We performed a retrospective cohort study to document the progression of organ dysfunction in 182 critically ill adult patients who subsequently met criteria for brain stem death (BSD). Patients were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) of Mayo Medical Center, Rochester, MN, between January 1996 and December 2006. Daily sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were used to assess the degree of organ dysfunction. Serial SOFA scores were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mean (standard deviation, SD) SOFA score on the first ICU day was 8.9 (3.2). SOFA scores did not significantly change over the course of ICU stay. 67.6% of patients donated one or more organs after BSD was declared. The median time from ICU admission to declaration of BSD was 18.8 h (interquartile range 10.3-45.0), and in those who donated organs, the time from declaration of BSD to organ retrieval was 11.8 h (9.5-17.6). The fact that mean SOFA scores did not change significantly over time, even after BSD occurred, has implications for the timing of retrieval of organs for transplantation.
Mechanical ventilation of patients undergoing thoracic surgery is often challenging. These patients frequently have significant underlying comorbidities, including cardiopulmonary disease, and often must undergo 1-lung ventilation. Perioperative respiratory complications are common and are multifactorial in etiology. Increasing evidence suggests that mechanical ventilation is associated with, and may even cause, lung damage in both sick and healthy patients. Gas exchange to provide acceptable end-organ oxygenation remains a primary goal but so too is minimization of risks for acute lung injury. Every ventilator strategy is associated with potential beneficial and adverse side effects. Understanding the impact of various ventilation strategies allows clinicians to provide optimal care for patients.
Cecal bascule is a form of volvulus resulting from upward and anterior cecal folding, and accounts for 0.01% of adult large bowel obstructions. With a competent ileocecal valve, cecal bascule may progress to closed loop obstruction, ischemia, gangrene, or perforation. Failure to treat cecal bascule has a mortality of 50%. Nonoperative management includes nasogastric and colonoscopic decompression, with a 95% failure rate. The gold standard is right hemicolectomy with a near nonexistent recurrence rate. Severe gastrointestinal complications following cardiothoracic surgery may lead to increased morbidity, length of stay, and mortality. Here, we present the first reported case of cecal bascule following cardiac surgery.
A woman underwent ascending aortic aneurysm repair, aortic root and valve replacement, and coronary artery bypass grafting. Her postoperative course was complicated by stroke and status epilepticus. With supportive care and antiepileptics, her neurologic status improved. Intravenous heparin and aspirin were initiated. On postoperative day 13, she developed a large retroperitoneal hematoma with femoral neuropathy. Because her hematoma was not amenable to percutaneous drainage or surgical evacuation, and considering her comorbidities, a conservative approach was elected. Anticoagulation was held but not reversed, and she was transfused. Her impairment resolved fully after 3 days, and anticoagulation was restarted in staggered fashion.
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