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Introduction: The presence of cerebral-cardiac syndrome, wherein brain diseases coincide with heart dysfunction, significantly impacts patient prognosis. In severe instances, circulatory failure may ensue, posing a life-threatening scenario necessitating immediate life support measures, particularly effective circulatory support methods. The application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is extensively employed as a valuable modality for delivering circulatory and respiratory support in the care of individuals experiencing life-threatening circulatory and respiratory failure. This approach facilitates a critical temporal window for subsequent interventions. Consequently, ECMO has emerged as a potentially effective life support modality for patients experiencing severe circulatory failure in the context of cerebral-cardiac syndrome. However, the existing literature on this field of study remains limited. Case description: In this paper, we present a case study of a patient experiencing a critical cerebral-cardiac syndrome. The individual successfully underwent veno-arterial-ECMO (VA-ECMO) therapy, and the patient not only survived, but also received rehabilitation treatment, demonstrating its efficacy as a life support intervention. Conclusion: VA-ECMO could potentially serve as an efficacious life support modality for individuals experiencing severe circulatory failure attributable to cerebral-cardiac syndrome.
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Background: Pulmonary embolism is a condition of right cardiac dysfunction due to pulmonary circulation obstruction. Malignant tumor-induced pulmonary embolism, which has a poor therapeutic outcome and a significant impact on hemodynamics, is the cause of sudden death in patients with malignant tumors. Case description: A 38-year-old female patient, who had a medical history of right renal hamartoma, and right renal space-occupying lesion, was admitted to the hospital. During the procedure to resect the right renal malignancy, the blood pressure and end-tidal carbon dioxide level dropped, and a potential pulmonary embolism was considered as a possibility. After inferior vena cava embolectomy, the hemodynamics in the patient remained unstable. The successful establishment of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) resulted in the stabilization of her hemodynamics and ventilation. On Day 2 of VA-ECMO support, her respiration and hemodynamics were relatively stable, and ECMO assistance was successfully terminated following the "pump-controlled retrograde trial off (PCRTO)" test on Day 6. The patient improved gradually after the procedure and was discharged from the hospital after 22 days. Conclusion: VA-ECMO can be used as a transitional resuscitation technique for patients with massive pulmonary embolism. It is critical for the perfusion of vital organs and can assist with surgical or interventional treatment, lower right heart pressure, and hemodynamic stability. VA-ECMO has a significant impact on patient prognosis and can reduce the mortality rate.
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BACKGROUND: The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised concerns regarding its potential impact on male reproductive health. However, the impact of COVID-19 on sperm quality remains uncertain. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the short-term and relatively long-term effects of COVID-19 infection on sperm quality. METHODS: A total of 85 males with fertility requirements, who underwent semen evaluation at Guilin People's Hospital between June 2022 and July 2023, were included in the study. Changes in semen parameters were analyzed across three specific timeframes: within 6 months before COVID-19 infection, within 3 months after COVID-19 infection, and 3-6 months after COVID-19 recovery. RESULTS: The results revealed that the sperm concentration and total sperm number were significantly lower after infection compared to before, while in the recovery period, the sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive motility, and normal morphology significantly increased. Comparing the three periods, the most significant difference was observed in sperm concentration, which exhibited a significant decrease after infection but returned to normal levels after recovery from COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that COVID-19 may exert some impact on sperm quality, particularly evidenced by decreased sperm concentration post-infection. Fortunately, these effects on semen parameters appear to be temporary, with gradual restoration of semen parameters within 3-6 months after recovery. However, further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and long-term implications of these observed changes in semen parameters.