Association of the time to first epinephrine administration and outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: SOS-KANTO 2012 study

Objective

This study assessed the association between the timing of first epinephrine administration (EA) and the neurological outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) with both initial shockable and non-shockable rhythms.

A Reminder of Methylene Blue's Effectiveness in Treating Vasoplegic Syndrome after On-Pump Cardiac Surgery

The inflammatory response induced by cardiopulmonary bypass decreases vascular tone, which in turn can lead to vasoplegic syndrome. Indeed the hypotension consequent to on-pump cardiac surgery often necessitates vasopressor and intravenous fluid support. Methylene blue counteracts vasoplegic syndrome by inhibiting the formation of nitric oxide.We report the use of methylene blue in a 75-year-old man who developed vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac surgery. After the administration of methylene blue, his hypotension improved to the extent that he could be weaned from vasopressors. The use of methylene blue should be considered in patients who develop hypotension refractory to standard treatment after cardiac surgery.     

表达谱基因芯片筛选体外循环前后心肌细胞因子的变化

Objestive Systemic inflarmmation may be triggered by injury, hypothermia, ischemia-reperfusion and the contact of the blood with foreign body during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). To determine the application values of gene chip technique in the clinical practice and the study of cardiovascular stagery, as well as to provide clues to the study of inflammatory responess during CPB, microarry for gene expression profiles was used to identify the differences in the gene expression of myocardium between pre-and post- CPB. Methods Six adult patients who underwent CPB from March to May in 2003 were involved. Samples of right atrium were col- lected before and at immediate end of CPB. BD AtlasTM cDNA Expression Arrays was used to identify the differences in the gene ex- pression of cytokines. The results were compared with that of semi-quantative RT-PCR. Resellts The mean age of 6 patients (5 males and 1 female) was (32.67± 11.72) years. The baseline heart function was gradeⅡin 3 cases and grade Ⅲ in 3 other cases. The baseline left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)was (58.17±7.91)%. The mere duration was (91.67±43.88) minutes for CPB and was (58.67±43.46) minutes for aorta blocking. The minimum nasopharynx/rectal temperture was (29.37±1.90)℃/ (32.15±1.52)℃. Gene expression profiles of cytokines in the myocardium pre- and post-CPB were analysed successfully. The ex- pression of IL-6, IFN-γ,Wnt5a, TNFRSF1B, a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, PIGF and MFNG in the myo- cardium were unpregulated after CPB. Conclusion Microarray technique is applicable in the study of cytokines changes dying CPB. cDNA microarray identified pleliminarily the differences in the gene expression between pre- and post-CPB. These genes may be in- valved in inflammation and other psthophysiological responses incuced by CPB. The myocardiym is probably one of the major sources of cytokines during CPB. Further study may be helpful in understanding the llngthe development of inflammation during CPB, and eventually, reducing the post-operative complications.     

Off pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) in critical left mainstem stenosis—Our experience

Background Beating heart surgery has now become the commonest technique of doing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) in our country. It is being used even in such high risk situations like diffuse coronary disease and Critical Left Main stem Stenosis (LMCS) with good results. The aim of this study is to retrospectively review our results in Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (OPCAB) in patients with critical left main stem stenosis. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of the data of patients who underwent primary coronary artery bypass surgery. During the period from April 2003 to September 2005 a total of 64 patients underwent OPCAB procedure for critical LMCS. During the same period 10 patients underwent CABG on Cardio Pulmonary Bypass (CPB). The age range was 36–77yrs. The sex distribution was M: F 53∶10. Ten patients were done as emergency. 2 of them were on Intra Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) support preoperatively. 10 patients were high risk with a Euro score of ≥5. Results Left Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA) was used in 78% of cases. Average grafts per patient was 2.96. The median ventilation time was 5.91 hrs. New IABP insertion in postoperative period was required in 1 patient. One patient was reexplored for bleeding. There was one perioperative myocardial infarction. 57% of patients did not need any blood transfusion. There was no conversion to CPB. There was no operative mortality. Inotropes were used in ten cases. Conclusions OPCAB is a safe method of revascularization in patients with critical LMCS. Preoperative IABP is useful in patients with cardiogenic shock. However, there is a place for CPB in patients needing additional procedures like Mitral Valve repair (MV repair) or Dor's procedure or when the vessels are very diffusely diseased. Those patients who are unstable despite IABP support may be managed by Beating heart On Pump (BHOP) technique.     

Statistical clues to postoperative blood loss: Moving averages applied to medical data

With the advent of computerized databases, medical data has become easy to accumulate; however, effective use of this data continues to pose significant problems. In other circumstances, smoothing algorithms have been used to uncover non-obvious correlations, trends and relationships in noisy data. We have applied four such algorithms to a large dataset of postoperative blood replacement in cardiopulmonary bypass patients. When applied to this dataset, one of the algorithms proved surprisingly effective. It confirmed several previously observed correlations, and also provided an additional series of counterintuitive and apparently unrelated associations. These associations have been explored in an accompanying paper.     

Immunological responses to pneumococcal vaccine in frail older people

Advanced age has been associated with a wide range of defects in both the innate and adaptive immune systems including diminished specific antibody responses that increase the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and limit the effectiveness of vaccines. However, the elderly are a heterogeneous group and measures of overall frailty may be a better indicator of disease susceptibility (or vaccine response) than chronological age alone.     

Fisher information matrix for nonlinear mixed effects multiple response models: Evaluation of the appropriateness of the first order linearization using a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model

We focus on the Fisher information matrix used for design evaluation and optimization in nonlinear mixed effects multiple response models. We evaluate the appropriateness of its expression computed by linearization as proposed for a single response model. Using a pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PKPD) example, we first compare the computation of the Fisher information matrix with approximation to one derived from the observed matrix on a large simulation using the stochastic approximation expectation–maximization algorithm (SAEM). The expression of the Fisher information matrix for multiple responses is also evaluated by comparison with the empirical information obtained through a replicated simulation study using the first‐order linearization estimation methods implemented in the NONMEM software (first‐order (FO), first‐order conditional estimate (FOCE)) and the SAEM algorithm in the MONOLIX software. The predicted errors given by the approximated information matrix are close to those given by the information matrix obtained without linearization using SAEM and to the empirical ones obtained with FOCE and SAEM. The simulation study also illustrates the accuracy of both FOCE and SAEM estimation algorithms when jointly modelling multiple responses and the major limitations of the FO method. This study highlights the appropriateness of the approximated Fisher information matrix for multiple responses, which is implemented in PFIM 3.0, an extension of the R function PFIM dedicated to design evaluation and optimization. It also emphasizes the use of this computing tool for designing population multiple response studies, as for instance in PKPD studies or in PK studies including the modelling of the PK of a drug and its active metabolite. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in Neutrophil Oxidative Potential in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass with Polypropylene Hollow Fiber Oxygenators

Neutrophil oxidative metabolism, C3d and beta 2 microglobulin levels, were assessed in nine consecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with polypropylene hollow fiber oxygenators for open cardiac operations. Generation of oxygen free radicals by neutrophils was measured as luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence after stimulation with opsonized Zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate. A significant increase in light emission was detected by using both of the chemiluminescence stimulators. Moreover, a remarkable and significant increase in C3d levels was found already at 10 min. Conversely minimal changes in levels of beta 2 microglobulin were detected during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. These data suggest that the impact of the patient blood with the foreign surface of cardiopulmonary bypass results in activation of phagocyte cells with increased potential in oxygen consumption. These effects could be partially complement-mediated.     

肺动脉灌注低温保护液减轻体外循环肺内炎性反应

目的　研究肺动脉灌注低温保护液减轻体外循环肺内炎性反应的作用。方法　 4 0例行法洛四联症 (TOF)根治术的病儿随机分为肺保护组 2 0例 ,对照组 2 0例。肺保护组体外循环期间肺动脉灌注低温肺保护液 ,对照组行常规TOF根治术。围手术期监测血浆肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF α)水平。收集术后6h气管吸出物 ,检测其中炎性介质白细胞介素 (IL) 6、IL 8水平。征得病儿家属同意 ,术后取右下肺组织活检 ,观察组织内炎性反应情况。同时监测围手术期肺功能及临床指标。结果　肺保护组血浆中TNF α水平低于对照组 ,以回ICU 0h、2 4h差异显著 (P <0 0 1、P <0 0 5 ) ;术后 6h内气管吸出物中IL 6和IL 8水平肺保护组低于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ;肺组织活检对照组可见中性粒细胞浸润 ,肺保护组无明显病理改变。肺保护组术后肺泡 -动脉氧分压差 (A aO2 )较对照组低 ,以回ICU 0h、12h和 2 4h差异显著(P <0 0 5、P <0 0 1和P <0 0 5 ) ;肺保护组呼吸机辅助通气时间短于对照组 (P <0 0 1)。结论　肺动脉灌注低温保护液可明显减轻体外循环中肺内的炎性反应和改善肺功能。     

Does multi-vessel off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting reduce post operative morbidity compared to on-pump CABG?

Background Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may contribute to the complications and it is assumed that eliminating cardiopulmonary bypass has the potential of reducing post operative morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The study was carried out to compare mortality and morbidity in the off-pump and on-pump CABG groups. Methods We prospectively analysed 200 patients undergoing CABG. Group A consists of 100 patients underwent multi-vessel off-pump CABG and group B consists of 100 patients underwent CABG with CPB. The incidence of complications (mortality, re-exploration for bleeding, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, neurological events, new onset renal failure (s. creatinine>1.6 mg/dL) pulmonary complications, length of ICU stay and hospital stay were recorded, analysed and compared. Results OPCAB patients received 2.73±0.61 grafts/patient and on-pump CABG patients received 3.39±0.75 grafts/patient (p value<0.00001). There was no significant statistical difference in mortality, incidence of stroke between OPCAB and CABG with CPB patients. Length of ICU stay was 32.84±4.22 vs 44.85±7.18 hrs (p value<0.00001) and hospital stay was 6.52±0.69 vs 7.94±0.92 days (p value<0.00001) between group A and group B respectively. Incidence of atrial fibrillation was less in OPCAB group 7% vs 12% although it was statistically not significant (p value 0.33). It was observed in our study that there was no significant deference in worsening of existing renal failure between on-pump CABG and OPCAB 6% vs 2% (P value 0.28). Blood utilization was significantly less in OPCAB group (p value<0.001). Conclusion There was no statistically significant difference in terms of mortality, incidence of stroke and new onset renal failure in both groups. But there was lesser incidence of post operative atrial fibrillation, worsening of existing renal failure in off-pump group though statistically not significant. There was significant reduction in blood utilization, length of ICU and hospital stay in OPCAB group.