An ethical rationale for perinatal palliative care

Perinatal palliative care has grown out of both an historical necessity in attending to babies in the NICU that face difficult odds of survival, the increasing technology that may avail life-extending, yet technology-dependent, care, and the growth of fetal diagnostic and treatment centers. This review looks ta the history and ethical rationale for making available services from Pediatric and Perinatal Palliative Care to families in the prenatal and postnatal periods caring for a loved one with life-limiting circumstances.     

ECMO辅助肺移植围术期的护理配合

目的总结体外膜肺氧合(ECMO)辅助肺移植手术的护理配合经验。方法对45例终末期肺病伴肺动脉高压的患者进行充分的术前准备,在肺移植术中应用了ECMO辅助转流,其中单肺移植21例,双肺移植24例。所有患者行右侧股动静脉置管ECMO辅助转流。转流期间维持激活凝血时间(ACT)160～200s,ECMO流量控制在1.8～2.5L/(m2.min)。术中严密细致地做好各项监测及护理配合。受者术后在氧合和血流动力学平稳后撤除ECMO。结果所有受者手术过程顺利,41例在移植术后顺利撤除ECMO;4例术后继续使用ECMO支持。结论ECMO可安全有效地用于肺移植术中的呼吸循环辅助,提高肺移植手术的成功率。充分的术前准备、术中全面的监测、娴熟的手术配合和合理的供肺保存是手术成功的关键因素之一,台上、台下严格的无菌技术操作,消毒隔离制度的管理是手术成功的保证。     

Pathophysiology and Treatment of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Abstract

Carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the US, and published reports of carbon monoxide related morbidity and mortality can vary widely. Common morbidity involves myocardial and/or neurologic injury including delayed neurologic sequelae. The pathophysiology of this entity is complex, involving hypoxic stress on the basis of interference with oxygen transport to the cells and possibly impairing electron transport. Carbon monoxide can also affect leukocytes, platelets and the endothelium, inducing a cascade of effects resulting in oxidative injury. Carboxyhemoglobin levels are valuable for confirming carbon monoxide exposure but cannot be used to stratify severity of poisoning, predict prognosis, or indicate a specific treatment plan. Oxygen therapy is the key treatment of carbon monoxide intoxication, and hyperbaric oxygen has been shown to interdict and improve clinical outcome in some patients. Immediate treatment with a high fraction of inspired oxygen and careful clinical evaluation are mandatory. Timely referral for hyperbaric oxygen is indicated for patients with any history of unconsciousness, cardiovascular instability or ischemia, and persistent mental and/or neurologic deficits. Hyperbaric oxygen should also be considered in certain other patient subsets.     

Efficacy of thromboelastography in the management of anticoagulation for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a coronavirus disease 2019 patient: A case report

Rationale:In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome refractory to optimal conventional management, we should consider the indication for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). Growing evidence indicates that COVID-19 frequently causes coagulopathy, presenting as hypercoagulation and incidental thrombosis. For these reasons, a multifactorial approach with several anticoagulant markers should be considered in the management of anticoagulation using heparin in COVID-19 patients on V-V ECMO.Patient concerns:A 48-year-old man was infected with COVID-19 with a worsening condition manifesting as acute respiratory distress syndrome.Diagnoses:He was refractory to conventional therapy, thus we decided to introduce V-V ECMO. We used heparin as an anticoagulant therapy for V-V ECMO and adjusted the doses of heparin by careful monitoring of the activated clotting time (ACT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) to avoid both hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications. We controlled the doses of heparin in the therapeutic ranges of ACT and APTT, but clinical hemorrhaging and profound elevation of coagulant marker became apparent.Interventions:Using thromboelastography (TEG; Haemonetics) in addition to ACT and APTT, we were able to clearly detect not only sufficient coagulability of COVID19 on V-V ECMO (citrated rapid thromboelastography-R 0.5 min, angle 75.5°, MA 64.0 mm, citrated functional fibrinogen-MA 20.7 mm) but also an excessive effect of heparin (citrated kaolin -R 42.7 min, citrated kaolin with heparinase 11.7 min).Outcomes:Given the TEG findings indicating an excessive heparin effect, the early withdrawal of ECMO was considered. After an evaluation of the patient''s respiratory capacity, withdrawal from V-V ECMO was achieved and then anticoagulation was stopped. The hemorrhagic complications and elevated thrombotic marker levels dramatically decreased.Lessons:TEG monitoring might be a useful option for managing anticoagulation in COVID-19 patients on V-V ECMO frequently showing a hypercoagulative state and requiring massive doses of heparin, to reduce both hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications.     

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.