Severe postpartum sepsis with prolonged myocardial dysfunction: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Severe sepsis during pregnancy or in the postpartum period is a rare clinical event. In non obstetric surviving patients, the cardiovascular changes seen in sepsis and septic shock are fully reversible five to ten days after their onset. We report a case of septic myocardial dysfunction lasting longer than ten days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of prolonged septic myocardial dysfunction in a parturient.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 24 year old Hispanic woman with no previous medical history developed pyelonephritis and severe sepsis with prolonged myocardial dysfunction after a normal spontaneous vaginal delivery.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Septic myocardial dysfunction may be prolonged in parturients requiring longer term follow up and pharmacologic treatment.</p

Heterogeneity in clinical practices for post-cardiotomy extracorporeal life support: A pilot survey from the PELS-1 multicenter study

Background: High-quality evidence for post-cardiotomy extracorporeal life support (PC-ECLS) management is lacking. This study investigated real-world PC-ECLS clinical practices. Methods: This cross-sectional, multi-institutional, international pilot survey explored center organization, anticoagulation management, left ventricular unloading, distal limb perfusion, PC-ECLS monitoring, and transfusion practices. Twenty-nine questions were distributed among 34 hospitals participating in the Post-cardiotomy Extra-Corporeal Life Support Study. Results: Of the 32 centers [16 low-volume (50%); 16 high-volume (50%)] that responded, 16 (50%) had dedicated ECLS specialists. Twenty-six centers (81.3%) reported using additional mechanical circulatory supports. Anticoagulation practices were highly heterogeneous: 24 hospitals (75%) reported using patients bleeding status as a guide, without a specific threshold in 54.2% of cases. Transfusion targets ranged from 7 to 10 g/dL. Most centers used cardiac venting on a case-by-case basis (78.1%) and regular distal limb perfusion (84.4%). Nineteen (54.9%) centers reported dedicated monitoring protocols, including daily echocardiography (87.5%), Swan-Ganz catheterization (40.6%), cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (53.1%), and multimodal assessment of limb ischemia. Inspection of the circuit (71.9%), oxygenator pressure drop (68.8%), plasma free hemoglobin (75%), d-dimer (59.4%), lactate dehydrogenase (56.3%), and fibrinogen (46.9%) are used to diagnose hemolysis and thrombosis. Conclusions: This study shows remarkable heterogeneity in clinical practices for PC-ECLS management. More standardized protocols and better implementation of the available evidence are recommended

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Factor IX from prothrombin complex concentrate augments low dose tissue factor-triggered thrombin generation in vitro

Background: Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is increasingly used to correct acquired coagulopathy in trauma and surgery. Dosing of PCC is guided by the prothrombin time, which only reflects the onset of thrombin generation, but does not account for variations in intrinsic pathway coagulation factors, including factor IX (FIX). We hypothesised that FIX contained in PCC could strongly influence thrombin generation patterns. Methods: Pooled normal, FIX-deficient, and warfarinised plasma were used to analyse the effects of FIX contained in PCC. PCC was evaluated at final concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4 IU ml−1 in FIX-deficient and normal plasma, and at 0.6 IU ml−1 in warfarinised plasma with elevated FVIII (1.5 IU ml−1), 40% dilution with saline, or both. The effects on thrombin generation were assessed by measuring both procoagulant and inhibitory segments. Results: FIX-deficient plasma had lower peak thrombin generation [30.6 (20.5–35.8) nM vs 130.2 (107–168) nM] and endogenous thrombin potential [472 (391–532) nM vs 1096 (958–1190) nM] than normal plasma. PCC addition resulted in significant increases of peak thrombin generation [81.8 (37.3–98.3) nM] and endogenous thrombin potential [808 (472–842) nM] in FIX-deficient plasma. The combination of FVIII and PCC resulted in greater increases relative to each agent alone, restoring normal thrombin generation. After 40% dilution, adding PCC, FVIII, or both, to FIX-deficient plasma increased peak thrombin generation, and prolonged the inhibitory phase of the endogenous thrombin potential. Conclusions: FIX derived from PCC strongly enhances tissue factor-triggered thrombin generation in the presence of elevated FVIII activity. Haemodilution further enhances procoagulant effects of FIX and FVIII by slowing down inhibition of procoagulant enzymes. Dosing of PCC per prothrombin time may underestimate PCC\u27s procoagulant potential because it does not account for intrinsic tenase or antithrombin activity

Perioperative management of rare coagulation factor deficiency states in cardiac surgery

Rare bleeding disorders (RBDs) include the hereditary deficiency of fibrinogen, factor (F)II, FV, FV + FVIII, FVII, FX, FXI or FXIII. RBDs do not confer a protective effect against atheromatous plaque formation, and thus the need for cardiovascular (CV) surgery in RBD patients is expected to increase with improved healthcare access (diagnosis and management) and longevity of the population. Clinical data regarding the management of RBDs in this setting are sparse, but the perioperative care team is obliged to gain a better understanding on available biological and pharmacological hemostatic agents. Perioperative management of RBDs in CV surgery is further complicated by heparin anticoagulation, haemodilution, and consumption of procoagulant and anticoagulant proteins associated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The aims of this review are to summarize pathophysiology of RBDs and laboratory monitoring pertinent to CV surgery, available factor replacement agents, and to provide the framework for perioperative coagulation management of RBD patients

Does lactate affect the association of early hyperglycemia and multiple organ failure in severely injured blunt trauma patients?

BACKGROUND: Early hyperglycemia is associated with multiple organ failure (MOF) after traumatic injury; however, few studies have considered the contribution of depth of clinical shock. We hypothesize that when considered simultaneously, glucose and lactate are associated with MOF in severely injured blunt trauma patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective investigation at a single tertiary care trauma center. Inclusion criteria were patient age \u3e18 years, injury severity score (ISS) \u3e15, blunt mechanism of injury, and an intensive care unit length of stay \u3e48 hours. Patients with a history of diabetes or who did not survive the initial 48 hours were excluded. Demographics, injury severity, and physiologic data were recorded. Blood glucose and lactate values were collected from admission through the initial 24 hours of hospitalization. Multiple metrics of glucose and lactate were calculated: the first glucose (Glucadm, mg/dL) and lactate (Lacadm, mmol/L) at hospital admission, the mean initial 24-hour glucose (Gluc24hMean, mg/dL) and lactate (Lac24hMean, mmol/L), and the time-weighted initial 24-hour glucose (Gluc24hTW) and lactate (Lac24hTW). These metrics were divided into quartiles. The primary outcome was MOF. Separate Cox proportional hazard models were generated to assess the association of each individual glucose and lactate metric on MOF, after controlling for ISS, admission shock index, and disposition to the operating room after hospital admission. We assessed the interaction between glucose and lactate metrics in the multivariable models. Results are reported as hazard ratios (HRs) for an increase in the quartile level of glucose and lactate measurements, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 507 severely injured blunt trauma patients were evaluated. MOF occurred in 46 of 507 (9.1%) patients and was associated with a greater median ISS (33.5, interquartile range [IQR]: 22.41 vs 27, IQR: 21.34; P \u3c .001) and a greater median admission shock index (0.82, IQR: 0.68.1.1 vs 0.73, IQR: 0.60.0.91; P = .02). Patients who were transferred to the operating room after the initial trauma resuscitation were also more likely to develop MOF (20 of 119, 14.4% vs 26 of 369, 7.1%; P = .01). Three separate Cox proportional regression models demonstrated the following HR for an increase in the individual glucose metric quartile and MOF, while controlling for confounding variables: Glucadm HR: 1.35, 95% CI, 1.02.1.80; Gluc24hMean HR: 1.63, 95% CI, 1.14.2.32; Gluc24hTW HR: 1.14, 95% CI, 0.86.1.50. Three separate Cox proportional hazards models also demonstrated the following HR for each individual lactate metric quartile while controlling for the same confounders, with MOF again representing the dependent variable: Lacadm HR: 1.94, 95% CI, 1.38.2.96; Lac24hMean HR: 1.68, 95% CI, 1.22.2.31; Lac24hTW HR: 1.49, 95% CI, 1.10.2.02. When metrics of both glucose and lactate were entered into the same model only lactate remained significantly associated with MOF: Lacadm HR: 1.86, 95% CI, 1.29.2.69, Lac24hMean HR: 1.54, 95% CI, 1.11.2.12, and Lac24hTW HR: 1.48, 95% CI, 1.08.2.01. There was no significant interaction between lactate and glucose variables in relation to the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: When glucose and lactate are considered simultaneously, only lactate remained significantly associated with MOF in severely injured blunt trauma patients

Reduced Requirement for Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for the Restoration of Thrombin Generation in Plasma from Liver Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND: Plasma transfusion remains the mainstay hemostatic therapy during liver transplantation (LT) in most countries. However, a large volume is required for plasma to achieve clinically relevant factor increases. Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is a low-volume alternative to plasma in warfarin reversal, but its efficacy has not been well studied in LT. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 28 LT patients at baseline (T 0) and 30 minutes after graft reperfusion (T 1). Factor X and antithrombin levels were measured. Ex vivo effects of PCC (0.2 and 0.4 IU/mL) and 10% volume replacement with normal plasma were compared in LT and warfarin plasma by measuring lag time, thrombin peak, and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) using thrombin generation (TG) assay. RESULTS: Coagulation status was worsened at T 1 as international normalized ratio increased from 1.7 to 3.0, and factor X was decreased from 49% to 28%. TG measurements showed normal lag time and ETP at T 0 and T 1, but low-normal peak at T 0, and below-normal peak at T 1. Both doses of PCC increased peak and ETP, while 10% volume plasma had minimal effects on TG. Thrombin inhibition appears to be very slow after adding 0.4 IU/mL of PCC in LT plasma due to low antithrombin. The same doses of PCC and plasma were insufficient for warfarin reversal. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced TG in LT can be more effectively restored by using PCC rather than plasma. The required doses of PCC for LT patients seem to be lower than warfarin reversal due to slow thrombin inhibition

Case report of severe antithrombin deficiency during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and therapeutic plasma exchange for double lung transplantation

Acquired antithrombin (AT) deficiency is not uncommon in cardiothoracic surgery because of heparin exposure and dilutional or consumptive losses. We report a case of acquired AT deficiency and resultant multiple deep vein thrombosis in a patient with pulmonary fibrosis on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation who underwent double lung transplantation with intraoperative therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) as a part of an immunomodulation regimen for allosensitization. Preoperative heparin anticoagulation resulted in AT deficiency, which was further exacerbated by TPE using albumin. The recovery of AT activity after TPE with plasma was incomplete, and postoperative deficiencies of AT and other anticoagulants might have contributed to deep vein thromboses. The limitation of thromboelastometry in detecting AT deficiency was evident