.5
Despite the frequency and prognostic importance, data in the literature are
limited with regard to the treatment of perioperative myocardial ischemia. Most
of the interventions represent extrapolations of well-established data for acute
coronary syndromes not related to surgical procedures. However, all therapeutic
strategies require measures that lead to an increased risk of postoperative
bleeding. Thus, individualized measures and constant interaction with the
surgical team are required.
The treatment of MI with no alterations in ST-segment (most cases of
perioperative MI) initially requires correction of triggering factors and may
perpetuate the ischemic process. Correction of anemia, hypovolemia, and pressure
oscillations is the primary measure to be considered in this situation. To
achieve consistency with the pathophysiology of the event, stabilization of the
coronary plaque should be considered an important measure in the treatment. The
extrapolated recommendations for the treatment of spontaneous acute coronary
syndrome, antiplatelet treatment with ASA and clopidogrel, and anticoagulation
with UFH or LMWH are used.
447
However, one should always weigh the risk of bleeding and the benefit of
anticoagulation. Despite the absence of randomized studies in the perioperative
period, it is prudent to give preference to UFH in cases of increased risk of
bleeding because its effect can be quickly reversed in cases of bleeding.
Patients of higher ischemic risk, i.e., those more than 75 years or with
anterior wall ischemia on the ECG or clinical or hemodynamic instability, should
be referred for early invasive strategy and revascularization. The remaining
patients should be submitted to stratification before discharge. Such practice
is fundamental to control the alarming morbidity and mortality in the short and
long term.
69,448
MI with ST-segment alterations occurs in a minority of cases and presupposes
total occlusion of the coronary artery, requiring immediate intervention. In
contrast to MI not related to surgical interventions, thrombolytic therapy is
strongly contraindicated in the perioperative period because of prohibitive risk
of bleeding. Thus, coronary angiography with primary PCI is the treatment of
choice for these patients. This strategy is safe and feasible in those patients
considered to be without contraindications to heparin and antiplatelet therapy,
which are required during and after the procedure, respectively.
69,449
B) Acute Atrial Fribrilation/Flutter
In the perioperative period, patients may present a variable risk of developing
AF. The definition is based on the risk factors of the patient (male gender,
advanced age, presence of cardiovascular comorbidities) and type of surgery
(thoracic, mainly esophageal and lung surgeries). The reasons for higher
occurrence of AF in thoracic surgeries are elevated levels of catecholamines,
hypervolemia, right ventricular overload, pericarditis, and marked systemic
inflammatory response.
The incidence of AF in the perioperative period of noncardiac surgeries (POAF)
varies with the characteristics of the patients and the type of surgery. The
incidence can vary from 3% in adults > 45 years up to 30% in thoracic
surgeries. It usually presents between the second and fourth postoperative
days.
450
High
ventricular response AF is the most common presentation and may compromise
hemodynamics, which may result in hypotension, HF, and myocardial
infarction.
451
The
triggering factors of atrial arrhythmia are increased sympathetic activity
caused by surgical stress, pain, and anemia, in addition to hypotension and hypo
or hypervolemia. Hypoxia also causes AF due to vasoconstriction of the pulmonary
veins and increases in right atrial pressure and atrial myocardial
ischemia.
452
Atrial flutter (FLU) may have the same mechanism of AF but may also occur only
due to autonomic imbalance, similar to other paroxysmal supraventricular
tachycardias. Due to association with cardioembolic events and hemodynamic
impairment as in AF, FLU can be diagnosed and managed in a similar manner.
Diagnosis is performed using 12-lead ECG or detection on a cardiac monitor for
more than 30 seconds.
450
The
initial measure for AF/FLU is to identify the triggering factors and to correct
them early. Most POAFs have spontaneous reversal in 24 hours. If arrhythmia
persists, the initial aim is to control the heart rate, which may remain between
80 and 110 bpm or up to 120 and 130 bpm according to clinical decision
(hemodynamic stability and transient situations of increased adrenergic stress).
The most commonly used medications for heart rate control are metoprolol,
diltiazem, and digoxin (or deslanosid C, if only the venous route is
available).
453
Digital use requires slow titration, adequate electrolytic control (calcium,
potassium, and magnesium), and monitoring renal function or, in specific cases,
digoxinemia. Its efficacy may be compromised by the degree of sympathetic
activity in the perioperative period. Diltiazem should not be used in patients
with hypotension or with ventricular dysfunction because of its negative
inotropic effect. In these patients, the use of β-blockers is
preferred.
452,454
Some studies indicated the
use of venous magnesium or chloride sulfate, which can reverse arrhythmia
because of its effect on T- and L-type calcium channels by reducing atrial
automatism and heart rate control (inhibition of AV conduction), with a lower
hypotensive or inotropic negative effect.
455
During the surgical period, patients present hypercoagulability associated with
the risk of bleeding. Thus, most consensuses recommend anticoagulation for the
prevention of arterial embolism only after 48 hours of persistent
arrhythmia.
452,454
Clinical scores used to
determine the risk of ischemic event and bleeding were not evaluated in the
perioperative period. However, the American directive of 2014 recommends the
routine use of CHA2DS2-VASC scores for embolic risk and HAS-BLED for bleeding
risk.
454
Considering
surgical recovery, anemia, hemodynamic stability, and surgical wound, special
attention should be given to the risk of bleeding.
C) Acute Heart Failure
The influence of chronic HF on perioperative risk is well known, with an increase
in death of 63% and a readmission rate of 51% in a period of 30 days, compared
to patients with CAD but without HF.
126
However, publications on acute perioperative HF in
noncardiac surgeries are limited. On the other hand, when HF has recently been
diagnosed and it is possible to extrapolate that patients are at least
moderately symptomatic or with signs of congestion, there is a clear
recommendation for an elective surgery to be postponed until symptoms subside
and the reverse remodeling process begins (improvement of ventricular
dysfunction and reduction of diastolic volume), following administration and
optimization of drugs, such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor
blockers (ARBs) aldosterone antagonists, and β-blockers.
456
We can analyze the presence of acute HF through evaluation of natriuretic
peptides. Levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or amino terminal portion
of ProBNP (NT-proBNP) in the circulation increase when there is ventricular
dysfunction. They are particularly increased if ventricular wall tension or
fiber stretching exists and are therefore significantly increased in acute HF.
Mildly or moderately increased levels have already shown an important relation
with morbidity and mortality. In a study of 297 patients more than 50 years old
submitted to emergency procedures, Farzi et al.
457
observed a sevenfold increase in the risk of
cardiovascular events (nonfatal MI, acute HF, or cardiovascular death) during
hospitalization in patients with NT-proBNP above 1,740 mg/mL and patients with
NT-proBNP > 1,600 pg/mL showed a fourfold increase in the rate of combined
events. The importance of this study relies on the fact that high NT-proBNP
levels are compatible with the expected values in patients with acute HF
(usually > 1,800 pg/mL defines the patient with acute dyspnea of cardiac
cause). Another study evaluated patients with hip fracture submitted to
emergency surgery and analyzed the relationship between NT-proBNP and the risk
of death. High (> 2,370 pg/mL) and intermediate (806-2,370 pg/mL) NT-proBNP
levels are associated with a significantly higher mortality compared to patients
with low levels (< 806 pg/mL) - (15 vs. 11 vs. 2%, p = 0.04). In the long
term, mortality is also higher in these two groups (69% vs. 49% vs. 27%, p <
0.001).
458
Patients
with such increased levels of natriuretic peptides in the preoperative period
are probably no longer adequately compensated for HF at the time of surgery and
this may be one of the causes of postoperative acute HF.
A multicenter study compared 5,094 patients with worsening HF to 5,094 patients
without HF, paired by baseline characteristics, submitted to noncardiac surgery.
Worsening HF in the perioperative period was associated with a twofold increase
in mortality in a period of 30 days (p < 0.001), 1.5-fold increase in
postoperative morbidity (p < 0.001), increased risk of developing renal
failure, need for mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours, pneumonia,
cardiac arrest, unplanned intubation, sepsis, and urinary tract infection (all p
< 0.05). BNP or NT-proBNP was not evaluated in this series, and the incidence
of myocardial infarction was similar in both groups (p = 0.7).
459
Therefore, patients who are not compensated for HF should not be submitted to
elective surgeries because they have a very high risk of developing HF. Studies
evaluating the real incidence, cause, diagnosis, and treatment of acute
postoperative HF are required. Diagnosis of acute postoperative HF is clinical,
and the dosage of natriuretic peptides can be performed in cases of diagnostic
uncertainty. The echocardiogram should be performed to evaluate the presence of
basic structural heart disease. Treatment should be performed in the same manner
as that of acute HF outside the perioperative period. The possible causes of
acute postoperative HF are acute CAD, persistently positive perioperative water
balance volume overload, involuntary suspension of drugs used to treat chronic
HF, renal failure, infection, PTE, and arrhythmias, among others.
Among these causes, MI is more common in the first 72 hours of the postoperative
period.
69,444
It may manifest as acute HF
or acute pulmonary edema and not as chest pain.
446
MI should always be actively investigated
with ECG and serial troponin collection. The echocardiogram may also help in the
diagnosis by showing new changes in segmental contractility.
D) Venous Thromboembolism
I. Diagnosis of Venous Thromboembolism
DVT and PTE are two manifestations of the same disease, the venous
thromboembolism (VTE). There are clinical probability scores that can be
used for the diagnosis of VTE. One of the most used is the Wells score
(Table 9 for DVT and table 10 for PTE).
460,461
Table 9
Wells score for probability of deep venous thrombosis
Criteria
Points
Neoplasm
+1
Recent limb paralysis or immobilization
+1
In bed for >3 days or surgery <4
weeks
+1
Palpation pain of deep venous system
+1
Edema of the whole leg
+1
Difference >3 cm in calf diameter
+1
Asymmetrical compromised leg edema
+1
Dilation of superficial veins (affected
limb)
+1
Another alternative diagnosis more likely than
DVT
-2
Probability of DVT
Points
Low
0
Moderate
1 to 2
High
≥ 3
DVT: deep venous thrombosis.
Table 10
Wells score for probability of pulmonary thromboembolism
Criteria
Points
Previous VTE
1.5
Recent VTE
1.5
Malignancy
1.0
Hemoptysis
1.0
Heart rate >100 bpm
1.5
Signs of DVT
3.0
Most likely diagnosis
3.0
Probability of PTE
Points
Low
0 to 1
Moderate
2 to 6
High
≥7
VTE: venous thromboembolism; PTE: pulmonary thromboembolism.
I. A. Deep Venous Thrombosis
DVT of the lower limbs is subdivided into two categories, namely, distal
venous thrombosis (calf veins) and proximal vein (popliteal, femoral, or
iliac veins). Proximal venous thrombosis is the most commonly associated
with PTE. The diagnosis is performed with history and clinical examination
(edema, pain, and erythema involving the site) and confirmed by imaging
tests. The proposed flowchart for the diagnosis of DVT is shown in figure 4.
Figure 4
Flowchart for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis.
DVT: deep venous thrombosis.
Venous Doppler is the test of choice, with a positive predictive value of 94%
and has the advantage of being conducted at the bedside.462,463 However,
venous Doppler has limitations in detecting isolated thrombi in the iliac
veins and in the portion of the femoral vein in the adductor canal.
D-dimer dosage should not be used alone for the diagnosis of VTE. D-Dimer is
a product of fibrin degradation and is increased (> 500 ng/mL equivalent
units of fibrinogen) in virtually all VTE patients. However, this test has
high sensitivity and low specificity and may be increased in the elderly,
patients with neoplasms, renal failure, pregnancy, and patients recently
submitted to surgeries.
464
Iodinated contrast venography can be used when the venous Doppler cannot be
performed or gave an uncertain result. Venography can cause discomfort to
the patient, besides the greater difficulty in obtaining an adequate study.
It has an accuracy similar to the venous Doppler.
465
Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) has the same accuracy as contrast
venography (100% sensitivity and 96% specificity). Its major limitation is
the high cost, but it is an option when the patient has allergy to iodinated
contrast.
466
Angio-CT of the chest with PTE protocol allows visualization of the pulmonary
arteries and subdiaphragmatic deep veins, including the lower limbs, in the
same test without the need for additional doses of iodinated
contrast.
467
In
some studies, Angio-CT venography is comparable to venous Doppler for the
diagnosis of femoral-popliteal venous thrombosis.
468
However, to date, the use of Angio-CT
remains a potential test for simplifying the diagnosis of DVT. Future
studies are still required to establish its accuracy.
I. B. Pulmonary Thromboembolism
Acute PTE is a common and often fatal disease. Clinical evaluation and
diagnostic tests are required before the start of anticoagulation (Figure 5).
Figure 5
Flowchart for the diagnosis of PTE
PTE: pulmonary thromboembolism; Chest AngioCT: computed
tomography angiography of the chest. * Ventilation/perfusion
scintigraphy; contrasted pulmonary angiotomography; serial
Doppler of lower limbs; pulmonary angiography by nuclear
magnetic resonance.
The diagnosis is performed with history and physical examination, ranging
from the absence of symptoms to shock or sudden death. The most common
symptoms identified in the PIOPED II (Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary
Embolism Diagnosis II) study
469
are dyspnea (73%), pleuritic pain, and cough (37%).
Dyspnea is often sudden. Approximately 10% of patients present with symptoms
of pulmonary infarction, usually due to small and peripheral embolisms.
However, in a systematic review of 28 studies with a total of 5,233 patients
with DVT, one-third had asymptomatic PTE.
470
The incidence of shock is 8%. Massive PTE can be accompanied by right
ventricular failure, with increased jugular venous pressure, presence of a
third sound on the right side, cyanosis, and obstructive shock. However,
patients with severe PH and underlying cardiopulmonary diseases may present
shock with small PTE.
Complementary Tests
Arterial blood gas: this test is usually altered. However, it is
neither sensitive nor specific for the diagnosis of PTE. Hypoxemia is
present in 74% of cases.
BNP and troponin: they may be increased but are not sensitive or
specific tests for the diagnosis of PTE. They have prognostic implications,
being indicative of the severity of PTE.
D-dimer: D-dimer, as well as for DVT, is a sensitive but not
very specific test.
ECG: ECG alterations in patients with PTE are common, although
not specific. Tachycardia and ST-segment and T-wave alterations are the most
frequent findings (70% of cases of PTE). Classical alterations considered as
suggestive of PTE (S1 Q3 T3, right ventricular overload, and incomplete
right branch block) are not frequent (< 10%). Electrocardiographic
changes that are associated with a worse prognosis are atrial arrhythmias
(e.g., AF), bradycardia (< 50 bpm) or tachycardia (> 100 bpm), new
right branch block, Q waves in lower leads (DII, DIII, and aVF), ST-segment
changes in anterior wall, and T-wave and standard S1 Q3 T3 inversion.
Chest X-ray: Chest X-ray is a common test, but it has low
sensitivity and specificity. However, it can detect atelectasis or
parenchymal abnormalities (18-69%), pleural effusion (47%), and cardiomegaly
(> 50%). Peripheral wedge-shaped opacity in peripheral lung regions and
abrupt cut-off of pulmonary arterioles with distal hypoperfusion are rare
but are highly suspected of PTE. Chest X-ray may be normal in 12-22% of
patients with PTE.
Angio-CT with protocol for PTE: for most patients with PTE, it
is the selected diagnostic test due to its high sensitivity (> 90%) and
specificity (> 95%) for PTE, especially when associated with D-dimer
dosage,471 in patients with moderate to high probability. Demonstration of
filling failure in any branch of the pulmonary artery using contrast is a
diagnosis of PTE.
Ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy: this test is reserved
for patients with suspected PTE when Angio-CT is contraindicated (renal
insufficiency, creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min/m2, contrast
allergy, or morbid obesity) or when Angio-CT is inconclusive or negative,
but in disagreement with the high clinical suspicion. V/Q scintigraphy is a
sensitive test for the diagnosis of PTE, but it is not specific due to its
high incidence of false-positive results. Accuracy is higher when chest
X-ray is normal. V/Q scintigraphy is selected for the diagnosis of PTE
during pregnancy. A high probability V/Q scintigraphy is sufficient for the
diagnosis of PTE, whereas a normal scintigraphy is sufficient to exclude
PTE. Low or intermediate probabilities are not sufficient for diagnosis.
Pulmonary digital angiography with iodinated contrast: this test
was the historical gold standard for the diagnosis of PTE. With the
development of Angio-CT, it is reserved for patients with suspected PTE when
Angio-CT or V/Q scintigraphy is not conclusive. In a retrospective analysis
of 20 cases of the PIOPED II study,472 digital angiography was shown to be
less sensitive than Angio-CT for the diagnosis of small emboli. It has
morbidity of 5% and mortality of < 2%. Exposure to radiation is greater
than in Angio-CT. Demonstration of filling failure and abrupt cut-off of
pulmonary arterial vessel are diagnoses of embolization.
Pulmonary angiography by nuclear magnetic resonance: this test
is not very sensitive (77-84%). It is reserved for cases in which other
methods cannot be performed.
Echocardiogram: this test does not diagnose PTE. However,
presumptive diagnosis can be performed using the echocardiogram in patients
with high clinical suspicion and hemodynamic instability. Approximately
30-40% of patients with PTE have echocardiographic changes, indicative of
right ventricular overload, especially in those with massive PTE, such as
right ventricular dilatation, right ventricular dysfunction, and tricuspid
insufficiency.
II. Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism
There is limited evidence for the best treatment for venous thromboembolism
in the perioperative period. This is because surgeries may have different
bleeding risks, clinical situations may be extremely heterogeneous, and
conventional therapy may not be the most appropriate after a specific
surgical procedure. Thus, we will present the usual recommended treatment,
regardless of the perioperative context, but it is important to customize
the decisions in conjunction with the surgeon.
The main pillar of venous thromboembolism treatment (deep vein thrombosis and
PTE) is anticoagulant therapy, which should be a long-term therapy, with a
duration of at least 3 months.
380
However, there are clinical situations that
require the use of anticoagulant therapy for longer periods, which has
become known as extended anticoagulant therapy and implies its use for an
indefinite period.
380
II. A. Selection of Anticoagulant
Several recent studies have examined the efficacy of new anticoagulants in
acute and long-term treatment of VTE and compared to warfarin. These studies
showed that the reduction in the risk of recurrence of VTE is similar with
both therapies, including cancer patients.
473-477
The reduction in the risk of recurrence of VTE with
the different new anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and
edoxaban) is not directly compared among them, but it appeared to be equally
effective based on indirect comparisons.
477
In fact, in the recommendations, the
order of the new anticoagulants cited in the text refers to the chronology
of the publication of the phase III studies on VTE and is not the order of
preference.
The new anticoagulants have lower bleeding rates and provide greater
convenience for patients and health professionals in relation to fixed dose.
They have less drug and food interactions and do not require serial blood
tests to ensure a specific therapeutic range. Given these advantages, the
new anticoagulants are now preferred compared to warfarin for initial and
long-term treatments of VTE in patients without cancer.
In cancer patients, a recent randomized study compared the use of LMWH
(tinzaparin) and warfarin for the treatment of 900 cancer patients with DVT
during the first 6 months. The study demonstrated that LMWH is more
effective than warfarin, without alterations in death rates and major
bleeding.
478
Other studies have also shown that the reduction of the risk of recurrence
of VTE in cancer patients is higher with the use of LMWH compared to
warfarin.
479,480
Therefore, warfarin is preferentially used in patients with VTE without
cancer and LMWH in patients with VTE and cancer. No study has directly
compared the new anticoagulants and LMWH in cancer patients. However, based
on indirect comparisons, LMWH appears to be more effective than the new
anticoagulants in patients with VTE and cancer.
479
It is important to emphasize that parenteral anticoagulation was given before
the use of dabigatran and edoxaban in previous studies. It was not used
prior to rivaroxaban and apixaban. It was used before and for a period with
warfarin until the desired INR was reached.
II. B. Duration of the Anticoagulant Therapy
The studies that determined the appropriate duration of treatment for VTE
basically compared four treatment duration options: 4 or 6 weeks; 3 months;
more than 3 months, although limited to 6 to 12 months; and extended or
indefinite duration therapy. These four treatment duration protocols were
tested in different available studies in four profiles of VTE patients with
different estimates of recurrence risk after suspending anticoagulant
therapy:
(1) VTE caused by surgery (major transient risk factor with 3% recurrence in
5 years);
481
(2) VTE
caused by a transient non-surgical risk factor (estrogen therapy, pregnancy,
lower limb lesions, flights > 8 hours, with a risk of recurrence of 15%
in 5 years); (3) idiopathic VTE with no transient risk factors or cancer
(30% recurrence in 5 years);
482,483
(4)
VTE associated with cancer (15% annual recurrence).
484,485
Another important factor that guides the duration of anticoagulant therapy in
VTE is the risk of bleeding that can be categorized as low (absence of risk
factors for bleeding, with a 0.8% annual risk for major bleeding), moderate
(one risk factor for bleeding, with a 1.6% annual risk for major bleeding),
or high (two or more risk factors for bleeding, with a ≥6.5% annual
risk for major bleeding). The risk factors for bleeding during anticoagulant
therapy are described in chart
14.
486
Chart 14
Risk factors for bleeding during anticoagulant therapy
Age > 65 years
Age > 75 years
Previous bleeding
Cancer
Metastatic cancer
Renal failure
Hepatic failure
Thrombocytopenia
Previous stroke
Diabetes mellitus
Anemia
Antiplatelet therapy
Poor anticoagulant control
Comorbidity and reduction of functional
capacity
Recent surgery
Alcoholism
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
It is important to note that for all patients using extended or indefinite
anticoagulant therapy, treatment should be reassessed at least annually.
II. C. When and How to Prescribe Anticoagulants in Patients With Distal
Dvt of The Lower Limbs
It is still unclear whether the benefits of anticoagulation outweigh the
risks of anticoagulant treatment for distal isolated DVT because of the low
risk of progression and recurrence of VTE.
380
About 15% of distal isolated DVT will
develop with thrombus progression to the popliteal vein and risk of
PTE.
487
The following risk factors favor thrombus extension in distal isolated DVT
and support the use of anticoagulant therapy over imaging follow-up:
positive D-dimer, extensive thrombosis involving multiple veins, proximal
vein thrombosis, absence of reversible trigger factor for DVT, active
cancer, previous history of VTE, and hospitalized patient.
488-492
II. D. Role of Catheter-directed Thrombolysis in Deep Venous Thrombosis
of the Lower Limb
Evidence is scarce with regard to the use of catheter-directed thrombolysis
for the treatment of proximal DVT of the lower limb, causing substantial
uncertainty that the benefits outweigh the risks associated with the
procedure.
380
II. E. Role of the Inferior Vena Cava Filter
Evidence shows the inconsistent benefit of using the inferior vena cava
filter to prevent recurrence of VTE in anticoagulated patients. The most
recent randomized study, PREPIC,
493
demonstrated that inferior vena cava filter
implantation during 3 months does not reduce the recurrence of PTE,
including fatal PTE, in anticoagulated patients with PTE and DVT, with
additional risk factors for recurrence of VTE
II. F. Role of Compression Stockings
A recent multicenter, placebo-controlled, study has shown that in contrast to
two previous smaller studies, the routine use of compression stockings does
not reduce the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome nor does it add any other
important benefit.
494
II. G. Subsegmental Pulmonary Thromboembolism Treatment
With technological development of pulmonary angiotomographies, diagnostic
identification of subsegmental PTEs increases and the best therapeutic
management in these cases is uncertain. Changes are often small and may
correspond to false positives, and true subsegmental PTE is generally
associated with small DVTs. The risk of progression or recurrence of VTE in
the absence of anticoagulation is small in relation to larger
PTEs.
486
Imaging of DVT should be performed on the lower limbs, as well as on the
upper limbs and central venous catheters. If DVT is detected, anticoagulant
therapy should be introduced, but if no DVT is detected, the need for
anticoagulation in these patients is uncertain.
486
In these cases, it is important to evaluate the risk factors for recurrence
or progression of VTE, which include the following: patients hospitalized or
with reduced mobility for other reasons; patients with active cancer,
especially those with metastatic disease or those treated with chemotherapy;
or patients with non-reversible risk factors, such as recent surgery.
Similarly, important clinical symptoms that cannot be attributed to another
cause or a low functional reserve favor the use of anticoagulant therapy,
whereas the presence of a high risk of bleeding favors the preference for
clinical follow-up.
II. H. Home Treatment of Pulmonary Thromboembolism
Recent meta-analyses evaluated the possibility and safety of home treatment
for pulmonary embolism.
495-497
It is
recommended that patients candidate for home treatment meet all the
following criteria:
380
clinically stable with good cardiopulmonary reserve; no contraindications,
such as recent bleeding, severe renal or hepatic failure, or severe
thrombocytopenia (< 70,000/mm3); willingness to follow the treatment; and
feel safe to be treated at home.
II. I. Systemic Thrombolysis for Pulmonary Thromboembolism
Systemic thrombolytic therapy is associated with a faster decrease in
pulmonary artery pressure, increased arterial oxygenation, and resolution of
filling faults on CT, accelerating the resolution of PTE. However, such
therapy is associated with increased bleeding risks. Patients who will
benefit the most are those who have the highest risk of death associated
with PTE and the lowest risk of bleeding.
380
Recently, three randomized trials evaluated the use of systemic thrombolytic
therapy in 1,200 patients with acute PTE and improved the evidence regarding
this topic.
498-500
It is important to note that patients recently submitted to a surgery
will always have an at least moderate risk of bleeding (Chart 14) and the possibility
of using
systemic thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of acute PTE needs to
carefully assess the risks and benefits and should be discussed with the
surgeon.
9. Evaluation of Comorbidities
A) Diabetes Mellitus
I. Preoperative
DM affects 6.2% of the Brazilian adult population,
501
with a progressive increase in
prevalence according to age, affecting more than 19% of individuals more
than 65 years. These patients have a high incidence of CDs. Glycemic control
is one of the most important aspects to be considered in the perioperative
evaluation of patients with DM. There is substantial observational evidence
that links hyperglycemia to unfavorable surgical outcomes, such as
infection, longer hospital stay, disability after discharge, and
mortality.
In Brazil, approximately 90% and 73% of type 1 and type 2 DM patients,
respectively, are outside the recommended targets for glycemic control
(glycated hemoglobin lower than 7.0%). Therefore, it is expected that most
individuals in preoperative evaluation need specific guidelines regarding
glycemic control.
Preoperative evaluation becomes an additional opportunity to adjust
medication doses, educate an individual, and improve metabolic control. A
staggered scheme (insulin to correct capillary glycemia) should be avoided
as an exclusive therapy for prolonged periods because it is ineffective for
most patients. In addition, this scheme favors glycemic variability,
attempting to correct the “problem” (hyperglycemia) after it has already
occurred and may even be deleterious, predisposing to diabetic ketoacidosis
in patients with type 1 DM.
Specific Glossary
Prandial insulin: dose of fast (regular) or
ultrafast (lispro, aspart, glulisine) insulin used to control
postprandial blood glucose, used before meals.
Basal insulin: dose of intermediate (NPH) or slow
(detemir, glargine, and degludec) insulin used to control
glucose during fasting and interprandial periods. Used in
several schemes: fasting, sleeping, and pre-meals, divided into
1 to 2 doses per day (detemir and glargine) and 1 to 4 doses per
day (NPH).
Correction or supplemental insulin: dose of fast
(regular) or ultrafast (lispro, aspart, glulisine) insulin used
to treat hyperglycemia that occurs before or between meals or
when the patient is fasting (Table 11).
Table 11
Staggered scheme suggested during fasting
Capillary glycemia (mg/dL)
Scheme suggested
160 to 180 mg/dL
01 IU
181 to 200 mg/dL
02 IU
201 to 250 mg/dL
03 IU
251 to 300 mg/dL
04 IU
Above 300 mg/dL
Intravenous insulin pump or
postpone elective surgery until better
control
Below 100 mg/dL
Install glucose intake at 5 to
10 g/h*
Below 70 mg/dL
60 mL bolus of intravenous
25.0% hypertonic glucose, install glucose intake
at 10 g/h, repeat capillary blood glucose test
every 15 minutes until the blood glucose is higher
than 80 mg/dL.
*
Example: 100 m/h SG at 5.0%.
Staggered scheme: known as “insulin on demand”,
“insulin according to dextro or HGT”. Fast (regular) or
ultrafast (lispro, aspart, glulisine) dose scheme according to
capillary glycemia to treat hyperglycemia.
Basal scheme: use of intermediate or slow insulin
alone.
Basal-bolus or basal-prandial scheme: use of
combined basal and prandial insulins.
A free Brazilian application was developed at the Hospital das
Clínicas (HCFMUSP) to assist physicians and nurses in performing
intensive glycemic control in hospitalized patients. InsulinApp is a tool
developed for smartphones and tablets that calculates hospital doses of
insulin necessary for a patient in a few minutes.508 It is available free of
charge from both Google Play (Android) and Apple (iOS) under the name
InsulinAPP.
Special Considerations for Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Pre-assessment and in-hospital monitoring with specialist is recommended, if
available.
Monitor capillary glycemia: pre-meal and at 10 pm while maintaining usual
diet; every 4 hours during the fast; and every hour or two hours if using
continuous intravenous insulinization.
Never substitute basal-bolus insulin in the preoperative period by staggered
scheme alone - risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.
In medium to major surgeries or with a surgical time of more than 1 hour,
ideally use continuous intravenous insulin pump as soon as fasting starts or
on the morning of surgery, maintaining the therapy during the intraoperative
and postoperative periods.
If venous insulinization is not possible to perform, the following can be
used:
- Maintain the insulin the evening before surgery.
- In the morning of the day of surgery - reduce basal insulin as
described in chart 16.
Chart 16
Insulin management in the preoperative period
Insulina
Orientações
NPH
Maintain the dose of the previous
day, including the evening dose In the
morning of the surgery: If surgery is
performed in the early morning: give 2/3 of the
dose If surgery is performed in the
morning: 1/2 of the dose If surgery is
performed in the afternoon: 1/3 of the dose
Detemir, glargine, degludec
Maintain the dose of the previous
day Reduce to half on the day of
surgery
Fast or ultrafast
Suspend fixed prandial
doses Maintain staggered scheme during
fasting
- Remove prandial insulin, maintaining basal insulin, capillary
glycemia every 3 or 4 hours, and start staggered scheme (prefer
ultrafast insulin).
- Install glucose intake the morning of the surgery (before breakfast
time). - maintain intake from 5 to 10 g/h. The number of grams per
hour depends on the glycemic control.
Emergency Surgery in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Evaluate blood glucose before surgery.
Correct hypoglycemia and maintain glucose supply at 5 to 10 g/h of glucose.
Preferably, control hyperglycemia with intravenous insulin and maintain
blood glucose levels between 100 and 180 mg/dL.
Attention to potassium correction.
II. Postoperative
In 2001, an important study demonstrated a clinical benefit of strict
glycemic control in the postoperative period for the first time in surgical
patients: lower rates of in-hospital mortality, polyneuropathy, infections,
and acute renal failure, and shorter time of mechanical ventilation and of
stay in ICUs.
509
Regarding patients with diabetes, the clinical benefit associated with
strict glycemic control was also observed, but there was no impact on the
reduction of mortality. Based on this study, the recommendation was strict
glycemic control in the postoperative period for patients undergoing
noncardiac surgery.
Another large randomized multicenter trial (NICE-SUGAR)
510
involving more than
6,000 patients, with approximately one-third of surgical patients and
two-thirds of clinical patients, compared strict glycemic control (81-108
mg/dL) with conventional glycemic control (144-180 mg/dL). Surprisingly, the
group of patients randomized to strict control presented higher mortality
rates in a period of 90 days (27.5%) compared to the conventional group
(24.9%). No differences were found in other minor outcomes between the
groups. The group with the strict glycemic control presented higher
hypoglycemia levels (<40 mg/dL) compared to the control group.
B) Thyroid Diseases
Hormonal disorders may be responsible for considerable perioperative morbidity
and mortality,513 in addition to technical difficulties in managing the airways
of patients with goiter.
Tetraiodothyronine (T4) represents 80-90% of thyroid hormone production, and 40%
is peripherally converted to triiodothyronine (T3), which is five times more
potent. About 50% of T4 is converted to 3,5-triiodothyronine (reverse T3), which
has no biological activity. Only 0.2% of T3 and 0.3% of T4 circulate in the free
and biologically active form. The rest binds to plasma proteins (albumin,
pre-albumin, thyroglobulin). T3 and T3r are converted in the liver, kidneys, and
central nervous system into inactive compounds. Severe systemic diseases,
trauma, and drugs can block the peripheral conversion of T4 to T3, leading to
euthyroid syndrome of the critical patient, which represents a physiological
mechanism to save energy in critical situations.
During thyroid surgery, specific complications may occur in the perioperative
period. Patients with large goiters may present complications in intubation and
extubation (up to 35% have some of airway obstruction), recurrent laryngeal
lesion, tracheomalacia, and glottal edema. Hypocalcemia may occur up to 36 hours
after thyroidectomy in 20% of cases. Only 3% are permanently hypocalcemic, and
calcium must be replaced intravenously at this stage.
I. Hypothyroidism
In epidemiological studies, the overall incidence of hypothyroidism varies
from 0.1 to 2%. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism is higher,
ranging from 4 to 10% in the adult population and tending to be higher in
women more than 65 years. Most of the population, even asymptomatic, has
thyroid alterations. Some clinical conditions present a potential risk for
the development of perioperative complications and a rapid decline in
thyroid function, such as age > 65 years; hypothalamic or pituitary
disease; coexisting autoimmune disease; irradiation of the neck, thyroid
surgery, or radioiodine therapy; significant hyperlipidemia; hyponatremia;
high levels of muscle enzyme; macrocytic anemia; and pleural or pericardial
effusion.
If these risk conditions are present, screening for thyroid disease may be
useful in the preoperative period. The recommended test is TSH because 95%
of the causes of hypothyroidism are of primary thyroid etiology.
No randomized study has demonstrated the benefit of patients with
hypothyroidism being euthyroid in the preoperative period compared to
hypothyroid and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Current evidence
shows that if there is a prior diagnosis and time, the patient should be
euthyroid in the preoperative period. However, if the patient has
subclinical or mild hypothyroidism and the operation is urgent, the surgical
procedure should not be postponed. In elective surgeries, treatment can
begin, but we should not wait until TSH normalized.
Patients with clinical or moderate hypothyroidism and scheduled for urgent
surgery should undergo the surgical procedure and initiate treatment in the
immediate postoperative period. Patients with moderate hypothyroidism and
elective surgeries should wait for euthyroidism to undergo the surgery.
These patients do not necessarily need to achieve normalized TSH levels
because 10 to 20% have a slow TSH decay. The most important criterion is
that progressive increase and normalization of free T4 levels occur, which
should exist within seven days, or treatment should continue to further
increase the levels.
Patients with severe hypothyroidism or myxedema coma should only be operated
if the surgery is an emergency. If the surgery is elective, previous
treatment of hypothyroidism and acquisition of normal thyroid function
should be considered. Treatment should be given in the form of T4 and T3.
The doses used are as follows: T4 with an attack dose of 200-300 mcg
intravenously, followed by 50 mcg per day; T3 dose of 5-20 mcg
intravenously, followed by 2.5-10 mcg every 8 hours, depending on age and
cardiovascular comorbidities.
In the postoperative period of any patient with hypothyroidism, if the
patient does not resume eating in 5-7 days, 80% of the total dose of T4
should be given intravenously or intramuscularly once a day. The dose is 20%
lower due to bioavailability.
II. Hyperthyroidism
Thyrotoxicosis affects 2% of women and 0.2% of men. The prevalence of
clinical and subclinical hyperthyroidism in the USA is 0.2 and 1%,
respectively. The most common causes are Graves-Basedow’s disease, toxic
nodular goiter, thyroiditis, and iatrogenic. Adrenergic effects pose a high
risk for perioperative complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias (8-15%
AF). These are related to the increase in the number and/or sensitivity of
β-adrenergic receptors. In addition, studies showed that more
pronounced hyperthyroidism indicates greater chance of AF. The mortality in
hyperthyroidism is related to the occurrence of cardiovascular
events.
513,517-521
For the diagnosis, there should be laboratory confirmation of clinical
suspicion. TSH level should be low, and free T4 level should be normal
(subclinical hyperthyroidism) or high. Several situations may increase the
total T4 levels by increasing the T4-binding protein. However, they do not
affect free T4, which has biological activity: pregnancy, cirrhosis,
acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, use of lithium, contraceptives, propranolol,
amiodarone, and iodinated contrast agents. In these situations, there is no
real hyperthyroidism, only a compensatory increase in free T4, a consequence
of the increase in TBG, a T4-binding protein.
II. A. Clinical Manifestations in Hyperthyroid Patients with
Perioperative Consequences
Cardiovascular: increased cardiac inotropism and
chronotropism with decreased systemic vascular resistance (SVR),
left ventricular hypertrophy, increased incidence of angina, HF,
arrhythmias, and embolic events.
Hematologic: anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia,
increase of factor III, decrease of vitamin K-dependent factors,
bleeding.
Gastrointestinal: inadequate absorption of
drugs.
Metabolic/renal: hypercalcemia, hypoalbuminemia,
ketoacidosis, increased drug clearance.
Pulmonary: myopathy with ventilatory dysfunction.
Endocrine: increased production and use of cortisol, glucose
intolerance, weight loss, and protein catabolism.
II. D. Treatment of Thyrotoxic Storm
Treatment of thyrotoxic storm includes hydration, cooling, inotropes (if
necessary), administration of PTU attack dose (1,000 mg oral) and
maintenance (200 mg every 6 hours), ventilatory support, oral metabolic
control, hydrocortisone attack dose of 300 mg intravenously and maintenance
of 100 mg every 8 hours, iodine as oral Lugol or intravenous iodine at a
dose of 1 g every 8 hours, and, if necessary, plasmapheresis, dialysis, or
cholestyramine to remove hormones from the circulation.
C) Adrenal Insufficiency
Increased level of cortisol during acute stress is an important protective
response. However, the metabolic stress caused by surgery can trigger acute
adrenal insufficiency (AAI) in individuals with clinical and subclinical
disorders. AAI affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and the results
can be catastrophic, leading to multiple complications and even patient
death.
Physical stress increases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol
secretion. The increase in cortisol, noradrenaline, and adrenaline levels
characterize the stress-induced hormonal changes, minimal in small surgical
stress and progressively higher in moderate and severe stress, lasting no more
than 24 hours in uncomplicated interventions. The intraoperative period and
mainly the anesthetic recovery and extubation periods are the major determinants
for axis activation, with increases in plasma cortisol levels, which return to
basal values in 24 to 48 hours.
522
With the increasing demand for endogenous corticosteroids,
individuals with impaired function and compromised adrenal reserve may have AAI.
Thus, early identification of these individuals for adequate perioperative
planning is essential to avoid complications.
I. Clinical Conditions of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency
Hypotension and hemodynamic shock (which may be resistant to vasopressors),
with multiple organ dysfunction; hypoglycemia; tachycardia;
hydroelectrolytic disorders: hyponatremia, hyperkalemia (in primary adrenal
insufficiency - AI), hypercalcemia, acidosis; cardiac hypocontractility;
anemia, eosinophilia, and neutropenia; nausea, vomiting, weakness,
orthostatic hypotension, dehydration, abdominal or flank pain (acute adrenal
hemorrhage), fatigue, weight loss; vitiligo, alteration of skin
pigmentation, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism.
Diagnosis of AF should not be trusted if there is unexplained hypotension or
refractory shock to volume and drugs in the intraoperative or postoperative
period, discrepancy between disease severity and patient condition, high
fever without apparent cause (negative cultures) or unresponsive to
antibiotic therapy, unexplained mental changes, apathy, or depression
without specific psychiatric disorder. In such cases, AAI should be
initiated, and subsequent diagnostic confirmation should be obtained.
II. Identification of Patients at Risk for Adrenal Insufficiency
Patients with diagnosis of AI,
523
patients at risk for AI
524
and patients with relative
hypoadrenalism (limited adrenocortical reserve): pituitary tumors
(macroadenomas); radiation therapy of the pituitary region; previous
pituitary surgical intervention; postoperative period of Cushing’s disease
surgery, bilateral adrenalectomy or unilateral adrenalectomy in case of
another adrenal attack; chronic corticosteroid users (> 5 mg of
prednisone or equivalent for more than 21 days or dose > 7.5 mg for more
than 14 days); patients with type 1 DM or autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis, ovarian or primary testicular failure, hypoparathyroidism,
vitiligo, autoimmune polyglandular syndrome); individuals with suggestive
clinical conditions (darkening of the skin, weakness, fatigue, nausea,
vomiting, depression, hypotension, electrolytic imbalances, hypoglycemia,
fever).
Evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis for confirmation of AI
should be made by measuring serum cortisol level at 8 AM. Perioperative
corticosteroid replacement may be indicated depending on the result (Chart 17). If
< 5 mcg/dL,
replacement should be performed; 5-10 mcg/dL, perform simple cortrosyn test
and measure serum ACTH levels to complement evaluation because it can be a
false positive, that is, have an acute response and have no reserve. In this
case, empirical therapy with steroids should be started. In cortisol level
> 10 mcg /dL, replacement is not necessary.
Chart 17
Candidates for perioperative corticosteroid replacement
Use of > 20 mg/day prednisone or equivalent
for any length of time
Cushing's syndrome clinic
Use of prednisone > 5 mg for more than 21
days in the last 6-12 months
Use of prednisone ≤ 5 mg given in the
afternoon, regardless of the circadian rhythm
Inhaled budesonide
Maximum inhaled corticosteroid dose in
children
Potent topical corticosteroid, use on face and
genitalia, extensive areas
Treatment with occlusion and skin barrier
changes, e.g., psoriasis
Cushingoid appearance, as fragile skin,
bruises, hump, hypertension, telangiectasias, full moon
face
IV. D. Treatment of AI Based on the Extent of the Surgery
Small (local anesthesia or hernia): maintain usual
dose of corticoid in the morning without a new attack dose;
maintain regular dose for 24 hours perioperatively.
Medium (total hip prosthesis): maintain regular dose
of corticoid + 50 mg of hydrocortisone in bolus at induction;
maintain regular dose for 24 hours perioperatively.
Large (colectomy, esophagectomy, peripheral
revascularization, pancreatectomy): maintain regular
dose of corticoid + 100 mg of hydrocortisone in bolus at
induction; maintain 50 mg of hydrocortisone 8/8h in the 24-hour
perioperative period.
D) Obesity
Obesity has reached pandemic proportions. In Brazil, more than half of the
population is overweight. According to the Risk and Protection Factors for
Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL), 52.2% Brazilians are
overweight.
528
Approximately 30% of surgical patients are obese.
Obesity is related to several morbidities that influence perioperative evaluation
and management, such as atherosclerotic disease, HF, systemic arterial
hypertension, PH, DVT, and low functional capacity. Excess weight is also
associated with problems in the respiratory system, such as reduced functional
residual capacity, atelectasis, and pulmonary shunts. The association results in
a risk of rapid desaturation due to the combination of high basal metabolic rate
and oxygen demand. Furthermore, sleep disorders, such as obstructive apnea and
alveolar hypoventilation, are special concerns in the perioperative period of
the obese.
Weight is not only related to the greater risk of complications but also to the
distribution of fat mass. Centripetal fat distribution (trunk and abdomen) is
associated with metabolic syndrome, sleep disturbances, and unfavorable anatomy
for intubation. Classifying the degree and type of obesity and screening for
sleep-disordered breathing are essential steps to identify specific functional
limitations and guide perioperative decisions.
The World Health Organization classifies obesity in grades: obesity grade 1: BMI
30-34.9 kg/m2; obesity grade 2: BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2; obesity
grade 3: BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. Classifications used in bariatric
surgeries still categorize obesity in grades 4 and 5 when BMI exceeds 50 and 60
kg/m2, respectively.
The STOP-Bang questionnaire (Chart
18)
529,530
is a validated tool to track
sleep disorders in the preoperative evaluation of obese individuals. Scores from
5 to 8 identify patients with a high probability of moderate to severe
obstructive sleep apnea.
Chart 18
Screening questionnaire for sleep-disordered breathing (STOP-BANG)
Snoring
Do you snore loudly? (louder than speaking or loud
enough to be heard through closed doors)?
Tired
Do you feel tired or drowsy during the day?
Observed
Has anyone ever noticed that you stop breathing
while you sleep?
Blood Pressure
Do you treat high blood pressure?
BMI
BMI > 35 kg/m2
Age
Age > 50 years
Neck
Cervical circumference above 40 cm
Gender
Male gender
BMI: body mass index.
I. Peculiarities in the Evaluation of Surgical Risk in Obese
Patients
217,531
Clinical history limited by the difficulty to differentiate between dyspnea
and cardiogenic and pulmonary origins of the low functional capacity of the
obese. Physical examination and detailed analysis of the cardiopulmonary
system is limited due to obesity. Few risk scores used in the perioperative
evaluation include obesity and quantify the risk associated with this
variable.
Higher prevalence of comorbidities that are risk factors for atherosclerosis
and myocardial ischemia (hypertension, DM, and dyslipidemia); increased risk
of thromboembolic events and infection of the surgical wound; greater
difficulty in measuring blood pressure and acquiring venous access; longer
mechanical ventilation time and longer hospitalization time; increased risk
of renal failure; greater sensitivity to opioids and sedatives; increased
risk of aspiration of gastric contents; higher probability of presenting
hypoxemia due to hypoventilation, pulmonary restriction, postoperative
atelectasis, increased occurrence of central and obstructive sleep apnea and
hypercapnia; higher mortality in intensive care in severely obese patients.
Specific regimens for venous thromboprophylaxis in obese patients are shown
in table 12.
Table 12
Dosage scheme for prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis
50-100 kg
100-150 kg
> 150 kg
Enoxaparin
40 mg 1 x day
40 mg 2 x day
60 mg 2 x day
Dalteparin
5,000 IU 1 x day
5,000 IU 2 x day
7,500 IU 2 x day
E) Hematologic Diseases
I. Anemias
As doenças hematológicas podem aumentar a morbidade e
aHematologic diseases may increase the morbidity and mortality of
individuals submitted to surgical procedures. Anemia is the most common
hematological problem found in the preoperative period. It is generally
defined according to WHO criteria:
540,541
hemoglobin concentration < 13 g/dL for men and < 12 g/dL for women. It
is often a sign of underlying disease that can affect the surgical outcome.
Studies involving many patients indicated that preoperative anemia is an
independent risk factor for morbidity, mortality, and transfusion
requirement, with an association between extent of anemia and
outcome.
542-546
Anemia leads to overload
of the cardiovascular system, increasing cardiac output. Individuals with CD
have less tolerance to anemia, and its presence can intensify the conditions
of myocardial ischemia and underlying HF. Therefore, identification of
anemia in the preoperative period assists in the identification of patients
at risk of adverse outcome in the postoperative period. Whenever possible,
anemia should be identified, investigated, and corrected before surgery,
although there is no randomized evidence that its correction alters the
perioperative risk. On the other hand, there is randomized evidence that the
correction of anemia in the preoperative period decreases the need for blood
transfusion and consequently the postoperative transfusion risk.
546
The available guidelines for perioperative blood transfusion are limited, but
the risks and benefits of this measure should always be
questioned.
547
Traditional practices, such as correction of preoperative anemia for normal
or near-normal values of hemoglobin concentration (Hb ≥ 12 g/dL) to
prepare patients for surgery, are not supported in the literature and are
not recommended in clinical practice.
546
Numerous studies and reviews have attempted to establish transfusion triggers
for patients with anemia by evaluating two strategies: “restrictive”
(usually Hb < 7.0 g/dL) and “liberal” (usually Hb ≥ 7.0
g/dL).
548-551
Most meta-analyses
included perioperative patients of various natures: critical and clinical
patients, as well as adults and children. The meta-analysis of Carson et
al.
548
included
6,264 patients. These surgical and clinical patients involved adults and
children. The authors concluded that the existing evidence supported the use
of restrictive transfusion therapy in most patients, but that the effects of
the restrictive strategy in high-risk groups, such as acute coronary
syndrome, needed to be tested in future large studies. In the meta-analysis
of Holst et al.,
549
9,813
patients from 31 randomized controlled trials were included. These trials
consisted of twenty perioperative and acute blood loss studies, eight
critical patient studies, two trauma studies, and one study with patients
with leukemia undergoing bone marrow transplantation. According to the
authors, the results were not affected by the inclusion of studies with high
risk or unclear risk. The restrictive strategy was associated with the
reduction in the number of transfused red cell concentrate units and the
number of transfused patients; however, mortality, overall morbidity, and
myocardial infarction remained unchanged. The restrictive strategy is safe
in most clinical settings, and liberal transfusion does not show any benefit
to the patients analyzed in this review.
549
In the meta-analysis of Docherty et al.,
551
they specifically investigated the effect of
restrictive versus liberal strategy in patients with CD undergoing
noncardiac surgery. A total of 3,033 patients were included: 1,514 with
restrictive transfusion and 1,519 with liberal transfusion. The risk of
acute coronary syndrome was higher in patients with a restrictive strategy
compared to patients with a liberal strategy, but the effects on mortality
and other outcomes were uncertain in a period of 30 days. The authors
concluded that it may not be safe to use a transfusion trigger below 8 g/dL
in these patients.
551
Perioperative mortality in a period of 90 days was investigated in a recent
review with meta-analysis, which included only perioperative adult patients
and critically ill patients. Twenty-seven studies with 11,021 patients were
included in the review: 17 in the perioperative period (9 in orthopedic
surgery, 5 in cardiac, 1 in vascular, 1 in oncologic, and 1 in obstetric)
and 10 in critically ill patients. Overall, there was no difference in
mortality between the liberal and restrictive strategies. However, in the
perioperative period, mortality was reduced in adult patients randomized to
receive the liberal strategy compared to those who received the restrictive
strategy with 7,552 patients. In critical patients, there was no difference
between the groups. The heterogeneity between the studies was low. It was
concluded that blood transfusion had a different statistically significant
effect on the survival of patients in different clinical contexts.
550
In an isolated study, Carson et al.
552
included 2,016 patients aged ≥ 50 years.
The patients had a history or risk factors for CD, with a hemoglobin
concentration below 10 g/dL after hip surgery. They were randomized to
liberal (transfusion trigger above 10 g/dL) or restrictive (symptoms of
anemia or Hb < 8 g/dL) strategy to determine whether a higher transfusion
trigger would improve the recovery of patients submitted to orthopedic hip
fracture surgery. The authors concluded that the liberal and restrictive
strategies did not reduce death rates, did not improve recovery in a period
of 60 days of follow-up, and did not reduce hospital morbidity in older
patients at high cardiovascular risk.
552
Another isolated study was conducted at John Hopkins Hospital including
10,163 patients submitted to vascular or gastrointestinal cardiothoracic
surgery. The authors aimed to determine the transfusion practices and the
effect of the use of transfusion on the perioperative outcome. They
concluded that the use of the liberal transfusion trigger (Hb ≥ 7.0
g/dL) after major surgeries was more common than the restrictive practice
(trigger < 7.0 g/dL) and that patients with restrictive transfusion had
no increased risk of complications compared to patients with liberal
transfusion.
553
Therefore, the optimal transfusion trigger remains undetermined. Hemoglobin
level is probably not the answer because some patients require higher values
and others tolerate values lower than 7 g/dL.
554
The transfusion triggers used in
isolated studies and in studies that were part of large reviews with
meta-analysis are not homogeneous.
Therefore, the decision on blood transfusion should be based not only on
hemoglobin levels, but also on the suspicion of organic ischemia, the risk
or presence of bleeding, the status of the intravascular volume, and the
susceptibility to complications due to inadequate oxygenation.
555
Common sense, careful
observation of the patient, and clinical context should guide the decision
of the best strategy for each case. It should be noted that blood
transfusion is not a risk-free procedure and that a dose-dependent
relationship exists between transfusions and complications.
545
Thus, even if selecting
the liberal strategy, hemoglobin correction towards normal values is not
necessary. One unit of erythrocyte concentrate increases the hemoglobin rate
by approximately 1.0 g/dL and the hematocrit by approximately 3.0%. The
optimal rate of administration of red blood cell concentrate should consider
the clinical situation. Most patients can receive a packed red blood cell
unit every one to two hours. Patients at risk of volume overload should
receive 1.0 mL/kg/h. After transfusion of each unit, the patient should be
reevaluated and the hemoglobin level must be determined.
547
II. Thrombocytopenia
Several studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between
thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic risk, as well as the effectiveness of
platelet transfusion in reducing this risk. However, controversy still
exists about the appropriate value to indicate for transfusion of platelet
concentrates.
562
Patients scheduled for invasive surgical procedures may present benefits
with a higher platelet count with 50,000 platelets/mm3.
562-564
In neurosurgeries, there is no
evidence-based data to determine a safe minimum platelet count, with several
consensuses indicating 100,000 platelets/mm3.
565-567
III. Hereditary Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Thrombophilias
Antiphospholipid antibodies are a family of autoantibodies directed against
plasma phospholipid-binding proteins.
569
Antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by
thrombosis (arterial and/or venous) and/or gestational morbidity in patients
with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies.
570
However, there are patients with a persistent presence of antiphospholipid
antibodies without vaso-occlusive manifestations, only gestational morbidity
and manifestations are not considered as criteria for the antiphospholipid
syndrome (thrombocytopenia, livedo reticularis, cardiac valve
disease).
569
In
addition, not every positive test for antiphospholipid antibodies is
clinically significant and not every patient with positive antiphospholipid
antibodies has the same thrombotic risk.
569
To better estimate the thrombotic risk
in patients with positive antiphospholipid antibody tests, some variables
should be considered including persistently positive laboratory tests and
presence of additional thrombotic risk factors.
569
Although several studies have evaluated thrombotic risk in asymptomatic
patients with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies, most of them included
patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The annual risk of the first
thrombotic event in these laboratory-positive individuals, but without other
associated autoimmune diseases and other thrombotic risk factors, is low
(less than 1% per year). In the presence of another autoimmune disease, the
risk increases to less than 4% per year. Based on the hypothesis of the
association of “two injuries”, antiphospholipid antibodies induce a
prothrombotic and proinflammatory phenotype in endothelial cells that is not
capable of causing thrombosis alone. However, the presence of a triggering
event or “second injury”, such as infection, surgeries, estrogen use, and
prolonged immobilization, may trigger a vaso-occlusive event.
569
Therefore, pharmacological antithrombotic prophylaxis is associated with
mechanical measures in patients with positive antiphospholipid antibodies
and in a period of greater vaso-occlusive risk (surgeries, immobilization,
hospitalization).
569
Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome under
anticoagulant treatment have a higher thrombotic risk when submitted to
surgical procedures.
367
The term thrombophilia describes the tendency to develop venous
thromboembolism due to a state of hypercoagulability caused by the presence
of inherited or acquired abnormalities of coagulation or
fibrinolysis.
571
Hereditary thrombophilias do not present the same thrombotic risk. Severe
thrombophilias are those resulting from deficiencies of natural
anticoagulants (antithrombin, protein C, and protein S), abnormalities in
homozygous, and presence of multiple defects. Presence of factor V Leiden in
heterozygosity and the mutation G20210A in heterozygosis are considered mild
thrombophilias. On the other hand, the presence of family history of venous
thromboembolism events is a strong risk factor for venous thromboembolism,
regardless of the presence of genetic alterations.
571
Documentation of the presence of an
inherited thrombophilic alteration implies the need for primary
anticoagulant prophylaxis in situations where an increased risk of venous
thromboembolism exists, such as surgical procedures.
571
IV. Hemophilia A (Factor Viii Deficiency) and B (Factor IX
Deficiency)
572
Surgical procedures should be performed in conjunction with a team
experienced in the treatment of hemophilia. Before performing the surgical
procedure, ensure that sufficient concentrate of the deficient factor is
available.
The procedures must be performed in a medical center with adequate laboratory
support, with capacity to monitor the deficient factor. Preoperative
laboratory evaluation should always include the search for inhibitors for
the deficient factor;
The surgical procedure should be performed at the beginning of the week and
at the beginning of the day to provide optimal laboratory and blood bank
support. For the intraoperative period, the plasma level of the deficient
factor should be corrected for hemostatically safe values through the use of
specific factor concentrate.
In the postoperative period, maintain the plasma concentration of the
deficient factor for adequate time and concentration according to the type
and size of the surgery.
Efficacy of hemostasis should be assessed using the criteria defined by the
International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH).
V. Von Willebrand Disease
573,574
In the postoperative period, the minimum plasma levels of FVIII:C and von
Willebrand factor:ristocetin cofactor (vWF:RCo) will vary according to the
type and surgical extent.
F) Renal Failure
Patients with renal failure are more prone to postoperative complications,
prolonged hospitalization time, higher costs during hospitalization, and higher
mortality than those without renal dysfunction.
45,575-578
Renal failure or
preoperative dialysis has been consistently associated with postoperative
complications and high mortality.
In preoperative evaluation, renal function can be assessed using the
Cockroft-Gault formula, or glomerular filtration can be estimated using the MDRD
equation. Estimated glomerular filtration of less than 60 mL/min /1.73
m2 is a risk factor for cardiac and noncardiac complications in
the postoperative period and is associated with mortality up to two times higher
compared to patients with normal renal function
577,578
Lee et al.
45
developed and
validated a prognostic model for cardiovascular complications after noncardiac
surgeries. The risk factors identified were (increasing risk) history of
congestive HF, coronary ischemic disease, high risk surgery (abdominal aortic
aneurysm, other vascular, thoracic, abdominal, and orthopedic surgeries),
insulin-dependent DM, preoperative creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL, and
cerebrovascular disease.
The development of acute renal injury (ARI) is a serious complication in the
postoperative period and occurs, depending on the type of surgery, in 1-30% of
the cases, with mortality around 50%.
579-581
There is
evidence that small changes in serum creatinine are associated with increased
morbidity and mortality in clinical and surgical patients.
582-585
In the latest international guidelines, ARI is considered when a patient presents
an increase of 0.3 mg/dL in serum creatinine in 48 hours or a 50% increase in
baseline value within 7 days associated or not with the reduction of urinary
volume to values below 0.5 mL/kg/h over a 6-hour period.
586
In a study with 75,952 noncardiac surgeries, the authors identified the following
risk factors for ARI in the postoperative period: age ≥ 56 years, male,
emergency surgery, intraperitoneal surgery, DM with oral medication or insulin,
decompensated HF, hypertension, “mild” renal failure (preoperative creatinine
between 1.2 and 1.9 mg/dL), and “moderate” renal failure (creatinine ≥
2.0 mg/dL). Patients with 6 or more risk factors had an ARI incidence of 9% in
the postoperative period and mortality eight times higher than the patients who
did not present renal dysfunction.
587
The prevention of ARI in the postoperative period depends on the following care:
identifying risk factors for its development (mainly preoperative renal
failure), avoiding the use of nephrotoxic drugs, maintaining adequate hydration,
and avoiding hypotension. Even relatively short periods of intraoperative
hypotension (MAP lower than 60 mmHg for more than 20 minutes or 55 mmHg for more
than 10 minutes) are associated with an increased risk of ARI.
588
Attempts to prevent ARI with drugs, such as diuretics and vasoactive amines, have
not shown efficacy.
589,590
Potentially nephrotoxic
drugs should be avoided or used appropriately with correction for the level of
renal function. Aminoglycoside antibiotics, amphotericin B, radiological
contrast, and non-hormonal anti-inflammatories are examples of nephrotoxic drugs
commonly used in the perioperative period. The use of anti-inflammatories should
be avoided, particularly in patients at risk: advanced age, previous renal
failure, HF, dehydration, concomitant use of ACE inhibitors, and diuretics or
other nephrotoxic agent.
591,592
ACE inhibitors and
angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are potentially nephrotoxic drugs, and
prescription should be evaluated in the perioperative period. In a recent work
with orthopedic patients, use of ACE inhibitors or ARBs is associated with a
higher risk of developing ARI in the postoperative period.
593
In the preoperative evaluation of patients with chronic renal failure on dialysis
or renal transplants, some aspects are relevant. Many of these patients have
known risk factors for coronary ischemic disease, such as advanced age, systemic
arterial hypertension, or DM. Patients on a renal replacement therapy program
should undergo dialysis before surgery to prevent hypervolemia, correct
electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, and reduce the risk of bleeding due to
uremia. In renal transplant patients, immunosuppression should be carefully
adjusted by the nephrologist in the perioperative period because of the risk of
acute rejection and nephrotoxicity.
The risk of postoperative complications is well defined in patients with renal
failure. In these cases, the evaluation of the nephrologist should be
considered. It should always be noted that creatinine is a poorly sensitive
marker of renal function. Therefore, creatinine < 1.2 mg/dL does not
necessarily mean normal renal function, particularly in elderly patients or
patients with reduced muscle mass. The preoperative evaluation is an opportunity
to communicate with the patient and the clinical-surgical team to define
measures to prevent deterioration of renal function and for subsequent follow-up
aimed at delaying the progression of chronic renal failure.
G) Pulmonary Hypertension
PH is a clinical condition that results from increased right ventricular
afterload, leading to pressure increase in the pulmonary vascular territory and
progressive right ventricular dysfunction.
594,595
The
diagnosis of PH involves right chamber catheterization and measurement of
pulmonary artery pressure. Hypertensive condition is defined by a mean pulmonary
arterial pressure (PAPm) greater than or equal to 25 mmHg.
596
There are several mechanisms or clinical conditions that can lead to PH from
direct involvement of the pulmonary vasculature to left heart disease, pulmonary
parenchymal diseases, or even associated with chronic PTE.
597,598
The pathophysiology of the decompensation of PH depends on the functional
characteristics of the right ventricle. Due to the normal mechanical features of
the pulmonary circulation (high complacency and low resistance), there is no
tolerance for afterloading increases. The increase of the afterload generates
distension of the free wall of the RV and consequent decoupling of the muscular
fibers (Frank-Starling’s Law), impairing the efficiency of the RV
systole.
594,599,600
There are several causes of RV failure including natural evolution of PH,
regardless of the underlying cause, as well as other decompensations, such as
infectious cardiac arrhythmias
601
and surgical stress.
602
The surgical procedure is related to significant morbidity and mortality in
patients with PH.
603,604
Mortality is estimated
between 4% and 24% in several cases, depending on the stage of the disease and
the surgical procedure that the patient underwent.
605
When only cardiac surgeries are considered,
mortality is higher than 25%, because there is a high risk of ischemia and RV
dysfunction, particularly at the time of cardiopulmonary bypass.
602
During surgery, several factors may impair RV function due to reduction of
coronary perfusion with consequent ischemia and elevation of pulmonary vascular
resistance (PVR), leading to increased afterload (Chart 19).
602
Chart 19
Factors contributing to deterioration of RV function*
Increased sympathetic tone (generates
vasoconstriction) – e.g., pain
Hypoxia
Injury of pulmonary reperfusion
Excess volume administered
Positive pressure ventilation
Dysfunction (systolic or diastolic) of the left
ventricle
Embolism (gas, thrombus, fat)
Acidosis
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
*
Adapted from Galiè N et al.
602
Ideally, perioperative evaluation of these patients should be performed by a
multidisciplinary team. The need for the surgery in question should be carefully
evaluated, considering the risks and benefits and avoiding emergency procedures
that may increase morbidity and mortality.
Preoperative evaluation is complex because it should include assessment of
baseline conditions related to the genesis of PH, as well as the associated
hemodynamics. In this manner, evaluation is based on clinical data obtained with
chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, ECG, echocardiogram, and measurement of
biomarkers, such as BNP.
Performing right cardiac catheterization to effectively assess ventricular
function through direct measurement of cardiac output, as well as levels of
atrial and ventricular filling pressures, may be required, depending on the
clinical condition of the patient and the procedure to be performed. This
comprehensive evaluation aims to better control PH, with optimization of
diuretic therapy, as well as the use of specific medications in patients with
pulmonary arterial hypertension.
602
Some specific conditions deserve particular attention. Patients with chronic PTE
should maintain anticoagulant therapy throughout the perioperative period. The
transition from oral anticoagulants to anticoagulants with a known half-life
(e.g., enoxaparin or UFH in an infusion pump) is recommended. As for
anticoagulated patients, due to pulmonary arterial hypertension, the
perioperative suspension of this medication does not imply an additional risk
and can be performed aiming at greater procedural safety.
602,603
In these patients, the use of specific drugs to
control PH, such as endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase type 5
inhibitors, and prostanoids, should be maintained; if necessary, substitution
with inhaled or intravenous formulations is possible.
602,604
Regional anesthesia (blocks or epidural) is apparently better tolerated in
patients with PH than general anesthesia.
606
In the intraoperative period, care must be taken to
manage the fluids administered (avoiding excess or lack of volume, which may
deteriorate cardiac output), as well as analgesic control. Hypotension should be
avoided to maintain adequate coronary perfusion of the RV. For this, monitoring
with invasive blood pressure and pulmonary artery catheter is useful, as well as
vasoactive drugs that maintain SVR without significantly interfering with
PVR.
602,603
Mechanical ventilation during the surgical procedure should be protective with
low tidal volume (6 mL/kg with steady pressure < 30 cmH2O),
avoiding hypoxia. It must give preference to the management of FiO2
over the increase of PEEP, not to compromise venous return and decrease RV
preload, as well as a potential increase in PVR.
602
It is possible to use inhaled nitric oxide
considering its short half-life, low repercussion in systemic hemodynamics, and
significant auxiliary role in the control of PVR.
596
Considering all the complexity related to the right ventricular dysfunction,
patients with PH scheduled for noncardiac operations should have the
preoperative evaluation and surgical procedure preferably performed in a
specialized center for the treatment of various forms of PH.
53
H) Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Perioperative pulmonary complications largely contribute to perioperative
morbidity and mortality. Some series estimate that pulmonary complications may
be present in up to 70% of cases in the postoperative period, depending on the
type of surgery and clinical profile of the patient.
607,608
In addition, pulmonary complications are among the ones that increase
hospitalization costs and lead to longer hospitalization.
608
The definition of postoperative pulmonary complication greatly varies. The most
common are atelectasis, infections (including acute bronchitis and pneumonia),
prolonged mechanical ventilation and respiratory failure, exacerbation of
chronic lung disease, and bronchospasm.
609,610
Risk factors related to patients that are associated with a higher incidence of
pulmonary complications are diagnosis of COPD, asthma, active smoking,
obstructive sleep apnea, PH, and upper airway infection.
607,611-613
Regarding
the factors associated with the procedure, the surgical site should be
emphasized (the closer to the diaphragm, the greater the risk of
complications),
610
but also the duration of the procedure (greater risk with surgeries lasting more
than 3 to 4 hours),
614
type
of anesthesia (general anesthesia with a greater risk than neuroaxial
block)
615
and type of
neuromuscular blocker (pancuronium associated with a higher incidence of
posterior neuromuscular block than agents with a less prolonged
effect).
616
There is a significant difference in the evaluation of patients scheduled for
pulmonary resection and patients scheduled for other types of surgery. In the
first group, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas analysis, chest
imaging exams, and cardiopulmonary tests are fundamental.
611
Risk predictors, such as
ARISCAT, Arozullah, and Gupta, can be used to estimate perioperative pulmonary
complications of surgeries without pulmonary resection.
617-619
The simplest table is ARISCAT
617
that predicts the general incidence of postoperative
complications (any severity). In this table, independent risk factors receive a
weighted score, producing risk ranges for postoperative complications: 0 to 25
points: low risk, 1.6% complication rate; 26 to 44 points: intermediate risk,
13.3% complication rate; and 45 to 123 points: high risk, 42.1% complication
rate (Table 13).
Table 13
ARISCAT risk score for estimation of postoperative pulmonary
complications
617
Variável
Points
Age
≤ 50 years
0
51–80 years
3
> 80 years
16
Preoperative SpO2
96%
0
91–95%
8
≤ 90%
24
Type of surgery
High abdominal
15
Intrathoracic
24
Duration of surgery
≤ 2 hours
0
2–3 hours
16
> 3 hours
23
Other risk factors
Respiratory infection in the last month
17
Preoperative anemia with Hb ≥ 10
g/dL
11
Emergency surgery
8
Regarding management to reduce pulmonary complications, the recommendations are
similar to those outside the surgical context aimed at optimizing pulmonary
function and minimizing the occurrence of respiratory complications.
Optimization of pulmonary function includes the use of antibiotics when active
infection is observed, as well as the use of corticosteroids and/or
bronchodilators in patients already taking these drugs or who present residual
bronchospasm. Smoking cessation should be recommended preferably more than two
months before the surgical procedure.
Specialized physiotherapy care and follow-up are important in this context.
Education of the patient regarding pulmonary expansion exercises is fundamental
since the preoperative period. In a systematic review of the literature
conducted in 2016, the approach with postoperative pulmonary expansion exercises
was the only strategy with a Level of evidence A for the reduction of pulmonary
complications.
620
In summary, there is no recommendation for specific reduction of perioperative
cardiac complications in patients with COPD/Asthma.
I) Smoking
Smoking is the main avoidable cause of death worldwide. It contributes directly
to at least 20% of all deaths, and about 200,000 deaths per year in Brazil.
Hospitalizations are an opportunity to sensitize patients to quit smoking, as
well as to facilitate monitoring of symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and close
follow-up of tolerance and efficacy of treatments eventually established.
Reduction of mortality risks and various postoperative complications in smoking
is also focused in the perioperative care management, given the significant
effect of smoking on postoperative healing, infection rates, surgical bleeding,
pain control, and respiratory, cardiocirculatory, and orthopedic complications,
among others. History of smoking is associated with longer stays in ICU in the
postoperative period and longer hospitalizations.
621-626
Despite this, discussion about smoking during the preoperative preparation of
the patient is mostly absent, which is partly due to the lack of knowledge of
the doctors on the ideal timing for cessation of smoking. Recognizing the right
time during a surgical risk assessment to address the issue of smoking and
initiating treatment as early as possible can have significant reductions in
clinical and surgical complications and lower costs to the health system.
I. Cessation of Smoking During Hospitalization
Cessation of smoking during hospitalization offers an opportunity to access
withdrawal symptoms more readily, titer medication doses more safely, and
monitor the effectiveness of the therapeutic program more reliably.
The reasons that drive patients to stop smoking during hospitalization, which
are part of health treatment or merely resulting from the condition of
staying in a tobacco-free environment, should be seen as an important step.
Measures of support and follow-up indispensable for the patient to remain
abstinent should be implemented.
If such efforts are not organized in a structured program that involves the
identification of smokers at the time of hospitalization, the medical center
responsible for therapeutic interventions (informational,
cognitive-behavioral, and medication), follow-up during hospitalization, and
post-discharge follow-up, such efforts become ineffective in the medium and
long term.
II. Cessation of Smoking in the Preoperative Period
The negative effects of smoking on surgical outcomes are multifactorial.
However, they are mainly due to the direct effects of nicotine carbon
monoxide (CO) and increased oxidative and inflammatory stress. CO and
nicotine increase heart rate, blood pressure, and tissue oxygen demand, as
well as decrease oxygen transport capacity. Because of the vasoconstricting
effect of nicotine, it increases the risk of tissue ischemia in surgery and
in other areas, such as the coronary artery.
627
The irritant and proinflammatory effect of numerous components of cigarette
smoke on the airways also increase the susceptibility of smoking patients to
respiratory infections, local healing complications in lung surgeries, and
longer periods under mechanical ventilation.
628
Smoking is also associated with the need for higher doses of anesthetics and
neuromuscular blockers,
629
increased incidence of thromboembolic events, and
slower repair processes in orthopedic surgeries.
630
Patients scheduled for surgeries are usually more motivated to quit smoking
and are thus susceptible to a therapeutic approach to quit smoking. With the
regulation of hospitals (and other enclosed spaces for public and private
use) as tobacco-free environments, and with the increasing availability of
effective therapeutic resources to help the patient to stop smoking, the
preoperative period becomes a perfect time to stop smoking before elective
surgical hospitalization.
The ideal time to stop smoking before surgery had been controversial. This
was partly due to the great methodological heterogeneity of studies that
evaluated the different periods to stop smoking, the difficulty of
controlling confounding variables in the samples of patients, the great
variation in the postoperative follow-up time, and the multiplicity of
outcomes studied.
A review of prospective studies on the impact of smoking cessation in the
preoperative period on the occurrence of postoperative complications
(respiratory, infectious, general mortality and length of hospital stay) was
conducted by Cropley and Theadom.
631
They concluded that although there is great
methodological limitation of the studies evaluated, there are several
benefits of smoking cessation before surgical hospitalizations. They
reported that longer abstinence period results in greater benefit. It should
also be mentioned that there is no ideal period to recommend preoperative
smoking abstinence, in terms of reduction of surgical complications and risk
in the medium and long term. Cessation of smoking should not be postponed
due to the unsustainable assumption that risk increases when cessation
occurs less than two months before surgery.
In 2009, a retrospective cohort study evaluated data from 7,990 lung
resection surgeries due to neoplasia. The study concluded that the risks of
in-hospital mortality and respiratory complications after lung resection
were higher in smokers and clearly reduced by smoking cessation in the
preoperative period. The ideal interval between cessation of smoking and
surgery could not be identified, which reinforced the recommendation for
counseling (and treatment) for smoking cessation, regardless of the
proximity of the surgery. This corroborates the results presented in the
study published in 2001 by Nakagawa et al.
632
They found a clear and increasing
reduction in the risk of postoperative complications after four weeks of
preoperative smoking cessation.
III. Therapeutic Strategies
As in general situations, the treatment of nicotine dependence in patients
scheduled for surgery and in hospitalized patients is based on
cognitive-behavioral interventions (brief approach, individual counseling,
provision of informational materials, and group therapy), systematized or
not, and in the pharmacological support.
Regarding the “intensity” of the non-pharmacological approach, a systematic
review published in 2012 evaluated several studies in hospitalized
patients.
633
The
study showed a dose-response relationship between the intervention and the
cessation rate. Moreover, structured counseling programs initiated at the
hospital and extended for at least one month after discharge are more
effective compared to single-point approaches during hospitalization (RR
1.37; 95% CI 1.27-1.48; 25 studies).
Prospective studies evaluating the effectiveness of implementing a structured
counseling, cognitive-behavioral approach, pharmacologic support, and
post-discharge follow-up of hospitalized smokers showed success rates of
about 35-44% in six months
634,635
and
approximately 33% after 12 months, with studies showing success rates above
50% after one year in hospitalized coronary patients.
636
Given the need to specify, in cases of surgical and hospitalized patients,
cessation of smoking and the control of nicotine withdrawal symptoms in a
shorter period, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), isolated or combined, is
the most frequent approach selected. The usual transdermal nicotine
prescription schemes (6 to 8 weeks of 21 mg/24h or 15 mg/16h, 2 weeks of 14
mg/24h or 10 mg/16h and 2 weeks of 7 mg/24h or 5 mg/16h, depending on the
presentation selected) are recommended, in association with rapid forms of
ad libitum replacement (in Brazil, chewing gum and tablets are available,
both in presentations of 2 and 4 mg per unit) for craving episodes. The
addition of NRT to an intensive counseling intervention (more than one
session, post-discharge) increased smoking cessation rates compared to
intensive counseling alone (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.34-1, 79, six
studies).
637
The same systematic review did not show evidence of benefit of adding
bupropion (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.75-1.45, three studies) or varenicline (RR
1.29, 95% CI 0.95-1.76, two studies) to intensive counseling. Regarding
bupropion, new studies, such as the randomized placebo-controlled trial
conducted by Eisenberg et al.,
638
failed to demonstrate the superiority of bupropion
over placebo in hospitalized patients. In the same year, a study published
by Smith et al.
639
evaluated the addition of varenicline to counseling through a randomized,
placebo-controlled, protocol. The result showed a significant superiority of
pharmacological intervention compared to the control group (RR 1.45; 95% CI
1.03-2.03; p = 0.03).
Although there is potential benefit of other pharmacological approaches to
smoking cessation in hospitalized patients, NRT remains the standard of care
at the same doses and schemes normally recommended for other clinical
situations. The use of customized doses (above 21 mg/day) of nicotine
replacement to reach plasma levels of nicotine closer to the arterial
concentrations of an active smoker and aimed at better control of withdrawal
symptoms in heavy smokers has been tested and is safe up to doses higher
than 42 mg per day,
640-643
even in individuals who
persisted smoking. However, the heterogeneity of the studies and the small
number of volunteers included do not provide sufficient evidence of an
increase in long-term smoking abstinence rates.
The possible association of NRT with non-nicotinic drug (such as bupropion)
or the choice of varenicline monotherapy is theoretically an acceptable
option, but they do not find great support in specific studies in these
special situations.
640-643
NRT is not superior over bupropion in patients with a history of recent
(below six weeks) high-risk acute coronary syndrome and patients with
complex ventricular arrhythmias. Published studies are controversial in
identifying additional benefits (in addition to the control of withdrawal
symptoms) from the drug treatment compared to the counseling program and
behavioral approach alone.
For hospitalized patients, we propose a treatment based on the flowchart in
figure 6.
Figure 6
In-hospital patient algorithm.
* < 20 CIGARETTES/DAY: 14 mg patches; 20-30 cigarettes/day: 21
mg patches; 31-40 cigarettes/day: 21 mg + 7 mg patches; > 40
cigarettes/day: 21 mg + 14 mg patches. For all cases, consider
the association with nicotine gum or tablet of 4 mg ad libitum.
† consider titration of transdermal nicotine dose (avoid
doses above 42 mg/day) or substitute for varenicline. ‡
outpatient return in a maximum of one month, with follow-up for
a time not lesser than one month. Reduce dose of NRT according
to the guidelines applicable to general situations.
There is consistent evidence supporting the treatment to stop smoking in
subpopulations of hospitalized patients and candidates for surgical
procedures. This intervention is extremely effective and inexpensive.
In general, the therapeutic strategies are not much different from the
routines suggested for general populations, but there is a preference for
NRT.
Hospital admissions and consultations for the evaluation of surgical risks
and perioperative care should consider the active approach to cessation of
smoking, researching, advising, treating, and following-up these
patients.