Hyperoxia Is Not Associated With 30-day Survival in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients Who Undergo Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Introduction: The appropriate arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between hyperoxia and 30-day survival in patients who underwent ECPR. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2010 and December 2018. OHCA patients who underwent ECPR were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were (1) age <18 years, (2) death within 24 h after admission, (3) return of spontaneous circulation at hospital arrival, and (4) hypoxia (PaO2 < 60 mmHg) 24 h after admission. Based on PaO2 at 24 h after admission, patients were classified into normoxia (60 mmHg ≤ PaO2 ≤ 100 mmHg), mild hyperoxia (100 mmHg < PaO2 ≤ 200 mmHg), and severe hyperoxia (PaO2 > 200 mmHg) groups. The primary outcome was 30-day survival after cardiac arrest, while the secondary outcome was 30-day favorable neurological outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for 30-day survival or 30-day favorable neurological outcome was performed using multiple propensity scores as explanatory variables. To estimate the multiple propensity score, we fitted a multinomial logistic regression model using the patients' demographic, pre-hospital, and in-hospital characteristics. Results: Of the patients who underwent ECPR in the study center, 110 were eligible for the study. The normoxia group included 29 cases, mild hyperoxia group included 46 cases, and severe hyperoxia group included 35 cases. Mild hyperoxia was not significantly associated with survival, compared with normoxia as the reference (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval: 0.30-3.68; p = 0.93). Severe hyperoxia was also not significantly associated with survival compared to normoxia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval: 0.27-4.12; p = 0.94). Furthermore, no association was observed between oxygenation and 30-day favorable neurological outcomes. Conclusions: There was no significant association between hyperoxia at 24 h after admission and 30-day survival in OHCA patients who underwent ECPR.

Effectiveness of public-access automated external defibrillators at Tokyo railroad stations.

AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of public-access automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at Tokyo railroad stations. METHODS: We analysed data from a population-based registry of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Tokyo, Japan (2014-2018). We identified patients aged ≥18 years who experienced bystander-witnessed cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation of presumed cardiac origin at railroad stations. The primary outcome was survival at 1 month after cardiac arrest with favourable neurological outcomes (cerebral performance category 1-2). RESULTS: Among 280 eligible patients who had bystander-witnessed cardiac arrest and received defibrillation at railroad stations, 245 patients (87.5%) received defibrillation using public-access AEDs and 35 patients (12.5%) received defibrillation administered by emergency medical services (EMS). Favourable neurological outcomes at 1 month after cardiac arrest were significantly more common in the group that received defibrillation using public-access AEDs (50.2% vs. 8.6%; adjusted odds ratio: 11.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.43-88.4) than in the group that received defibrillation by EMS. Over a 5-year period, favourable neurological outcomes at 1 month after cardiac arrest of 101.9 cases (95% confidence interval: 74.5-129.4) were calculated to be solely attributable to public-access AED use. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio to gain one favourable neurological outcome obtained from public-access AEDs at railroad stations was lower than that obtained from nationwide deployment (48.5 vs. 2133.4 AED units). CONCLUSION: Deploying public-access AEDs at Tokyo railroad stations presented significant benefits and cost-effectiveness. Thus, it may be prudent to prioritise metropolitan railroad stations in public-access defibrillation programs.

A sporadic COVID-19 pneumonia treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in Tokyo, Japan: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: An ongoing outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) has become a global threat. While clinical reports from China to date demonstrate that the majority of cases remain relatively mild and recover with supportive care, it is also crucial to be well prepared for severe cases warranting intensive care. Initiating appropriate infection control measures may not always be achievable in primary care or in acute-care settings. CASE: A 45-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit due to severe pneumonia, later confirmed as COVID-19. His initial evaluation in the resuscitation room and treatments in the intensive care unit was performed under droplet and contact precaution with additional airborne protection using the N95 respirator mask. He was successfully treated in the intensive care unit with mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory support; and antiretroviral treatment with lopinavir/ritonavir. His total intensive care unit stay was 15 days and was discharged on hospital day 24. CONCLUSIONS: Strict infection control precautions are not always an easy task, especially under urgent care in an intensive care unit. However, severe cases of COVID-19 pneumonia, or another novel infectious disease, could present at any moment and would be a continuing challenge to pursue appropriate measures. We need to be well prepared to secure healthcare workers from exposure to infectious diseases and nosocomial spread, as well as to provide necessary intensive care.

Left ventricular wall findings in non-electrocardiography-gated contrast-enhanced computed tomography after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported left ventricular wall findings in contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). This study examined left ventricular wall CE-CT findings after ECPR and evaluated the association between these findings and the results of coronary angiography and prognosis. METHODS: We evaluated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who were treated with ECPR and subsequently underwent both non-electrocardiography-gated CE-CT and coronary angiography at our center between January 2011 and April 2018. Left ventricular wall CE-CT findings were classified as follows: (1) homogeneously enhanced (HE; the left ventricular wall was homogeneously enhanced), (2) segmental defect (SD; the left ventricular wall was not segmentally enhanced according to the coronary artery territory), (3) total defect (TD; the entire left ventricular wall was not enhanced), and (4) others. Successful weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, survival to hospital discharge, and predictive ability of significant stenosis on coronary angiography were compared among patients with HE, SD, and TD patterns. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients (median age, 59 years) were eligible, 50 (68%) of whom had initial shockable rhythm. Twenty-three (31%) patients survived to hospital discharge. HE, SD, TD, and other patterns were observed in 19, 33, 11, and 11 patients, respectively. The rates of successful weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (84% vs. 39% vs. 9%, p < 0.01) and survival to hospital discharge (47% vs. 27% vs. 0%, p = 0.02) were significantly different among patients with HE, SD, and TD patterns. In post hoc analysis, patients with HE patterns had a significantly higher success rate of weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation than those with SD and TD patterns. SD predicted significant stenosis with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 94%. CONCLUSIONS: Homogenously enhanced left ventricular wall might be a predictor of good left ventricular function recovery. In contrast, total enhancement defect in the entire left ventricular wall was associated with poor outcomes. Contrast defect matching the coronary artery territory could predict significant coronary artery stenosis with good specificity. The left ventricular wall findings in non-electrocardiography-gated CE-CT after ECPR might be useful for diagnosis and prognostic prediction.

Large Volume Fluid Resuscitation for Severe Acute Pancreatitis is Associated With Reduced Mortality: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although fluid resuscitation is critical in acute pancreatitis, the optimal fluid volume is unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between the volume of fluid administered and clinical outcomes in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study at 44 institutions in Japan. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older, and diagnosed with SAP from 2009 to 2013. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: administered fluid volume <6000 and ≥6000 mL in the first 24 hours. We evaluated the association between the 2 groups and clinical outcomes using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of pancreatic infection and the need for surgical intervention. RESULTS: We analyzed 1097 patients, and the mean fluid volume administered was 5618±3018 mL (mean±SD), with 708 and 389 patients stratified into the fluid <6000 mL and fluid ≥6000 mL groups, respectively. Overall in-hospital mortality was 12.3%. The fluid ≥6000 mL group had significantly higher mortality than the fluid <6000 mL group (univariable analysis, 15.9% vs. 10.3%; P<0.05). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, administration of ≥6000 mL of fluid within the first 24 hours was significantly associated with reduced mortality (odds ratio, 0.58; P<0.05). No significant association was found between the administered fluid volume and pancreatic infection, or between the volume administered and the need for surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SAP, administration of a large fluid volume within the first 24 hours is associated with decreased mortality.

[Case of MMF monotherapy for membranous nephropathy].

We report the case of a 58-year-old male patient who visited our hospital for the management of edema and proteinuria. He was diagnosed as having nephrotic syndrome, with serum total protein and albumin levels of 4.6 g/dL and 2.1 g/dL, respectively, and a urinary protein excretion level of 6.0 g/day. A percutaneous renal biopsy showed features of membranous glomerulonephritis, with capillary-wall granular deposits of IgG and C3 on immunofluorescence and subepithelial immune complex deposits on electron microscopy. No other secondary cause of membranous glomerulopathy was found even after extensive investigations. The patient was started on mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) monotherapy (1,500 mg/day), and 18 months after the start of this therapy, the proteinuria decreased to 0.5 g/day, with return to a normal serum albumin level. No digestive symptoms, kidney function worsening or increase in blood pressure were noted during treatment. These findings suggest that MMF monotherapy is effective and safe for the treatment of membranous nephropathy.