Management of Bleeding and Hemolysis During Percutaneous Microaxial Flow Pump Support A Practical Approach

© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVADs) are increasingly being used because of improved experience and availability. The Impella (Abiomed), a percutaneous microaxial, continuous-flow, short-term ventricular assist device, requires meticulous postimplantation management to avoid the 2 most frequent complications, namely, bleeding and hemolysis. A standardized approach to the prevention, detection, and treatment of these complications is mandatory to improve outcomes. The risk for hemolysis is mostly influenced by pump instability, resulting from patient- or device-related factors. Upfront echocardiographic assessment, frequent monitoring, and prompt intervention are essential. The precarious hemostatic balance during pVAD support results from the combination of a procoagulant state, due to critical illness and contact pathway activation, together with a variety of factors aggravating bleeding risk. Preventive strategies and appropriate management, adapted to the impact of the bleeding, are crucial. This review offers a guide to physicians to tackle these device-related complications in this critically ill pVAD-supported patient population.Peer reviewe

The influence of migraine and female hormones on capsaicin-induced dermal blood flow

Background Migraine is much more common in females than in males, and occurrence is associated with changes in female sex hormones. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays a key role in migraine, and variations in female sex hormones may affect CGRP sensitivity and/or production. Objectives Investigate repeatability, gender differences, influence of the menstrual cycle and of migraine on CGRP-dependent changes in dermal blood flow (DBF). Methods CGRP-dependent increases in DBF were assessed using laser Doppler perfusion imaging after topical application of 300 or 1000 µg capsaicin on the forearm of healthy subjects and migraine patients. Results In healthy males, DBF response did not vary over time and was comparable with DBF in male migraineurs. In healthy females, capsaicin-induced DBF responses to both doses of capsaicin were higher during menstruation compared to the late-secretory phase (p < 0.05); this menstrual cycle dependence was absent in female migraine patients. Compared to healthy subjects, female migraineurs displayed a higher DBF response both during menstruation and during the late-secretory phase (p < 0.05). Conclusions An increased capsaicin-induced, CGRP-mediated DBF response was observed during menstruation in healthy women, but in female migraine patients this increased response was not affected by the menstrual cycle.status: publishe

Long-term effects of gastric bypass surgery on psychosocial well-being and eating behavior: not all that glitters is gold

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate long-term effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on physical and psychosocial health as well as eating behavior of obese patients.peerreview_statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope. aims_and_scope_url: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=yacb20status: publishe