Aluminium leaching in fluid warming devices – A Review

Current guidelines recommend the use of an intravenous fluid warmer to prevent perioperative hypothermia. Among the various methods of warming intravenous fluids, contact warmers are among the most effective and accurate, particularly in clinical conditions requiring rapid infusions of refrigerated blood or fluids. Contact warmers put the infusate in direct contact with a heating block. Some fluid warmers use heating blocks manufactured from aluminium. Several recent publications, however, have shown that uncoated aluminium blocks can leach potentially toxic amounts of aluminium into the body. In this review we performed a systematic literature review on aluminium leaching with contact fluid warmers and describe what manufacturer and competent authorities did in the past years to ensure patient safety. The search resulted in five articles describing the aluminium leaching. Four different devices (Level 1 Fluid Warmer from Smiths Medical, ThermaCor from Smisson-Cartledge Biomedical, Recirculator 8.0 from Eight Medical International BV, enFlow from Vyaire) were shown to leach high levels of aluminium when heating certain intravenous fluids. One manufacturer (Vyaire) voluntarily removed their product from the market, while three manufacturers (Eight Medical International BV, Smisson-Cartledge Biomedical, and Smiths Medical) revised the instructions for use for the affected devices. The enFlow fluid warmer was subsequently redesigned with a parylene coating over the heating block. The scientific literature shows that by using a thin parylene layer on the heating block, the leaching of aluminium can be nearly eliminated without affecting the heating performance of the device.

Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome: a rare case of severe insulin resistance

Insulin resistance syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders with variable clinical phenotypes, associated with increased blood glucose and insulin levels. A 20-year-old female, diabetic for 12 years, reported with hyperglycemia not responding to high dose of insulin; therefore, insulin dosage was increased but did not lead to appropriate glycemic control. Investigations revealed hyperglycemia (random blood glucose 23 mmol/L) glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 9.2%. Ultrasonogram of the abdomen showed prominent ovaries with fatty liver. Echocardiography revealed mild mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension. Based on the clinical features, skin changes and the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus, Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome (RMS) was considered. In last admission, she was admitted for hyperglycemic control and treated with intravenous fluids, insulin infusion, metformin, pioglitazone, linagliptin, hydroxychloroquine, sulphonylurea, antibiotics. There is no complete cure for the condition and the current treatments are difficult and not very promising. BIRDEM Med J 2022; 12(1): 83-87

Starvation ketoacidosis and refeeding syndrome

Starvation ketoacidosis (SKA) is a rarer cause of ketoacidosis. Most patients will only have a mild acidosis, but if exacerbated by stress can result in a severe acidosis. We describe a 66-year-old man admitted with reduced consciousness and found to have a severe metabolic acidosis with raised anion gap. His body mass index (BMI) was noted to be within the healthy range at 23 kg/m2; however, it was last documented 1 year previously at 28 kg/m2 with no clear timeframe of weight loss. While his acidosis improved with intravenous fluids, he subsequently developed severe electrolyte imbalance consistent with refeeding during his admission. Awareness of SKA as a cause for high anion gap metabolic acidosis is important and knowledge of management including intravenous fluids, thiamine, dietetic input and electrolyte replacement is vital.

APLIKASI LOAD CELL UNTUK SISTEM MONITORING VOLUME CAIRAN INFUS

Infusion is very important for patients who need additional fluids in the body. Intravenous fluids are injected into the body using needles, through veins. Delayed replacement of IV fluids can pose a very high risk for the patient's condition. One of the risk is that the blood can be sucked back and flow in the IV tube, because there is a difference fluid pressure between the vein and the infusion bag. Therefore, controlling the volume of infusion fluid is very necessary so the infusion bag containing the intravenous fluid must not be used up.To minimize the risk is by replacing the IV bag that must be done in a timely manner. So to find out the amount of infusion fluid volume in the infusion bag it will be designed and realized an instrument that can measure the volume of infusion fluid by weighing the weight of the infusion bag. This tool can stop the flow of IV fluids that flow into veins when the IV fluid will be depleted.The result of this research is that the system will stop the infusion fluid flow by activating the pinch valve by clamping the infusion hose so that the fluid can stop when the infusion fluid volume will run out. Discontinuation of infusion fluid occurs when the remaining infusion fluid volume is 10 mL

Dengue and scrub typhus co-infection causing septic shock

ABSTRACT A 33-year-old female presented with a history of high-grade fever, cough, dyspnea, joint pain and myalgia. On examination, the patient was febrile with tachycardia, hypotension and decreased oxygen saturation. Chest auscultation revealed bilateral decreased air entry with crepitation supported by bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. The laboratory investigations showed leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, transaminitis and renal impairment. The patient was treated with intravenous fluids, ceftriaxone and levofloxacin; however, there was no clinical improvement till 48 h. She was then diagnosed with scrub typhus and dengue co-infection via serologies. Doxycycline was started following which the patient improved in 24 h. Scrub typhus can present with septic shock but does not respond to the usual antibiotics and the addition of doxycycline will result in rapid clinical improvement. Co-infection with other tropical diseases such as dengue is also common, hence it is important to test based on local endemicity.

EP.TH.174The FLIP Study – Fluid Resuscitation in Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a common condition encountered in emergency general surgical presentations. The severity of this condition can range from mild to severe and potentially life threatening in up to 20% of cases. Intravenous fluids are the cornerstone of management however there is very little guidance and poor quality evidence regarding optimal intravenous fluid administration. Aim to establish current clinical practice regarding the rate of intravenous fluid administration in acute pancreatitis and the effect this has on patient morbidity and mortality. A prospective multi-centre audit of patients presenting with acute pancreatitis in the North East of England (Sixty days recruitment with 30-day follow-up, November 2020 – February 2021). Patients aged 18 years or above with acute pancreatitis will be included. Data will be collected on intravenous fluid administration within 72 hours of admission. The primary outcome measure will be admission to HDU/ITU with secondary end-points including 30-day mortality, length of stay, radiological evidence of necrosis, and evidence of organ failure. Data collection has commenced across nine sites with over 150 patients recruited to date. The results of this study will be prepared in accordance with guidelines set by the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) statement for observational studies. Data will be analysed using SPSS. Statistical significance will be defined as a p value of ≤ 0.05. Data collection will be completed in February 2021. Pending the results of phase one, an RCT will be designed to determine the optimal rate of intravenous fluids for improved patient outcomes.