Lower-energy biphasic waveform shocks were as effective as conventional higher energy monophasic waveform shocks for restoration of spontaneous circulation after 4 and 7 min of untreated VF. Significantly better postresuscitation myocardial function was observed after biphasic waveform defibrillation.

Background COVID-19 has exposed hemodialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients to an unprecedented life-threatening infectious disease raising concerns about kidney replacement therapy (KRT) strategy during the pandemic. The present study investigated the association of type of KRT with COVID-19 severity adjusting for differences in individual characteristics. Methods Data on kidney transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 1st and December 1st 2020 were retrieved from ERACODA. Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, frailty and comorbidities were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for 28-day mortality risk in all patients and in the subsets who were tested because of symptoms Results In total, 1,670 patients (496 functional kidney transplant and 1,174 hemodialysis) were included. 16.9% of kidney transplant and 23.9% of hemodialysis patients died within 28 days of presentation. The unadjusted 28-day mortality risk was 33% lower in kidney transplant recipients compared with hemodialysis patients (HR: 0.67, 95%CI: 0.52-0.85). In a fully adjusted model, the risk was 78% higher in kidney transplant recipients (HR: 1.78, 95%CI: 1.22-2.61) compared with hemodialysis patients. This association was similar in patients tested because of symptoms (fully adjusted model HR: 2.00, 95%CI: 1.31-3.06). This risk was dramatically increased during the first post-transplant year. Results were similar for other endpoints (e.g. hospitalization, ICU admission, mortality beyond 28 days) and across subgroups. Conclusions Kidney transplant recipients had a greater risk of a more severe course of COVID-19 compared with hemodialysis patients; they therefore require specific infection mitigation strategies.

ObjectivePatients with diabetes are at increased risk of foot ulcers, which may result in limb amputations. While regular foot care prevents ulcerations and amputation in those patients with diabetes not on dialysis, evidence is limited in diabetic hemodialysis patients. We investigated the association between the implementation of a routine foot check program in diabetic incident hemodialysis patients, and major lower limb amputations.MethodsIn 1/2008, monthly intradialytic foot checks were implemented as part of standard clinic care in all Fresenius Medical Care North America hemodialysis facilities. Patients with diabetes who initiated hemodialysis between 1/2004 and 12/2007 constituted the preimplementation cohort, and patients starting hemodialysis between 1/2008 and 12/2011 comprised the postimplementation cohort. In addition, we conducted a sensitivity analysis where we excluded patients from the clinics with <10 patients in the postimplementation period and where percent difference in patient with diabetes number between postimplementation and preimplementation period was <20%. We compared lower limb amputation rates employing Poisson regression models with offset of exposure time in these two cohorts.ResultsWe studied 35 513 patients in the preimplementation and 25 779 patients in the postimplementation cohort. In the postimplementation cohort, amputation rate decreased by 17% (p=0.0034). The major lower limb amputation rate was 1.30 per 100 patient years in preimplementation and 1.07 in postimplementation cohort. These beneficial results were corroborated in the multivariate analysis (p=0.0175) and were even more pronounced in the sensitivity analysis (p=0.0083).ConclusionMonthly foot checks are associated with reduction of major lower limb amputations in diabetic incident hemodialysis patients.

The treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura requires plasma exchange using fresh frozen plasma as a replacement solution once or even twice daily. If citrate anticoagulation is needed, the citrate load (both from fresh frozen plasma and citrate as an anticoagulant) can be significant, causing metabolic complications. The aim of our report is to present our experience with citrate anticoagulation in a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura treated with daily membrane plasma exchange. Twenty-six plasma exchange procedures were performed during 20 days of treatment in a 46-year-old female. The blood flow was 98 +/- 8 mL/min; 4% trisodium citrate was infused into the arterial line (134 +/- 11 mL/h) and 1 M CaCl2 into the venous line (11.4 +/- 1.8 mL/h). Fresh frozen plasma (first 7 procedures) or cryo-poor plasma (19 procedures) were used as a replacement solution, 3176 +/- 536 mL per procedure. A total of 88,930 mL of plasma was exchanged. No serious side-effects occurred. iCa before plasma exchange was significantly higher than afterwards (1.23 +/- 0.12 vs. 1.12 +/- 0.12, P = 0.0047). Significant alkalosis occurred after three plasma exchanges (pH 7.64, bicarbonate 36.2 mmol/L), and was corrected by 3-h heparin-free hemodialysis with dialysate as follows: K 4.0 mmol/L, calcium 1.5 mmol/L, and bicarbonate set to 24 mmol/L. After dialysis, pH was 7.45 and bicarbonate 29.4 mmol/L. Another (2-h) heparin-free hemodialysis procedure was repeated after six plasma exchanges. Citrate anticoagulation can be safely performed in patients treated with plasma exchange once or twice daily. Periodically performed short heparin-free hemodialysis can correct metabolic alkalosis and attenuate the citrate load.

We investigated the effects of hyper- and hypoventilation on gastric ([Formula: see text]) and sublingual (P[Formula: see text]) tissue[Formula: see text] before, during, and after reversal of hemorrhagic shock. [Formula: see text] was measured with ion-sensitive field-effect transistor sensor and P[Formula: see text] with a CO2 microelectrode. Under physiological conditions and during hemorrhagic shock, decreases in arterial ([Formula: see text]) and end-tidal ([Formula: see text])[Formula: see text] induced by hyperventilation produced corresponding decreases in[Formula: see text] and P[Formula: see text]. Hypoventilation produced corresponding increases in[Formula: see text],[Formula: see text],[Formula: see text], and P[Formula: see text]. Accordingly, acute decreases and increases in[Formula: see text] and[Formula: see text] produced statistically similar decreases and increases in[Formula: see text] and P[Formula: see text]. No significant changes in the tissue[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]gradients were observed during hemorrhagic shock in the absence or in the presence of hyper- or hypoventilation. Acute changes in[Formula: see text] and P[Formula: see text] should, therefore, be interpreted in relationship with concurrent changes in[Formula: see text] and/or[Formula: see text].

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The purpose of the study was to compare the long-term catheter-related complications associated with temporary untunneled hemodialysis catheters, locked with citrate in the interdialysis period, inserted in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, between different catheter insertion sites (femoral vs. jugular and subclavian) and catheter types (single-lumen [SL] vs. double-lumen [DL]). In a retrospective clinical study, the long-term catheter-related complications in 290 critically ill patients treated with intermittent high-volume online hemofiltration or hemodialysis between December 2004 and January 2008 were analyzed. Among 534 inserted catheters, 493 (92.3%) were femoral, 29 (5.4%) jugular, and 12 (2.3%) subclavian; 304 (56.9%) were SL and 230 (43.1%) were DL. There were 125 (20.3/1000 catheter days [c.d.]) thrombotic complications, while infectious complications were exceptionally rare, that is, only 13 (2.1/1000 c.d.), of which 10 (1.6/1000 c.d.) were possible catheter-related bloodstream infections and 3 (0.5/1000 c.d.) exit-site infections. The incidence rate of all thrombotic complications was significantly lower in all jugular and subclavian vs. all femoral catheters (7.7/1000 c.d. vs. 21.8/1000 c.d., P = 0.01), and in all SL vs. DL catheters (11.4/1000 c.d. vs. 32.2/1000 c.d., P < 0.001). The incidence rate of any possible catheter-related bloodstream and exit-site infections was not significantly different in all jugular and subclavian vs. all femoral catheters, neither in femoral SL vs. DL catheters. The major long-term catheter-related complications were thrombotic, and significantly more frequent in DL vs. SL catheters. Infectious complications were exceptionally rare, most probably due to the strict catheter care protocol, as well as the routine use of a citrate catheter lock and antibiotic ointment at the catheter exit-site.

In this report, we evaluate the success of immunoadsorption and plasma membrane exchange treatment in patients with severe Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and describe one case successfully treated by immunoadsorption after failure of plasma exchange therapy. Nineteen severely paralyzed GBS patients, aged 14-76 years, who were treated between 1998 and 2008, were retrospectively studied. They underwent 161 immunoadsorption and 119 plasma exchange procedures. In severe GBS, 4-30 immunoadsorption and 5-31 plasma exchange sessions were needed. Among 16 patients on mechanical ventilation, 11 recovered from disability completely, while in one patient mild muscle weakness persisted after one year. One patient suffered from ischemic stroke, two patients died after weaning from mechanical ventilation. One death was believed to be procedure-unrelated, the other patient died from sepsis. Four patients were lost to follow-up. We treated a 14-year-old, mechanically-ventilated patient using two different apheresis methods. After failure of 31 membrane plasma exchanges over 34 days, the patient was then switched to the immunoadsorption apheresis method, receiving seven sessions in 15 days. He no longer required assisted ventilation and recovered from the disability completely. A high number of immunoadsorption as well as membrane plasma exchange treatments can be safely and effectively applied in severe GBS patients. Our patients often needed, and were provided with, more than the currently arbitrarily accepted four apheresis sessions before good clinical recovery was achieved. For non-responders to plasma exchange treatment, immunoadsorption may be the first-line therapy.