Accuracy of Continuous Cardiac Output Measurement With the LiDCOplus System During Intra-Aortic Counterpulsation After Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intra-aortic counterpulsation on precision, accuracy, and concordance of continuous pulse contour cardiac output determined using LiDCOplus (LiDCO Group, London). DESIGN: Prospective trial. SETTING: University hospital critical care unit. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with intra-aortic balloon pump support in the 1:1 mode after elective or urgent cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Lithium dilution calibrated pulse contour cardiac output was compared with pulmonary artery bolus thermodilution cardiac output during hemodynamically stable conditions in the course of standardized postoperative management. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-one paired measurements demonstrated good correlation between the 2 methods (r = 0.88, p<0.001). Mean bias was -0.14±0.81 L/min, limits of agreement 1.48 to -1.77 L/min, and percentage error 28%. Concordance between the 2 techniques regarding directional changes>±10% cardiac output was 100% (p = 0.008). Trending ability was moderate when paired cardiac output changes were assessed using linear regression, 4-quadrant table, and polar plots. When changes <±10% of the reference cardiac output were excluded, 90% of the data pairs still lay within the 30° radial limits. Optimal timing of the balloon pump was indispensable for proper determination of pulse contour cardiac output. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the LiDCOplus-specific algorithm in determining stroke volume from the arterial pulse waveform, which differs from other devices, accuracy and precision of continuous pulse contour cardiac output only are affected insignificantly by intra-aortic counterpulsation. The authors nevertheless caution that the device should be recalibrated after major hemodynamic alterations or otherwise inexplicable changes of the pulse contour cardiac output to improve trending.

Effect of Preload Alterations on Left Ventricular Systolic Parameters Including Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography Radial Strain During General Anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES: Frequently used parameters for evaluation of left ventricular systolic function are load-sensitive. However, the impact of preload alterations on speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters during anesthesia has not been validated. Therefore, two-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography radial strain (RS) was assessed during general anesthesia, simulating 3 different preload conditions. DESIGN: Single-center prospective observational study. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three patients with normal left ventricular systolic function undergoing major surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Transgastric views of the midpapillary level of the left ventricle were acquired at 3 different positions. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fractional shortening (FS), fractional area change (FAC), and 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography RS were analyzed in the transgastric midpapillary view. Considerable correlation above 0.5 was found for FAC and FS in the zero and Trendelenburg positions (r = 0.629, r = 0.587), and for RS and FAC in the anti-Trendelenburg position (r = 0.518). In the repeated-measures analysis, significant differences among the values measured at the 3 positions were found for FAC and FS. For FAC, there were differences up to 2.8 percentage points between the anti-Trendelenburg position and the other 2 positions. For FS, only the difference between position zero and anti-Trendelenburg was significant, with an observed change of 1.66. Two-dimensional RS was not significantly different at all positions, with observed changes below 1 percentage point. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in preload did not result in clinically relevant changes of RS, FS, or FAC. Observed changes for RS were smallest; however, the variation of RS was larger than that of FS or FAC.

[Nutrition practices in intensive care units: nutritionDay from 2007-2021]. / Ernährungspraxis auf Intensivstationen: nutritionDay 2007­2021.

In intensive care units (ICU), patients who are not able to eat or are considered at nutritional risk typically receive medical nutrition therapy based on partially contradictory guidelines as well as the strategies used in large randomized trials. The aim of this study is to analyze patient data from the nutritionDay project in intensive care to describe current clinical approaches to nutrition support worldwide, in Europe and in the group of German-speaking countries, the DACH (i.e., Germany, Austria, Switzerland) region. From 2007-2021, data of 18,918 adult patients in 1595 ICUs from 63 different countries were included in this cross-sectional study. The aim was to recruit all patients present in ICUs. Median stay in the ICU was 4 days on nutritionDay. Little difference in patient characteristics were observed between worldwide, Europe, and the DACH region. Patient were 64 years old, 40% female, 50% ventilated, 29% sedated, and 10% needed renal replacement therapy. A quarter of the patients died in hospital within 60 days and about half of the patients had been discharged home. Enteral nutrition was given twice as frequently as parenteral nutrition (48% versus 24%). Many patients received oral nutrition (39%) and a substantial number received no nutrition support (10%). Parenteral nutrition was used more frequently in Europe than in other world regions, the lowest use being observed in North America. The amount of nutrition given is very similar in all regions regardless of the nutrition route with about 1500 kcal and 60 g of protein per day. A clear association with body weight was not observed and the variation around the median was very large with half of patients receiving amounts 25% below or above the median. Upon completion of data entry, the nutritionDay project allows each ICU to download a unit report summarizing data that allows comparison with worldwide data in numeric and graphical form to permit easy benchmarking of medical nutrition therapy.

Comparison of two new generation pulse oximeters during emergency ambulance transportation.

OBJECTIVES: We wanted to test whether there is a difference between the total number and duration of malfunctions and a correlation between the oxygen saturation and pulse rate values of two new generation pulse oximeters (Masimo 'Radical 7' and Nellcor 'N 600') during emergency ambulance transportation. METHODS: Patients were monitored with two pulse oximeters ('Radical 7' and 'N 600') on different randomly selected fingers of the same hand during transportation. Data of both devices were recorded continuously by a laptop computer. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with signs of peripheral vasoconstriction (including 22 patients with a blood pressure ≤100/60) were included. There were 0.21 ± 0.72 (0-4) malfunctions per patient lasting for a mean 113.55 ± 272.55 s in the 'Radical 7' and 0.13 ± 0.49 (0-3) malfunctions per patient with a mean duration of 301.0 ± 426.58 s in the 'N 600'. Oxygen saturation and pulse rate values correlated significantly [r² = 0.9608 (SpO2), r² = 0.9608 (pulse rate)] between the devices and showed a bias of -0.177770 (SpO2) and 0.310883 (pulse rate) with a standard deviation of 1.68367 (SpO2) and 4.46532 (pulse rate) in a Bland-Altman test. CONCLUSION: Although number and duration of malfunctions did not differ significantly between the devices, they showed a very low number of malfunctions even in hypotensive patients with peripheral vasoconstriction. Oxygen saturation correlated significantly in the two devices investigated at 49.409 time points. In addition, pulse rate also correlated significantly.

Estimation of pulmonary artery pressure with transesophageal echocardiography: An observer-blinded test accuracy study.

ABSTRACT: With the declining use of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become an appealing alternative to obtain pulmonary artery pressure non-invasively using the simplified Bernoulli equation. The validation of this method in the perioperative setting has been scarce with no clear recommendations about which view is the most accurate to estimate right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP).Therefore, we performed a prospective, observer-blinded, diagnostic test accuracy study to assess the difference in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sysPAP) measuring both, invasively sysPAP and estimated RVSP with TEE in 3 different views: the mid-esophageal (ME) 4Chamber, the ME right ventricular (RV) inflow-outflow and the ME modified bicaval view.To show a clinically significant difference of at least 10% in RVSP, we included 40 cardiac surgical patients divided into 3 subgroups: Patients with mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and mean PAP <25 mm Hg, patients with mild to moderate TR and mean PAP≥ 25 mm Hg, and patients with severe TR.For the whole cohort, bias of estimated RVSP compared to measured sysPAP was 5.27 mm Hg, precision was 7.96 mm Hg, limits of agreement were -10.66 to 21.19 mm Hg. The best agreement between the 2 methods was found in patients with severe TR and in the ME RV inflow-outflow and the modified bicaval view. Good Doppler signals were available in 35% and 46% in these views, and in 20% in the ME 4 chamber view.The estimation of the sysPAP by TEE cannot be considered reliable in the clinical perioperative setting. Only measurements that provide a full Doppler envelope show sufficient precision to provide accurate estimations.

Timing of parenteral nutrition in ICU patients: A transatlantic controversy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: European and North American guidelines on Parenteral Nutrition (PN) and large Randomized Controlled Trials give divergent advices on nutritional therapeutic strategies for critically ill patients. We therefore investigated differences in therapeutic strategies of clinicians between European and Non-European Intensive Care Units (ICU) regarding start day of PN, preferred route of administration and prescription of total energy targets over the years. METHODS: In this study 16,032 patients from 1389 different ICUs were included. Data collection was performed in 28 different European and Non-European ICUs from 2007 to 2018 via nutritionDay, a worldwide-standardized one-day multinational cross-sectional audit. RESULTS: In this analysis an abrupt delay in PN start days was observed in 2011 (7.64 days (4.31; 19.97); p = 0.001) and 2012 (6.41 days (3.1; 9.72); p = 0.001), which was significantly reversed within the following years until 2018. In European, compared to Non-European countries PN prescription was increased (27% versus 13%). Patients from North-America received significantly less kcal per day compared to Europe (-4.3 kcal kg-1 (-6.9; -1.6); p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides further evidence on transatlantic discrepancies in nutritional therapy of ICU patients. Regular audits, such as nutritionDay are substantial for self-reflection of clinical daily practice of intensivists. It is time for worldwide consensus in nutritional therapy by developing worldwide guidelines and supporting standardization in nutrition care of critically ill patients.

Cerebral desaturation during cardiac arrest: its relation to arrest duration and left ventricular pump function.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of brief periods of cardiac arrest (CA) on regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <30%). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Cardiac surgery room at a university hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-seven consecutive patients undergoing elective implantation of a cardioverter/defibrillator in monitored anesthesia care. According to preoperative assessments, left ventricular function was classified as normal (LVEF >50%), moderately impaired (LVEF 30%-50%), or severely reduced (LVEF <30%). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: rSO2 was determined during threshold testing with concomitant induction of CA. In patients with LVEF <30%, mean baseline rSO2 (59%) was already below the lower range of normal despite normal arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial oxygen saturation. rSO2 increased by 6% after 6 L/min oxygen insufflation (p < 0.05) and dropped again in each group after CA, reaching a nadir after successful defibrillation. Patients with LVEF <30% and baseline rSO2 <63% exhibited the lowest values. They also showed the highest incidence (11%) of critical cerebral desaturations (i.e., >20% drop from baseline or rSO2 value <50%). rSO2 in patients with LVEF <30% was always below that determined in patients with LVEF >30% (p < 0.05). There was a strong correlation between rSO2 values before CA and rSO2 nadir (p < 0.05). The drop in rSO2 was only moderately related to the brief CAs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that severely compromised left ventricular pump function is associated with diminished rSO2. As these patients seem to be more susceptible to critical desaturations, they may be prone to severe tissue hypoxemia unless adequate oxygen delivery is reestablished rapidly. This may contribute to the poor neurologic outcome after successful resuscitation in patients with LVEF <30%.

Concomitant Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Transapical Mitral Valve Repair With NeoChord Implantation.

One-third of the patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis (sAS) present with hemodynamic relevant mitral valve insufficiency (rMI). In patients who undergo conventional surgery, the rMI never would be left untreated; however, in cases of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), the impact of rMI is often overlooked and left untreated. The combination of transapical TAVI (TA-TAVI) and NeoChord implantation represents a novel, promising therapeutic option for high-risk-surgery patients with sAS and rMI due to a prolapsed or flailed leaflet. This case report describes 2 patients (1 male, 1 female; mean age 82 years) who underwent TA-TAVI and concomitant NeoChord implantation at our institute. Both presented with sAS and rMI due to a prolapse of the P2 segment of the mitral valve. At first, the TA-TAVI was implanted under angio-guidance, followed by three-dimensional echo-guided implantation of the NeoChords, through the same approach, which was slightly posterior and lateral to the apex. TA-TAVI using an Edwards Sapien 3 (26 mm, n = 1 and 29 mm, n = 1) and NeoChord implantation (2 in the first and 3 in the second patient) was successful in both cases. Post-intervention discharge echo indicated no paravalvular or central insufficiency after the procedure and only a trace of mitral valve insufficiency. TA-TAVI and concomitant NeoChord implantation is a feasible and promising treatment option for high-risk patients with rMI. Despite its technical demands, in experienced hands, it is a safe procedure for those not well suited for surgical intervention.

Resident performance in basic perioperative transesophageal echocardiography: Comparing 3 teaching methods in a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Training in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is based on hands-on training in the operating room, which is time consuming and therefore limits its experience among anesthesiologists. Medical simulations have been successfully used for training of invasive procedures in many areas.This paper compares the difference in effectiveness of teaching the 11 basic TEE views using either e-learning, simulation based training or hands-on training in the operating room in 3 groups of residents. METHODS: We included 51 anesthesia and intensive care residents of all training levels but no prior training in echocardiography in this prospective randomized single-center study.Residents received a tutorial about theoretical knowledge followed by 2 practical study sessions either by e-learning using an online simulator (www.pie.med.utoronto.ca/TEE), with the simulation mannequin (CAE Vimedix Simulator) or in the operating room. Both, a theoretical multiple choice test (0-50 points) and a practical exam test (0-110 points) on the simulation mannequin had to be completed.The primary endpoint was the post-training scores in the practical and theoretical exams after all training sessions. RESULTS: Residents received significantly higher test scores in both practical and theoretical examinations after training with the simulation mannequin (108.41 ±â€Š2.09, 40.6 ±â€Š5.23, n = 17) compared with e-learning (106.88 ±â€Š4.53, 36 ±â€Š4.76, n = 17) or hands-on training (106.82 ±â€Š2.01, 34.94 ±â€Š4.72, n = 17). CONCLUSIONS: Simulation based TEE training provides more effective training than other teaching methods. It is therefore especially suitable for the initial stages of TEE training to acquire psychomotor skills and knowledge of echo-anatomy.

Tricuspid valve replacement: results of an orphan procedure - which is the best prosthesis?

BACKGROUND: Replacement of the tricuspid valve is uncommon. Prostheses specifically designed for this position are not available. Bovine, porcine as well as mechanical valve prostheses are currently used, however, the most suitable prosthesis type has not been defined. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients who underwent tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) at the Medical University of Vienna from 1996 to 2014. Baseline patient characteristics, prosthesis type, and postoperative outcome data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients underwent TVR. Forty-one patients (71%) received biological (18 bovine, 23 porcine), and 17 patients (29%) mechanical prostheses. One-year survival (70.2% vs. 76.5%, P=0.18), and freedom from reoperation at one year (86.3% vs. 94.1%, P=0.35) was not significantly different bioprostheses and mechanical valves. Freedom from reoperation rates for bovine versus porcine prostheses (one-year: 88.2% vs. 84.4%, P=0.145) were also not significantly different. However, three bovine prosthesis had to be reoperated due to high-grade central regurgitation without any signs of endocarditis or structural valve degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of clinical trials on tricuspid valve replacement and no specific guidelines for the choice of prosthesis. In the current study we have not identified significant differences in mortality between mechanical and biological valves. However, bovine prostheses seem less suitable for the tricuspid position due to the high closing volume with consecutive severe postoperative regurgitation.

DaMatta y la transformación del fútbol en objeto de estudio: aportes para el caso uruguayo / DaMatta e a transformação do futebol em objeto de estudo: contribuições para o caso uruguaio / DaMatta and the transformation of soccer into an object of study: contributions for the Uruguayan case

Objetivo: Este artículo pretende reflexionar sobre los posibles aportes de la obra de DaMatta a los estudios sociales y culturales sobre el deporte en Uruguay. Método:Para ello, comenzamos con una revisión de la obra Universo del Fútbol y luego analizamos los aspectos teóricos y metodológicos de la obra de DaMatta de forma más amplia. A partir de los movimientos que realiza el autor en torno a las nociones de extrañamiento y familiarización, se expone su influencia dentro del campode la extensión universitaria en el ISEF. Consideraciones finales:Finalmente, se analizan dos dramas del deporte al tomar su obra como referencia.

Objetivo:O artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre as possíveis contribuições da obra de DaMatta para os estudos sociais e culturais sobre o esporte no Uruguai. Método:Para isso, partimos de uma revisão da obra Universo do futebol e, em seguida, analisamos os aspectos teórico-metodológicos da obra de DaMatta de forma mais ampla. A partir realizados pelo autor em relação às noções de estranhamento e familiarização, expõe-se sua influência no campo da extensão universitária no ISEF. Considerações finais:Por fim, analisa-se dois dramas do esporte tomando sua obra como referência.

Objective:This article aims to reflect on the possible contributions of DaMatta'swork to social and cultural studies on sports in Uruguay. Method:To this end, we will begin with a review of Universo do futebol and then analyze the theoretical and methodological aspects of DaMatta's work more broadly. Based on the notions of estrangement and familiarization, we expose his influence in the field of university extension at the ISEF.Final considerations:Finally, we analyze two sports dramas using his work as a reference.

NutritionDay ICU: A 7 year worldwide prevalence study of nutrition practice in intensive care.

INTRODUCTION: To determine the nutrition practice in intensive care units and the associated outcome across the world, a yearly 1 day cross sectional audit was performed from 2007 to 2013. The data of this initiative called "nutritionDay ICU" were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire translated in 17 languages was used to determine the unit's characteristics, patient's condition, nutrition condition and therapy as well as outcome. All the patients present in the morning of the 1 day prevalence study were included from 2007 to 2013. RESULTS: 9777 patients from 46 countries and 880 units were included. Their SAPS 2 was median 38 (IQR 27-51), predicted mortality was 30.7% ± 26.9, and their SOFA score 4.5 ± 3.4 with median 4 (IQR 2-7). Administration of calories did not appear to be related to actual or ideal body weight within all BMI groups. Patients with a BMI <18.5 or >40 received slightly less calories than all other BMI groups. Two third of the patients were either ventilated or were in the ICU for longer than 24 h at nutritionDay. Routes of feeding used were the oral, enteral and parenteral routes. More than 40% of the patients were not fed during the first day. The mean energy administered using enteral route was 1286 ± 663 kcal/day and using parenteral nutrition 1440 ± 652 kcal/day. 60 days mortality was 26.0%. DISCUSSION: This very large collaborative cohort study shows that most of the patients are underfed during according to actual recommendations their ICU stay. Prescribed calories appear to be ordered regardless to the ideal weight of the patient. Nutritional support is slow to start and never reaches the recommended targets. Parenteral nutrition prescription is increasing during the ICU stay but reaching only 20% of the population studied if ICU stay is one week or longer. The nutritional support worldwide does not seem to be guided by weight or disease but more to be standardized and limited to a certain level of calories. These observations are showing the poor observance to guidelines.

More-than-human Perspectives on Physical Activity, Health and Education

Como Fox e Alldred (2020) consideram, o dualismo Cultura / Natureza forneceu aos filósofos, cientistas e cientistas sociais pós-iluministas uma maneira elegante de estabelecer limites para as respectivas preocupações das ciências sociais e naturais (ver também Barad, 2007; Braidotti, 2013; Fullagar et al., 2019). Este dualismo tem permitido a criação de distinções entre corpos e modos de estar-no-mundo "modernos" (leia-se "civilizados") e "tradicionais" (leia-se "primitivos") (Denowski e Viveiros de Castro, 2014). No entanto, ao explorar criticamente as questões de incorporação (embodiment), a influência do ambiente construído sobre o bem-estar, as transições climáticas e/ou a pandemia de Covid-19 em curso, tais distinções começam a se tornar problemáticas, como argumentado eloquentemente nas últimas três décadas por debates e proposições feministas, pós humanistas, novo-materialistas e ecológico politicos, entre outros. Dando continuidade a um diálogo contínuo iniciado em 2018 entre acadêmicos e ativistas da América Latina e da Europa (ver Donato, Tonelli, Galak, 2019), este seminário explorou como os domínios inter-relacionados de saúde, atividade física e educação podem ser a partir de perspectivas que de des-estabilizar fronteiras ontológicas estabelecidas entre natureza, cultura, corpo e sua relação. Isto foi feito através de um diálogo entre Alessandro Bortolotti, Simone Fullagar, BrunoMora, Niamh Ni Shuilleabhain, (Austrália, Itália, Reino Unido e Uruguai, respectivamente). O evento online ocorreu como o primeiro de uma série de seminários online de duas partes sobre Remontando o nexo natureza-cultura-corpo: práticas e epistemologias.

Neuronal injury after repeated brief cardiac arrests during internal cardioverter defibrillator implantation is associated with deterioration of cognitive function.

To determine the degree of neurocognitive dysfunction after placement of internal cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and its relationship to the extent of neuronal injury, we studied 42 patients undergoing ICD (n = 21) or pacemaker (PM) insertion (control patients, n = 21). The Mini Mental State Examination, the Trailmaking A test and the forward and backward Digit Span tests were used and P300 latencies were determined preoperatively and postoperatively. Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was determined before and at the end of, as well as 2, 6, and 24 h after surgery. Preoperatively, PM patients scored worse in the Digit Span backward and the Trailmaking tests and showed prolonged P300 latencies. Postoperatively, the Digit Span backward scores declined and NSE levels increased only in the ICD group (P < or = 0.05). The difference between preoperative and postoperative Digit Span backward scores correlated with the increase in serum NSE levels (r2 = 0.3, P < or = 0.05). Moreover, P300 latencies increased in 13 of 17 ICD patients, but decreased in 7 of 10 PM patients (P < or = 0.05). PM patients even improved in the Trailmaking test (P < or = 0.05). Neuronal injury from even brief periods of global brain ischemia seems to be associated with deteriorating neurocognitive function.

Bronchoscopic transillumination guidance for open standard surgical tracheostomy.

The standard tracheostomy technique, described in 1909 by Jackson, has been increasingly used in intensive care units. Since 1957, several different types of percutaneous tracheostomy techniques have been described and performed with the support of bronchoscopic transillumination. The authors present the case of a respiratory failure due to obstruction of the upper airway by an exceptionally large goiter, which was successfully resolved by a standard open surgical tracheostomy. In this case, surgical tracheostomy was preceded by bronchoscopic transillumination, which facilitated identification of the appropriate tracheostomy site.

A rare case of primary cardiac B cell lymphoma.

Primary cardiac lymphomas represent an extremely rare entity of extranodal lymphomas and should be distinguished from secondary cardiac involvement of disseminated lymphomas belonging to the non-Hodgkin's classification of blood cancers. Only 90 cases have been reported in literature. Presentation of cardiac lymphomas on imaging studies may not be unambiguous since they potentially mimic other cardiac neoplasms including myxomas, angiosarcoma or rhadomyomas and therefore require multimodality cardiac imaging, endomyocardial biopsy, excisional intraoperative biopsy and pericardial fluid cytological evaluation to establish final diagnosis.Herein we report the case of a 70 y/o immunocompetent Caucasian female with a rapidly progressing superior vena cava syndrome secondary to a large primary cardiac diffuse large B cell lymphoma (NHL lymphoma) almost completely obstructing the right atrium, right ventricle and affecting both mitral and tricuspid valve. The patient had no clinical evidence of disseminated disease and was successfully treated with extensive debulking during open-heart surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass and 6 cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone chemotherapy (R-CHOP).

Position dependent right ventricular dysfunction caused by a giant right coronary artery aneurysm.

We describe an instructive case of a 79-year-old patient with a giant coronary aneurysm and a second smaller aneurysm with an uncommon symptomatology. Giant coronary artery aneurysms (>2 cm diameter) are rare pathologic entities with a prevalence of 0.02%. They either can be congenital malformations or are atherosclerotic in origin. Although spontaneous rupture of giant coronary artery aneurysms has been reported, they generally remain silent or induce myocardial ischemia. Our patient, however, showed no signs of myocardial malperfusion but transient position-dependent pre-syncope. The cardiologic work-up and the intraoperative considerations regarding patient management are described. During surgery, manipulation of the giant coronary artery aneurysm caused impairment of right ventricular function and regional wall hypokinesia, as assessed by transesophageal echocardiography. Venous cannulation of the right atrium was thus abandoned and extracorporeal circulation was established via the femoral vein. Subsequent dissection and surgical repair were uneventful and further recovery of the elderly patient was uncomplicated. This case underlines that once the diagnosis is established, proper perioperative management enables successful surgical treatment even of patients of advanced age.

Impaired recovery of cardiac output and mean arterial pressure after successful defibrillation in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Early defibrillation clearly improves survival from malignant arrhythmia. However, in some cases the cause of death will only be altered from arrhythmic to nonarrhythmic. We evaluated the impact of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on trend and recovery profile of beat-to-beat cardiac output (CO) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) after successful defibrillation. METHODS: We investigated 63 NYHA class I-III patients undergoing threshold testing in the course of insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in monitored anaesthesia care. Preoperatively, LVEF was classified as either normal (>50%), moderately (30-50%) or severely impaired (<30%). CO and MAP were measured continuously throughout the implantation procedure. RESULTS: Arrest time and body mass index were not different between groups. CO in patients with severely and moderately reduced LVEF dropped 21% and 13% below baseline (P<0.05), respectively. MAP also decreased by 26% and 17%, respectively. In contrast, 45% of patients with LVEF>50% showed sympathetic activation that resulted in a 12% and 2% increase in mean values for CO and MAP, respectively. In relation to patients with LVEF<50%, CO and MAP values were significantly higher after defibrillation (P<0.05). Additionally, recovery of CO was prolonged in the groups with ventricular dysfunction (P<0.05). Temporary post-shock pacing was observed in 40% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of ICD patients with restricted LVEF appears to lack the ability to quickly restore CO and MAP after successful defibrillation. Organ reperfusion may thus still be compromised.

A scale for decision making between whole lung transplantation or lobar transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: In lung transplantation, appropriate size matching is of crucial importance to achieve satisfactory outcomes. Tailoring of the lung has been repeatedly described as successful means of overcoming size disparities. The goal of this study was to define a parameter helping the surgeon in the decision whether a standard lung transplantation or a lobar transplantation should be anticipated. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the ratio between donor total lung capacity (TLC) and recipient TLC in all lung-transplant procedures performed in our institution from 1 January 2008 to 30 November 2008. The utility of this ratio using predicted recipient TLC (D/pR index) and real recipient TLC (D/rR index) in discriminating between whole lung transplantation and lobar transplantation was studied with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: The median D/pR index in whole lung transplantations was 1.01 (range: 0.69-1.26) and 1.19 in lobar transplantation (range: 1.09-1.54). In the range between 1.12 and 1.14, sensitivity and specificity are both above 90%. The area under the ROC curve for D/pR index was 0.96. The median D/rR index in whole lung transplantations was 0.95 (range: 0.56-2.74) and 1.58 in lobar transplantation (range: 0.85-2.56). The area under the ROC curve was 0.73. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the D/pR index is more useful than D/rR index in discriminating between whole lung transplantation and lobar transplantation. With an area under the ROC curve of 0.96, this seems to be a suitable indicator in deciding between whole lung transplantation and lobar transplantation.

Auricular acupressure as a treatment for anxiety before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the elderly.

PURPOSE: Auricular acupuncture at the relaxation point has been shown to be effective treatment for anxiety. We hypothesized that auricular acupressure may decrease anxiety in elderly individuals who are transported by ambulance before receiving ESWL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 100 patients with renal calculi who were transported to the local hospital by special ambulance, accompanied by 2 paramedics. Paramedic 1 performed data collection, while paramedic 2 performed auricular acupressure in patients randomly assigned to a relaxation group and a sham treated group. Anxiety was measured using a visual analog scale score on a scale of 0 to 100 mm. RESULTS: Each group consisted of 50 patients with similar demographic characteristics. The relaxation group had significantly decreased anxiety scores upon arrival at the hospital and lower anticipation of pain scores (mean+/-SD 57.6+/-21.8 to 15.4+/-9.8 and 35.7+/-29.7 to 9.5+/-4.1 mm VAS) than the sham treated group (55.5+/-25.9 to 49.8+/-28.9 and 37.7+/-24.1 to 33.8+/-25.2 mm VAS, respectively, 2-way repeated measure ANOVA each p=0.001). Estimated waiting times for treatment did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (5.0+/-2.5 and 5.5+/-2.95, respectively, repeated measures ANOVA p=0.83). The Post-Intervention Anxiety visual analog scale demonstrated the significant superiority of the true treatment group (19.5+/-5.9 and 66.8+/-27.9 mm VAS, respectively, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients who received auricular acupressure at specific relaxation points while being transported to the hospital were less anxious, anticipated less pain and were more optimistic about the outcome of treatment that they will receive than the sham treated group. These data prove that this is an effective treatment for anxiety that improves the patient overall perception of ESWL.