Perioperative Management of Comorbidities

Perioperative Management of Comorbidities

Perioperative Management of Comorbidities

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Cardiovascular Comorbidities - Heart Matters Most

  • Risk Stratification:
    • Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) for Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE):
      • Components: High-risk surgery, Hx Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Hx Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Hx Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)/Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Preoperative Creatinine >2 mg/dL.
      • Score 0: 0.4% MACE; 1: 0.9%; 2: 6.6%; ≥3: 11%.
  • Hypertension (HTN):
    • Goal: BP <140/90 mmHg.
    • Delay elective surgery if BP >180/110 mmHg.
    • Continue β-blockers. Consider holding ACE inhibitors/ARBs on surgery day (risk of hypotension).
  • Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD):
    • Post-Myocardial Infarction (MI): Delay elective surgery >60 days.
    • Post-Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Bare Metal Stent (BMS) 4-6 weeks; Drug-Eluting Stent (DES) 6-12 months.
    • Aspirin: Continue for high CV risk; stop 7 days prior if high bleed risk surgery.
  • Heart Failure (HF):
    • Optimize volume status & medical therapy. Ejection Fraction (EF) <35% indicates ↑ risk.
  • Valvular Heart Disease:
    • Severe Aortic Stenosis (AS): Aortic Valve Area (AVA) <1 cm², mean gradient >40 mmHg. High risk; consider Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) pre-op.

⭐ Continuation of beta-blockers perioperatively is crucial for patients on chronic therapy.

Respiratory & Diabetic Care - Lungs & Glucose Go-Tos

Respiratory - Preoperative:

  • Smoking cessation: 4-8 weeks prior.
  • PFTs for high-risk (e.g., FEV1 < 50%).
  • Asthma: Continue meds; pre-op steroids if FEV1 < 80% or recent exacerbation.
  • COPD: Optimize bronchodilators.

Respiratory - Postoperative:

  • Incentive spirometry, deep breathing.
  • Early mobilization, adequate analgesia. Incentive Spirometry Use and Diagram

Diabetes Mellitus - Perioperative:

  • Goal: HbA1c < 8%.
  • Medications:
    • Stop Metformin 24-48h prior.
    • Hold other oral hypoglycemics (OHAs) day of surgery.
    • Adjust insulin: Continue basal, hold/reduce prandial.
  • Monitoring: Frequent blood glucose (BG).

⭐ Target perioperative BG: 140-180 mg/dL. IV insulin if BG consistently > 180 mg/dL.

📌 Lungs: Stop smoking, PFTs, Optimize meds, Post-op physio. 📌 Glucose: HbA1c <8%, Hold OHAs (Metformin early), Insulin adjust, Target 140-180 mg/dL.

Renal & Hematologic Management - Kidney & Clotting Care

  • Renal Function Assessment & Care:
    • Calculate eGFR pre-op. Cockcroft-Gault: $CrCl = \frac{((140 - Age) \times Wt_{kg} \times [0.85 \text{ if female}])}{(72 \times SCr_{mg/dL})}$.
    • Adjust drug dosages if eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m².
    • Maintain euvolemia; avoid nephrotoxic agents to prevent AKI.
  • Hematologic Considerations:
    • Anemia: Consider transfusion if Hb < 7-8 g/dL, or if patient is symptomatic.
    • Anticoagulation Management:
      • Warfarin: Stop 5 days pre-op. Target INR < 1.5.
      • LMWH: Stop 12-24h (prophylactic dose) or 24-48h (therapeutic dose) pre-op.
      • DOACs: Stop 1-5 days pre-op, depending on specific agent and renal function.
    • Thrombocytopenia: Aim for platelet count > 50,000/μL for most surgeries; > 100,000/μL for neurosurgery/ophthalmic surgery.

⭐ For elective surgery, Warfarin is typically stopped 5 days prior and bridged with LMWH if high thrombotic risk.

Perioperative Anticoagulation Bridging Strategy

Hepatic & Other Endocrine - Glands & Gut Guards

  • Hepatic Dysfunction:
    • Assess severity: Child-Pugh (Bilirubin, Albumin, INR, Ascites, Encephalopathy), MELD (Bilirubin, INR, Creatinine).
    • Optimize: Correct coagulopathy (Vit K, FFP), manage ascites, treat encephalopathy.
    • Delay elective surgery if acute hepatitis or decompensation. Child-Pugh Scoring Interpretation
  • Thyroid Disorders:
    • Hypothyroid: Continue levothyroxine. Severe (myxedema) - postpone elective surgery.
    • Hyperthyroid: Achieve euthyroid state pre-op (antithyroid drugs, β-blockers). Risk of thyroid storm.
  • Adrenal Gland:
    • Adrenal Insufficiency: 📌 Stress dose steroids.
      • Minor surgery: Hydrocortisone 25mg IV pre-op.
      • Moderate: Hydrocortisone 50-75mg IV pre-op, then taper.
      • Major: Hydrocortisone 100-150mg IV pre-op, then taper.
    • Pheochromocytoma: Pre-op α-blockade (e.g., phenoxybenzamine) then β-blockade.

⭐ Patients on chronic steroids (e.g., >5mg prednisone daily for >3 weeks, or equivalent) require perioperative stress dose steroids.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Continue beta-blockers; hold ACEi/ARBs on surgery day.
  • Target perioperative glucose 140-180 mg/dL for diabetics.
  • Delay elective surgery: 4-6 weeks post-MI, 6 months post-Drug Eluting Stent.
  • Smoking cessation ≥4-8 weeks preoperatively significantly reduces pulmonary risk.
  • Bridge anticoagulation (e.g., warfarin to heparin) for high-risk thromboembolic patients.
  • Optimize severe COPD/asthma; ensure euthyroid state before thyroid surgery.
  • Child-Pugh score assesses risk in liver disease; correct coagulopathy_

Practice Questions: Perioperative Management of Comorbidities

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 63-year-old man presents for an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. He is obese, has angina at rest, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which of the following would be his American society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification

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Flashcards: Perioperative Management of Comorbidities

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In abdominal compartment syndrome, central venous pressure _____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

In abdominal compartment syndrome, central venous pressure _____

increases

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