A 36-Year-Old Woman with Acute Liver Failure Following Acetaminophen Overdose, Raised INR of 8.7, and Normal Blood Viscosity Measured by Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM).

BACKGROUND Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is commonly associated with elevated prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR). There is a commensurate decline in pro- and anti-hemostatic factors, and hemostatic function is rebalanced, not reflected in INR. This report presents the case of a 36-year-old woman with FHF following acetaminophen overdose, an increased INR above 8.7, and normal blood viscosity measured by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). CASE REPORT A 36-year-old woman presented with FHF following an acetaminophen overdose. On arrival, she was lethargic but arousable and followed commands. Her King's College Criteria for acetaminophen toxicity was 2 and her MELD score was 36. Her INR was unmeasurably high (>8.7). To evaluate whole-blood coagulation, a ROTEM analysis was performed. All parameters (CT, CFT, alpha-angle, A10, MCF) of the NATEM were within reference range. Despite the normal ROTEM, spontaneous bleeding was a concern. The patient received 5 units of cryoprecipitate and 9 units of FFP prior to a central venous line placement. She was started on molecular adsorbent recirculating system and continuous veno-venous hemodialysis, but died on day 7. CONCLUSIONS Patients with FHF can have normal whole-blood coagulation based on ROTEM even if INR levels are unmeasurably high. Viscoelastic tests such as ROTEM, which assesses whole-blood coagulation properties, are preferrable for coagulation monitoring in these patients. Blood product transfusion to correct coagulation abnormality, like FFP and cryoprecipitate, may be used based on the result of viscoelastic testing over conventional coagulation testing.

Psychologic Impacts on Diabetic Neuropathic Pain.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Many Americans cope with painful diabetic neuropathy (DN) as a sequela of high rates of diabetes mellitus in the US population. Appropriate management of this complex, debilitating chronic pain condition requires thorough evaluation through a biopsychosocial framework. This review aims to synthesize findings from original research studies and analyze the psychological factors that influence the experience of, and treatments for, DN pain. RECENT FINDINGS: Existing clinical literature suggests a wide breadth of psychological factors impacting DN pain. One research study detailed the demographic characteristics of DN patients most likely to have significant anxiety or depressive symptoms, and have emotional distress adversely impacting their response to therapies. A retrospective study demonstrated a correlation between patients' mindfulness-based stress reduction and improvement in DN pain severity. In addtion, a small-scale, randomized controlled pilot study supported cognitive-behavioral therapy as a superior intervention to conventional medical treatments in reducing DN patients' pain severity and pain interference, even when not accompanied by significant improvement in depressive symptoms. This review of investigations into psychological factors implicated in DN pain suggests that diagnosable mental health conditions as well as discrete, adverse thinking processes both exert significant influences on DN pain. This review further brings attention to the beneficial impact that psychotherapeutic modalities can have on DN pain.

Perioperative Viscoelastic Assay Use for Monitoring Coagulation Among US Liver Transplantation Centers.

BACKGROUND: Viscoelastic assay has been used in liver transplantation since 1985 and shown to be beneficial in detecting coagulopathy and to guide transfusion. The objective of this study was to review and evaluate the current uses of viscoelastic assay among US liver transplantation programs. METHODS: Anesthesia program directors at all 137 liver transplantation centers in the United States were contacted via email and asked to complete a 21-item survey. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of viscoelastic assay used in the perioperative management of liver transplantation. Secondary outcome measures were institutional demographics, physician training level, and device demographics. RESULTS: Sixty-one of 137 (46%) centers responded. Liver transplantations were performed in the university setting at 48 of the 61 centers (77%), with a modal value of 11 to 50 liver transplantations a year and 74% in adult patients only. Most of the institutions (n = 57, 92%) had access to either rotational thromboelastometry or thrombelastography during liver transplantation. Most centers (n = 54; 87%) also used viscoelastic monitoring routinely (>60% of the time), including 42 (67.7%) that always used viscoelastic assay intraoperatively during liver transplantation. Thirty-five centers (59%) used it preoperatively, and 51 (84%) used it postoperatively. Most viscoelastic assay users (68%) learned how to use it through self-education and 10.5% learned during their fellowship or from a superuser or colleagues. CONCLUSION: Currently, viscoelastic monitoring is widely available and routinely used in most US liver transplantation centers regardless of university or private practice setting, but training in it is limited. Only 21.1% of respondents reported that they received any type of official training in viscoelastic assay interpretation.