The impact of embryo vitrification on placental histopathology features and perinatal outcome in singleton live births.

STUDY QUESTION: Does embryo vitrification affect placental histopathology pattern and perinatal outcome in singleton live births? SUMMARY ANSWER: Embryo vitrification has a significant effect on the placental histopathology pattern and is associated with a higher prevalence of dysfunctional labor. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Obstetrical and perinatal outcomes differ between live births resulting from fresh and frozen embryo transfers. The effect of embryo vitrification on the placental histopathology features associated with the development of perinatal complications remains unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Retrospective cohort study evaluating data of all live births from one academic tertiary hospital resulting from IVF treatment with autologous oocytes during the period from 2009 to 2017. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: All patients had placentas sent for pathological evaluation irrelevant of maternal or fetal complications status. Placental, obstetric and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies resulting from hormone replacement vitrified embryo transfers were compared with those after fresh embryo transfers. A multivariate analysis was conducted to adjust the results for determinants potentially associated with the development of placental histopathology abnormalities. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A total of 1014 singleton live births were included in the final analysis and were allocated to the group of pregnancies resulting from fresh (n = 660) and hormone replacement frozen (n = 354) embryo transfers. After the adjustment for confounding factors the frozen embryo transfers were found to be significantly associated with chorioamnionitis with maternal (odds ratio (OR) 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-3.3) and fetal response (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.2-5.7), fetal vascular malperfusion (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.4-9.2), furcate cord insertion (OR 2.3 95% CI 1.2-5.3), villitis of unknown etiology (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1-4.2), intervillous thrombi (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3-3.7), subchorionic thrombi (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.6-7.0), as well as with failure of labor progress (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.5-4.2). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Since the live births resulted from frozen-thawed embryos included treatment cycles with previously failed embryo transfers, the factors over embryo vitrification may affect implantation and placental histopathology. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The study results contribute to the understanding of the perinatal future of fresh and vitrified embryos. Our findings may have an implication for the clinical decision to perform fresh or frozen-thawed embryo transfer. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): Authors have not received any funding to support this study. There are no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Correction to: The oxygen reserve index (ORI): a new tool to monitor oxygen therapy.

In the original publication of the article, the authors have realized an error in Fig. 1. The corrected version of Fig. 1 is given below.

The oxygen reserve index (ORI): a new tool to monitor oxygen therapy.

Supplemental oxygen is administered in the vast majority of patients in the perioperative setting and in the intensive care unit to prevent the potentially deleterious effects of hypoxia. On the other hand, the administration of high concentrations of oxygen may induce hyperoxia that may also be associated with significant complications. Oxygen therapy should therefore be precisely titrated and accurately monitored. Although pulse oximetry has become an indispensable monitoring technology to detect hypoxemia, its value in assessing the oxygenation status beyond the range of maximal arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2 ≥97%) is very limited. In this hyperoxic range, we need to rely on blood gas analysis, which is intermittent, invasive and sometimes delayed. The oxygen reserve index (ORI) is a new continuous non-invasive variable that is provided by the new generation of pulse oximeters that use multi-wavelength pulse co-oximetry. The ORI is a dimensionless index that reflects oxygenation in the moderate hyperoxic range (PaO2 100-200 mmHg). The ORI may provide an early alarm when oxygenation deteriorates well before any changes in SpO2 occur, may reflect the response to oxygen administration (e.g., pre-oxygenation), and may facilitate oxygen titration and prevent unintended hyperoxia. In this review we describe this new variable, summarize available data and preliminary experience, and discuss its potential clinical utilities in the perioperative and intensive care settings.

Tolerance's improvement of flexible bronchoscopy by Ericksonian hypnosis: The BREATH study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of Ericksonian hypnosis may allow an improvement of the tolerance of flexible bronchoscopy. METHODS: A comparative, two parallel-group, prospective, randomized monocentric clinical trial was conducted. After randomization, patients were divided into two groups: a standard group, in which bronchoscopy was performed according to the official French good practice guidelines and a study group, in which bronchoscopy was performed under hypnosis. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included, 7 patients were excluded and 60 patients were randomized. No significant differences in age, gender, examination indication and duration were observed between both groups. Two patients of the standard group removed the endoscope by themselves, resulting in a premature termination of bronchoscopy and they were excluded from the statistical analysis. In the standard group, the levels of anxiety, cough, dyspnoea and pain increased during the examination and the addition of local anaesthesia was more often required. In the hypnosis group, levels of anxiety, cough, dyspnoea decreased, whereas only the level of pain increased. There was a statistic significative difference in favour of hypnosis for all the other variables. Moreover, the behaviour score was higher in the standard group: 19.5±14.5 versus 7.3±4.7 (P<0.001), indicating a better tolerance in the hypnosis group. In the standard group, 14 patients refused a new examination under the same conditions versus 7 in the hypnosis group, and 12 patients asked for general anaesthesia in case of a new examination versus 7 in the hypnosis group. CONCLUSION: This randomised control trial is the first to test the faisability and the potential usefulness of Ericksonian hypnosis during flexible bronchoscopy. Our results indicates an improvement of tolerance and a positive effect on all studied parameters except pain. This method could be widely offered to all patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy.

Clowns for the prevention of preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if specially trained professional clowns allayed preoperative anxiety and resulted in a smooth anesthetic induction compared to the use of midazolam or no intervention. METHODS: This was a randomized, controlled, and blinded study conducted with children 3-8 years of age undergoing general anesthesia and elective outpatient surgery. Patients were assigned to one of three groups: Group 1 did not receive midazolam or clown presence; group 2 received 0.5 mg x kg(-1) oral midazolam 30 min before surgery up to a maximum of 15 mg; and group 3 had two specially trained clowns present upon arrival to the preoperative holding area and throughout operating room (OR) entrance and mask application for inhalation induction of anesthesia. The children were videotaped for later grading. RESULTS: The clown group had a statistically significant lower modified-Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale score in the preoperative holding area compared to the control and midazolam group. The clowns' effect on anxiety reduction continued when the children entered the OR but was equal at this point to the midazolam group. Upon application of the anesthesia mask no significant differences were detected between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the use of preoperative medically trained clowns for children undergoing surgery can significantly alleviate preoperative anxiety. However, clowns do not have any effect once the anesthesia mask is introduced.

[Minimally invasive cardiopulmonary monitoring with the PiCCO Plus system]. / PiCCO plus: monitorización cardiopulmonar mínimamente invasiva.

Insertion of a central venous catheter and an arterial catheter would be indicated in hemodynamically unstable or severely hypoxic patients in critical care units. In this setting, cardiorespiratory monitoring by transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) can be considered minimally invasive given that only a single arterial thermodilution catheter and a single central venous catheter are required to be connected to a specific monitor (the PiCCO Plus, Pulsion Medical Systems, Munich, Germany). TDTP simultaneously measures cardiac output, preloading, and cardiac function in hemodynamically unstable patients and predicts the response to volume. The technique can be managed by any health care professional. In hypoxic patients, TDTP identifies cases of pulmonary edema that might benefit from a negative fluid balance, evaluates pulmonary vascular permeability, facilitates our understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms of hypoxemia, and predicts the likelihood of deleterious hemodynamic effects of positive end-expiratory pressures.

Pressure support ventilation.

The field of ventilatory support has changed dramatically with the introduction of improvements in technology and new ventilatory modes. The most recent ventilators are characterized by microprocessor technology, making the interaction between patient and ventilator more sophisticated than ever before. This technology has enabled the development of pressure support ventilation, which has gained extensive popularity during the past 10 years. Pressure support ventilation is different from controlled mechanical ventilation or intermittent mandatory ventilation; pressure support ventilation is characterized by a unique combination of simultaneous spontaneous and mechanical breathing, so that the ventilatory and flow rates and tidal volume depend on the patient's breathing pattern and the set level of pressure support. Pressure support ventilation can be used as a stand-alone ventilatory support mode and alternative to volume-controlled ventilation, and it can be used in weaning patients from mechanical ventilation.

Effect of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks on QT dispersion.

Following transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks, a significant increase in QT dispersion was observed. We suggest shock-induced increased dispersion of myocardial repolarization as one of the mechanisms of shock-induced proarrhythmia.

Elevated plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels after occlusion of the thoracic aorta.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The influence of occlusion of the thoracic aorta by an intraluminal balloon on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels was evaluated in humans. METHODS: The changes in plasma ANP and plasma norepinephrine levels, and hemodynamic parameters were measured in 10 patients under general anesthesia undergoing regional chemotherapy treatment involving the 15-min inflation and subsequent deflation of an intraaortic balloon. RESULTS: The hemodynamic changes observed were similar to those seen during aortic clamping and declamping in patients undergoing vascular surgery. Plasma ANP levels (median+/-SD) measured 1 min after inflation (146+/-117 pg/mL) and 1 min after deflation (168+/-189 pg/mL) of the aortic balloon were significantly higher than baseline values (83+/-55 pg/mL), with a mean increase, respectively, of 92% and 97% (95% confidence intervals [CI], 50 to 147% and 53 to 152%). Plasma ANP levels were still elevated 30 min after deflation (121+/-94 pg/mL), a 56% increase (95% CI, 21 to 100%), although the hemodynamic parameters had already returned to their baseline levels. There was no evidence that the hemodynamic variables were associated with changes in plasma ANP levels (all p values > 0.30). In addition, there was no evidence of an association between plasma ANP and plasma norepinephrine levels at any of the four individual sampling points (p > 0.17). Thirty minutes after deflation, however, norepinephrine levels were higher than baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in plasma ANP levels after aortic occlusion and reinstitution of blood flow may be dependent on parameters other than atrial stretch and pressure.

The use of continuous flow of oxygen and PEEP during apnea in the diagnosis of brain death.

The establishment of apnea for the diagnosis of brain death by disconnecting the patient from the ventilator may lead to dangerous hypoxemia at the end of the test period. We established apnea for 4 min in 8 patients with suspected brain death, both by disconnecting them from the ventilator after 10 min ventilation with FIO2 = 1.0 (method "A"), and by leaving them attached to an IMV ventilator circuit with a continuous flow of 100% O2 and PEEP of 4-8 cm H2O without mechanical ventilation (method "B"). PaO2 decreased during the apneic period by 143 +/- 65 (SD) mmHg using method "A", and by 48 +/- 28 mmHg using method "B" (p less than 0.002). The changes in PaCO2 and pH were similar following both apneic methods. We conclude that it is safer to test for apnea by leaving the patients on a continuous flow of 100% oxygen and low PEEP than to disconnect them from the ventilator.

Pop-off system for the high flow IMV reservoir bag.

A pop-off valve system for use with intermittent mandatory ventilation that employs high flow and a reservoir bag is described. It ensures constancy of the mechanical tidal volume regardless of the flow rate of fresh gases into the reservoir bag of the spontaneous breathing circuit.

New monitors of intravascular volume: a comparison of arterial pressure waveform analysis and the intrathoracic blood volume.

OBJECTIVE: Two new monitoring techniques, the analysis of arterial pressure waveform during mechanical ventilation and the determination of intrathoracic blood volume, were evaluated for preload assessment in a model of graded hemorrhage. DESIGN: 8 anesthetized dogs bled of 10, 20, and 30% of their blood volume, then retransfused and volume loaded with plasma expander. Central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), cardiac output, parameters of the arterial pressure waveform analysis [systolic pressure variation (SPV) and delta down (dDOWN)], and intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) were measured at baseline and after each stage of hemorrhage and volume expansion. RESULTS: The stroke volume index decreased significantly from 1.3 +/- 0.4 ml/kg at baseline to 0.7 +/- 0.2 ml/kg at 30% hemorrhage and then increased after retransfusion and volume loading. The changes in the filling pressures during the various stages of hemorrhage were in the range of 1-2 mmHg. CVP decreased from 5.5 +/- 0.9 to 3.1 +/- 1.7 mmHg and PCWP from 8.0 +/- 0.8 to 5.1 +/- 1.2 mmHg at 30% hemorrhage. Both filling pressures responded significantly to retransfusion; PCWP also changed in response to a volume load. SPV and dDOWN (expressed as percent of the systolic blood pressure during a short apnea) increased significantly from 6.7 +/- 1.7 and 5.6 +/- 3.2%, respectively, at baseline, to 9.7 +/- 2.6 and 8.1 +/- 2.9% after 10% blood loss and to 13.1 +/- 3.9 and 11.1 +/- 3.8% after 30% hemorrhage. ITBV decreased significantly from 29.7 +/- 4.5 to 26.8 +/- 5.3 ml/kg after 10% blood loss and to 23.1 +/- 3.0 ml/kg after 30% hemorrhage. ITBV, SPV, and dDOWN responded significantly to retransfusion and volume load. Significant correlations were found between the degree of volume change and dDOWN (r = 0.93), SPV (r = 0.96), ITBV (r = 0.95), CVP (r = 0.82), and PCWP (r = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: The parameters of arterial pressure waveform analysis (SPV and dDOWN) and ITBV were sensitive estimates of cardiac preload during the early stages of hemorrhage. Measurement of SPV and dDOWN, being both sensitive and relatively noninvasive, has advantages over other methods of preload assessment but is limited to patients on controlled mechanical ventilation. ITBV, which supplies quantitative information about cardiac preload, is more invasive but can also be used in patients who are breathing spontaneously or who are on partial ventilatory support.

Effectiveness of CPAP by mask for pulmonary edema associated with hypercarbia.

We describe continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) by mask to reduce hypercarbia in two patients who had pulmonary edema due to congestive heart failure. In such patients, beside reducing venous return and filling pressures, CPAP improves compliance and decreases the work of breathing, thereby improving effective ventilation. Hence, CPAP may be useful to combat not only hypoxemia but also hypercarbia that is associated with pulmonary edema.

The effect of tidal volume and intravascular volume state on systolic pressure variation in ventilated dogs.

Both tidal volume and effective blood volume may affect the variation in the arterial pressure waveform during mechanical ventilation. The systolic pressure variation (SPV), which is the difference between the maximal and minimal systolic pressure values following one positive pressure breath was analyzed in 10 anesthetized and ventilated dogs, during ventilation with tidal volumes of 15 and 25 ml/kg. The dogs were studied during normovolemia, hypovolemia (after bleeding of 30% of estimated blood volume) and hypervolemia (after retransfusion of shed blood with additional 50 ml/kg of plasma expander). The SPV reflected hemodynamic changes and was maximal during hypovolemia and minimal during hypervolemia. Unlike all other hemodynamic parameters it was also affected by the tidal volume and significantly increased at higher tidal volumes during each volume state. We conclude that the SPV and its components are useful parameters in evaluating the intravascular volume state. They also reflect the magnitude of the tidal volume employed.

The pharmacokinetics of morphine and lidocaine in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters of morphine and lidocaine after a single intravenous dose in critically ill patients. DESIGN: Prospective, clinical study. SETTING: General intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Patients admitted to the ICU with severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome of various etiologies. INTERVENTIONS: A single intravenous dose of morphine (0.025 mg/kg) and lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) were given separately 12-36 h after admission, and arterial blood samples for serum drug levels were taken. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Morphine pharmacokinetics were studied in 30 patients. The clearance (Cl) was found to be 5.7+/-2.3 ml/kg per min, volume of distribution of the central compartment (Vc) 0.16+/-0.12 l/kg and volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) 1.08+/-0.69 l/kg. These values are lower then those described previously for healthy volunteers (33.5+/-9 ml/kg per min, 1.01+/-0.31 l/kg, and 5.16+/-1.4 l/kg, respectively), and similar to those described in trauma and burned patients. Lidocaine pharmacokinetics were tested in 24 subjects. The Cl was 6.9+/-3.8 ml/kg per min, Vc 0.25+/-0.1 l/kg and Vss 0.78+/-0.26 l/kg. These values are not different from parameters published previously for healthy volunteers (10 ml/kg per min, 0.53 l/min and 1.32 l/min, respectively). No correlation was found between clinical variables and pharmacokinetic parameters of both drugs (ANOVA). CONCLUSIONS: Both morphine and lidocaine have a reduced volume of distribution in critically ill patients. The normal lidocaine clearance indicates preserved hepatic blood flow and suggests that other mechanisms are involved in the reduced morphine clearance. These findings may have application for the treatment of ICU patients.

A new infusion flow stabilizer.

A new intravenous flow stabilizer (IFS) for keeping constant infusion rates was evaluated and found to be precise and easy to use. The IFS enables precise intravenous treatment while relieving the nursing staff of the frequent checking and readjustment that are required with the intravenous sets in current use.

Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility: anaesthetic implications and risk stratification.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare autosomal dominant trait that predisposes individuals to great danger when exposed to certain anaesthetic triggering agents, such as potent volatile anaesthetics and succinylcholine. Sudden hypermetabolic reaction occurs in skeletal muscle, leading to hyperthermia and massive rhabdomyolysis. Precautions must be taken before the anaesthesia of MH-susceptible patients. No triggering agents should be administered, central body temperature and ETCO2 should be carefully monitored, and dantrolene must be immediately available. In addition, the anaesthesia machine should be carefully washed to remove traces of halogenated agents, and the use of fresh disposable anaesthetic circuits is recommended. Early diagnosis of the syndrome by alert, informed anaesthesiologists, and the immediate administration of dantrolene and other supportive measures, has reduced mortality. Patients with MH susceptibility should be instructed to alert the anaesthesiologist about their condition whenever anaesthesia is needed. Although people diagnosed with MH susceptibility should not change their lifestyle in general, military service is limited.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients treated with ATRA--a manifestation of the basic disease or the treatment.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is considered the recommended induction treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia. In the pre-ATRA era pulmonary bleeding was a common cause of death in these patients, mostly due to disseminated intravascular coagulation which was further exacerbated by the administration of chemotherapy. Although ATRA syndrome, the most serious adverse effect of ATRA treatment, involves the lungs, pulmonary hemorrhage has only rarely been reported as a manifestation of ATRA syndrome. Here we describe 2 patients who developed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage during treatment with ATRA. The possible mechanisms of pulmonary bleeding in these cases are discussed.

Echocardiographic left ventricular remodeling and pseudohypertrophy as markers of hypovolemia. An experimental study on bleeding and volume repletion.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring intravascular volume during surgery, especially in major cardiovascular procedures is necessary for appropriate fluid restoration and the maintenance of an adequate cardiac output. In estimating preload, both standard hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters have been limited. The purpose of this study was to further define the effects of induced hypovolemia on the echocardiographic parameters. In particular, we sought to show whether a decrease in echocardiographic left ventricular area and volume was associated with a significant increase in left ventricular wall thickness (left ventricular pseudohypertrophy) and with changes in LV function. In addition, we sought to investigate the effects of rapid restoration of blood volume on cardiac dimensions and function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven anesthetized pigs underwent systemic and right heart pressures and cardiac output measurements. Two-dimensional echocardiographic parasternal long- and short-axis views were obtained during graded bleeding by rapid withdrawal of blood from an arterial cannula, with increments of 5% each up to 30% of calculated blood volume. After completion of the bleeding, the entire amount of the blood withdrawn was retransfused within 4 to 5 minutes. Both hemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements were performed at baseline, immediately after the completion of each stage of bleeding and after blood restoration. Mean (+/- standard deviation) left ventricular wall thickness (mean of septal and posterior wall thickness) was 6.3 +/- 0.1 mm at baseline, 8.3 +/- 1.5 mm at peak bleeding, and 6.2 +/- 0.1 after restoration (p < 0.01). Left ventricular mass did not change during the experiment. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 62.8 +/- 20.3 ml at baseline, 37.5 +/- 12.4 ml at peak bleeding (p < 0.0001), and 65.9 +/- 16.7 ml after blood restoration (p < 0.001 compared with 30% bleeding). H/r ratio (posterior wall thickness divided by left ventricular radius) increased from 0.29 +/- 0.07 at baseline to 0.50 +/- 0.19 at peak bleeding returning to 0.26 +/- 0.04 after restoration. Left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.53 +/- 0.10 at baseline and 0.55 +/- 0.20 at peak bleeding (not significant), decreasing to 0.38 +/- 0.11 after blood restoration (p < 0.05 compared with 30% bleeding). End-diastolic volume correlated closely with right atrial pressure (r = -0.82), capillary wedge pressure (r = -0.78), and stroke volume (r = 0.74). Left ventricular ejection fraction inversely correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = -0.48) and with end-systolic wall stress (r = -0.62). The changes in interventricular septal and posterior wall thickness were inversely related to left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = -0.72 and -0.35, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that transient concentric left ventricular remodeling (pseudohypertrophy), a phenomenon previously described in cardiac tamponade and during rapid atrial pacing is commonly seen during hypovolemia. This new sign may further enhance the echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular preload.