Lower Mean Arterial Pressure Research Articles

Intraoperative high and low blood pressures are not associated with delirium after cardiac surgery: A retrospective cohort study

Study objectiveTo evaluate the associations between high and low intraoperative time-weighted average mean arterial pressures before, during and after cardiopulmonary bypass on postoperative delirium. DesignSingle center retrospective cohort study. SettingOperating rooms and postoperative care units. Patients11,382 patients, 18 years of age or older who had cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2017 and December 2020 at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. InterventionsAll cardiac surgery requiring bypass except procedures requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. MeasurementsPost operative delirium was assessed from 12 to 96 h postoperatively, using the Confusion Assessment Method and brief Confusion Assessment Methods. Hypotension and hypertension were defined as time-weighted average mean arterial pressure < 60 and > 80 mmHg. Main resultsPostoperative delirium occurred in 678 (6.0 %) of 11,382 patients. Confounder-adjusted associations, using multivariable logistic regression models, between hypotension (time-weighted average mean arterial pressure < 60 mmHg) and hypertension (time-weighted average mean arterial pressure > 80 mmHg) and postoperative delirium were not statistically significant or clinically meaningful before, during, or after the cardiopulmonary bypass. ConclusionsThis large single-center cohort analysis found no evidence that exposure to high or low blood pressures during various intraoperative phases of cardiac surgery are associated with postoperative delirium.

Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) enhances hemodynamic stability decreasing analgesic requirements in surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRFs)

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) on intraoperative hemodynamic stability, opioid and inhalation anesthetic requirements and postoperative analgesic effects in patients undergoing surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRFs).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 173 patients who underwent surgical stabilization of rib fractures between May 2020 and December 2023. The patients were allocated into the ESPB group or the control group. Demographic data, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, total intraoperative opioid consumption, the average minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of inhalational anesthetics, postoperative simple analgesics and opioid consumption and the length of hospital stay were included in the analysis.ResultsCompared with the control group, the ESPB group had a lower heart rate (HR) in the first 90 min after surgical incision and lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the beginning of surgery. Intraoperatively, a notable reduction in fentanyl consumption was observed in the ESPB group (p = 0.004), whereas no significant difference was observed in the average MAC of inhalational agents (p = 0.073). Postoperatively, the ESPB group required fewer doses of simple analgesics in the first 24 h (p < 0.001) and 48 h (p = 0.029). No statistically significant difference in the length of hospital stay (p = 0.608) was observed between the groups.ConclusionESPB was shown to enhance intraoperative hemodynamic stability, reduce opioid consumption and decrease postoperative analgesic consumption in patients who underwent SSRF. These results suggest that ESPB may serve as a valuable component of multimodal analgesia protocols for SSRF. Larger prospective studies are warranted to confirm the results and evaluate long-term outcomes.

Comparison Between Medetomidine and a Medetomidine-Vatinoxan Combination on Cardiorespiratory Variables in Dogs Undergoing Ovariectomy Anesthetized with Butorphanol, Propofol and Sevoflurane or Desflurane.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a medetomidine-vatinoxan combination versus medetomidine alone on heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in a short-term surgery in dogs. Four groups of 10 dogs were administered as follows: medetomidine and sevoflurane; medetomidine and desflurane; medetomidine-vatinoxan and sevoflurane; and medetomidine-vatinoxan and desflurane. After administration, the increase in MAP soon stopped at 102-104 mmHg in the two groups administered medetomidine-vatinoxan, compared with significantly higher values of 143-126 mmHg achieved in the two groups administered medetomidine alone. The lowest MAPs in the two medetomidine-vatinoxan groups were 46-50 mmHg, while in the medetomidine groups, they were 58-79 mmHg. From 3 min onwards after administration, in the medetomidine-vatinoxan treatments, HR remained at values very close to those of pre-administration, between 83 and 118 beats min-1, while in the medetomidine treatments, it dropped to 36-43 beats min-1 and then slowly rose to reach 71-90 beats min-1. These results encourage the use of vatinoxan in clinical settings, particularly in anesthetic protocols for dogs when bradycardia and an increase in systemic pressure should be avoided. Further clinical studies are needed to manage the short periods of hypotension, as well as the slight reduction in sedative and pain-relieving medetomidine effects found, particularly when vatinoxan is in combination with desflurane rather than sevoflurane.

Blood Pressure Targets for Adults with Vasodilatory Shock - An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

We sought to estimate whether a lower mean arterial blood pressure target, compared with a higher mean arterial blood pressure target, reduced 90-day all-cause mortality among critically ill adult patients with vasodilatory shock. We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of distinct thresholds of mean arterial blood pressure to guide vasopressor support among critically ill adults identified in a systematic literature search. The main exposure was a lower mean arterial pressure target compared with a higher mean arterial pressure target (including usual care). The primary outcome was 90-day all-cause mortality. We used a Bayesian random effects log-binomial model to estimate risk ratios with 95% credible intervals (CrIs). Between 2010 and 2019, 3352 patients were randomly assigned in three trials (SEPSISPAM, OVATION pilot trial, and 65-Trial) across 103 hospitals from the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. When compared with a higher mean arterial blood pressure target or usual care, the risk ratio for 90-day all-cause mortality associated with a lower blood pressure target was 0.93 (95% CrI, 0.76 to 1.07; low certainty, posterior probability of benefit 87%). Results were consistent across multiple secondary and sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for prognostically important baseline covariates and alternative modeling techniques. Multiple approaches to evaluate the heterogeneity of treatment effect did not identify any subgroups that may potentially benefit from higher mean arterial blood pressure targets. Targeting a lower mean arterial blood pressure for vasopressor therapy in critically ill patients with vasodilatory shock possibly reduced 90-day all-cause mortality. However, the certainty of evidence is low, and this analysis does not exclude the possibility that lower targets may cause harm overall.

Safety and Efficacy of opioid-sparing Anesthesia Compared with Traditional opioid-anesthesia

Objectives: The rationale of adoption opioid sparing anesthesia (OSA) is to achieve perioperative analgesia with a minimal amount of opioid combined to non-opioid adjuvants during and after surgery, namely multimodal anesthesia. The OSA approach was originally developed to overcome the known complications of opioid-based anesthesia (OA) and the present scoping review (ScR) aims at providing the clinical evidence of safety and efficacy of OSA with respect to OA. Methods: This ScR is mainly focused on studies presenting evidence on the safety and efficacy of OSA versus OA. PubMed, EMBASE databases were utilized to find relevant studies. Search strategy included the following keywords: “opioid sparing anesthesia complications, opioid sparing anesthesia efficacy, opioid sparing anesthesia safety”. The findings from the 25 included studies were categorized into the following subsections: article characteristics, goals of the studies, OSA protocols, and surgical settings analyzed. Results: In the 25 reviewed studies, evidence related to the impact of OSA versus OA was considered. Intraoperative safety and efficacy endpoints include hemodynamic stability and anesthetic/analgesic requirements. Postoperative endpoints include early cognitive dysfunction, opioid-induced bowel disorder, the physical status of mothers and newborns after labor and emergency cesarean, systemic immune and inflammation modifications, postoperative recovery, in-hospital and long-term opioid requirement, early postoperative pain, chronic postsurgical pain. The studies reported a lower intraoperative mean arterial pressure and heart rate fluctuations when α2 agonists are adopted, while no differences were recorded for other complication rates. Analysis of OSA approaches for the postoperative conditions includes α2 agonists, NMDA receptor blocking agents, gabapentinoids, nefopam hydrocloride and locoregional anesthesia techniques with a positive impact on most of the endpoints considered. Discussion: The clinical implementation of OSA encompasses the perioperative use of non-opioid drugs and locoregional anesthesia techniques. The reviewed studies reported OSA as a feasible approach to reduce opioid-related complications with no impact on patient’s safety.

Abstract 4138252: Association between Pressure-Adjusted Heart Rate and Mortality in Cardiogenic Shock

Introduction: Among patients with cardiogenic shock (CS), high right atrial pressure (RAP) and low mean arterial pressure (MAP) are associated with in-hospital mortality. Pressure-adjusted heart rate (PAHR), defined as heart rate * RAP-to-MAP ratio (HR * [RAP/MAP]), integrates these parameters and has been used to identify cardiovascular dysfunction in critical illness. Higher PAHR values associate with higher surgical ICU mortality, but the prognostic significance of PAHR has not been assessed in cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) patients with CS. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that higher PAHR values are associated with higher risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with CS. Methods: The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) is a multinational registry of CICUs coordinated by the TIMI Study Group. Among CS admissions (2018-2023) undergoing invasive hemodynamic assessment within 24h of CICU admission, we calculated PAHR (in bpm) and assessed its relationship with in-hospital mortality. Patients on temporary mechanical circulatory support were excluded. Odds ratios were adjusted for age, sex, vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), SCAI stage, and preceding cardiac arrest. Subgroup analyses stratifying by CS subtype were performed. Results: Among the 1411 CS admissions in the analysis cohort (mean age 61 years, 31% women), 18% had AMI-CS, 75% had HF-CS, and 7% had secondary CS. At the time of assessment (median 1.4h after CICU admission), 75% were on vasoactive support (median VIS 3.8). Median HR was 92 (Q1-Q3 77-109) bpm, RAP 15 (Q1-Q3 10-19) mmHg, MAP 75 (Q1-Q3 67-87) mmHg, and PAHR 17 (Q1-Q3 11-24) bpm. A stepwise gradient of higher in-hospital mortality with increasing PAHR values (p-trend &lt;0.001; Fig ) was observed. In adjusted models, a higher PAHR was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (aOR per 10-bpm, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.15-1.58]), and had stronger prognostic associations with mortality than its individual hemodynamic components (Fig) . Conclusion: Higher PAHR is strongly associated with in-hospital mortality in CS patients. PAHR, a simple parameter which is readily calculable without needing a pulmonary artery catheter, may aid in identifying CS patients at higher risk of death.

Variability of Loa loa microfilarial counts in successive blood smears and its potential implication in drug-related serious adverse events

BackgroundThe standard method to diagnose Loa loa infection and quantify microfilarial density (MFD) is the microscopic examination of calibrated thick blood smears (TBSs). In 1950, it was noticed that successive L. loa MFD samples from a single capillary puncture could exhibit up to 20% variation. Although loiasis treatment allocation is based on MFD to prevent serious adverse events (SAEs), data on this variability are scarce. There are also no guidelines supporting the collection and analysis of one or two TBSs.MethodsWe assessed the variability of two successive L. loa MFD samples (MFD1 and MFD2), collected from 255 patients. We analyzed the influence of sex, age, weight, heart rate, arterial pressure, body temperature, and sampling time on MFD variability, as well the impact of MFD variability on MFD thresholds relevant to loiasis treatment protocols.ResultsThe MFD2 was found to have increased in 63% (1145/1826) of TBS pairs and to have decreased in 37% (681/1826) of TBS pairs. The MFD2 were on average 28% higher than the MFD1. These variations drove a total of 333 (17.4%) changes in MFD classes according to loiasis treatment protocol, including 210 (11.3%) class increases. TBSs generated from blood samples from subjects with lower MFD (1–1000 mf/ml) or lower mean arterial pressure (MAP; 55–80 mmHg), or from blood samples collected at an earlier hour time-point (10:00–10:59 a.m.) were more subject to MFD2 variability in a multivariate analysis. The MFD relative change was not constant over time for a given person.ConclusionsWe observed a trend towards an increase in MFD2 with an important variability between samples that may impact loiasis treatment allocation. We suggest that systematically sampling at least two successive TBSs might allow better MFD assessments to prevent post-treatment SAEs. Further studies are needed to verify this variability in larger samples as well as confirm the potential explanatory variables identified.Graphical

Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes between COVID-19 survivors and non-survivors: a retrospective observational study

Background To compare the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 survivors and non-survivors who were transferred from general wards to the critical care units in four tertiary hospitals of Nepal. Methods This study utilized electronic data from the National Intensive Care Unit (ICU) registry managed by the Nepal Intensive Care Research Foundation (NICRF). A retrospective observational study was conducted among 78 eligible COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care units of four different hospitals between 2020 and 2022. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare each continuous variable between the survivors and non survivors, while Pearson's chi-squared test was used to examine the association between each categorical variable and outcome. Results Among 78 cases of COVID-19 studied, 29 (37.1%) had died, and 49 (62.8%) had recovered. The median age of the patient was 57.5 years, with a higher percentage of males (66.6%). Hypertension (41%) and diabetes (26.9%) were common comorbidities, whereas pneumonia (41%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (19.2%) were common complications. Most patients required oxygen therapy (96.2%). Corticosteroids (76.9%) and anticoagulants (83.3%) were commonly administered medications. Median of mean arterial pressure was 85 mm Hg [ IQR- 79.2 - 99.5] in non-survivors and 93.3 mm Hg [IQR- 86.6 - 102.6 ] in survivors which was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.04). Nine of the patients had cardiac dysfunction on ICU admission, of which none survived (p=0.001). Out of ten patients requiring inotropes or vasopressors, only two survived (p=0.001). Conclusions Non-survivor COVID patients had lower mean arterial pressure on admission to intensive care units. A higher proportion of patients with cardiac dysfunction and requiring inotropes or vasopressors could not survive.

Mortality-related factors in older adults with delirium: A prospective observational study

BackgroundDelirium is a common and serious neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by acute changes in attention, cognition, and consciousness. It is frequently encountered in various clinical settings, including critical care units and postoperative care, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding the factors contributing to delirium-related mortality is crucial for improving patient outcomes and healthcare practices. However, the factors associated with mortality in delirium have not been well-defined in the literature. ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify factors influencing 3-month mortality in older adults with delirium presenting to the emergency department (ED). MethodsThe study was conducted prospectively and delirium was screened using the brief Confusion Assesment Method (bCAM). The primary outcome was 3-month mortality. Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests compared groups, Spearman correlation analyzed correlations, and multivariate logistic regression identified risk factors. ResultsAmong 243 patients, 29.6% experienced in-hospital mortality, and 56.4% had 3-month mortality. Factors associated with increased mortality risk included prior delirium history (3.32-fold increase, 95%CI: 1.51-7.30), active malignancy (3.49-fold increase, 95%CI: 1.61-7.56) and increased respiratory rate (1.18-fold increase, 95%CI: 1.08-1.29). An increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) was associated with a 0.98-fold decrease in mortality risk (95%CI: 0.96-0.99), increase in body temperature was associated with a 0.48-fold decrease in mortality risk (95%CI:0.31-0.76). ConclusionIn delirious older adults at the ED, higher respiratory rate, lower MAP, lower body temperature, active malignancy and prior delirium history signal elevated mortality risk.

Timing of inopressor initiation in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock

Abstract Introduction Inotropes and vasopressors (inopressors) are commonly used in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (AMICS). The characteristics of patients subjected to early or late initiation of inopressors are not yet described, and the impact of timing on outcomes remains uncertain. Purpose This retrospective real-world data study aims to identify patient-, treatment-, and outcome characteristics of AMICS patients treated with early- or late initiated inopressors. Methods The Netherlands Heart Registration (NHR) prospectively records baseline, procedural, and outcome data for PCI patients. Between 2017-2021, additional retrospective data on CS patients were collected by fourteen Dutch hospitals. Patients were categorized based on the timing of inopressor initiation, either early (pre PCI) or solely late (at the cathlab or within 24 hours after PCI). Patients presenting with an out of hospital cardiac arrest were excluded. Missing data were imputed through multiple imputation (30x). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the timing of inopressor initiation and 30-day mortality, adjusting for univariate significant confounders among variables known at admission. Results A total of 956 consecutive CS patients were included of whom 418 (43.7%) and 538 (57.3%) patients were subjected to early and late initiation of inopressors respectively. The most frequently used drug in both groups was noradrenaline. At baseline, patients in the early initiation group were younger (67.4 vs. 70.0 years, p &amp;lt;0.001), presented with a lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) (72.5 vs. 76.3, p = 0.048) and higher lactate (4.2 vs. 3.6, p = 0.012), and presented with a NSTEMI more often (36.0% vs. 14.2%, p &amp;lt;0.001). They also had a higher prevalence of previous myocardial infarction (33.9% vs. 22.9%, p &amp;lt;0.001) and previous CABG (14.3% vs. 6.2%, p &amp;lt;0.001). Moreover, 30-day mortality rates were higher in the early initiated group (48.6% vs. 37.6%, pLogrank &amp;lt;0.001). After multivariate adjustment for age, admission MAP and lactate, early inopressor initiation remained independently associated with 30-day mortality (OR 1.44, 95%-CI 1.08-1.98) compared to late initiation. Conclusion In this Dutch cohort of CS patients undergoing PCI, baseline- treatment- and outcome characteristics differed between patient categories receiving either early or late initiated inopressors. Patients who were subjected to early initiated inopressors were younger, presented with worse hemodynamics, had a more extensive cardiovascular medical history and higher 30-day mortality rates. The results of this study reemphasize the importance of identifying patients who benefit from inopressors.30-day mortality late vs. earlyTable patient characteristics

Effect of Aerobic Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction on Postexercise Hypotension in Young Adults: The Role of Histamine Receptors.

We tested hypothesis that aerobic exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) induced postexercise hypotension (PEH), and the reduction in blood pressure (BP) was due to peripheral vasodilation via the histamine receptors. Ten male subjects participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to walk for 10 min at 6.4 km/h, 0% grade with or without BFR after taking histamine receptor blockade. Following exercise, BP was measured at 10 min interval for 60 min. Heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were evaluated. Our results indicated that MAP was significantly lowered immediately after exercise at 20 min, 30 min, and 40 min before the blockade as opposed to after the blockade. A significant reduction in diastolic BP (DBP) occurred. There were no significant differences in HR, SV, CO, and TPR between before the blockade and after the blockade. MAP was substantially decreased at 20 min, 30 min, and 40 min before the blockade compared to resting (-3.2 ± 2.2, -3.3 ± 2.8, and -2.9 ± 2.5, respectively) while increasing MAP after the blockade. The current study demonstrated that low-intensity aerobic exercise with BFR lowered MAP via histamine receptor-induced peripheral vasodilation. In conclusion, BFR exercise training using short periods and low intensity would be greatly beneficial as a potential treatment to lower BP.

Pulse oximetry-based perfusion index as a non-invasive indicator of systemic hemodynamics during spinal anesthesia in cesarean delivery

Background &amp; Objectives: Placental perfusion is not autoregulated and is susceptible to effects of spinal anesthesia (SA) induced hypotension. The perfusion index (PI) is a non-invasive marker of peripheral vascular tone, and a higher PI indicates increased risk of hypotension following SA. This study aims to establish preoperative baseline PI in our local population and its correlation with incidence of intraoperative hypotension. Methods: This prospective observational study recruited 35 parturients who underwent elective lower segment cesarean section (LSCS). Preoperatively, baseline heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and PI were documented. SA was performed with 8 to 10 mg of injection bupivacaine 0.5% (hyperbaric) at L3–L4 interspace followed by co-loading with 1 L Hartmann solution. Hypotension was defined as SBP less than 80% of baseline or less than 90 mmHg. A bolus of phenylephrine 50 µg was given as rescue medication to treat the hypotension. Intraoperatively, degree of decrease in SBP, MAP and HR, as well as the amount of phenylephrine required was recorded every minute until delivery of the baby and 3 min thereafter. Results: The correlations between parturients’ baseline PI with the degree of decreases in systolic and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.81, P &lt; 0.001 and r = 0.76, P &lt; 0.001, respectively) and phenylephrine requirement (r = 0.761, p &lt; 0.005) were recorded. This study identified that the patients with cut-off PI value of 3.2 were at higher risk for SA induced hypotension with a sensitivity of 85.9% and a specificity of 87.5% (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The patients with baseline cut-off perfusion index value of more than 3.2 were at higher risk for spinal anesthesia induced hypotension in elective cesarean section. Abbreviations: CO - cardiac output; LSCS - lower segment cesarean section MAP - mean arterial pressure; PI - perfusion index; SA - spinal anesthesia Keywords: Hypotension; Pulse Oximeter; Perfusion Index; Spinal Anesthesia; Cesarean section; Citation: Manap NSA, Zaini RHM, Shukeri WFWM, Omar SC, Abu Bakar MZ, Seevaunnamtum P. Pulse oximetry-based perfusion index as a non-invasive indicator of systemic hemodynamics during spinal anesthesia in cesarean delivery. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2024;28(5):927−932; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v28i5.2570 Received: July 23, 2024; Reviewed: September 02, 2024; Accepted: September 10, 2024

Effects of normal saline versus lactated Ringer’s solution on organ function and inflammatory responses to heatstroke in rats

BackgroundHeatstroke is a life-threatening condition characterized by severe hyperthermia and multiple organ dysfunction. Both normal saline (NS) and lactated Ringer’s solution (LR) are commonly used for cooling and volume resuscitation in heatstroke patients; however, their specific impacts on patient outcomes during heatstroke management are poorly understood. Given that the systemic inflammatory response and multiple-organ damage caused by heat toxicity are the main pathophysiological features of heatstroke, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of NS and LR on the production of inflammatory cytokines and the functional and structural integrity of renal and cardiac tissues in a rat model of heatstroke.MethodsFifty-five male Sprague‒Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: cold NS or LR infusion postheatstroke (4 ℃, 4 ml/100 g, over 10 min) and NS or LR infusion without heatstroke induction (control groups). Vital signs, arterial blood gases, inflammatory cytokines, and renal and cardiac function indicators, such as serum creatinine and cTnI, were monitored after treatment. Tissue samples were analysed via HE staining, electron microscopy, and fluorescence staining for apoptosis markers, and protein lysates were used for Western blotting of pyroptosis-related proteins.ResultsCompared with LR-treated heatstroke rats, NS-treated heatstroke rats presented lower mean arterial pressures, worsened metabolic acidosis, and higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in both the serum and tissue. These rats also presented increased serum creatinine, troponin, catecholamines, and NGAL and reduced renal clearance. Histological and ultrastructural analyses revealed more severe tissue damage in NS-treated rats, with increased apoptosis and increased expression of NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signalling molecules. Similar differences were not observed between the control groups receiving either NS or LR infusion. One NS-treated heatstroke rat died within 24 h, whereas all the LR-treated and control rats survived.ConclusionsNS resuscitation in heat-exposed rats significantly promotes metabolic acidosis and the inflammatory response, leading to greater functional and structural organ damage than does LR. These findings underscore the necessity of selecting appropriate resuscitation fluids for heatstroke management to minimize organ damage and improve outcomes.

8227 Complex Case of Myxedema Coma Complicated by Cardiac Arrest in a Geriatric Patient with Multiple Comorbidities

Abstract Disclosure: M. Parvez: None. L. Makahleh: None. S. Nagpal: None. A. Kavarthapu: None. V. Vedantam: None. Introduction: This case report details a rare instance of cardiac arrest in a patient with myxedema coma, a severe form of hypothyroidism. It highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in managing such complex endocrine emergencies. Case Presentation: A 70-year-old female with a history of hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, pacemaker implantation, and COPD presented with a 3 day history of progressive lethargy and weakness. EMS found her with critically low blood glucose level of 20. History and Examination revealed non-compliance with thyroid medication and myxedematous features including moon-like facies, periorbital edema, generalized edema, elevated JVP, and cold extremities with sluggish capillary refill. In the ER, she was hypotensive, labs showed a significantly elevated TSH level of 30.55 (0.45-4.5), free T3 level of 1.2 (2.3-4.2), free T4 level of 1.12 (0.93-1.70), high lactate, metabolic acidosis, renal impairment, and liver enzyme elevation. These findings, coupled with the clinical presentation, led to the diagnosis of myxedema coma. The patient's critical state was further complicated by distributive shock, shock liver and oliguric AKI. Management included sodium bicarbonate infusion for severe acidosis, IV hydrocortisone, IV levothyroxine, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Amiodarone was discontinued due to its potential contribution to acute liver injury and hypothyroidism. Despite interventions, she developed acute respiratory failure, requiring intubation and norepinephrine for low mean arterial pressure. Her renal function improved with pressor support, and her lactic acidosis resolved. She recovered quickly and was subsequently extubated. After stabilization, she was switched to oral levothyroxine and discharged. Shortly after discharge, she returned again with generalized weakness, confusion, and dysuria. ER evaluation revealed lethargy, hypotension, hypoglycemia, severe metabolic acidosis, and a UTI. She tested positive for Influenza. While in the ER, she had cardiac arrest, presenting with agonal breathing and PEA. CPR was initiated, achieving ROSC after two rounds and one dose of epinephrine. She was treated again with IV levothyroxine, and IV antibiotics. She recovered well and was discharged to rehab facility with re-education on compliance. Conclusion: This case exemplifies the complexity and challenges in managing a geriatric patient with multiple comorbidities, particularly in the context of myxedema coma. The intricate interplay of endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, and infectious complications necessitated a multifaceted and dynamic therapeutic approach. This case underscores the importance of compliance, vigilant monitoring, prompt recognition of complicating factors, and the need for a coordinated multidisciplinary approach in managing similar cases. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Association between community walkability and hypertension: Evidence from the Wuhan Chronic Disease Cohort Study

While community walkability is recognized as a key environmental factor for health status, evidence linking it specifically to hypertension is rather limited. To fill the knowledge gap, we concluded a cross-sectional study among 6421 eligible participants from the Wuhan Chronic Disease Cohort. A well-developed algorithm was performed to evaluate community walkability across Wuhan, quantified as Walk Score. We then calculated each participant residential Walk Score using the geographic information system. The logistic and linear regression models were conducted to determine the relationship between walkability, hypertension and blood pressure, respectively. We further performed the mediation analysis to explore potential mechanisms. After adjusting for extra confounders, we observed a higher community walk score was associated with a lower hypertension risk (OR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.84), a lower systolic blood pressure (β = −3.152 mmHg; 95% CI: −4.25, −2.05), a lower diastolic blood pressure (β = −2.237 mmHg; 95% CI: −2.95, −2.53) and a lower mean arterial pressure (β = −2.976 mmHg; 95% CI: −3.75, −2.20). The effect of community walkability on hypertension was partially mediated by body fat rate. Our study indicates a positive correlation between high walkability and a reduced odds of hypertension in China. This highlights the potential role of urban design in hypertension prevention, emphasizes the need for walkability-focused planning strategies to foster healthier communities, and guides future interventions and research to mitigate hypertension.

Unveiling the impact of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy on portal hemodynamics and survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: a prospective study.

The placement of Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) results in a sudden increase in central circulating blood volume, which requires proper regulation of the cardiovascular system. We aimed to investigate the impact of TIPS on cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM). A consecutive case series of patients with cirrhosis who underwent TIPS were evaluated by echocardiography and pressure measurements before, immediately after TIPS and 2-4 days later (delayed). Furthermore, all patients underwent a one-year follow-up. In this study, 107 patients were enrolled, 38 (35.5%) with CCM. Echocardiography revealed an increase in postoperative left ventricular filling pressure accompanied by an elevation in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, patients in the CCM group exhibited lower LVEF and mean arterial pressure (MAP) compared to the non-CCM group. Post-TIPS, CCM patients showed increased right atrium pressure (RAP) that normalized within 2-4 days, whereas non-CCM patients had lower RAP than baseline. Compared to patient without CCM, CCM patients revealed lower immediate (16.7 ± 4.4 vs. 18.9 ± 4.8, p = 0.022) and delayed 15.9 ± 3.7 vs. 17.7 ± 5.3, p = 0.044) portal vein pressures (PVP) and portal pressure gradients (PPG) (7.7 ± 3.4 vs. 9.2 ± 3.6, p = 0.032 and 10.1 ± 3.1 vs. 12.3 ± 4.9, p = 0.013). The 1-year mortality rates were 13.2% for CCM patients and 4.3% for non-CCM patients (log-rank test, p = 0.093), with MELD score, and preoperative RAP significantly associated with the mortality. Cirrhotic patients with CCM exhibit lower PVP and PPG immediately after TIPS and 2-4 days later, without significantly impacting one-year survival outcomes.

Reduced cardiovascular and metabolic responses during eccentric stepping exercise: A pilot study.

This study compared cardiovascular and metabolic responses during concentric and eccentric stepping. Eight participants (5 m, 3f; 22 ± 2 years) performed maximal concentric and eccentric ramp incremental tests on a modified stepping ergometer. Subsequently, three randomized 15-min constant-power tests were performed (1) concentric stepping at 90% of the concentric lactate threshold (LT), (2) eccentric stepping at the same power, and (3) eccentric stepping at the same oxygen uptake (V̇O2). At equivalent power (36 ± 6 W, p = 0.62), eccentric stepping resulted in 46 ± 8% lower V̇O2, 16 ± 6% lower heart rate (HR), and 11 ± 5% lower mean arterial blood pressure compared to concentric (p < 0.01). Matching V̇O2 required 65 ± 19% more power during eccentric stepping (p < 0.01). During this test, eccentric V̇O2 and HR continued to increase, resulting in a 22 ± 29% higher V̇O2 and 19 ± 16% higher HR in the final minute (p < 0.001). Reduced cardiorespiratory demand during eccentric stepping at the same power as concentric demonstrates a higher eccentric power is required to produce the same V̇O2. However, despite being below the concentric LT, eccentric V̇O2 and HR continued to increase past the predicted steady state, indicating a higher exercise intensity.

Predicting intradialytic hypotension in critically ill patients undergoing intermittent hemodialysis: a prospective observational study

BackgroundHypotension during dialysis arises from vasomotor tone alterations and hypovolemia, with disrupted counterregulatory mechanisms in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. This study investigated the predictive value of preload dependency, assessed by the passive leg raising (PLR) test, and arterial tone, measured by dynamic elastance (Eadyn), for intradialytic hypotension (IDH).MethodsIn this prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary hospital ICU, hemodynamic parameters were collected from critically ill AKI patients undergoing intermittent hemodialysis using the FloTrac/Vigileo system. Baseline measurements were recorded before KRT initiation, including the PLR test and Eadyn calculation. IDH was defined as mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 65 mmHg during dialysis. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of IDH, and Kaplan–Meier analysis assessed 90-day survival.ResultsOf 187 patients, 27.3% experienced IDH. Preload dependency, identified by positive PLR test, was significantly associated with IDH (OR 8.54, 95% CI 5.25–27.74), while baseline Eadyn was not predictive of IDH in this cohort. Other significant predictors of IDH included norepinephrine use (OR 16.35, 95% CI 3.87–68.98) and lower baseline MAP (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–1.00). IDH and a positive PLR test were associated with lower 90-day survival (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe PLR test is a valuable tool for predicting IDH in critically ill AKI patients undergoing KRT, while baseline Eadyn did not demonstrate predictive value in this setting. Continuous hemodynamic monitoring, including assessment of preload dependency, may optimize patient management and potentially improve outcomes. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and develop targeted interventions to prevent IDH.

Correlation of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) with Invasive Arterial Pressure Monitoring during Aortic Coarctation Surgery in Pediatric Patients.

Aortic coarctation surgery in pediatric patients requires the placement of two arterial cannulas to monitor pressure gradients and surgical correction adequacy. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring provides insight into regional blood flow. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between NIRS values and invasive arterial pressures, exploring NIRS monitoring as a potential substitute for arterial cannulation. In a cohort of 21 consecutive pediatric patients undergoing aortic coarctation surgery, recordings of NIRS and invasive arterial pressure values were evaluated at various time intervals. Pearson correlation evaluated the relationship between NIRS values and invasively measured arterial pressures. Moderate to strong correlations were observed between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the upper and lower arteries and cerebral (rSO2-C) and somatic (rSO2-S) NIRS values 5 min after cross-clamp placement (r = 0.621, p = 0.003; r = 0.757, p < 0.001). Strong correlations were found 15 min after cross-clamp placement (r = 0.828, p = 0.002; r = 0.783, p = 0.004). Before transfer to the ICU, a strong correlation existed between the upper artery MAP and rSO2-C (r = 0.730, p < 0.001), but there was no correlation between the lower artery MAP and rSO2-S. These findings are promising, but further studies are required to validate it as a reliable substitute for invasive pressure monitoring in this patient population.

Evaluation of perfusion index to predict hypotension in lower segment caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia

Background: Spinal Anaesthesia is the most popular choice for elective caesarean section. Both general anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia are acceptable techniques for anaesthesia for elective and emergency caesarean sections. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the role of the perfusion index in predicting the incidence of hypotension following spinal anaesthesia in parturients undergoing elective lower segment caesarean sections. Methods: A prospective, observational study was carried out among sixty parturients posted for elective caesarean section. The study was conducted in the operation theatres of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. About 60 participants were interviewed for the study. Data were entered and analysed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version.16. Results: Sixty eligible ASAI (American society of anaesthesiologist’s physical status classification) parturients scheduled for elective caesarean section were divided into two groups pre-operatively after determining their baseline Perfusion Index (PI) as those with PI ≤ 3.5 and those with PI &gt; 3.5 using a Masimo® pulse oximeter probe. When comparing the heart rate at time intervals among the two groups, it became increasingly clear that those with baseline PI &gt; 3.5 had generally higher heart rate especially immediately after the block and at 2nd, 4th, 6th,8th, 10th, 12th, 14th and 20th minutes. Conclusion: The study concludes that a Perfusion Index &gt; 3.5 is associated with a higher incidence of hypotension in lower segment caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. The hemodynamic parameters such as increased heart rate and significantly lower systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures in parturients with baseline PI &gt; 3.5 suggest that these patients have lower baseline SVR and depleted autonomic resilience to hypotension compared to those with baseline PI ≤ 3.5. High BMI seems to be significantly associated with high baseline PI.