Combination of Hydrogen Inhalation and Hypothermic Temperature Control After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Post hoc Analysis of the Efficacy of Inhaled Hydrogen on Neurologic Outcome Following Brain Ischemia During PostCardiac Arrest Care II Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The Efficacy of Inhaled Hydrogen on Neurologic Outcome Following Brain Ischemia During Post-Cardiac Arrest Care (HYBRID) II trial (jRCTs031180352) suggested that hydrogen inhalation may reduce post-cardiac arrest brain injury (PCABI). However, the combination of hypothermic target temperature management (TTM) and hydrogen inhalation on outcomes is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of hydrogen inhalation and hypothermic TTM on outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). DESIGN: Post hoc analysis of a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Fifteen Japanese ICUs. PATIENTS: Cardiogenic OHCA enrolled in the HYBRID II trial. INTERVENTIONS: Hydrogen mixed oxygen (hydrogen group) versus oxygen alone (control group). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: TTM was performed at a target temperature of 32-34°C (TTM32-TTM34) or 35-36°C (TTM35-TTM36) per the institutional protocol. The association between hydrogen + TTM32-TTM34 and 90-day good neurologic outcomes was analyzed using generalized estimating equations. The 90-day survival was compared between the hydrogen and control groups under TTM32-TTM34 and TTM35-TTM36, respectively. The analysis included 72 patients (hydrogen [ n = 39] and control [ n = 33] groups) with outcome data. TTM32-TTM34 was implemented in 25 (64%) and 24 (73%) patients in the hydrogen and control groups, respectively ( p = 0.46). Under TTM32-TTM34, 17 (68%) and 9 (38%) patients achieved good neurologic outcomes in the hydrogen and control groups, respectively (relative risk: 1.81 [95% CI, 1.05-3.66], p < 0.05). Hydrogen + TTM32-TTM34 was independently associated with good neurologic outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 16.10 [95% CI, 1.88-138.17], p = 0.01). However, hydrogen + TTM32-TTM34 did not improve survival compared with TTM32-TTM34 alone (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.22 [95% CI, 0.05-1.06], p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Hydrogen + TTM32-TTM34 was associated with improved neurologic outcomes after cardiogenic OHCA compared with TTM32-TTM34 monotherapy. Hydrogen inhalation is a promising treatment option for reducing PCABI when combined with TTM32-TTM34.

Association between eGFR and neurological outcomes among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A nationwide prospective study in Japan.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate and prognosis in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients and explore the heterogeneity of the association. Methods: Patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to medical causes and registered in the JAAM-OHCA Registry between June 2014 and December 2019 were stratified into shockable rhythm, pulseless electrical activity, and asystole groups according to the cardiac rhythm at the scene. The primary outcome was a 1-month favorable neurological status. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to investigate the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate and outcomes using a logistic model. Results: Of the 19,443 patients included, 2769 had initial shockable rhythm at the scene, 5339 had pulseless electrical activity, and 11,335 had asystole. As the estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased, the adjusted odds ratio for a 1-month favorable neurological status decreased among those with initial shockable rhythm (estimated glomerular filtration rate, adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 45-59 mL/min/1.73 m2, 0.61 [0.47-0.79]; 30-44 mL/min/1.73 m2, 0.45 [0.32-0.62]; 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m2, 0.35 [0.20-0.63]; and <15 mL/min/1.73 m2, 0.14 [0.07-0.27]). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was associated with neurological outcomes in patients aged <65 years with initial shockable rhythm but not in those aged >65 years or patients with initial pulseless electrical activity or asystole. Conclusion: The estimated glomerular filtration rate is associated with neurological prognosis in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with initial shockable rhythm at the scene but not in those with initial non-shockable rhythm.

Application of the TiPS65 score for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with initial non-shockable rhythm treated with ECPR.

Background: The TiPS65 score is a validated scoring system used to predict neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients with shockable rhythm treated with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). This study aimed to assess the predictive performance of the TiPS65 score in OHCA patients with initial non-shockable rhythm treated with ECPR. Methods: This was a secondary analysis using the JAAM-OHCA registry, a multicenter prospective cohort study. The study included adult OHCA patients with initial non-shockable rhythm who underwent ECPR. The TiPS65 score assigned one point to each of four variables: time to hospital ≤25 minutes, pH value ≥7.0 on initial blood gas assessment, shockable on hospital arrival, and age younger than 65 years. Based on the sum score, the predictive performance for 1-month survival and favorable neurological outcomes, defined as the Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2, was evaluated. Results: Among 57,754 patients in the registry, 370 were included in the analysis. The overall one-month survival and favorable neurological outcome were 11.1% (41/370) and 4.2% (15/370), respectively. The 1-month survival rates based on the TiPS65 score were as follows: 11.2% (12/107) for 0 points, 9.3% (14/150) for 1 point, 10.0% (9/90) for 2 points, and 26.1% (6/23) for ≥3 points. Similarly, the 1-month favorable neurological outcomes were: 5.6% (6/107) for 0 points, 2.7% (4/150) for 1 point, 4.4% (4/90) for 2 points, and 4.3% (1/23) for ≥3 points. The area under the curve was 0.535 (95% CI: 0.437-0.630) for 1-month survival and 0.530 (95% CI: 0.372-0.683) for 1-month neurological outcome. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the TiPS65 score has limited prognostic performance among OHCA patients with initial non-shockable rhythm treated with ECPR. Further research is warranted to develop a predictive tool specifically focused on OHCA with initial non-shockable rhythm to aid in determining candidates for ECPR.

Adverse events of emergency surgical front of neck airway access: an observational descriptive study.

Aim: Emergency front of neck access (eFONA), such as scalpel cricothyroidotomy, is a rescue technique used to open the airway during "cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate" situations. However, little is known about the adverse events associated with the procedure. This study aimed to describe the adverse events that occur in patients who undergo eFONA and their management. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study included emergency patients who underwent eFONA between April 2012 and August 2020. We described the patients' characteristics and the adverse events during or immediately after the procedure. Results: Among 75,529 emergency patients during the study period, 31 (0.04%) underwent an eFONA. The median (interquartile range) age was 53 (39-67) years, and 23 patients (74.2%) were men. Of all cases, 13 (41.9%) experienced adverse events. Of these, three cases (23.2%) were cephalad misplacement of the intubation tube, one case (7.7%) was cuff injury, one case (7.7%) was tube obstruction due to vomiting, and one case (7.7%) was tube kink. In cases with these adverse events, the initial attempt of eFONA failed, and alternative immediate action was necessary to secure the airway. Conclusion: This single-center retrospective observational study described several adverse events of eFONA. In particular, it is important to understand the possible life-threatening adverse events that lead to failure of securing airways such as cephalad displacement, tube obstruction, and tube kink and respond promptly to ensure a secure definitive airway for patients' safety.

Body temperature and in-hospital mortality in trauma patients: analysis of a nationwide trauma database in Japan.

PURPOSE: Avoiding body temperature (BT) abnormalities has been emphasized in trauma care, and BT correction in the initial treatment period may improve patient outcome. However, the effect of hyperthermia at hospital arrival on mortality in trauma patients is unclear. This study aimed to identify the association between BT and in-hospital mortality among adult trauma patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of a multi-centre prospective cohort study. Data were obtained from the Japan Trauma Data Bank (JTDB). Adult trauma patients who were transferred directly from the scene of injury to the hospital and registered in the JTDB between January 2004 and December 2017 were included. The primary outcome was the association between BT at hospital arrival and in-hospital mortality. BT at hospital arrival was classified by 1 °C strata. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for in-hospital mortality for each BT group using 36.0-36.9 °C as a reference. RESULTS: Overall, 153,117 patients were included. The total mortality rate was 7% (n = 10,118). The adjusted OR for in-hospital mortality for < 35.0 °C was 1.65 (95% CI 1.51-1.79, p < 0.001), 35.0-35.9 °C was 1.33 (95% CI 1.25-1.41, p < 0.001), 37.0-37.9 °C was 0.99 (95% CI 0.91-1.07, p = 0.639), 38.0-38.9 °C was 1.30 (95% CI 1.08-1.56, p = 0.007) and > 39.0 °C was 1.62 (95% CI 1.18-2.22, p = 0.003) compared to that for normothermia. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal that hypothermia and hyperthermia at hospital arrival are associated with increased in-hospital mortality in adult trauma patients.

Evaluation of a revised resuscitation protocol for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients due to COVID-19 safety protocols: a single-center retrospective study in Japan.

This study aimed to determine the association between cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) under the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) safety protocols in our hospital and the prognosis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients, in an urban area, where the prevalence of COVID-19 infection is relatively low. This was a single-center, retrospective, observational, cohort study conducted at a tertiary critical care center in Kyoto City, Japan. Adult OHCA patients arriving at our hospital under CPR between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020 were included. Our hospital implemented a revised resuscitation protocol for OHCA patients on April 1, 2020 to prevent COVID-19 transmission. This study defined the conventional CPR period as January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, and the COVID-19 safety protocol period as April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Throughout the prehospital and in-hospital settings, resuscitation protocols about wearing personal protective equipment and airway management were revised in order to minimize the risk of infection; otherwise, the other resuscitation management had not been changed. The primary outcome was hospitalization survival. The secondary outcomes were return of spontaneous circulation after hospital arrival and 1-month survival after OHCA occurrence. The adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for outcomes to compare the two study periods, and the multivariable logistic model was used to adjust for potential confounders. The study analyzed 443 patients, with a median age of 76 years (65-85), and included 261 men (58.9%). The percentage of hospitalization survivors during the entire research period was 16.9% (75/443 patients), with 18.7% (50/267) during the conventional CPR period and 14.2% (25/176) during the COVID-19 safety protocol period. The adjusted odds ratio for hospitalization survival during the COVID-19 safety protocol period was 0.61 (95% CI 0.32-1.18), as compared with conventional CPR. There were no cases of COVID-19 infection among the staff involved in the resuscitation in our hospital. There was no apparent difference in hospitalization survival between the OHCA patients resuscitated under the conventional CPR protocol compared with the current revised protocol for controlling COVID-19 transmission.

Association between cardiac rhythm conversion and neurological outcome among cardiac arrest patients with initial shockable rhythm: a nationwide prospective study in Japan.

AIMS: Initial cardiac rhythm, particularly shockable rhythm, is a key factor in resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between cardiac rhythm conversion and neurologic prognosis in OHCA patients with initial shockable rhythm at the scene. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included adult patients with OHCA due to medical causes with pre-hospital initial shockable rhythm and who were still in cardiac arrest at hospital arrival. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of cardiac arrest rhythm at hospital arrival for 1-month favourable neurologic status and 1-month survival, adjusted for potential confounders. Of 34 754 patients in the 2014-2017 JAAM-OHCA Registry, 1880 were included in the final study analysis. The percentages of 1-month favourable neurologic status for shockable rhythm, pulseless electrical activity (PEA), and asystole at hospital arrival were 17.4% (137/789), 3.6% (18/507), and 1.5% (9/584), respectively. The AORs for 1-month favourable neurologic status comparing to OHCA patients who maintained shockable rhythm at hospital arrival were PEA, 0.19 (95% CI, 0.11-0.32) and asystole, 0.08 (95% CI, 0.04-0.16), respectively. CONCLUSION: Findings showed that the 1-month neurologic outcome in OHCA patients who converted to non-shockable rhythm at hospital arrival was very poor compared with patients who had sustained shockable rhythm. Also, patients with conversion to PEA had better neurologic prognosis than conversion to asystole.

Association of body temperature with in-hospital mortality among paediatric trauma patients: an analysis of a nationwide observational trauma database in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between body temperature (BT) on hospital arrival and in-hospital mortality among paediatric trauma patients. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Japan Trauma Data Bank (JTDB, which is a nationwide, prospective, observational trauma registry with data from 235 hospitals). PARTICIPANTS: Paediatric trauma patients <16 years old who were transferred directly from the scene of injury to the hospital and registered in the JTDB from January 2004 to December 2017 were included. We excluded patients >16 years old and those who developed cardiac arrest before or on hospital arrival. PRIMARY OUTCOME: The association between BT on hospital arrival and in-hospital mortality. We conducted multivariate logistic regression analyses to calculate the adjusted ORs, with their 95% CIs, of the association between BT and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 9012 patients were included (median age: 9 years (IQR, 6.0-13.0 years), mortality: 2.5% (mortality number was 226 in total 9012 patients)). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the corresponding adjusted ORs of BT <36.0°C and BT ≥37.0°C, relative to a BT of 36°C-36.9°C, for in-hospital mortality were 2.83 (95% CI: 1.85 to 4.33) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.53 to 1.63), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In paediatric patients with hypothermia (BT <36.0°C) on hospital arrival, a clear association with in-hospital mortality was observed; no such association was observed between higher BT values (≥37.0°C) and outcomes.

Lactate and fibrinogen as good predictors of massive transfusion in postpartum hemorrhage.

AIM: This study aims to identify the clinical factors that can predict the requirement of massive transfusion among patients with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). METHODS: Consecutive anonymized patients with PPH who were treated at the emergency department of our perinatal medical center were examined. Patients who had received transfusions before admission, those who had cardiac arrest on arrival, and those without history of blood gas analysis were excluded. Our primary outcome was the requirement of massive transfusion defined as packed red blood cells of ≥10 units/24 h. Univariable logistic analysis was carried out to identify the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the explanatory variables for the outcome. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients (massive transfusion, n = 19) were included in the main analysis. The crude odds ratio for fibrinogen per mg/dL and lactate per mmol/L were calculated as 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97-0.99) and 1.62 (95% CI, 1.08-3.02), respectively. The area under the curves for fibrinogen and lactate were 0.814 and 0.734, respectively, and optimal cut-off values for fibrinogen and lactate were 211 mg/dL and 4 mmol/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that lactate and fibrinogen can be predictors for the requirement of massive transfusion in patients with PPH.

Association between visitation restriction during the COVID-19 pandemic and delirium incidence among emergency admission patients: a single-center retrospective observational cohort study in Japan.

Aim: This study aimed to identify the association between total visitation restriction because of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the incidence of delirium for emergency inpatients. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary critical care center in urban Kyoto, Japan. Adult emergency patients hospitalized between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, were recruited. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors' hospital began restricted visitation on March 28, 2020. This study defined before visitation restriction as January 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020, and after visitation restriction as April 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020. We did not restrict emergency services, and there were no changes in the hospital's routine, except for visitation restrictions. The primary outcome was the incidence of delirium. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for delirium incidence was calculated to compare the before and after visitation restriction periods, and the logistic model was used to adjust for seven variables: age, sex, ward type on admission, primary diagnosis, ventilator management, general anesthesia surgery, and dementia. Results: Study participants were 6264 patients, median age 74 years (56-83), and 3303 men (52.7%). The total delirium incidence in entire research period was 2.5% (158 of 6264 patients), comprising 1.8% (95/5251) before visitation restriction and 6.2% (63/1013) after visitation restriction. The AOR for delirium incidence was 3.79 (95% CI, 2.70-5.31) after visitation restriction versus before visitation restriction. Subgroup analysis showed no apparent interaction for delirium incidence. Conclusion: Visitation restriction was associated with an increased incidence of delirium in emergency inpatients.

Drastic drop in blood flow of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation induced by an excessive increase in intra-abdominal pressure in an obese patient.

Obesity and conditions that increase intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) should be considered as risk factors for reduced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) blood flow (BF) drastically. For obese patients on ECMO, effective IAP control and risk factor assessment is necessary to prevent excessive IAP elevation and subsequent drop in ECMO BF.

Survival After Cardiac Arrest With Instantaneous Rigorlike Stiffness: A Case Report.

Instantaneous rigor is the immediate appearance of rigor mortis after cardiac arrest. To our knowledge, no previous reports exist on resuscitation of such patients. A young athlete suddenly collapsed with cardiac arrest during a marathon; his legs stiffened with instantaneous rigorlike stiffness. This stiffening provoked hyperkalemia, rhabdomyolysis, and multiple organ failure. We decided to amputate both legs, with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. The patient recovered and was discharged without neurologic impairment. This rare case highlights the potentially significant effect of instantaneous rigor.

Late recovery from unconsciousness in a patient with severe posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

This study describes a patient case presenting with severe posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) who needed 3 months to recover impaired consciousness. We discuss the protracted time course needed to deal with severe PRES cases. Positive prognoses can emerge from these situations if treatment is prompt and precise.

Unexpected hypotension in catecholamine reversal: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Catecholamine agents are commonly used to support circulation; however, they may cause unexpected hypotension in a special situation. Here we describe the first unexpected case of hypotension in response to catecholamine agents. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old Japanese man with schizophrenia was transferred to our emergency department. He was in shock and in coma. After fluid resuscitation, we induced catecholamine agents; however, his blood pressure decreased to 59/40 mmHg in response to catecholamine infusion. On the other hand, after we started vasopressin, his blood pressure markedly improved, and he finally became stable. On day 2, he admitted to ingesting a large amount of risperidone, and we diagnosed risperidone overdose. We believe that this unexpected hypotension in response to catecholamine infusion was caused by an α-adrenergic blockade effect of risperidone. Animal experiments proved that the simultaneous administration of adrenaline with an α-adrenergic blockade provoked a fall in blood pressure; this phenomenon is called "adrenaline reversal." In our case, catecholamine infusion under the α-adrenergic blockade effect of risperidone might have caused a fall in blood pressure in the same mechanism; we call this phenomenon "catecholamine reversal." In such a situation, because the mechanism of vasopressin is different from that of catecholamine, we recommend vasopressin for maintaining the blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: We described the first clinical case of "catecholamine reversal" and highlighted that if unexpected hypotension occurs in response to catecholamine infusion, we should suspect the use of α-adrenergic antagonists. In such situations, we should consider the administration of vasopressin instead.

Bloody Bronchial Cast Formation Due to Alveolar Hemorrhage Associated with H1N1 Influenza Infection.

A previously healthy 55-year-old man with H1N1 influenza A presented with severe respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. Following the return of spontaneous circulation, venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required to maintain oxygenation. On day 2, bronchoscopy revealed a bloody bronchial cast obstructing the right main bronchus. A pathological examination revealed that it was composed of intrabronchial and intra-alveolar hemorrhagic tissue. Unfortunately, the patient died due to severe brain ischemia; a subsequent autopsy revealed marked alveolar hemorrhage. It is possible that anticoagulant therapy, alveolar collapse, and neuromuscular blocking agents provoked cast development in this case.

Visualization of poikilothermia using handheld thermography.

Poikilothermia is a fundamental symptom of acute limb ischemia (ALI) and is known as "6Ps". Herein, we present the visualization of poikilothermia caused by ALI using handheld thermography. We believe that handheld thermography could be useful to assess poikilothermia objectively as a supplementary method to physical examination.

Anatomical landmarks for safely implementing resuscitative balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in zone 1 without fluoroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Resuscitative balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) can maintain hemodynamic stability during hemorrhagic shock after a following torso injury, although inappropriate balloon placement may induce brain or visceral organ ischemia. External anatomical landmarks [the suprasternal notch (SSN) and xiphoid process (Xi)] are empirically used to implement REBOA in zone 1. We aimed to confirm if these landmarks were useful for determining a balloon catheter length for safe implementation of REBOA in zone 1 without using fluoroscopy. METHOD: We selected 25 successive adult blunt trauma cases requiring contrast-enhanced chest/abdominal computed tomography (CT) treated at our emergency department (in an urban area of Kyoto city, Japan) between October 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017. We retrospectively evaluated anonymized CT images. We used three-dimensional multiplanar reconstructions to measure the length along the aorta's central axis, from the bilateral common femoral arteries (FA) to the celiac trunk (CeT) (FA-CeT) and to the origin of the left subclavian artery (LSCA) (FA-LSCA). Volume-rendering reconstruction images were used to measure the external distance from common FAs to SSN (FA-SSN) and to Xi (FA-Xi). RESULT: FA-LSCA was significantly longer than FA-SSN. FA-CeT was significantly shorter than FA-Xi. DISCUSSION: Based on these results, the REBOA balloon catheter should be shorter than FA-SSN, and longer than FA-Xi to avoid placement outside zone 1. The advantages of this method are that it can rapidly and easily predict a safe balloon catheter length, and it reflects each patient's individual torso height. CONCLUSION: To safely implement REBOA, the balloon catheter length should be shorter than FA-SSN and longer than FA-Xi. We believe that these anatomical landmarks are good references for safe implementation of REBOA in zone 1 without radiographic guidance.

Lower limb ischemia caused by resuscitative balloon occlusion of aorta.

BACKGROUND: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is an emergency procedure to manage severe hemorrhagic shock from torso injury but can cause severe ischemia of the lower extremities. However, lower extremity ischemia occurring as a complication of REBOA has been rarely reported. We describe the severe lower extremity ischemia caused by REBOA with a 12-Fr sheath in a small-built patient. CASE REPRESENTATION: The patient was a 16-year-old male who developed severe hemorrhagic shock due to abdominal blunt trauma. Following REBOA with a 12-Fr sheath on the right femoral artery, an emergency laparotomy and angiography to control the hemorrhage were performed. Twenty-eight hours after admission, suspecting lower extremity ischemia and compartment syndrome, we removed the sheath with a manual maneuver and performed fasciotomy. The limb ischemia was thus partially resolved. However, amputation was necessary because of ischemic necrosis on day 32. Our patient was physically small, and the diameter of his femoral artery on the contralateral site of sheath placement was also small. Therefore, disproportion of the sheath and femoral artery sizes may have caused the ischemic complication. CONCLUSION: Our experience highlights the importance of appropriate size selection for the sheath in line with the target vessel. We also recommend postoperative monitoring of limb perfusion in such cases with the use of near-infrared spectroscopy to facilitate the early detection of ischemia.