Exp Ther Med
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Rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) is an infusion of polyclonal rabbit-derived antibodies against human thymocyte markers, which can be used to prevent and treat acute rejection following organ transplantation. However, the product monograph issued by the manufacturer (Sanofi Canada) reports that serious immune-mediated reactions have been observed following the use of rATG, consisting of anaphylaxis or severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is a form of vasoplegic syndrome (VS), in which distributive shock occurs refractory to norepinephrine (NE) and vasopressin (VP). Severe infusion-associated reactions are consistent with CRS and can cause serious cardiac or respiratory problems, or in certain cases, mortality. ⋯ The patient required high doses of VP and NE infusions. Following the protocol described for treating refractory VS in post-cardiac surgery patients, the decision was made to initiate the patient on an IV MB infusion. This treatment protocol was shown to improve the hemodynamic status of the patient, which enabled the withdrawal of vasopressors and suggests an important role for methylene blue in the management of refractory VS.
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Dexmedetomidine is a suitable sedative for awake fiberoptic intubation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, previous studies have shown that dexmedetomidine delays recovery from propofol-remifentanil anesthesia. This study aimed to determine whether doxapram may hasten the recovery following dexmedotomidine-propofol-remifentanil anesthesia. ⋯ The time to return to spontaneous breathing (5.2±2.9 vs. 11.7±3.4 min, P<0.001), eye opening (9.3±4.7 vs. 15.9±6.3 min, P<0.001), hand squeeze to command (11.8±6.5 vs. 17.6±7.7 min, P=0.0026) and extubation (14.2±7.8 vs. 19.2±9.6 min, P=0.0308) were significantly shorter in the doxapram group compared with the control group. BIS scores (at 3-14 min), RR (at 4-10 min) and HR (at 2-13 min) were significantly higher in the doxapram group compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). Doxapram hastens the recovery from dexmedetomidine-propofol-remifentanil anesthesia in patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, and may benefit patients with OSA.
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The minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope has been widely demonstrated to have strong prognostic value in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and the risk of mortality is believed to increase when the VE/VCO2 slope is >32.8; however, there is little evidence concerning the prognostic value of the VE/VCO2 slope in Chinese patients. In the present study, the prognostic value of the VE/VCO2 slope was investigated in patients with CHF. A total of 258 subjects underwent symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and were divided into CHF (113 males and 16 females; LVEF <0.49) and control (106 males and 23 females) groups. ⋯ The optimal threshold of the VE/VCO2 slope for predicting cardiac-related hospitalizations in patients with CHF was ≥32.9. In conclusion, ventilatory efficiency decreases in patients with CHF. The VE/VCO2 slope is a strong predictor of cardiac-related mortalities in the patients with CHF analyzed.
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Cricothyroid membrane injections and the application of a coarse fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) below the vocal cords for topical anesthesia have a number of limitations for certain patients. Thus, the aim of the present observational study was to assess the effect of a novel modified topical anesthesia method using the effective sedation drugs, remifentanil (Rem) or dexmedetomidine (Dex), during awake fiberoptic orotracheal intubation (AFOI). In total, 90 adult patients, who had been classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II, were included in the study. ⋯ However, the Rem group experienced less coughing, and less time was required for tracheal intubation when compared with the Dex group. No statistically significant differences were observed in the changes to the mean arterial pressure and heart rate at any time point between the two groups. Therefore, the current study demonstrated that the modified AFOI method is feasible and effective for difficult airway management, and that Dex and Rem exhibit similar efficacy as adjuvant therapies.
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The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the levels of the plasma biomarkers, cortisol, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, change in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD); thus, may serve as predictive factors for POCD. In total, 75 adolescent scoliosis patients, aged between 11 and 18 years and categorized as American Society of Anesthesiologists classification I or II, were scheduled for orthopedic surgery with general anesthesia. Blood samples were collected on the day of admission and at day 2 following surgery. ⋯ However, the baseline plasma level of TNF-α on day 2 in the POCD group was found to be higher compared with the non-POCD group. In addition, at day 2 after surgery, the concentration of cortisol in the non-POCD group was higher compared with the POCD group. Therefore, the plasma level of TNF-α in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients at day 2 following orthopedic surgery may be a predictor for the incidence of early POCD.