The Use of Antifactor Xa Assays in a Comprehensive Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Anticoagulation Protocol is Associated with Increased Survival and Significant Blood Product Cost-Savings.

We augmented our standard extracorporeal membrane oxygenation laboratory protocol to include antifactor Xa assays, thromboelastography, and antithrombin measurements. We performed a retrospective chart review to determine outcomes for patients placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) prior to and after the initiation of our anticoagulation laboratory protocol. A total of 663 consecutive ECMO runs were evaluated from January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2018. Of these patients, 252 were on ECMO prior to initiation of the anticoagulation laboratory protocol on September 1, 2011, and 411 patients were on ECMO after initiation of the protocol. There were no major changes to our extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit or changes to our transfusion threshold during this continuous study period. Transfusion utilization data revealed statistically significant decreases in almost all blood components, and a savings in blood component inflation-adjusted acquisition costs of 31% bringing total blood product cost-savings to $309,905 per year. In addition, there was an increase in survival to hospital discharge from 45 to 56% associated with the initiation of the protocol ( p = 0.004). Our data indicate that implementation of a standardized ECMO anticoagulation protocol, which titrates unfractionated heparin infusions based on antifactor Xa assays, is associated with reduced blood product utilization, significant blood product cost savings, and increased patient survival. Future prospective evaluation is needed to establish an antifactor Xa assay-driven ECMO anticoagulation strategy as both clinically superior and cost-effective.

The gait profile score characterises walking performance impairments in young stroke survivors.

BACKGROUND: The Gait Profile Score (GPS) provides a composite measure of the quality of joint movement during walking, but the relationship between this measure and metabolic cost, temporal (e.g. walking speed) and spatial (e.g. stride length) parameters in stroke survivors has not been reported. RESEARCH QUESTION: The aims of this study were to compare the GPS (paretic, non-paretic, and overall score) of young stroke survivors to the healthy able-bodied control and determine the relationship between the GPS and metabolic cost, temporal (walking speed, stance time asymmetry) and spatial (stride length, stride width, step length asymmetry) parameters in young stroke survivors to understand whether the quality of walking affects walking performance in stroke survivors. METHODS: Thirty-nine young stroke survivors aged between 18 and 65years and 15 healthy age-matched able-bodied controls were recruited from six hospital sites in Wales, UK. Joint range of motion at the pelvis, hip, knee and ankle, and temporal and spatial parameters were measured during walking on level ground at self-selected speed with calculation of the Gait Variable Score and then the GPS. RESULTS: GPS for the paretic leg (9.40° (8.60-10.21) p < 0.001), non-paretic leg (11.42° (10.20-12.63) p < 0.001) and overall score (11.18° (10.26-12.09) p < 0.001)) for stroke survivors were significantly higher than the control (4.25° (3.40-5.10), 5.92° (5.11 (6.73)). All parameters with the exception of step length symmetry ratio correlated moderate to highly with the GPS for the paretic, non-paretic, and/or overall score (ρ = <-0.732 (p < 0.001)). SIGNIFICANCE: The quality of joint movement during walking measured via the GPS is directly related to the speed and efficiency of walking, temporal (stance time symmetry) and spatial (stride length, stride width) parameters in young stroke survivors.

Code status at time of rapid response activation - Impact on escalation of care?

BACKGROUND: A code status documents the decision to receive or forgo cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest. For patients who undergo a rapid response team activation (RRT) for possible escalation to an intensive care unit (ICU), the presence or absence of a code status represents a critical inflection point for guiding care decisions and resource utilization. This study characterizes the prevalence of code status at the time of RRT and how code status at RRT affects rates of intensive treatments in the ICU. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of 895 rapid response activations occurring over six months. The study included all rapid response team activations for non-obstetric adult inpatients documented in the patient chart. All data was obtained through retrospective chart review. STROBE reporting guidelines were followed. RESULTS: At the time of RRT activation, 56% of patients had a documented code status. Code status prevalence was much higher among medical rather than surgical services (74% vs. 13%). For patients escalated to the ICU, having a DNR code status at RRT was not associated with decreased odds of receiving cardioactive medications or advanced respiratory support. Before RRT activation, palliative care utilization was low (9%) but more than doubled after RRT (24% before discharge). CONCLUSIONS: Barely half of the patients had an active code status at the time of RRT activation. Similar rates of invasive ICU treatments among full code and DNR patients suggest that documented code statuses do not reflect in-depth goals of care discussions, nor does it guide medical teams caring for the patient at times of decompensation.

Return to Employment After Stroke in Young Adults: How Important Is the Speed and Energy Cost of Walking?

Background and Purpose- A quarter of individuals who experience a stroke are under the age of 65 years (defined as young adults), and up to 44% will be unable to return to work poststroke, predominantly because of walking difficulties. No research study has comprehensively analyzed walking performance in young adult's poststroke. The primary aim of this study is to investigate how a stroke in young adults affects walking performance (eg, walking speed and metabolic cost) compared with healthy age-matched controls. The secondary aim is to determine the predictive ability of walking performance parameters for return to employment poststroke. Methods- Forty-six individuals (18-40 years: n=6, 41-54 years: n=21, 55-65 years: n=19) who have had a stroke and 15 healthy age-matched able-bodied controls were recruited from 6 hospital sites in Wales, United Kingdom. Type, location, cause of stroke, and demographic factors (eg, employment status) were recorded. Temporal and spatial walking parameters were measured using 3-dimensional gait analysis. Metabolic energy expenditure and metabolic cost of walking were captured during 3 minutes of walking at self-selected speed from measurements of oxygen consumption. Results- Stroke participants walked slower (P<0.004) and less efficiently (P<0.002) than the controls. Only 23% of stroke participants returned to employment poststroke. Walking speed was the strongest predictor (sensitivity, 0.90; specificity, 0.82) for return to work (P=0.004) with a threshold of 0.93 m/s identified: individuals able to walk faster than 0.93 m/s were significantly more likely to return to work poststroke than those who walked slower than this threshold. Conclusions- This study is the first to capture walking performance parameters of young adults who have had a stroke and identifies slower and less efficient walking. Walking speed emerged as the strongest predictor for return to employment. It is recommended that walking speed be used as a simple but sensitive clinical indicator of functional performance to guide rehabilitation and inform readiness for return to work poststroke.