scholarly journals Ultrasound‐guided point‐of‐care ablation for atrial fibrillation in intensive care

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantin Yastrebov
2021 ◽  
pp. 088506662098828
Author(s):  
Madhumita Premkumar ◽  
Kamal Kajal ◽  
Anand V. Kulkarni ◽  
Ankur Gupta ◽  
Smita Divyaveer

Point-of-Care (POC) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is transforming the management of patients with cirrhosis presenting with septic shock, acute kidney injury, hepatorenal syndrome and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) by correctly assessing the hemodynamic and volume status at the bedside using combined echocardiography and POC ultrasound (POCUS). When POC TTE is performed by the hepatologist or intensivist in the intensive care unit (ICU), and interpreted remotely by a cardiologist, it can rule out cardiovascular conditions that may be contributing to undifferentiated shock, such as diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, regional wall motion abnormalities and pulmonary embolism. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a delay in seeking medical treatment, reduced invasive interventions and deferment in referrals leading to “collateral damage” in critically ill patients with liver disease. Thus, the use of telemedicine in the ICU (Tele-ICU) has integrated cardiology, intensive care, and hepatology practices across the spectrum of ICU, operating room, and transplant healthcare. Telecardiology tools have improved bedside diagnosis when introduced as part of COVID-19 care by remote supervision and interpretation of POCUS and echocardiographic data. In this review, we present the contemporary approach of using POC echocardiography and offer a practical guide for primary care hepatologists and gastroenterologists for cardiac assessment in critically ill patients with cirrhosis and ACLF. Evidenced based use of Tele-ICU can prevent delay in cardiac diagnosis, optimize safe use of expert resources and ensure timely care in the setting of critically ill cirrhosis, ACLF and liver transplantation in the COVID-19 era.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Manzo-Silberman ◽  
T Chouihed ◽  
L Fraticelli ◽  
A Peiretti ◽  
C Claustre ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrythmia, especially in older adults. AF represents 1% of emergency department (ED) visits a third of which are de novo or recurrent. While the diagnosis is given quickly by reading the electrocardiogram (ECG), its management both remains complex. European guidelines have been published in 2016. Purpose Our study aimed to investigate guidelines implementation in French ED. Methods Prospective national multicenter study (clinical trials NCT 03836339) and core interpretation of ECG. Consecutive patients admitted in 32 French ED for AF confirmed by ECG were prospectively included. Clinical characteristics at admission were recorded by the physician. The 3-months telephone follow-up was ensured by one operator. Results From 1/10/2018 to 30/11/2018, 1369 patients with AF were included, of whom 295 (21.55%) had a de novo AF. Patients were 80 [65; 87] years old, 51.17% of men, 71.53% self-ruling, 91.53% living at home, 65.42% transported by firemen or by ambulances and 4,07% by a mobile intensive care unit. Twenty-six (8.84%) patients had a history of stroke or transient ischemic stroke and none of them on anticoagulants. CHA2DS2-VASC score was performed in 66.78% of patients and was 0 in 14 (7.11%) patients. HAS-BLED score = 2 [1; 3]. At admission 50.17% of patients received anticoagulants, of whom 49.32% a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant, 0.68% Vitamin K antagonists, 50.68% UFH or LMWH. Beta-blockers were administered in 102 (24.01%) patients and amiodarone in 38 (12.89%). Cardiac echography has been performed in 20.34% of patients. Atrial fibrillation was the primary diagnosis in 42.71% of patients. It has been associated to a pneumopathy in 25.17% of patients, a pulmonary embolism in 4.76% and acute alcoholism in 1.36% of them. Precipitating factor was often undetermined. The discharge to the home concerned 18.64% of patients, 26.78% of patients were hospitalized in ED hospitalization unit, 23.05% in cardiology or intensive care unit. At 3 months, 49% of patients were on anticoagulants, of whom 90% on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants, 95% of them didn't report any bleeding event and 41.77% of them were able to have a cardiology consultation within three months. Three-months mortality was about 22.09%, and rehospitalization rate about 22.89%. Conclusion It seems to be a reticence to initiate anticoagulation of patients admitted to ED with a de novo AF. It could be explained by both the advanced age of the patients and the lack of an organized access to a systematic cardiology consultation at discharge. Patients with chronic AF are subject to high mortality at 3 months and a significant risk of readmission. The application of the guidelines could be optimized by a better training program and the implementation of a dedicated pathway of care. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Bayer


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie-Susanne Stecher ◽  
Sofia Anton ◽  
Alessia Fraccaroli ◽  
Jeremias Götschke ◽  
Hans Joachim Stemmler ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Point-of-care lung ultrasound (LU) is an established tool in the first assessment of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients in predicting clinical course and outcome. Methods We analyzed lung ultrasound score (LUS) of all COVID-19 patients admitted from March 2020 to December 2020 to the Internal Intensive Care Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) of Munich. LU was performed according to a standardized protocol at ICU admission and in case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation. A normal lung scores 0 points, the worst LUS has 24 points. Patients were stratified in a low (0–12 points) and a high (13–24 points) lung ultrasound score group. Results The study included 42 patients, 69% of them male. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (81%) and obesity (57%). The values of pH (7.42 ± 0.09 vs 7.35 ± 0.1; p = 0.047) and paO2 (107 [80–130] vs 80 [66–93] mmHg; p = 0.034) were significantly reduced in patients of the high LUS group. Furthermore, the duration of ventilation (12.5 [8.3–25] vs 36.5 [9.8–70] days; p = 0.029) was significantly prolonged in this group. Patchy subpleural thickening (n = 38; 90.5%) and subpleural consolidations (n = 23; 54.8%) were present in most patients. Pleural effusion was rare (n = 4; 9.5%). The median total LUS was 11.9 ± 3.9 points. In case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation, LUS worsened significantly compared to baseline LU. Twelve patients died during the ICU stay (29%). There was no difference in survival in both LUS groups (75% vs 66.7%, p = 0.559). Conclusions LU can be a useful monitoring tool to predict clinical course but not outcome of COVID-19 ICU patients and can early recognize possible deteriorations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant Parulekar ◽  
Ed Neil-Gallacher ◽  
Alex Harrison

Acute kidney injury is common in critically ill patients, with ultrasound recommended to exclude renal tract obstruction. Intensive care unit clinicians are skilled in acquiring and interpreting ultrasound examinations. Intensive Care Medicine Trainees wish to learn renal tract ultrasound. We sought to demonstrate that intensive care unit clinicians can competently perform renal tract ultrasound on critically ill patients. Thirty patients with acute kidney injury were scanned by two intensive care unit physicians using a standard intensive care unit ultrasound machine. The archived images were reviewed by a Radiologist for adequacy and diagnostic quality. In 28 of 30 patients both kidneys were identified. Adequate archived images of both kidneys each in two planes were possible in 23 of 30 patients. The commonest reason for failure was dressings and drains from abdominal surgery. Only one patient had hydronephrosis. Our results suggest that intensive care unit clinicians can provide focussed renal tract ultrasound. The low incidence of hydronephrosis has implications for delivering the Core Ultrasound in Intensive Care competencies.


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