Hemodynamic therapy： timing and targeting

Hemodynamics is as scientific domain involving _the characteristics and regularity of the movementof blood components throughout the entire body. Hemodynamic monitoring is important in revealing pathophysiologic changes during disease processes, despite almost all monitoring methods not improving outcomes.1＇2 Recently, hemodynamics has grown theoretically and methodologically from individual parameters. Hemodynamic therapy, as a breakthrough concept, is important in the physiologic evaluation of patients, in selecting optimal treatments, in adjusting the intensity of treatment and in targeting the direction of therapy.

Veno-Venous Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in a Child with Hemoptysis and Fontan Circulation

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a rescue life support technique used in life threatening conditions of refractory respiratory and/or cardiac distress. Indication for extracorporeal life support in children depends on age and varies from pulmonary to cardiac pathologies. In some cases, it may be used as a bridge to a therapeutic procedure. We described here the management of respiratory failure due to hemoptysis in a child with a Fontan circulation and veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation which served as a bridge to angio-embolization. Hemoptysis can be a life threatening condition which can lead to hypovolemic shock and impaired alveolar gas exchange. The latter can result in respiratory failure and consequent asphyxia. When hemoptysis occurs in a patient with a univentricular heart and a Fontan circulation, management of this clinical situation can be challenging due to the particular physiology of the latter. Total cavopulmonary connection is a palliative surgical repair which constitutes Fontan circulation as a definitive treatment in patients with a univentricular heart. Methods: Case report description of a 16 year-old boy with a univentricular heart and a Fontan circulation who presented hemoptysis managed with a veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to angio-embolization. Results: Hemoptysis due to diffuse intra-alveolar hemorrhage from collateral circulation was successfully treated in this young patient with pulmonary vascular embolization. This allowed to wean the patient from extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. Conclusion: Veno-venous ECMO can be life-saving as a bridge to angio-embolization for severe hemoptysis in patients with Fontan circulation. The reported case allows to underline that our multidisciplinary approach in this complex pediatric patient surely participated to improve outcome.

Intraoperative Goal-Directed Therapies in Femoral and Pelvic Osteotomies in Children and In-Hospital Postoperative Outcomes

Background: Femoral and pelvic osteotomies are potential hemorrhagic interventions where transfusion requirements can be necessary. Objective: We undertook a secondary analysis of patients who underwent femoral and pelvic osteotomy in the initial cohort. The objective of this secondary analysis was to describe intraoperative and postoperative outcomes and to describe intraoperative management in these patients in terms of blood product management and fluid and hemodynamic therapy with the aim of implementing optimization management protocols for postoperative outcome improvement. Methods: A secondary analysis of patients who underwent femoral and pelvic osteotomy surgery was included in the initial retrospective study. Results: There were eighteen patients with a mean age of 104 ± 47.1 months. Four (22.2%) patients had intraoperative and/or postoperative complications. One patient (5.6%) had an intraoperative hemorrhagic shock, two patients (11.1%) had postoperative neurologic failure, and one patient (5.6%) had postoperative wound sepsis. The transfusion rate was 50% in nine patients. Conclusion: Femoral and pelvic osteotomies are interventions where blood, transfusion and fluid requirements can be increased;thus, this implies the necessity of a global patient blood management protocol with point-of-care tests and fluid- and hemodynamic-guided protocols with validated tools in children for intraoperative and postoperative outcome optimization.