Сardiopulmonary and cerebral resuscitation: new European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for resuscitation 2021

The article presents the current changes in the algorithm of cardiopulmonary and cerebral resuscitation (CPCR), adopted by the European Council for Resuscitation in 2021. The article presents the principles of basic life support and advanced life support, inclu-ding taking into account the European recommendations published in 2020, dedicated to the specifics of CPCR in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main focus of CPCR in the COVID-19 pandemic is that the safety of healthcare workers should never be compromised, based on the premise that the time it takes to ensure that care is delivered safely to rescuers is acceptable part of the CPCR process. The principles of electrical defibrillation, including in patients with coronavirus disease who are in the prone position, pharmacological support of CPCR, modern monitoring capabilities for assessing the quality of resuscitation measures and identifying potentially reversible causes of cardiac arrest, the use of extracorporeal life support techno-logies during CPR are highlighted. The modern principles of intensive care of the post-resuscitation syndrome are presented, which makes it possible to provide improved outcomes in patients after cardiac arrest.

The role of magnesium in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal with delirium

Background. The role of magnesium in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal with delirium is indefinite, although it is well known about its participation in the pathogenesis of this severe condition. The study was aimed to reveal the benefits and disadvantages of the sedation with added magnesium sulfate in comparison with traditional sedative therapy. Materials and methods. In our study, we tested 40 treated patients, which were randomized in two groups. We controlled the level of sedation by the Richmond agitation-sedation scale. The target level of sedation was between 0 and –2 points. We maintained this level in all the patients. In all groups, we evaluated the following values: duration of delirium, mean arterial pressure, pulse, the level of serum magnesium, cortisol and serotonin, laboratory indicators of kidneys, and liver condition. In the control group, we carried out the sedation with 10–20 mg of diazepam every 4–6 hours with infusion of barbiturates as needed. The treatment in the research group was identical with addition of magnesium sulfate 50 mg/kg every 8 hours. Results. The results of the study demonstrated that the duration of delirium is significantly lower in the research group in comparison with the control (p < 0.05). We found hypomagnesemia in almost half of the patients. The indicators of haemodynamics such as mean arterial pressure and pulse were significantly lower in both groups on the third day (p < 0.05). We found 4 cases (20 %) of hypotension in the research group and 2 cases (10 %) in the control group. The study of the dynamics of serum cortisol and serotonin showed the significant difference on the third day in both groups (p < 0.05). We found no difference in these laboratory parameters on the third day between groups (p ≥ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the laboratory indicators of kidneys and liver condition in both groups (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusions. The use of magnesium sulfate allowed decreasing the duration of delirium but had an excessive effect on haemodynamics. Such biomarkers as serum cortisol and serotonin didn’t verify the effect of magnesium sulfate.

Mechanical ventilation is controlled by volume or pressure during neurosurgery. Is there an advantage?

Background. One of the main technologies of modern anesthesiology is mechanical ventilation (MV). At present, the protective technology of MV is widely recognized. The feasibi-lity of using this technology in the operating room, especially in patients with intact lungs, is not so obvious. Most of the scientific sources that cover this problem relate to patients with abdominal pathology, and less coverage remains in patients with neurosurgical pathology. However, patients who are operated on for neurosurgical pathology belong to the group of patients of high surgical risk, which forced us to conduct this study. The study was aimed to examine the feasibility of using protective MV during surgery in neurosurgical patients. Materials and methods. We examined 46 patients who were hospitalized in KNP 8 MKL in Lviv for spinal pathology and who underwent surgery for vertebroplasty with spondylodesis. Patients were divided into two groups: in the first group (34 patients), MV was performed by S-IPPV technology — synchronized intermittent positive pressure ventilation with volume control; and in the second group (12 patients), MV was performed by PCV technology — controlled ventilation pressure. Results. We retrospectively determined the incidence of post-operative pulmonary complications (POPC) in patients of the first and second groups. Of the 34 patients of the first group, the signs of POPC were detected in 17 patients (50 %), and of 12 patients of the second group, POPC were detected in 4 patients (33.3 %). It should be noted that MV in patients of both groups did not differ in such parameters as respiratory rate, end-alveolar pressure, and the fraction of oxygen in the respiratory mixture. Conclusions. A relatively small number of patients clearly do not allow the conclusions to be drawn, but it should be noted that MV (especially volume-controlled) contributes to postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with intact lungs in the preoperative period. And pressure-controlled MV tends to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in the postoperative period. Given that respiration rate, end-alveolar expiratory pressure and oxygen fraction in the respiratory mixture were comparable in patients of both groups, it can be assumed that the factor influencing the incidence of POPC is the mechanics of pulmonary ventilation.

Disorders of sodium balance in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary lesions in traumatic brain injury

Background. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) still remains the leading cause of death in people of working age. In Ukraine, the frequency of TBI varies from 2.3 to 6 cases (average of 4–4.2) per 1,000 population annually depending on the regions. Patients with primary damage to the brain and hypothalamic-pituitary system are at risk of developing cerebral edema due to the water-electrolyte imbalance and, accordingly, osmolar imbalance between cellular and extracellular spaces. Water-electrolyte imbalance as a result of damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary system in traumatic brain injury is not described enough in the literature. The functioning of the central and peripheral links of the endocrine system depending on the location, nature and severity of injury is examined not enough. The question of diagnostic and prognostic values of various indicators of volume status in patients with trauma is also underinvestigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the types of disorders of sodium balance in patients with isolated TBI and hypothalamic-pituitary lesions; to clarify the influence of sodium imbalance type on mortality in patients with TBI and hypothalamic-pituitary lesions. Material and methods. We examined 74 patients (men/women = 60/14) with focal cerebral contusion and lesions of the hypothalamic region. Forty-seven of them were diagnosed with hypovolemia combined with hyponatremia. Hypernatremia with hypervolemia was found in 15 patients. Intracranial pressure monitoring was performed using a multifunction monitor (BSM-3562, Japan, 2018, Nihon Kohden Corporation) with a line for invasive pressure measurement. Continuous non-invasive measurement of organ tissue oxygenation (rSO2) was carried out using Somanetics Invos Oximeter Cerebral/Somatic monitor (Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA, 2020). Plasma electrolytes were evaluated in all patients. Conclusions. Patients with TBI and hypothalamic-pituitary lesion have different types of water-sodium imbalance, which demand the differentiated approach to their treatment. Given the small number of observations, we do not dare to link the type of sodium imbalance with lethality in patients with brain trauma and hypothalamic-pituitary lesions. We consider this requires further researches.

Prevention of thrombosis in patients with gastrointestinal bleedings, anticoagulant therapy: literature review

Background. Analysis of the causes of unfavorable outcomes in gastrointestinal bleedings shows that one of the directions in improving the results of treatment of such patients is not only improving the methods of non-operative (endoscopic + drug) hemostasis, but also predicting the risk of recurrent bleeding, prevention and treatment of thromboembolic complications. Objective: to study the risks of thromboembolic complications in patients with gastrointestinal bleedings and the prospects for anticoagulant therapy. Materials and methods. The review analyzes the results of clinical studies investigating the risks of thromboembolic complications, clarification of risk groups, volumes and methods of prevention; identifies the most promising effective and safe methods. The critical analysis was carried out based on the study and systematization of scientific researches presented on specialized medical sites. Results. The basis for a reasonable determination of the risk of thrombotic complications in patients with gastrointestinal bleedings is an objective assessment of the balance between the mechanisms of bleeding and thrombosis. Prevention of thromboembolic complications in patients with gastrointestinal bleedings is carried out taking into account individual characteristics. The therapy should consider risk factors both for the development of rebleeding and thromboembolic complications. Thromboelastography is a modern and adequate method for monitoring blood homeostasis at all stages of treatment. Conclusions. A multidisciplinary approach with the participation of surgeons and anesthesiologists is required to make a decision on the prescription, scope and methods of therapy. Such a decision must be justified, taking into account many factors. It is important to consider the mechanisms of action of hemostatic and anticoagulant drugs. Consideration and systematization of all these data does not exclude, but, on the contrary, provides an individual approach to each patient, the determination of an individual strategy with an optimal ratio of the risks of developing rebleeding and prevention of thromboembolic complications.

Perioperative analgesia for abdominal hysterectomies: a retrospective study

Background. The effectiveness and widespread use of regional anesthesia in combination with a multimodal approach to perioperative analgesia allow them to be used for an increasing number of patients, including those undergoing surgery in gyneco­logy. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of transversus abdominis plane block as a component of multimodal analgesia compared to no regional methods of analgesia for a total abdominal hysterectomy. Materials and methods. We conducted a retrospective single-center study at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care and the Department of Gynecology of Yuriy Semenyuk Rivne Regional Clinical Hospital (Ukraine). The study included patients aged 40–65 years with symptomatic fibroids complicated by vaginal bleedings, who required a total abdominal hysterectomy (supravaginal amputation of the uterus with ovaries). Exclusion criteria were: patient’s refusal to participate in the study at any of its stages, ASA class > IV, body mass index > 40 kg/m2, use of opioid receptor agonists/agonists-antagonists before surgery, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, heart rhythm disorders. Forty-three patients were included in data analysis. Results. It was found that the level of pain on visual analogue scale in the first group reached its maximum values at h12 and h24 stages of the study and was 4.8 [3.3; 5.8] and 5.3 [3.9; 6.4] points, respectively, while in patients of the second group at same stages of the study pain seve-rity was 2.7 [2.3; 3.5] and 2.1 [1.6; 4.1] points (p < 0.05). Significant differences were found in heart rate between the first and the second groups at h24 stage of the study (93 [87; 98] bpm in the first group and 72 [63; 79] bpm in the second, p = 0.05). There were no significant differences in mean blood pressure at all stages of the study; however, there was a tendency towards a decrease in these data throughout the study in the first group of patients. The ave-rage daily dose of nalbuphine at h24 stage has a tendency (p = 0.07) towards a decrease in the second group (40.9 ± 1.1 mg/day) compared with the first group (51.4 ± 2.9 mg/day). At h72 stage, the need in nalbuphine was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the second group (5.8 ± 0.8 mg/day) compared to the first group (22.5 ± 4.1 mg/day). The average length of hospital stay in the first group was 6.8 ± 0.5 days, in the second one — 4.2 ± 0.2 days (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The use of bilateral transversus abdominis plane block with 0.25% bupivacaine and dexamethasone showed a tendency towards a reduction in the need for nalbuphine in the first postoperative day by 25.7 %, on the third postoperative day — by 3.9 times (p < 0.05). The length of hospital stay in the second group was decreased by 2.6 days compared to the first group (p < 0.05).

Hemostasis and inflammation in patients with polytrauma

Background. Causes of death due to severe injuries are both injuries incompatible with life and severe bleedings. Trauma-induced coagulopathy is usually found in 46 % of patients at the scene and in 60 % of individuals upon admission to the hospital. The purpose of the study was to establish the relationship between systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and vascular-platelet and coagulation hemostasis parameters in patients with polytrauma. Materials and methods. We completed a prospective observational study and included 20 patients aged 19 to 55 years with polytrauma who were admitted to the Department of Anesthesiology with Intensive Care at Lviv City Clinical Hospital No. 8. Patients’ state was evaluated according to the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score. We also took into account the duration of SIRS, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and hospital stay. Stages of the study: the day of admission to ICU (d1), the third day (d3), the fifth day (d5). The major clinical markers evaluated were: SIRS parameters, vascular-platelet hemostasis (intravascular platelet activation, adrenaline- and adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation), coagulation hemostasis (international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, level of total fibrinogen and D-dimers). Statistical analysis was performed using variation statistics methods. The correlation dependence was performed with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. We determined significance level (p), and the differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results. We have found a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between discocytes to spherocytes ratio and the level of total fibrinogen on stage d1, as well as a tendency (p = 0.09) to the presence of a positive correlation between this ratio and the patient’s body temperature. There was a significant (p < 0.05) inverse correlation between this ratio and the patient’s health status according to APACHE II, and a direct significant (p < 0.05) correlation with the length of ICU stay, as well as trends to an inverse correlation with the severity of injuries according to ISS (p = 0.07) and to a direct correlation with the duration of SIRS (p = 0.12). Conclusions. Patients with polytrauma had a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between the discocytes to spherocytes ratio and level of total fibrinogen, a tendency (p = 0.09) to a positive correlation between this ratio and the patient’s body temperature, a significant (p < 0.05) inverse correlation with the patient’s health status according to APACHE II, a direct significant (p < 0.05) correlation with the length of ICU stay, a trend (p = 0.07) to an inverse correlation with the severity of injuries according to ISS and a tendency (p = 0.12) to a direct correlation with duration of SIRS.

Features of clinical manifestations of new coronavirus infection in patients at hospitalization during the COVID-19 epidemic depending on the severity

The article presents a review of the literature sources and results of a personal study. It was found that in our group, there were more persons aged 18–30 years among those who were in inpatient treatment, and among those who were treated in the ICU, the patients were aged 60 years or over. On average, patients who were treated in the ICU were admitted on the 6th day of illness. Most patients complained of dry or unproductive cough, moderate general weakness. Relatively more often moderate general weakness was registered in patients with a moderate course, and moderate and pronounced was typical for patients with a severe course (p < 0.05). Dyspnea was predominantly found in severely ill patients (in one-third of patients during exercise, in 17.7 % patients at rest). In patients with a non-serious course, a small number of patients had dyspnea on exertion (4.3 to 12.1 %). On admission, the average temperature was within normal or subfebrile, which predominated in patients with a moderate course (p < 0.05). With a mild course, half of the patients had a temperature within the normal range. Febrile fever was more often registered in the moderate and severe course. Pyretic body temperature was most typical for a severe course (p < 0.05). It is noteworthy that even in those patients who were treated in the intensive care unit, at admission a quarter of the patients had a normal temperature, and 41.2 % — subfebrile. On ave-rage, the duration of fever before admission in critically ill patients was 5 days, and in those who died — 2 days. Dry cough was significantly more common in severe patients (p < 0.05). In the mild course, only one-fifth of patients complained of dry or unproductive cough. In the moderate course, the dry or unproductive cough was symptomatic for one-third of patients. There was no significant difference in the frequency of complaints of sore throat (p > 0.05). On average, a respiratory rate on admission in critically ill patients did not differ between those who survived and those who died, while those who died more often presented with a respiratory rate of 30/min or more, tachycardia, and more reduced saturation values.

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Use of the extracorporeal detoxification methods for methotrexate elimination

The article considers a clinical case of a 12-year-old child with osteosarcoma of the left tibia, T1N0M0G3, treated with high-dose methotrexate 12 g/m2. As a result of delayed elimination of methotrexate, the patient developed acute liver failure. The ALT level increased to 4790 U/L, AST — to 4320 U/L, which indicates life-threatening acute liver damage. There was no coagulopathy, significant increase in bilirubin, and hepatic encephalopathy. The timely use of efferent therapy allowed avoiding the complete course of acute liver failure. The patient received intravenous hydration therapy and urine alkalinization with 3000 ml/m2/day of 5% glucose in combination with 20 μmol NaHCO3/L and 20 μmol KCl/L. The urine output was more than 600 ml/m2/6 hours. Additionally, antidote therapy with calcium folinate was administered. In this case, we used continuous venous-venous hemodiafiltration using Prismaflex. After the first session, which lasted for 78 hours, there was a re-increase in serum methotrexate concentration and ALT, AST levels, which indicates a large volume of distribution of methotrexate and the need for long-term extracorporeal therapy. Therefore, the second session of continuous venous-venous hemodiafiltration was provided. After the second session, there was no re-increase in methotrexate level in the blood and the transaminases and total bilirubin returned to normal levels. Additionally, the patient was tested for homocysteine levels for hyperhomocysteinemia, as well as 4 genes that also determine the predisposition to hyperhomocysteinemia — methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene MTHFR C677T, A1298C, methionine synthase MTRR, and MTR. The presence of elevated levels of homocysteine, as well as heterozygosity of these genes, indicate a slow excretion of methotrexate or a complete delay in its excretion. Our patient presented the negative results of these tests. Conclusions. This clinical case indicates the effectiveness of continuous venous-venous hemodiafiltration in combination with intravenous hydration, urine alkalinization, and antidote therapy in the treatment of hepatotoxicity of high-dose methotrexate on the background of delayed excretion.