Analgesic effects and hemodynamic mechanisms of perpendicular and transverse needling at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo explore the analgesic effects and uterine hemodynamics of perpendicular needling (PN) and transverse needling (TN) at SP 6 in patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PD).MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, patients with PD diagnosed with cold-dampness congealing pattern were randomly assigned in a ratio of 1:1 to receive PN or TN at bilateral SP 6 for 10 min. Acupuncture was performed when the menstrual pain score was over 40 mm on the first day of menstruation, as measured using the visual analog scale for pain (VAS-P). The primary outcome was average menstrual pain (VAS-P). Secondary outcomes included the pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and systolic-diastolic peaks ratio (S/D) in uterine arteries as measured using color Doppler ultrasonography; anxiety as assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR).ResultsForty-eight patients completed the study. The TN group exhibited a significant reduction in VAS-P scores (–5.71 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI): –8.78, –2.63, P = .001), RI values (–0.05, 95% CI: –0.09, –0.01, P = .015), and HAMA values (–2.50, 95% CI: –4.78, –0.22, P = .032) when compared with the PN group. No significant differences in PI, S/D, BP, or HR values were observed between the two groups (P > .05).ConclusionTN at SP 6 was superior to PN in alleviating menstrual pain and anxiety in patients with PD. This analgesic effect of TN may be due to its better ability to improve uterine arterial blood flow via decreases in RI values.     

A systematic review of the safety and efficacy of non-operative management in patients with high grade liver injury

IntroductionThe liver is the most frequently damaged organ in blunt abdominal trauma. It is widely accepted that hemodynamically stable patients with low-grade liver trauma should be treated with non-operative management, however there is controversy surrounding its safety and efficacy in high-grade trauma. The purpose of this review is to investigate the role of non-operative management in patients with high-grade liver trauma.MethodsPubMed and reference lists of PubMed articles were searched to find studies that examined the efficacy of non-operative management in high-grade liver injury patients, and compare it to operative management. Non-operative management was considered successful if rescue surgery was avoided. Outcomes considered were success, mortality, and complication rates.ResultsThe electronic search revealed 2662 records, 8 of which met the inclusion criteria. All 8 studies contained results suggesting that non-operative management was safe and effective in hemodynamically stable patients with high-grade liver trauma. By combining the outcomes of the different studies, non-operative management had a high success rate of 92.4% (194/210) in high-grade liver trauma patients, which was near the overall 95.0% non-operative management success rate. Non-operative management also had mortality and complication rates of 4.6% (9/194) and 9.7% (7/72) in high-grade injury patients, respectively, compared to operative management's 17.6% (26/148) and 45.5% (5/11).ConclusionNon-operative management of liver trauma is safe and effective in hemodynamically stable patients with high-grade liver injury. It is associated with significantly lower mortality compared with operative management. More studies are required to evaluate complications of non-operative management in high-grade liver injury.     

Prévalence et facteurs de risque associés à l’hypotension intradialytique en Afrique subsaharienne : cas du Burkina Faso

AimThe aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with intradialytic hypotension in our cohort of chronic hemodialysis patients.MethodsThis was a prospective monocentric study over a six-month period. Intradialytic hypotension was defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure ≥ 20 mmHg or a decrease in mean arterial pressure of 10 mmHg associated with clinical events and the need for nursing interventions. The groups were compared using univariate analysis of variance.ResultsWe included 48 patients and counted 3014 hemodialysis sessions. The mean age was 44.7 ± 15 years. The prevalence of intradialytic hypotension was 12.4%, with cramps 20 (41.7%) as the main symptom. Factors associated with frequent intradialytic hypotension compared to the groups without intradialytic hypotension and with infrequent intradialytic hypotension were age (61 ± 13 years, p = 0.018), diabetes (33.3%, p = 0.019), high body mass index (27, 3 ± 7.8 kg/m2, p = 0.002), interdialytic weight gain ≥ 5% of baseline weight (66.7%, p = 0.033), hourly ultrafiltration (800 ± 275 ml/h, p = 0.037) and perdialytic feeding (33.3%, p = 0.016). Low pre-dialysis diastolic blood pressure (72 ± 13 mmHg, p = 0.012) and high baseline weight (73.9 ± 17.5 kg, p = 0.028) were associated with frequent versus infrequent intradialytic hypotension.ConclusionIntradialytic hypotension is common in our context. Its prevention in at-risk patients is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality and improving quality of life.     

血流动力学支持设备在心源性休克中应用的研究进展

血流动力学支持设备可以改善心源性休克患者紊乱的血流动力学状态,以确保急性心肌梗死并发心源性休克患者实现有效再灌注治疗,故其在心源性休克患者治疗中的地位日趋重要。该文旨在讨论不同血流动力学支持设备在心源性休克中应用的优缺点,进而为临床中血流动力学支持设备的选择提供相关依据。血流动力学支持设备中主动脉内球囊反搏是目前临床中应用最多且相对最成熟的;Tandem Heart及Impella设备在逆转心源性休克的代谢参数及血流动力学方面优于主动脉内球囊反搏治疗,且其创伤小无需体外循环;而体外膜氧合器在急性心肌梗死并发心源性休克治疗中的循证医学依据尚不充足,需要更大规模的临床研究来证实其临床作用。     

活血化瘀通络方内服外敷对高龄髋部骨折患者术后深静脉血栓的影响

目的:观察活血化瘀通络方内服外敷对高龄髋部骨折患者术后深静脉血栓(DVT)的影响。方法:将123例高龄髋部骨折患者随机分为内服组、外敷组及内服外敷组各41例。术后叮嘱患者常规卧床休息,抬高患肢,采用肝素进行抗凝,尿激酶进行溶栓。在此基础上,内服组予活血化瘀通络方内服,外敷组予活血化瘀通络方外敷,内服外敷组同时予活血化瘀通络方内服与外敷。比较各组临床治疗疗效、血流动力学指标、血液流变学指标以及下肢运动功能恢复情况,并观察术后DVT发生率以及不良反应发生率。结果:临床疗效总有效率内服外敷组92.68%,明显高于内服组75.61%、外敷组53.66%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),且内服组明显高于外敷组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,内服外敷组心率明显低于内服组、外敷组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),平均动脉压、中心静脉压明显高于内服组、外敷组(P<0.05),内服组、外敷组以上血流动力学指标比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);内服外敷组毛细管血黏度、全血高切黏度、全血低切黏度、红细胞聚集指数以及血细胞比容明显低于内服组、外敷组(P<0.05),内服组、外敷组以上血液流变学指标比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);内服外敷组视觉模拟评分法(VAS)评分明显低于内服组、外敷组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);日常生活能力量表(ADL)以及髋关节功能(Harris)评分均明显高于内服组、外敷组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);内服组、外敷组下肢运动功能恢复情况各项评分比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。内服外敷组术后DVT发生率2.44%,明显低于外敷组19.51%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与内服组7.32%比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),内服组、外敷组术后DVT发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);3组术后不良反应总发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:活血化瘀通络方内服外敷治疗高龄髋部骨折患者效果明显,可有效改善血液回流,促进患者下肢运动功能恢复,减少术后DVT发生。     

Influence of an acute increase in systemic vascular resistance on transpulmonary thermodilution-derived parameters in critically ill patients

Objective The transpulmonary thermodilution technique enables measurement of cardiac index (CI), intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV), global end-diastolic volume (GEDV), and extravascular lung water (EVLW). In this study, we analyzed the robustness of this technique during an acute increase in systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Design Prospective, clinical study. Setting Surgical intensive care unit in a university hospital. Patients and methods Twenty-four mechanically ventilated septic shock patients, who for clinical indications underwent extended hemodynamic monitoring by transpulmonary thermodilution and continuously received norepinephrine. Interventions and main results After baseline measurements, mean arterial pressure was increased briefly by increasing norepinephrine dosage and hemodynamic measurements were repeated before a control measurement was obtained. At each time point, 15 cc of 0.9% saline (< 8 °C) was administered by central venous injection in triplicate. Fluid status and respirator adjustments were kept constant. ANOVA with an all-pairwise comparison method was used for statistical analysis. Heart rate, central venous pressure, and EVLW remained constant throughout, while SVR significantly changed from 551 ± 106 to 746 ± 91 dyn*s*cm⁻⁵ and again to 566 ± 138 dyn*s*cm⁻⁵ (p < 0.05). However, CI and central blood volumes showed a reversible significant increase, i.e., ITBV went from 816 ± 203 to 867 ± 195 ml/m² and then to 821 ± 205 ml/m² and GEDV from 703 ± 178 to 747 ± 175 ml/m² and finally to 704 ± 170 ml/m², respectively. In eight patients, 2-D echocardiography was applied and revealed a reversible increase in left-ventricular end-diastolic area. Conclusion An acute increase in SVR by increasing norepinephrine dosage results in a reversible increase in central blood volumes (ITBV, GEDV) as measured by transpulmonary thermodilution and supported by echocardiography. This work was presented in part at the 19th annual meeting of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, 24–27 September 2006, Barcelona. Samir Sakka has received fees from Pulsion Medical Systems AG, Munich, Germany, for giving lectures.     

Impact of a goal-directed therapy protocol on postoperative fluid balance in patients undergoing liver transplantation: A retrospective study

Objective

Liver transplantation carries major risks during the perioperative period. Few studies focused on the hemodynamics of patients undergoing liver transplantation. The present study was aimed to evaluate the impact of the implementation of a protocol including goal-directed therapy in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Our first goal was to determine its impact on the fluid balance. Secondarily, we evaluated possible improvements in the patient outcomes.

Study design

A before and after study.

Patients and methods

Fifty patients undergoing liver transplantation were included during two successive six-month periods. During the first period, the management of the patients was left at the discretion of the senior physicians (control group, n = 25). During the second period, the patients were treated according to a predetermined protocol including a specific hemodynamic monitoring (protocol group, n = 25).

Results

The fluid balance was negative in the protocol group and positive in the control group at 24 h (−606 mL vs. +3445 mL, P < 0.01) and 48 h (−2315 mL vs. +1170 mL, P < 0.01) after liver transplantation. The volume of the crystalloid administration was lower in the protocol group than in the control group (5000 mL vs. 8000 mL, P < 0.01, and 1500 mL vs. 6000 mL, P < 0.01, during surgery and 48 h after liver transplantation, respectively). The duration of mechanical ventilation and postoperative ileus were significantly reduced in the protocol group, as compared with the control group, 20 h vs. 94 h (P < 0.01) and 4 days vs. 6 days (P < 0.01), respectively.

Conclusion

For patients undergoing liver transplantation, the implementation of a protocol aiming to optimize hemodynamics was associated with reduced fluid balance and decreased requirement for mechanical ventilation and postoperative ileus duration.