Simplified citrate anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy

Simplified citrate anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy.BackgroundRegional anticoagulation with trisodium citrate is an effective form of anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for patients with contraindications to heparin. However, because of the metabolic complications of trisodium citrate, it is a complicated technique requiring specialized dialysis solutions. We have designed a simplified protocol for citrate regional anticoagulation for CRRT.MethodsTwo percent trisodium citrate was delivered at 250 mL/h via the prefilter port of a COBE PRISMA device, with the rate adjusted to maintain a postfilter ionized calcium (iCa++) <0.5mmol/L. A central calcium gluconate infusion was used to maintain a systemic iCa++ at 1.1mmol/L. A standard dialysate solution consisting of 0.9% saline, KCl 3mmol/L, and MgSO4 1mmol/L was delivered at 1000 mL/h. We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes and complications associated with this protoco1 in 29 patients treated from July 1999 to October 1999, evaluating the frequency of clotting of the dialyzer, bleeding complications, citrate toxicity, and patient mortality.ResultsThe Kaplan–Meier curve for dialyzer survival demonstrated a 61% survival rate at 48 hours. There were no episodes of significant bleeding or citrate toxicity. Seventy-two percent of patients died for reasons unrelated to CRRT.ConclusionsA CRRT protocol using regional 2% trisodium citrate anticoagulation is not associated with significant bleeding complications or citrate toxicity, and represents a simplified approach compared with previous applications using 4% trisodium citrate

Repeated long-term sub-concussion impacts induce motor dysfunction in rats : a potential rodent model

Whilst detrimental effects of repeated sub-concussive impacts on neurophysiological and behavioral function are increasingly reported, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we report that repeated sub-concussion with a light weight drop (25 g) in wild-type PVG rats for 2 weeks does not induce detectable neuromotor dysfunction assessed by beamwalk and rotarod tests. However, after 12 weeks of repeated sub-concussion, the rats exhibited moderate neuromotor dysfunction. This is the first study to demonstrate development of neuromotor dysfunction following multiple long-term sub-concussive impacts in rats. The outcomes may offer significant opportunity for future studies to understand the mechanisms of sub-concussion-induced neuropsychological changes. © Copyright © 2020 Lavender, Rawlings, Warnock, McGonigle, Hiles-Murison, Nesbit, Lam, Hackett, Fitzgerald and Takechi

Open abdomen during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a safe and effective treatment for abdominal compartment syndrome

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Decompressive laparotomy and open abdomen for abdominal compartment syndrome have been historically avoided during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) due to seemingly elevated risks of bleeding and infection. Our goal was to evaluate a cohort of pediatric respiratory ECMO patients who underwent decompressive laparotomy with open abdomen at a single institution and to compare these patients to ECMO patients without open abdomen. METHODS: We reviewed all pediatric respiratory ECMO (30 days-18 years) patients treated with decompressive laparotomy with open abdomen at Riley Hospital for Children (1/2000-12/2019) and compared these patients to concurrent respiratory ECMO patients with closed abdomen. We excluded patients with surgical cardiac disease. We assessed demographics, ECMO data, and outcomes and defined significance as p = 0.05. RESULTS: 6 of 81 ECMO patients were treated with decompressive laparotomy and open abdomen. Open and closed abdomen groups had similar age (p = 0.223) and weight (0.286) at cannulation, but the open abdomen group had a higher reliance on vasoactive medications (Vasoactive Inotropic Score, p = 0.040). Open abdomen group survival was similar to closed abdomen patients (66.7%, vs 62.7%, p = 1). Open abdomen patients had lower incidence of ECMO complications (33.3% vs 83.6%, p = 0.014), but the groups had similar bleeding complications (p = 0.412) and PRBC transfusion volume (p = 0.941). CONCLUSION/IMPACT: Pediatric ECMO patients with open abdomen after decompressive laparotomy had similar survival, blood products administered, and complications as those with a closed abdomen. An open abdomen is not a contra-indication to ECMO support in pediatric respiratory patients and should be considered in select patients