Role of ultrasound in the critical ill patient with ECMO.

Ultrasound is an essential diagnostic tool in critically ill patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). With it, we can make an anatomical and functional (cardiac, pulmonary and vascular) evaluation which allows us to execute an adequate configuration, guides implantation, helps clinical monitorization and detects complications, facilitates withdrawal and complete post-implant evaluation. In patients with ECMO as respiratory support (veno-venous), thoracic ultrasound allows monitoring pulmonary illness evolution and echocardiography the evaluation of biventricular function, especially right ventricle function, and cardiac output to optimize oxygen transport. In ECMO as circulatory support (veno-arterial), echocardiography is the guide of hemodynamic monitoring, allows detecting the most frequent complications and helps the weaning. In ECMO teams, for a proper management of these patients, there must be trained intensivists with advanced knowledge on this technique.

Papel de la ecografía en el paciente crítico con ECMO / Role of ultrasound in the critical ill patient with ECMO

La ecografía es un instrumento diagnóstico fundamental en el paciente crítico con membrana de oxigenación extracorpórea (ECMO). Con ella podemos hacer una evaluación anatómica y funcional (cardiaca, pulmonar y vascular) para plantear una adecuada configuración; además, guía su implante, ayuda en la monitorización clínica y la detección de complicaciones, facilita su retirada y completa la evaluación postimplante. En los pacientes con ECMO como soporte respiratorio (veno-venosa), la ecografía torácica permite monitorizar la evolución de la enfermedad pulmonar y la ecocardiografía la evaluación de la función biventricular, especialmente la derecha, y el gasto cardiaco para optimizar el transporte de oxígeno. En la ECMO como soporte circulatorio (veno-arterial), la ecocardiografía supone la guía de la monitorización hemodinámica, permite detectar las principales complicaciones y ayuda al destete del dispositivo. En los equipos ECMO, para un adecuado manejo de estos pacientes, debe haber intensivistas entrenados y con conocimientos avanzados sobre esta técnica. (AU)

Ultrasound is an essential diagnostic tool in critically ill patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). With it, we can make an anatomical and functional (cardiac, pulmonary and vascular) evaluation which allows us to execute an adequate configuration, guides implantation, helps clinical monitorization and detects complications, facilitates withdrawal and complete post-implant evaluation. In patients with ECMO as respiratory support (veno-venous), thoracic ultrasound allows monitoring pulmonary illness evolution and echocardiography the evaluation of biventricular function, especially right ventricle function, and cardiac output to optimize oxygen transport. In ECMO as circulatory support (veno-arterial), echocardiography is the guide of hemodynamic monitoring, allows detecting the most frequent complications and helps the weaning. In ECMO teams, for a proper management of these patients, there must be trained intensivists with advanced knowledge on this technique. (AU)

Ecografía abdominal básica en medicina intensiva y VExUS Score / Abdominal ultrasound and VExUS score in critical care

El uso de la ecografía en las unidades de críticos se ha extendido de forma exponencial en las últimas dos décadas y se ha convertido en una parte esencial de nuestra práctica clínica. La ecografía abdominal es una técnica ampliamente establecida en otras especialidades, pero su uso en cuidados intensivos ha quedado rezagado respecto a otras modalidades de ecografía. Sin embargo, su potencial papel en el diagnóstico y manejo de los pacientes lo convertirá en una herramienta invaluable para los intensivistas. El uso más extendido de la ecografía abdominal a pie de cama es para la valoración de la presencia de líquido libre en el paciente traumático. No obstante, la ecografía abdominal también puede ayudarnos a diagnosticar pacientes con dolor abdominal, hipovolemia o anuria, y puede guiarnos en procedimientos como la paracentesis o el sondaje vesical o gástrico. (AU)

The use of ultrasound while caring for critically ill patients has been increasing exponentially in the last two decades and now is an essential component of intensive care practice. Abdominal ultrasound is an established technique in other specialties, but its use in intensive care has lagged behind other ultrasound modalities. However, its potential role in the diagnosis and management of patients will make it an invaluable tool for intensivists. The main use of abdominal ultrasound at the bedside is for free fluid detection in trauma patients. But abdominal ultrasound can also help us diagnose patients with abdominal pain, hypovolemia or anuria, and it can guide us during procedures such as paracentesis or bladder catheter and gastric tube placement. (AU)

Genetic profile in patients with complicated acute aortic syndrome: the GEN-AOR study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Genetic testing is becoming increasingly important for diagnosis and personalized treatments in aortopathies. Here, we aimed to genetically diagnose a group of acute aortic syndrome (AAS) patients consecutively admitted to an intensive care unit and to explore the clinical usefulness of AAS-associated variants during treatment decision-making and family traceability. METHODS: We applied targeted next-generation sequencing, covering 42 aortic diseases genes in AAS patients with no signs consistent with syndromic conditions. Detected variants were segregated by Sanger sequencing in available family members. Demographic features, risk factors and clinical symptoms were statistically analyzed by Fisher or Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact tests, to assess their relationship with genetic results. RESULTS: Analysis of next-generation sequencing data in 73 AAS patients led to the detection of 34 heterozygous candidate variants in 14 different genes in 32 patients. Family screening was performed in 31 relatives belonging to 9 families. We found 13 relatives harboring the family variant, of which 10 showed a genotype compatible with the occurrence of AAS. Statistical tests revealed that the factors associated with a positive genetic diagnosis were the absence of hypertension, lower age, family history of AAS and absence of pain. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings broaden the spectrum of the genetic background for AAS. In addition, both index patients and studied relatives benefited from the results obtained, establishing the most appropriate level of surveillance for each group. Finally, this strategy could be reinforced by the use of stastistically significant clinical features as a predictive tool for the hereditary character of AAS. CLINICALTRIALS: gov (Identifier: NCT04751058).

Right Ventricular Assist Devices After Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Severe right ventricular failure (RVF) has a significant incidence among cardiac transplant patients. It is a serious complication and an independent risk factor for postoperative mortality. In this setting, ventricular assist devices (VADs) must be considered if conservative medical management fails. This study sought to examine our series of patients with early RVF after heart transplantation requiring VAD support. METHOD: We analyzed consecutive, adult heart transplant recipients at a third level intensive care unit who underwent transplantation from January 2011 to March 2019 requiring post-transplant mechanical circulatory support for RVF. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, complications, and survival rates were collected. RESULTS: Ten patients were included. Median age was 50 years (range, 31.7-57). Eight patients (80%) were male. The most frequent indication for heart transplantation was ischemic heart disease (4 patients) followed by dilated cardiomyopathy and congenital heart disease (2 patients). Preoperative pulmonary hypertension was present in 6 patients. Three patients required a VAD before transplant. Whole survival rate was 60%. After heart transplantation, 7 patients required renal replacement therapy, 2 patients suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, and 5 patients needed a tracheostomy for long-term ventilation. CONCLUSION: Patients who develop RVF after transplantation have an increased incidence of complications and high mortality after surgery. VADs could be implanted immediately after heart transplantation in high-risk patients.

Antibioterapia empírica tras una parada cardiaca reanimada / Empiric antibiotic therapy after cardiac arrest

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