Maintain Mean Arterial Pressure Research Articles

An Unusual Case of Alarming Lactic Acidosis: Brain Metabolic Cross-Talk

AbstractA 39-year-old male with a BMI of 30.8 kg/m2 and a normal medical history underwent excision of a left orbito-cavernal hemangioma (4 × 2 × 2 cm) under general anesthesia. Balanced anesthesia and fluid management guided by pulse pressure variation (kept below 12%) were employed. Despite stable hemodynamics and normal blood sugar levels, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis revealed a progressive rise in lactate levels, reaching 10.6 mmol/L, accompanied by acidemia. Systemic hypoperfusion was ruled out by maintaining mean arterial pressure between 70-80 mm Hg, ensuring a capillary refill time of less than 3 seconds, and confirming a central venous oxygen saturation of 72%. With a total blood loss of 800 mL, one unit of packed red blood cells was transfused due to concerns about decreased microcirculation and tissue hypoxia. After 10 hours of surgery, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) was administered to mitigate metabolic acidosis and its potential impact on intracranial pressure. Postoperatively, lactate levels remained elevated (8-9 mmol/L), but with continued NaHCO3 infusion, lactate reduced to 6.4 mmol/L, allowing extubation. The patient's lactate normalized by the evening, and recovery was uneventful. This case highlights the significant metabolic disturbances, particularly lactic acidosis, that can arise during brain tumor surgery due to prolonged operative times, large tumor size, higher BMI, and stress-induced metabolic derangements. Awareness and prompt management of these disturbances are crucial for successful patient outcomes.

Comparison GDP and conventional CPB impact on metabolism in cardiac center Sardjito general hospital

Abstract* Background Goal-directed perfusion (GDP) aims to balance oxygen delivery (DO2) and consumption (VO2) in cardiac surgery. Elevated lactate during CPB is common and linked to higher morbidity and mortality. Evaluating lactate with base excess (BE) is vital due to their relationship. Reducing severe BE and lactate predicts cardiac surgery outcomes better. Methods Fifty adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB were randomly assigned to either the GDP group or the conventional group. In the GDP group, the priming solution was adjusted to target a hematocrit (HCT) level of 24 to 27% with a pump flow of 1.8 to 2.2 L/min/m2 to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) between 60 and 65 mmHg. The primary outcomes was oxygen delivery index (DO2i). Results There were increasing trends in lactate levels and decreasing trends in BE levels at all timeframes. The GDP mean difference of lactate [1.504 (1.52); p < 0.001] and BE [-0.87 (2.93); p = 0.22] levels showed better value in the GDP group, with statistically significant increased values in the control group for BE [-1.667 (2.93); p = 0.017] and lactate levels [2.215 (2.919); p < 0.001]. The postoperative outcome showed a significant difference in AKI and ventilator time. Conclusions The GDP low flow CPB compared with conventional flow CPB maintained DO2 matched with VO2 with a better clinical values in the lactate and BE levels and significantly lowered AKI and ventilator duration in cardiac surgery.

"White Cord Syndrome" as clinical manifestation of the spinal cord reperfusion syndrome: a systematic review of risk factors, treatments, and outcome.

Paralysis subsequent to spinal cord decompression in the cervical or thoracic region is infrequent, with White Cord Syndrome (WCS) being among its several causes. Due to WCS's infrequency, there exists a paucity of high-level evidence concerning its manifestations. Our primary objective is to systematically collate all documented WCS cases, discern prevalent risk and prognostic factors, appraise available treatment modalities, and evaluate patient outcomes. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The search included PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria required studies to be written in English, be case reports, and contain data on clinical features, management, and treatment outcomes. Exclusion criteria excluded meta-analyses, reviews, editorials, letters, books, studies with insufficient clinical data, and studies not in English or with unavailable full texts. Grey literature was not actively pursued due to identification challenges, potentially introducing selection bias. Two authors independently evaluated papers based on criteria. Disagreements were resolved with a third author. Additionally, the included articles' references were screened for additional relevant articles. We found a total of 580 articles through our electronic search. After removing duplicates, 399 articles were screened. Out of the remaining 51 studies, 27 were included in the final quantitative analysis. The average age was 54 (3-79 years) with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1, 33% had OPLL, and Common medical histories were hypertension (30%), diabetes mellitus (20%), and previous ACDF surgery (8%). Of all Surgeries, 70% were done with a posterior approach and 30% with the anterior approach. 48% of cases used Intraoperative NeuroMonitoring(IONM), and Loss of Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP) occurred in 37% of cases. Patients received high-dose intravenous steroids. In 26% of cases, additional posterior cervical decompression was performed, and efforts were made to maintain mean arterial pressure above 85 mmHg in 37% of cases. Other medications were administered in 30% of cases. Over an average 26-week follow-up, 37% of patients had good recovery, 40% had partial recovery, and 23% showed no recovery. The average final Nurick grade was 3.2. WCS is a rare cause of postoperative neurological deficit following spinal cord decompression surgery. Risk factors for WCS include advanced age, extensive surgery, posterior approach for decompression, and the presence of OPLL. Treatment includes high-dose steroids, posterior cervical decompression, maintaining MAP over 85mmHg, rehabilitation, and sometimes neurotrophic drugs. Most patients can walk with or without assistance during follow-up, but around a quarter never regain neurological function. The only preoperative factor impacting outcomes is the preoperative neurological status (Nurick Grade).

Addition of Dexmedetomidine to Propofol Anesthesia for Middle-Ear Surgeries: A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Study.

Background Middle-ear surgery commonly performed under a microscope requires a bloodless field provided by hypotensive anesthesia. Our objective wasto study the effects of dexmedetomidine on propofol consumption and intraoperative hemodynamic stability. Methods One hundred adults undergoing elective middle-ear surgery were randomized into two groups. The propofol+dexmedetomidine group (Group PD) received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine 1μg/kg in 10ml normal saline over 10min followed by infusion of the same at 0.5μg/kg/h. Propofol-only group (Group P) received 10ml normal saline over 10min followed by an infusion of the same. General anesthesia was induced with intravenous morphine, propofol, and vecuronium, and maintained with propofol, oxygen, and N2O. During microscope use, we aimed to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) within 60-69mmHg. Results There was no significant difference in the mean (SD) consumption of propofol [Group P 8.6 (2.1)mg/kg/h vs Group PD 8.1 (1.5)mg/kg/h, P=0.172]. The induction dose of propofol was significantly less in Group PD [1.8 (0.3) vs 2 (0.4)mg/kg, P<0.001]. Except for the baseline value, the heart rate was significantly lower in Group PD, P<0.001. The time duration during which MAP was within 60-69mmHg was higher in Group P [37.5 (36.8) vs 30.9 (38.3)min] though the difference was not statistically significant. The recovery was delayed in Group PD [25.4 (8.6) vs 17.6 (4.9)min, P<0.001]. Group PD had a significantly better operative field, P=0.0003. Conclusion The addition of dexmedetomidine did not reduce propofol consumption but reduced the induction dose of propofol. Propofol and dexmedetomidine combination provided comparable mean arterial pressure and better operative field but caused delayed recovery.

Stellate ganglion block for visceral pain in elderly patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery: a randomized, controlled trial.

Visceral pain occurs commonly following thoracic surgery, but an effective method to relieve visceral pain in thoracic surgery remains controversial. We test the effect of stellate ganglion blocks (SGB) on perioperative visceral pain following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). A prospective, randomized, controlled trial enrolled 77 elderly patients undergoing VATS. Patients were randomized to SGB followed by modified intercostal nerve block (Group S, n=37); or modified intercostal nerve block only (Group C, n=40). Remifentanil 0.02-0.2μg·kg-1·min-1 was titrated to keep pain threshold index values between 40-65 and maintain mean arterial pressure or heart rate values around 20% of baseline values. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with sufentanil was used in the postoperative period. The co-primary outcomes were the perioperative cumulative opioid consumption and pain scores on movement at 24 h after surgery. Compared with control group, SGB greatly reduced the intraoperative remifentanil consumption[300.00(235.00-450.00)μg versus 710.00(500.00-915.00)μg; P<0.01], with no difference in cumulative sufentanil consumption to 48h post-surgery. There was a statistically significant difference in pain scores on movement at 24h between groups [4.00(3.00-4.00) versus 4.00(3.25-5.00); P=0.01]. Further exploratory analyses showed significant difference for intra-chest pain on movement at 24h [3.00(2.00-3.00) versus 3.00(2.25-4.00); P=0.01]. No significant difference was observed in nausea/vomiting, time to pass flatus and postoperative length of stay. Preoperative stellate ganglion blocks for elderly patients could effectively blunt intraoperative visceral stress and reduce postoperative visceral pain extending 24 h after VATS. This initial finding deserve further investigation.

Effects of metaraminol and norepinephrine on hemodynamics and kidney function in a miniature pig model of septic shock.

To compare the effects of metaraminol and norepinephrine on hemodynamics and kidney injury in the treatment of septic shock, and calculate the conversion dose ratio between the two vasopressors. This randomized controlled study was performed on 15 Guizhou miniature pigs. Septic shock was induced by fecal peritonitis in 10 animals, and 5 were used as a sham-operated group (shams). Fluid resuscitation and vasopressors were initiated 30 min after the onset of septic shock. The septic shock pigs were randomly assigned to receive one of the two drugs to restore and maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥ 65 mmHg for 3 h. Hemodynamics and heart rate were continuously monitored. There was no significant difference in MAP, heart rate, cardiac output (CO) and central venous pressure (CVP) between the two groups after treatment. No arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation presented during continuous monitoring. After septic shock, the animals showed obvious kidney injury. In addition, compared with norepinephrine, the creatinine at 3 h was significantly lower with metaraminol. According to propensity score matching, the ratio of 6: 1 was considered appropriate for the dose equivalence calculation of metaraminol (μg·kg-1·min-1): norepinephrine (μg·kg-1·min-1). Metaraminol has a similar pressor effect to norepinephrine in septic shock; it does not increase heart rate and aggravate kidney injury after shock compared with norepinephrine. And our research may provide some laboratory evidence for the clinical usage of metaraminol.

Embedded Cyber-Physical System for Physiological Control of Ventricular Assist Devices

Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) play a crucial role in both bridging to transplantation and serving as destination therapy for congestive heart failure (CHF) management. This study aims to address the limitations of existing control strategies for VADs, specifically their inability to adapt automatically to hemodynamic changes. It proposes a novel embedded cyber-physical system (CPS) based on real-time data processing, reconfigurable architecture, and communication protocols aligned with Health 4.0 concepts to enhance physiological control over VADs (PC-VAD). The research employs a multi-objective PC-VAD approach within a hybrid cardiovascular simulator. An embedded CPS is introduced to overcome challenges related to differences in controller characteristics between computers and embedded systems. The study assesses the performance of the embedded CPS by comparing it with a computer-based control system. The embedded CPS demonstrates outcomes comparable to the computer-based control system, maintaining mean arterial pressure and cardiac output at physiological levels. Even in the face of variations in ejection fraction, the embedded CPS dynamically adjusts the pump's rotational speed based on simulated clinical conditions. Notably, there is no aortic reflux to the ventricle through the VAD during testing. These findings affirm the satisfactory control performance of the embedded CPS in regulating VADs. The study concludes that the embedded CPS effectively addresses the limitations of current VAD control strategies, exhibiting control performance comparable to computer-based systems. However, further experimentation and in vivo studies are necessary to validate and ensure its applicability in real-world scenarios.

Recovery and Survival of Patients After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Literature Review Showcasing the Big Picture of Intensive Care Unit-Related Factors.

As an important public health issue, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) requires several stages of high quality medical care, both on-field and after hospital admission. Post-cardiac arrest shock can lead to severe neurological injury, resulting in poor recovery outcome and increasedrisk of death. These characteristics make this conditionone of the most important issues to deal with in post-OHCA patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). Also, the majority of initial post-resuscitation survivors haveunderlying coronary diseases makingrevascularization procedure another crucial step in early management of these patients. Besides keeping myocardial blood flow at a satisfactory level, other tissues must not be neglected as well, and maintaining mean arterial pressure within optimal range is also preferable. All these procedures can be simplified to a certain level along with using targeted temperature management methods in order to decrease metabolic demands in ICU-hospitalized post-OHCA patients. Additionally, withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy as a controversial ethical topic is under constant re-evaluation due to its possible influence on overall mortality rates in patients initially surviving OHCA. Focusing on all of these important points in process of managing ICU patients is an imperative towards better survival and complete recovery rates.

Postreperfusion Syndrome in Patients Receiving Vasoactive Drugs During Liver Graft Reperfusion.

The most widely used definition of postreperfusion syndrome in liver transplant is a 30% decrease in mean arterial pressure during the first 5 minutes after vascular unclamping. With these criteria, increased postoperative morbidity has been reported. Vasoactivedrugs couldpreventthis syndrome.Themain objective of our study was to determine the incidence and complications associated with postreperfusion syndrome inpatientswho receivedvasoactive support. We studied 246 patients who received norepinephrine infusions to maintain mean arterial pressure ≥60 mm Hg and who were monitored with a Swan-Ganz catheter. Patients received a bolus of adrenaline after vascular unclamping in cases of insufficient response to norepinephrine. Among the study patients, 57 (23.17%) developed postreperfusion syndrome. Patients who developed postreperfusion syndrome did not present with morepostoperative complications interms ofrenal dysfunction (P = .69), repeat surgery (P = .15), graft rejection (P = .69), transplant replacement surgery (P = .76), hospital stay (P = .70), or survival (P = .17) compared with patients without postreperfusion syndrome. In patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplant, in whom vasoactive drugs were administered, a diagnosis of self-limited postreperfusion syndrome during the first 5 minutes after unclamping may not be associated with postoperative complications. The administration of vasoconstrictors may have a preventive effect on the postoperative complications associated with postreperfusion syndrome or they may mask the real incidence of postreperfusion syndrome. A broader definition of postreperfusion syndrome should be accepted.

Implementation and Evaluation of Weight-Based Vasopressors in Intensive Care Units.

Background: Vasopressors, including norepinephrine, epinephrine, and phenylephrine are commonly used to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) in critically ill patients. Despite their frequent use, the optimal dosing strategy for vasopressors remains understudied. Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the implementation of a weight-based (WB) dosing strategy using ideal body weight compared to a non-weight-based (NWB) dosing strategy for vasopressors in critically ill patients. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of patients admitted to intensive care units receiving vasopressor medications for greater than or equal to 4 hours. Patients received either an NWB or a WB vasopressor dosing strategy. The primary endpoint was the time to achieve goal MAP. Results: This study included 153 patients in the NWB vasopressor dosing group and 183 in the WB dosing group. The median time to achieve goal MAP in the NWB group was 24 minutes versus 21 minutes in the WB group (P = 0.1713). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes including number of vasoactive agents required, hospital length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation. Subgroup analysis of patients with extremes of body mass index did not show a difference in time to achieve goal MAP. In a subgroup analysis of patients with septic shock, a higher percentage of patients in the WB group received corticosteroids than the NWB group patients (14% vs. 54%; P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion and relevance: There was no difference in time to achieve goal MAP when using a WB or NWB vasopressor dosing approach. Institutions should employ a consistent dosing strategy for vasopressors with either an NWB or WB approach.

Neutralization of extracellular histones by sodium-Β-O-methyl cellobioside sulfate in septic shock

BackgroundExtracellular histones have been associated with severity and outcome in sepsis. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of sodium-β-O-Methyl cellobioside sulfate (mCBS), a histone-neutralizing polyanion, on the severity and outcome of sepsis in an experimental model.MethodsThis randomized placebo-controlled experimental study was performed in 24 mechanically ventilated female sheep. Sepsis was induced by fecal peritonitis. Animals were randomized to three groups: control, early treatment, and late treatment (n = 8 each). mCBS was given as a bolus (1 mg/kg) followed by a continuous infusion (1 mg/kg/h) just after sepsis induction in the early treatment group, and 4 h later in the late treatment group. Fluid administration and antimicrobial therapy were initiated 4 h T4 after feces injection, peritoneal lavage performed, and a norepinephrine infusion titrated to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) between 65–75 mmHg. The experiment was blinded and lasted maximum 24 h.ResultsDuring the first 4 h, MAP remained > 65 mmHg in the early treatment group but decreased significantly in the others (p < 0.01 for interaction, median value at T4: (79 [70–90] mmHg for early treatment, 57 [70–90] mmHg for late treatment, and 55 [49–60] mmHg for the control group). mCBS-treated animals required significantly less norepinephrine to maintain MAP than controls (p < 0.01 for interaction) and had lower creatinine (p < 0.01), lactate (p < 0.01), and interleukin-6 (p < 0.01) levels, associated with reduced changes in H3.1 nucleosome levels (p = 0.02). Early treatment was associated with lower norepinephrine requirements than later treatment. Two control animals died; all the mCBS-treated animals survived.ConclusionsNeutralization of extracellular histones with mCBS was associated with reduced norepinephrine requirements, improved tissue perfusion, less renal dysfunction, and lower circulating IL-6 in experimental septic shock and may represent a new therapeutic approach to be tested in clinical trials.

Abstract 101: Prehospital High-Dose Methylprednisolone Treatment Reduces Norepinephrine Need Following Resuscitated Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: Resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients are hemodynamically unstable and have high mortality. Norepinephrine (NE) is recommended to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) above 65 mmHg, but excessive NE use, and a continuously low MAP are both associated with poor outcomes in OHCA. The glucocorticoid methylprednisolone (MP) has anti-inflammatory properties and may increase arterial sensitivity to NE, thereby improving MAP and reducing NE need. Aims: To determine if prehospital anti-inflammatory MP treatment could lower the need for NE without affecting MAP values following OHCA. Methods: The STEROHCA trial was a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, including adult comatose patients resuscitated from OHCA due to presumed cardiac etiology, and with a minimum of five minutes of return of spontaneous circulation. The intervention was intravenous MP 250 mg or placebo, administered prehospitally. In this sub-study, we repeatedly measured NE dose and MAP from admission until 48h and compared differences between the two groups at each time point. Results: In the STEROHCA trial, 137 patients were randomized to MP (n=68) or placebo (n=69). Patients were mainly male (85%) with a median age of 66 years (IQR 56, 75). The MP group demonstrated significantly lower NE use (mcg/kg/min) at 24h (0.22 (0.15; 0.31) vs. 0.38 (0.28; 0.49), p=0.02), 42h (0.13 (0.07; 0.20) vs. 0.25 (0.17; 0.35), p=0.03), and 48h (0.08 (0.03; 0.15) vs. 0.23 (0.15; 0.33), p=0.004), Figure 1 . We observed a higher MAP in the MP group with significantly higher MAP values (mmHg) at 6h (75 (72; 78) vs. 70 (67; 73), p=0.03), 12h (75 (71; 78) vs. 69 (66; 72), p=0.01), 18h (76 (73; 79) vs. 69 (66; 72), p=0.003), 24h (77 (74; 80) vs. 71 (68; 74), p=0.01), and 48h (86 (82; 89) vs. 79 (76; 82), p=0.004), Figure 1 . Conclusions: Prehospital treatment with high-dose MP reduced the need for NE while improving MAP values in resuscitated OHCA patients for the initial 48h of admission.

Angiotensin II in liver transplantation (AngLT-1): protocol of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

IntroductionCatecholamine vasopressors such as norepinephrine are the standard drugs used to maintain mean arterial pressure during liver transplantation. At high doses, catecholamines may impair organ perfusion. Angiotensin II is a...

White cord syndrome—an unforeseen complication and diagnosis of exclusion: a case report and review of management

BackgroundWhite cord syndrome is an unexpected and dreaded complication of decompression surgery in cervical myelopathy with an unforeseeable prognosis. Ischemic reperfusion injury has been advocated as an underlying pathophysiology. Not only must the surgeon be acquainted with this complication, but the patient should also be counseled before surgery regarding the expected outcome and worsening of neurological status after surgery in severe chronic compressive myelopathy.Case presentationA 48-year-old female presented with difficulty walking and numbness in all four limbs. The clinical and radiological assessment was suggestive of multilevel cervical cord compression. Posterior cervical decompression with C3–C7 lateral mass screw was performed. The patient developed a worsening neurological status in the immediate postoperative period. The patient was shifted to the intensive care unit and managed with high-dose dexamethasone along with monitoring and maintaining mean arterial pressure above 85 mm Hg. A partial improvement in neurology was noted during the in-hospital stay. The patient was attached to the local rehabilitation clinic. At the one-year follow-up, the patient was ambulatory with some residual numbness and weakness in the upper limbs.ConclusionsWhite cord syndrome following spinal decompression in chronic cervical myelopathy is a rare, unfortunate complication and a diagnosis of exclusion with variable outcomes. An increase in signal hyper-intensity on T2-weighted MRI imaging in this entity is the most consistent finding. This report reviewed our current knowledge on the management of white cord syndrome based on our present experience.

Meglumine cyclic adenylate improves cardiovascular hemodynamics and motor-function in a rat model of acute T4 thoracic spinal cord injury.

Animal experimental study. Spinal cord injury (SCI) at or above the T6 level causes cardiovascular dysfunction. Maintaining cAMP levels with cAMP analogs can facilitate neurological recovery. In the present study, the effects of meglumine cyclic adenylate (MCA), a cAMP analog and approved cardiovascular drug, on cardiovascular and neurological recovery in acute T4-SCI in rats were investigated. Hospital in Kunming, China. Eighty rats were randomly allocated to five groups, and groups A-D received SCI: (A) a group administered MCA at 2 mg/kg/d iv qd, (B) a group administered dopamine at 2.5 to 5 μg/kg/min iv to maintain mean arterial pressure above 85 mm Hg, (C) a group administered atropine at 1 mg/kg iv bid, (D) a group receiving an equal volume of saline iv qd for 3 weeks after SCI and (E) a group undergoing laminectomy only. The cardiovascular and behavioral parameters of the rats were examined, and spinal cord tissues were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, electron microscopy, and analysis of cAMP levels. Compared with dopamine or atropine, MCA significantly reversed the decrease in cAMP levels in both myocardial cells and the injured spinal cord; improved hypotension, bradycardia and behavioral parameters at 6 weeks; and improved spinal cord blood flow and histological structure at 7 days post-SCI. The regression analysis suggested spinal cord motor-function improved as decreased heart rate and mean arterial pressure were stopped post-SCI. MCA may be an effective treatment for acute SCI by sustaining cAMP-dependent reparative processes and improving post-SCI cardiovascular dysfunction. N/A.

Evaluation of electronic measurement of capillary refill for Sepsis screening at ED triage

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between capillary refill time (CRT) measured by a medical device and sepsis among patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). MethodsThis prospective observational study enrolled adult and pediatric patients during ED triage when sepsis was considered a potential diagnosis by the triage nurse. Patients were enrolled at an academic medical center between December 2020 and June 2022. CRT was measured by a research assistant using an investigational medical device. The outcomes included sepsis and septic shock defined using sep-3 criteria, septic shock defined as IV antibiotics and a vasopressor requirement, ICU admission, and hospital mortality. Other measures included patient demographics and vital signs at ED triage. We evaluated univariate associations between CRT and sepsis outcomes. ResultsWe enrolled 563 patients in the study, 48 met Sep-3 criteria, 5 met Sep-3 shock criteria, and 11 met prior septic shock criteria (IV antibiotics and vasopressors to maintain mean arterial pressure of 65). Sixteen patients were admitted to the ICU. The mean age was 49.1 years, and 51% of the cohort was female. The device measured CRT was significantly associated with the diagnosis of sepsis by sep-3 criteria (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06–1-43), septic shock by sep-3 criteria (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.02–2.40), and septic shock defined as receipt of IV antibiotics and a vasopressor requirement (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.03–1.82). Patients with CRT >3.5 s measured by the DCR device had an odds ratio of 4.67 (95%CI 1.31–16.1) of septic shock (prior definition), and an odds ratio of 3.97 (95% CI 1.99–7.92) of ICU admission, supporting the potential for the 3.5-s cutoff of the DCR measurement. ConclusionsCRT measured by a medical device at ED triage was associated with the diagnosis of sepsis. Objective CRT measurement using a medical device may be a relatively simple way to improve sepsis diagnosis during ED triage.

2023 Update on Sepsis and Septic Shock in Adult Patients: Management in the Emergency Department.

Sepsis/septic shock is a life-threatening and time-dependent condition that requires timely management to reduce mortality. This review aims to update physicians with regard to the main pillars of treatment for this insidious condition. PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE were searched from inception with special attention paid to November 2021-January 2023. The management of sepsis/septic shock is challenging and involves different pathophysiological aspects, encompassing empirical antimicrobial treatment (which is promptly administered after microbial tests), fluid (crystalloids) replacement (to be established according to fluid tolerance and fluid responsiveness), and vasoactive agents (e.g., norepinephrine (NE)), which are employed to maintain mean arterial pressure above 65 mmHg and reduce the risk of fluid overload. In cases of refractory shock, vasopressin (rather than epinephrine) should be combined with NE to reach an acceptable level of pressure control. If mechanical ventilation is indicated, the tidal volume should be reduced from 10 to 6 mL/kg. Heparin is administered to prevent venous thromboembolism, and glycemic control is recommended. The efficacy of other treatments (e.g., proton-pump inhibitors, sodium bicarbonate, etc.) is largely debated, and such treatments might be used on a case-to-case basis. The management of sepsis/septic shock has significantly progressed in the last few years. Improving knowledge of the main therapeutic cornerstones of this challenging condition is crucial to achieve better patient outcomes.

British Society for Haematology guideline for anticoagulantmanagement of pregnant individuals with mechanical heart valves.

British Society for Haematology guideline for anticoagulantmanagement of pregnant individuals with mechanical heart valves.

Angiotensin 1–7 in an experimental septic shock model

BackgroundAlterations in the renin–angiotensin system have been implicated in the pathophysiology of septic shock. In particular, angiotensin 1–7 (Ang-(1–7)), an anti-inflammatory heptapeptide, has been hypothesized to have beneficial effects. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of Ang-(1–7) infusion on the development and severity of septic shock.MethodsThis randomized, open-label, controlled study was performed in 14 anesthetized and mechanically ventilated sheep. Immediately after sepsis induction by bacterial peritonitis, animals received either Ang-(1–7) (n = 7) or placebo (n = 7) intravenously. Fluid resuscitation, antimicrobial therapy, and peritoneal lavage were initiated 4 h after sepsis induction. Norepinephrine administration was titrated to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) between 65 and 75 mmHg.ResultsThere were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Septic shock was prevented in 6 of the 7 animals in the Ang-(1–7) group at the end of the 24-h period. Fluid balance and MAP were similar in the two groups; however, MAP was achieved with a mean norepinephrine dose of 0.4 μg/kg/min in the Ang-(1–7) group compared to 4.3 μg/kg/min in the control group. Heart rate and cardiac output index were lower in the Ang (1–7) than in the control group, as were plasma interleukin-6 levels, and creatinine levels. Platelet count and PaO2/FiO2 ratio were higher in the Ang-(1–7) group. Mean arterial lactate at the end of the experiment was 1.6 mmol/L in the Ang-(1–7) group compared to 7.4 mmol/L in the control group.ConclusionsIn this experimental septic shock model, early Ang-(1–7) infusion prevented the development of septic shock, reduced norepinephrine requirements, limited interleukine-6 increase and prevented renal dysfunction.

Septic shock due to splenic abscess, complicated by empyema, secondary to colosplenic fistula post-gastrojejunostomy procedure: a case report

Background: Splenic abscess is a rare disease that can be due to many causes including infections or adnominal trauma and surgery. Complications of splenic abscess are fatal including septic shock which can be defined as sepsis leading to circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities, and the patient cannot maintain mean arterial pressure. Case Presentation: In this case, we report a 71-year-old male patient known to have diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Past surgical history revealed that he underwent exploratory laparotomy and graham patch repair, followed by exploratory laparotomy with gastrojejunostomy. Patient has a history of deep venous thrombosis for 1 month on anticoagulant. He presented to the emergency department because of decreased level of consciousness. The patient appeared obtunded and pale, his blood pressure and oxygen saturation were low. Computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiogram showed massive bilateral pleural effusion and abdominal CT showed splenic abscess and colosplenic fistula. Conclusion: Because splenic abscess secondary to previous abdominal surgeries is a rare condition, emergency physicians should have a high index of suspicion for such a rare phenomenon if they encounter severe sepsis or septic shock.