ASAIO journal : a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
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Case Reports
Abdominal compartment syndrome in newborns and children supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of timely peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter in children with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) while supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We present a case series of four patients who developed significant intraperitoneal fluid accumulation and ACS at the general pediatric and cardiac intensive care units in a tertiary children's hospital. The hospital's ECMO database was queried for patients supported on ECMO who required PD catheter placement. ⋯ One patient died of acute neurologic complication and the other because of severe gastrointestinal bleeding. After ruling out common causes for decreased venous return, ACS should be suspected as one of the important causes, especially in patients with massive capillary leak and increasing abdominal distension, among patients supported on ECMO. Timely placement of a PD catheter in patients who develop abdominal distension and ACS can substantially improve venous return and thus help maintain adequate tissue perfusion by improving ECMO flows.
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Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a widely accepted treatment for end-stage heart failure. Preoperative conditions and right ventricular dysfunction are determinant parameters that influence outcome. We investigated the effect of preoperative levosimendan treatment in LVAD patients with moderate right ventricular dysfunction and right ventricular dilatation. ⋯ During levosimendan treatment, the median NT-proBNP value in patients who survived decreased by 39%, whereas in patients who died there was an increase of 3% (p = 0.008) at 72 hours. A reduction in NT-proBNP to below 25% is a predictor of mortality with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 70%. Levosimendan treatment improves preimplant hemodynamic performance and permits the identification of patients who will develop right ventricular failure.
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One of the greatest problems in performing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is premature coagulation of the circuit. The aim of the current study was to monitor the circuit function prospectively and analyze patient-related variables that may affect circuit life. Critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital between August 2010 and August 2011 receiving continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) with systemic heparin anticoagulation were prospectively studied. ⋯ Circuits with longer survival time appeared to have lower body temperature (37.80 ± 1.14 vs. 36.36 ± 1.09; p< 0.05), lower levels of serum ionized calcium (0.80 vs. 1.29; p< 0.05), and to be more acidic (7.233 vs. 7.377; p< 0.05). Cox regression showed that pH value and ionized calcium levels were significantly associated with circuit life. Other variables of hematocrit, albumin levels, platelet count, aPTT, PT, or dose of heparin were not significantly associated with circuit life.
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Meta Analysis
Molecular adsorbent recirculating system as artificial support therapy for liver failure: a meta-analysis.
Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) is an artificial liver support system that has been developed for patients with liver failure until the liver regains function or as a bridge to transplantation. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of this promising therapy. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Registry of Controlled Trials databases, and abstracts from the proceedings of several scientific meetings. ⋯ The limitations of this study include a small sample size, an inability to blind with significant heterogeneity among studies, and variable definitions of liver failure. The Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System is associated with a significant improvement in total bilirubin levels and hepatic encephalopathy but has no impact on survival. Large studies are required to assess the merit of this promising therapy on patient-centered outcomes.
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Miniaturized bypass circuits, including the Kids D100 oxygenator and the D130 arterial filter, were specially designed to reduce blood transfusions in small infants undergoing cardiac surgery. This study compared the number of blood product transfusions and short-term outcome between patients younger than 1 year undergoing cardiac surgery with a conventional and a miniaturized bypass circuit, after controlling for baseline characteristics and surgical complexity by 1:1 matching. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for exposure to transfusions and to any additional transfusion were estimated from binary and polytomous regression models. ⋯ The use of the miniaturized circuit required a lower priming volume, 265.5 vs. 432.4 mL, p < 0.001, fewer packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions, 1.4 vs. 2.0 U, p < 0.001, and fewer platelet transfusions on the day of surgery, 57.7% vs. 76.4%, p < 0.001. After adjustment for the use of antifibrinolytics, the ultrafiltration rate, and the year of surgery, the use of the miniaturized circuit was independently related to a reduced risk of additional PRBC transfusions, OR 0.04 (0.01, 0.13), and exposure to platelet transfusions, OR 0.78 (0.63, 0.96). Short-term outcome was similar.