Successful Use of Surgically Placed Impella 5.0 and Central Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit in a Patient with Postcardiotomy Shock

The Impella 5.0, a percutaneously inserted left ventricular assist device, has been used to support patients who have severe heart failure or who are undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. We report our surgical placement of the Impella 5.0, through a graft sewn to the aorta, to unload the left ventricle of a 59-year-old man who was undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for postcardiotomy shock. The patient underwent successful placement of a long-term left ventricular assist device before his discharge from the hospital. The versatility of the Impella 5.0 is exemplified in this patient who was successfully bridged to long-term support.     

Risk factors for major complications after liver resection: A large liver resection study from Morocco and audit of a non-Eastern/non-Western experience

Background and Study AimsIn developing countries, endemic indications, blood shortages, and the scarcity of liver surgeons and intensive care providers can affect liver resection (LR) outcomes, but these have been rarely addressed in the literature. Therefore, in this study we determined risk factors for major complications after LR in a North African general surgery and teaching department.Patients and MethodsFrom January 2010 to December 2015, 213 consecutive LRs were performed on 203 patients. All patients underwent a postoperative follow-up of >90 days. Postoperative complications were assessed according to the Clavien–Dindo (CD) classification of surgical complications. A score of CD ≥III is considered as major postoperative complications. In this study, we analyzed the variables assumed to affect these complications.ResultsThe overall 90-day complication rate was 35.7% (n = 76), including a CD ≥III of 14% (n = 30) and a mortality rate of 6.1% (n = 14). According to the multivariate analysis, a preoperative performance status (PS) of ≥2 (P = 0.011; odds ratios [OR], 6.8; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.55–29.8), an estimated intraoperative blood loss of >500 ml (P = 0.002; OR, 3.71; 95% CI, 1.23–11.20), and bilioenteric anastomosis (P < 0.004; OR, 7.76; 95% CI, 1.5–3.89) were independent risk factors for major complications after LR.ConclusionWe recommend that, in the setting of a non-Eastern/non-Western general surgery and teaching department, patients with a PS of ≥2 should undergo a specific selection and preoperative optimization protocol; intermittent clamping indications should be extended; and special attention should paid to patients undergoing LR associated with biliary reconstruction, such as for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.     

Quality improvement training for burn care in low-and middle-income countries: A pilot course for nurses

BackgroundThere is an urgent need to empower practitioners to undertake quality improvement (QI) projects in burn services in low-middle income countries (LMICs). We piloted a course aimed to equip nurses working in these environments with the knowledge and skills to undertake such projects.MethodsEight nurses from five burns services across Malawi and Ethiopia took part in this pilot course, which was evaluated using a range of methods, including interviews and focus group discussions.ResultsCourse evaluations reported that interactive activities were successful in supporting participants to devise QI projects. Appropriate online platforms were integral to creating a community of practice and maintaining engagement. Facilitators to a successful QI project were active individuals, supportive leadership, collaboration, effective knowledge sharing and demonstrable advantages of any proposed change. Barriers included: staff attitudes, poor leadership, negative culture towards training, resource limitations, staff rotation and poor access to information to guide practice.ConclusionsThe course demonstrated that by bringing nurses together, through interactive teaching and online forums, a supportive community of practice can be created. Future work will include investigating ways to scale up access to the course so staff can be supported to initiate and lead quality improvement in LMIC burn services.     

益母草制剂的开发与应用

益母草制剂在临床中应用广泛,主要用于多种妇产科疾病的治疗,且效果显著。其中,益母草注射剂、益母草颗粒、益母草片是临床上最常见的益母草剂型,其有效性和安全性在长期的临床实践中得到认可。本论文结合项目组对益母草制剂的二次开发研究思路,对上述具有代表性的益母草制剂的制剂工艺、质量控制和临床应用进行介绍,以期为益母草制剂的现代研究和临床安全应用提供一定的参考。     

经典名方泽泻汤的HPLC指纹图谱及多指标含量测定研究

目的建立经典名方泽泻汤的HPLC指纹图谱,结合化学模式识别技术对其进行分析,并测定泽泻汤中3种成分23-乙酰泽泻醇B、23-乙酰泽泻醇C和白术内酯Ⅲ的含量,为泽泻汤质量控制提供科学依据。方法采用Waters WAT054275C18色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm),以乙腈-水为流动相进行梯度洗脱,建立15批泽泻汤的HPLC指纹图谱,并采用"中药色谱指纹图谱相似度评价系统"、SPSS22.0及SIMCA14.1软件对15批泽泻汤的HPLC指纹图谱进行相似度评价及聚类分析(CA)、偏最小二乘判别分析(PLS-DA)等化学模式识别。同时测定23-乙酰泽泻醇B、23-乙酰泽泻醇C和白术内酯Ⅲ的含量。结果建立了15批泽泻汤的HPLC指纹图谱,相似度均0.94,标定了18个共有峰,指认出3个色谱峰,分别为11号峰白术内酯Ⅲ、15号峰23-乙酰泽泻醇C、16号峰23-乙酰泽泻醇B,CA和PLS-DA将15批泽泻汤样品分为2类,同时15批泽泻汤中23-乙酰泽泻醇B、23-乙酰泽泻醇C和白术内酯Ⅲ的质量分数分别为0.321～0.569、0.075～0.139、0.106～0.142 mg/g。结论 HPLC指纹图谱结合多成分同时测定的方法,快速、简便、重复性好,为泽泻汤及其制剂的质量评价提供参考。