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Purpose: Hospital length of stay (LOS) following admission for appendicitis is difficult to predict. Shock index, pediatric age adjusted (SIPA) accurately identifies severely injured trauma patients and predicts mortality among children admitted to the ICU. Our aim was to determine if elevated SIPA at presentation, and time to normalization of SIPA, can identify children with perforated appendicitis and predict hospital LOS., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of children 1-17 years admitted to a quaternary care referral center with appendicitis after appendectomy in 2021. The primary outcomes were presence of perforated appendicitis and hospital LOS. Generalized linear regressions were performed. Covariates included in all models were age, sex, fecalith, initial temperature, and time from diagnosis to OR., Results: We included 169 patients; 53 (31.4%) had perforated appendicitis. After adjustment, elevated SIPA was associated with presence of perforated appendicitis (p = 0.0002) and longer LOS (p < 0.0001). A patient presenting with appendicitis and elevated SIPA had 5.447 times higher odds of having perforated appendicitis (95% CI: 2.262, 13.826), a mean hospital LOS 2.047 times longer (95% CI: 1.564, 2.683), a mean time to toleration of regular diet 4.995 times longer (95% CI: 2.914, 8.918), and a mean duration of antibiotics that is 1.761 times longer (95% CI: 1.383, 2.243) than a patient with normal SIPA., Conclusion: In children with appendicitis, elevated SIPA at presentation is associated with higher risk of perforation. These findings support the incorporation of SIPA during triage of patients with appendicitis and counseling families after surgery., Level of Evidence: Level 3., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Shock index (SI) is calculated as heart rate divided by systolic blood pressure. In the obstetric population, SI of ≥ 0.9 is associated with maternal adverse outcomes. Our primary aim was to investigate the association between SI and post-spinal hypotension in non-elective cesarean section., Methods: In this prospective, observational study, term parturient of ASA physical status II, and urgency categories 2 and 3, undergoing non-elective cesarean section with spinal anesthesia were enrolled. We performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression to explore the association between baseline SI (categorized as < 0.9 and ≥ 0.9) and hypotension after spinal anesthesia. The diagnostic ability of the baseline SI to predict post-spinal hypotension was assessed using ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curves., Results: Three hundred forty-two parturient were recruited, and among them, 335 were analyzed. One hundred fifty-five (46.27%) parturients developed post-spinal hypotension, and 114 (34.03%) reported post-delivery hypotension. Preoperative SI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.77; 95% CI, 1.15-6.66; p = 0.023) and thoracic sensory block height > 4 (AOR, 2.33; 95%CI, 1.14-4.76; p = 0.020) were associated with post-spinal hypotension. Preoperative SI (AOR, 4.34; 95%CI, 1.72-10.94; p = 0.002) and anxiety (AOR,1.22; 95%CI, 1.06-1.40; p = 0.004) were associated with post-delivery hypotension. Area under the ROC curve for SI alone in predicting hypotension before and after delivery was 0.53 (95%CI 0.49-0.57) and 0.56 (95%CI 0.51-0.60) respectively. However, the model performance as reflected by ROC curve for the multivariable logistic regression analysis was 0.623 for post-spinal hypotension and 0.679 for post-delivery hypotension, respectively., Conclusion: In parturients undergoing non-elective cesarean section, baseline SI ≥ 0.9 was associated with post-spinal and post-delivery hypotension. While the SI alone showed limited predictive power for post-spinal and post-delivery hypotension, integrating it with other risk factors improved the model's predictive ability., Trial Registration: Registration number: NCT04692870. Date of registration: 05/01/2021. Website: https://clinicaltrials.gov ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is a rare disease characterized by anemia secondary to impaired red blood cell production from bone marrow failure. We present a case of infantile hypothermia and shock caused by this clinical pathology. A seven-week-old infant was brought to the emergency department by the father with the chief complaint of abnormal breathing and low activity level throughout the day. Medical history was unremarkable for both the patient and the family. On examination, the infant was breathing 30 breaths per minutes, had a heart rate of 116, and a core temperature of 33 degrees Celsius. The infant was ashen in color, limp, with grunted breathing and minimal movement. Numerous abnormal laboratory readings were reported, with the most significant being a hemoglobin of 1.7 and a hematocrit of 7.4. Emergent blood transfusion was initiated, and the patient was eventually air-lifted to a pediatric hospital two hours away. This case highlights the imperative of a thorough history and examination and consideration of a broad differential for neonatal hypothermia and shock, especially in the setting of no obvious bleeding., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Extracranial complications occur commonly in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can have implications for patient outcome. Patient-specific risk factors for developing these complications are not well studied, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). The study objective was to determine patient-specific risk factors for development of extracranial complications in TBI., Methods: We assessed the relationship between patient demographic and injury factors and incidence of extracranial complications using data collected September 2008-October 2011 from the BEST TRIP trial, a randomized controlled trial assessing TBI management protocolized on intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring versus imaging and clinical exam, and a companion observational patient cohort., Results: Extracranial infections (55%), respiratory complications (19%), hyponatremia (27%), hypernatremia (27%), hospital acquired pressure ulcers (6%), coagulopathy (9%), cardiac arrest (10%), and shock (5%) occurred at a rate of ≥5% in our study population; overall combined rate of these complications was 82.3%. Tracheostomy in the intensive care unit (P < 0.001), tracheostomy timing (P = 0.025), mannitol and hypertonic saline doses (P < 0.001), brain-specific therapy days and brain-specific therapy intensity (P < 0.001), extracranial surgery (P < 0.001), and neuroworsening with pupil asymmetry (P = 0.038) were all significantly related to the development of one of these complications by univariable analysis. Multivariable analysis revealed ICP monitor use and brain-specific therapy intensity to be the most common factors associated with individual complications., Conclusions: Extracranial complications are common following TBI. ICP monitoring and treatment are related to extra-cranial complications. This supports the need for reassessing the risk-benefit balance of our current management approaches in the interest of improving outcome., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To define the utility of the Triage Revised Trauma Score (TRTS), GCS/Age/arterial Pressure (GAP) score, and shock index (SI) in predicting the need for in-flight blood product administration in civilian trauma patients transported by an aeromedical platform., Methods: A retrospective chart review of 3582 aeromedical trauma cases was conducted. An initial TRTS, GAP score and SI were calculated for each patient, and the administration of in-flight blood products was also recorded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to quantify the predictive discrimination of the TRTS, GAP score and SI on the need for in-flight blood product administration., Results: The SI showed a superior predictive value compared to the TRTS and GAP score. The SI showed an area under the curve on the ROC curve of 0.85 in both primary and inter-hospital transfer cases, indicating reasonable predictive value., Conclusion: The SI demonstrates favourable test characteristics for predicting the need for in-flight blood product administration. Prospective validation of these results is warranted., (© 2024 The Authors. Emergency Medicine Australasia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.)

Background: Endothelial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of burn shock affecting patients with large thermal injury. In response to injury, glycocalyx components like Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) are shed into circulation and have been used as markers of endothelial damage. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that plasma inclusive resuscitation (PIR) with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) ameliorates endothelial damage. However, there remains a paucity of information regarding optimal timing and dosing of PIR as well as organ-specific endothelial responses to shock. We aimed to examine the impact of PIR on endothelial dysfunction using clinically translatable timing and dosing., Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were used to create thermal burns. Rats were subjected to 40% total body surface area scald burns and were resuscitated with lactated Ringer's (LR) only, LR plus albumin, and LR plus early 1 mL boluses of FFP at 0, 2, 4, and 8 hours postinjury. A late group also received LR plus FFP starting at hour 10 postinjury. Syndecan-1 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis characterized transcription of glycocalyx components and inflammatory cytokines in the lung and spleen. Evan's blue dye was used to quantify amount of vascular leakage., Results: Lactated Ringer's plus early FFP reduced Evan's blue dye extravasation when compared with LR only groups, while late FFP did not. When comparing LR only versus LR plus early FFP, SDC-1 levels were reduced in the LR plus early FFP group at hours 8, 12, and 24 (5.23 vs. 2.07, p < 0.001; 4.49 vs. 2.05, p < 0.01; and 3.82 vs. 2.08, p < 0.05, respectively). Lactated Ringer's only groups had upregulation of Exostosin-1 and SDC-1 in the lung compared with LR plus early FFP groups ( p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) and upregulation of cytokines interluekin-10 and interferon γ ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Early administration of LR plus FFP reduces the magnitude of SDC-1 shedding and dampens the cytokine response to injury. The upregulation of glycocalyx components as a response to endothelial injury is also decreased in the lung and spleen by LR plus early FFP administration., (Copyright © 2024 American Association for the Surgery of Trauma.)

Introduction: The high incidence of morbidity and mortality associated with the post-cardiac arrest (CA) period highlights the need for novel therapeutic interventions to improve the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study is to assess the ability of high-dose intravenous vitamin C (Vit-C) to improve post-CA shock., Methods and Analysis: This is a single-blind, open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial, involving 234 OHCA patients with post-CA shock planned to be enrolled in 10 French ICUs. Patients will be randomised to receive standard-of-care (SOC) or SOC with early high-dose intravenous Vit-C administration (200 mg/kg per day, within 6 hours after return of spontaneous circulation, for 3 days). The primary endpoint is the cumulative incidence of vasopressor withdrawal at 72 hours after enrolment, with death considered as a competing event. The main secondary endpoints are neurological outcome, mortality due to refractory shock, vasopressor-free days and organ failure monitored by the sequential organ failure assessment score., Ethics and Dissemination: The study protocol was approved by a French Ethics Committee (EC) on 21 February 2023 ( Comité de Protection des Personnes Ile de France 1 , Paris, France). Due to the short enrolment period to avoid any delay in treatment, the EC approved the study inclusion before informed consent was obtained. As soon as possible, patient and their relative will be asked for their deferred informed consent. The data from the study will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications., Trial Registration Number: NCT05817851., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Bleeding is a serious cause of hypotension and tachycardia after childbirth and should always be considered., Case Presentation: A healthy woman in her thirties who had previously undergone caesarean section, underwent induction and operative vaginal delivery. Postpartum, she experienced chest pain, hypotension and tachycardia, and had signs of ischaemia on electrocardiogram. A CT scan showed a large intraperitoneal haematoma. The patient underwent immediate laparotomy and received a massive blood transfusion. However, no large haematoma was found. The chest pain was attributed to a myocardial infarction caused by hypovolaemic shock. After discharge, the patient experienced significant vaginal bleeding and was transferred to a different university hospital. A CT scan revealed a large retroperitoneal haematoma. Emergency surgery was performed based on the suspicion of active bleeding, but only an older haematoma was found. Re-evaluation of the initial CT scan revealed that the haematoma was in fact located retroperitoneally and was thereby not found in the first operation., Interpretation: This case highlights the importance of bleeding as an important cause in unstable postpartum patients. Additionally, it is a reminder that retroperitoneal haematomas can occur in obstetric patients and can mask typical symptoms of uterine rupture such as abdominal pain. also hindering perioperative diagnosis.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are commonly placed to prevent the development or worsening of pulmonary emboli. They are also inherently thrombogenic. Here we discuss a case of acute IVC filter thrombosis with the unusual presentation of obstructive shock resulting in death. A man, age 70 years, underwent laminectomy for multilevel spinal stenosis. An IVC filter was placed preoperatively for acute calf deep vein thrombosis (DVT). On postoperative day 4 he developed tachycardia, hypotension, and signs of lower extremity arterial insufficiency. No lower extremity swelling was noted. Imaging showed complete IVC occlusion caudal to the IVC filter with extension to bilateral iliofemoral veins. Arterial flow was preserved. Therapeutic heparinization was initiated and urgent percutaneous thrombectomy was performed. However, the patient developed multi-organ failure and died shortly thereafter. This report describes an uncommon etiology of obstructive shock and highlights a potentially life-threatening thrombotic complication associated with IVC filters that clinicians should be vigilant about., Competing Interests: Disclosures: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors declare no competing or conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Marshfield Clinic Health System.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None.

Purpose: Shock Index is used to predict injury severity and adverse outcomes in trauma patients, but pediatric age-adjusted shock index (SIPA) has superior performance in pediatric patients older than 1 year. Pediatric age-adjusted shock index scores younger than 1 year have not been well studied. This project aimed to establish and evaluate SIPA cut point data points for patients younger than 1 year., Methods: Using age-based vital signs, we developed cut point values for patients younger than 1 year using our institutional trauma data. All trauma patients younger than 12 months were included, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Pediatric age-adjusted shock index cut points were defined using age-specific vital sign limits (SIPA-VS) and tested against optimal cut points defined by receiver operating characteristic analysis (SIPA-ROC) and a cut point of 1.2 (SIPA-Nordin), which is used for patients aged 1 to 4 years. Student's t test, χ 2 tests, analysis of variance, and test characteristics were used to analyze groups., Results: A total of 609 pediatric trauma patients younger than 12 months were identified from 2018 to 2022. Pediatric age-adjusted shock index scores were calculated for 483 patients. There were 406 patients with blunt trauma and 17 with penetrating. SIPA-Nordin was elevated in 81.6% (n = 397) of patients, compared with SIPA-VS 21% (n = 101) and SIPA-ROC 31% (n = 150). In comparison with SIPA-Nordin, both SIPA-VS and SIPA-ROC score exhibited superior specificity and negative predictive values for multiple outcomes. Elevated SIPA-ROC scores had statistically significant associations with intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, severe anemia, transfusion during hospital admission, and in-hospital mortality., Conclusion: Pediatric age-adjusted shock index is a useful tool in identifying patients at risk for several complications of severe traumatic injury. Pediatric age-adjusted shock index cut points had high negative predictive value and specificity for many outcomes. This study proposes cut point values that may aid in clinical decision making for trauma patients younger than 1 year., Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Test/Criteria; Level IV., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Based on current evidence, there appears to be an association between peri-intubation hypotension and patient morbidity and mortality. Studies have identified shock indices as possible pre-intubation risk factors for peri-intubation hypotension. Thus, we sought to evaluate the association between shock index (SI), modified shock index (MSI), and diastolic shock index (DSI) and peri-intubation hypotension along with other outcomes., Methods: The present study is a sub-study of a randomized controlled trial involving critically ill patients undergoing intubation. We defined peri-intubation hypotension as a decrease in mean arterial pressure <65 mm Hg and/or a reduction of 40% from baseline; or the initiation of, or increase in infusion dosage of, any vasopressor medication (bolus or infusion) during the 30-min period following intubation. SI, MSI, and DSI were analyzed as continuous variables and categorically using pre-established cut-offs. We also explored the effect of age on shock indices., Results: A total of 151 patients were included in the analysis. Mean pre-intubation SI was 1.0  ±  0.3, MSI 1.5  ±  0.5, and DSI 1.9  ±  0.7. Increasing SI, MSI, and DSI were significantly associated with peri-intubation hypotension (OR [95% CI] per 0.1 increase  =  1.16 [1.04, 1.30], P   =  .009 for SI; 1.14 [1.05, 1.24], P   =  .003 for MSI; and 1.11 [1.04, 1.19], P   =  .003 for DSI). The area under the ROC curves did not differ across shock indices (0.66 vs 0.67 vs 0.69 for SI, MSI, and DSI respectively; P   =  .586). Increasing SI, MSI, and DSI were significantly associated with worse sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (spearman rank correlation: r  =  0.30, r  =  0.40, and r  =  0.45 for SI, MSI, and DSI, respectively, all P  < .001) but not with other outcomes. There was no significant impact when incorporating age., Conclusions: Increasing SI, MSI, and DSI were all significantly associated with peri-intubation hypotension and worse SOFA scores but not with other outcomes. Shock indices remain a useful bedside tool to assess the potential likelihood of peri-intubation hypotension., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier - NCT02105415., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) and normotensive shock may have worse outcomes. However, diagnosis of normotensive shock requires invasive hemodynamics. Our objective was to assess the predictive value of McConnell's sign in identifying normotensive shock in patients with intermediate-risk PE., Methods: Patients with intermediate-risk PE who underwent percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy between August 2020 and April 2023 at a large academic public hospital were included in the study. Normotensive shock was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg without vasopressor support with pre-procedural invasive measures of cardiac index ≤2.2 L/min/m 2 and clinical evidence of hypoperfusion (i.e. elevated lactate, oliguria). The primary outcome was the association between McConnell's sign and normotensive shock., Results: Those with McConnell's sign (29/40, 72.5 %) had higher heart rate (114 vs 99 beats/min, p = 0.008), higher rates of elevated lactate (86 % vs 55 %, p = 0.038), lower cardiac index (1.9 vs 3.1 L/min/m 2 , p = 0.003), and higher rates of normotensive shock (76 % vs 27 %, p = 0.005). McConnell's sign had a sensitivity of 88 % and specificity of 53 % for identifying intermediate-risk PE patients with normotensive shock. Patients with McConnell's sign had an increased odds (odds ratio 8.38, confidence interval: 1.73-40.53, p = 0.008; area under the curve 0.70, 95 % confidence interval: 0.56-0.85) of normotensive shock., Conclusion: This is the first study to suggest that McConnell's sign may identify those in the intermediate-risk group who are at risk for normotensive shock. Larger cohorts are needed to validate our findings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Sripal Bangalore - Advisory board - Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, Biotronik, Amgen, Pfizer, Merck, REATA, Inari, Truvic, Argon. Dr. Allison Greco - Board Member of ABIM Critical Care., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Electrical burn injuries can be catastrophic, threatening severe disability or mortality. We present a patient who suffered from electrical shock, requiring bilateral above-knee amputations, right trans-radial amputation, renal replacement therapy, and veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (VA ECLS) therapy. While there exist reports of cases that have demonstrated the potential use of ECLS in burn patients with cardiogenic shock or acute respiratory distress syndrome, this is a unique case of VA ECLS use for an electrical injury patient who developed mixed distributive-obstructive shock secondary to pulmonary embolism and sepsis. Given the wide variety of morbidities that can result from electrical burns, VA ECLS is a promising tool for those who require cardiopulmonary support refractory to traditional measures., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Burn Association. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Rationale: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis syndrome of small to medium-sized arteries that has typical clinical characteristics such as fever, rash, cervical lymphadenopathy, conjunctivitis, and mucosal changes. Cardiac manifestations, including coronary artery aneurysms, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death, are the most serious complications observed in KD. On rare occasions, it may accompanied with reduced organ perfusion due to systolic hypotension, a condition known as Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS). KDSS is a serious complication that can be presented to the emergency department as an initial feature when typical clinical symptoms of KD have not be detected., Patient Concerns: We report the case of a 12-year-old boy admitted with prolonged fever, bilateral non-purulent conjunctivitis, and signs of shock such as hypotension and tachycardia. Laboratory findings showed elevated inflammatory markers, hypoalbuminemia, and sterile pyuria. He was initially treated with intravenous cefotaxime and vancomycin considering the possible diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome, while the treatment was not effective. Subsequent chest computerized tomography and ultrasound identified pulmonary consolidation and polyserous effusion. Echocardiography revealed mild biatrial dilatation and mild valvular regurgitation with preserved left ventricular function., Diagnosis: After a multidisciplinary consultation, a diagnosis of KDSS was made., Interventions: To prevent coronary artery lesions and other severe complications, the patient immediately received immunoglobulin, corticoid, and acetylsalicylic acid., Outcomes: Soon afterwards, he showed significant improvement, with the temperature dropped to normal and hypotension corrected about 24 hours post-intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Polyserous effusions also disappeared before discharge. Follow-up echocardiography revealed normal results., Lessons: Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for KD and consider pulmonary involvement and polyserous effusions as potential complications. For children with KD, any symptoms pointing to infection should be carefully considered. When there is no etiologic evidence, antibiotics should be used with caution. Our case also highlights the importance of considering KDSS as a differential diagnosis in children presenting with prolonged fever and shock. Early recognition, timely treatment, and close monitoring are key to preventing severe complications and ensuring favorable outcomes in patients with KDSS., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Case Presentation: A 35-year-old woman at 36 weeks and 4 days gestation with known complete anterior placenta previa and no other medical history presented for routine obstetric follow-up. She reported increasing fatigue in the prior week but otherwise endorsed no new concerns. She denied recent vaginal bleeding or discharge, abdominal pain, contractions, or extremity swelling. On evaluation, her BP was 126/74 mm Hg with a heart rate of 72 beats per min. The results from the physical examination were normal. There was a category II fetal heart rate tracing and a 6/10 biophysical profile (ie, no fetal breathing movements, nonreactive nonstress test), which prompted referral to the hospital. On admission, sonogram confirmed cephalic presentation and redemonstrated complete anterior placenta previa with no evidence of hemorrhage. She received antenatal steroids and was scheduled for a cesarean section delivery. She received bupivacaine spinal anesthesia for the procedure. The surgical procedure progressed with a low transverse uterine incision and subsequent delivery of the baby with no complications noted. Immediately after delivery of the baby and during gentle traction of the placenta, the patient experienced rapid cardiovascular collapse in the form of hypotension and bradycardia., Competing Interests: Financial/Nonfinancial Disclosures None declared., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Iatrogenic inferior vena cava (IVC)-left atrium (LA) shunt is a rare complication in atrial septal defect (ASD) surgery, caused by mistaking the Eustachian valve for the lower margin of the ASD. In this report, we describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who experienced circulatory collapse at termination of cardiopulmonary bypass during surgical IVC-LA shunt repair. Transesophageal echocardiography helped identify stenosis between the IVC and the right atrium, caused by a residual original incorrectly placed ASD patch. Removal of most of the patch led to improvement in circulatory failure., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 International Anesthesia Research Society.)

Techniques of venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) have improved over the decades, with numerous applications.1 Those with reversible low cardiac output benefit most from this support.1 Case of 21-year-old male, history of congenital heart disease (severe right ventricle hypoplasia and pulmonary artery stenosis with extracardiac cavo-pulmonary shunt (Fontan surgery), and atrial septal defect). Brought to the Emergency Department due to a Mallory-Weiss syndrome, upper-endoscopy "laceration at esophagogastric junction (EGJ) with active bleeding", clips were applied. However, worsening shock, repeated melenas and hematemesis, hemoglobin drop, lactate 2.8mmol/L, and needing noradrenaline (1.21mcg/kg/min). Due to active blood loss and worsening shock, the patient was intubated to maintain airway protection. Repeated upper-endoscopy "voluminous live red clot at EGJ, 4-clips and active bleeding of mucosa between, injection of polidocanol". Despite the implemented strategy, high risk of rebleeding remained. Following invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), sustained hypotension having to increase noradrenaline (1.52mcg/kg/min) and lactate (5.8mmol/l), despite fluid resuscitation. Echocardiogram evidenced severe ventricular dysfunction, and fixed inferior vena cava (IVC) of 20mm. The heart defect combined with positive intrathoracic pressure, contributed to the worsened shock, as Fontan circulation is dependent on low vascular resistance to maintain output2. Needing VA-ECMO and admitted to ICU, volemia optimization, adjusting ventilation to lower intrathoracic pressure and started on milrinone and sildenafil. Another upper-endoscopy showed laceration at EGJ, with placement of clips. Echocardiogram revealed "Normal left ventricle. Hypoplastic right ventricle. Mild mitral regurgitation; aortic VTi 19cm. IVC 22mm. RV/RA gradient 70mmHg. Interatrial bidirectional shunt". Favorable evolution permitted extubation, suspension of milrinone and sildenafil, followed by decannulation. With rescue ECMO, congenital heart disease are salvageable despite sudden decompensation3. This case, positive intrathoracic pressure impairs the Fontan circulation, dependent on preload and higher central venous pressure to maintain cardiac output, as the ventricle is unable to compensate increased demands2, and worsening shock.

Refractory vasodilatory shock (RVS) following massive calcium channel blocker (CCB) overdose remains a challenging clinical entity. Peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has proven useful in several cases of CCB intoxication, however, its use in the pediatric population poses unique challenges given the generally small size of pediatric peripheral vasculature in comparison to the high flow rates necessary for adequate mechanical circulatory support. As a result of these challenges, our group has adopted a "primary" central ECMO cannulation approach to the treatment of children and adolescents admitted to our center with profound RVS after CCB ingestion. We present four cases within the last year using this approach. All patients were successfully discharged from the hospital with no late morbidity at most recent follow-up. Central ECMO support in cases of massive vasodilatory shock following CCB overdose is safe and effective and should be considered early in the clinical course of these critically ill patients., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors have no conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © ASAIO 2023.)

The shock index (SI) has been associated with predicting transfusion needs in trauma patients. However, its utility in penetrating thoracic trauma (PTTrauma) for predicting the Critical Administration Threshold (CAT) has not been well-studied. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of SI in predicting CAT in PTTrauma patients and compare its performance with the Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) and Revised Assessment of Bleeding and Transfusion (RABT) scores. We conducted a prognostic type 2, single-center retrospective observational cohort study on patients with PTTrauma and an Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 9. The primary exposure was SI at admission, and the primary outcome was CAT. Logistic regression and decision curve analysis were used to assess the predictive performance of SI and the PTTrauma score, a novel model incorporating clinical variables. Of the 620 participants, 53 (8.5%) had more than one CAT. An SI > 0.9 was associated with CAT (adjusted OR 4.89, 95% CI 1.64-14.60). The PTTrauma score outperformed SI, ABC, and RABT scores in predicting CAT (AUC 0.867, 95% CI 0.826-0.908). SI is a valuable predictor of CAT in PTTrauma patients. The novel PTTrauma score demonstrates superior performance compared to existing scores, highlighting the importance of developing targeted predictive models for specific injury patterns. These findings can guide clinical decision-making and resource allocation in the management of PTTrauma., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS) is a critical manifestation of Kawasaki disease (KD). In recent years, a logistic regression prediction model has been widely used to predict the occurrence probability of various diseases. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of children with KD and develop and validate an individualized logistic regression model for predicting KDSS among children with KD., Methods: The clinical data of children diagnosed with KDSS and hospitalized between January 2021 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The best predictors were selected by logistic regression and lasso regression analyses. A logistic regression model was built of the training set (n = 162) to predict the occurrence of KDSS. The model prediction was further performed by logistic regression. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the performance of the logistic regression model. We built a nomogram model by visualizing the calibration curve using a 1000 bootstrap resampling program. The model was validated using an independent validation set (n = 68)., Results: In the univariate analysis, among the 24 variables that differed significantly between the KDSS and KD groups, further logistic and Lasso regression analyses found that five variables were independently related to KDSS: rash, brain natriuretic peptide, serum Na, serum P, and aspartate aminotransferase. A logistic regression model was established of the training set (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.979; sensitivity=96.2%; specificity=97.2%). The calibration curve showed good consistency between the predicted values of the logistic regression model and the actual observed values in the training and validation sets., Conclusion: Here we established a feasible and highly accurate logistic regression model to predict the occurrence of KDSS, which will enable its early identification., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhao, Yuan, Gao, Li, Wang and Zhao.)

Objective: Study and Evaluation of Two Scores: Shock Index (SI) and Physiological Stress Index (PSI) as discriminators for proactive treatment (reperfusion before decompensated shock) in a population of intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism (PE)., Design: Using a database from a retrospective cohort with clinical variables and the outcome variable of "proactive treatment", a comparison of the populations was conducted. Optimal cut-off for "proactive treatment" points were obtained according to the SI and PSI. Comparisons were carried out based on the cut-off points of both indices., Setting: Patients admitted to a mixed ICU for PE., Participants: Patients >18 years old admitted to the ICU with intermediate-high risk PE recruited from January 2015 to October 2022., Interventions: None., Main Variables of Interest: Population comparison and metrics regarding predictive capacity when determining proactive treatment., Results: SI and PSI independently have a substandard predictive capacity for discriminating patients who may benefit from an early reperfusion therapy. However, their combined use improves detection of sicker intermediate-high risk PE patients (Sensitivity = 0.66) in whom an early reperfusion therapy may improve outcomes (Specificity = 0.9)., Conclusions: The use of the SI and PSI in patients with intermediate-high risk PE could be useful for selecting patients who would benefit from proactive treatment., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Hemodynamic collapse in multi-trauma patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for prehospital clinicians. Brain injury associated shock (BIAS), likely resulting from catecholamine storm, can cause both ventricular dysfunction and vasoplegia but may present clinically in a manner similar to hemorrhagic shock. Despite different treatment strategies, few studies exist describing this phenomenon in the early post-injury phase. This retrospective observational study aimed to describe the frequency of shock in isolated TBI in prehospital trauma patients and to compare their clinical characteristics to those patients with hemorrhagic shock and TBI without shock., Methods: All prehospital trauma patients intubated by prehospital medical teams from New South Wales Ambulance Aeromedical Operations (NSWA-AO) with an initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 12 or less were investigated. Shock was defined as a pre-intubation systolic blood pressure under 90mmHg and the administration of blood products or vasopressors. Injuries were classified from in-hospital computed tomography (CT) reports. From this, three study groups were derived: BIAS, hemorrhagic shock, and isolated TBI without shock. Descriptive statistics were then produced for clinical and treatment variables., Results: Of 1,292 intubated patients, 423 had an initial GCS of 12 or less, 24 patients (5.7% of the original cohort) had shock with an isolated TBI, and 39 patients had hemorrhagic shock. The hemodynamic parameters were similar amongst these groups, including values of tachycardia, hypotension, and elevated shock index. Prehospital clinical interventions including blood transfusion and total fluids administered were also similar, suggesting they were indistinguishable to prehospital clinicians., Conclusions: Hemodynamic compromise in the setting of isolated severe TBI is a rare clinical entity. Current prehospital physiological data available to clinicians do not allow for easy delineation between these patients from those with hemorrhagic shock.

Abstract: Developmental anomalies of genital tract result from defective fusion and absorption of various parts of Mullerian ducts in fetal life. Rudimentary horn pregnancy (RHP) is a rare occurrence of one in 76,000 and one in 160,000. We present a case of a 24-year-old primigravida with ruptured RHP initially managed in the line of an intrauterine pregnancy with severe anemia. Hemodynamic instability made us suspect ruptured RHP and lifesaving laparotomy was performed for the same. A 1.5-liter hemoperitoneum was encountered with a right RHP. Multiple adhesions were present with necrotic tissue adherent and clumped together as tubo-ovarian mass. Resection of rudimentary horn was performed. We report this case to emphasize the need to consider rare uterine anomalies as a possibility in patients presenting with acute abdomen in early pregnancy. So, Obstetricians can consider these rare entities in differential diagnosis and management.

Objective: The objective is to expose the cardiovascular alterations in patients diagnosed with pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) associated with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, in order to understand the disease, its evolution, and optimal management upon diagnosis., Method: Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional analytical study of patients diagnosed with PIMS according to the criteria of the World Health Organization at the National Institute of Pediatrics, from March 2020 to December 2021., Results: During the study period, 77 patients with PIMS were diagnosed. The results showed correlation between the shock state and alteration of laboratory markers (platelets 144217.29 ± 139321.6 μL [p < 0.001], procalcitonin 27.37 ± 38.37 ng/ml [p = 0.05] and ferritin 1937.87 ± 2562.63 [p < 0.001]). The ventricular function in patients with shock was significantly lower compared to those without shock (49.6 ± 9.1% vs. 58.1 ± 8.4 %; t-Student p < 0.001), as well as injury to the left coronary artery (p = 0.02). There is a correlation between NT-proBNP and ventricular dysfunction (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.007). Statistical significance was found in the association between death, elevation of inflammatory markers and ventricular dysfunction (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The cardiovascular alterations observed, in order of frequency, were pericardial effusion (25.7%), myocarditis (15%), mild ventricular dysfunction (13.5%) and small coronary aneurysm with predominance of the left coronary artery and the anterior descending one.

This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) addresses the topic of acute fluid resuscitation during the first 48 hours following a burn injury for adults with burns ≥20% of the total body surface area (%TBSA). The listed authors formed an investigation panel and developed clinically relevant PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) questions. A systematic literature search returned 5978 titles related to this topic and after 3 levels of screening, 24 studies met criteria to address the PICO questions and were critically reviewed. We recommend that clinicians consider the use of human albumin solution, especially in patients with larger burns, to lower resuscitation volumes and improve urine output. We recommend initiating resuscitation based on providing 2 mL/kg/% TBSA burn in order to reduce resuscitation fluid volumes. We recommend selective monitoring of intra-abdominal and intraocular pressure during burn shock resuscitation. We make a weak recommendation for clinicians to consider the use of computer decision support software to guide fluid titration and lower resuscitation fluid volumes. We do not recommend the use of transpulmonary thermodilution-derived variables to guide burn shock resuscitation. We are unable to make any recommendations on the use of high-dose vitamin C (ascorbic acid), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), early continuous renal replacement therapy, or vasopressors as adjuncts during acute burn shock resuscitation. Mortality is an important outcome in burn shock resuscitation, but it was not formally included as a PICO outcome because the available scientific literature is missing studies of sufficient population size and quality to allow us to confidently make recommendations related to the outcome of survival at this time., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Burn Association. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Vasoplegia describes a constellation of low vascular resistance and normal cardiac output. Vasoplegia is common after cardiac surgery in general and in heart transplant recipients more specifically and occurs in over one-half of all heart transplant recipients with a varying degree of severity. The pathophysiology of vasoplegia is multifactorial and associated with a cascade of inflammatory mediators. Routine treatment of vasoplegia is based on medical vasopressor therapy, but in severe cases this may be insufficient to maintain adequate blood pressure and does not address the underlying pathophysiology. We report a case of severe vasoplegic shock in a heart transplant recipient who was successfully managed with a multimodal therapy combination of methylene blue, immunoglobulins enriched with immunoglobulin M, cytokine adsorption, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. This represents a promising therapeutic approach for heart transplant patients with vasoplegia.

Delayed anaphylaxis after ingestion of red meat because of galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) syndrome has increased in recent years. The mechanism involves an immunoglobulin E reaction to alpha-gal, a molecule found in mammalian meat, dairy products, medications and excipients containing mammalian-derived components, and tick salivary glycans. Sensitization occurs due to the bite of a lone star tick and the transmission of alpha-gal molecules into person's bloodstream. We describe a case of alpha-gal syndrome with severe food, drug, and perioperative allergy in which anaphylaxis with hypovolemic shock occurred immediately after an emergency surgical procedure, when a gelatin-containing drug was injected. This case study confirms that the clinical manifestations of alpha-gal syndrome could be different depending on the route of administration, with immediate reactions if an alpha-gal-containing drug is injected and delayed type allergic manifestations occurring several hours after oral intake. The purpose of this report is to highlight the importance of risk communication in case of exposure to medical products and surgical procedures of patients with alpha-gal syndrome and to encourage drug manufacturers to indicate clearly the origin of excipients in product literature., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflict of interest.

We find minimal literature and lack of consensus among burn practitioners over how to resuscitate thermally injured patients with pre-existing liver disease. Our objective was to assess burn severity in patients with a previous history of liver disease. We attempted to stratify resuscitation therapy utilised, using it as an indicator of burn shock severity. We hypothesized that as severity of liver disease increased, more fluid therapy is needed. We retrospectively studied adult patients with a total body surface area (TBSA) of burn greater than or equal to 20% (n = 314). We determined the severity of liver disease by calculating admission Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores and measured resuscitation adequacy via urine output within the first 24 h. We performed stepwise, multivariable linear regression with backward selection to test our hypothesis with α = 0.05 defined a priori. After controlling for important confounders including age, TBSA, baseline serum albumin, total crystalloids, colloids, blood products, diuretics, and steroids given in first 24 h, we found a statistically significant reduction in urine output as MELD score increased (p < 0.000). In our study, severity of liver disease correlated with declining urine output during first 24-hour resuscitation more so than burn size or burn depth. While resuscitation is standardized for all patients, lack of urine output with increased liver disease suggests a new strategy is of benefit. This may involve investigation of alternate markers of adequacy of resuscitation, or developing modified resuscitation protocols for use in patients with liver disease. More investigation is necessary into how resuscitation protocols may best be modified., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Habib Abla, Vivie Tran, Stephanie Stroever, and Chip Shaw had no conflicts to disclose. Dr. Alan Pang disclosed relationships with EXSURCO Medical and AVITA Medical. Dr. Sharmila Dissanaike disclosed relationships with Heron Therapeutics. Dr. John Griswold disclosed relationships with EXSURCO Medical and Medline., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is one of the most life-threatening disorders resulting from adrenal cortex dysfunction. Symptoms and signs of AI are often nonspecific, and the diagnosis can be missed and lead to the development of AI with severe hypotension and hypovolemic shock. We report the case of a 13-year-old child admitted for cardiac arrest following severe hypovolemic shock. The patient initially presented with isolated mild abdominal pain and vomiting together with unexplained hyponatremia. He was discharged after an initial short hospitalization with rehydration but with persistent hyponatremia. After discharge, he had persistent refractory vomiting, finally leading to severe dehydration and extreme asthenia. He was admitted to pediatric intensive care after prolonged hypovolemic cardiac arrest with severe anoxic encephalopathy leading to brain death. After re-interviewing, the child's parents reported that he had experienced polydipsia, a pronounced taste for salt with excessive consumption of pickles lasting for months, and a darkened skin since their last vacation 6 months earlier. A diagnosis of autoimmune Addison's disease was made. Primary AI is a rare life-threatening disease that can lead to hypovolemic shock. The clinical symptoms and laboratory findings are nonspecific, and the diagnosis should be suspected in the presence of unexplained collapse, hypotension, vomiting, or diarrhea, especially in the case of hyponatremia., (Copyright © 2024 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The shock in diabetes often requires rapid and adequate fluid administration, however, we report an anomalous case of fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM) in which the patient's condition worsened following fluid administration. In May 2020, a 29-year-old male presented with blood glucose of 89.8 mmol/L and diabetic ketoacidosis after a week of gastroenteritis. The diagnosis was finalized after C-peptide and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement. The patient was admitted with shock and received a positive fluid balance of 2800 ml in 5 h, but his condition deteriorated and progressed to multi-organ failure. This study attempts to explain the possible mechanisms and focuses on high-risk factors associated with FT1DM. Therefore, meticulous monitoring and individualized fluid administration strategies are crucial for the management of FT1DM. This case provides beneficial insights for clinical treatment of this condition., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: In this retrospective case series, survival rates in different indications for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and differential diagnoses of COVID-19 associated refractory circulatory failure are investigated., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 28 consecutive COVID-19 patients requiring VA-ECMO. All VA-ECMO's were cannulated peripherally, using a femoro-femoral cannulation., Results: At VA-ECMO initiation, median age was 57 years (IQR: 51-62), SOFA score 16 (IQR: 13-17) and norepinephrine dosing 0.53μg/kg/min (IQR: 0.35-0.87). Virus-variants were: 61% wild-type, 14% Alpha, 18% Delta and 7% Omicron. Indications for VA-ECMO support were pulmonary embolism (PE) (n = 5, survival 80%), right heart failure due to secondary pulmonary hypertension (n = 5, survival 20%), cardiac arrest (n = 4, survival 25%), acute heart failure (AHF) (n = 10, survival 40%) and refractory vasoplegia (n = 4, survival 0%). Among the patients with AHF, 4 patients suffered from COVID-19 associated heart failure (CovHF) (survival 100%) and 6 patients from sepsis associated heart failure (SHF) (survival 0%). Main Complications were acute kidney injury (AKI) 93%, renal replacement therapy was needed in 79%, intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 18%. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 39%., Conclusion: Survival on VA-ECMO in COVID-19 depends on VA-ECMO indication, which should be considered in further studies and clinical decision making. A subgroup of patients suffers from acute heart failure due to inflammation, which has to be differentiated into septic or COVID-19 associated. Novel biomarkers are required to ensure reliable differentiation between these entities; a candidate might be soluble interleukin 2 receptor., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Wiest et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Modern resin hemoadsorption/hemoperfusion for calcium channel blocker overdose is yet to be reported. The characteristics of calcium channel blockers make them unamenable to removal by hemodiafiltration or charcoal hemoperfusion; however, elimination, using styrene bead adsorption in an ex vivo model, has been demonstrated. Its clinical use is described., Case Report: A man in his 20s was admitted with shock into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after an overdose of amlodipine and risperidone. Resuscitation and supportive care were administered, but hypotension did not resolve despite the administration of intravenous fluids, infusions of calcium, adrenaline, and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic therapy. Methylene blue was then administered to maintain the mean arterial pressures. However, the hemodynamic effect did not allow the weaning of the adrenaline. Drug clearance using hemoadsorption/hemoperfusion was attempted using a styrene resin filter (Jafron HA230; Jafron Biomedical Co., Ltd., Guangdong, China). During the two hemoperfusion sessions (6 h duration each, and 18 h apart) the patient had successfully weaned off all supportive measures, with lactate levels returning to normal and was later discharged home. At the end of each session, significant amlodipine concentrations were detected in blood aspirated from both filters, suggesting enhanced clearance. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Our case illustrates a temporal relationship between resin hemoperfusion therapy, resolution of hemodynamic instability, and shock without proving causation. Significant amlodipine elimination was suggested by high concentrations found in blood from the filter. At the same time, shock resolution after initiation of hemoperfusion occurred in less than one elimination half-life of amlodipine., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The preferred vasopressor in post-cardiac arrest shock has not been established with robust clinical outcomes data. Our goal was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing rates of in-hospital mortality, refractory shock, and hemodynamic parameters in post-cardiac arrest patients who received either norepinephrine or epinephrine as primary vasopressor support., Methods: We conducted a search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL from 2000 to 2022. Included studies were prospective, retrospective, or published abstracts comparing norepinephrine and epinephrine in adults with post-cardiac arrest shock or with cardiogenic shock and extractable post-cardiac arrest data. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. Other outcomes included incidence of arrhythmias or refractory shock., Results: The database search returned 2646 studies. Two studies involving 853 participants were included in the systematic review. The proposed meta-analysis was deferred due to low yield. Crude incidence of in-hospital mortality was numerically higher in the epinephrine group compared with norepinephrine in both studies, but only statistically significant in one. Risk of bias was moderate to severe for in-hospital mortality. Additional outcomes were reported differently between studies, minimizing direct comparison., Conclusion: The vasopressor with the best mortality and hemodynamic outcomes in post-cardiac arrest shock remains unclear. Randomized studies are crucial to remedy this., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The following authors report no conflict of interest: CL, CC, NA, LR. The following authors received funding by Spero Therapeutics-provided unrestricted research grant via its Investigator Initiated Research Program: BF, MR, GS. GS reports participating in an advisory board meeting for Hema Biologics in 2022 regarding blood factor products. CB reports grant funding from Alexion/Astra Zeneca Rare Disease., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This report describes a very rare but life-threatening complication that occurred in a 43-year-old woman after an acupuncture (AC) for lumbago. The patient presented to the emergency department displaying symptoms indicative of shock. Physical examination revealed the absence of breath sounds on the right thoracic side, further investigations indicated the presence of a hemothorax. Emergency surgery was performed to evacuate the hemothorax and control bleeding from two intercostal veins. Although AC is often considered a gentle form of medicine, it is important to recognize that it can occasionally result in severe complications, especially when acupoints are used on the thorax.

We present a rare case of pan-valvular involvement in a 5-month-old female with Kawasaki disease shock syndrome despite early treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroids. She experienced a favorable outcome after the addition of infliximab, which was guided based on clinical, laboratory and echocardiogram findings, rather than recrudescence of fever, the most common indicator of intravenous immunoglobulin resistance., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is utilized as a rescue therapy in the management of pediatric patients with refractory septic shock. Multiple studies support the use of a central cannulation strategy in these patients. This study aimed to assess the survival of and identify mortality risk factors in pediatric patients supported with peripheral veno-arterial (VA) ECMO in the setting of septic shock., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and compared clinical characteristics of 40 pediatric patients supported with peripheral VA ECMO for refractory septic shock, at two tertiary care children's hospitals from 2006 to 2020. Our hypothesis was that peripheral VA ECMO is effective in supporting cardiac function and improving tissue oxygenation in most pediatric patients with refractory septic shock., Results: The overall rate of survival to discharge was 52.5%, comparable to previously reported survival for pediatric sepsis on ECMO. With the exclusion of patients with an oncologic process, the survival rate rose to 62.5%. There was a statistically significant difference in mean pump flow rates within 2 hours of initiation of ECMO between survivors and non-survivors (98 mL/kg/min vs 76 mL/kg/min, P   =  .050). There was no significant difference between pre-ECMO vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) in survivors and non-survivors. A faster decrease in VIS in the first 24 hours was associated with lower mortality., Conclusions: From this large case series, we conclude that peripheral VA ECMO is a safe and effective modality to support pediatric patients with refractory septic shock, provided there is establishment of high ECMO pump flows in the first few hours after cannulation and improvement in the VIS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

A man in his late 70s with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia presented for evaluation of acute leukaemic transformation and initiation of cytoreductive therapy after being found to have asymptomatic hyperleucocytosis. Within 24 hours, the patient developed vasopressor-refractory shock, severe lactic acidosis and multiorgan failure. Serial echocardiographic assessments revealed interval enlargement of the right ventricle with development of the McConnell's sign, and abdominal CT showed diffuse bowel wall thickening, likely due to ischaemia. CT angiography excluded pulmonary embolism or occlusion of intra-abdominal arteries. Despite aggressive care, the patient died from cardiovascular collapse within 8 hours of the onset of hypotension. An autopsy revealed extensive infiltration of early myeloid cells in pulmonary, myocardial, hepatic and intestinal microvasculature. This case illustrates different mechanisms by which leucostasis causes acute cardiovascular collapse and stresses the emergent nature of this diagnosis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: We have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared.

Background: Early recognition of haemodynamic instability after birth and prompt interventions are necessary to reduce adverse maternal outcomes due to postpartum haemorrhage. Obstetric shock Index (OSI) has been recommended as a simple, accurate, reliable, and low-cost early diagnostic measure that identifies hemodynamically unstable women., Objectives: We determined the prevalence of abnormal obstetric shock index and associated factors among women in the immediate postpartum period following vaginal delivery at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the labour suite and postnatal ward of MRRH from January 2022 to April 2022. We systematically sampled women who had delivered vaginally, and measured their blood pressures and pulse rates at 1 h postpartum. We excluded mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Sociodemographic, medical and obstetric data were obtained through interviewer-administered questionnaires. The prevalence of abnormal OSI was the proportion of participants with an OSI ≥ 0.9 (calculated as the pulse rate divided by the systolic BP). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between abnormal OSI and independent variables., Results: We enrolled 427 women with a mean age of 25.66 ± 5.30 years. Of these, 83 (19.44%), 95% CI (15.79-23.52) had an abnormal obstetric shock index. Being referred [aPR 1.94, 95% CI (1.31-2.88), p = 0.001], having had antepartum haemorrhage [aPR 2.63, 95% CI (1.26-5.73), p = 0.010] and having a visually estimated blood loss > 200 mls [aPR 1.59, 95% CI (1.08-2.33), p = 0.018] were significantly associated with abnormal OSI., Conclusion: Approximately one in every five women who delivered vaginally at MRRH during the study period had an abnormal OSI. We recommend that clinicians have a high index of suspicion for haemodynamic instability among women in the immediate postpartum period. Mothers who are referred in from other facilities, those that get antepartum haemorrhage and those with estimated blood loss > 200mls should be prioritized for close monitoring. It should be noted that the study was not powered to study the factors associated with AOSI and therefore the analysis for factors associated should be considered exploratory., (© 2024. The Author(s).)