Adults with Congenital Heart Disease during the COVID-19 Era:One-Year Tertiary Center Experience

Background:Adult patients with congenital heart disease(ACHD)might be at high risk of Coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19).This study aimed to report on a one-year tertiary center experience regards COVID-19 infection in ACHD patients.Methods:This is a one-year(March-2020 to March-2021)tertiary-center retrospective study that enrolled all ACHD patients;COVID-19 positive patients’medical records,and management were reported.Results:We recorded 542 patients,205(37.8%)COVID-19-positive,and 337(62.2%)COVID-19-negative patients.Palliated single ventricle and Eisenmenger syndrome patients were more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection(P<0.05*).Cardiovascular COVID-19 complications were arrhythmias in 47(22.9%)patients,heart failure in 39(19.0%)patients,cyanosis in 12(5.9%)patients,stroke/TIA in 5(2.4%)patients,hypertension and infective endocarditis in 2(1.0%)patients for each,pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism in 1(0.5%)patient for each.11(5.4%)patients were managed with home isolation,147(71.7%)patients required antibiotics,32(15.6%)patients required intensive care unit(ICU),8(3.9%)patients required inotropes,7(3.4%)patients required mechanical ventilation,and 2(1.0%)patients required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO).Thromboprophylaxis was given to all 46(22.4%)hospitalized patients.American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification revealed that complex lesions,and FC-C/D categories were more likely to develop severe/critical symptoms,that required mechanical ventilation and ECMO(P<0.05*).Mortality was reported in 3(0.6%)patients with no difference between groups(P=0.872).193(35.6%)patients were vaccinated.Conclusions:COVID-19 infection in ACHD patients require individualized risk stratification and management.Eisenmenger syndrome,single ventricle palliation,complex lesions,and FC-C/D patients were more vulnerable to severe/critical symptoms that required ICU admission,mechanical ventilation,and ECMO.The vaccine was mostly tolerable.

Effects of extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure on cardiopulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To choose one optimal extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPe) for ventilated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to compare two methods for choosing the optimal level of PEEPe.Methods Ten ventilated patients with COPD were included in the study. First, static intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi,st) was measured when PEEPe was zero, and the PEEPi,st was called PEEPi,stz. PEEPe at 0%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% of PEEPi,stz, respectively, were applied randomly. Respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, and oxygen dynamics were recorded 30 minutes after the level of PEEPe was changed.Results When PEEPe was not higher than 80% of PEEPi,stz, no measurement changed significantly. When PEEPe was increased to 90% and 100% of PEEPi,stz, PEEPi,st, peak inspiratory pressure, plateau pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and central venous pressure increased significantly, P<0.01. Cardiac output and left ventricular work index decreased significantly, P<0.01. Oxygen delivery decreased significantly, P<0.05. When PEEPe was increased to 100% of PEEPi,stz, the right ventricular work index decreased significantly, P<0.05.Conclusion Eighty percent of PEEPi,stz was the upper limit of PEEPe. The results of the two methods used to set the level of PEEPe were identical.

Effects of extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure on work of breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To investigate the effects of extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPe) on work of breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their corresponding mechanism.Methods Ten ventilated patients with COPD were included in the study. A Bicore CP-100 pulmonary monitor (Bicore Monitoring System, USA) was used for monitoring respiratory mechanics. First, dynamic intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi,dyn) was measured when PEEPe was zero, which was called PEEPi,dynz. Then the PEEPe was set randomly at 0%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of PEEPi,dynz respectively. Pulmonary mechanics and other parameters (heart rate, blood pressure and blood gas analysis) were measured 30 minutes after the level of PEEPe was changed.Results Work of breathing patient (WOBp), pressure time product, difference of esophageal pressure and PEEPi,dyn decreased significantly when PEEPe was applied, and continued decreasing as PEEPe was increased. Work of breathing ventilator increased significantly when PEEPe was increased to 80% and 100% of PEEPi,dynz. Significantly positive linear correlation was found between the changes in WOBp and in PEEPi,dyn.Conclusions WOBp decreases gradually as PEEPe is increased. WOBp decreases by narrowing the difference between the alveolus pressure and the central airway pressure at the end of expiration when PEEPe is applied.

Experience on diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injury by acupuncture and moxibustion

Several problems about acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of soft tissue injury are probed in the present paper. The author holds that for treatment of soft tissue injury with acupuncture and moxibustion, firstly, must clarify the lesion location, so as to understand pathogenic characteristics and select the best acupuncture forcing point; secondly, must distinguish different stages of the disease, so as to select the best proper acupuncture stimulation method according to different pathological mechanisms in acute and chronic stages. Finally, the author analyzes different stimulation characteristics and indications according to own experience on clinical commonly-used several acupuncture and moxibustion stimulation methods such as filiform needle, acupoint injection, micro-needle therapy including ear acupuncture, abdomen acupuncture, eye acupuncture and so on, and blood-letting puncturing and cupping, fire needle and small needle-knife, and puts forward own treatment points of view.