Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2020
Modifiable Risk Factors and Mortality From Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes in Patients Receiving Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Results From the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry.
Although acute brain injury is common in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, little is known regarding the mechanism and predictors of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. We aimed to determine the risk factors and outcomes of each ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in patients with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. ⋯ Despite a decrease in the prevalence of acute brain injury in recent years, mortality rates remain high when ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are present. Future research is necessary on understanding the timing of associated risk factors to promote prevention and management strategy.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2020
Estimation of Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure Using Doppler Echocardiography in Mechanically Ventilated Patients.
Evaluation of left atrial pressure is frequently required for mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the 2016 American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines for assessment of the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (a frequent surrogate of left atrial pressure) in this population. ⋯ The American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines do not accurately assess pulmonary artery occlusion pressure in ventilated critically ill patients. Simple Doppler measurements gave a similar level of diagnostic performance with less uncertainly.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2020
Automated Algorithm Analysis of Sublingual Microcirculation in an International Multicentral Database Identifies Alterations Associated With Disease and Mechanism of Resuscitation.
Reliable automated handheld vital microscopy image sequence analysis and the identification of disease states and effects of therapy are prerequisites for the routine use of quantitative sublingual microcirculation measurements at the point-of-care. The present study aimed to clinically validate the recently introduced MicroTools software in a large multicentral database of perioperative and critically ill patients and to use this automatic algorithm to data-mine and identify the sublingual microcirculatory variable changes in response to disease and therapy. ⋯ Algorithm-based analysis of the sublingual microcirculation closely matched manual analysis across a broad spectrum of populations. It successfully identified a methodology to quantify microcirculatory alterations associated with disease and the success of capillary recruitment, improving point-of-care application of microcirculatory-targeted resuscitation procedures.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2020
Use of Angiotensin II in Severe Vasoplegia After Left Pneumonectomy Requiring Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Renin Response Analysis.
Describe a case of post-pneumonectomy vasoplegia managed with angiotensin II. Plasma renin activity was measured at specific time intervals to describe the relationship between endogenous renin activity and exogenous angiotensin II supplementation. ⋯ Exogenous angiotensin II reduced catecholamine vasopressor doses and had an apparent effect in reducing endogenous renin production in this case. Prospective research is warranted to determine the utility of angiotensin II and to better understand it effects on the dysfunctional renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system during vasoplegic shock.