Arterial stiffness assessment using PPG feature extraction and significance testing in an in vitro cardiovascular system.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, therefore understanding arterial stiffness is essential to developing innovative technologies to detect, monitor and treat them. The ubiquitous spread of photoplethysmography (PPG), a completely non-invasive blood-volume sensing technology suitable for all ages, highlights immense potential for arterial stiffness assessment in the wider healthcare setting outside specialist clinics, for example during routine visits to a General Practitioner or even at home with the use of mobile and wearable health devices. This study employs a custom-manufactured in vitro cardiovascular system with vessels of varying stiffness to test the hypothesis that PPG signals may be used to detect and assess the level of arterial stiffness under controlled conditions. Analysis of various morphological features demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) correlations with vessel stiffness. Particularly, area related features were closely linked to stiffness in red PPG signals, while for infrared PPG signals the most correlated features were related to pulse-width. This study demonstrates the utility of custom vessels and in vitro investigations to work towards non-invasive cardiovascular assessment using PPG, a valuable tool with applications in clinical healthcare, wearable health devices and beyond.

Utilidad del protocolo focused assessment with transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) en la evaluación del paciente con shock / The usefulness of the (FATE) protocol focused assessment with transthoracic echocardiography in patients with shock

Determinar la utilidad del protocolo FATE (Focused Assessment with Transthoracic Echocardiography) en la evaluación de los pacientes en shock. ingresados al Servicio de Cuidados Intermedios del Hospital Central Universitario Dr. "Antonio María Pineda", Barquisimeto, Venezuela en el período agosto-octubre 2019, Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal, de 30 pacientes, con promedio de edad de 56,86 ± 15,85 años, Resultados: predominó el grupo de 71-80 años (23,33%), de sexo masculino (63,33%). Según la clasificación del shock por Weil y Shubin el 50% presentó shock distributivo (todos por sepsis), 20% cardiogénico, 16,67% hipovolémico y obstructivo. 13,33% Los principales hallazgos ecocardiográficos fueron presencia de derrame pleural bilateral (33,33%), derrame pleural unilateral (30%) y derrame pericárdico (23,33%). Además, 26,67% presentaron espesor miocárdico patológico, 33,33% dimensiones de VD-VI aumentadas, 46,67% función sistólica ventricular alterada; sumado al hecho que 70% de la contractibilidad y 60% de la visualización pulmonar eran patológicas. El valor cualitativo del protocolo FATE resultó en: 43,33% soportaba la información disponible, 26,67% añadió información decisiva a la terapéutica, 23,33% agregó nueva información y 6,67% información fue pobre por mala ventana. La mortalidad a los 7 días fue de 43,33%, siendo más frecuente en pacientes con shock distributivo (61,54%), seguido de cardiogénico (23,08%) y obstructivo (15,38%), no hubo defunciones por shock hipovolémico. Los valores cualitativos del protocolo FATE en pacientes fallecidos; por shock distributivo 37,5%, soportó la información disponible y agregó nueva información, respectivamente. En cambio en 100% de los fallecidos por shock cardiogénico y obstructivo, el protocolo FATE añadió información decisiva a la terapéutica. Los resultados demuestran la importancia del Protocolo FATE en el manejo de pacientes con shock(AU)

To determine the usefulness of the FATE protocol (Focused Assessment with Transthoracic Echocardiography) in the evaluation of patients in shock admitted to the Intermediate Care Unit of the "University Hospital Antonio Maria Pineda" in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, during the period August-October 2019, Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done, selecting 30 patients, with an average age of 56.86 ± 15.85 years; the most affected group was 71-80 years old (23.33%), with a predominance of the male sex (63.33%) Results: According to the classification of shock by Weil and Shubin, 50% were found to have distributive shock (all due to sepsis), 20% cardiogenic, 16.67% hypovolemic and obstructive 13.33%. The main echocardiographic findings were the presence of bilateral pleural effusion (33.33%), unilateral pleural effusion (30%) and pericardial effusion (23.33%). In addition, 26.67% presented pathological myocardial thickness, 33.33% increased RV-LV dimensions, 46.67% impaired ventricular systolic function; also, 70% of contractibility and 60% of pulmonary visualization were pathological. The qualitative value of the FATE protocol resulted in: 43.33% supported the available information, 26.67% added decisive information to the therapy, 23.33% added new information and 6.67% information was poor due to a bad US window. (Mortality at 7 days was 43.33%, being more frequent in patients with distributive shock (61.54%), followed by cardiogenic (23.08%) and obstructive (15.38%); there were no deaths due to hypovolemic shock. The qualitative values of the FATE protocol in patients with distributive shock who died, was that 37.5% In contrast, in 100% of those who died by cardiogenic and obstructive shock, the FATE protocol added decisive information to the therapy. Conclusion:The results demonstrate the importance of the FATE Protocol in the management of patients with shock(AU)

Assessment of the prescription of red blood cell concentrates in the pediatric age group / Avaliação da prescrição de concentrados de hemácias na faixa etária pediátrica

Summary Objective: To verify the adequacy of red blood cell (RBC) prescription to pediatric patients in different sectors of a pediatric hospital. Method: A retrospective study was conducted including 837/990 RBC transfusion requisition forms for children and adolescents (0 to 13 years old) filed in between January 2007 and April 2015 by the pediatricians of the emergency room (ER), infirmary ward and intensive care unit (pICU). Transfusion requisition forms belonging to patients with chronic anemia or acute hemorrhage, as well as incompletes requisition forms, were excluded. Results: Trigger, prescribed volume and subtype of RBC concentrates were adequate in 532 (65.3%), 460 (58.8%) and 805 (96.2%) of the transfusions, respectively. When the clinical picture was considered, prescription adequacy was higher compared to the use of the hemoglobin level alone (70.9% vs. 41%). The pICU had the highest correct trigger percentage (343 [71.6%]; p<0.001) while the ER showed more often adequate prescribed volumes (119 [66.1%]; p=0.020). The most common inadequacy regarding volume was that of prescriptions above the recommendation > 15 mL/kg found in 309 cases (36.9%). Thirty-two (32) RBC subtypes were requested and none were consistent with current recommendations. Conclusion: The results obtained in our study showed that RBC transfusion occurred more appropriately when the clinical picture was taken into account at request. There was a tendency to prescribe higher volumes and RBC subtypes without the justification of current protocols. Hemotherapic teachings at undergraduate level and medical residency must be improved.

Resumo Objetivo: Verificar a adequação na prescrição de concentrado de hemácias (CH) por pediatras em diferentes setores de um hospital pediátrico. Método: Realizou-se estudo retrospectivo onde avaliamos 837/990 fichas de requisição de CH para crianças e adolescentes (0 a 13 anos), preenchidas entre janeiro de 2007 e abril de 2015 pelos médicos pediatras do pronto-socorro (PS), da enfermaria e da unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI). Excluíram-se as transfusões realizadas em portadores de anemia crônica, crianças com hemorragia aguda e requisições incompletas. Resultados: Gatilho, volume prescrito e subtipo de concentrado de hemácias foram adequados em 532 (65,3%), 460 (58,8%) e 805 (96,2%) das transfusões, respectivamente. Quando foi considerado o quadro clínico, a adequação foi maior em comparação à prescrição pelo valor isolado da hemoglobina (70,9% vs. 41%). A UTI teve o maior percentual de acerto no gatilho (343 [71,6%]; p<0,001) e o PS, no volume prescrito (119 [66,1%]; p=0,020). A inadequação mais comum, em relação ao volume, foi a prescrição acima da recomendação (> 15 mL/kg, 309 [36,9%]). Foram solicitados 32 subtipos de CH e nenhum estava de acordo com as indicações atuais. Conclusão: Os resultados obtidos mostram que a transfusão de CH aconteceu de forma mais adequada quando a situação clínica era levada em conta na solicitação. Houve uma tendência à prescrição de volumes elevados e de subtipos de hemácias não justificados segundo os protocolos atuais. É necessário melhorar o ensino de hemoterapia na graduação e residência médica.

The use of intraoperative autotransfusion as a second stage of autologous blood use in pediatric orthopaedic surgery

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of Intraoperative Autotransfusion (IAT) as a second stage in the use of autologous blood to reduce the need of allogeneic transfusions. We reviewed the medical records of 41 pediatric patients who underwent spinal fusion procedures from September 1991, to August 1993. Our experience with IAT started in August 1992. The group of patients was divided into those who only received preoperative donation autologous blood (53.6 percent) and those who received preoperative donation autologous blood and IAT(46.4 percent). The use of preoperative autologous blood donation in combination with IAT has proven to be a safe method of operative blood loss replacement in pediatric age patients. Exclusive use of autologous blood can reduce or eliminate transfusion reactions and exposure to transfusion transmitted agents and helps to increase the blood reserve at blood banks

Elasticidad y adaptabilidad cerebral: valoración por medio de la respuesta volumen/presión, producida por compresión yugular bilateral / Cerebral elasticity and adaptability: evaluation by means of the volume-pressure response produced by bilateral yugular vein compression

Se analizó la curva de presión intracraneal, obtenida al ocluir la circulación de retorno venosos cerebral, por compresión del sistema yugular, en función del tiempo en que se obtenía el máximo incremento de la presión intracraneal, así como el necesario para obtener nuevamente las cifras basales