MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMATIC CAROTID ARTERY OCCLUSION

The annual risk of stroke in patients with symptomatic carotid artery occlusion (CAO) and impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF) is approximately 10%. Increased oxygen extraction fraction measured by positron emission tomography (PET) and low cerebrovascular reactivity assessed by transcranial Doppler is associated with an increased risk of recurrent ischemic stroke in these patients. Recently, other risk factors have been identified: (1) symptoms of purported hemodynamic origin; (2) ongoing symptoms in the presence of documented symptomatic CAO; (3) leptomeningeal collaterals visible on angiography; and (4) low NAA/choline ratio on magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy.

Evidence is growing that a second extracranial–intracranial (EC–IC) bypass trial might be worthwhile in patients with symptomatic CAO. Probably, only patients with ongoing symptoms and compromised CBF should be included in such a trial. Current evidence based therapeutic options for patients with symptomatic CAO include antithrombotic medication and control of vascular risk factors. For stenosis of the contralateral internal or ipsilateral external carotid artery endarterectomy may be considered.

Ongoing symptoms may cease after tapering of antihypertensive medication.     

Elderly patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: Results from the COMPERA registry

Background

Originally reported to occur predominantly in younger women, idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is increasingly diagnosed in elderly patients. We aimed to describe the characteristics of such patients and their survival under clinical practice conditions.

Methods

Prospective registry in 28 centers in 6 European countries. Demographics, clinical characteristics, hemodynamics, treatment patterns and outcomes of younger (18–65 years) and elderly (> 65 years) patients with newly diagnosed IPAH (incident cases only) were compared.

Results

A total of 587 patients were eligible for analysis. The median (interquartile, [IQR]) age at diagnosis was 71 (16) years. Younger patients (n = 209; median age, 54 [16] years) showed a female-to-male ratio of 2.3:1 whereas the gender ratio in elderly patients (n = 378; median age, 75 [8] years) was almost even (1.2:1). Combinations of PAH drugs were widely used in both populations, albeit less frequently in older patients. Elderly patients were less likely to reach current treatment targets (6 min walking distance > 400 m, functional class I or II). The survival rates 1, 2, and 3 years after the diagnosis of IPAH were lower in elderly patients, even when adjusted for age- and gender-matched survival tables of the general population (p = 0.006 by log-rank analysis).

Conclusions

In countries with an aging population, IPAH is now frequently diagnosed in elderly patients. Compared to younger patients, elderly patients present with a balanced gender ratio and different clinical features, respond less well to medical therapy and have a higher age-adjusted mortality. Further characterization of these patients is required.Clinical trials registration: NCT01347216.     

Hemodynamic Effects of a Combination of Octreotide and Terlipressin Patients with Viral Hepatitis Related Cirrhosis

Background: Terlipressin or octreotide given alone has been used as the first-line pharmacological treatment for acute variceal bleeding. In portal hypertensive animals, pre-infusion of octreotide followed by the addition of terlipressin has an additive or complementary effect on splanchnic hemodynamics. The current study was aimed at evaluating such a combination treatment in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo ( n = 11) or an intravenous infusion of octreotide 100 μg/h after an initial bolus of 100 μg ( n = 13). Thereafter, each patient received an intravenous injection of terlipressin 2 mg. Hemodynamic values were measured basally, 30 min after octreotide or placebo, and 60 min after terlipressin. Results: Placebo administration did not affect any of the hemodynamic values. Terlipressin administration resulted in expected changes in hepatic venous pressure gradient, hepatic blood flow and systemic hemodynamics. In contrast, octreotide administration significantly decreased hepatic blood flow but did not affect other hemodynamic values. After terlipressin administration, significant hemodynamic changes were observed that were similar to the hemodynamic changes with terlipressin alone. The magnitude of changes in hepatic venous pressure gradient, cardiac index and systemic vascular resistance were no different between the two groups of patients. The heart rate was significantly lower in patients receiving octreotide plus terlipressin than those receiving terlipressin alone. Conclusion: The current study showed that a combination of octreotide and terlipressin did not exert an additive effect in reducing hepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with cirrhosis. In addition, the systemic hemodynamic changes were comparable between the two groups.     

舒芬太尼超前镇痛在臂丛神经阻滞麻醉中的应用及对术后疼痛的影响

目的:探讨舒芬太尼超前镇痛对臂丛神经阻滞效果及术后疼痛的影响。方法:选择臂丛神经阻滞麻醉150例,ASAⅠ-Ⅱ级,包括腋路及肌间沟阻滞,随机分为3组。Ⅰ组:舒芬太尼超前组,Ⅱ组:舒芬太尼术中组,Ⅲ组:单纯神经阻滞组。分别记录生命体征变化,麻醉满意度,术后各时点视觉模拟评分法(VAS)评分。结果:Ⅰ组生命体征平稳,无呼吸抑制。Ⅱ组生命体征不平稳,部分患者有呼吸抑制,需辅助呼吸。Ⅲ组生命体征不平稳,无呼吸抑制。Ⅰ组麻醉满意。术后各时点视觉模拟评分法(VAS)评分Ⅰ组与其他组相比差别具有统计学意义。结论:舒芬太尼超前镇痛,用于神经阻滞时血流动力学稳定,呼吸抑制轻,明显减轻术后疼痛,对神经阻滞麻醉是一种较为满意的辅助。     

不同外源性呼气末正压对脓毒性休克患者血流动力学的影响

目的研究不同水平的呼气末正压（PEEP）对机械通气的脓毒性休克患者血流动力学和氧代谢指标的影响。方法对象为浙江中医药大学附属第二医院重症医学科2011年1月-2012年8月收治的脓毒性休克患者,筛选其中符合脓毒性休克诊断标准,并需要机械通气辅助呼吸的患者,排除年龄〈18岁或〉80岁、妊娠、心律失常（不包括窦性心律失常）、存在股动脉置管的禁忌证、急性心功能不全、严重瓣膜病变疾病的患者,最终符合条件的患者共26例纳入研究。持续药物镇静,维持镇静-躁动评分（SAS）在3-4分。对26例行机械通气的脓毒性休克患者先后给PEEP 0、5、10、15 cm H2O（1 cm H2O=0.098 kPa）,通气30 min后,记录四种不同数值的PEEP时对平均动脉压（MAP）、中心静脉压（CVP）、心排指数（CI）、全心舒张末期容积指数（GEDVI）、体循环阻力指数（SVRI）及氧合指数（PaO2/FiO2）等血流动力学和氧代谢指标的影响。结果 CVP及SVRI随着PEEP的增加而升高,呈显著正相关,且具有差异（r=0.710,P=0.001;r=0.295,P=0.002）;CI随着PEEP的增加而降低,呈负相关,具有差异（r=-0.301,P=0.002）;随着PEEP的升高,GEDVI略有降低,无明显相关性,无差异（r=-0.106,P=0.282）。PaO2/FiO2与呼气末正压呈现显著正相关,PEEP不同组间其PaO2/FiO2有差异（r=0.733,P=0.001）。结论脓毒性休克患者随PEEP增加,CI逐渐减少,CVP随着PEEP的增加而提升,而GEDVI未随着PEEP的升高而有明显变化,能在临床上有效评估心脏前负荷情况。在氧代谢方面,随着PEEP的增加,PaO2/FiO2得以提升。     

灯盏细辛注射液治疗急性脑梗死的疗效观察

目的探讨灯盏细辛和丹参注射液治疗急性脑梗死（ACI）的疗效。方法100例ACI患者随机分为两组,治疗组（50例）用灯盏细辛注射液20ml加入5％葡萄糖溶液500ml静脉滴注每日1次,共28d;对照组（50例）用丹参注射液20ml加入5％葡萄糖溶液500ml,每日1次静脉滴注,共28d。观察两组治疗前后血液流变学的变化、总疗效及不良反应。结果治疗组全血黏度及红细胞压积较治疗前明显下降（“P〈0．05”）,与对照组相比差异具有显著性（“P〈0.05”）;治疗组有效率为88％,明显高于对照组的82％,差异不明显,无明显不良反应。结论灯盏细辛注射液治疗ACI安全有效,值得临床推广应用。     

肝纤维化患者血流动力学改变与ET-1、NO的关系

目的:探讨肝纤维化患者内皮素-1(ET-1)和一氧化氮(NO)含量与肝脏血流动力学改变的关系。方法:运用彩色多普勒超声对60例经临床、实验室、病理组织学检查确诊为肝纤维化患者进行检查,测量肝脏血流动力学指标,同时检测ET-1和NO浓度,分析血管活性物质与肝脏血流动力学指标变化间的关系。结果:肝纤维化初期门静脉、脾静脉及肠系膜上静脉内径、血流速度、血流量与对照组无显著差异,但在S3、S4期门静脉、脾静脉及肠系膜上静脉内径增宽,血流速度下降,血流量增加,尤其以脾静脉血流量增加显著,与对照组比较有显著差异(P<0.01);血清NO、ET-1的含量均高于正常对照组(P<0.05),且以ET-1/NO比值增加更为明显。结论:彩色多普勒超声可无创检测肝脏血流动力学变化,血清NO、ET-1含量与肝纤维化的程度有良好的相关性,对肝纤维化的诊断及疗效观察有一定临床应用价值。     

苓桂术甘汤对充血性心衰竭大鼠心脏指数与血流动力学的影响

目的：观察苓桂术甘汤对慢性心衰竭（chronic heart failure,CHF）大鼠心脏指数和血流动力学的影响。方法：采用冠状动脉结扎法复制CHF大鼠模型,于模型复制后第7周开始灌胃给药,连续给药4周后,测定大鼠血流动力学参数、心脏指数。结果：苓桂术甘汤小（4．29g／kg）、中（21．45g／kg）、大（42.90g／kg）剂量能明显提高CHF大鼠左心室收缩压（left ventricular systolic pressure,LVSP）,左心室内压最大上升速率（maximal rate of left ventricular pressure of development,＋dp／dtmax）和左心室内压最大下降速率（maximal rate of left ventricular pressure of dedine,-dp／dtmax）（P〈10．05,或P〈0．01）,降低左心室缩张末压（left ventricular end diastolic pressure,LVEDP）（P〈0．01）,并能明显降低CHF大鼠心脏质量指数（heart mass index,HMI）和左心室质量指数（left ventricular massindex,LVMI）（P〈0．05,或P〈0．01）,其中苓桂术甘汤中剂量组LVEDP和LVMI降低最为显著,优于卡托普利组（P〈0．05）。结论：苓桂术甘汤对CHF大鼠心脏舒缩性能具有显著的改善作用,其作用与其阻押大鼠心室重构密切相关。     

异种牛颈静脉带瓣管道重建右室流出道的实验研究

目的观察去细胞牛颈静脉带瓣管道（BJVC）重建猪右心室流出道后的血流动力学。方法应用经去细胞（B组）及未去细胞（A组）的牛颈静脉带瓣管道分别进行猪肺动脉与右心室连接,行超声心动图检测牛颈静脉带辫管道血流动力学参数。结果重建术后3个月16头猪均存活。A组及B组牛颈静脉近端及远端吻合口口径、牛颈静脉反流量差异无统计学意义,A组近端及远端吻合口压差、跨瓣压差大于B组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论去细胞化的牛颈静脉可能是一种更好的重建右室流道材料,但远期效果需进一步研究。     

Combined Impella and intra-aortic balloon pump support to improve both ventricular unloading and coronary blood flow for myocardial recovery: an experimental study

Abstract:  Some patients in need of hemodynamic support do not respond to intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy. Hemodynamic stability can then be obtained by a more potent cardiac assist device, like the Impella catheter pump. Whether additional IABP support additional to Impella support can provide more optimal hemodynamic myocardial conditions is examined in this study. Seven sheep were implemented with IABP and Impella. An acute myocardial infarction was induced. Hemodynamic performance was assessed during baseline, during Impella support and IABP support individually, and during the combined Impella plus IABP support. The Impella support provided a reduction of afterload with 30% and an increase of coronary artery flow with 47%. The IABP increased coronary artery flow (13%), carotid artery flow (16%), and aortic ascending blood pressure (6%); a similar (but stronger) effect was provided when using the IABP support additional to Impella support and, respectively, increases of 33, 21, and 19% were established. The oxygen demand–supply ratio decreased by 25% due to the extra use of the IABP. A combination of IABP and Impella provides the most optimal hemodynamic myocardial conditions compared to either stand-alone support.