Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome due to Puumala virus in Germany

In Germany Puumala virus (PUUV), known to cause mild forms of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), is the predominating endemic hantavirus. We herein describe an unusually severe case of a PUUV infection that occurred in summer 2015 in South Eastern Germany in a region known to be endemic for PUUV since over ten years. A 54-year-old female gardener was admitted to hospital with fever, cough and dyspnea. Within 48 hours the patient developed a rapid progressive adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with circulatory failure and required ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) treatment. Serological and molecular biological examinations of serum samples confirmed an infection with PUUV. Partial sequences of the S- and M-segment clustered to a strain previously described in South Eastern Germany. Our reported case highlights, that in rare incidents PUUV can cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, a syndrome that is usually found after infections with New World hantaviruses, and neurological symptoms.     

Assistance par extracorporeal membrane oxygenation au cours d’un syndrome de tako-tsubo après césarienne en urgence

Tako-tsubo syndrome is a rare cardiomyopathy secondary to catecholamine toxicity responsible of myocardial stunning. Severe complications such as cardiogenic shock or ventricular arrhythmia can occur. We presented the case of a 32-year-old woman victim of a tako-tsubo syndrome with severe cardiogenic shock during surgical procedure for urgent caesarean section. After refractory haemodynamic failure, the patient benefits from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support device with success.     

ECMO in CDH: Is there a role?

Despite wide use and decades of experience, survival of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients treated with extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), as reported by the extra-corporeal life support organization (ELSO), remains unchanged at 50%. High-survival rates both with and without utilizing ECMO have been reported, fueling questions about the utility of ECMO support in this difficult population. This review looks at data from the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Study Group and individual center reports, to evaluate the role of ECMO in CDH, focusing on defining the patients most likely to benefit, and discussing how those benefits can best be achieved. These data show that ECMO improves survival in those CDH patients who are most severely affected, but potential complications of ECMO delivery outweigh benefit in patients with less severely affected. Improved results can be expected by minimizing ECMO complications, and by improving rates of CDH repair in patients that require ECMO.     

Œdème aigu pulmonaire réfractaire sous ECMO : une place pour l’atrioseptotomie de Rashkind ?

Hydrostatic pulmonary edema is a well-known complication of veinoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) caused by increased left ventricle afterload due to reverse blood flow in the aorta. Several techniques are commonly used for left ventricle venting such as intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella® (Abiomed, Danvers, MA), central surgical cannulation or Rahskind atrial septostomy. We reported two cases of hydrostatic pulmonary edema in patients under VA-ECMO for whom it was decided to perform Rashkind technique. The first is a late anterior myocardial infarction complicated with cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock. Refractory hypoxemia due to hydrostatic pulmonary edema conducted us to perform atrial septostomy. The second case is a refractory cardiogenic shock due to left main stent thrombosis myocardial infarction. Procedural transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large left atrial thrombus extended to pulmonary veins preventing the procedure. These two cases illustrate the importance and gravity of pulmonary edema induced by VA-ECMO. The first shows that this technique is feasible, allows great left ventricle unloading and improves hypoxemia. The second underlines the interest of performing transesophageal echocardiography to look for pulmonary veins thrombosis that can take part in the elevation of hydrostatic pressure and forbid Rashkind manoeuver.     

La télémédecine et les réseaux sociaux dans la gestion des ECMO à l’ère de COVID-19 : l’expérience Tunisienne

IntroductionIn Tunisia, as elsewhere in the world, severe forms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related to SARS-Covid19 have been observed. When the usual means of resuscitation were no longer sufficient, the implementation of the Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO was needed.AimThe whole problem of the management of these patients in this pandemic period has been to manage the operation of the ECMO machine, usually reserved for expert and specialized centers in the field.MethodsThe cardio-vascular surgery department of La Rabta teaching hospital of Tunis has tried the experience of management of ECMO implanted in the different reanimations of Tunis, remotely, using telemedicine and social networks. Thus, a Facebook-Messenger discussion group was created and enabled the management of patients under ECMO via video conferencing in real time involving all stakeholders.ResultsA call was made whenever the physician needed it. The video provided an opportunity to discuss with surgeons and perfusionists in real time the complications or problems of these patients. Their clinical status was continuously shared on the focus group. Following the instructions of the expert surgeons and the exchanges made on the group, the reanimator could then intervene on this or that parameter.ConclusionSocial media have invaded everyone's daily lives and health professionals are not exception to this trend. The Covid-19 pandemic has only strengthened this digital alternative with the goal of efficiency and patient interest. While their use in a professional setting offers many advantages, it must nevertheless be done in compliance with the rules of ethics and bring real added value.     

Successful treatment of cardiac arrest following hysteroscopic surgery using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A case report

Rationale:Cardiac arrest caused by water intoxication syndrome following hysteroscopic surgery is a rare but life-threatening occurrence. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is rarely used to treat water intoxication syndrome in hysteroscopic surgery. Here, we successfully treated a patient with water intoxication syndrome following hysteroscopic surgery with ECMO.Patient concerns:We report a rare case of cardiac arrest during hysteroscopic surgery treated with veno-venous (VV) ECMO.Diagnosis:Water poisoning syndrome was diagnosed by electrolyte examination, the lowest value of serum sodium was 110.7 mmol/L.Interventions:VV-ECMO was prescribed as a measure after traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation.Results:ECMO was successfully evacuated on day 5 and the patient was discharged on day 45.Conclusion:Mastering the hysteroscopic operative techniques and using a bipolar hysteroscopic generator, isotonic fluid, perfusion pressures less than 100 mm Hg, and local anesthesia may reduce the risk of hysteroscopic water intoxication syndrome. During hysteroscopic surgery, patients may experience cardiac arrest and fatal water intoxication syndrome. Even when traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation is successful, VV ECMO may contribute to the recovery of brain function if oxygenation is not maintained.     

磁耦合驱动搏动式血泵的可行性研究

目的提出一种磁耦合驱动搏动式血泵结构并验证其可行性。方法基于磁场传递往复作用力模型以及推拉互挽式结构设计磁耦合驱动搏动血泵,通过建立磁力驱动模型,计算耦合力大小,制作样机并对样机进行体外循环模拟试验,获得压力和流量实验数据。结果采用生理盐水作为循环介质,固定后负荷,增加前负荷,血泵输出量减少,没有明显线性趋势;固定前负荷,增加后负荷,血泵输出量减少,且具有一定线性趋势。设置驱动频率为75次/min时,调节前、后负荷改变范围分别为0.665~3.990 k Pa(5~30 mm Hg)和5.320~11.970 k Pa(5~30 mm Hg),可使输出量在保证线性关系条件下达到2.0~3.1 L/min。结论该搏动式血泵流体力学特性基本满足体外膜肺循环的需要,仍需进一步研究和改进;研究结果具有重要的应用前景,尤其对替代目前临床体外膜肺氧合设备的血泵装置具有重要意义。     

Association between body mass index and clinical outcomes of patients after cardiac arrest and resuscitation: A meta-analysis

Background

Obesity as one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases increases mortality in general population. Several clinical studies investigated clinical outcomes in patients with different body mass index (BMI) after cardiac arrest (CA). Controversial data regarding BMI on clinical outcomes in those patients exist in those studies. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of BMI on survival condition and neurological prognosis in those patients.