Perioperative changes in platelet count in patients with atrial septal defect.

BACKGROUND: Platelet count and function change following atrial septal defect (ASD) closure with the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO). However, the clinical significance of these changes remains unclear. We examined changes in platelet count and mean platelet volume (MPV) before and after ASO placement, and the association between platelet count, MPV and various factors. We discussed the mechanism and clinical significance of changes in platelet count and MPV. METHODS: We evaluated 109 patients with ASD who underwent ASO placement, and we performed various analyses of platelet count and MPV. RESULTS: Younger patients typically had higher platelet counts and lower MPV on admission. They also had large ASDs relative to their body constitution; larger devices were therefore used. Rates of change in platelet count were higher in younger patients. There were no significant associations between platelet count or MPV before placement and mean pulmonary artery pressure, and Qp/Qs, and between the number of thrombocytopenia and presence or absence of headache or residual ASD. Platelet counts decreased on average by 21.3% for the first 3 days after ASO placement. One month after placement, platelet counts were slightly improved but remained lower than before placement. Conversely, MPV increased significantly after ASO placement and remained high a month after placement. The ASO size was the most influential factor in platelet count reduction after ASD closure by ASO. CONCLUSIONS: One month after ASO placement, platelet counts decreased and MPVs continued to increase, suggesting that platelet consumption and new production were still occurring a month after placement.

Effect of ultrasonography and fluoroscopic guidance on the incidence of complications of cannulation in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear which cannulation method is best in cases of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We assessed the effect of ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous cannulation on complication incidence, compared with that using only ultrasound guidance. METHODS: This single-center retrospective observational study was conducted between February 2011 and December 2015. In the comparison group, cannulation was performed percutaneously using only ultrasound guidance. In the exposure group, cannulation was performed percutaneously using fluoroscopy and ultrasound guidance. The primary outcome assessed was whether complications were associated with cannulation. The secondary outcome assessed was the duration from hospital arrival to extracorporeal circulation start. In addition to univariate analysis, multivariate logistic-regression analysis for cannulation complications was performed to adjust for several presumed confounders. RESULTS: Of the patients who underwent ECPR, 73 were eligible; the comparison group included 50 cases and the exposure group included 23 cases. Univariate analysis showed that the complication incidence of the exposure group was significantly lower than that of the comparison group (8.7 vs. 36.0%, p = 0.022). Duration from hospital arrival to extracorporeal circulation start was almost the same in both groups (median, 17.0 min vs. 17.0 min, p = 0.92). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, cannulation using fluoroscopy and ultrasound was independently associated with a lower complication incidence (adjusted odds ratio, 0.14; p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided cannulation may reduce the complication incidence of cannulation without delaying extracorporeal circulation start.

Association between cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration and one-month neurological outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important factor associated with the outcomes for an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, the appropriate CPR duration remains unclear considering pre- and in-hospital settings. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the CPR duration (including both the pre- and in-hospital duration) and neurologically favorable outcomes 1-month after cardiac arrest. METHODS: Data were utilized from a prospective multi-center cohort study of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients transported to 67 emergency hospitals between January 2012 and March 2013 in the Kanto area of Japan. A total of 3,353 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (age ≥18 years) who underwent CPR by emergency medical service personnel and achieved the return of spontaneous circulation in a pre- or in-hospital setting were analyzed. The primary outcome was a 1-month favorable neurological outcome. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the influence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration. The CPR duration that achieved a cumulative proportion >99% of cases with a 1-month neurologically favorable outcome was determined. RESULTS: Of the 3,353 eligible cases, pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation was obtained in 1,692 cases (50.5%). A total of 279 (8.3%) cases had a 1-month neurologically favorable outcome. The CPR duration was significantly and inversely associated with 1-month neurologically favorable outcomes with adjustment for pre- and in-hospital confounders (adjusted odds ratio: 0.911, per minute, 95% CI: 0.892-0.929, p < 0.001). After 30 min of CPR, the probability of a 1-month neurologically favorable outcome decreased from 8.3 to 0.7%. At 45 min of CPR, the cumulative proportion for a 1-month neurologically favorable outcome reached >99%. CONCLUSIONS: The CPR duration was independently and inversely associated with 1-month neurologically favorable outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The CPR duration required to achieve return of spontaneous circulation in >99% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with a 1-month favorable neurological outcome was 45 min, considering both pre- and in-hospital settings.

Applying the termination of resuscitation rules to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of both cardiac and non-cardiac etiologies: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation recommend Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) rules for termination of resuscitation (TOR). However, it is unclear whether the TOR rules are valid for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) of both cardiac and non-cardiac etiologies. In this study, we validated the TOR rules for OHCA resulting from both etiologies. METHODS: This was a prospective multicenter observational study of OHCA patients transported to 67 emergency hospitals between January 2012 and March 2013 in the Kanto region of Japan. We calculated the specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) for neurologically unfavorable outcomes at one month in patients with OHCA of cardiac and non-cardiac etiologies. RESULTS: Of 11,505 eligible cases, 6,138 and 5,367 cases were of cardiac and non-cardiac etiology, respectively. BLS was performed on 2,818 and 2,606 patients with OHCA of cardiac and non-cardiac etiology, respectively. ALS was performed on 3,320 and 2,761 patients with OHCA of cardiac and non-cardiac etiology, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the TOR rules for predicting unfavorable outcomes in patients with OHCA of cardiac etiology who received BLS included a specificity of 0.985 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.956-0.997) and a PPV of 0.999 (95% CI: 0.996-1.000). In patients with OHCA from cardiac etiologies who received ALS, the TOR rules had a specificity of 0.963 (95% CI: 0.896-0.992) and a PPV of 0.997 (95% CI: 0.991-0.999). In patients with OHCA from non-cardiac etiologies who received BLS, the specificity was 0.915 (95% CI: 0.796-0.976) and PPV was 0.998 (95% CI: 0.995-0.999). For patients with OHCA from non-cardiac etiologies who received ALS, the specificity was 0.833 (95% CI: 0.586-0.964) and PPV was 0.996 (95% CI: 0.988-0.999). CONCLUSIONS: Both TOR rules have high specificity and PPV in patients with OHCA from cardiac etiologies. For patients with OHCA from non-cardiac etiologies, the rules had a high PPV, but relatively low specificity. Therefore, TOR rules are useful in patients with OHCA from cardiac etiologies, but should be applied with caution to patients with OHCA from non-cardiac etiologies.

[The current situation of aggravated intoxication with "kiken" drugs (law-evading drugs)].

The intoxication caused by "kiken" drugs (law-evading drugs), such as synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and methoxetamine, has recently increased in Japan. We retrospectively examined the characteristics of patients poisoned with the "kiken" drugs. We included patients who presented at the emergency department at the Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital from January 2011 to December 2014. Eighteen patients admitted between January 2011 and December 2013 were included in the early period group and 10 patients admitted between January and December 2014 were categorized into the late period group. The number of the patients transported to our emergency department between 2011 and 2014 increased annually. Patients were mainly admitted between May and October 2014; no patients were admitted after November 2014. The patients' age, history of previous mental disease, habitual use, Triage DOA results, serum creatinine values on admission, and respiratory management differed significantly between the groups. However, the median serum creatinine values of both groups on admission were within the normal level. Patients poisoned with the "kiken" drugs showed more severe symptoms, higher rate of habitual use, and higher average age. The annual increase in the number of the patients observed thus far is expected to decrease in the future. Maintenance of the law and expansion of medical institutions that treat patients addicted to the "kiken" drugs are warranted.

An infant case of dilated cardiomyopathy associated with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

A 2-month-old infant with congestive heart failure was referred to the authors' hospital. Echocardiography exhibited a dilated left ventricle (LV), poor LV systolic function, and intraventricular thrombus. Laboratory data showed a normal creatinine phosphokinase level and negative troponin T test results. The congestive heart failure was managed using a beta-blocker, an angiotensin receptor blocker, and diuretics. Head computed tomography performed during the treatment course showed periventricular calcifications. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection was subsequently diagnosed. Fetal echocardiography performed during pregnancy showed impaired LV function, suggesting that the cardiomyopathy was associated with cytomegalovirus infection in utero.

CLINICAL case report: falciparum malaria with hemophagocytic syndrome.

A 30-year-old Japanese woman with falciparum malaria was hospitalized because of fever and renal failure, and prolonged anemia was identified despite the eradication of malaria parasites through anti-malaria therapy. Bone marrow aspiration revealed the presence of macrophages with hemophagocytosis, and serum interleukin (IL)-18 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels were high in the anemic phase. Hemophagocytosis was confirmed for at least 3 weeks, and prolonged hemophagocytic syndrome is thought to be one of the causes of prolonged anemia in patients with falciparum malaria.

West syndrome associated with mosaic Down syndrome.

We report a girl with West syndrome associated with mosaic Down syndrome. She had repetitive tonic spasms at 6 months and an electroencephalography (EEG) showed hypsarrhythmia. Her facial appearance was normal and she had no minor anomalies. Her karyotype was mosaic(46,XX/47,XX,+21). Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) therapy was effective, and her developmental quotient was 76 at 17 months. This report re-emphasize that chromosomal analysis is recommended for epileptic patients with infantile onset when the cause is unclear.

Association between delay to coronary reperfusion and outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

AIM: The prognostic effect of early coronary reperfusion therapy with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in patients with cardiac arrest due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has yet to be clarified. We investigated the relationship between time interval from collapse to start of ECPR (CtoE) and coronary reperfusion (CtoR) time and neurological outcome in patients with cardiac arrest due to ACS. METHODS: A cohort of 119 consecutive patients (63±12 years old) with ACS who underwent ECPR and percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) at our hospital was registered from January 2005 to June 2016. We analyzed patient clinical outcome, which was defined as survival with good neurological outcome at 30 days. We divided the patients into four groups according to CtoR time: Group 1 (time<60min: n=19), Group 2 (60≤time<90min: n=19), Group 3 (time≥90min: n=70) and Group 4 (unsuccessful coronary reperfusion: n=11). RESULTS: One hundred patients (84%) were successful of PCI. A Kaplan-Meier curve showed that Group 1 had the best outcome among the four groups (good neurological outcome at 30 days; 74% vs 37% vs 23% vs 9%, P<0.0001). In receiver operating characteristics analysis for good neurological outcome at 30 days, the cutoff values for CtoE was 40min. The delay CtoE and CtoR time were independent predictors of poor neurological outcome at 30 days after adjusting multiple confounders (CtoE time; Hazard ratio (HR):1.026, 95% confidential intervals(CI): 1.011-1.042, P=0.001), (CtoR time; HR: 1.004, 95% CI: 1.001-1.008, P=0.020). CONCLUSIONS: A shorter CtoE and CtoR predicts better clinical outcome in patients with ACS undergoing ECPR.

Unilateral cardiogenic pulmonary edema associated with acute mitral regurgitation.

Case: Two cases of cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema are reported. Both patients presented to the emergency department with dyspnea, and chest radiography revealed unilateral infiltration, which mimics pulmonary disease. However, the patients were diagnosed with cardiogenic pulmonary edema, because echocardiography showed severe mitral regurgitation with an eccentric jet. Outcome: The patients underwent mitral valve replacement and were discharged without complications. Conclusion: Unilateral cardiogenic pulmonary edema is rare, and early diagnosis and treatment are difficult. Delayed treatment leads to high mortality. The major cause of unilateral pulmonary edema is acute mitral regurgitation, and the direction of the jet is suggested as a mechanism of laterality.

A case of circumferential type A aortic dissection with intimal intussusception diagnosed using repeat transthoracic echocardiography examination.

Case: Sometimes it is difficult to diagnose circumferential aortic dissection with enhanced computed tomography alone. A 58-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset chest discomfort and loss of consciousness. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed mild aortic regurgitation. Enhanced computed tomography scans showed no obvious intimal tear or flap at the proximal ascending aorta, but an intimal flap was observed from the aortic arch to both common iliac arteries. Stanford type B dissection was tentatively diagnosed. Repeat detailed transthoracic echocardiography examination showed an intimal tear and flap at the ascending aorta; prolapse into the left ventricle caused severe aortic regurgitation. Type A aortic dissection was definitively diagnosed; emergent operation showed a circumferential intimal tear originating from the ascending aorta. Outcome: The ascending aorta was replaced; aortic regurgitation disappeared. The patient was discharged in a good condition 58 days postoperatively. Conclusion: Dynamic evaluations with transthoracic echocardiography should be carried out to diagnose circumferential aortic dissection.

Diverticulitis-induced pylephlebitis possibly misdiagnosed as biliary duct obstruction.

Case: A 59-year-old Asian man presented to our emergency department with hypogastrium pain, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. On admission, he was hypotensive and jaundiced. Laboratory test results revealed thrombocytopenia, hypercreatininemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Color Doppler sonography showed no blood flow in the right and left branches of the portal vein, which seemed similar to biliary obstruction. Enhanced computed tomography showed portal vein thrombi, consistent with pylephlebitis; a broad-spectrum antibiotic and an anticoagulant were administered. Outcome: The patient died of multiple organ failure 22 h post-admission. An autopsy revealed suppurative thrombi in the portal vein, multiple liver abscesses, and diverticulitis in the sigmoid colon. Conclusion: Pylephlebitis, a rare complication of intra-abdominal infections, is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Ultrasonography findings mimic those of biliary obstruction. Enhanced computed tomography is useful for diagnosing this condition.

Prognostic value of the recovery time of continuous normal voltage in amplitude-integrated electroencephalography in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The early prediction of neurological outcomes in postcardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) remains challenging. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) is a type of quantitative EEG. A particular cutoff time from the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) to the recovery of a normal aEEG trace for predicting a good neurological outcome has not yet been established. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation between neurological outcomes and the continuous normal voltage (CNV) recovery time in adult comatose survivors of cardiac arrest treated with TH and identify the recovery time cutoff for predicting a good neurological outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated adult survivors of cardiac arrest with initial shockable rhythm treated with TH and monitored with aEEG. A good outcome was defined as a cerebral performance category (CPC) of 1 or 2 at hospital discharge. A CNV trace was considered as the normal aEEG trace, and the CNV recovery time was defined as the time from ROSC to the initial CNV trace. RESULTS: The study included 30 patients, and of these patients, 22 had recovery of CNV trace. The median CNV recovery time was shorter among patients with a good outcome than that among those with a poor outcome (10.7 h [interquartile range (IQR), 7.4-15.8 h] vs. 28.6 h [IQR, 26.9-29.3 h]; p = 0.003). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the CNV recovery time for predicting a good neurological outcome was 0.95 (95 % CI 0.86-1; p = 0.003), and the optimal cutoff was 23 h. The recovery of CNV trace within 23 h had a sensitivity of 89 %, specificity of 100 %, positive predictive value of 100 %, and negative predictive value of 86 % for predicting a good neurological outcome in all the patients, including the eight patients without recovery of CNV trace. CONCLUSIONS: A CNV recovery time cutoff of 23 h might help predict a good neurological outcome in adult survivors of cardiac arrest treated with TH.

Hemodialysis for removal of dabigatran in a patient with gastric hemorrhage.

Case: An 82-year-old man taking dabigatran was admitted with syncope. Computed tomography showed extravasation from the stomach. Laboratory data revealed renal insufficiency and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. The gastric endoscopy showed a gastric ulcer with an exposed vessel. However, an endoscopic hemostatic procedure failed to completely stop the bleeding. The patient experienced cardiac arrest from hypotensive shock. Spontaneous circulation returned after 5 min of resuscitation. After endoscopy, computed tomography showed a gastric perforation. For dabigatran removal, the patient underwent a 6-h hemodialysis session. Thrombin activity and thrombin-antithrombin complex increased during hemodialysis, while activated partial thromboplastin time decreased. Outcome: Good recovery was observed after dialysis and the following gastrectomy. Conclusion: Hemodialysis should be considered for dabigatran removal in cases of life-threatening hemorrhage. The thrombin-antithrombin complex may be useful for monitoring the plasma dabigatran level.

Prognostic effect of estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest undergoing percutaneous veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) can improve survival in patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. We investigated the association between initial renal function and clinical outcome in patients undergoing VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of 287 patients who underwent ECMO at our hospital from January 2005 to December 2014. We excluded 70 patients with non-cardiogenic events. The remaining 217 patients were divided into 2 groups according to initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): Initial high eGFR (non-renal failure: non-RF) group: eGFR≥60ml/min/1.73m2 (n=73) and initial low eGFR (RF) group: eGFR<60ml/min/1.73m2 (n=144). Clinical outcome was defined as all-cause death at 30 days after extracorporeal life support. RESULTS: VA-ECMO was begun in 87% of patients for cardiac arrest. The non-RF group was significantly younger (51.6 vs. 62.6 years), had lower body mass index (22.8 vs. 24.7kg/m2), lower blood urea nitrogen (14.4 vs. 23.9mg/dl), and lower K (4.0 vs. 4.5mEq/l, all p<0.05) than the RF group. Incidence of all-cause death at 30 days was significantly lower in the non-RF than RF group (49% vs. 76%, p<0.0001). Initial low eGFR was an independent predictor of mortality after adjustment for multiple cofounders (OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.77-9.42, p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier curve showed better outcome in the non-RF versus RF group (p=0.0009). CONCLUSION: An initial low eGFR may predict worse clinical outcome in patients undergoing VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.