OBJECTIVES: The indication, complications, and outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in children with COVID-19–related illnesses remain unelucidated. Our study aimed to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of ECMO in children with COVID-19–related illnesses. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed and EMBASE databases in March 2022. STUDY SELECTION: We retrieved all studies involving children (age ≤ 18 yr) with COVID-19–related illnesses who received ECMO. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Mortality, successful weaning rate, and complications while on ECMO were synthesized by a one-group meta-analysis using a random-effect model. Meta-regression was performed to explore the risk factors for mortality. DATA SYNTHESIS: We included 18 observational studies, four case series, and 22 case reports involving 110 children with COVID-19–related illnesses receiving ECMO. The median age was 8 years (range, 10 d to 18 yr), and the median body mass index was 21.4 kg/m 2 (range, 12.3–56.0 kg/m 2 ). The most common comorbidities were obesity (11% [7/63]) and congenital heart disease (11% [7/63]), whereas 48% (30/63) were previously healthy. The most common indications for ECMO were multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (52% [47/90]) and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (40% [36/90]). Seventy-one percent (56/79) received venoarterial-ECMO. The median ECMO runtime was 6 days (range, 3–51 d) for venoarterial ECMO and 11 days (range, 3–71 d) for venovenous ECMO. The mortality was 26.6% (95% CI, 15.9–40.9), and the successful weaning rate was 77.0% (95% CI, 55.4–90.1). Complications were seen in 37.0% (95% CI, 23.1–53.5) while on ECMO, including stroke, acute kidney injury, pulmonary edema, and thromboembolism. Corticosteroids and IV immunoglobulin therapies were associated with lower mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality of children on ECMO for COVID-19 was relatively low. This invasive treatment can be considered as a treatment option for critically ill children with COVID-19.

ImportancePublished data on COVID-19 mRNA vaccine–associated myopericarditis in adolescents and young adults have been derived from small case series, national population-based studies, or passive reporting systems. Pooled evidence from a larger, international cohort is scarce.ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and early outcomes associated with myopericarditis after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in a heterogeneous population of adolescents and young adults.Data SourcesPubMed and EMBASE were searched through August 2022. Language restrictions were not applied.Study SelectionObservational studies and case series describing COVID-19 vaccine–associated myopericarditis in adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 20 years and reporting clinical characteristics and early outcomes were included.Data Extraction and SynthesisTwo independent investigators extracted relevant data from each study. One-group meta-analysis in a random effects model was performed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guidelines were followed.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcomes were clinical features and early outcomes for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine–associated myopericarditis, including incident rate, cardiac findings, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality.ResultsA total of 23 observational studies were identified, including 854 individuals (mean age, 15.9 [95% CI, 15.5-16.2] years) with COVID-19 vaccine–associated myopericarditis. Male sex was predominant, at 90.3% (95% CI, 87.3%-93.2%) of individuals. The incident rate was higher after the second dose than the first dose, with 74.4% (95% CI, 58.2%-90.5%) of events occurring after the second dose. Most patients (84.4% [95% CI, 80.5%-88.3%] of patients) had preserved left ventricular (LV) function. Of the 15.6% (95% CI, 11.7%-19.5%) of patients with LV systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] <55%), most (14.1% [95% CI, 10.2%-18.1%]) were mild (ie, LVEF 45%-54%), and only 1.3% (95% CI, 0%-2.6%) of patients had severe LV systolic dysfunction (ie, LVEF<35%). Interestingly, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed late gadolinium enhancement in 87.2% (95% CI, 79.8%-94.7%) of patients. Although 92.6% (95% CI, 87.8%-97.3%) of patients were hospitalized and 23.2% (95% CI, 11.7%-34.7%) of patients required ICU admission, inotropes were used in only 1.3% (95% CI, 0%-2.7%) of patients, no patients died or required mechanical support, and the hospital length of stay was 2.8 (95% CI, 2.1-3.5) days.Conclusions and RelevanceThis systematic review and meta-analysis found low incidence rate and largely favorable early outcomes of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine–associated myopericarditis in adolescents and young adults from a wide range of populations. These findings are reassuring but continued follow-up is warranted.

Several drugs targeting the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm have shown efficacy in model systems but not in clinical trials, potentially owing to the lack of targeted drug delivery. Here, we designed a novel drug delivery system using nanoparticles to target the disrupted aortic aneurysm micro-structure. We generated poly(ethylene glycol)-shelled nanoparticles incorporating rapamycin that exhibited uniform diameter and long-term stability. When injected intravenously into a rat model in which abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) had been induced by infusing elastase, labeled rapamycin nanoparticles specifically accumulated in the AAA. Microscopic analysis revealed that rapamycin nanoparticles were mainly distributed in the media and adventitia where the wall structures were damaged. Co-localization of rapamycin nanoparticles with macrophages was also noted. Rapamycin nanoparticles injected during the process of AAA formation evinced significant suppression of AAA formation and mural inflammation at 7 days after elastase infusion, as compared with rapamycin treatment alone. Correspondingly, the activities of matrix metalloproteinases and the expression of inflammatory cytokines were significantly suppressed by rapamycin nanoparticle treatment. Our findings suggest that the nanoparticle-based delivery system achieves specific delivery of rapamycin to the rat AAA and might contribute to establishing a drug therapy approach targeting aortic aneurysm.

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BackgroundIt has been reported that median arcuate ligament syndrome is closely associated with gastric or pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms. Hemodynamic state plays an important role in the formation of the aneurysms. These aneurysms are treated with open resection or endovascular exclusion. However, whether revascularization of the celiac artery can prevent the aneurysm formation is unknown. This report indicated a possibility that prophylactic revascularization for celiac artery stenosis resulted in decreased shear stress on the collaterals, which may otherwise be susceptible to new aneurysms.Case presentationThis report describes a 51-year-old man who presented with epigastric pain at our hospital. According to contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT), he was diagnosed with a ruptured right gastric artery aneurysm and celiac artery stenosis caused by the median arcuate ligament (MAL). He had a vascular anomaly of the common hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). His vital signs were stable. We informed him of the situation and he chose open surgery rather than endovascular treatment. Following, we resected the aneurysm and transected the MAL. Intraoperative angiography after transection of the MAL showed the antegrade blood flow to the splenic artery instead of the retrograde flow via the prominent collaterals. Follow-up CT confirmed narrowed collateral vessels between the SMA and the celiac artery without de-novo aneurysms.ConclusionWhile the necessity of celiac artery release could be questioned, the present case supports the hemodynamic benefits of MAL transection in terms of de-novo aneurysm prevention.

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A very elderly age should not preclude a patient from undergoing distal bypass surgery. A history of coronary artery disease, a nonambulatory status, and hypoalbuminemia, along with the Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection classification for patients with tissue loss, should be carefully considered to obtain the most benefit from distal bypass surgery.