KNOWN SECRETS! - COEXISTING ILLNESS AND ANESTHESIA

1. The evaluation of risk factors,  is for planning the anesthetic management, and will be of no use in predicting the outcome.
2. There is no justification for performing revascularisation purely to facilitate elective non cardiac surgery.
3. M.I. within the last 6 weeks, class iii-iv angina, decompensated heart failure, malignant arrhythmias, severe valvular heart disease, CABG/PTCA within the last 6 weeks constitute major Cardio Vascular risk factors for surgery.
4. Previous M.I. (>6weeks), class i-ii angina, compensated heart failure, T2 DM constitute intermediate C. V. risk factors.
5. Age > 70 years, uncontrolled systemic hypertension, arrhythmias, family h/o CAD, dyslipidemia, smoking, renal dysfunction, ECG abnormalities (LVH, RBBB/LBBB, ST segment anomalies) constitute minor C. V. risk factors.
6. Only emergency, life saving procedures should be performed during the first 6 weeks after a myocardial infarction (M. I.) and after CABG/PTCA with or without a coronary stent. The period between 6 weeks and 3 months are considered as a period of intermediate risk,  when non urgent elective surgery should be postponed.
7. SURGICAL PREDICTORS OF INCREASED PERIOPERATIVE CARDIOVASCULAR RISK
(i) HIGH RISK (complication rate >5%)
#Emergency major to intermediate surgery, especially in elderly patients
#Aortic & major and also peripheral vascular surgery
#Procedures involving: hem
dynamic instability, long duration or large fluid/blood loss
(ii) INTERMEDIATE RISK (complication rate 1-5%)
#Carotid endarterectomy
#Head & neck surgery
#Abdominal/thoracic surgery
#Orthopaedic surgery
#Prostatectomy
(iii)LOW RISK (complication rate <1%)
#Endoscopic procedure
#Breast and superficial surgery
#Eye surgery
8. ACE inhibitors are withheld for 24 hours by some anesthetists.
9. Perioperative beta blockade should be continued for 72 hours postoperatively.
10. The gold standard for detecting intraoperative ischemia and assessing volume status & valvular function is TEE.
11. Most perioperative myocardial infarctions occur in the first 3 days postoperatively. Patients at risk for M.I. require effective analgesia and humidified oxygen therapy for atleast 72 hours after major surgery.
12.  Severe hypertension (grade 3) has been associated with an increased incidence of perioperative hemodynamic instability, silent m.i. and arrhythmias; but evidence of a clinically significant increase in adverse outcome is lacking. The presence of endorgan damage due to hypertension is more important than the blood pressure per se.
13. Ideally the blood pressure should be maintained within 20% of the best estimate of preoperative pressure.
14. The treatment of arrhythmias produced by WPW syndrome includes Flecainide, Disopyramide, Procainamide and Amiodarone. Dgoxin and Verapamil are contraindicated.
15. There is no evidence to suggest that, frequent ventricular ectopics or asymptomatic non sustained ventricuar tachycardia is associated with an increased incidence of perioperative m.i..
16. Sick sinus syndrome is associated with a high ris of thromboemboism and may be anticoaguated. If the patient is not having a permanent pacemaker, he/she needs a, temporary pacing wire inserted preoperatively.
17. Complete heart block, type ii second degree A-V block and lesser degrees of heart block, in the presence of symptoms or cardiac failure requires preoperative insertion of permanent or temporary insertion of pacemaker. Vlatile agents prolong cardiac conduction and can worsen heart block. Atropine, Isoprenaline and facilities for external pacing should be kept ready.
18. ATRIOVENTRICULAR BLOCKS
(i) First degree block: P-R interval > 0.2 sec
(ii)Second degree block
Type I: progressive lengthening of PR interval,  until conduction fails and a beat is dropped.
Type II: intermittent failure of AV conduction without preceding PR prolongation.
(iii) Third degree block
Complete dissociation of atria and ventricles as atrial impulses fails to be transmitted. 
19. CHECKLIST FOR A PATIENT WITH PACEMAKER
a. Indication for pacemaker insertion
b. Mode of function of pacemaker
c. Functional status
d. Consider conversion of rate responsive pacemakers to fixed rate in the perioperative period.
e. Ensure use of only bipolar diathermy
f. If unipolar diathermy must be used, then the ground plate should be placed on the same site as the operating site, as far away from the pacemaker as possible. The frequency and duration of use should be minimised and the lowest possible current used.
g. MRI is contraindicated
h. Magnets should not be placed over pacemakers during surgery,  as they have an unpredictable effect on the programming of modern pacemakers.
i. A backup pacing system, atropine, adrenaline, isoprenaline and a backup pacing system should be available, in case of pacemaker failure.
20. Anesthesia constitutes a significant risk in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy. Patients will be having dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, often with secondary MR. They are prone to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Look for an Ejection systolic murmur in auscultation and LVH in ecg. Confirmation is by ECHO. Avoid hypovolemia, vasodilatation and the use of catecholamines
21. Constrictive pericarditis poorly tolerate vasodilatation; especially at induction.
22. In valvular heart disease, antibiotic prophylaxis is especially required for dental surgeries and those involving instrumentation of upper respiratory tract and genitourinary system.
23. AORTIC STENOSIS
# Even an ejection systolic murmur in an asymptomatic patient also warrants careful preoperative examination/ ECHO, as symptoms tend to appear late in the disease only.
# Promptly treat tachycardia and AF.
# Maintain ventricular filling by avoiding hypovolemia and maintaining SVR.
# Vasodilatation may result in profound hypotension--> subendocardial ischemia and even sudden death.
# Aggressive treatment of hypotension is mandatory to prevent cardiogenic shock and/or cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is unlikely to be effective in patients with aortic stenosis because it is difficult, if not impossible, to create an adequate stroke volume across a stenotic aortic valve with cardiac compression.
24. AORTIC REGURGITATION
# Avoid vasoconstriction and bradycardia which increases the degree of regurgitation
# A mild tachycardia, moderate fluid loading, a degree of vasodilatation and avoidence of myocardial depression can improve the forward flow.
# Acute AR is a surgical emergency and may respond poorly to vasodilatation.
25. MITRAL STENOSIS
# Patients are prone to develop CCF and Pulmonary Edema.
# Atrial fibrillation is a trigger for acute deterioration; so should be treated preoperatively
# Avoid tachycardia, myocardial depression and excessive vasodilatation
# Hypovolemia compromises ventricular filling
# Fluid overload can easily precipitate pulmonary edema
# PCWP will be inaccurate in the presence of pulmonary hyperension. Avoid Nitrous oxide if there is evidence of pulmonary hypertension.
26. MITRAL REGURGITATION
# A mild tachycardia,  a slight reduction in SVR and avoidance of myocardial depression are desirable.
# Avoid hypovolemia
27. There is little evidence that GA in ADULTS with URTI is associated with an increased risk of adverse respiratory events, although upper airway reactivity may be increased
28. In children with URTI,  a higher incidence of adverse respiratory events have been demonstrated,  but few of these adverse events result in postoperative sequelae. It has been suggested that surgery need not necessarily be postponed in children with mild URTI. Increased airway reactivity may persist for 4-6 weeks and if surgery is postponed, it should be for a period of at least 6 weeks.
29. In COPD, if the patient is having copious secretions, better to avoid anticholinergics, as it will impair the ability to clear secretions.
30. Even though regional anesthesia has the advantage of avoiding respiratory complications of GA, most patients, even those with quite severe COPD may be managed safely under carefully c
ducted GA.
31. Pressure Controlled Ventilation with a low respiratory rate and prolonged expiratory phase is suitable in COPD patients.
32. Epidural analgesia has been shown to decrease the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in thoracic and upper abdomnal surgery.
33. In patients with bronchial asthma, good depth of anesthesia, good muscle relaxation and i. v.  Lidocaine can reduce the incidence of bronchospasm during intubation; topical lidocaine spray is not effective and may induce bronchoconstriction in some patients.
34. Circulatory disturbance during anesthesia and surgery may affect the absorption of subcutaneous insulin.