Frontiers in medicine
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Frontiers in medicine · Jan 2018
ReviewCoagulation and Bleeding Management in Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Clinical Scenarios and Review.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving procedure that requires careful coagulation management. Indications for ECMO continue to expand, leading to more complicated patients treated by ECMO teams. ⋯ This team formulates a coagulation plan in conjunction with a multidisciplinary ECMO team after careful review of all available laboratory data as well as the patient's clinical status. Here, we present our general strategies for ECMO management in various clinical scenarios and a review of the literature pertaining to coagulation management in the pediatric ECMO setting.
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Frontiers in medicine · Jan 2018
ReviewImproving Perioperative Outcomes Through Minimally Invasive and Non-invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring Techniques.
An increasing number of patients require precise intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring due to aging and comorbidities. To prevent undesirable outcomes from intraoperative hypotension or hypoperfusion, appropriate threshold settings are required. These setting can vary widely from patient to patient. ⋯ Based on the concept of personalized medicine, individual assessment and treatment are more advantageous than conventional or uniform interventions. The recent development of minimally and noninvasive monitoring devices make it possible to apply detailed control, tracking, and observation of broad patient populations, all while reducing adverse complications. In this manuscript, we review the monitoring features of each device, together with possible advantages and disadvantages of their use in optimizing patient hemodynamic management.
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Interstitial lung disease (ILD) comprises a heterogeneous group of diffuse parenchymal lung processes with overlapping clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features. Among the most common and deadly ILDs are idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP). As the name implies, the cause of IPF remains elusive, but a variety of genetic and infectious risk factors have been identified. ⋯ In this piece, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the genomic factors that influence susceptibility and outcome risk among patients with IPF and CHP. Genomic modalities used to identify these genomic markers include genome-wide association studies, analyses of gene expression, drug-gene interaction testing, telomere length determination, telomerase mutation analysis, and studies of the lung microbiome. We then identify gaps in knowledge that should be addressed to help facilitate the incorporation of these genomic technologies into ILD clinical practice.
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Frontiers in medicine · Jan 2018
ReviewThe Role of Plasma Transfusion in Massive Bleeding: Protecting the Endothelial Glycocalyx?
Massive hemorrhage is a leading cause of death worldwide. During the last decade several retrospective and some prospective clinical studies have suggested a beneficial effect of early plasma-based resuscitation on survival in trauma patients. The underlying mechanisms are unknown but appear to involve the ability of plasma to preserve the endothelial glycocalyx. ⋯ In addition, we briefly present data on the possible plasma components responsible for these effects. The endothelial glycocalyx is increasingly recognized as a critical component for the physiological vasculo-endothelial function, which is destroyed in hemorrhagic shock. Interventions for preserving an intact glycocalyx shall improve survival of trauma patients.
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Frontiers in medicine · Jan 2018
ReviewThe Management of Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common form of fibrosing idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, is an inexorably progressive disease with a 5-year survival of ~20%. In the last decade, our understanding of disease pathobiology has increased significantly and this has inevitably impacted on the approach to treatment. Indeed, the paradigm shift from a chronic inflammatory disorder to a primarily fibrotic one coupled with a more precise disease definition and redefined diagnostic criteria have resulted in a massive increase in the number of clinical trials evaluating novel candidate drugs. ⋯ Lung transplantation, the only curative treatment, remains a viable option for only a minority of highly selected patients. The unmet medical need in IPF remains high, and more efficacious and better tolerated drugs are urgently needed. However, a truly effective therapeutic approach should also address quality of life and highly prevalent concomitant conditions and complications of IPF.