Effectiveness and safety of non-invasive ventilation in the management of cardiogenic shock.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiogenic shock (CS) has long been considered a contraindication for the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV). The main objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness, measured as NIV success, in patients with respiratory failure due to CS. As secondary objective, we studied risk factors for NIV failure and compared the outcome of patients treated with NIV versus invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). METHODS: Retrospective study on a prospective database, over a period of 25 years, of all consecutively patients admitted to an intensive care unit, with a diagnosis of CS and treated with NIV. A comparison was made between patients on NIV and patients on IMV using propensity score matching analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred patients were included, mean age 73.8 years, mean SAPS II 49. The main cause of CS was acute myocardial infarction (AMI): 164 (54.7%). NIV failure occurred in 153 (51%) cases. Independent factors for NIV failure included D/E stages of CS, AMI, NIV related complications, and being transferred from the ward. In the propensity analysis, hospital mortality (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.09-2.63) and 1 year mortality (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.04-2.51) was higher in IMV. Mortality was lower with NIV (vs. EIT-IMV) in C stage (10.1% vs. 32.9%; p<0.001) but did not differ in D stage or E stage. CONCLUSIONS: NIV seems to be relatively effective and safe in the treatment of early-stage CS.

Is hypocapnia a risk factor for non-invasive ventilation failure in cardiogenic acute pulmonary edema?

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: The impact of hypocapnia in the prognosis of cardiogenic acute pulmonary edema (CAPE) has not been sufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to analyse whether hypocapnia is a risk factor for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) failure and hospital mortality, in CAPE patients CAPE. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of all patients with CAPE treated with NIV. Patients were classified in three groups according to PaCO2 level (hypocapnic, eucapnic and hypercapnic). NIV failure was defined as the need for endotracheal intubation and/or death. RESULTS: 1138 patients were analysed, 390 (34.3%) of which had hypocapnia, 186 (16.3%) had normocapnia and 562 (49.4%) had hypercapnia. NIV failure was more frequent in hypocapnic (60 patients, 15.4%) than in eucapnic (16 pacientes, 8.6%) and hypercapnic group (562 pacientes, 10.7%), with statistical significance (p = 0.027), as well as hospital mortality, 73 (18.7%), 19(10.2%) and 83 (14.8%) respectively (p = 0.026). The predicted factors for NIV failure were the presence of do-not-intubate order, complications related to NIV, a lower left ventricular ejection fraction, higher SAPS II and SOFA score and a higher HACOR score at one hour of NIV initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Hypocapnia in patients with CAPE is associated with NIV failure and a greater in-hospital mortality.

The Mitochondria and the Regulation of Cell Fitness During Early Mammalian Development.

From fertilization until the onset of gastrulation the early mammalian embryo undergoes a dramatic series of changes that converts a single fertilized cell into a remarkably complex organism. Much attention has been given to the molecular changes occurring during this process, but here we will review what is known about the changes affecting the mitochondria and how they impact on the energy metabolism and apoptotic response of the embryo. We will also focus on understanding what quality control mechanisms ensure optimal mitochondrial activity in the embryo, and in this way provide an overview of the importance of the mitochondria in determining cell fitness during early mammalian development.