Is Deep Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest Mandatory in Aortic Arch Surgeries?

ABSTRACT Cannulation strategies in aortic arch surgeries are a matter of immense discussion. Majority of time deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) is the way out, but it does come with its set of demerits. Here we demonstrate a case with aortic arch dissection dealt with dual cannulation strategy in axillary and femoral artery without need for DHCA and ensuring complete neuroprotection of brain and spinal cord without hinderance of time factor. Inception of new ideas like this may decrease the need for DHCA and hence its drawbacks, thus decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated.

Advances in Extracorporeal Support Technologies in Critically Ill Children

The field of pediatric heart failure is evolving, and the patient population is growing as survival after complex congenital heart surgeries is improving. Mechanical circulatory support and extracorporeal respiratory support in critically ill children has progressed to a mainstay rescue modality in pediatric intensive care medicine. The need for mechanical circulatory support is growing, since the number of organ donors does not meet the necessity. This article aims to review the current state of available mechanical circulatory and respiratory support systems in acute care pediatrics, with an emphasis on the literature discussing the challenges associated with these complex support modalities

Avaliação ecocardiográfica do paciente com choque circulatório: uma abordagem contemporânea / Echocardiographic evaluation of a patient in circulatory shock: a contemporary approach

O choque circulatório é caracterizado por um estado de ineficiência da oferta de oxigênio tecidual e disfunção múltipla de órgãos. Necessita de diagnóstico e terapias rápidas e assertivas para redução de sua alta letalidade. O ecocardiograma já se estabeleceu como método fundamental no manejo do paciente com choque circulatório. Auxilia de forma crucial no diagnóstico etiológico, prognóstico, monitorização hemodinâmica e estimativa volêmica desses pacientes, tendo como potenciais vantagens a portabilidade, ausência de contraste ou radiação, baixo custo e avaliação em tempo real e de forma seriada. Em ambiente de UTI, demonstra alta correlação com formas invasivas (cateter de artéria pulmonar) e minimamente invasivas (termodiluição transpulmonar) de monitorização hemodinâmica. Atualmente, outras técnicas, como ultrassom pulmonar e VExUS score, têm se agregado à avaliação ecocardiográfica, tornando o método mais abrangente e acurado. Essas técnicas acrescentam dados relevantes na estimativa da volemia do paciente crítico, influenciando na decisão probabilística de fluidoresponsividade e agregando informações no raciocínio diagnóstico das causas do choque, otimizando o prognóstico desses pacientes. O point of care ultrasound (POCUS) tem como objetivo tornar mais acessível, ao médico não especialista em radiologia, habilidades para se obter informações a beira leito, por meio do ultrassom, que o ajudem na tomada de decisões. Esse artigo aborda as diversas aplicabilidades do ecocardiograma em pacientes com choque circulatório, incluindo avaliação prognóstica e diagnóstico etiológico por meio dos parâmetros encontrados nas principais causas de choque, além da monitorização hemodinâmica, avaliação de fluido-responsividade e utilização prática do ultrassom pulmonar.(AU)

Circulatory shock is characterized by a state of inefficient tissue oxygen supply and multiple organ dysfunction. Patients with circulatory shock require fast and assertive diagnosis and therapies to reduce its high lethality. Echocardiography has already been established as a fundamental method in managing patients with circulatory shock. It provides crucial assistance in etiological diagnosis, prognosis, hemodynamic monitoring, and volume estimation in these patients; its potential advantages include portability, absence of contrast or radiation, low cost, and real-time serial assessment. In the intensive care unit setting, it demonstrates a high correlation with invasive (pulmonary artery catheter) and minimally invasive (transpulmonary thermodilution) forms of hemodynamic monitoring. Currently, other techniques, such as pulmonary ultrasound and VExUS score, have been added to echocardiographic assessment, making the method more comprehensive and accurate. These techniques add relevant data to blood volume estimation in critical patients, influencing the probabilistic decision of fluid responsiveness and providing additional information in the diagnostic reasoning of the causes of shock, thus optimizing these patients' prognosis. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) aims to make abilities to obtain information at the bedside more accessible to physicians who are not specialists in radiology, by means of ultrasound, which assists them in decision-making. This article addresses the diverse applications of echocardiography in patients with circulatory shock, including prognostic evaluation and etiological diagnosis by means of the parameters found in the main causes of shock, in addition to hemodynamic monitoring, evaluation of fluid responsiveness, and practical use of pulmonary ultrasound.(AU)

Benefits of running on cardiac protection and the culture of exercise health awareness / Benefícios da corrida para a proteção cardíaca e a cultura da consciência sanitária do exercício / Beneficios de la carrera para la protección cardíaca y el cultivo de la conciencia de la salud del ejercicio

ABSTRACT Introduction: Several programs to encourage physical activity has been encouraged to reduce the sedentary lifestyle in China. Running is among them because it has potentially positive effects on cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia, in addition to the intrinsic psychological and social benefits of outdoor sports. Objective: Explore the protective effect of running on the cardiac system by analyzing strategies for cultivating exercise health awareness. Methods: A group of ten healthy volunteers, five women aged 25-35 years, underwent a 45-minute running program, performed four times a week for three weeks. Data collected by spirometry and cardiac monitoring were collected, treated, compared, and discussed. This paper introduced the concept of subjective exercise intensity to find the best analysis and judgment of Cardiac Function. Finally, a quantitative investigation involving the analysis of 315 questionnaires explored the current status of sports health awareness in running fans. Results: Heart rate amplitude during running remained in the range of 120-160, belonging to the normal heart rate range for the surveyed audience. In most cases, women's heart rate was higher than men's (P<0.05). The exercise intensity was fixed at a frequency below the value of 16, which is a slightly strenuous stage, and the relative exercise intensity was controlled between 50% and 71.5%. Conclusion: Running has a good cardiac protective effect, and its followers are highly aware of sports health. Due to the beneficial effect of sports practice, its dissemination is recommended as a form of physical and social therapeutic activity. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: Com o intuito de reduzir o índice de sedentarismo na China, diversos programas de incentivo à atividade física foram estimulados. A corrida está dentre eles pois tem potenciais efeitos positivos nas doenças cardiovasculares, hipertensão arterial, diabetes mellitus e hipercolesterolemia, além dos benefícios psicológicos e sociais intrínsecos na prática esportiva ao ar livre. Objetivo: Explorar o efeito protetor da corrida no sistema cardíaco analisando as estratégias para a cultura da consciência sanitária do exercício. Métodos: Um grupo de dez voluntários saudáveis, com cinco mulheres e idade entre 25 a 35 anos foram submetidos a um programa de corrida por 45 minutos, realizado quatro vezes por semana, durante três semanas. Dados coletados por espirometria e monitoramento cardíaco foram coletados, tratados, comparados e discutidos. Este artigo introduziu o conceito de intensidade de exercício subjetivo para encontrar a melhor análise e julgamento da Função Cardíaca. Por fim, uma investigação quantitativa envolvendo a análise de 315 questionários explorou a situação atual da conscientização em saúde esportiva em adeptos da corrida. Resultados: A amplitude de frequência cardíaca durante a corrida manteve-se na faixa de 120-160, pertencente à faixa normal de frequência cardíaca ao público pesquisado. A frequência cardíaca das mulheres foi maior do que a dos homens na maioria dos casos (P<0,05). A intensidade do exercício fixou-se numa frequência inferior ao valor de 16, que é um estágio ligeiramente extenuante, e a intensidade relativa do exercício ficou controlada entre 50% e 71,5%. Conclusão: A corrida apresenta um bom efeito protetor cardíaco, seus adeptos possuem elevada conscientização da saúde esportiva. Devido ao efeito salutar da prática esportiva, recomenda-se a sua divulgação como forma de atividade terapêutica física e social. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: Con el fin de reducir el estilo de vida sedentario en China, se han estimulado varios programas para fomentar la actividad física. La carrera se encuentra entre ellos porque tiene potenciales efectos positivos sobre las enfermedades cardiovasculares, la hipertensión, la diabetes mellitus y la hipercolesterolemia, además de los beneficios psicológicos y sociales intrínsecos del deporte al aire libre. Objetivo: Explorar el efecto protector de correr sobre el sistema cardíaco analizando las estrategias para cultivar la conciencia de la salud del ejercicio. Métodos: Un grupo de diez voluntarios sanos, cinco mujeres, con edades comprendidas entre los 25 y los 35 años, fueron sometidos a un programa de carrera durante 45 minutos, realizado cuatro veces por semana durante tres semanas. Los datos recogidos por la espirometría y la monitorización cardíaca fueron recogidos, tratados, comparados y discutidos. Este trabajo introdujo el concepto de intensidad subjetiva del ejercicio para encontrar el mejor análisis y juicio de la Función Cardíaca. Por último, una investigación cuantitativa que incluyó el análisis de 315 cuestionarios exploró el estado actual de la conciencia de la salud deportiva en los aficionados a las carreras. Resultados: La amplitud de la frecuencia cardíaca durante la carrera se mantuvo en el rango de 120-160, perteneciendo al rango de frecuencia cardíaca normal para el público encuestado. La frecuencia cardíaca de las mujeres fue mayor que la de los hombres en la mayoría de los casos (P<0,05). La intensidad del ejercicio se fijó en una frecuencia inferior al valor de 16, que es una etapa ligeramente agotadora, y la intensidad relativa del ejercicio se controló entre el 50% y el 71,5%. Conclusión: La acción de correr presenta un buen efecto cardioprotector, sus adeptos poseen alta conciencia de la salud deportiva. Debido al efecto saludable de la práctica deportiva, se recomienda su difusión como forma de actividad terapéutica física y social. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in early allograft dysfunction after heart transplantation / 器官移植

Objective To evaluate the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on early allograft dysfunction (EAD) after heart transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 614 heart transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. All recipients were divided into the ECMO group (n=43) and non-ECMO group (n=571) according to postoperative application of ECMO. In the ECMO group, the conditions of recipients undergoing ECMO after heart transplantation were summarized. Perioperative status and long-term prognosis of recipients were compared between two groups. Results Among 43 recipients undergoing ECMO, 17 cases underwent thoracotomy due to bleeding, 10 cases of infection, 4 cases of venous thrombosis of the lower limbs, and 1 case of stroke, respectively. Twenty-six recipients were recovered and discharged after successful weaning from ECMO, six died during ECMO support, six died after weaning from ECMO, five received retransplantation due to unsuccessful weaning from ECMO, and only one survived after retransplantation. Compared with the non-ECMO group, intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass duration was significantly longer, the proportion of recipients requiring postoperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), dialysis due to renal insufficiency, reoperation for hemostasis, infection, mechanical ventilation time≥96 h and tracheotomy was significantly higher, and the length of postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay was significantly longer in the ECMO group (all P < 0.05). The survival rate after discharge and 90-d survival rate in the ECMO group were 63% and 96%, significantly lower than 97% and 100% in the non-ECMO group (both P < 0.05). Survival analysis showed that the long-term survival rate in the ECMO group was significantly lower than that in the non-ECMO group (P < 0.05). After excluding the recipients who died within 90 d after heart transplantation, no significant difference was observed in the long-term survival rate (P > 0.05). Conclusions ECMO is an effective treatment of EAD after heart transplantation. The short-term survival rate of recipients using ECMO after heart transplantation is lower than that of those who do not use ECMO, and there is no significant difference in long-term survival of recipients surviving 90 d after heart transplantation.

Current status and progress on the application of ventricular assist device / 器官移植

At present, heart transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage heart failure. Nevertheless, the shortage of donors is becoming an increasingly severe challenge. In recent years, rapid development of mechanical circulatory support technologies has provided multiple therapeutic options for patients with end-stage heart failure. As an important mechanical circulatory support device, ventricular assist device (VAD) are divided into durable VAD (dVAD) and temporary VAD (tVAD) according to the duration of assistance. dVAD shows application potential in bridging heart transplantation, destination therapy and bridge to decision. With technological progress and experience accumulation in clinical application, VAD is evolving towards the direction of more biocompatible, lighter, more bionic and intelligent. In this article, the development of VAD, application status at home and abroad and the overall application of VAD in our hospital were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for promoting the clinical application of VAD in China.

Application of ECMO in pediatric heart transplantation / 器官移植

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) could pump the blood from human veins to the outside of the body, oxygenate the red blood cells in an artificial environment and then return them back into the body. ECMO could replace the heart and lungs to complete gas exchange and systemic blood perfusion in patients with severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency, which also plays an important role in the field of heart transplantation. Besides circulatory support treatment after heart transplantation, ECMO may also be used to prolong the waiting time for heart transplantation in patients with respiratory and circulatory failure before operation, as a bridging therapy for heart transplantation. However, at present, the application of ECMO in pediatric heart transplantation still exist challenges, such as high perioperative mortality and difficulty in determining the timing of treatment, etc. In this article, the development history of ECMO application in pediatric heart transplantation, use of ECMO before and after pediatric heart transplantation, ECMO-related complications in children, and application of ventricular assist device (VAD) in pediatric heart transplantation were briefly reviewed, aiming to provide reference for promoting the application of ECMO in pediatric heart transplantation.

Effect of air pollution on mortality among residents in Hangzhou City / 预防医学

Objective@#To examine the effects of air pollution on overall mortality, mortality of respiratory diseases, and mortality of circulatory diseases among residents in Hangzhou City.@*Methods@#Residents' mortality data in Hangzhou City from 2014 to 2016 were captured from Zhejiang Provincial Chronic Disease Surveillance Information Management System, and the ambient air quality in Hangzhou City from 2014 to 2016 were collected from Hangzhou Environmental Monitoring Center, while the meteorological monitoring data during the study period were collected from Hangzhou Meteorological Bureau. The effects of PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and SO2 on overall mortality, morality of respiratory diseases and mortality of circulatory diseases were evaluated a generalized additive model (GAM) based on Poisson distribution, and the risk of mortality was described with excess risk (ER) and its 95%CI.@*Results@#The daily M (QR) overall deaths, deaths from respiratory diseases and deaths from circulatory diseases were 111 (30), 16 (9) and 37 (14) persons in Hangzhou City from 2014 to 2016, respectively. A 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and SO2 resulted in 0.47% (95%CI: 0.23%-0.70%), 0.37% (95%CI: 0.21%-0.53%), 1.06% (95%CI: 0.50%-1.61%) and 3.08% (95%CI: 2.18%-3.99%) rises in the risk of overall mortality, 0.60% (95%CI: 0.04%-1.16%), 0.45% (95%CI: 0.06%-0.83%), 2.01% (95%CI: 0.84%-3.20%) and 6.06% (95%CI: 3.80%-8.37%) rises in the risk of mortality of respiratory diseases, and 0.45% (95%CI: 0.08%-0.83%), 0.44% (95%CI: 0.17%-0.71%), 1.43% (95%CI: 0.49%-2.37%) and 3.66% (95%CI: 2.13%-5.22%) rises in the risk of mortality of circulatory diseases, and the greatest effect was observed at a 2-day lag. Multi-pollutant model analysis showed that, after adjustment for PM2.5, NO2 and PM2.5+NO2+SO2, a 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2 resulted in an elevated risk of mortality of respiratory diseases than a single-pollutant model.@*Conclusions@#The air pollutants PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 correlated positively with the risk of overall mortality, mortality of respiratory diseases and mortality of circulatory diseases in Hangzhou City from 2014 to 2016, and the co-existence of multiple pollutants enhanced the effect of SO2 on mortality of respiratory diseases.

The progress of mechanical circulatory support devices / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#As a global disease, heart failure affects at least 26 million people, and its prevalence is still rising. Besides, the mortality rate and readmission rate remain high. Advanced heart failure is the terminal stage of various heart diseases, and often requires some treatments other than drug intervention, such as heart transplantation which is the gold standard for treatment of heart failure. However, limited by the number of donors, the number of heart transplants in the world has reached a bottleneck. There is a huge gap between the number of patients who need heart transplants and patients who get hearts for survival successfully in reality. With the exploration and development of mechanical circulation support devices for more than half a century, they have become a wonderful treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. This article will introduce the latest progress of mechanical circulatory support devices at home and abroad from the aspects of temporary and long-term devices.

Progress of late-onset circulatory collapse in preterm infants / 国际儿科学杂志

Late-onset circulatory collapse(LCC)in preterm infants is characterized by sudden onset of hypotension and/or oliguria after the first week of life, which is resistant to volume expanders and inotropes but responds rapidly to timely glucocorticoids treatment.LCC should be managed promptly and properly, or it may cause respiratory, digestive complications and life-long neurological problems.Relative adrenal insufficiency is considered the most likely cause of LCC, but its pathophysiology remains unclear.This review summarizes the current reserch about LCC regarding its pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) for Cardiogenic Shock / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) is established to salvage cases with cardiogenic shock. MCS includes intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP), veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), or pump-catheter. Prompt introduction of these devices enables 1) unloading of left and/or right ventricles, 2) sufficient supply of oxygenated blood to end-organs, and 3) maintenance of pulmonary circulation. Under MCS, then, cause of cardiogenic shock is explored and appropriate treatments are given to wean-off the MCS. In this review, selection of the MCS devices, technical tips of each MCS, and management of the cases under MCS are explained.

Modern research progress in external application of traditional Chinese medicine to acupoints / 中国中药杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has a long history and abundant experience in external therapy, which marks human wisdom. In the early history of human, people found that fumigation, coating, and sticking of some tree branches and herb stems can help alleviate scabies and remove parasites in productive labor, which indicates the emergence of external therapy. Pathogen usually enters the body through the surface, so external therapy can be used to treat the disease. External therapy is among the major characteristic of surgery of TCM. As one of the external therapies in TCM, external application to acupoints smooths the zang-fu organs through meridians and collaterals, thereby harmonizing yin and yang. This therapy emerged in the early society, formed the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, improved in the Song and Ming dynasties, and matured in the Qing dynasty. With the efforts of experts in history, it has had a mature theory. According to modern research, it can avoid the first-pass effect of liver and the gastrointestinal irritation and improve the bioavailability of Chinese medicine. Based on the effect of Chinese medicine and the theory of meridian and collateral, it can stimulate the acupoints, exert regulatory effect on acupoints, and give full play to the efficacy of TCM and the interaction of the two. Thereby, it can regulate qi and blood and balance yin and yang, thus being widely used in the treatment of diseases. In this paper, the use of external application to acupoints, the effect on skin immunity, the regulation of neuro-inflammatory mechanism, the relationship between acupoint application and human circulation network, and the development of its dosage form were summarized through literature review. On this basis, this study is expected to lay a foundation for further research.

The Association between Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke and Disease in the Chinese Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the association between exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) and 23 diseases, categorized into four classifications, among the Chinese population.@*METHODS@#We searched the literature up to June 30, 2021, and eligible studies were identified according to the PECOS format: Participants and Competitors (Chinese population), Exposure (SHS), Outcomes (Disease or Death), and Study design (Case-control or Cohort).@*RESULTS@#In total, 53 studies were selected. The odds ratio (OR) for all types of cancer was 1.79 (1.56-2.05), and for individual cancers was 1.92 (1.42-2.59) for lung cancer, 1.57 (1.40-1.76) for breast cancer, 1.52 (1.12-2.05) for bladder cancer, and 1.37 (1.08-1.73) for liver cancer. The OR for circulatory system diseases was 1.92 (1.29-2.85), with a value of 2.29 (1.26-4.159) for stroke. The OR of respiratory system diseases was 1.76 (1.13-2.74), with a value of 1.82 (1.07-3.11) for childhood asthma. The original ORs were also shown for other diseases. Subgroup analyses were performed for lung and breast cancer. The ORs varied according to time period and were significant during exposure in the household; For lung cancer, the OR was significant in women.@*CONCLUSION@#The effect of SHS exposure in China was similar to that in Western countries, but its definition and characterization require further clarification. Studies on the association between SHS exposure and certain diseases with high incidence rates are insufficient.

The effects of high-intensity intermittent training on metabolic or circulatory parameters and exercise time during 30s lasting exhaustive exercise / 体力科学

Present study aimed to examine the effects of high-intensity intermittent training on metabolic or circulatory parameters and exercise time during 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise. Six healthy males (22 ± 1yrs) had an intermittent training four days a week for four weeks. The intermittent training consisted of 8 or more sets of 20s exercise bout at an intensity of 170%VO2 max separated by 10-s recovery. Before and after training period, VO2 max and maximal accumulated O2 deficit (MAOD) were determined as indices of metabolic capacity. During 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise, VO2, O2 deficit, and circulatory parameters, such as heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output, were also determined every 10s. After the training, VO2 max and MAOD were significantly increased. During 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise, exercise time, stroke volume, and cardiac output were also significantly enhanced. However, no significant differences were observed in VO2 and O2 deficit every 10s during 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise. Therefore, these findings suggest that high-intensity intermittent training enhances exercise time during 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise and that the improvement of exercise performance is closely related to an increase in anaerobic capacity.

Time to Resuscitate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: The 3R/CPR Refill-Recoil-Rebound

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a major healthcare issue worldwide with gloomy outcomes due to poor perfusion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), deemed unsuitable for hemostatic conditions, cardiotorsal anatomy, electrophysiology, and thoracic biomechanics. Alternatively, we propose a new management, implementing rational exploitation of the stagnant blood masses: manually with a novel technique of cardiac massage and mechanically with a circulatory flow restoration (CFR) device. Methods: Simulated chest compressions were performed through the 5th intercostal space in professional Lifeguards volunteers, placed in the left lateral decubitus position with raised legs and abdominal compression. Results: Bypassing the sternal barrier, refilling the heart, and then compressing the chest with a recoil-rebound maneuver (3R / CPR) can significantly promote return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The effectiveness of the CFR device versus CPR has previously been demonstrated in the literature. Conclusion: Unlike current CPR, the 3R/CPR adapts human morphology and provides adequate myocardial perfusion promoting ROSC safely, under all circumstances. Preclinical computational models can confirm the effectiveness of the technique.

Learning Curve in Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Low Volumes Do Not Equate Bad Outcomes

ABSTRACT Introduction: Most implantations of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are performed in low-volume centers. This study aimed to evaluate the procedural learning curve of HeartMate II (HM2) implantations by comparing outcomes between two time periods in a low-volume center. Methods: All 51 consecutive patients undergoing HM2 implantation between January 2009 and December 2017 were reviewed and allocated into 2 groups: early-era group (from 2009 to 2014; n=25) and late-era group (from 2015 to 2017; n=26). The primary outcome was the 90-day mortality rate, and the secondary outcome was a composite of mortality, neurological event, reoperation for bleeding, need for temporary right ventricular assist device, and pump thrombosis at 90 days. Median follow-up time was 51 months (0-136). A cumulative sum (CUSUM) control analysis was used to establish a threshold of implantations that optimizes outcomes. Results: Patients in the early era had a higher rate of diabetes, previous stroke, and inotrope support before HM2 implantation. The 90-day mortality rate was not significantly higher in the early era (24% vs. 15%, P=0.43), but the composite endpoint was significantly higher (76% vs. 42%, P=0.01). The CUSUM analysis found a threshold of 23 operations after which the composite endpoint was optimized. Conclusion: Patients undergoing HM2 implantation in a low-volume center have improving outcomes with number of cases and optimized results after a threshold of 23 cases. Significant changes in patient selection, surgical techniques, and patient management might lead to improved outcomes after LVAD implantation.

Management of Patients with the Intravascular Ventricular Assist System (iVAS) for Non?Cardiac Surgery

Intravascular ventricular assist system (iVAS) is an investigative device in clinical trials for the management of advanced heart failure. It works on the principle of counterpulsation, similar to the classic intra?aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP).We present a case of a 66?year?old man with iVAS in situ who required emergency laparotomy for a strangulated umbilical hernia. Patients with mechanical circulatory devices (MCD) are presenting more frequently for emergency and even elective noncardiac operations. Managing such patients poses significant challenges to the perioperative team due to its novelty and paucity of management recommendations.

Incidence and Outcome of Anaphylaxis in Cardiac Surgical Patients

Introduction:Anaphylaxis is a rare but serious and potentially fatal complication of anesthesia. Little is known about the incidence and outcome of anaphylaxis in cardiac surgical patients, which we aimed to investigate. Methods: This was a 21?year retrospective study of cardiac surgical patients at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. Results: A total of 19 cases of anaphylaxis were reported among 17,589 patients (0.108%) undergoing cardiac surgery.The majority (15/19) occurred before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), mostly during or within 30 min after the induction of anesthesia (10/19). Two occurred within 15 min of going onto CPB. Of these 17 cases, 11 were abandoned, and 6 proceeded. The severity of reactions in the patients who proceeded ranged from grade II to grade IV of the Ring and Messmer classification. Two cases occurred after the completion of surgery. All patients survived to 90 days. However, this did not appear to be related to CPB or protamine as most of the reactions occurred before CPB. Instead, the most common causative agents were gelofusine, antibiotics, muscle relaxants, and chlorhexidine. In 6 cases, surgery proceeded despite the anaphylaxis, in 11 cases the surgery was postponed, and in 2 cases the procedure had already been completed. Conclusion: As all patients survived, our results provide preliminary support for proceeding with surgery although we cannot speculate on the likely outcomes of patients who were postponed, had their surgery proceeded. Based on our data, the incidence of anaphylaxis in cardiac surgical patients may be 10–20 times higher than in the general surgical population.

Inpatient characteristics, complications, and outcomes of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis: A study from the National Inpatient Sample

Although seen in ~5% of sarcoidosis patients, cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) accounts for nearly 25% of diseaserelated deaths. This study aimed to describe characteristics and outcomes among CS patients. Patients diagnosed with CS in 2016e2017 in the US National Inpatient Sample Database were evaluated to study patient characteristics, reasons ascribed to admission, in-hospital outcomes, and complications. A total of 2420 patients (median age 56 years) were included in the analysis. Most admissions occurred due to ventricular tachycardia (12.8%), followed by myocarditis (9.9%) with a mean length of stay of 7 ± 7 days. The overall incidence of in-hospital mortality was 2.5%

Unforeseen Rupture of Pseudoaneurysm of Common Carotid Artery: An Arduous Anesthetic Challenge

Pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery (CCA) is exceptionally unstable and unpredictable; it mandates quick medical attention in order to circumvent neurologic sequelae or hemorrhage. Unanticipated rupture is extremely lethal and a potential provocation for the anesthesia caregiver. It is an arduous challenge for an anesthetist to establish emergency airway when a huge bleeding pseudoaneurysm is compressing and deviating the trachea, securing invasive lines in collapsing vessels, volume and vasopressor resuscitation in deteriorating hemodynamics in order to maintain cerebral perfusion without compromising other vital organs, arranging huge amount of blood and blood products in a short span of time, and transferring an exsanguinating patient for the rapid institution of cardiopulmonary bypass. Not only preoperatively it also necessitates appropriate neuromonitoring and neuroprotection during and after surgery. The association of unforeseen rupture of common carotid artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to the tubercular spine and lifesaving management by the rapid institution of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a rare occasion. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is not any similar case in the peer?reviewed literature. Therefore, the authors enumerate the clinical experience of an unexpected rupture of CCA pseudoaneurysm requiring lifesaving CPB and emphasize the “Timely Teamed Effort Approach” that can sustain a life in such an inevitable situation.