Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Post-resuscitation hemodynamic instability following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) may occur from myocardial dysfunction underlying cardiogenic shock and/or inflammation-mediated distributive shock. Distinguishing the predominant shock subtype with widely available clinical metrics may have prognostic and therapeutic value. ⋯ In post-resuscitation shock, higher LVEF-indicating distributive shock physiology-was associated with less favorable neurocognitive outcome, fewer days without organ failure, and higher mortality. Greater early volume resuscitation was associated with more favorable neurocognitive outcome and survival in patients with this shock subtype. Additional studies with repeated measures of complementary hemodynamic parameters are warranted to validate the clinical utility for subtyping post-resuscitation shock.
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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used in critically ill patients with severe pulmonary and/or cardiac failure. Blood is drained from the venous system and pumped through a membrane oxygenator where it is oxygenated. For pulmonary support, the blood is returned to the patient via a vein (veno-venous ECMO) and for pulmonary/circulatory support it is returned via an artery (veno-arterial ECMO). ⋯ If venous blood is drained from the IVC, the patient is at risk of developing a dual circulation (Harlequin syndrome, North-South syndrome, differential oxygenation) meaning a poor oxygenation of the upper part of the body, while the lower part has excellent oxygenation. By instead draining from the superior caval vein (SVC) via a multistage cannula inserted in the right internal jugular vein this risk is neutralized. In conclusion, the authors argue that draining blood from the SVC and right atrium via a multistage cannula inserted in the right internal jugular vein is equal or better than IVC drainage both in veno-venous two cannula ECMO and in veno-arterial ECMO with blood return to the femoral artery.
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Identifying predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQL) following burns is essential for optimization of rehabilitation for burn survivors. This study aimed to systematically review predictors of HRQL in burn patients. ⋯ HRQL after burns is affected by the severity of burns and the psychological response to the trauma. Both constructs provide unique information and knowledge that are necessary for optimized rehabilitation. Therefore, both physical and psychological problems require attention months to years after the burn trauma.