THE INITIAL ION SHIFT INDEX AS A PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR TO PREDICT PATIENT SURVIVAL IN TRAUMATIC DAMAGE CONTROL LAPAROTOMY PATIENTS.

ABSTRACT: Objective: The ion shift index (ISI), which considers extracellular fluid ions such as phosphate, calcium, and magnesium, represents the ion shift following ischemia; concentrations of these ions are maintained within narrow normal ranges by adenosine triphosphate-dependent homeostasis. The ISI is defined as follows: {potassium (mmol/L-1) + phosphate (mmol/L-1) + Mg (mmol/L-1)}/calcium (mmol/L-1). This study investigated the possibility of predicting the 30-day survival rate of patients who underwent traumatic damage control laparotomy by comparing ISI and other laboratory findings, as well as the initial Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) and shock indices. Methods: Among the 134 patients who underwent damage control surgery between November 2012 and December 2021, 115 patients were enrolled in this study. Data regarding injury mechanism, age, sex, laboratory findings, vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Injury Severity Score, Abbreviated Injury Scale score, blood component transfusion, type of surgery, postoperative laboratory outcomes, morbidity, mortality rates, fluids administered, and volume of transfusions were collected and analyzed. Results: In univariate analysis, the odds ratio of the initial ISI was 2.875 (95% confidence interval, 1.52-5.43; P = 0.04), which showed a higher correlation with mortality compared with other indices. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were derived from different multivariable logistic regression models. The initial ISI had high sensitivity and specificity in predicting patient mortality (AUC, 0.7378). In addition, in the model combining the initial ISI, crystalloids, and TRISS, the AUC showed a high value (AUC, 0.8227). Conclusion: The ISI evaluated using electrolytes immediately after admission in patients undergoing traumatic damage control surgery may be a predictor of patient mortality.

Prediction of 6-Month Mortality Using Pre-Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Lactate in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Veno-Arterial-Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest is being established, and serum lactate is well known as a biomarker of end-organ perfusion. We evaluated the efficacy of pre-ECMO lactate for predicting 6-month survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing ECMO. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 148 patients who underwent veno-arterial (VA) ECMO for ACS between January 2015 and June 2020. These patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors based on 6-month survival. All clinical data before and during ECMO were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 66.0±10.5 years, and 116 (78.4%) were men. The total survival rate was 45.9% (n=68). Cox regression analysis showed that the pre-ECMO lactate level was an independent predictor of 6-month mortality (hazard ratio, 1.210; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.064-1.376; p=0.004). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of pre-ECMO lactate was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.56-0.72; p=0.002; cut-off value=9.8 mmol/L). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate at 6 months was significantly higher among patients with a pre-ECMO lactate level of 9.8 mmol/L or less than among those with a level exceeding 9.8 mmol/L (57.3% vs. 31.8%, p=0.0008). CONCLUSION: A pre-ECMO lactate of 9.8 mmol/L or less may predict a favorable outcome at 6 months in ACS patients undergoing VA-ECMO. Further research aiming to improve the accuracy of predictions of reversibility in patients with high pre-ECMO lactate levels is essential.

Association of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin with acute kidney injury and clinical outcome in cardiac arrest survivors depends on the time of measurement.

PURPOSE: The optimal timing for measurement of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) level to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) and prognosis in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors has not been elucidated. We aimed to compare the diagnostic and prognostic performance of NGAL levels after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and at 48 h after CA. METHODS: We included 231 adult cardiac arrest survivors who underwent targeted temperature management between May 2013 and December 2016. The primary outcome was stage 2 and 3 AKI (high stage AKI), and the secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and neurologic outcome. Sixty-one (26.4%) developed high stage AKI, 50 (21.6%) died, and 152 (65.8%) had a poor neurologic outcome. RESULTS: NGAL level at 48 h (0.876; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.826-0.916) had a higher area under receiver operating characteristic curve than NGAL level after ROSC (0.694; 95% CI, 0.631-0.753). Both NGAL levels were independently associated with high stage AKI. NGAL level at 48 h (1.001; 95% CI, 1.000-1.002) remained a significant predictor for in-hospital mortality, while neither of the NGAL levels were independently associated with neurologic outcome. CONCLUSIONS: NGAL at 48 h after CA seems to be a robust predictor for high stage AKI and in-hospital mortality.

Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Measured Immediately After Restoration of Spontaneous Circulation Predicts Acute Kidney Injury in Cardiac Arrest Survivors Who Underwent Therapeutic Hypothermia.

Early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac arrest (CA) is challenging. We aimed to identify the diagnostic and prognostic performance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) for AKI and its clinical outcomes. A retrospective observational study, involving adult comatose CA survivors treated with therapeutic hypothermia between May 2013 and December 2016, was conducted. AKI was classified according to the guidelines of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes. NGAL levels were measured after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The primary outcome was development of AKI within 7 days after CA, and the secondary outcome was inhospital mortality. The study included 279 patients, of which 111 (39.8%) developed AKI and 61 (21.9%) died. Thirty-seven (33.3%) of patients in the AKI group had stage 3 AKI, and 45 (40.5%) patients received renal replacement therapy. The area under the curve of NGAL levels for diagnosing AKI was 0.725 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.668-0.776), and NGAL levels were independently associated with the development of AKI (odds ratio [OR] 1.004; 95% CI 1.002-1.006). Nonsurvivors had significantly higher NGAL levels (221.0 ng/mL [154.0-355.5] vs. 148.5 ng/mL [97.0-232.9]; p < 0.001). The development of AKI was independently associated with mortality (OR 4.926; 95% CI 2.353-10.311); however, NGAL level was not associated with mortality (OR 1.000; 95% CI 0.999-1.001). Plasma NGAL level measured after ROSC can be an early predictor for the development of AKI after CA. The presence of AKI was associated with increased inhospital mortality.

Extracorporeal life support for cardiac arrest in a 13-year-old girl caused by Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Generally, Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome presents good prognosis. However, several case reports demonstrated malignant arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death as WPW syndrome's first presentation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation using extracorporeal life support is a therapeutic option in refractory cardiac arrest. We present a WPW syndrome patient who had sudden cardiac arrest as the first presentation of the disease and treated it using extracorporeal life support with good neurologic outcome.

Association between mean arterial blood gas tension and outcome in cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: Studies investigating the relationship between blood gas tension and outcome in cardiac arrest survivors have reported conflicting results. This might have resulted from the use of a blood gas value at a single time point and the difference in the proportion of patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). We investigated the association of the mean blood gas tensions calculated from blood gas values obtained between restoration of spontaneous circulation and end of TH with the outcome in cardiac arrest patients treated with TH. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study including 213 adult cardiac arrest patients. The cohort was divided into four categories based on the distribution of the mean Pao2 data using quartiles as cut-off values between categories. According to the mean Paco2, the cohort was divided into hypocarbia, normocarbia, and hypercarbia. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, the mean Pao2 quartile was not associated with in-hospital mortality, but hypocarbia was significantly associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.522; 95% confidence interval 1.184-5.372; P = .016). We found a V-shaped independent association between the mean Pao2 and poor neurologic outcome at hospital discharge, with the risk of poor neurologic outcome increasing with a descending and ascending Pao2 ranges. CONCLUSION: Mean Pao2 had no independent association with in-hospital mortality whereas hypocarbia was independently associated with in-hospital mortality. We also found a V-shaped independent association between the mean Pao2 and poor neurologic outcome at hospital discharge.

Rapid resolution of acute subdural hematoma in child with severe head injury: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Rapid spontaneous resolution of traumatic acute subdural hematoma is an infrequent phenomenon and mainly develops in a case of simple acute subdural hematoma without parenchymal contusion. However, it has been rarely reported in a pediatric case with severe initial head injury. CASE PRESENTATION: A 7-year-old Asian girl with traumatic acute subdural hematoma was transferred to our hospital for an emergency operation based on the results of an initial computed tomography scan and neurological examination. However, a repeat computed tomography scan two hours after trauma disclosed considerable reduction of the hematoma and midline shift with neurological improvements. Serial follow-up imaging studies demonstrated apparent redistribution of the hematoma over the cerebellar tentorium, posterior interhemispheric fissure and subarachnoid space. The patient was discharged with mild confusion 40 days after the admission. CONCLUSION: A follow-up computed tomography scan is strongly recommended before surgery when a child with a severe head injury presents with any sign of neurological improvement, especially with a mixed density hematoma on the initial computed tomography scan.

Potassium induced cardiac standstill during conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a pig model of prolonged ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest: a feasibility study.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Potassium-based cardioplegia has been the gold standard for cardioprotection during cardiac surgery. We sought to evaluate the feasibility and the effects of potassium-induced cardiac standstill during conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a pig model of prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF). METHODS: VF was induced in 20 pigs, and circulatory arrest was maintained for 14 min. Animals were then resuscitated by standard CPR. Coincident with the start of CPR, 20 ml of saline (control group) or 0.9 mequiv.kg(-1) of potassium chloride diluted to 20 ml (potassium group) was administered into right atrium. RESULTS: Administration of potassium resulted in asystole lasting for 1.0 min (0.2) in the potassium group animals. VF reappeared in all but one animal, in which wide QRS complex bradycardia followed. Restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was attained in two animals (20%) in the control group and in seven animals (70%) in the potassium group (p=0.070). Resuscitated animals in the potassium group required fewer countershocks (3, 4 vs. 2 (1-2)), smaller doses of adrenaline (1.84, 1.84 vs. 0.94 (0.90-1.00)mg), and shorter duration of CPR (8, 10 vs. 4.0 (4.0-4.0)min) than did the control group. Potassium concentrations normalised rapidly after ROSC in both groups, and the potassium concentrations at 5 min (5.5, 6.6 vs. 6.8 (6.5-7.8)mequiv.l(-1)) and 4h (4.9, 5.4 vs. 5.9 (5.1-6.4)mequiv.l(-1)) after ROSC were similar in the both groups. CONCLUSION: In a pig model of untreated VF cardiac arrest for 14 min, resuscitation with potassium-induced cardiac standstill during conventional CPR was found to be feasible.

Caustic injury: can CT grading system enable prediction of esophageal stricture?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to test the utility of our computed tomography (CT) grading system, compared with endoscopy, for association with the development of esophageal stricture in patients with caustic ingestion. METHODS: This retrospective case series involved 49 patients with caustic ingestion from 1998 to 2009. The degree of esophageal damage was graded using a scoring system based on the extent of esophageal wall edema and the damage in adjacent tissue as seen on thoracoabdominal CT scans. The presence of esophageal stricture was established by esophagography. Diagnostic performance was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the grading system. RESULTS: The CT grading score results showed that grade III was the most common injury (20 cases, 40.8%), followed by grade IV (14 cases, 28.6%), grade II (9 cases, 18.4%), and grade I (6 cases, 12.2%). In addition, damage to the esophagus was significantly correlated with esophageal stricture when the extent of damage approached grades III and IV (p < 0.001). The CT grading system for esophageal stricture resulted in a slightly larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.90) compared with endoscopic grading system (0.79). The sensitivity and specificity of CT grading system were moderately higher than those of endoscopic grading system. CONCLUSION: Assessment of the degree of esophageal damage using CT, a noninvasive modality, in patients who visit the emergency department following caustic ingestion should be useful in estimating the occurrence of complications including esophageal stricture.

Genetic alterations of Wnt signaling pathway-associated genes in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Recently, abnormal activation of the Wnt pathway has been found to be involved in the carcinogenesis of HCC. However, the relationship between genetic changes in the Wnt pathway-associated genes and its protein expression has not been studied in patients with HCC and cirrhotic nodules. The purpose of this study is to explore the contribution of inappropriate activation of the Wnt pathway in liver carcinogenesis. METHODS: Somatic mutation in exons 3-5 of AXIN1 and exon 3 of beta-catenin were analyzed by direct sequencing and expression of axin and beta-catenin proteins by immunohistochemistry in a series of 36 patients with HCC and cirrhosis. RESULTS: The AXIN1 and beta-catenin gene mutations were observed in 25% (9/36) and 2.8% (1/36) of HCCs, respectively. All mutations detected in AXIN1 and beta-catenin genes were missense point mutations. Abnormal nuclear expression of beta-catenin was observed in 11 of 36 cases of HCCs (30.6%), but not in cirrhotic nodules. Reduced or absent expression of axin was seen in 24 of 36 HCCs (66.7%). The abnormal expression of beta-catenin and axin proteins was closely correlated with mutations of AXIN1 and beta-catenin (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that mutation of AXIN1 gene is a frequent and late event for HCC associated with cirrhosis, and is correlated significantly with abnormal expression of axin and beta-catenin. Therefore, activation of Wnt signaling through AXIN1 rather than beta-catenin mutation might play an important role in liver carcinogenesis.