scholarly journals Extracorporeal life support: The final ‘antidote’ for massive propranolol overdose

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang-Wen Chen ◽  
Desmond Renhao Mao ◽  
Yih-Sharng Chen

Massive propranolol overdose may result in severe cardiotoxicity. A 48-year-old female had consumed more than 5000 mg of propranolol. Despite high-dose insulin, intravenous sodium bicarbonate, glucagon and inotropic support, she became hypotensive and subsequently arrested. Following cardiopulmonary resuscitation, she had a return of spontaneous circulation but continued to experience refractory hypotension. Resuscitation continued with veno-arterial extracorporeal life support. Therapeutic plasma exchange was initiated to shorten time on extracorporeal life support. Extracorporeal life support was weaned off within 67 h, and she survived without neurological deficits. This records the largest propranolol overdose in recent years. When traditional antidotes are insufficient to prevent collapse, extracorporeal life support is a salvage therapy to maintain perfusion and reduce vasopressor requirements. As drug clearance is significantly prolonged, therapeutic plasma exchange can enhance removal of propranolol and reduce the time to extracorporeal life support removal. With increasing expertise and availability, extracorporeal life support should be considered early in patients who have overdosed with significant cardiotoxicity.

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecile Ursat ◽  
Marie-Ange Tilliette ◽  
Charles Groizard ◽  
Margot Cassuto ◽  
Anna Ozguler ◽  
...  

Introduction: In case of no return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after conventional cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients could be referred for extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Guidelines have been published concerning this specific situation (1). The aim of our study was to describe the prognosis of OHCA patients and verify if referral to ECLS was compliant with these recommendations mainly studying time intervals (no-flow < 5 min, low-flow < 100 min). Methods: A prospective survey on OHCA referred to ECLS was implemented from 03/01/12 until 06/11/15 in an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) located in Paris area (France). This survey included 43 patients referred to hospital for ECLS. Variables were given as means and percentages. Results: Patients referred to ECLS were more often men (77%), with a mean age of 51 years old. Most of 43 OHCA occurred at home (51%), although 26% occurred on public area and 16% at workplace. In 40% of cases, CPR was performed by a witness and in 33% by a health professional. A first Basic Life Support ambulance arrived on scene within 7 min 50 sec, whereas EMS ambulance arrived on scene within 18 min 27 sec after OHCA. At EMS arrival on scene, patients were on asystole (44%), ventricular fibrillation (37%), and on spontaneous circulation (12%). The no-flow time interval was 4 min 10 sec on average (6 patients had a no-flow over 5 min) with 43% of patients with no no-flow. Low-flow time-interval was 44 min. External electric shock was delivered before EMS arrival on 21% of cases, and EMS itself delivered a shock in 40% of cases. Epinephrine was used for all patients, 10.35 mg on average. No patient survived OHCA after referral to ECLS. Discussion: Although this is a small series of 43 patients, no OHCA patient referred to ECLS survived. These results are mainly due to a non-shockable initial condition or too long no-flow time intervals. In order to improve the outcome and bring benefit to the proper expected patients through a cost-effective pathway, we released a reminder of the right recommendations in our EMS. (1) Riou B., Adnet F., Baud F et al. A. Recommandation sur les indications de l’assistance circulatoire dans le traitement des arrêts cardiaques réfractaires. Ann Fr Anesth Réanim 2009 ; 28 : 182-6.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (09) ◽  
pp. 962-969
Author(s):  
Taylor Sawyer ◽  
Zeenia Billimoria ◽  
Sarah Handley ◽  
Kendra Smith ◽  
Larissa Yalon ◽  
...  

Objective This study aimed to examine the use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) as adjunctive therapy in neonatal septic shock. Study Design This retrospective cohort study was performed on a convenience sample of neonates in a quaternary children's hospital between January 2018 and February 2019. Results We identified three neonates with septic shock who received TPE. Two neonates had adenovirus sepsis, and one had group B streptococcal sepsis. All neonates were on extracorporeal life support (ECLS) when TPE was started. The median duration of TPE was 6 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 3–15), with a median of four cycles (IQR: 3–5). Lactate levels decreased significantly after TPE (median before TPE: 5.4 mmol/L [IQR: 2.4–6.1] vs. median after TPE: 1.2 mmol/L [IQR: 1.0–5.8]; p < 0.001). Platelet levels did not change (median before TPE: 73,000/mm3 [IQR: 49,000–100,000] vs. median after TPE: 80,000/mm3 (IQR: 62,000–108,000); p = 0.2). Organ failure indices improved after TPE in two of the three neonates. Hypocalcemia was seen in all cases despite prophylactic calcium infusions. One neonate died, and two survived to ICU discharge. Conclusion TPE can be safely performed in neonates with septic shock. TPE may have a role as an adjunctive therapy in neonates with septic shock requiring ECLS.


2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Feng Chian ◽  
Chin-Pyng Wu ◽  
Chien-Wen Chen ◽  
Wen-Lin Su ◽  
Chin-Bin Yeh ◽  
...  

No standard protocol exists for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by inhalation of smoke from a smoke bomb. In this case, a 23-year-old man was exposed to smoke from a smoke grenade for approximately 10 to 15 minutes without protective breathing apparatus. Acute respiratory distress syndrome developed subsequently, complicated by bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum 48 hours after inhalation. Despite mechanical ventilation and bilateral tube thoracostomy, the patient was severely hypoxemic 4 days after hospitalization. His condition improved upon treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, an additional 500-mg dose of methylprednisolone, and the initiation of extracorporeal life support. Arterial oxygenation decreased gradually after abrupt tapering of the corticosteroid dose and discontinuation of the life support. On day 16 of hospitalization, the patient experienced progressive deterioration of arterial oxygenation despite the intensive treatment. The initial treatment regimen (ie, corticosteroids and extracorporeal life support) was resumed, and the patient’s arterial oxygenation improved. The patient survived.


Perfusion ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Foerster ◽  
Christoph Benk ◽  
Friedhelm Beyersdorf ◽  
Heidi Cristina Schmitz ◽  
Karin Wittmann ◽  
...  

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation restores circulation, but with inconsistent blood-flow and pressures. Our recent approach using an extracorporeal life support system, named “controlled integrated resuscitation device” (CIRD), may lead to improved survival and neurological recovery after cardiac arrest (CA). The basic idea is to provide a reperfusion tailored to the individual patient by control of the conditions of reperfusion and the composition of the reperfusate. Hypothermia is one aspect of this concept. Here, we investigated the role of immediate short-term blood cooling after experimental CA and its influence on survival and neurological recovery. Methods: Twenty-one pigs were exposed to 20 minutes of normothermic CA. Afterwards, CIRD was immediately started for 60 minutes in all animals and the heart was converted to a sinus rhythm. The pigs either received normothermic reperfusion (37°C, n=11) or the temperature was maintained at 32°C for the first 30 minutes (n=10). Thermometric, hemodynamic and serologic data were collected during the experiment. After weaning from CIRD, neurological recovery was assessed daily by a species-specific neurological deficit score (NDS; 0: normal; 500: brain death). Results: One pig in each group could not be successfully resuscitated. Due to severe neurological deficits, only 6/11 animals in the normothermic group finished the observation time of seven days with an NDS of 37±34. In the hypothermic group, all nine surviving animals reached day seven with an NDS of 16±13. Analogous to the lower NDS, animals in the hypothermic group also showed lower neuron-specific enolase end values as a marker of brain injury. Conclusions: Within this experimental setting, immediate moderate and short-term hypothermia after CA improves survival and seems to result in statistically non-significant better neurological recovery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Goswin Onsia ◽  
Sarah Bots

Background. In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, there has been renewed interest in the drug hydroxychloroquine. However, clinicians should be aware of the dangers of hydroxychloroquine intoxication, an insufficiently studied condition. Case Report. We present a case of autointoxication with 20 g hydroxychloroquine in a 35-year-old woman. Cardiac monitoring showed ventricular arrhythmias for which high-dose midazolam and propofol were initiated, resulting in a brief normalization of the cardiac rhythm. Because of the reoccurrence of these arrhythmias, intravenous lipid emulsion was administered with fast cardiac stabilization. Treatment with continuous norepinephrine, potassium chloride/phosphate, and sodium bicarbonate was initiated. On day 6, she was extubated and after 11 days, she was discharged from the hospital without complications. Conclusion. Since high-quality scientific evidence is lacking, treatment options are based on experience in chloroquine toxicity. Activated charcoal is advised if the patient presents early. Sedation with diazepam, early ventilation, and continuous epinephrine infusion are considered effective in treating severe intoxication. Caution is advised when substituting potassium. Despite the lack of formal evidence, sodium bicarbonate appears to be useful and safe in case of QRS widening. Intravenous lipid emulsion, with or without hemodialysis, remains controversial but appears to be safe. As a last resort, extracorporeal life support might be considered in case of persisting hemodynamic instability.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Major ◽  
Timothy Carll ◽  
Clarence W. Chan ◽  
Chancey Christenson ◽  
Geoffrey D. Wool ◽  
...  

Abstract Vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a newly-described hematologic disorder which presents as acute thrombocytopenia and thrombosis after administration of adenovirus-based vaccines against COVID-19. Due to positive assays for antibodies against platelet factor 4 (PF4), VITT is managed similarly to autoimmune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and non-heparinoid anticoagulation. We describe a case of VITT in a 50-year-old man with antecedent alcoholic cirrhosis who presented with platelets of 7 × 103/µL and portal vein thrombosis 21 days following administration of the Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 vaccine. The patient developed progressive thrombosis and persistent severe thrombocytopenia despite IVIG, rituximab and high-dose steroids and had persistent anti-PF4 antibodies over 30 days after his initial presentation. As such, delayed therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) was pursued as salvage therapy, with a rapid and sustained improvement in his platelet count. Our case serves as proof-of-concept of the efficacy of TPE in VITT.


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