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Introduction An individualised thromboprophylaxis was implemented in critically ill patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia to reduce mortality and improve clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of this intervention on clinical outcome. Methods In this mono-centric, controlled, before-after study, all consecutive adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to ICU from March 13th to April 20th 2020 were included. A thromboprophylaxis protocol, including augmented LMWH dosing, individually tailored with anti-Xa measurements and twice-weekly ultrasonography screening for DVT, was implemented on March 31th 2020. Primary endpoint is one-month mortality. Secondary outcomes include two-week and three-week mortality, the incidence of VTE, acute kidney injury and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Multiple regression modelling was used to correct for differences between the two groups. Results 46 patients were included in the before group, 26 patients in the after group. One month mortality decreased from 39.13% to 3.85% (p, Highlights • An individualised thromboprophylaxis was implemented in critically ill COVID-19 patients. • One-month mortality was reduced after implementation of this protocol • Cumulative incidence of venous thromboembolism was lower after implementation. • Less need for continuous renal replacement therapy in the after group.

Background The aim of this paper is to describe a newly developed endoscopic coronary artery bypass graft (Endo-CABG) technique to treat patients with single- and multi-vessel disease and discuss the short-term clinical results in a large patient cohort. This technique avoids a median sternotomy by combining a thoracoscopic technique via three ∼5 mm thoracic ports and a mini-thoracotomy utility 3–4 cm port through the intercostal space. Methods From January 2016 to January 2018, data from consecutive patients undergoing an elective Endo-CABG were prospectively entered into a customized database and retrospectively reviewed. Patients scheduled for a combined hybrid intervention were excluded. Conversion rate to sternotomy, incidence of surgical revision and postoperative graft failure, one-month survival, morbidity, and length of stay (LOS) were investigated. Subgroup analyses were performed. Results A total of 342 patients undergoing an Endo-CABG with one (n = 53) or multiple (n = 289) bypasses were included. No conversion to sternotomy occurred and incidence of surgical revision, graft failure, and 30-day mortality was 7.3%, 1.5%, and 1.8%, respectively. Adverse neurological outcomes were rare: cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, epilepsy, and postoperative delirium were observed in 0.6%, 0.3%, 0.3%, and 5.3% of patients, respectively. Median intensive care unit and hospital LOS were 2.75 (IQR 1.8 to 3.8) and 8.0 days (IQR 7.0 to 10.0), respectively. Thirty-day mortality in obese patients, diabetics, and octogenarians was 0%, 3.6%, and 5.6%, respectively. EuroSCORE II > 5% was associated with a high 30-day mortality (25%). Conclusions Endo-CABG can be considered a safe and effective procedure to treat single- and multi-vessel coronary artery disease. Individual patient selection seems not necessary to apply this technique.

Introduction To ensure patient safety during Totally Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeries (TECS), patients are peripherally cannulated for coupling to the Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) (1). Despite its necessity, the cannulated leg might experience clinically relevant ischemia (CRI), defined as a minimum of 15% Tissue Oxygenation Index (TOI) drop, lasting at least 4 minutes, possibly leading to poor peri- and postoperative clinical outcomes (2). TOI-values were assessed using non-invasive, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS; 200NX-NIRO, Hamamatsu®, Japan) measurements of the skin covering the ipsilateral calf muscles. NIRS enables the quantification of the TOI, based on the difference in light absorption between oxygenated en deoxygenated haemoglobin molecules. The 200NX-NIRO has shown great sensitivity and specificity in the clinical setting (3-5). The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of poor distal leg perfusion related to short-term, peri-operative, CPB-time, since these data remain largerly unknown. Methods All consecutive patients 18 years or older, and scheduled for a TECS-based valve surgery (YIL AVR and/or MVATS), coronary surgery (ENDO ACAB or ENDO CABG), or a combination were included. Perioperative TOI-values were assessed at: baseline (B) = 5 minutes before insertion of the femoral arterial cannula (FAC); Event 1 (E1) = insertion of the FAC; Event 2 (E2) = onset of CPB; Event 3 (E3) = offset of CPB; Event 4 (E4) = removal of the FAC. Results 116 patients were included for statistical analysis. Differences between TOI-values were analysed using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. CRI in the cannulated leg was demonstrated in 18,80% (n = 22) of all cases, and showed significantly lower TOI-values for all events (E1, E2, E3 and E4) compared to the baseline TOI-value (Figure 1): p Discussion Although not all patients showed CRI in the cannulated leg, some degree of hypoperfusion was demonstrated over all cannulated legs. However, these are interim results and thus, further research regarding postoperative follow-up is necessary and might offer insights on how to prevent or prematurely treat ischemia and/or ischemia-related complications in the subclinical stage.

Nijs, K (reprint author), Jessa Hosp, Dept Anesthesiol & Pain Med, Hasselt, Belgium. Jessa Hosp, Dept Anesthesiol & Pain Med, Hasselt, Belgium.