Adult congenital heart disease

Continued advances in the understanding and management of congenital heart disease (CHD) mean that over 90% of children born with CHD now survive to adulthood. This in turn results in greater numbers of adult patients presenting for medical and surgical care at non-specialist centres. A simple classification of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) according to complexity can help clinicians to understand the implications of the specific cardiac anomaly encountered. Issues relating to the conduct of anaesthesia in ACHD patient include careful attention to euvolaemia, the preservation of sinus rhythm and cardiac output, and in complex patients, manipulating the balance between systemic and pulmonary blood flows. Additionally, effective antibiotic prophylaxis and the prevention of either excessive bleeding or thromboembolism are vitally important. It should not be forgotten that although many patients with simple or repaired cardiac lesions may be very well managed in a non-specialist unit, those with Eisenmenger’s syndrome or severe pulmonary hypertension have an extremely high risk of death in the perioperative period, and in all but life-threatening situations should always be managed within specialist centres.     

Life underneath the VCA umbrella: Perspectives from the US Uterus Transplant Consortium

The parallel emergence of uterus transplantation (UTx) and other transplantation innovations including face and hand transplantation led to the categorization of the uterus as a vascular composite allograft (VCA). With >60 transplants and >20 births worldwide, UTx is transitioning rapidly from a research endeavor to an effective treatment option for women with uterine factor infertility. While it originally made sense to group the innovations under one umbrella, it is time to revisit the designation of UTx as a VCA. We describe how UTx needs unique policy, procedural codes, insurance contracts, and educational initiatives. We contend that separating UTx from VCAs may become necessary in the future to avoid hindering the growth and regulation of this field.     

44例不同严重程度新型冠状病毒肺炎患者临床检测指标分析

目的分析不同严重程度新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)患者在入院初期临床检测指标特点,寻找可预警轻型/普通型发展为重型/危重型的实验室检测指标。方法回顾性研究武汉大学中南医院感染科于2020年2月收治的44例COVID-19患者病历资料,依据病情严重程度,将患者分为轻型/普通型组28例,重型/危重型组16例。分析患者入院3天内血常规[白细胞(WBC)、中性粒细胞(NEU)、淋巴细胞(LYM)、单核细胞百分比(MON)、血小板(PLT)]、生化指标[丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBil)、白蛋白(ALB)、肌酐(CREA)]、炎症因子[C反应蛋白(CRP)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)]、新型冠状病毒核酸检测以及外周血淋巴细胞亚群等指标,采用t检验、秩和检验或卡方检验进行分析。采用二元Logistics回归分析病情重症化的风险因素。结果重型/危重型组患者外周血WBC、NEU、MON、PLT、LYM、CD3⁺T细胞、CD3⁺CD4⁺T细胞、CD3⁺CD8⁺T细胞、CD4⁺/CD8⁺、CD19⁺、CD16⁺CD56⁺细胞计数均低于轻型/普通型组,其中CD3⁺T细胞(t=2.24、P=0.03)、CD3⁺CD4⁺T细胞(t=2.148、P=0.037)和外周血淋巴细胞(t=2.039、P=0.047)差异有统计学意义。重型/危重型组患者血清IL-6为21.06(11.02,36.43)pg/ml,轻型/普通型组患者为6.13(3.14,12.54)pg/ml,差异有统计学意义(Z=2.952、P=0.003)。重型/危重型组患者咽拭子样本和粪便样本新型冠病毒核酸Ct值分别为(30.03±1.196)和(33.12±1.48),均低于轻型/普通型组患者新型冠病毒核酸Ct值[(33.56±0.75)和(35.76±0.98)],差异均有统计学意义(t=2.634、P=0.012,t=1.545、P=0.130)。重型/危重型组患者住院天数[(25.06±3.01)d]显著长于轻型/普通型组患者[(11.79±1.06)d],差异有统计学意义(t=4.986、P<0.001)。二元Logistics回归分析发现IL-6(OR=1.059、P=0.039)和住院天数(OR=1.173、P=0.005)均为COVID-19患者病情严重程度的影响因素。结论不同严重程度COVID-19患者入院初期淋巴细胞及亚群、IL-6及病毒核酸水平存在差异,其中住院天数和IL-6异常升高是重症化的危险因素,对COVID-19患者病情严重程度和临床分型的早期预判有重要意义。