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Aims: To assess whether mechanical circulatory support (MCS), including intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) or veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), can help improve neurological outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study performed in China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Adult patients with OHCA admitted between January 2015 and June 2023. Quantitative score of vasoactive-inotropic agents and qualitative interventions of MCS, including IABP and ECMO after OHCA. Multivariate regression evaluated the efficacy of each MCS approach in patients stratified by the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS). Results: A total of 334 patients were included and analyzed, 122 (36.5%) had favorable neurological outcomes and 215 (64.4%) survived ≥90 days. These patients were stratified by VIS: 0-25, 26-100, 101-250, and >250. In patients with a VIS > 100, ECMO with or without IABP ensured favorable neurological outcomes and survival after OHCA compared to non-MCS interventions (p < 0.001). For patients with a VIS ≤ 100, IABP alone was beneficial, with no significant outcome difference from non-MCS interventions (p > 0.05). Conclusions: ECMO with or without IABP therapy may improve post-OHCA neurological outcomes and survival in patients with an expected VIS-24 h > 100 (e.g., epinephrine dose reaches 3 mg during CPR).

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We describe the case of a 14-year-old girl with osteosarcoma who was treated with high-dose methotrexate (12 g/m2). Twenty-four hours after the infusion, her plasma methotrexate concentration was elevated at 937 µmol/L (normal < 10 µmol/L). She exhibited severe signs of methotrexate toxicity, including encephalopathy, acute liver failure (ALF), and acute kidney injury. In this case report, we highlight the severe and rare adverse effects secondary to methotrexate administration and the efficacity of molecular adsorbent recirculating system and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration to recover from multiple organ failure.

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Background: The effectiveness of nonsurgical treatment of patellar tendinopathy is questioned due to the conflicting results of placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which placebo arms often show impressive results. Purpose: To quantify the magnitude of placebo effect of the different nonsurgical treatments of patellar tendinopathy. We also evaluated the influence of patients and treatments characteristics on the response to the placebo. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and gray literature databases on May 10, 2023, with no time limitation. RCTs on nonoperative treatment of patellar tendinopathy, including a placebo control arm reporting the evolution of symptoms after placebo administration, were included. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed with the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) at mid-term follow-up (3-6 months) as the primary outcome. The VISA-P score at short-term (1-3 months) and long-term (6-12 months) follow-ups, as well as visual analog scale (VAS) for pain at all 3 time points were also analyzed. A subanalysis based on the type of placebo and a meta-regression were conducted to look for potential determinants of the placebo effect. Risk of bias and level of evidence were also analyzed using the revised tool for risk of bias in randomized trials and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Results: In total, 14 studies (251 patients) were included. VISA-P score at mid-term follow-up (3-6 months) showed statistically significant improvements of 13 of 100 points (P = .001). The change at short-term follow-up (1-3 months) was not statistically significant, whereas at long-term follow-up (6-12 months) it was 27 of 100 points (P < .001). Regarding VAS, results were statistically significant only at mid-term (MD = -1.5/10; P = .02) and long-term (MD = -3.2/10; P < .001) follow-ups. The meta-regression showed positive correlations between the response to placebo and the follow-up length (P < .001) and the effect size in the experimental group (P = .006). The level of evidence was moderate for mid- and long-term results and low for short-term results. Conclusion: The placebo effect for nonsurgical treatments of patellar tendinopathy is long-lasting (up to 12 months) and statistically and clinically significant. It has a perceived and true component and differs among treatments. The duration of follow-up and the effect size of experimental groups correlate with the magnitude of the placebo component, underlining the importance of RCTs to determine the effectiveness of new treatments of patellar tendinopathy.

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INTRODUCTION: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a vital intervention for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), yet its efficacy with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unknown. This study compared the long-term mortality rates of patients receiving ECMO for COVID-19 with those experiencing other respiratory disease-associated ARDS. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included adults with ARDS receiving ECMO for respiratory disease (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) based on information collected from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea from February 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 6 months and 1 year post-ECMO initiation. RESULTS: Data from 3094 patients with COVID-19 (N = 1095) and non-COVID-19 respiratory disease-associated ARDS (N = 1999) who received ECMO support were analyzed. Despite a higher Charlson Comorbidity index in the non-COVID group, patients with COVID-19 had higher cumulative mortality rates at 6 months and 1 year post-ECMO initiation compared to those with non-COVID-19 respiratory diseases, after adjusting for confounders. Patients with COVID-19 also experienced longer intensive care unit stays, higher hospitalization costs, longer ECMO and mechanical ventilation durations, and lower intensity coverage. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 requiring ECMO showed higher mortality rates, possibly due to its distinct long-lasting and potentially fatal consequences compared to other respiratory illnesses.

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The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of radial and focus ESWT treatment on pain, function and size of the calcaneal spur in patients with clinical and radiological diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. A total of 112 patients aged between 18 and 95 years, were divided into two groups; group 1, rESWT (2.4 bar 12 hz 2000 beats), group 2 received fESWT (0.14 bar 14 hz 1000 beats) three times a week for three weeks. All patients were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-pain and Foot Function Index (FFI) before and after the treatment, at 4 week and 12 weeks. Calcaneal spur size was measured radiographically in the patients before and after the treatment at the 12 th week follow-up. According to our records, VAS scores were found to be similar between the groups before treatment and at follow-ups (all p>0.05). In both groups, a significant decrease in VAS scores was found in the follow-ups compared to before treatment (p<0.001). FFI total, pain, activity and disability scores were found to be similar between the groups before treatment and at follow-up (all p>0.05). In both groups, a significant decrease in FFI scores was found in the follow-ups compared to before treatment (p<0.001). Both of rESWT and fESWT were effective in plantar fasciitis treatment there were no significiant difference between two modalities in long term. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE: III.

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Managing intracranial hemorrhage in patients supported by extracorporeal oxygenation (ECMO) presents significant clinical challenges. We report a case of a postpartum patient with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) necessitating venovenous ECMO support, complicated by multicompartmental intracranial hemorrhage resulting in brain herniation and necessitating emergent medical and surgical management of refractory intracranial hypertension. Care was guided by multimodal neuromonitoring, including intracranial pressure monitoring and electroencephalography. Despite these challenges, the patient achieved excellent neurological recovery. This case underscores the intricacies of managing neurological complications during ECMO and highlights the potential benefits of comprehensive neuromonitoring strategies.

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Pheochromocytoma crisis is rare but potentially fatal if not recognized early and properly managed. Here, a woman in her 20s with a paraganglioma-induced pheochromocytoma crisis, who was successfully treated by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and interval tumor resection, is described. In July 2022, the patient was brought to hospital with a complaint of sudden-onset of palpitations with vomiting. The patient developed cardiorespiratory failure with hypoxia. Computed tomography scan showed pulmonary oedema and a mass anterior to the inferior vena cava. She was transferred to the intensive care unit and treated with VA-ECMO. The patient's ECMO was withdrawn after 6 days without any complications. After hemodynamic stabilization, the patient underwent tumor resection 4 months later. The postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged on postoperative day 7. Histopathological analysis confirmed a paraganglioma. VA-ECMO may play a significant role in saving lives and providing time for accurate diagnosis and specific treatment of a patient with pheochromocytoma crisis. Appropriate individual management can help avoid the occurrence of ECMO complications.

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These highlights focus on the research in lung transplantation (LTX) that was published in 2022 and includes the assessment and optimization of candidates for LTX, donor optimization, the use of organs from donation after circulatory death, and outcomes when using marginal or novel donors; recipient factors affecting LTX, including age, disease, the use of extracorporeal life support; and special situations, such as coronavirus disease2019, pediatric LTX, and retransplantation. The remainder of the article focuses on the perioperative management of LTX, including the perioperative risk factors for acute renal failure (acute kidney injury); the incidence and management of phrenic nerve injury, delirium, and pain; and the postoperative management of hyperammonemia, early postoperative infections, and the use of donor-derived cell-free DNA to detect rejection.

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OBJECTIVES: To determine the predictive role of combined assessment of vasoactive-inotropic score and lactate for the prognosis of patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. METHODS: The data of adult patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between January 2015 and December 2018 at a tertiary hospital was retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of in-hospital mortality and other clinical outcomes were analyzed. The associations of vasoactive-inotropic score and lactate and in-hospital mortality were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 222 patients were included and divided into four groups according to the cut-off points of vasoactive-inotropic score (24.3) and lactate level (6.85 mmol/L). The in-hospital mortality rates were 37.7%, 50.7%, 54.8% and 76.5% for the four groups (P < 0.001), while the rates of successful weaning off extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were 73.9%, 69%, 61.3% and 39.2% respectively (P = 0.001). The group 1 and group 2 exhibited significant differences compared to group 4 in both in-hospital mortality and weaning rates (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction between group 1 and group 4 (P < 0.05). Groups 1, 2 and 3 demonstrated significantly improved cumulative 30-day survival compared with group 4 (log-rank test, P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, vasoactive-inotropic score > 24.3 and lactate > 6.85 mmol/L were independently predictive of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the initiation before reaching vasoactive-inotropic score > 24.3 and lactate > 6.85 mmol/L was associated with improved in-hospital outcomes, suggesting that combined assessment of VIS and lactate may be instructive for determining the initiation of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

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As a new therapeutic method, extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome. Numerous studies have shown that it has the advantages of noninvasiveness, short treatment time, etc. It can effectively relieve pain and improve symptoms such as joint mobility and opening degree. In clinical practice, through accurate diagnosis and positioning of different patients, appropriate treatment parameters such as therapeutic transducer, frequency and pressure can be selected to significantly improve the efficacy. At the same time, follow-up evaluation after treatment, including temporomandibular joint disorder index and visual analogue score, is also helpful to fully understand the rehabilitation of patients. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) brings new hope to patients with temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome and has a broad application prospect.

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[Purpose] This study aimed to measure the analgesic effects and efficacy of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy, for which no consensus has been reached regarding optimal treatment parameters. [Participants and Methods] The study included 40 feet of 40 patients with plantar fasciitis. The visual analogue scale was used to determine the immediate and cumulative effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy as well as the efficacy rate. Efficacy was calculated as a percentage visual analogue scale change of ≥20 mm and visual analogue scale improvement of ≥60%. [Results] Immediate and continued efficacy of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy was observed and recorded. Efficacy rates based on a percentage visual analogue scale change of ≥20 mm and visual analogue scale improvement of ≥60% were both 57.5%. [Conclusion] Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy has immediate and cumulative analgesic effects on plantar fasciitis. However, cumulative results of interventions with various treatment parameters are required to determine the optimal treatment parameter settings for diffuse pressure wave therapy for plantar fasciitis.

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AIMS: To investigate the efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shockwave therapy(ESWT) for diabetic foot ulcers(DFUs). METHODS: Search in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTAL), and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before August 8, 2023. All identified studies were screened following the selection criteria. Finally, we employed the STATA 14.0 software for conducting a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESWT. RESULTS: A total of ten RCTs with moderate methodological quality were included for data analysis. The findings showed that ESWT was significantly associated with significantly complete healed ulcers (risk ratio [RR]: 1.57, 95 % confidence interval [CI]:1.26 to 1.95) and lower rate of unchanged ulcers (RR: 0.25, 95 %CI: 0.14 to 0.42) compared to controls. Subgroup analysis further revealed that ESWT was better than both hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT) and the standard of care (SOC). Moreover, ESWT also significantly improved the average transcutaneous partial oxygen pressure (TcPO2) (mean difference[MD]: 1.71, 95 %CI: 1.22 to 2.19, p < 0.001). However, the rate of ≥ 50 % improved ulcers and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were not significantly different between the ESWT and controls. CONCLUSIONS: ESWT has shown promising efficacy and a favorable safety profile in the treatment of DFUs.

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Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) facilitates resuscitation with immediate and precise temperature control. This study aimed to determine the optimal reperfusion temperature to minimize neurological damage after ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest (VFCA). Twenty-four rats were randomized (n = 8 per group) to normothermia (NT = 37°C), mild hypothermia (MH = 33°C) or moderate hypothermia (MOD = 27°C). The rats were subjected to 10 minutes of VFCA, before 15 minutes of ECPR at their respective target temperature. After ECPR weaning, rats in the MOD group were rapidly rewarmed to 33°C, and temperature maintained at 33°C (MH/MOD) or 37°C (NT) for 12 hours before slow rewarming to normothermia (MH/MOD). The primary outcome was 30-day survival with overall performance category (OPC) 1 or 2 (1 = normal, 2 = slight disability, 3 = severe disability, 4 = comatose, 5 = dead). Secondary outcomes included awakening rate (OPC ≤ 3) and neurological deficit score (NDS, from 0 = normal to 100 = brain dead). The survival rate did not differ between reperfusion temperatures (NT = 25%, MH = 63%, MOD = 38%, p = 0.301). MH had the lowest NDS (NT = 4[IQR 3-4], MH = 2[1-2], MOD = 5[3-5], p = 0.044) and highest awakening rate (NT = 25%, MH = 88%, MOD = 75%, p = 0.024). In conclusion, ECPR with 33°C reperfusion did not statistically significantly improve survival after VFCA when compared with 37°C or 27°C reperfusion but was neuroprotective as measured by awakening rate and neurological function.

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The 18th International Conference on Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support Systems and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Perfusion was held in Milwaukee, WI, USA, on May 9 and 10, 2024. The conference was hosted by the Herma Heart Institute of Children's Wisconsin at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. This communication provides the highlights of the proceedings.

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Background: Little is known about extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-related spinal cord infarction (SCI), and reports regarding this rare and catastrophic complication are rare. Here, we report two cases of ECMO-related SCI that occurred between April and December 2023. Data were collected from patients' medical records, with SCI as the endpoint. We reviewed previously published reports by searching PubMed and summarizing the findings. Case summary: One female patient presenting with multiple traumas required oxygenation support through veno-venous ECMO (VV ECMO) due to pulmonary hemorrhage, while one male patient required circulatory support via veno-arterial ECMO (VA ECMO) concurrently with an intra-aortic balloon pump due to cardiac arrest. Neither patient had preexisting neurological deficits; however, upon weaning from ECMO, they presented with severe neurological deficits of uncertain etiology, subsequently confirmed as SCI using magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: ECMO-related SCI remains elusive and intricate, and this is the first report of adult VV ECMO-related SCI.

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PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in treating ureteral calculi. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 207 patients with ureteral calculi who were randomly allocated to an experimental group that underwent EA plus ESWL (n = 95) and a control group that underwent only ESWL (n = 112). Imaging examinations were performed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the operation, followed by comparing the stone-clearance rate, time to first stone expulsion, and incidence of major complications between the two groups. RESULTS: The stone-clearance rates at 1 (59.1 vs. 37%, P = 0.002), 2 (86.4 vs. 59.3%, P = 0.000), and 4 (90.9 vs. 77.8%, P = 0.013) weeks after the operation in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The time to first stone expulsion in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.29 ± 1.55 vs. 2.45 ± 3.11 days, respectively; P = 0.001). However, we found no difference in the incidence of major complications between the two groups (15.9 vs. 17.6%, P = 0.754). CONCLUSION: EA-assisted ESWL significantly improved stone clearance and shortened the time to stone expulsion without elevating the complication risk. However, a large-scale multicenter, prospective study is required to corroborate our conclusions.

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INTRODUCTION: An infrequent yet known complication of ECMO is abdominal compartment syndrome requiring emergency laparotomy. Also, the need for prolonged enteral nutrition while on ECMO may require endoscopic gastrostomy to maintain adequate nutritional status. Here we describe our experience with emergency laparotomy and endoscopic gastrostomy in patients on ECMO support. METHODS: We retrieved patient histories from our clinical archives and performed a retrospective description of all patients taken to an emergency laparotomy or endoscopic gastrostomy while on ECMO support at our cardiovascular referral center from July 2019 through June 2024. RESULTS: During the research period of 5 years a total of 401 patients were placed on ECMO support for either cardiogenic shock or respiratory failure. A total of 27 (7%) patients required an abdominal intervention while on ECMO. 14 (3.5%) patients required emergency laparotomy and 13 (3.2%) of patients required endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement. Overall 30-day mortality of all patients requiring a general surgery procedure while on ECMO support was 33%. CONCLUSION: ECMO support can result in many complications despite its many benefits. Patients who require emergency laparotomy while on ECMO have lower survival-to-discharge and higher mortality at 30 days. Endoscopic gastrostomy however, can be safely performed on ECMO with little to no bleeding complications despite anticoagulation.

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BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of weaning from venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) and its modalities have been rarely studied. METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study over 7 years in two tertiary ICUs, high-volume ECMO centers in France and Italy. Patients with ARDS on ECMO and successfully weaned from VV ECMO were classified based on their mechanical ventilation modality during the sweep gas-off trial (SGOT) with either controlled mechanical ventilation or spontaneous breathing (i.e. pressure support ventilation). The primary endpoint was the time to successful weaning from mechanical ventilation within 90 days post-ECMO weaning. RESULTS: 292 adult patients with severe ARDS were weaned from controlled ventilation, and 101 were on spontaneous breathing during SGOT. The 90-day probability of successful weaning from mechanical ventilation was not significantly different between the two groups (sHR [95% CI], 1.23 [0.84-1.82]). ECMO-related complications were not statistically different between patients receiving these two mechanical ventilation strategies. After adjusting for covariates, older age, higher pre-ECMO sequential organ failure assessment score, pneumothorax, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and renal replacement therapy, but not mechanical ventilation modalities during SGOT, were independently associated with a lower probability of successful weaning from mechanical ventilation after ECMO weaning. CONCLUSIONS: Time to successful weaning from mechanical ventilation within 90 days post-ECMO was not associated with the mechanical ventilation strategy used during SGOT. Further research is needed to assess the optimal ventilation strategy during weaning off VV ECMO and its impact on short- and long-term outcomes.