Retrospective evaluation of jugular venous blood variables and mortality in critically ill hospitalized cats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinicopathological variables associated with hospital mortality in critically ill cats with compromised hemodynamics and tissue hypoperfusion. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Private referral center. ANIMALS: Fifty-seven critically ill cats with compromised hemodynamics or tissue hypoperfusion. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The electronic medical records were searched for all cats admitted from June 2014 to November 2020. Cats were included in the study if the medical records clearly identified the presence of compromised hemodynamics and tissue hypoperfusion. Blood samples were obtained by percutaneous puncture of the external jugular vein, and blood gases, electrolytes, L-lactate concentration, and glucose were measured by a point-of-care analyzer. A predictive logistic regression model for mortality was performed. A total of 57 cats were ultimately included in the study. Thirty-five cats died. Eighteen of them were euthanized because of the severity of illness, and 17 died naturally. Twenty-two cats were discharged alive from the hospital. After adjusting for the Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation (APPLE) fast score and disease category, jugular venous partial pressure of oxygen (Pvjo2 ) and HCT at admission were independent predictors of hospital mortality (HCT: odds ratio [OR], 0.763, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.625-0.930; P = 0.008; Pjvo2 : OR, 0.858; 95% CI: 0.749-0.984; P = 0.029). The association of these variables with mortality was maintained after conducting a sensitivity analysis and excluding cats that died by euthanasia. CONCLUSIONS: In cats with hemodynamic instability and tissue hypoperfusion, HCT and Pvjo2 behaved as independent predictors of mortality. Both variables seem to reflect the magnitude of oxygen debt and tissue hypoperfusion.

A New Medical Device to Provide Independent Ventilation to Two Subjects Using a Single Ventilator: Evaluation in Lung-Healthy Pigs.

BACKGROUND: The global crisis situation caused by SARS-CoV-2 has created an explosive demand for ventilators, which cannot be met even in developed countries. Designing a simple and inexpensive device with the ability to increase the number of patients that can be connected to existing ventilators would have a major impact on the number of lives that could be saved. We conducted a study to determine whether two pigs with significant differences in size and weight could be ventilated simultaneously using a single ventilator connected to a new medical device called DuplicARⓇ. METHODS: Six pigs (median weight 12 kg, range 9-25 kg) were connected in pairs to a single ventilator using the new device for 6 hours. Both the ventilator and the device were manipulated throughout the experiment according to the needs of each animal. Tidal volume and positive end-expiratory pressure were individually controlled with the device. Primary and secondary outcome variables were defined to assess ventilation and hemodynamics in all animals throughout the experiment. RESULTS: Median difference in weight between the animals of each pair was 67% (range: 11-108). All animals could be successfully oxygenated and ventilated for 6 hours through manipulation of the ventilator and the DuplicARⓇ device, despite significant discrepancies in body size and weight. Mean PaCO2 in arterial blood was 42.1 ± 4.4 mmHg, mean PaO2 was 162.8 ± 46.8 mmHg, and mean oxygen saturation was 98 ± 1.3%. End-tidal CO2 values showed no statistically significant difference among subjects of each pair. Mean difference in arterial PaCO2 measured at the same time in both animals of each pair was 4.8 ± 3 mmHg, reflecting the ability of the device to ventilate each animal according to its particular requirements. Independent management of PEEP was achieved by manipulation of the device controllers. CONCLUSION: It is possible to ventilate two lung-healthy animals with a single ventilator according to each one's needs through manipulation of both the ventilator and the DuplicARⓇ device. This gives this device the potential to expand local ventilators surge capacity during disasters or pandemics until emergency supplies can be delivered from central stockpiles.