Journal of thoracic disease
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Review
Anesthesia and fast-track in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): from evidence to practice.
In thoracic surgery, the introduction of video-assisted thoracoscopic techniques has allowed the development of fast-track protocols, with shorter hospital lengths of stay and improved outcomes. The perioperative management needs to be optimized accordingly, with the goal of reducing postoperative complications and speeding recovery times. Premedication performed in the operative room should be wisely administered because often linked to late discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). ⋯ Fluid therapy needs to be administered critically, to avoid both overload and cardiovascular compromisation. All these practices are analyzed singularly with the aid of the most recent evidences aimed at the best patient care. Finally, a few notes on some of the latest trends in research are presented, such as non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and intravenous lidocaine.
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Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is a rescue treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) failing protective mechanical ventilation. It temporarily provides proper gas exchange: hypoxia is treated by adjusting the blood flow rate and fraction in spired oxygen over the ventilator (FiO2) on the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit while CO2 removal is regulated by the ECMO fresh gas flow. Therefore, ventilator settings can be gradually reduced allowing the lungs to rest and recover. ⋯ Notably, in almost all papers dealing with data on VV ECMO support, the management of weaning and the weaning procedure itself are not described. The aim of this paper is to make a picture of VV ECMO weaning, as it is performed in three European large volume intensive care units (ICUs) which represent referral centers for VV ECMO treatment. We focused on data concerning the timing of VV ECMO weaning and parameters at the time of weaning, in order to assess adequacy and safety of VV ECMO removal.
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Severe ARDS can be complicated by right ventricular (RV) failure. The etiology of RV failure in ARDS is multifactorial. Vascular alterations, hypoxia, hypercapnia and effects of mechanical ventilation may play a role. ⋯ In this review, the etiology, diagnosis and management of RV failure in ARDS will be briefly outlined. The beneficial effect of veno-venous (VV) ECMO on RV function in these patients will be illustrated. Based on this, we will give recommendations regarding choice of ECMO modus and provide an algorithm for management of RV failure in VV ECMO supported patients.
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Data evaluating pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) aspect in the pediatric population are scarce especially regarding the pediatric intensive care unit. Dosing of frequently used drugs (sedatives, analgesics, antibiotics and cardiovascular drugs) are mainly based on non "pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)" patients, and sometimes are translated from adult patients. ⋯ The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is associated with major PK and PD changes, especially in neonates and children. The objective of this review is to assess the current literature for pediatric PK data in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
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Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) has started to be applied in awake spontaneously breathing patients as an alternative to invasive mechanical ventilation. As the physiologic cardiorespiratory variability is increased in this condition, the dynamic interaction between patient respiratory activity and extracorporeal system function affects the clinical management. The effect of extracorporeal CO2 removal on patient respiratory drive is variable and not always predictable, with some patients responding to CO2 removal with a decrease in respiratory rate and effort and other patients demonstrating a persistently high work of breathing independent on CO2 unload. ⋯ Assessment of native lung function and of its evolution over time is challenging while respiratory gas exchanges are provided by the extracorporeal system, since both oxygenation and decarboxylation capabilities can be fully evaluated only when alveolar ventilation is restored reducing extracorporeal CO2 removal. The rationale for using "awake ECMO" varies across different types of acute respiratory failure: the pathophysiological mechanisms of the underlying disease affect the patient-ECMO interaction and the goal of support. In this review we discuss the pathophysiology, technical challenges and monitoring issues of the use of ECMO in awake spontaneously breathing patients with acute respiratory failure of different etiologies.