Background: Cardiac output (CO) assessment is essential for management of patients with circulatory failure. Among the different techniques used for their assessment, pulsed-wave Doppler cardiac output (PWD-CO) has proven to be an accurate and useful tool. Despite this, assessment of PWD-CO could have some technical difficulties, especially in the measurement of left ventricular outflow tract diameter (LVOTd). The use of a parameter such as minute distance (MD) which avoids LVOTd in the PWD-CO formula could be a simple and useful way to assess the CO in critically ill patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation and agreement between PWD-CO and MD. Methods: A prospective and observational study was conducted over 2 years in a 30-bed intensive care unit (ICU). Adult patients who required CO monitoring were included. Clinical echocardiographic data were collected within the first 24 h and at least once more during the first week of ICU stay. PWD-CO was calculated using the average value of three LVOTd and left ventricular outflow tract velocity-time integral (LVOT-VTI) measurements, and heart rate. Minute distance was obtained from the product of LVOT-VTI x heart rate. Pulsed-wave Doppler cardiac output was correlated with MD using linear regression. Cardiac output was quantified from the MD using the equation defined by linear regression. Bland-Altman analysis was also used to evaluate the level of agreement between CO calculated from MD (MD-CO) and PWD-CO. The percentage error was calculated. Results: A total of 98 patients and 167 CO measurements were analyzed. Sixty-seven (68%) were male, the median age was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR], 53-75 years), and the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 22 (IQR, 16-26). The most common cause of admission was shock in 81 patients (82.7%). Sixty-nine patients (70.4%) were mechanically ventilated, and 68 (70%) required vasoactive drugs. The median CO was 5.5 L/min (IQR, 4.8-6.6 L/min), and the median MD was 1,850 cm/min (IQR, 1,520-2,160 cm/min). There was a significant correlation between PWD-CO and MD-CO in the general population (R2 = 0.7; P < 0.05). This correlation improved when left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was less than 60% (R-2 = 0.85, P < 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between PWD-CO and MD-CO in the general population, the median bias was 0.02 L/min, the limits of agreement were -1.92 to + 1.92 L/min. The agreement was better in patients with LVEF less than 60% with a median bias of 0.005 L/min and limits of agreement of -1.56 to 1.55 L/min. The percentage error was 17% in both cases. Conclusion: Measurement of MD in critically ill patients provides a simple and accurate estimate of CO, especially in patients with reduced or preserved LVEF. This would allow earlier cardiovascular assessment in patients with circulatory failure, which is of particular interest in difficult clinical or technical conditions.

Echocardiography has gained wide acceptance among intensive care physicians during the last 15 years. The lack of accredited formation, the long learning curve required and the excessive structural orientation of the present algorithms to evaluate hemodynamically unstable patients hampers its daily use in the intensive care unit. The aim of this article is to show 4 cases where the use of our simple algorithm based on VII, was crucial. Subsequently, to explain the benefit of using the proposed algorithm with a more functional perspective, as a means for clinical decision-making. A simple algorithm based on left ventricle outflow tract velocity-time integral measurement for a functional hemodynamic monitoring on patients suffering hemodynamic shock or instability is proposed by Spanish Critical Care Ultrasound Network Group. This algorithm considers perfusion and congestion variables. Its simplicity might be useful for guiding physicians in their daily decision-making managing critically ill patients in hemodynamic shock.

Cardiac ultrasound has become an essential tool for diagnosis and hemodynamic monitoring in critically ill patients. Scientific societies need to work toward developing a training program that will allow clinicians to acquire competence in performing cardiac ultrasound and understanding its indications.The Clinical Ultrasound for Intensive Care task force of the Spanish Society of Anesthe-siology and Critical Care (SEDAR) and the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) have drawn up this position statement defining the learning objectives and training requi-red to acquire the competencies recommended for basic ultrasound management in the intensive care and emergency setting in order to obtain a diploma in Basic Ultrasound in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. This document defines the training program and the competencies needed for basic skills in ultrasound in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine -part of the Diploma in Ultrasound for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine awarded by SEDAR/SEMES. The Spanish Society of Anesthesia (SEDAR), Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI) and Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) have drawn up a position statement determining the competencies and training program for a diploma in ultrasound (lung, abdominal and vascular) in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. To obtain the SEDAR/SEMES Diploma in Ultrasound in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, clinicians must have completed the SEDAR, SEMI and SEMES Diploma in basic ultrasound and the Diploma in lung, abdominal, and vascular ultrasound.(c) 2021 Sociedad Espanola de Anestesiologi acute accent a, Reanimacion y Terap acute accent eutica del Dolor. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Objective: Rare diseaseBackground: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Severe hypoxia with hypoxic vasoconstriction caused by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can induce pul-monary hypertension with hemodynamic implications, mainly secondary to right ventricle (RV) systolic func-tion impairment. We report the case of the use of iNO in a critically ill patient with bilateral SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and severe ARDS and hypoxemia leading to acute severe PAH, causing a ventilation/perfusion mismatch, RV pressure over-load, and RV systolic dysfunction.Case Report: A 36-year-old woman was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with a severe ARDS associated with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Severe hypoxia and hypoxic vasoconstriction developed, leading to an acute increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, severe to moderate tricuspid regurgitation, RV pressure overload, RV systolic function impairment, and RV dilatation. Following 24 h of treatment with iNO at 15 ppm, significant oxygenation and hemodynamic improvement were noted, allowing vasopressors to be stopped. After 24 h of iNO treatment, echocardiography showed very mild tricuspid regurgitation, a non -dilat-ed RV, no impairment of transverse free wall contractility, and no paradoxical septal motion. iNO was main-tained for 7 days. The dose of iNO was progressively decreased with no adverse effects and maintaining an improvement of oxygenation and hemodynamic status, allowing respiratory weaning. Conclusions: Sustained acute hypoxia in ARDS secondary to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia can lead to PAH, causing a ventila-tion/perfusion mismatch and RV systolic impairment. iNO can be considered in patients with significant PAH causing hypoxemia and RV dysfunction.

Pneumonia caused by coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, has been spread around the world already becoming a pandemic. Unfortunately, there is not yet a specific vaccine or effective antiviral drug for treating COVID-19. Many of these patients deteriorate rapidly and require intubation and are mechanically ventilated, which is causing the collapse of the health system in many countries due to lack of ventilators and intensive care beds. In this document we review two simple adjuvant therapies to administer, without side effects, and low cost that could be useful for the treatment of acute severe coronavirus infection associated with acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant, has emerged as a relevant therapy due to its potential benefits when administered intravenous. The potential effect of vitamin C in reducing inflammation in the lungs could play a key role in lung injury caused by coronavirus infection. Another potential effective therapy is ozone: it has been extensively studied and used for many years and its effectiveness has been demonstrated so far in multiples studies. Nevertheless, our goat is not to make an exhaustive review of these therapies but spread the beneficial effects themselves. Obviously clinical trials are necessaries, but due to the potential benefit of these two therapies we highly recommended to add to the therapeutic arsenal. (C) 2020 Sociedad Espanola de Anestesiologia, Reanimacion y Terapeutica del Dolor. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

To assess the correlation between intraoperative packed red blood cells transfusion and adverse outcome in a Spanish cohort of cardiac surgery patients. METHODS: Retrospective observational multicentre study. An analysis was performed on the data from 927 cardiac surgery patients treated in 24 Spanish hospitals in 2007. Patients who received intraoperative transfusions were compared with non-transfused patients. Multivariate analyses were performed (including, among others, several items from the Euroscore, surgery type, basal renal status and haemoglobin levels, and Thakar score). RESULTS: Every transfusion of packed red cells was associated with increased postoperative risk of acute kidney damage at 72 hours after surgery, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and need for haemodynamic support. Moreover, transfused patients showed an increased in-hospital mortality rates (Adjusted OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.19-1.42), as well as longer hospital stays (almost 4 days). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients, intraoperative transfusion might independently predict higher risk of early acute kidney damage, prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation, and a need for haemodynamic support, and reduced short term survival (adjusted OR for mortality: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.19-1.42), and longer hospital stays (4 days longer).

Early detection of AKI is necessary for preventing progression and starting renal replacement therapy at adjusted doses that reflect metabolic requirements..

Patients who undergo early initiation of RRT after CSA-AKI have improved survival rates and renal function at discharge and decreased lengths of hospital stay