Diaphragm thickness modifications and associated factors during VA-ECMO for a cardiogenic shock: a cohort study.

Background: The incidence, causes and impact of diaphragm thickness evolution in veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for cardiogenic shock are unknown. Our study investigates its evolution during the first week of VA-ECMO and its relationship with sweep gas flow settings.

Methods: We conducted a prospective monocentric observational study in a 12-bed ICU in France, enrolling patients on the day of the VA-ECMO implantation.

Prevention of post-operative delirium using an overnight infusion of dexmedetomidine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a pragmatic, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: After cardiac surgery, post-operative delirium (PoD) is acknowledged to have a significant negative impact on patient outcome. To date, there is no valuable and specific treatment for PoD. Critically ill patients often suffer from poor sleep condition.

Information Pamphlet Given to Relatives During the End-of-Life Decision in the ICU: An Assessor-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common in family members of patients who have died in the ICU.

Research Question: Could a pamphlet describing the role of relatives in the end-of-life decision decrease their risk of developing PTSD-related symptoms?

Study Design And Methods: In this assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 90 relatives of adult patients for whom an end-of-life decision was anticipated were enrolled. Relatives were randomly assigned to receive oral information as well as an information pamphlet explaining that the end-of-life decision is made by physicians (Group 1; n = 45) or oral information alone (Group 2; n = 45).

Prevalence and outcome of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia diagnosed under veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a retrospective nationwide study.

Purpose: Thrombocytopenia is a frequent and serious adverse event in patients treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for refractory cardiogenic shock. Similarly to postcardiac surgery patients, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) could represent the causative underlying mechanism. However, the epidemiology as well as related mortality regarding HIT and VA-ECMO remains largely unknown.

Quantitative pupillometry and transcranial Doppler measurements in patients treated with hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Background: Predicting outcome after cardiac arrest (CA) is particularly difficult when therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is used. We investigated the performance of quantitative pupillometry and transcranial Doppler (TCD) in this context.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 82 post-CA patients.