Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been shown to enhance the tolerance of remote organs to cope with a subsequent ischemic event. We hypothesized that RIPC reduces postoperative ...neurocognitive dysfunction (POCD) in patients undergoing complex cardiac surgery.
We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial including 180 adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were randomized either to RIPC or to control group. Primary endpoint was postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction 5-7 days after surgery assessed by a comprehensive test battery. Cognitive change was assumed if the preoperative to postoperative difference in 2 or more tasks assessing different cognitive domains exceeded more than one SD (1 SD criterion) or if the combined Z score was 1.96 or greater (Z score criterion).
According to 1 SD criterion, 52% of control and 46% of RIPC patients had cognitive deterioration 5-7 days after surgery (p = 0.753). The summarized Z score showed a trend to more cognitive decline in the control group (2.16±5.30) compared to the RIPC group (1.14±4.02; p = 0.228). Three months after surgery, incidence and severity of neurocognitive dysfunction did not differ between control and RIPC. RIPC tended to decrease postoperative troponin T release at both 12 hours 0.60 (0.19-1.94) µg/L vs. 0.48 (0.07-1.84) µg/L and 24 hours after surgery 0.36 (0.14-1.89) µg/L vs. 0.26 (0.07-0.90) µg/L.
We failed to demonstrate efficacy of a RIPC protocol with respect to incidence and severity of POCD and secondary outcome variables in patients undergoing a wide range of cardiac surgery. Therefore, definitive large-scale multicenter trials are needed.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00877305.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Background
Severe COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) often requires extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Recent German health insurance data revealed low ICU ...survival rates. Patient characteristics and experience of the ECMO center may determine intensive care unit (ICU) survival. The current study aimed to identify factors affecting ICU survival of COVID-19 ECMO patients.
Methods
673 COVID-19 ARDS ECMO patients treated in 26 centers between January 1st 2020 and March 22nd 2021 were included. Data on clinical characteristics, adjunct therapies, complications, and outcome were documented. Block wise logistic regression analysis was applied to identify variables associated with ICU-survival.
Results
Most patients were between 50 and 70 years of age. PaO
2
/FiO
2
ratio prior to ECMO was 72 mmHg (IQR: 58–99). ICU survival was 31.4%. Survival was significantly lower during the 2nd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A subgroup of 284 (42%) patients fulfilling modified EOLIA criteria had a higher survival (38%) (
p
= 0.0014, OR 0.64 (CI 0.41–0.99)). Survival differed between low, intermediate, and high-volume centers with 20%, 30%, and 38%, respectively (
p
= 0.0024). Treatment in high volume centers resulted in an odds ratio of 0.55 (CI 0.28–1.02) compared to low volume centers. Additional factors associated with survival were younger age, shorter time between intubation and ECMO initiation, BMI > 35 (compared to < 25), absence of renal replacement therapy or major bleeding/thromboembolic events.
Conclusions
Structural and patient-related factors, including age, comorbidities and ECMO case volume, determined the survival of COVID-19 ECMO. These factors combined with a more liberal ECMO indication during the 2nd wave may explain the reasonably overall low survival rate. Careful selection of patients and treatment in high volume ECMO centers was associated with higher odds of ICU survival.
Trial registration
Registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (study ID: DRKS00022964, retrospectively registered, September 7th 2020,
https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00022964
.
Graphical abstract
Despite its ability to reduce overall ventilation time, protocol-guided weaning from mechanical ventilation is not routinely used in daily clinical practice. Clinical implementation of weaning ...protocols could be facilitated by integration of knowledge-based, closed-loop controlled protocols into respirators.
To determine whether automated weaning decreases overall ventilation time compared with weaning based on a standardized written protocol in an unselected surgical patient population.
In this prospective controlled trial patients ventilated for longer than 9 hours were randomly allocated to receive either weaning with automatic control of pressure support ventilation (automated-weaning group) or weaning based on a standardized written protocol (control group) using the same ventilation mode. The primary end point of the study was overall ventilation time.
Overall ventilation time (median 25th and 75th percentile) did not significantly differ between the automated-weaning (31 19-101 h; n = 150) and control groups (39 20-118 h; n = 150; P = 0.178). Patients who underwent cardiac surgery (n = 132) exhibited significantly shorter overall ventilation times in the automated-weaning (24 18-57 h) than in the control group (35 20-93 h; P = 0.035). The automated-weaning group exhibited shorter ventilation times until the first spontaneous breathing trial (1 0-15 vs. 9 1-51 h; P = 0.001) and a trend toward fewer tracheostomies (17 vs. 28; P = 0.075).
Overall ventilation times did not significantly differ between weaning using automatic control of pressure support ventilation and weaning based on a standardized written protocol. Patients after cardiac surgery may benefit from automated weaning. Implementation of additional control variables besides the level of pressure support may further improve automated-weaning systems. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00445289).
Aims Worldwide applications of extracorporeal circulation for mechanical support in cardiac and circulatory failure, which are referred to as extracorporeal life support (ECLS) or veno‐arterial ...extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (va‐ECMO), have dramatically increased over the past decade. In spite of the expanding use and the immense medical as well as socio‐economic impact of this therapeutic approach, there has been a lack of interdisciplinary recommendations considering the best available evidence for ECLS treatment.
Methods and Results In a multiprofessional, interdisciplinary scientific effort of all scientific societies involved in the treatment of patients with acute cardiac and circulatory failure, the first evidence‐ and expert consensus‐based guideline (level S3) on ECLS/ECMO therapy was developed in a structured approach under regulations of the AWMF (Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany) and under use of GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria. This article presents all recommendations created by the expert panel, addressing a multitude of aspects for ECLS initiation, continuation, weaning and aftercare as well as structural and personnel requirements.
Conclusions This first evidence‐ and expert consensus‐based guideline (level S3) on ECLS/ECMO therapy should be used to apply the best available care nationwide. Beyond clinical practice advice, remaining important research aspects for future scientific efforts are formulated.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Right ventricular heart failure is a frequent and serious but often undetected and complex clinical challenge on the intensive care unit. The commonest causes include acute decompensation of ...pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, acute respiratory distress, and cardiothoracic surgery. The gold standard of bedside diagnosis is a combination of clinical symptoms, biochemical markers (NT-proBNP) and echocardiography. For the purposes of hemodynamic monitoring and treatment management, the indication to place a pulmonary artery catheter should be made generously. The major components of management include treating the underlying disease and triggering factors, reducing pulmonary vascular resistance, increasing contractility, volume optimization, and maintenance of adequate perfusion. Mechanical circulatory support should be considered before irreversible end-organ failure develops.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
6.
Akutes Rechtsherzversagen auf der Intensivstation Pilarczyk, Kevin; Renner, Jochen; Haake, Nils
Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin,
09/2019, Volume:
114, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Zusammenfassung
Das Rechtsherzversagen auf der Intensivstation ist ein häufiges und ernstes, aber oftmals unbemerktes Krankheitsbild. Die häufigsten Ursachen sind die akute Dekompensation einer ...pulmonalen Hypertension, Lungenembolie, Sepsis, „acute respiratory distress syndrome“ sowie kardiochirurgische Eingriffe. Goldstandard der bettseitigen Diagnostik ist die Kombination aus klinischer Symptomatik, Labordiagnostik (NT-proBNP) und Echokardiographie. Zum hämodynamischen Monitoring und zur Therapiesteuerung sollte die Indikation zur Anlage eines Pulmonaliskatheters großzügig gestellt werden. Therapeutische Grundpfeiler sind die Behandlung der Grunderkrankung bzw. die Beseitigung auslösender Faktoren, Senkung des pulmonalvaskulären Widerstands, Steigerung der Kontraktilität, Vorlastoptimierung sowie Gewährleistung eines adäquaten Perfusionsdrucks. Die Option einer temporären mechanischen rechtsventrikulären Unterstützung sollte vor Eintreten irreversibler Organschädigungen in Betracht gezogen werden.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
In contrast to the results of previous studies, recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) failed to show a benefit of prophylactic aortic counterpulsation in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac ...surgery. The present analysis aims to redefine the effects of this treatment modality in the light of this new evidence. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL/CCTR, Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for full-text articles of RCTs in English or German. Assessments for eligibility, relevance, study validity and data extraction were performed by two reviewers independently using prespecified criteria. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. A total of nine eligible RCTs with 1171 patients were identified: 577 patients were treated preoperatively with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and 594 patients served as controls. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for hospital mortality (22 hospital deaths in the intervention arm, 54 in the control group) was 0.381 (95% CI 0.230–0.629; P < 0.001). The pooled analyses of five RCTs including only patients undergoing isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (nIABP = 348, ncontrol = 347) also showed a statistically significant improvement in mortality for preoperative IABP implantation (fixed-effects model: OR 0.267, 95% CI 0.129–0.552, P < 0.001). The pooled OR for hospital mortality from two randomized off-pump trials was 0.556 (fixed-effects model, 95% CI 0.207–1.493, P = 0.226). Preoperative aortic counterpulsation was associated with a significant reduction in low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) in the total population (fixed-effects model: OR 0.330, 95% CI 0.214–0.508, P < 0.001) as well as in the subgroup of CAGB patients (fixed-effects model: OR 0.113, 95% CI 0.056–0.226, P < 0.001), whereas there was no benefit in the off-pump population (fixed-effects model: OR 0.555, 95% CI 0.209–1.474, P = 0.238). Preoperative IABP implantation was associated with a reduction of intensive care unit (ICU) stay in all investigated populations with a greater effect in the total population fixed-effects model: standard mean difference (SMD) −0.931 ± 0.198, P < 0.001 as well as in the subgroup of CAGB patients (fixed-effects model: SMD −1.240 ± 0.156, P < 0.001), compared with the off-pump group (fixed-effects model: SMD −0.723 ± 0.128, P < 0.001). Despite contradictory results from recent trials, the present study confirms the findings of previous meta-analyses that prophylactic aortic counterpulsation reduces hospital mortality, incidence of LCOS and ICU requirement in high-risk patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery. However, owing to small sample sizes and the lack of a clear-cut definition of high-risk patients, an adequately powered, prospective RCT is necessary to find a definite answer to the question, if certain groups of patients undergoing cardiac surgery benefit from a prophylactic IABP insertion.
Reply to Yang Pilarczyk, Kevin; Markewitz, Andreas; Haake, Nils ...
European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery,
01/2017, Volume:
51, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Background
Lung transplant (LTX) recipients are at high risk of invasive Aspergillus infections (IAI). However, no randomized‐controlled trials (RCT) or international guidelines on antifungal ...prophylaxis (AFP) in the LTX population exist.
Methods
A meta‐analysis was performed to determine whether AFP reduces the rate of IAI after LTX. A total of six eligible observational studies (five with no prophylaxis, one with targeted prophylaxis, three studies including heart/lung transplantation) with a total of 748 patients were included.
Results
The pooled odds ratio (OR) for IAI (62 IFI in the intervention arm and 82 in the control group) was 0.234 (95% confidence interval CI 0.097‐0.564, P=0.001, z=−3.237). Pooled studies were characterized by substantial heterogeneity (I2=66.64%); number needed to treat was 6.8. A subgroup analyses with exclusion of heart transplant recipients also showed a statistically significant reduction in IAI with AFP (OR 0.183, 95% CI 0.0449‐0.744, P=0.018).
Conclusion
This study suggests that universal antifungal prophylaxes reduces incidence of IAI after LTX. However, included studies are limited by small sample size, single‐center structure without randomization, mixed population (including heart/heart‐lung transplant), and heterogeneity due to variations in immunosuppression, type, and duration of AFP. Therefore, there is a clear need for an adequately powered RCT.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
