Massive transfusion ...Facts..and new facts

Definitions vary… They include:

10 unit transfusion in 24 h

transfusion of an entire blood volume in 24 h

replacement of 50% blood volume over 3 h

1 adult bag of platelets is equivalent to 4 units PRBCs for the purposes of maintaining the 1:1 ratio.

Note that the 1:1:1 concept is mainly supported by the fact that it makes sense pathophysiologically and by retrospective and observational studies. It has not been conclusively proven in the way that a large double-blind randomised controlled trial would. Indeed, there are concerns that at least some of the perceived benefit of hemostatic resuscitation and the ’1:1:1′ ratio is due to survivor bias .

Tranexamic acid an antifibrinolytic that works by competitively inhibiting the activation of plasminogen to plasmin plasmin is responsible for the degradation of fibrin. Given that tranexamic acid is cheap, one of the few interventions with proven mortality benefit (NNT = 67) and few adverse effects I think clinicians should strongly consider this using this agent in major trauma patients.

Tranexamic acid is given as 1g IV loading dose followed by 1g over 8 hours. It should be given with 3 hours of major trauma.

Tranexamic acid should be given early, within 3 hours of the time of injury.

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The pressure volume loop...

In the pressure-volume loop below, cardiac work is best represented by: the area of the curve the slope of the line from points C to D the distance of the line from points C to D the slope of a line from points A to D .. .. ... .... ... .... .... .... In the pressure-volume loop below, cardiac work is best represented by: the area of the curve Cardiac work is the product of pressure and volume and is linearly related to myocardial oxygen consumption. Cardiac work is best represented by the area of the curve of a pressure-volume loop.

Anaphylaxis updates part 2- Empty Ventricle Syndrome

Patients with anaphylaxis should not suddenly sit, stand, or be placed in the upright position. Instead, they should be placed on the back with their lower extremities elevated or, if they are experiencing respiratory distress or vomiting, they should be placed in a position of comfort with their lower extremities elevated. This accomplishes 2 therapeutic goals: 1) preservation of fluid in the circulation (the central vascular compartment), an important step in managing distributive shock; and 2) prevention of the empty vena cava/empty ventricle syndrome, which can occur within seconds when patients with anaphylaxis suddenly assume or are placed in an upright position. Patients with this syndrome are at high risk for sudden death. They are unlikely to respond to epinephrine regardless of route of administration, because it does not reach the heart and therefore cannot be circulated throughout the body

Steroids In Perioperative period...The Multi-purpose Drugs

1-Steroids are not Bronchodilator ,but have well established usefulness in hyper-reactive airway. They are also said to have a permissive role for bronchodilator medication. They can be administered orally, parenterally or in aerosol form 2- Steroids have been commonly used in chemotherapy for prevention of nausea along with other anti-emetic agents . Dexamethasone was found to be highly effective when given immediately before induction rather than at the end of anesthesia . 3- Steroids do exert analgesic effects. Various routes of administration of steroids include parentral, local infiltration at operated site , as an adjuvant in nerve blocks and central-neuraxial blockade. 4 - Steroids cannot be the mainstay of therapy in anaphylaxis because of the delayed onset of action, so they are used as adjunct after initial treatment with epinephrine. 5- Steroids (Dexamethsone) are of value in reduction or prevention of cerebral edema associated with parasitic infections and neopla...

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