Perfusion
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To review current literature evidence on outcomes of cardiac surgery in Jehovah's Witness patients. ⋯ The use of a bloodless protocol for Jehovah's Witnesses does not appear to significantly impact upon clinical outcomes when compared to non-Witness patients, and it has even been suggested that a bloodless approach could provide advantages to all patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Larger cohorts and research across multiple centres into the long term outcomes of these patients is required.
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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is considered a salvage therapy in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and refractory hypoxemia (hypoxemia persisting despite lung-protective ventilation). One aspect of ECMO is whether there would be an application of the technology related to the Coronavirus pandemic. ⋯ Due to this exponential increase in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID19) cases particularly the ones associated with ARDS, experts are evaluating the need for ECMO in intensive care units. Herein, we chronicle a review encompassing the available evidence on ECMO and its potential role in COVID19 ARDS, as we aim for optimal patient care with appropriate resource utilization and conservation.
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The pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated pneumonia represent a clinical and scientific challenge. The role of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in such a crisis remains unclear. ⋯ ECMO is a supportive intervention for COVID-19 associated pneumonia that could be considered if the optimum mechanical ventilation is deemed ineffective. Biomarkers such as D-dimer, LDH, and troponin could help with discerning the clinical prognosis in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
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SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infections have been recently shown to be associated with a high rate of thromboembolic events due to pro-coagulative mechanisms that have not yet been fully understood. This paper reports on a 55-year-old female COVID-19 patient with severe ARDS and pulmonary embolism (PE) complicated by cardiogenic shock after 12 days of hospitalization under initial prophylactic anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). ⋯ The patient developed severe coagulopathy with intrapulmonary bleeding. The present report aims to highlight and discuss the pros and cons of various anticoagulation strategies in COVID-19 patients focusing on current scientific debates to address this frequently observed complication in the current situation worldwide.
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Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate cardioplegia is used for prolonged myocardial protection in complex cardiac surgery. Administration leads to acute hyponatremia in a majority of patients, because of its low sodium concentration (15 mmol/L). However, histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution's osmolality is slightly hypertonic (310 mOsm/kg). Hypothesized was that acute isotonic hyponatremia will be induced, which does not need to be corrected with hypertonic saline. ⋯ Administration of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate cardioplegia during cardiac surgery leads to acute moderate to severe isotonic hyponatremia, which resolves spontaneously in the first 18 hours perioperatively. Correction with hypertonic saline is not necessary.