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BACKGORUND Current evidence suggests that intraoperative goal-directed haemodynamic therapy (GDT) should be considered for high-risk patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. We aimed to evaluate if an algorithm using venoarterial carbon dioxide difference (CO2 gap) and pulse pressure variation (PPV) as therapeutic targets during GDT would decrease the major complications after gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS This was a before-and-after study (n = 204) performed in a tertiary hospital on patients who underwent elective open major gastrointestinal surgeries. The inclusion criteria were surgeries expected to last more than two hours, family and physician's agreement on total postoperative support, and survival expectancy of at least three months. The exclusion criteria were previous haemodynamic instability, presence of infection, cardiac arrhythmias, and emergency surgery. In the intervention group (IG), an algorithm was applied using fluids, dobutamine, and noradrenaline during the intraoperative period aiming at MAP > 65 mm Hg, SpO2 > 95%, CO2 gap < 6 mm Hg, and PPV < 13%. The control group (CG) comprised consecutive eligible patients who were operated by the same team before the institution of the algorithm. RESULTS The rates of moderate and severe postoperative complications were lower in the IG (11% vs. 23%; IC: RR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.246-0.929; P = 0.025). The respective 90- and 180-day mortality rates in the IG and CG were 9.8% vs. 22.5% (P = 0.014) and 12.6% vs. 25.5% (P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS An algorithm aiming to minimise the CO2 gap and normalise PPV was feasible and effective in decreasing rates of moderate and severe complications after surgery in high-risk patients.

RESUMO Objetivo: Definir o perfil epidemiologico e os principais determinantes de morbimortalidade dos pacientes cirurgicos nao cardiacos de alto risco no Brasil. Metodos: Estudo prospectivo, observacional e multicentrico. Todos os pacientes cirurgicos nao cardiacos admitidos nas unidades de terapia intensiva, ou seja, considerados de alto risco, no periodo de 1 mes, foram avaliados e acompanhados diariamente por, no maximo, 7 dias na unidade de terapia intensiva, para determinacao de complicacoes. As taxas de mortalidade em 28 dias de pos-operatorio, na unidade de terapia intensiva e hospitalar foram avaliadas. Resultados: Participaram 29 unidades de terapia intensiva onde foram realizadas cirurgias em 25.500 pacientes, dos quais 904 (3,5%) de alto risco (intervalo de confianca de 95% - IC95% 3,3% - 3,8%), tendo sido incluidos no estudo. Dos pacientes envolvidos, 48,3% eram de unidades de terapia intensiva privadas e 51,7% de publicas. O tempo de internacao na unidade de terapia intensiva foi de 2,0 (1,0 - 4,0) dias e hospitalar de 9,5 (5,4 - 18,6) dias. As taxas de complicacoes foram 29,9% (IC95% 26,4 - 33,7) e mortalidade em 28 dias pos-cirurgia 9,6% (IC95% 7,4 - 12,1). Os fatores independentes de risco para complicacoes foram Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3; razao de chance − RC = 1,02; IC95% 1,01 - 1,03) e Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA) da admissao na unidade de terapia intensiva (RC =1,17; IC95% 1,09 - 1,25), tempo de cirurgia (RC = 1,001; IC95% 1,000 - 1,002) e cirurgias de emergencias (RC = 1,93; IC95% 1,10 - 3,38). Em adicao, foram associados com mortalidade em 28 dias idade (RC = 1,032; IC95% 1,011 - 1,052) SAPS 3 (RC = 1,041; IC95% 1,107 - 1,279), SOFA (RC = 1,175; IC95% 1,069 - 1,292) e cirurgias emergenciais (RC = 2,509; IC95% 1,040 - 6,051). Conclusao: Pacientes com escores prognosticos mais elevados, idosos, tempo cirurgico e cirurgias emergenciais estiveram fortemente associados a maior mortalidade em 28 dias e mais complicacoes durante permanencia em unidade de terapia intensiva.

RESUMO O transplante de órgãos é a única alternativa para muitos pacientes portadores de algumas doenças terminais. Ao mesmo tempo, é preocupante a crescente desproporção entre a alta demanda por transplantes de órgãos e o baixo índice de transplantes efetivados. Dentre as diferentes causas que alimentam essa desproporção, estão os equívocos na identificação do potencial doador de órgãos e as contraindicações mal atribuídas pela equipe assistente. Assim, o presente documento pretende fornecer subsídios à equipe multiprofissional da terapia intensiva para o reconhecimento, a avaliação e a validação do potencial doador de órgãos. ABSTRACT Organ transplantation is the only alternative for many patients with terminal diseases. The increasing disproportion between the high demand for organ transplants and the low rate of transplants actually performed is worrisome. Some of the causes of this disproportion are errors in the identification of potential organ donors and in the determination of contraindications by the attending staff. Therefore, the aim of the present document is to provide guidelines for intensive care multi-professional staffs for the recognition, assessment and acceptance of potential organ donors.

Preventing perioperative tissue oxygen debt contributes to a better postoperative recovery. Whether the beneficial effects of fluids and inotropes during optimization of oxygen delivery (DO2) in high-risk surgical patients are due to fluids, inotropes or the combination of the two is not known. We aimed to investigate the effect of fluid optimization, without the use of inotropes, on morbidity.

Perioperative hemodynamic optimization, or goal-directed therapy (GDT), has been show to significantly decrease complications and risk of death in high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. An important aim of GDT is to prevent an imbalance between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption in order to avoid the development of multiple organ dysfunction. The utilization of cardiac output monitoring in the perioperative period has been shown to improve outcomes if integrated into a GDT strategy. GDT guided by dynamic predictors of fluid responsiveness or functional hemodynamics with minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring is suitable for the majority of patients undergoing major surgery with expected significant volume shifts due to bleeding or other significant intravascular volume losses. For patients at higher risk of complications and death, such as those with advanced age and limited cardiorespiratory reserve, the addition of dobutamine or dopexamine to the treatment algorithm, to maximize oxygen delivery, is associated with better outcomes.

Increasing oxygen delivery in high-risk surgical patients led to a dramatic reduction in both mortality and morbidity. Yet, it is still not widely practised due to logistical difficulties associated with its use. We aimed to evaluate whether pulse power analysis calibrated by the lithium dilution technique, a pragmatic minimally invasive technique, can be used to optimize the oxygen delivery index (DO2I) in high-risk patients during major surgery.

Introduction Preventing perioperative tissue oxygen debt contributes to a better postoperative recovery. Whether the beneficial effects of fluids and inotropes during optimization of the oxygen delivery index (DO2I) in high-risk patients submitted to major surgeries are due to fluids, to inotropes, or to the combination of the two is not known. We aimed to investigate the effect of DO2I optimization with fluids or with fluids and dobutamine on the 60-day hospital mortality and incidence of complications. Methods A randomized and controlled trial was performed in 50 high-risk patients (elderly with coexistent pathologies) undergoing major elective surgery. Therapy consisted of pulmonary artery catheter-guided hemodynamic optimization during the operation and 24 hours postoperatively using either fluids alone (n = 25) or fluids and dobutamine (n = 25), aiming to achieve supranormal values (DO2I > 600 ml/minute/m2). Results The cardiovascular depression was an important component in the perioperative period in this group of patients. Cardiovascular complications in the postoperative period occurred significantly more frequently in the volume group (13/25, 52%) than in the dobutamine group (4/25, 16%) (relative risk, 3.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.22–8.60; P < 0.05). The 60-day mortality rates were 28% in the volume group and 8% in the dobutamine group (relative risk, 3.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.67–13.46; not significant). Conclusion In patients with high risk of perioperative death, pulmonary artery catheter-guided hemodynamic optimization using dobutamine determines better outcomes, whereas fluids alone increase the incidence of postoperative complications.

Introduction Optimal fluid management is crucial for patients who undergo major and prolonged surgery. Persistent hypovolemia is associated with complications, but fluid overload is also harmful. We evaluated the effects of a restrictive versus conventional strategy of crystalloid administration during goal-directed therapy in high-risk surgical patients. Methods We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled study of high-risk patients undergoing major surgery. For fluid maintenance during surgery, the restrictive group received 4 ml/kg/hour and the conventional group received 12 ml/kg/hour of Ringer's lactate solution. A minimally invasive technique (the LiDCO monitoring system) was used to continuously monitor stroke volume and oxygen delivery index (DO2I) in both groups. Dobutamine was administered as necessary, and fluid challenges were used to test fluid responsiveness to achieve the best possible DO2I during surgery and for 8 hours postoperatively. Results Eighty-eight patients were included. The patients' median age was 69 years. The conventional treatment group received a significantly greater amount of lactated Ringer's solution (mean ± standard deviation (SD): 4, 335 ± 1, 546 ml) than the restrictive group (mean ± SD: 2, 301 ± 1, 064 ml) (P < 0.001). Temporal patterns of DO2I were similar between the two groups. The restrictive group had a 52% lower rate of major postoperative complications than the conventional group (20.0% vs 41.9%, relative risk = 0.48, 95% confidence interval = 0.24 to 0.94; P = 0.046). Conclusions A restrictive strategy of fluid maintenance during optimization of oxygen delivery reduces major complications in older patients with coexistent pathologies who undergo major surgery. Trial registration ISRCTN: ISRCTN94984995