VIS and VVR Scores as Outcome Predictors for Children on ECMO
Ira Shukla, Sheila Hanson, Ke Yan, and Jian Zhang recently published a paper, “Vasoactive-Inotropic Score and Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal Score as Outcome Predictors for Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation” in Frontiers in Pediatrics. Here we summarize their findings. The complete published manuscript is also available on the Frontiers website. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become more commonly used…
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Treatment Effect of Daily Assessment of Readiness to Liberate from VV ECMO in Patients with ARDS
Elias Pratt and colleagues recently published a research paper, “A Daily, Respiratory Therapist Assessment of Readiness to Liberate from Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome,” in Critical Care Explorations. Here we summarize their work. A frequent rescue method for acute respiratory failure, especially acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is venovenous…
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Caution in Using Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time to Monitor Argatroban
Susan Guy and colleagues recently published a research paper, “Caution in Using the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time to Monitor Argatroban in COVID-19 and Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT),” in Clinical and Applied Thombosis/Hemostasis. Here we summarize their work. Argatroban is approved for the treatment of patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombocytopenia (VITT),…
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A Sneak-Peek into the Physician’s Brain: Weighing TAVR vs. SAVR for Aortic Stenosis Treatment
In the contemporary era, for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a viable alternative to isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (iSAVR). The evolution of TAVR over the previous two decades, particularly its usage in younger patients, has provided a glimpse of the new technique’s progressive integration into…
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Educational psychology of medical training
Medical training has high stakes, sometimes higher than other forms of training. It involves working with a very complex subject matter and having to make life and death calls. It is important to provide an education that takes into account the needs of the learner to offer good outcomes. Here is where educational psychology might…
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Non-Invasive Biomarkers of Fontan Associated Liver Disease
Surgical palliation (resulting in the Fontan circulation and total cavo-pulmonary connection) is beneficial to palliate symptoms in patients with a range of congenital cardiac diseases and lesions as hypoplastic left heart syndrome and tricuspid atresia. Passive venous flow directly enters the pulmonary circulation, increasing oxygen saturation in arterial blood. As a result of this increase,…
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Cardiac Structural Remodeling and Hemodynamic Patterns Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
The PARTNER (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve Trial) has been paving the way since 2011, establishing that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is equally effective as surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who are at high surgical risk. In 2019, the advantages of TAVR were extended to patients with…
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Development of a Higher Flow Rate Hemocompatible Biomimetic Microfluidic Blood Oxygenator
The rising frequency of chronic lung disorders like COPD, as well as the unexpected and potentially devastating outbreaks of acute infectious diseases like swine flu and COVID-19, underline the urgent need for better therapies for respiratory insufficiency and respiratory failure. Every year, invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) is used to assist oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal…
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Use of Intraoperative Blood Autotransfusion in Obstetrics
During pregnancy, maternal hemorrhage is a significant risk. It could cause maternal morbidity and mortality. Intraoperative cell salvage is becoming more common in obstetric surgery worldwide for women who are at risk of peripartum hemorrhage after cesarean delivery. It includes a collection of the patient’s blood from the surgical field, cleansing away the contaminants, and…
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Cardioplegia from Depolarized to Polarized Cardiac Arrest in Adult Cardiac Surgery
For a long time, wounds of the heart have been untreatable and fatal. The first cardiac wound was healed in the USA by St. Louis in 1891. In 1923, the first surgery (closed-heart surgery) was performed by Levine and Cutler in Boston, which also helped treat mitral stenosis via commissurotomy. After 35 years, open-heart surgery…
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Decision making of lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented challenge to the lifestyle of people, public health. The impact is felt in finance, business, travel, tourism, education, and other sectors of the company. People have been cautious, and that is why they introduced the lockdowns. However, there is a need to make predictions on different factors…
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FDA announces Class I recall of Cardiosave intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs)
The FDA, on December 16, identified the recall by Getinge/Datascope/Maquet of its Cardiosave Hybrid and Cardiosave Rescue Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABPs) as Class I, the most serious. Getinge/Datascope/Maquet is recalling these products due to complaints of fluid leaks. Fluid entering the Cardiosave IABP may cause unexpected pump shutdown or the inability to initiate therapy.There has…
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