Echocardiography and Ultrasound Committee statement for the accreditation programme in point-of-care ultrasonography in Poland

Ultrasonography is becoming an essential part of the management of critically ill patients. There has been a sufficient body of evidence to support the incorporation of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine training programme. Recently the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine reco­gnized POCUS as an essential skill for European Intensive Care Medicine specialists and updated Competency Based Training in Intensive Care (CoBaTrICe). Following European training standards, the Ultrasound and Echocardiography Committee of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy issued this Position Statement for recommendations for the accreditation process in POCUS in Poland

Measurement of cricoid pressure force during simulated Sellick’s manoeuvre

BACKGROUND: Cricoid pressure is a standard anaesthetic procedure used to reduce the risk of aspiration of gastric contents during the induction of general anaesthesia. However, for several years its validity has been questioned. There still remains the question of whether we perform it correctly. The aim of the study was an evaluation of the theoretical knowledge of Sellick’s manoeuvre, as well an assessment of practical skill related with it when simulated on a model of the upper airway. METHODS: The study was performed on a cohort of anaesthetists and anaesthetic nurses working in various hospitals in the Warsaw area. Measurements were taken on an upper airway model placed on an electronic kitchen scale. Participants were asked to perform Sellick’s manoeuvre in the way they do it in their clinical practice. The test was done twice. Both the position and pressures applied on the model were documented. Knowledge concerning current recommendations of cricoid force was noted. RESULTS: 206 subjects participated in the study. Only 49% (n = 101) properly identified cricoid cartilage during their application of Sellick’s manoeuvre. Application of the correct pressure on the model of the airway was noted in 16.5% (n = 34) during the first attempt and in 20.4% (n = 42) during the second attempt. The median force applied during simulated Sellick’s manoeuvre was 36 N (IQR: 26–55) in the first attempt, and 38 (IQR 25–55) in the second attempt. CONCLUSIONS: Sellick’s manoeuvre was performed incorrectly in many cases. Half of the participants of our study applied the pressure in the wrong place while the majority of them used an inappropriate amount of force. Thus, the application of cricoid pressure in patients should be preceded with simulation training. BACKGROUND: Cricoid pressure is a standard anaesthetic procedure used to reduce the risk of aspiration of gastric contents during the induction of general anaesthesia. However, for several years its validity has been questioned. There still remains the question of whether we perform it correctly. The aim of the study was an evaluation of the theoretical knowledge of Sellick’s manoeuvre, as well an assessment of practical skill related with it when simulated on a model of the upper airway. METHODS: The study was performed on a cohort of anaesthetists and anaesthetic nurses working in various hospitals in the Warsaw area. Measurements were taken on an upper airway model placed on an electronic kitchen scale. Participants were asked to perform Sellick’s manoeuvre in the way they do it in their clinical practice. The test was done twice. Both the position and pressures applied on the model were documented. Knowledge concerning current recommendations of cricoid force was noted. RESULTS: 206 subjects participated in the study. Only 49% (n = 101) properly identified cricoid cartilage during their application of Sellick’s manoeuvre. Application of the correct pressure on the model of the airway was noted in 16.5% (n = 34) during the first attempt and in 20.4% (n = 42) during the second attempt. The median force applied during simulated Sellick’s manoeuvre was 36 N (IQR: 26–55) in the first attempt, and 38 (IQR 25–55) in the second attempt. CONCLUSIONS: Sellick’s manoeuvre was performed incorrectly in many cases. Half of the participants of our study applied the pressure in the wrong place while the majority of them used an inappropriate amount of force. Thus, the application of cricoid pressure in patients should be preceded with simulation training

Investigation of the Surface Treatment Process of AISI 304 Stainless Steel by Centrifugal Disc Finishing with the Use of an Active Workpiece Holder

This article presents the results of experimental studies of the centrifugal disc finishing (CDF) process of 304 steel elements with the use of an active workpieces holder, that allows workpieces for additional rotational and oscillation movements. The main aim of the research was to evaluate the mechanism of formation of the surface texture and to assess the intensity and effectiveness of the machining process. It is shown that additional movements of the workpiece significantly affect the formation of the machining traces generated by the elementary phenomena of micro-cutting, scratching, grooving, etc. As a result, these combined and complex interactions lead to the formation of the surface topography of the workpieces. Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the use of an active workpiece holder in the CDF process allows changes in the intensity of the machining process. Moreover, the active holder allows modification of the surface smoothing process. The intensity of the treatment process depends primarily on the location of the workpiece holder in the appropriate energy area of the work charge. On the other hand, the efficiency of the workpiece surface smoothing depends on the parameters of the oscillation and rotational movements of the workpiece mounted in the active holder. The presented research results show that the use of an active holder, enabling rotation and oscillation of the workpiece, may lead to a more effective use of smoothing processes in CDF machines. The analysis of the results shows that the values of the Sdr and Sa parameters are more strongly dependent on the vibration frequency and increase with its increasing frequency. This is undoubtedly the result of the concentration of smoothing marks on the smoothed surface. However, with regard to the rotational speed of the object, this relationship is non-monotonic, and its greatest influence occurs at its intermediate values. It follows that this activity does not have a significant impact on the generation of the number of smoothing marks and the degree of their concentration. The research methodology proposed in the work allows the initial determination of the dependence of the results of the CDF process on the machining parameters, including the parameters of the active holder. This methodology can also be used for machining materials other than AISI 304 steel

Postoperative Analgesia after Open Liver Surgery: Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence

Background: The existing recommendations for after open liver surgery, published in 2019, contains limited evidence on the use of regional analgesia techniques. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize available clinical evidence, published after September 2013, on systemic or blended postoperative analgesia for the prevention or treatment of postoperative pain after open liver surgery. Methods: The PUBMED and EMBASE registries were used for the literature search to identify suitable studies. Keywords for the literature search were selected, with the authors’ agreement, using the PICOS approach: participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study design. Results: The literature search led to the retrieval of a total of 800 studies. A total of 36 studies including 25 RCTs, 5 prospective observational, and 7 retrospective observational studies were selected as suitable for this systematic review. Conclusions: The current evidence suggests that, in these patients, optimal postoperative pain management should rely on using a “blended approach” which includes the use of systemic opioids and the infusion of NSAIDs along with regional techniques. This approach warrants the highest efficacy in terms of pain prevention, including the lower incretion of postoperative “stress hormones”, and fewer side effects. Furthermore, concerns about the potential for the increased risk of wound infection related to the use of regional techniques have been ruled out

Conventional and Real-Time PCR Targeting <i>bla</i>_OXA Genes as Reliable Methods for a Rapid Detection of Carbapenem-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Clinical Strains

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, particularly those producing carbapenemases, are spread worldwide. A reliable detection of carbapenemases is essential to choose the appropriate antimicrobial therapy and, consequently, prevent the dissemination of carbapenem-resistant strains. The aim of this study is to examine the molecular basis of the carbapenem resistance mechanism and estimation of conventional PCR and real-time PCR usefulness for the detection of oxacillinases when compared to phenotypic carbapenemases detection. The following methods were evaluated: the CarbAcineto NP test, Carbapenem Inactivation Method, CPO panels of semiautomated antimicrobial susceptibility testing method on the BD Phoenix™ M50 system, conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction and real-time PCR. The eazyplex® SuperBug complete A assay was used as the reference method. Among the tested strains, 39 (67.2%) carried the blaOXA-40 gene, while the blaOXA-23 gene was noted amongst 19 (32.8%) isolates. The diagnostic sensitivities of the studied assays were as follows: CarbAcineto NP—65.5%; CIM—100%; CPO—100%; conventional PCR—100%; real-time PCR—100%

Infections as novel risk factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: Pathophysiological links and therapeutic implications

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are the major cause of mortality world-wide. Despite the continuous progress in ASCVD therapy, the residual risk persists beyond the management of traditional risk factors. Several infections including Helicobacter pylori infection, periodontal disease, and viral infections are associated with the increased risk of ASCVD, both directly by damage to the heart muscle and vasculature, and indirectly by triggering a systemic proin-flammatory state. Hence, beyond the optimal management of the traditional ASCVD risk factors, infections should be considered as an important non-classical risk factor to enable early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Here, we summarized the currently available evidence regarding the role of inflammation in ASCVD and the association between the particular infections and pathogens (Helicobacter pylori, periodontal disease, pneumonia, Cytomegalovirus, Human immunodeficiency virus, Herpes simplex virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) on the development and progression of ASCVD. We also speculated about the potential therapeutic implications of the anti-inflammatory and anti-infective drugs on ASCVD outcomes, including drugs routinely administered in patients with ASCVD (statins, P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers) and novel strategies aiming at residual risk reduction (colchicine, anti-cytokine drugs, and methotrexate). Considering the emerging association between infections and ASCVD, it is crucial to determine the possible advantages of infection prevention and treatment in patients with ASCVD

Reply to Sanfilippo et al. Caution Is Warranted When Assessing Diastolic Function Using Transesophageal Echocardiography. Comment on &ldquo;Kyle et al. Consensus Defined Diastolic Dysfunction and Cardiac Postoperative Morbidity Score: A Prospective Observational Study. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 5198&rdquo;

We thank Sanfilippo and colleagues for their insightful comments about the assessment of diastolic function with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) [...

Acquired immunological imbalance after surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass due to epigenetic over-activation of PU.1/M-CSF

Abstract Background It has been shown that severe insult to the immune system may trigger prolonged macrophage characteristics associated with excessive release of monocyte colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). However, it is unclear how persistent is the macrophage-like characteristics in circulating monocytes (MO). In this study, 20 patients who underwent non-emergent cardiopulmonary bypass had their monocytes characterized before surgery and 3 months after surgery. Methods We assessed the macrophage characteristics of MO using cytokine production, surface marker expression, an ability to stimulate T cells, and methylation of the promoter region of the gene encoding PU.1, a critical component to M-CSF production. MO function as well as activation and differentiation potential were longitudinally assessed. Results At 3 months after cardiopulmonary bypass, monocytes exhibited increased expression of MRP8, transforming growth factor-β/latency-associated peptide, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 while phagocytic properties were increased. Concomitantly, we observed a decreased expression of CD86, a decreased ability to form regulatory dendritic cells, and a diminished ability to stimulate T cells. These characteristics were accompanied by a persistent increase in the secretion of M-CSF, over-activation of PU.1, and decreased methylation of the PU.1 promoter region. Serum levels of C-reactive protein and anti-cytomegalovirus IgG antibody titers were also elevated in some patients at 3 months after surgery. Conclusions We concluded that at 3 months after cardiopulmonary bypass, monocytes continued to express a new macrophage-like milieu that was associated with the persistent activation of the PU.1/M-CSF pathway

Mortality in patients with septic cardiomyopathy identified by longitudinal strain by speckle tracking echocardiography: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

Background: Septic cardiomyopathy is associated with poor outcomes but its definition remains unclear. In a previous meta-analysis, left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain (LS) showed significant prognostic value in septic patients, but findings were not robust due to a limited number of studies, differences in effect size and no adjustment for confounders. Methods: We conducted an updated systematic review (PubMed and Scopus up to 14.02.2023) and meta-analysis to investigate the association between LS and survival in septic patients. We included studies reporting global (from three apical views) or regional LS (one or two apical windows). A secondary analysis evaluated the association between LV ejection fraction (EF) and survival using data from the selected studies. Results: We included fourteen studies (1678 patients, survival 69.6%) and demonstrated an association between better performance (more negative LS) and survival with a mean difference (MD) of −1.45%[−2.10, −0.80] (p < 0.0001;I2 = 42%). No subgroup differences were found stratifying studies according to number of views used to calculate LS (p = 0.31;I2 = 16%), severity of sepsis (p = 0.42;I2 = 0%), and sepsis criteria (p = 0.59;I2 = 0%). Trial sequential analysis and sensitivity analyses confirmed the primary findings. Grade of evidence was low. In the included studies, thirteen reported LVEF and we found an association between higher LVEF and survival (MD = 2.44% [0.44,4.45]; p = 0.02;I2 = 42%). Conclusions: We confirmed that more negative LS values are associated with higher survival in septic patients. The clinical relevance of this difference and whether the use of LS may improve understanding of septic cardiomyopathy and prognostication deserve further investigation. The association found between LVEF and survival is of unlikely clinical meaning. Registration: PROSPERO number CRD42023432354SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

How to Maintain Safety and Maximize the Efficacy of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in COVID-19 Patients: Insights from the Recent Guidelines

Since December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has remained a challenge for governments and healthcare systems all around the globe. SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with increased rates of hospital admissions and significant mortality. The pandemic increased the rate of cardiac arrest and the need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). COVID-19, with its pathophysiology and detrimental effects on healthcare, influenced the profile of patients suffering from cardiac arrest, as well as the conditions of performing CPR. To ensure both the safety of medical personnel and the CPR efficacy for patients, resuscitation societies have published modified guidelines addressing the specific reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we briefly describe the transmission and pathophysiology of COVID-19, present the challenges of CPR in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, summarize the current recommendations regarding the algorithms of basic life support (BLS), advanced life support (ALS) and pediatric life support, and discuss other aspects of CPR in COVID-19 patients, which potentially affect the risk-to-benefit ratio of medical procedures and therefore should be considered while formulating further recommendations