Successful Use of Surgically Placed Impella 5.0 and Central Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit in a Patient with Postcardiotomy Shock

The Impella 5.0, a percutaneously inserted left ventricular assist device, has been used to support patients who have severe heart failure or who are undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. We report our surgical placement of the Impella 5.0, through a graft sewn to the aorta, to unload the left ventricle of a 59-year-old man who was undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for postcardiotomy shock. The patient underwent successful placement of a long-term left ventricular assist device before his discharge from the hospital. The versatility of the Impella 5.0 is exemplified in this patient who was successfully bridged to long-term support.     

Tracheal intubation

Tracheal intubation is the act of placing a tube into the trachea. The tube enables oxygen delivery and removal of carbon dioxide, while also allowing for the administration of pharmacological agents. Intubation is the most reliable method of maintaining an airway under anaesthesia, and for protection against aspiration of stomach contents. Traditionally, intubation is achieved by direct visualization of the glottis, but now indirect laryngoscopy (via a videolaryngoscope) is a common alternative. Prior to embarking upon intubation, a thorough patient history and examination must be undertaken by the laryngoscopist; equipment must be prepared and checked; a trained assistant present; and an experienced anaesthetist available in case assistance is required. Once the endotracheal tube has been placed, correct positioning must be confirmed via both clinical examination and monitoring, including capnography. Tracheal intubation is a procedure that should only be undertaken by trained operators and is not without risk. It is important to note that it is failure to oxygenate patients rather than failure to intubate that ultimately leads to serious morbidity and mortality. The Difficult Airway Society has produced guidelines on how to manage unanticipated difficulty in tracheal intubation; it is essential that every practitioner trained to intubate patients is familiar with these algorithms and the key principles of safe airway management.     

Delivery during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support of pregnant woman with severe respiratory distress syndrome caused by influenza: a case report and review of the literature

Objective: To report a case of labour induction during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by influenza and review of the literature.

Methods: Case report and the literature search of all English articles on delivery while on ECMO in patients with ARDS caused by influenza.

Results: A 25-year-old pregnant woman was initiated with ECMO due to severe ARDS caused by influenza A (H1N1) virus. When the patient had symptoms of colporrhagia and uterine contractions, the medical team decided to start labour induction while on ECMO. There were in total five case reports identified. Maternal oxygenation was improved after delivery and ECMO was successfully discontinued.

Conclusions: Maternal oxygenation was improved after delivery, which may be beneficial to reduce the duration of ECMO. Caesarean section (CS) may be the most used mode and labour induction could be another option. The procedure should be performed by an experienced ECMO team, cooperating with the obstetrician, anaesthesiologist, and ICU doctors.     

筋膜间隔综合征的高压氧治疗与血浆纤粘素变化的关系

本文首次报道采用253kPa的高压氧治疗24例创伤后筋膜间隔综合征(PACS)病人并采用免疫单扩散法检测了治疗前后血浆纤粘素(FN)的变化与预后的关系。30例健康人作为血浆FN的对照组。结果表明:16例早期PACS病人,经3～5次高压氧治疗,症状和体征逐渐好转,无1例作筋膜切开减压。6例筋膜切开减压后行高压氧治疗者,水肿、炎症消退,体温降低,临床症状好转。2例坏死期PACS虽然临床症状好转,但效果差。高压氧治疗后,病人血浆FN显著高于治疗前。分别较治疗前高43(18.9％;P<0.01)、61(24.7％;P<0.01)、49(17.2％;P<0.01)、57(17.4％;P<0.05)和55mg/L(16.6％;P<0.05)。根据本组研究的结果,提示高压氧是治疗早期PACS的有效非手术疗法和筋膜减压后有效辅助疗法。     

高压氧对急性移植物抗宿主病小鼠细胞因子表达的影响

目的:观察高压氧(HBO)对骨髓移植时急性移植物抗宿主病(aGVHD)小鼠脾组织中细胞因子表达的影响,探讨HBO抗aGVHD的作用机制.方法:应用直线加速器排空C57BL/6小鼠骨髓后,注入BALB/C小鼠骨髓与脾淋巴细胞的混合液,复制aGVHD模型.应用RT-PCR技术检测经HBO、环孢素A(CsA)、氨甲喋呤(MTX)处理后,小鼠脾组织中白细胞介素2(IL-2)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素4(IL-4)及白细胞介素10(IL-10)mRNA水平的变化.结果:HBO组小鼠11d的生存率明显高于异基因移植组及CsA MTX组;HBO组小鼠脾组织中TNF-α和IL-2mRNA相对含量显著低于异基因移植组(P＜0.05)、显著高于CsA MTX组;HBO组小鼠脾组织中IL-4和IL-10 mRNA相对含量显著高于异基因移植组及CsA MTX组(P＜0.05).结论:HBO可能通过调节促炎/抑炎细胞因子的分泌而发挥其明显的抗aGVHD作用.