ERACS - Managing Postoperative Risks

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ERACS – Managing Postoperative Risks

October 14, 12:45 – 14:00 CET

While the reduction of mortality and postoperative complications after cardiac surgery remains a central focus of the ERACS Guidelines, many areas are still being explored. Focussing on postoperative management after cardiac surgery, expect the invited speakers to share best practices and evidence-based recommendations to achieve safer care for enhanced recovery.

ERACS – Managing Postoperative Risks

Fast Track vs. Safe Track – Preventing and Managing Postoperative Complications

Prof. Marjan Jahangiri

Marjan Jahangiri, MD,  Professor of Cardiac Surgery at St. George's Hospital, University of London (UK)

In the last 20 years the mortality and complications following cardiac surgery have reduced significantly. There is now emphasis on full optimisation pre-operatively, specific measures during surgery and post-operatively on ICU to improve recovery and physical and mental health. This session is aimed to address these measures in a series of patients before and after implementation of ERAS protocols. 

Surgical Bleeding – When to Re-Explore

Professor Michael Borger

Michael Borger, MD, PHD, Chief Physician at Heart Center Leipzig (Germany)

Lecture outline coming soon

Pain Management for CTV Patients – Challenges and New Possibilities

Dr. Anna Flo Forner

Anna Flo Forner, MD, Senior Consultant in Heart Center Leipzig (Germany)

The implementation fast track protocols in cardiac anesthesia with a reduction in intraoperative opioids made the rapid and safe extubation of patients possible.

Nevertheless, the control of severe acute postoperative pain associated with sternotomy and thoracotomy mandates the use of high doses of opioids in the early postoperative period, thus delaying respiratory physiotherapy, early mobilisation and oral intake. Multimodal analgesia especially the use of regional blocks has not been widely applied in cardiac anesthesia due to serious concerns about complications of neuraxial blocks in patients receiving systemic anticoagulation. The introduction of ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks may offer a valuable alternative to manage postoperative pain decreasing postoperative opioid requirements and enhancing recovery.  

Postoperative Care – In Search for the Holy Grail

Dr. Jörg Ender

Jörg Ender, MD, Director of Department for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Heart Center Leipzig (Germany)

Postoperative Care after cardiac surgery in the context of ERACS includes early extubation, good analgesia and early mobilization. Pathways have to be adapted to infrastructure of the individual hospital. A successful strategy includes normothermia of the patient at the end of operation, adequate number and quality of staff members for immediate postoperative care and defined protocols.  

Live Q&A Session

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