Systolic aortic pressure-time area is a useful index describing arterial wave properties in rats with diabetes.

The accurate measurement of arterial wave properties in terms of arterial wave transit time (τw) and wave reflection factor (Rf) requires simultaneous records of aortic pressure and flow signals. However, in clinical practice, it will be helpful to describe the pulsatile ventricular afterload using less-invasive parameters if possible. We investigated the possibility of systolic aortic pressure-time area (PTAs), calculated from the measured aortic pressure alone, acting as systolic workload imposed on the rat diabetic heart. Arterial wave reflections were derived using the impulse response function of the filtered aortic input impedance spectra. The cardiovascular condition in the rats with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes was characterized by (1) an elevation in PTAs; and (2) an increase in Rf and decrease in τw. We found that an inverse linear correlation between PTAs and arterial τw reached significance (τw = 38.5462 - 0.0022 × PTAs; r = 0.7708, P < 0.0001). By contrast, as the PTAs increased, the reflection intensity increased: Rf = -0.5439 + 0.0002 × PTAs; r = 0.8701; P <0 .0001. All these findings suggested that as diabetes stiffened aortas, the augmented aortic PTAs might act as a useful index describing the diabetes-related deterioration in systolic ventricular workload.

Reducing the burden of morbidity and medical utilization of older patients by outpatient geriatric services: implications to primary health-care settings.

AIM: That geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) is associated with better quality of care for elderly patients has been reported by previous studies, but evidence supporting that GEM can reduce the burden of morbidity (BOM) was lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of outpatient GEM on reducing BOM and medical utilization in Taiwan. METHODS: Data of this retrospective case-control study were obtained from the 2004-2006 Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Patients who attended the outpatient GEM program for over 6 months in a tertiary medical center in 2005 were enrolled as the case group, and a 1:5 age and gender-matched control group was formed by randomly-selected patients from the same medical center for comparisons. BOM was obtained by applying the Adjusted Clinical Group (ACG) program, and medical utilization variables were totalled for each patient from the NHIRD. Patients were further reassigned to two morbidity categories, the low (resource utilization bands ≤ 3) and high (resource utilization bands > 3) morbidity category, according to their degree of morbidity before statistical analyses. RESULTS: Data of 4254 elderly patients (709 cases, 3545 controls) were included in the study. BOM and medical utilization were increased in both groups in both morbidity categories during the study period. However, the growth of BOM, total medical expenditure, number of emergency department visit, and days and expenditure of hospitalization were significantly reduced in the case than the control group in the low morbidity category, not the high morbidity category. CONCLUSION: Outpatient GEM could effectively reduce growth of BOM and medical utilization for relatively healthy elderly patients in Taiwan where elderly patients have relatively free access to general and specialty care. The results of this study implied the potential benefits of systematically implementing GEM in primary health-care settings to improve the quality of care and slow down the growth of BOM for elderly patients.

Prospective randomized study of efficacy of 1-day versus 3-day antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing surgical site infection after coronary artery bypass graft.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Despite general recommendation of short-course antibiotic prophylaxis, prolonged antibiotic use is still commonly reported in clinical settings. This study compared the efficacy of 1-day versus 3-day antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). METHODS: This prospective, randomized control study was performed in a tertiary-care medical center from June 2002 to April 2004. Patients underwent non-emergency CABG and were randomized into two groups receiving either 1 day or 3 days cefazolin prophylaxis. The SSI rates were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: During the study period, 231 patients were enrolled, 120 in the 1-day group and 111 in the 3-day group. Twenty-two episodes of SSI were observed within 1 month after operation: 13 (10.8%) in the 1-day group and nine (8.1%) in the 3-day group (odds ratio: 1.37; 95% confidence interval: 0.56-3.33; p = 0.48). By logistic regression analysis, 1-day prophylaxis with cefazolin was not associated with higher risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio: 0.91; 95% confidence interval: 0.32-2.56; p = 0.85). CONCLUSION: Antibiotic prophylaxis for 1 day in CABG surgery was associated with similar rates of postoperative infection compared with antibiotic prophylaxis of 3 days.

Therapeutic angiogenesis of human early endothelial progenitor cells is enhanced by thrombomodulin.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of thrombomodulin (TM) domains 2 and 3 (TMD23) on human early endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). METHODS AND RESULTS: TM was expressed and released by human EPCs cultured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Addition of TMD23 (100 ng/mL) to the cultured PBMCs increased the colony-forming units, chemotactic motility, matrix metalloproteinase activity, and interleukin-8 secretion but decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) release. Analysis of the signal pathway showed that TMD23 activated Akt. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-Akt blocked the effects of TMD23 on chemotactic motility, matrix metalloproteinase-9, interleukin-8, and TNF-α. In hindlimb ischemia mice, laser Doppler perfusion imaging of the ischemic limb during the 21 days after arterial ligation showed that the perfusion recovered best with intraperitoneal infusion of TMD23 plus local injection of early EPCs, followed by either infusion of TMD23 or injection of the cells. Animals without either treatment had the worst results. Animals treated with TMD23 also had lower circulating and tissue levels of TNF-α. CONCLUSION: TM is expressed and released by human circulating EPCs. Exogenous TMD23 enhances the angiogenic potential of early EPCs in vitro through activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-Akt pathway. Coadministration of TMD23 plus early EPCs augments therapeutic angiogenesis of the EPCs in ischemic tissues.

Comparing the survival between extracorporeal rescue and conventional resuscitation in adult in-hospital cardiac arrests: propensity analysis of three-year data.

AIM: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has been shown to have survival benefit over conventional CPR (CCPR) in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac origin. We compared the survival of patients who had return of spontaneous beating (ROSB) after ECPR with the survival of those who had return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after conventional CPR. METHODS: Propensity score-matched cohort of adults with in-hospital prolonged CPR (>10min) of cardiac origin in a university-affiliated tertiary extracorporeal resuscitation center were included in this study. Fifty-nine patients with ROSB after ECPR and 63 patients with sustained ROSC by CCPR were analyzed. Main outcome measures were survival at hospital discharge, 30 days, 6 months, and one year, and neurological outcome. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in survival to discharge (29.1% of ECPR responders vs. 22.2% of CCPR responders, p=0.394) and neurological outcome at discharge and one year later. In the propensity score-matched groups, 9 out of 27 ECPR patients survived to one month (33.3%) and 7 out of 27 CCPR patients survived (25.9%). Survival analysis showed no survival difference (HR: 0.856, p=0.634, 95% CI: 0.453-1.620) between the groups, either at 30 days or at the end of one year (HR: 0.602, p=0.093, 95% CI: 0.333-1.088). CONCLUSIONS: This study failed to demonstrate a survival difference between patients who had ROSB after institution of ECMO and those who had ROSC after conventional CPR. Further studies evaluating the role of ECMO in conventional CPR rescued patients are warranted.

Why is the surgical ventricular restoration operation effective for ischemic cardiomyopathy? Geometric analysis with magnetic resonance imaging of changes in regional ventricular function after surgical ventricular restoration.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical improvement after a surgical ventricular restoration for ischemic cardiomyopathy is increasingly accepted by clinicians, but the mechanism is not completely understood. METHODS: Ten patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent detailed magnetic resonance imaging for ventricular function before and 6 weeks after surgical ventricular restoration. Surgical procedures included combinations of coronary artery bypass grafting, restrictive mitral annuloplasty, and endoventricular patch plasty. Magnetic resonance imaging analysis included quantification of global and regional systolic function. Anterior and posterior left ventricular regions were divided by an imaginary plane (C-plane) determined from anterior mitral point and both papillary roots. RESULTS: Global stroke volume index increased from 28.8 +/- 4.9 mL/m(2) to 36.5 +/- 8.6 mL/m(2) after surgical ventricular restoration (P = .010) and seemed more related to increased posterior stroke volume index (15.9 +/- 4.3 mL/m(2) preoperatively, 21.8 +/- 3.9 mL/m(2) postoperatively, P = .001) than to changed anterior stroke volume index (15.9 +/- 4.4 mL/m(2) preoperatively, 18.2 +/- 6.9 mL/m(2) postoperatively, P = .369). C-plane area decreased only a little in diastole (37.7 +/- 8.3 cm(2) preoperatively, 32.9 +/- 5.9 cm(2) postoperatively, P = .119) but significantly in systole (31.5 +/- 9.4 cm(2) preoperatively, 23.7 +/- 7.6 cm(2) postoperatively, P = .023). This indicates functional recovery of border zone by restrictive endoventricular patch plasty. CONCLUSION: Rebuilding geometric normality by surgical ventricular restoration improves contractility of myocardium in border-zone and remote regions, resulting in increased stroke volume index from the posterior left ventricle.

Selective medical treatment of infected aneurysms of the aorta in high risk patients.

BACKGROUND: Infected aneurysm of the aorta is almost always fatal without undergoing aortic resection. Medical treatment was attempted selectively in patients who were considered too high risk for surgery. We review our experience with 22 patients treated without undergoing aortic resection over 12 years. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 2007, 22 cases of infected aortic aneurysms treated without undergoing aortic resection during the first admission were included. There were 17 men with a median age of 76 years (range, 35 to 88 years). Of 18 pathogens isolated, the most common responsible microorganism was nontyphoid Salmonella in 11 followed by Staphylococcus aureus in five. The site of infection was thoracic in eight and abdominal in 14. The hospital mortality rate was 50%, and the aneurysm-related mortality rate after long-term follow-up was 59%. The event-free survival rate at one year was 32%. Of 11 patients with Salmonella infection, eight patients have lived beyond 30 days and six were event-free after one year. Of 11 patients with non-Salmonella, four patients have lived beyond 30 days and only one was event-free after one year. The overall aneurysm-related mortality rate was 36% in Salmonella infected patients and 82% in non-Salmonella infected patients. CONCLUSION: Clinical results of medical treatment using current antibiotics in patients with infected aortic aneurysm were poor. Traditional surgical excision of infected aortic aneurysms with revascularization remains the gold standard and should be attempted except in high risk patients.

Atrial gap junctions, NF-kappaB and fibrosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: the relationship with postoperative atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the role of atrial gap junctions, NF-kappaB and fibrosis in the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: Forty-five patients with sinus rhythm were randomly assigned to the beating heart (n = 22) or cardioplegic cardiac arrest (n = 23) technique for surgery. Of them, 14 patients experienced post-CABG AF. Atrial samples taken before and after CABG surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: During surgery, Cx43 and Cx40 proteins were significantly reduced (both p < 0.05) in the arrested heart group, but only mildly decreased in the beating heart group. However, the change of either connexin was not associated with AF. In contrast, patients with AF had a higher baseline expression of NF-kappaB and more fibrosis compared to those without AF (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CABG surgery with the beating heart technique attenuated the reduction of atrial Cx43 and Cx40 compared to the cardioplegic cardiac arrest technique. Atrial inflammation and fibrosis status before surgery, but not the changes of connexins during surgery, were associated with the occurrence of post-CABG AF.

Nontyphoid Salmonella infection in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: There are only a few reported series of nontyphoid Salmonella infection in renal transplant recipients. Data are scarce in heart transplant recipients. This article described our experience with nontyphoid Salmonella infection in heart transplant recipients and reviewed the literature. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. Data were compared with previously reported series in renal transplant recipients. RESULTS: Of the 265 patients undergoing heart transplantation from 1987 to 2005, 4 patients (1.5%) had infection caused by nontyphoid Salmonella. All patients were male, aged ranging from 2 to 62 years. None of them had a history of acute rejection before the occurrence of Salmonella infection. The time interval between transplantation and the Salmonella infection ranged from 0 day to 17 months. Gastrointestinal salmonellosis occurred in 1 patient and bloodstream infection in 3 patients. Intravenous ceftriaxone was given in 3 bacteremic patients. One patient died after 6 days of septic shock. For nontyphoid Salmonella serogroups, 2 cases were group D and 2 cases were group C. Ciprofloxacin resistance was present in 1 of 4 Salmonella isolates. There was no recurrence in 3 survivors. Compared with previous reported cases in renal transplantation, patients with heart transplantation had low rates of urinary tract infection and recurrence. The mortality rate was 25% in heart transplant recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Nontyphoid Salmonella infection in heart transplant recipients occurred in the early posttransplant period. A significant number of patients had bloodstream infection. Although the mortality rate was high, there was no recurrence in survivors.

Simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation from a single donor.

OBJECTIVE: There are no guidelines to establish the indications and contraindications for a simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation. We report our single-institutional experience with simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 2006, 13 patients with co-existing end-stage heart and renal failure underwent simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation at the authors' hospital. Heart failure was secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy in five patients, ischemic cardiomyopathy in three, cardiac allograft vasculopathy in two, and congenital heart disease, cardiac allograft failure, and acute myocarditis each in one. Renal failure was secondary to glomerulonephritis in six patients, heart failure in two, cyclosporine nephropathy in three, hypertension in one, and systemic lupus erythematosus in one. Eight patients were in UNOS status IA and five patients in UNOS status II before transplantation. The 30-day mortality rate and in-hospital mortality rate were 15% and 38%. Of eight patients in UNOS status IA, seven patients have lived beyond 30 days and three (38%) beyond 1 year. Of five patients in UNOS status II, four patients have lived beyond 30 days and four (80%) beyond 1 year. Patients in UNOS status IA had high rates of previous cardiac surgery, cardiac allograft rejection, and major renal allograft complications. CONCLUSIONS: Although simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation continues to be a viable option for patients with co-existing end-stage heart and renal failure, the results do not match those of isolated heart transplantation. The clinical outcomes were not satisfactory in UNOS status IA patients with previous cardiac surgery.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support can extend the duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to estimate how long cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be extended with acceptable results. DESIGN: Review of consecutive adult in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation patients without return of spontaneous circulation in 10 mins and with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation rescue, and analysis of the relationship between outcome and cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration and possible etiologies. The data were collected following the Utstein style guidelines on in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Two organ dysfunction scores were incorporated into the analysis for outcome prediction. SETTING: A university-affiliated tertiary referral medical center and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center. PATIENTS: An observational cohort study in 135 consecutive adult in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation patients without return of spontaneous circulation who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. MAIN RESULTS: The average cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration was 55.7 +/- 27.0 mins and 56.3% of patients received subsequent interventions to treat underlying etiologies. The successful weaning rate was 58.5% and the survival-to-discharge rate was 34.1%. The majority of survivors (89%) had an acceptable neurologic status on discharge. Risk factors for hospital mortality included longer cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration, etiology of acute coronary syndrome, and a higher organ dysfunction score in the first 24 hrs. Logistic regression analysis revealed the probability of survival was approximately 0.5, 0.3, or 0.1 when the duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation was 30, 60, or 90 mins, respectively. CONCLUSION: Assisted circulation might extend the presently accepted duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adult in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation patients.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation with assisted extracorporeal life-support versus conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest: an observational study and propensity analysis.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal life-support as an adjunct to cardiac resuscitation has shown encouraging outcomes in patients with cardiac arrest. However, there is little evidence about the benefit of the procedure compared with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), especially when continued for more than 10 min. We aimed to assess whether extracorporeal CPR was better than conventional CPR for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac origin. METHODS: We did a 3-year prospective observational study on the use of extracorporeal life-support for patients aged 18-75 years with witnessed in-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac origin undergoing CPR of more than 10 min compared with patients receiving conventional CPR. A matching process based on propensity-score was done to equalise potential prognostic factors in both groups, and to formulate a balanced 1:1 matched cohort study. The primary endpoint was survival to hospital discharge, and analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00173615. FINDINGS: Of the 975 patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest events who underwent CPR for longer than 10 min, 113 were enrolled in the conventional CPR group and 59 were enrolled in the extracorporeal CPR group. Unmatched patients who underwent extracorporeal CPR had a higher survival rate to discharge (log-rank p<0.0001) and a better 1-year survival than those who received conventional CPR (log rank p=0.007). Between the propensity-score matched groups, there was still a significant difference in survival to discharge (hazard ratio [HR] 0.51, 95% CI 0.35-0.74, p<0.0001), 30-day survival (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.28-0.77, p=0.003), and 1-year survival (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33-0.83, p=0.006) favouring extracorporeal CPR over conventional CPR. INTERPRETATION: Extracorporeal CPR had a short-term and long-term survival benefit over conventional CPR in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac origin.

Heart transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: Liver cirrhosis is considered to be a contraindication to heart transplantation. However, the clinical outcome of heart transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis has not been reported. Here, we sought to evaluate the clinical outcome of heart transplantation in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: Data were collected by retrospective chart review. Patients with liver cirrhosis at the time of transplantation were included. RESULTS: Between 1987 and 2007, 12 patients with liver cirrhosis underwent heart transplantation at the authors' hospital. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on preoperative abdominal sonography in five, autopsy in five, and laparotomy in two patients. Causes of heart failure were dilated cardiomyopathy in four, coronary artery disease in three, congenital heart disease in three and valvular heart disease in two patients. Causes of liver cirrhosis were alcoholism in two, cardiac in seven, and unknown in three patients. The Child classification was class A in three, class B in five and class C in four patients. Overall, the hospital mortality rate was 50% and major in-hospital complications occurred in nine patients (75%). Patients with non-cardiomyopathy diagnosis, previous sternotomy, and massive ascites had a high hospital mortality rate. The median follow-up duration was 33.5 months. There was no late death. Late post-transplant complications occurred in four patients and there was no event of liver dysfunction. All survivors were in Child class A at outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was high mortality and morbidity, patients with end-stage heart failure and liver cirrhosis can be considered for heart transplantation with careful case selection.

Certainties and uncertainties facing emerging respiratory infectious diseases: lessons from SARS.

Every emerging infectious disease is a challenge to the whole of mankind. There are uncertainties regarding whether there will be a pandemic, if it will be caused by the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus, when or where it will occur, how imminent or how severe it will be. No one can accurately predict if and when a given virus will become a pandemic virus. Pandemic prevention strategies must be based on preparing for the unexpected and being capable of reacting accordingly. There is growing evidence that infection control measures were helpful in containment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) as well as avian influenza. Compliance of standard infection control measures, intensive promotion of hand and respiratory hygiene, vigilance and triage of patients with febrile illness, and specific infection control measures are key components to contain a highly contagious disease in hospital and to protect healthcare workers, patients and visitors. The importance of standard precautions for any patient and cleaning and disinfection for the healthcare environment cannot be overemphasized. SARS illustrated dramatically the potential of air travel and globalization for the dissemination of an emerging infectious disease. To prevent the potential serious consequences of pandemic influenza, timely implementation of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions locally within the outbreak area is the key to minimizing global spread. Herein, we relate our perspective on useful lessons derived from a review of the SARS epidemic that may be useful to physicians, especially when looking ahead to the next epidemic.

Impact of adding video communication to dispatch instructions on the quality of rescue breathing in simulated cardiac arrests--a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Both ventilations and compressions are important for victims of prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and asphyxial arrest. Dispatch assistance increases bystander CPR, but the quality of dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR), especially rescue breathing, remains unsatisfactory. This study was conducted to assess the impact of adding interactive video communication to dispatch instructions on the quality of rescue breathing in simulated cardiac arrests. METHODS: In this simulation-based study, adults without CPR training within 5 years were recruited between April and July 2007 and randomized to receive dispatch assistance with either voice instruction alone (voice group, n=53) or interactive voice and video instruction (video group, n=43) via a video cell phone. The quality of rescue breathing was evaluated by reviewing the videos and mannequin reports. RESULTS: Subjects in the video group were more likely to open the airway correctly (95.3% vs. 58.5%, P<0.01) and to lift the chin properly (95.3% vs. 62.3%, P<0.01), but had similar rates of head-tilt (95.3% vs. 84.9%, P=0.10). Volunteers in the video group had larger volume of ventilation (median volume 540 ml vs. 0 ml, P<0.01), greater possibility to sustain an open airway (88.4% vs. 60.4%, P<0.01) and a tendency towards better nose-pinch (97.7% vs. 86.8%, P=0.06). The video group spent longer time to open the airway (59 s vs. 56 s, P<0.05) and to give the first rescue breathing (139 s vs. 102 s, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Adding video communication to dispatch instructions improved the quality of bystander rescue breathing, including higher proportion of airway opened, and larger volume of ventilation delivered, in simulated cardiac arrests.

Incidence and significance of clinically abnormal events in a tertiary referral medical center: implementation of the clinical alert system (CAS).

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest remains very poor. Reports have shown patients often have clinically abnormal events prior to arrest. To improve patient outcome and prevent arrest, detection of the abnormal events with early intervention has been advocated. However, the incidence of these events in Taiwan and their clinical significance remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study with the implementation of the clinical alert system (CAS) in a university-affiliated tertiary referral medical center. Clinically abnormal events were detected using the CAS criteria for acute physiologic deterioration, and reported to experienced physicians for management. Patient and report data were retrieved, collected and analyzed. RESULTS: During the 14-month study period, a total of 2,050 events were detected in 1,640 patients. The estimated incidence of the events was 3.19 per 1,000 bed-days, which occurred in 2.14% of admissions. The most common event was abnormal heart rate (36.5%), followed by desaturation (26.7%), abnormal respiratory rate (24.5%), and abnormal blood pressure (23.1%). The majority of the events were reported in the day time, and nurses contributed most of the reports (66.4%). The 30-day and in-hospital mortality rates were 26.3% and 34%, respectively. Multivariate survival analysis showed that desaturation (relative risk [RR] = 1.715; p < 0.001), abnormal respiratory rate (RR = 1.652; p < 0.001), abnormal blood pressure (RR = 1.460; p = 0.001), coma (RR = 1.918; p < 0.001), and oliguria (RR = 1.424; p = 0.0024) were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. Mortality of patients in the last 2 months was significantly lower than that in the first 2 months (20.5% vs. 35.4%; p < 0.001), which suggests the effectiveness of the CAS. CONCLUSION: The development of clinically abnormal events is associated with poor outcome, which suggests that early detection and timely management of these events is necessary. Implementation of the CAS may improve the in-hospital outcome of these patients.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation rescue for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe survival and neurologic outcome and identify the factors associated with survival among pediatric patients following extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for in-hospital cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: A university-affiliated tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Eligible patients were < or = 18 yrs of age and received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during active cardiopulmonary resuscitation for in-hospital cardiac arrest. INTERVENTIONS: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during active cardiopulmonary resuscitation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. The secondary outcome was neurologic status after ECPR at hospital discharge and late follow-up. Good neurologic outcome was defined as Pediatric Cerebral Performance Categories 1, 2, and 3. Continuous variables were expressed as medians (interquartile range). We prospectively defined the early cohort (January 1999 to December 2001) and late cohort (January 2002 to January 2006) and compared the survival rates. We identified 27 ECPR events. The survival rate to hospital discharge was 41% (11 of 27). The nonsurvivors had higher pre-cardiopulmonary resuscitation serum lactate levels (14 [10.2-19.6] mmol/L vs. 8.5 [4.4-12.6] mmol/L, p < .01), longer durations of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (60 [37-81] mins vs. 45 [25-50] mins, p < .05) with longer activating time for ECMO (12.5 [7.5-33.8] mins vs. 5 [0-10] mins, p < .01), and more renal failure after ECPR (68% [11 of 16] vs. 9% [1 of 11], p < .01). The survival rate of the late cohort was better than that of the early cohort (58% [11 of 19] vs. 0% [0 of 8], p < .05). By exact multiple logistic regression analysis, the early cohort and renal failure after ECPR were two independent risk factors for mortality. Among the 11 survivors, ten had good neurologic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: ECPR successfully rescued some pediatric patients who failed rescue with conventional in-hospital CPR. Good neurologic outcomes were achieved in the majority of the survivors. Early cohort and post-ECPR renal failure were associated with mortality.

Late dialysis rate for coronary artery bypass grafting patients with moderate-to-severe renal impairment: comparison between off-pump and conventional method.

BACKGROUND: Whether off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting has a late renal protective advantage over conventional coronary arterial bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass use is controversial. METHODS: From 1997 to 2004, 2102 cases of isolated coronary arterial bypass grafting were collected and analyzed, 1116 (53%) in the cardiopulmonary bypass group and 986 (47%) in the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting group. Cases were stratified by preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate into three renal groups: 1012 (48%) in group 1, with glomerular filtration rates > or =60 ml/h, 864 (41%) in group 2, with glomerular filtration rates of 30-60 ml/h, and 226 (10.8%) in group 3, with glomerular filtration rates <30 ml/h, but without dialysis before surgery. RESULTS: The in-hospital mechanical renal replacement therapy rates were 2.0%, 4.6%, and 26.1%, respectively, for the three renal groups that underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with conventional cardiopulmonary bypass, and 1.1%, 3.4%, and 14.0%, respectively for the three renal groups that underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. After risk adjustment, cardiopulmonary bypass use did not show statistical significance for in-hospital mechanical renal replacement therapy (p=0.314, 0.524, 0.150, respectively, across renal groups 1-3). At the end of the 4-year follow-up period, 99.1%, 97.2%, and 78.6%, respectively, of patients were free of mechanical renal replacement therapy across the three renal groups (p=0.0097 between renal groups 1 and 2; p<0.001 between renal groups 2 and 3). Cox regression analysis for renal groups 2 and 3 revealed that cardiopulmonary bypass use was not a risk factor for mid-term mechanical renal replacement therapy (p=0.452), but preoperative glomerular filtration rate, hypercholesterolemia, insulin-requiring diabetes, young age at surgery, female gender, and in-hospital mechanical renal replacement therapy use were. CONCLUSION: Patient characteristics, rather than operative strategy of using off-pump or conventional coronary artery bypass grafting, influence the mid-term mechanical renal replacement therapy rate for patients with glomerular filtration rates <60 ml/min.

Infected aneurysm of the thoracic aorta.

BACKGROUND: Infected aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is rare and can be fatal without surgical treatment. We review our experience with 32 patients during a 12-year period. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 2007, 32 patients (24 men, 8 women) with infected aneurysms of thoracic aorta were treated at our hospital. Their median age was 74 years (range, 50-88 years). Of the 28 pathogens isolated, the most common responsible microorganism was nontyphoid Salmonella in 16 (57%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus in four (14%) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in three (11%). The site of infection was the aortic arch in 13 patients, proximal descending thoracic aorta in 10, and distal descending thoracic aorta in 9. Seven patients had medical treatment alone, and 25 patients underwent in situ graft replacement. The hospital mortality rate of medical treatment alone was 57%, and the hospital mortality rate of in situ grafting was 12%. Of the 22 operated-on survivors, there were 11 late deaths, four of which were aneurysm-related. The aneurysm-related mortality rate in operated-on patients was 28%. Of 16 patients with infection caused by nontyphoid Salmonella, 13 patients underwent in situ grafting, with a hospital mortality rate of 8% and aneurysm-related mortality rate of 31%. CONCLUSIONS: Infected aneurysm of the thoracic aorta was uncommon. The clinical results of in situ grafting were improving. Nontyphoid Salmonella was the most common responsible microorganism, and the prognosis of infection caused by Salmonella was not dismal. Outcomes of other management strategies, such as endovascular stenting, need to be compared with these results.

Is old age a contraindication for surgical treatment in acute aortic dissection? A demographic study of national database registry in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Acute aortic dissection is usually presented as a surgical emergent condition with high mortality rate. Whether any patient of an advanced age suffering from acute aortic type A dissection or complicated type B dissection should be referred for surgery still deserves debating. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study including 5654 patients with acute aortic dissection was collected from the National Health Insurance Databases from 1996 to 2001. Age, initial treatment modality, and the late outcome were the main factors to be investigated. Patients are grouped into the young age group when ages are less or equal to 70 and the old age group when over 70. We further subdivided both groups into operative and nonoperative subgroups, respectively, depending on patients receiving surgical intervention for acute aortic dissection or not. The endpoint mortality was defined by the patient death either related to or unrelated to cardiac causes. RESULTS: A total of 5654 cases are with the mean age of 65.6 +/- 14.0 years. The percentage of patients receiving operation was inversely related to the patient's age significantly (p < 0.05). In the old age group, the operative subgroup had both significantly higher survival rate at six-year follow-up than the nonoperative group for both patients on admission and 30-day survivors (43.4 +/- 3.5% vs. 29.8 +/- 2.3%, p < 0.05; 70.0 +/- 4.5% vs. 36.0 +/- 2.8%, p < 0.05). The annual attrition rates of mortality were significantly higher in the nonoperative subgroup for both patients on admission and 30-day survivors (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The trend toward more conservative treatment in the elderly still occurs in our common practice even with improving surgical techniques. In our study, we suggest that pertinent surgical strategies for acute aortic dissection are necessary to improve the outcome in elderly patients.