Effects of different ventilatory settings on alveolar and pulmonary microvessel dimensions in pigs.

Mechanical ventilation with high tidal volume (TV) or positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may induce lung overinflation and increased pulmonary vascular resistance to flow. In 8 healthy mechanically ventilated pigs, we evaluated whether incident dark field (IDF) vital microscopy, applied through a small thoracotomy, could be used to evaluate changes in alveolar and pulmonary microvessel dimensions under different ventilator settings. High TV (12 ml/kg) increased alveolar diameters (from 99 ± 13 to 114 ± 6 μm, p < 0.

Microcirculation-guided resuscitation in sepsis: the next frontier?

Microcirculatory dysfunction plays a key role in the pathogenesis of tissue dysoxia and organ failure in sepsis. Sublingual videomicroscopy techniques enable the real-time non-invasive assessment of microvascular blood flow. Alterations in sublingual microvascular perfusion were detected during sepsis and are associated with poor outcome.

Anesthetic management of patients with sepsis/septic shock.

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, while septic shock is a subset of sepsis with persistent hypotension requiring vasopressors to maintain a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of ≥65 mmHg and having a serum lactate level of >2 mmol/L, despite adequate volume resuscitation. Sepsis and septic shock are medical emergencies and time-dependent diseases with a high mortality rate for which early identification, early antibiotic therapy, and early source control are paramount for patient outcomes. The patient may require surgical intervention or an invasive procedure aiming to control the source of infection, and the anesthesiologist has a pivotal role in all phases of patient management.

Shock index as predictor of massive transfusion and mortality in patients with trauma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Management of bleeding trauma patients is still a difficult challenge. Massive transfusion (MT) requires resources to ensure the safety and timely delivery of blood products. Early prediction of MT need may be useful to shorten the time process of blood product preparation.

Too much tolerance for hyperoxemia in mechanically ventilated patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia? Report from an Italian intensive care unit.

Background: In COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation, the administration of high oxygen (O) doses for prolonged time periods may be necessary. Although life-saving in most cases, O may exert deleterious effects if administered in excessive concentrations. We aimed to describe the prevalence of hyperoxemia and excessive O administration in mechanically ventilated patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and determine whether hyperoxemia is associated with mortality in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or the onset of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Antibiotic Treatment of Superinfection in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection Admitted to Intensive Care Unit: An Observational Retrospective Study.

Introduction: In COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation, VAP from remains a crucial risk factor for death. Antibiotic resistance represents an important problem in treating this infection. This study aims to describe the evolution of the superinfection from in patients with acute respiratory failure from SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to ICU and compare the impact of two different antibiotic strategies on microbiological negativization.

Mid-Regional Proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and Microcirculation in Monitoring Organ Dysfunction of Critical Care Patients With Infection: A Prospective Observational Pilot Study.

Microvascular alterations are involved in the development of organ injury in critical care patients. Mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) may predict organ damage and its evolution. The main objective of this study was to assess the correlation between MR-proADM and microvascular flow index (MFI) in a small cohort of 20 adult critical care patients diagnosed with infection, sepsis, or septic shock.

Effects of Normoxia, Hyperoxia, and Mild Hypoxia on Macro-Hemodynamics and the Skeletal Muscle Microcirculation in Anesthetised Rats.

Excessive oxygen (O) administration may have a negative impact on tissue perfusion by inducing vasoconstriction and oxidative stress. We aimed to evaluate the effects of different inhaled oxygen fractions (FiO) on macro-hemodynamics and microvascular perfusion in a rat model. Isoflurane-anesthetised spontaneously breathing male Wistar rats were equipped with arterial (carotid artery) and venous (jugular vein) catheters and tracheotomy, and randomized into three groups: normoxia (FiO 21%, = 6), hyperoxia (FiO 100%, = 6) and mild hypoxia (FiO 15%, = 6).

Variation in the Outcome of Norepinephrine-Dependent Septic Patients After the Institution of a Protocol in an Italian Intensive Care Unit: Retrospective Observational Study.

To evaluate the outcome of patients with septic shock after the institution of a protocol in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Single-center retrospective observational study including 100 consecutive septic patients (≥ 16 years) requiring norepinephrine infusion, admitted to our ICU between 2018 and 2019 after the institution of a protocol, compared with a historical control group of 100 patients admitted between 2010 and 2013 (). The protocol included the use of IgM-enriched immunoglobulins for patients with low plasma IgM levels, blood purification strategies for patients with high plasma levels of cytokines or endotoxin, albumin correction and modulation of vasoactive agents.

Sublingual microcirculation in patients with SARS-CoV-2 undergoing veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is a rescue treatment for severe acute respiratory failure refractory to conventional ventilation. We examined the alterations of sublingual microcirculation in patients with SARS-CoV-2 during VV-ECMO treatment and assessed the relationship between microvascular parameters and ventilation, hemodynamics, and laboratory tests. Nine patients were included in the study and the following microcirculatory parameters were estimated: TVD 16.

Relationship between norepinephrine dose, tachycardia and outcome in septic shock: A multicentre evaluation.

Purpose: Septic shock is associated with massive release of endogenous catecholamines. Adrenergic agents may exacerbate catecholamine toxicity and contribute to poor outcomes. We sought to determine whether an association existed between tachycardia and mortality in septic shock patients requiring norepinephrine for more than 6 h despite adequate volume resuscitation.

Tissue oxygen saturation changes and postoperative complications in cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study.

Background: Cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC) can induce microvascular dysfunction and tissue hypoperfusion. We hypothesized that the alterations in near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived parameters would be associated with post-operative complications in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: Prospective observational study performed at two University Hospitals.

IgM-enriched immunoglobulins (Pentaglobin) may improve the microcirculation in sepsis: a pilot randomized trial.

Background: Polyclonal or IgM-enriched immunoglobulins may be beneficial during sepsis as an adjuvant immunomodulatory therapy. We aimed to test whether the infusion of IgM-enriched immunoglobulins improves microvascular perfusion during sepsis.

Methods: Single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial including adult patients with a diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock for less than 24 h.

Thoracic continuous spinal anesthesia for high-risk comorbid older patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: one-year experience of an Italian geriatric hospital.

Background: General anesthesia is associated with high morbidity/mortality in comorbid older adults. Thoracic continuous spinal anesthesia/analgesia (TCSA) may be an alternative for major abdominal surgery. We report a one-year experience of the use of TCSA in an Italian geriatric center.

Changes in Cytokines, Haemodynamics and Microcirculation in Patients with Sepsis/Septic Shock Undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy and Blood Purification with CytoSorb.

Background: Extracorporeal blood purification therapies have been proposed as a strategy to remove inflammatory mediators during sepsis, thus improving outcome.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate changes in cytokines, haemodynamics and microcirculation during blood purification with Cytosorb adsorber in septic patients.

Methods: Prospective observational study on critically ill adult patients with sepsis/septic shock underwent renal replacement therapy (RRT) for acute renal failure and haemoadsorption with Cytosorb as adjunctive therapy for 24 h.

Airway pressure release ventilation during acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) has been considered a tempting mode of ventilation during acute respiratory failure within the concept of open lung ventilation. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to verify whether adult patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure have a higher number of ventilator-free days at day 28 when ventilated in APRV compared to conventional ventilation strategy. Secondary outcomes were difference in PaO/FiO at day 3, ICU length of stay (LOS), ICU and hospital mortality, mean arterial pressure (MAP), risk of barotrauma and level of sedation.

Association between sublingual microcirculation, tissue perfusion and organ failure in major trauma: A subgroup analysis of a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Previous studies described impaired microvascular perfusion and tissue oxygenation as reliable predictors of Multiple Organ Failure in major trauma. However, this relationship has been incompletely investigated. The objective of this analysis is to further evaluate the association between organ dysfunction and microcirculation after trauma.

Changes in the sublingual microcirculation following aortic surgery under balanced or total intravenous anaesthesia: a prospective observational study.

Background: In vascular surgery with aortic cross-clamping, ischemia/reperfusion injury induces systemic haemodynamic and microcirculatory disturbances. Different anaesthetic regimens may have a varying impact on tissue perfusion. The aim of this study was to explore changes in microvascular perfusion in patients undergoing elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair under balanced or total intravenous anaesthesia.

MicroDAIMON study: Microcirculatory DAIly MONitoring in critically ill patients: a prospective observational study.

Background: Until now, the prognostic value of microcirculatory alterations in critically ill patients has been mainly evaluated in highly selected subgroups. Aim of this study is to monitor the microcirculation daily in mixed group of Intensive Care Unit (ICU)-patients and to establish the association between (the evolution of) microcirculatory alterations and outcome.

Methods: This is a prospective longitudinal observational single-centre study in adult patients admitted to a 12-bed ICU in an Italian teaching hospital.