Acute hypoxic pulmonary hypertension associated with right heart failure.

COPD is a cause of chronic pulmonary hypertension, with increased pressure during exacerbations. But acute right ventricular failure is very rare in this condition. We reported two cases in which exacerbation and hypoxaemia have induced an acute severe pulmonary hypertension complicated by right ventricular failure and cardiogenic shock. The supportive treatment and the correction of hypoxaemia have rapidly solved the clinical situation.

Smart Bag vs. Standard bag in the temporary substitution of the mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare in intubated patients manually ventilated in order to mirror the ventilator, the respiratory and hemodynamic effects induced by a bag device equipped with an inspiratory gas flow-limiting valve (Smart Bag, 0-Two Medical Technologies Inc., Mississauga, ON, Canada) and a Standard bag. DESIGN: Non-randomized crossover study comparing 13 respiratory and eight hemodynamically paired parameters. Eight intubated patients were manually ventilated, each by three different intensive care workers yielding 24 sets of data for comparison. Data were collected during two sessions of manual ventilation, first with the Standard bag and then with the Smart Bag. Between each session, the patient was reconnected to the ventilator until return to the baseline. Patients, included after coronary surgery, were sedated and paralyzed. SETTING: Intensive Care Unit, university hospital. RESULTS: Compared with Standard bag, the Smart Bag provided a decrease of inspiratory flow (23 +/- 4.7 vs. 47.3 +/- 16.5 l/min) with a decrease of peak pressure (13.3 +/- 2.9 vs. 21.9 +/- 7.3 cmH2O) and tidal volume (9.4 +/- 2.8 vs. 12.4 +/- 2.7 ml/kg). While the expiratory time was similar, the inspiratory time increased (1.83 +/- 0.58 vs. 1.28 +/- 0.46 s) with the Smart Bag, limiting the respiratory rate (14 +/- 5 vs. 17 +/- 6 cycles/min) and the minute volume (8.8 +/- 2.9 vs. 14.4 +/- 4.9 l/min). Finally, it limited the fall of the ETCO2 (27.9 +/- 5.1 vs. 24.3 +/- 5.7 mmHg) and probably the risks of severe respiratory alkalosis. The bags similarly affected hemodynamic states. CONCLUSION: In intubated patients manually ventilated, the Smart Bag limits the risks of excessive airway pressure and the fall of the ETCO2, with hemodynamic effects similar to those of the Standard bag.

Intensive care outcome of adult patients operated on for congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the ICU outcome and the most frequent complications observed in adult patients operated on for a congenital heart disease. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data and chart review in an adult cardiovascular ICU of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 156 patients older than 15 years with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery between June 2001 and June 2005. RESULTS: According to the initial cardiac malformation, patients were divided in four groups with different operative risk based on the Euroscore: those diagnosed bicuspid aortic valve (n = 73) had a score of 5, those with tetralogy of Fallot (n = 33) 5.5, those with simple cardiac defect (n = 26) 3, and those with complex malformations (n = 24) 6. Only two patients (one with tetralogy of Fallot and one with complex malformations) died during the hospitalization (1.2%). CONCLUSION: Euroscore clearly overestimates the risk of surgery in this population of adults with congenital heart disease. Mortality and morbidity were low in those diagnosed bicuspid aortic valve, tetralogy of Fallot, or simple cardiac defect, justifying early surgery for incipient complications. Patients with complex congenital defect require prolonged ICU stay, sometimes with mechanical cardiac support, but their overall good outcome justifies these efforts.

Antioxidant therapy in intensive care.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review intends to summarize the recent findings regarding the presence of increased oxidative stress in critically ill patients and its potential pathophysiologic role, as well as the results of recent clinical trials of antioxidant therapies. RECENT FINDINGS: Several lines of evidence confirm the increase in oxidative stress during critical illness. The oxidative damage to cells and tissues eventually contributes to organ failure. Prophylactic administration of antioxidant vitamins or glutamine, incorporated in the nutritional support or given as separate medications, efficiently attenuates the oxidative stress and in some studies improves the outcome of critically ill patients. Few data on the effects of N-acetylcysteine or trace elements have been published during the last two years. SUMMARY: Patients at risk of organ failure could benefit from the early adjunction of antioxidant treatment, including vitamins and glutamine.