Experiences of Using Extracorporeal Life Support in Cardiac Arrest Unresponsive to Standard Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

PURPOSE: Extracorporeal life support has been used as an extension of conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, the appropriate indications for extracorporeal CPR (ECPR) including the duration of CPR are unknown. We analyzed the cases of patients who received ECPR in our institute to find indicators for ECPR. METHODS: Patients who received ECPR in the emergency department of Korea University Ansan hospital from April 2006 to March 2007 were candidates for enrolment. Inclusion criteria were 1) a witnessed sudden cardiac arrest with correctable cause, 2) age <75 years, 3) cardiac arrest unresponsive to standard CPR, 4) absence of serious underlying disease such as advanced cancer, 5) impending arrest state due to respiratory failure or cardiogenic shock. Cardiac arrest related to trauma was excluded from the study. Tracked outcomes were hospital survival, improvement of Glasgow Coma Scale-motor respones, and return of spontaneous circulation. We analyzed the cause of arrest, arrest rhythm, time of administration of extracorporeal life support, and laboratory values. RESULTS: A total of seven patients received ECPR during one year. All patients achieved spontaneous circulation after ECPR and four patients showed improvement of GCS-motor response. Two patients were discharged alive. Their GCS and CPC were 15 points and 1 point, respectively. Intervention to correct underlying cause of arrest during ECPR, rapid start of ECPR during chest compression, and recovery of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and urine output during ECPR all correlated with good outcomes. CONCLUSION: ECPR as a method of extended CPR improved the survival of cardiac arrest patients unresponsive to standard CPR.

Shock Index, Serum Lactate Level, and Arterial-End Tidal Carbon Dioxide Difference as Hospital Mortality Markers and Guidelines of Early Resuscitation in Hypovolemic Shock

PURPOSE: To determine whether differences in arterial and end-tidal carbon dioxide [P(a-et)CO2], shock index, and serum lactate levels are helpful for predicting the outcome of resuscitation in hypovolemic shock patients in the emergency department. METHODS: A prospective study of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2)-derived variables and patient outcomes in hypovolemic shock was conducted in the emergency department of a university hospital from January 2005 to February 2006. A total of fifty-eight hypovolemic shock patients over 20 years old were included. During resuscitation, patients received volume replacement including blood transfusions, as well as vasopressor or inotropic therapy if needed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients died in the hospital. At the time of admission (hour 0) and after resuscitation (hour 4), there were no differences related to age, respiration and heart rate, CVP, arterial blood gases, or EtCO2 between survivors and non-survivors. Non-survivors had significantly higher shock index scores, serum lactate levels, and P(a-et) CO2 than the survivors. The Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves at hour 4 hour for P(a-et)CO2 were as effective for predicting mortality as were the shock index and serum lactate levels. Shock index > 1.0, P(a-et)CO2 > 4 mmHg, and serum lactate > 5.0 mmol/L after resuscitation were all associated with a high early mortality rate (p=0.074, 0.001, 0.000, respectively). CONCLUSION: P(a-et)CO2, shock index, and serum lactate levels are predictive of in-hospital mortality and may be useful as guidelines in the resuscitation of hypovolemic shock patients in the emergency department.

Lactic Acidosis as a Prognostic Factor and a Therapeutic Guideline for Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock

PURPOSE: To examine the clinical utility of lactic acidosis as a predictor of in-hospital mortality and as an early therapeutic marker in severe sepsis and septic shock patients. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study. Patients visiting the emergency department from January 2005 to October 2006 who were suspected to have severe sepsis and septic shock were candidates for enrollment. Therapies in the emergency department consisted of early goal-directed resuscitation and employed central venous access, antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent, and inotropes as required. We measured hemodynamic variables, arterial blood gases, and serum lactate at presentation (0 hours) and at four hours. The SAPS II at emergency department and SOFA score at 0 hours, 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were enrolled during the study period. Data were presented as mean+/-SD. Thirtyfour patients died in the hospital, eighteen patients of them within 72 hours after admission. Septic shock was encountered in 44 patients. Non-survivors had significantly lower pH, higher serum lactate level, higher SAPS II scores, lower mean arterial blood pressure, higher heart rates, and lower PaO2/FiO2 values at 0 and 4 hours than did survivors. During the first four hours, persistent lactic acidosis and high SAPS II scores were independently associated with mortality. Although most patients achieved the therapeutic goals, excepting central venous oxygen saturation in nonsurvivors, patients with persistent lactic acidosis at 0 and 4 hours had significantly high in-hospital mortality and early overall mortality than other patients (80.0%, p=0.000, 65.0%, p=0.000, respectively). Patients recovering from lactic acidosis at 4 hours showed lower in-hospital mortality and early overall mortality than patients with persistent lactic acidosis (50.0% vs. 80.0%, p=0.070, 14.3% vs. 65.0%, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Persistent lactic acidosis was found to be an independent variable for predicting mortality and morbidity. Persistent lactic acidosis may be used as a prognostic and treatment indicator during the resuscitation of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in an emergency department.

The Optimal Threshold for Detection of BNP in Congestive Heart Failure and Variables Impact on BNP Concentration

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to determine a cut-off value of BNP for use in our hospital, and to obtain mean values of BNP as correlated to various factors and to underlying disease. After classification of patients into groups according to disease severity and prognosis, we analyzed the correlation between the concentration of mean BNP and severity of disease. METHODS: 1040 patients who visited the emergency department of the hospital between July 1, 2004 and July 31, 2005 and whose BNP values were measured were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: The optimal threshold BNP concentration for detection of heart failure was 296 pg/mL. The mean BNP concentration in female patients without underlying disease and heart failure was increased significantly and in patients with CRF, the cut-off value of BNP for a CHF was 413 pg/ml. In patients with more than two types of underlying disease, significant increase in mean BNP concentration was found in patients with hypertension. As indicated by New York Heart Association Killip classification, the left ventricular ejection fraction and prognosis, the BNP value is correlates both with the severity of heart failure and with its prognoses. CONCLUSION: The BNP concentration used as a clinical indicator in our hospital is much higher than the cut-off value of 100pg/mL. In patients without CHF, women are higher in mean BNP concentration. A significantly higher mean BNP concentration was found in patients with hypertension. We find that BNP concentration is related both to the severity of heart failure and to prognoses.

Clinical Analysis of Outpatient Treatment for a Spontaneous Pneumothorax

PURPOSE: In the Emergency Department, inpatient and invasive treatment of pneumothorax patients have been causing overcrowding and higher medical costs, both of which are considered to be an important factors that affect adversely the clinical activities in the Emergency Department. For this reason, on the assumption that it would be meaningful to treat pneumothorax patients as outpatients by utilizing small-caliber catheters and Heimlich valve insertions, we examined the effects of such treatment and compared it with the results for patients treated with a closed thoracostomy. METHODS: A comparative study of the success rates, the complications, and the recurrence rates was done by comparing the results obtained by applying a of a small-caliber catheter and Heimlch valve insertion to the 47 spontaneous pneumothorax patients included in this study with the results for the same number of patients treated with a closed thoracostomy. After the small-caliber catheter and Heimlch valve insertion, we also examined the factors that affected success. RESULTS: The number of patients who were successfully treated for a pneumothorax by using a small-caliber catheter and a Heimlch valve insertion on the basis of ambulant care was 20 (47%), which is less than the 42 patients (89%) that were successfully treated by using a closed thoracostomy. In the follow-up assessment at six months, relapse of the pneumothorax had developed in 3 (15%) out of the 20 patients that have undergone the Heimlich valve insertion treatment and in 2 (8%) out of the 26 patients that had undergone a closed thoracostomy. While no complications developed in the group that had been treated by using a the small-caliber catheter and Heimlich valve insertion, the group treated by using a the closed thoracostomy showed the development of a hemothorax in 2 patients, subcutaneous emphysema in 7 patients, and pleural effusion in 2 patients. The medical expenses for the patients treated by using the small-caliber catheter and Heimlch valve insertion were less than these for the patient treated using a closed thoracostomy. There were no differences in age, sex, onset times, major symptoms, sizes of the pneumothorax based on the success or failure of the small-caliber catheter and Heimlich valve insertion treatment. However, all the patients that ended up with failure were found to have bleb when they underwent the operation. CONCLUSION: The success rate of ambulatory treatment with a small-caliber catheter and Heimlich valve insertion was 43%, which was lower than the value for inpaitient treatment using a closed thoracostomy. However, as there are no complications and as the medical expenses are smaller, the former treatment is thought to be of greater use in emergency treatment by physicians who are less-experienced in a closed thoracostomy and in the on-site emergency care.

Lack of IL-10 Release from Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

PURPOSE: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are the first line of cellular response for host defense during acute inflammation. The ability of PMNs to produce and release numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines is now estabilished and plays an important role in triggering and maintaining the inflammatory response. We studied the autocrine downregulation of this process by invesgating the potential production by human PMNs of the major anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukine 10 (IL-10). METHODS: Human PMNs were isolated from the peripheral blood of health volunteers by using the modified boyum method. Human PMNs were incubated at 37 degrees Cwith and without formyl Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) for 30 minute, 2 hours, 4 hours, and 20 hours. The level of IL-10 was determined in each of the cell-free supernatants by using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: Non-stimulated PMNs generated 1.40 +/- 1.791pg/mL to 3.46 +/- 1.607 pg/mL of IL-10 over the time course. Stimulation with fMLP resulted in an increase in the constitutive PMN-derived IL-10 by 2.74 +/- 0.762 pg/mL, 1.27 +/- 0.262 pg/mL, 1.19 +/- 0.364 pg/mL, and 2.44 +/- 1.317 pg/mL at 30 min, 2 hr, 4 hr, and 20 hr after stimulation, respectively, but these increases were not statiscally significant. CONCLUSION: Human PMNs seem unable to induce release of the most potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, and down-regulate inflammatory response due to the autocrine mechanism. This could partly account for the persistence of local inflammation, when PMNs are the main infiltrating cells.