Brain Death Donors on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated donors with brain death on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, a clinically challenging situation due to hemodynamic instability frequently encountered in these donors, which may threaten organ function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We described our experience with 15 utilized brain death donors on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, consecutively admit-ted in our intensive care unit (which is a referral center for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) from 2018 to 2023. We investigated whether utilization rate for brain death donors on extracor-poreal membrane oxygenation was affected by the introduction of a monitoring hemodynamic schedule during the 6-hour observation period. RESULTS: The utilization rate was 78% in period 1 and 88% in period 2. No statistically significant differences were observed for age, sex, and the incidence of cardiovascular risk factors between period 1 and period 2. The cause of death was postanoxic encephalopathy in all but 1 donor, who was on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory respiratory failure and developed cerebral hemorrhage. Number of organs per donor was 2 in all the population with no significant differences between period 1 and period 2. In the overall population, 15 livers were transplanted, 11 kidneys, 1 heart, and 1 pancreas. In our population, left ventricular ejection fraction severe dysfunction was observed in all donors except in the donor on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; the organ from this donor was deemed unsuitable for transplant. No significant differences were observed in hemodynamic data between the 2 subgroups. All donors were on 2 vasoactive drugs (norepinephrine and vasopressin) to maintain adequate perfusion (mean arterial pressure >60 mm Hg). Three donors were oligoanuric (due to postarrest acute renal failure). CONCLUISONS: In our series of 15 consecutive brain death donors on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a strict monitoring regimen during the 6-hour obser-vation period was associated with a higher utilization rate.

Active Donor Management Goals in Serial Donors After Brain Death.

OBJECTIVES: Management of potential organ donors is crucial in the donation process, considering that hemodynamic instability is quite common. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the this single-center retrospective observational study, we analyzed 87 utilized brain death donors consecutively admitted to our intensive care unit from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022. We assessed the achievement of donor management goals during the observation period, and we also evaluated whether the achieve-ment of donor goals differed between younger and older donors (arbitrary age cutoff of 65 years). RESULTS: In our series, mean age of donors was 67 ± 18 y, and organ-per-donor ratio was 2.3. The number of donor goals significantly increased during the 6-hour observation period (P < .001) and all donor goals were achieved in most donors (84/87) at the end of the observation period with no changes in the use and dose of vasoactive drugs. With respect to age, the number of donor goals was significantly higher in older donors at first evaluation, but goals significantly increased in both age subgroups of donors at the end of the 6-hour observation period. CONCLUSIONS: Our data strongly suggested that a strict hemodynamic monitoring schedule allows the achievement of donor goals both in older and in younger brain death donors. We confirmed our previous findings that hemodynamic management in brain death donors is influenced by age. A strict hemodynamic monitoring schedule of brain death donors is useful to consistently achieve donor goals.

Uncontrolled Donation after Circulatory Death Only Lung Program: An Urgent Opportunity.

Uncontrolled donation after circulatory death (uDCD) represents a potential source of lungs, and since Steen's 2001 landmark case in Sweden, lungs have been recovered from uDCD donors and transplanted to patients in other European countries (France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy) with promising results. Disparities still exist among European countries and among regions in Italy due to logistical and organizational factors. The present manuscript focuses on the clinical experiences pertaining to uDCD lungs in North America and European countries and on different lung maintenance methods. Existing experiences (and protocols) are not uniform, especially with respect to the type of lung maintenance, the definition of warm ischemic time (WIT) and, finally, the use of ex vivo perfusion (available in the last several years in most centers). In situ lung cooling may be superior to protective ventilation, but this process may be difficult to perform in the uDCD setting and is also time-consuming. On the other hand, the "protective ventilation technique" is simpler and feasible in every hospital. It may lead to a broader use of uDCD lung donors. To date, the results of lung transplants performed after protective ventilation as a preservation technique are scarce but promising. All the protocols comprise, among the inclusion criteria, a witnessed cardiac arrest. The detectable differences included preservation time (240 vs. 180 min) and donor age (<55 years in Spanish protocols and <65 years in Toronto protocols). Overall, independently of the differences in protocols, lungs from uDCD donors show promising results, and the possibility of optimizing ex vivo lung perfusion may broaden the use of these organs.

The prognostic role of hyperglycemia and glucose variability in covid-related acute respiratory distress Syndrome.

AIMS: Due to heterogeneity on the prognostic role of glucose values and glucose variability in Novel Coronavirus (COVID) disease, we aimed at assessing the prognostic role for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) death of admission hyperglycaemia, peak glycemia and glucose variability in critically ill COVID patients: METHODS: 83 patients consecutively admitted for COVID-related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) from from 1st March to 1st October 2020. RESULTS: Non survivors were older, with more comorbidities and a more severe disease. Corticosteroids were used in the majority of patients (54/83, 65%) with no difference between survivors and non survivors. Mean blood glucose values, (during the first 24 and 48 h, respectively), were comparable between the two subgroups, as well as SD 24 and CV 24. During the first 48 h, survivors showed significantly lower values of SD 48 (p < 0.001) and CV 48, respectively (p < 0.001) than non survivors. CONCLUSIONS: in consecutive COVID-related ARDS patients admitted to ICU hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dl) is more common in non survivors who also showed a significantly higher glucose variability in the first 48 h since ICU admission. Our findings point to the clinical significance of in-ICU glucose control in severe COVID patients.

Galactin-1, 3 and 9: Potential biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Galectins are proteins that bind ß-galactosides such as N-acetylactosamine present in N-linked and O-linked glycoproteins and that seem to be implicated fibrotic mechanisms. Here we aimed to define the role of serum galectins in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) by comparison with other chronic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and healthy subjects. METHODS: Forty-one fibrotic ILD patients (median age (IQR), 65 years (20); 50 % male) were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood concentrations of galectins-1, 3 and 9 were determined with commercial ELISA kits. RESULTS: Galectin-1 and 9 concentrations were higher in the ILD group than in healthy controls (p = 0.0318 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Galectin-3 was also higher in ILD patients (borderline significant p = 0.0617). In particular, significantly higher Gal-1 concentrations were found in sarcoidosis and NSIP patients (p = 0.0418 and p = 0.0015, respectively), while Gal-9 concentrations were significantly higher in all ILD subgroups. Specific cut-offs for all galectins were calculated by receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Several correlations with lung function parameters were found. DISCUSSION: Galectins 1, 3 and 9 concentrations were found altered in serum of ILD patients suggesting their potential utility as clinical, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Inhibition of galectins may be useful in the therapeutic management of pulmonary fibrosis. Further studies on larger case series would be worthwhile.

Effects of a physiotherapic program in patients on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: an 8-year single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: To date, there is no agreement on the timing to perform a physical session in patients on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). We aimed to assess whether early physiotherapy (within the first week from ECMO start) could affect in-ICU mortality. METHODS: Our retrospective observational study included 101 adults supported on VV ECMO from 2009 to 2016, consecutively admitted at our ECMO referral Center in Florence (Italy). Clinical data right before ECMO start were collected for all patients. The level of mobilization using the ICU mobility scale was recorded on the first session and at discharge. RESULTS: Early physiotherapy (within the first week) was more frequently initiated in patients with lower BMI (P=0.013) and it was associated with lower duration of ECMO support (P=0.03), mechanical ventilation (P=0.001) and length of stay (P=0.001). In-ICU mortality was not different between the two subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients on VV-ECMO support, physiotherapy is feasible and safe and that early physiotherapy, initiated within the first week from ECMO start, is associated with shorter duration of ECMO support and ICU length of stay.

Serial Lactate Measurements as a Prognostic Tool in Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support.

BACKGROUND: Serial lactate measurements over time or lactate clearance has been reported to be clinically reliable for risk stratification in different pathologic conditions ranging from sepsis to trauma, but no data are so far available on the behavior of lactate during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support in refractory adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: We assessed lactate values during VV-ECMO support and the prognostic role of lactate clearance at 6, 24, and 72 hours after ECMO start in 126 consecutive patients with refractory ARDS treated with VV-ECMO. RESULTS: Survivors showed a progressive, significant decrease in lactate values throughout the study period, whereas nonsurvivors exhibited a progressive increase. Lactate values (measured before ECMO initiation, as well as 6 and 24 hours after) were independently associated with intensive care unit (ICU) death. A significantly higher lactate clearance was observed for survivors at 72 hours after ECMO start than for nonsurvivors. At logistic regression analysis, lactate clearance at 72 hours after ECMO start was an independent predictor of ICU death (odds ratio 0.988, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.995 to 0.982, p = 0.001) (together with age, body mass index, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment). At receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, lactate clearance at 72 hours after ECMO start cutoff value of -16% had a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 63% (area under the curve = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.77, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Lactate (measured before ECMO initiation, as well as 6 and 24 hours after) is a prognostic factor in patients with refractory ARDS treated with VV-ECMO, and lactate clearance at 72 hours after ECMO initiation helps in the risk stratification of these patients, being independently associated with death.

Human herpesviruses respiratory infections in patients with acute respiratory distress (ARDS).

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is today a leading cause of hospitalization in intensive care unit (ICU). ARDS and pneumonia are closely related to critically ill patients; however, the etiologic agent is not always identified. The presence of human herpes simplex virus 1, human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in respiratory samples of critically ill patients is increasingly reported even without canonical immunosuppression. The main aim of this study was to better understand the significance of herpesviruses finding in lower respiratory tract of ARDS patients hospitalized in ICU. The presence of this group of herpesviruses, in addition to the research of influenza viruses and other common respiratory viruses, was investigated in respiratory samples from 54 patients hospitalized in ICU, without a known microbiological causative agent. Moreover, the immunophenotype of each patient was analyzed. Herpesviruses DNA presence in the lower respiratory tract seemed not attributable to an impaired immunophenotype, whereas a significant correlation was observed between herpesviruses positivity and influenza virus infection. A higher ICU mortality was significantly related to the presence of herpesvirus infection in the lower respiratory tract as well as to impaired immunophenotype, as patients with poor outcome showed severe lymphopenia, affecting in particular T (CD3+) cells, since the first days of ICU hospitalization. In conclusion, these results indicate that herpesviruses lower respiratory tract infection, which occurs more frequently following influenza virus infection, can be a negative prognostic marker. An independent risk factor for ICU patients with ARDS is an impaired immunophenotype.

Late decompressive craniectomyafter traumatic brain injury: neurological outcome at 6 months after ICU discharge.

INTRODUCTION: The choice of optimal treatment in traumatic brain injured (TBI) patients is a challenge. The aim of this study was to verify the neurological outcome of severe TBI patients treated with decompressive craniectomy (early < 24 h, late > 24 h), compared to conservative treatment, in hospital and after 6-months. METHODS: A total of 186 TBI patients admitted to the ICU of the Emergency Department of a tertiary referral center (Careggi Teaching Hospital, Florence, Italy) from 2005 through 2009 were retrospectively studied. Patients treated with decompressive craniectomy were divided into 2 groups: "early craniectomy group" (patients who underwent to craniectomy within the first 24 hours); and "late craniectomy group" (patients who underwent to craniectomy later than the first 24 hours). As a control group, patients whose intracranial hypertension was successfully controlled by medical treatment were included in the "no craniectomy group". RESULTS: Groups included 41 patients who required early decompressive craniectomy, 21 patients treated with late craniectomy (7.7 days after trauma, on average), and 124 patients for whom intracranial hypertension was successfully controlled through conservative treatment. Groups were comparable in age and trauma/critical illness scores, except for a significantly higher Marshall score in early craniectomized patients. The Glasgow Outcome Scale was comparable between groups at ICU, at the time of hospital discharge and at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, a late craniectomy in patients with refractory intracranial hypertension produced a comparable 6-months neurological outcome if compared to patients responder to standard treatment. This data must be reproduced and confirmed before considering as goal-treatment in refractory intracranial hypertension.

Peripherally inserted central venous catheters and central venous catheters related thrombosis in post-critical patients.

BACKGROUND: Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC) have been proposed as an alternative to central venous catheters (CVC). The aim of this study was to determine the thrombosis rate in relation to PICC placement in patients discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Data of patients admitted to the ICU (Careggi Teaching Hospital, Florence, Italy; January-August 2008) and discharged with a central venous device were sequentially studied. During the first 4 months, CVCs were used (CVC group), whereas during the last 4 months, PICCs were used (PICC group). Demographic/clinical and catheter-related data were collected. Intensivists performed Doppler examination at ICU discharge and 7, 15, and 30 days after placement. RESULTS: Data of 239 patients were analyzed (125 of CVC group, 114 of PICC group). A total of 2,747 CVC-days and 4,024 PICC-days of observation were included. Patient characteristics were comparable between groups. Patients with PICC had a significantly higher incidence rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) than patients with CVC (27.2 vs. 9.6%, P = 0.0012). The rate of DVT/1,000 catheter days was 4.4 for CVCs and 7.7 for PICCs. Eighty percent of DVTs occurred within 2 weeks after insertion. Binary logistic analysis showed a two-fold increased risk for women and a three-fold increased risk when using the left basilic vein in the PICC group. CONCLUSIONS: In our post-critically ill population, PICCs were associated with a higher rate of DVT complications than CVCs. Routine ultrasound surveillance for the first 2 weeks after patient discharge from the ICU with a PICC and preferential use of CVC for these patients may be warranted.