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Objective: The distribution of postoperative gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction and its association with outcome were investigated in cardiac surgery patients. Gastrointestinal function was evaluated using the Acute Gastrointestinal Injury (AGI) grade proposed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Design: Prospective observational study at a single center. Setting: University hospital. Patients: Consecutive patients presenting for elective cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Interventions: None. Results: Daily assessment using the AGI grade was performed on the first 3 postoperative days in addition to standard care. For analysis, 3 groups were formed based on the maximum AGI grade: AGI 0, AGI 1, and AGI ≥2. Five hundred and one patients completed the study; 32.7%, 65.1%, and 2.2% of the patients scored a maximum AGI 0, AGI 1, and AGI ≥2, respectively. Patients with AGI grade ≥2 had more frequently undergone thoracic aortic surgery and had longer surgery duration and time on ECC. Patients with AGI grade ≥2 had statistically significant higher frequency of GI complications within 30 days (63.6% vs 1.2% and 5.5% in patients with AGI 0 and AGI 1) and higher 30-day mortality (9.1% vs 0.0% and 1.8% in patients with AGI 0 and AGI 1). Conclusions: Early GI dysfunction following cardiac surgery was associated with an unfavorable outcome. Increased attention to GI dysfunction in cardiac surgery patients is warranted and the AGI grade could be a helpful adjunct to a structured approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Gastrointestinal complications post cardiac surgery are infrequent but difficult to diagnose and carry a high mortality. Plasma intestinal fatty acid‐binding protein (I‐FABP) concentrations and the relationship between I‐FABP, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and postoperative outcomes were investigated in patients who developed gastrointestinal dysfunction (acute gastrointestinal injury [AGI] grade ≥2) and those with normal gastrointestinal function. Methods: Patients with (AGI 2 group, n = 11) and without (matched controls, AGI 0 group, n = 22) early postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction were extracted from a larger single‐center prospective observational study, including adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation, and investigated in this nested case‐control analysis. Results: Both groups displayed variations in I‐FABP concentrations with higher I‐FABP on postoperative Day 1 compared to baseline and postoperative Days 2 and 3 (p <.001 and p =.005, respectively). The AGI 2 group had higher I‐FABP concentrations on Day 2 compared to the AGI 0 group (p =.024). I‐FABP on Day 2 correlated positively with AGI grade over the first 3 days (p =.036, p =.021 and p =.018, respectively). High I‐FABP (defined as fourth quartile concentrations) on Day 1 was associated with more prolonged surgical procedures (p <.05). Furthermore, fourth quartile I‐FABP on Day 1 and early gastrointestinal dysfunction were associated with higher frequencies of postoperative organ dysfunction (p <.05) and gastrointestinal complications (p <.05), and higher 365‐day mortality. Conclusion: The present study indicates an association between intraoperative gastrointestinal injury, postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction and gastrointestinal complications. A high‐powered study is needed to further explore this relationship and the interpretation of I‐FABP concentrations in individual cardiac surgery patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative cardiac dysfunction cause splanchnic hypoperfusion resulting in intra-abdominal anaerobic metabolism and risk for gastrointestinal complications. The intra-abdominal metabolism can be monitored by intraperitoneal measurement of relevant metabolites using microdialysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the intraperitoneal metabolism using microdialysis during and after cardiopulmonary bypass at 34°C. Methods: In six patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting or aortic valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass, microdialysis was used to measure intraperitoneal and subcutaneous glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glycerol and glutamate concentrations, intraoperatively and up to 36 hours postoperatively. Arterial and central venous blood gases were analysed as were haemodynamics and the development of complications. Results: All patients had an ordinary perioperative course and did not develop gastrointestinal complications. The arterial, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous lactate concentrations changed during the perioperative course with differences between compartments. The highest median (interquartile range) concentration was recorded in the intraperitoneal compartment at 1 hour after the end of cardiopulmonary bypass (2.1 (1.9–2.5) mM compared to 1.3 (1.2–1.7) mM and 1.5 (1.0–2.2) mM in the arterial and subcutaneous compartments, respectively). In parallel with the peak increase in lactate concentration, the intraperitoneal lactate/pyruvate ratio was elevated to 33.4 (12.9–54.1). Conclusion: In cardiac surgery, intraperitoneal microdialysis detected changes in the abdominal metabolic state, which were more pronounced than could be shown by arterial blood gas analysis. Despite an uneventful perioperative course, patients undergoing low-risk surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass might be subjected to a limited and subclinical intra-abdominal anaerobic state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anastomotic leakage is the most serious and unwelcome complication in rectal surgery. It has a great impact on postoperative morbidity and mortality. In this pilot study, changes of mRNA expression in blood were analyzed in an animal model designed to imitate anastomotic leakage., Materials and Methods: Twelve pigs were randomized into two groups: A sham-operated control group and an experimental group in which iatrogenic rectal perforation was performed. The changes in the mRNA expression at 4 hours after creating the perforation were studied. Microarray analysis was performed using Gene Chip whole porcine genome array. mRNA expression of 19,124 genes was investigated., Results: Significantly increased levels of genes with a fold change greater than 2 were found, including 276 coding for unknown proteins and 48 coding for known proteins. Eleven of those which coded for known proteins were up-regulated with a fold change >4., Conclusion: Eleven known genes were highly up-regulated after rectal perforation. These genes were mainly involved in inflammatory response, intracellular signaling and cell membrane regulation. Their corresponding proteins might potentially be clinical biomarkers of anastomotic leakage and should be evaluated in further clinical studies., (Copyright © 2022 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)