Effi cacy of partial and complete resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in the hemorrhagic shock model of liver injury

BACKGROUND:Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta(REBOA)can temporarily control traumatic bleeding.However,its prolonged use potentially leads to ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI).Partial REBOA(pREBOA)can alleviate ischemic burden;however,its security and eff ectiveness prior to operative hemorrhage control remains unknown.Hence,we aimed to estimate the effi cacy of pREBOA in a swine model of liver injury using an experimental sliding-chamber ballistic gun.METHODS:Twenty Landrace pigs were randomized into control(no aortic occlusion)(n=5),intervention with complete REBOA(cREBOA)(n=5),continuous pREBOA(C-pREBOA)(n=5),and sequential pREBOA(S-pREBOA)(n=5)groups.In the cREBOA and C-pREBOA groups,the balloon was inflated for 60 min.The hemodynamic and laboratory values were compared at various observation time points.Tissue samples immediately after animal euthanasia from the myocardium,liver,kidneys,and duodenum were collected for histological assessment using hematoxylin and eosin staining.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,the survival rate of the REBOA groups was prominently improved(all P<0.05).The total volume of blood loss was markedly lower in the cREBOA group(493.14±127.31 mL)compared with other groups(P<0.01).The pH was significantly lower at 180 min in the cREBOA and S-pREBOA groups(P<0.05).At 120 min,the S-pREBOA group showed higher alanine aminotransferase(P<0.05)but lower blood urea nitrogen compared with the cREBOA group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:In this trauma model with liver injury,a 60-minute pREBOA resulted in improved survival rate and was effective in maintaining reliable aortic pressure,despite persistent hemorrhage.Extended tolerance time for aortic occlusion in Zone I for non-compressible torso hemorrhage was feasible with both continuous partial and sequential partial measures,and the significant improvement in the severity of acidosis and distal organ injury was observed in the sequential pREBOA.

Pre-hospital application of REBOA for life-threatening hemorrhage

Dear Editor,Most battlefield casualties occur prior to the arrival of medical facilities.Uncontrollable hemorrhage accounts for more than 90%of those potentially survivable battlefield casualties[1].In both military and civilian conditions,non-compressible torso hemorrhage always caused rapid exsanguination and high mortality rates before definitive treatment[2].More than half of the deaths due to non-compressible torso hemorrhage occur before hospital care can be provided[2].Therefore,early and rapid pre-hospital hemorrhage control is essential to reduce mortality.

Approach to traumatic cardiac arrest in the emergency department: a narrative literature review for emergency providers

BACKGROUND:Traumatic cardiac arrest(TCA)is a major contributor to mortality and morbidity in all age groups and poses a significant burden on the healthcare system.Although there have been advances in treatment modalities,survival rates for TCA patients remain low.This narrative literature review critically examines the indications and eff ectiveness of current therapeutic approaches in treating TCA.METHODS:We performed a literature search in the PubMed and Scopus databases for studies published before December 31,2022.The search was refi ned by combining search terms,examining relevant study references,and restricting publications to the English language.Following the search,943 articles were retrieved,and two independent reviewers conducted a screening process.RESULTS:A review of various studies on pre-and intra-arrest prognostic factors showed that survival rates were higher when patients had an initial shockable rhythm.There were conflicting results regarding other prognostic factors,such as witnessed arrest,bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR),and the use of prehospital or in-hospital epinephrine.Emergency thoracotomy was found to result in more favorable outcomes in cases of penetrating trauma than in those with blunt trauma.Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta(REBOA)provides an advantage to emergency thoracotomy in terms of occupational safety for the operator as an alternative in managing hemorrhagic shock.When implemented in the setting of aortic occlusion,emergency thoracotomy and REBOA resulted in comparable mortality rates.Veno-venous extracorporeal life support(V-V ECLS)and veno-arterial extracorporeal life support(V-A ECLS)are viable options for treating respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock,respectively.In the context of traumatic injuries,V-V ECLS has been associated with higher rates of survival to discharge than V-A ECLS.CONCLUSION:TCA remains a signifi cant challenge for emergency medical services due to its high morbidity and mortality rates.Pre-and intra-arrest prognostic factors can help identify patients who are likely to benefit from aggressive and resource-intensive resuscitation measures.Further research is needed to enhance guidelines for the clinical use of established and emerging therapeutic approaches that can help optimize treatment effi cacy and ameliorate survival outcomes.

Combined Application of Circulatory Assist Devices Following Cardiac Arrest in Patients after Cardiac Surgery

Objectives To evaluate retrospectively the potential benefits of combined utilization of various assisted circulation devices in cardiac arrest patients who did not respond to conventional cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation （CPCR）. Methods Assisted circulation devices, including emergency cardiopulmonary bypass （ECPB）, intra-aortic balloon pump （IABP）, and left ventricular assist device （LVAD）, were applied to 16 adult patients who had cardiac arrest 82 rain-56 h after open heart surgery and did not respond to 20 rain or longer conventional CPCR. ECPB was applied to 2 patients, ECPB plus IABP to 8 patients, ECPB plus IABP and LVAD to 6 patients. Results One patient recovered fully and one patient died. Of the other 14 patients, 13 resumed spontaneous cardiac rhythm and one did not; none of them could be weaned from ECPB. Further treatment of the 14 patients with combinations of assisted circulation devices enabled 6 patients to recover. One of the 7 recovered patients died of reoccurring cardiac arrest after 11 days; the other 6 were discharged in good condition and were followed up for 3-49 months （mean =22 months）. Of the 6 discharged patients one suffered cerebral embolism during LVAD treatment, resulting in mild limitation of mobility of the right limbs ; the other 5 never manifested any central nervous system complications. There was no late deaths giving a 37.5% （6/16） long-term survival rate. Conclusions ECPB could effectively reestablish blood circulation and oxygen supply, rectify acidosis, and improve internal milieu. The combined utilization of ECPB, IABP, and LVAD reduces the duration of ECPB, improves the incidence of recovery, and offers beneficial alternatives to refractory cardiac arrest patients.