BackgroundAlthough resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in various clinical settings was found to successfully elevate central blood pressure in hemorrhagic shock, this intervention is associated with high mortality and may represent a last-ditch option for trauma patients. We conducted a retrospective study of patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) who underwent REBOA to identify the effectiveness of REBOA and reviewed published literatures.MethodsREBOA were performed by trained acute care physicians in the emergency room and intensive care unit. The deployment of balloon catheters was positioned using ultrasonography guidance. Collected data included clinical characteristics, hemorrhagic severity, blood cultures, metabolic values, blood transfusions, REBOA-related complications and mortality. A literature search using PUBMED to include “aortic occlusion” and “gastrointestinal bleeding” was conducted.ResultsREBOA was attempted in eight patients among 140 patients with UGIB and median age was 66 years. Systolic blood pressure significantly increased after REBOA (66 ± 20 vs. 117 ± 45 mmHg, p < 0.01) and the total occlusion time of REBOA was 80 ± 48 min. Strong positive correlations were found between total occlusion time of REBOA and lactate concentration (Spearman’s r=0.77), clinical Rockwall score (Spearman’s r=0.80), and age (Spearman’s r=0.88), respectively.ConclusionREBOA can be performed with a high degree of technical success and is effective at improving hemodynamic in patients with UGIB. Correlations between total occlusion time and high lactate levels, clinical Rockall score, and age may be important for successful use of REBOA.

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BackgroundAt present, no satisfactory reports on the monitoring of cerebral function to predict functional outcomes after brain damage such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. The middle latency auditory-evoked potential index (MLAEPi) monitor (aepEX plus®, Audiomex, UK) is a mobile MLAEP monitor measuring the degree of consciousness that is represented by numerical values. Hence, we hypothesized that MLAEPi predicts neurological outcome after emergency craniotomy among patients with disturbance of consciousness (DOC), which was caused by brain damage.MethodsThe afore-mentioned patients who underwent emergency craniotomy within 12 h of brain damage and were subsequently monitored using MLAEPi were enrolled in this study. DOC was defined as an initial Glasgow Coma Scale score < 8. MLAEPi was measured for 14 days after craniotomy. Neurological outcome was evaluated before discharge using a cerebral performance category (CPC) score and classified into three groups: favorable outcome group for a CPC score of 1 or 2, unfavorable outcome group for a score of 3 or 4, and brain dead (BD) group for a score of 5.ResultsThirty-two patients were included in this study (17 with TBIs and 15 with acute stroke). Regarding outcome, 10 patients had a favorable outcome, 15 had an unfavorable outcome, and 7 were pronounced BD. MLAEPi was observed to be significantly higher on day 5 than that observed immediately after craniotomy in cases of favorable or unfavorable outcome (63 ± 3.5 vs. 36 ± 2.5 in favorable outcome; 63 ± 3.5 vs. 34 ± 1.8 in unfavorable outcome). MLAEPi was significantly lower in BD patients than in those with a favorable or unfavorable outcome on day 3 (24 ± 4.2 in BD vs. 52 ± 5.2 and 45 ± 2.7 in favorable and unfavorable outcome, respectively) and after day 4. MLAEPi was significantly higher in patients with a favorable outcome than in those with a favorable or unfavorable outcome after day 6 (68 ± 2.3 in favorable outcome vs. 48 ± 2.3 in unfavorable outcome).ConclusionWe believe that MLAEPi satisfactorily denotes cerebral function and predicts outcomes after emergency craniotomy in patients with DOC, which was caused by acute brain damage.

Case: A 20-year-old woman developed acute psychotic symptoms and altered level of consciousness. She presented with neck stiffness, tremulous arms, facial dyskinesia, and distension of the lower abdomen. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral ovarian teratomas. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies were detected in her cerebrospinal fluid.Outcome: Resection of the tumors and immunotherapy were carried out. She gradually recovered and was discharged with few neurological deficits on the 105th day of hospitalization. Conclusion:Our survey of 63 previous reports describing 92 cases revealed that 21.7% of the patients were sent to emergency departments and 59.8% of the patients were managed in intensive care units. Emergency physicians and intensivists should be aware of this disorder, as they may encounter undiagnosed disorders in patients with epileptic attacks, acute psychotic signs, dyskinesia, or hypoventilation in the course of the illness.

Objective: N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) is used as a liquid embolic agent in various hemorrhagic situations with a high technical success rate and low recurrent bleeding rate, especially in patients with coagulopathy.Case Presentation: An adult patient was admitted to the intensive care unit with coagulopathy and hemorrhagic shock.Past medical history of the patient included dual-antiplatelet therapy and warfarinization for several cardiac diseases.Retroperitoneal hematoma caused by femoral artery (FA) branch injury following percutaneous FA puncture was determined. Thus, we performed endovascular therapy (EVT) using NBCA and achieved successful hemostasis. Conclusion:NBCA used for hemostasis is linked to good technical success and the absence of complications. We concluded that EVT using NBCA is safe and effective among patients with iatrogenic FA branch injury following neuro endovascular therapy as adjunct for other conventional embolic agents.

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