Objective To observe the clinical effects of early use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) in patients with severe sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods A prospective study was conducted.96 patients with severe sepsis and ARDS admitted from July 2012 to September 2013 to intensive care unit (ICU) of Liuzhou People's Hospital in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were enrolled and divided into severe ARDS group (n=48) and moderate ARDS group (n=48) according to the Berlin definition of ARDS.Then patients in each group were randomly divided into treatment group (n =24) and control group (n=24).All patients with diagnosis in accordance with the 2008 international septic shock and severe sepsis treatment guidelines were provided with comprehensive treatment and mechanical ventilation on the basis of analgesia and sedation.The patients in treatment group were given a loading dose of vecuronium during mechanical ventilation,started with 0.l mg/kg up to 0.05 mg ·kg 1 ·h 1 for continuous intravenous infusion for 24-48 hours.The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score,sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA),arterial oxygenation index (PaOfFiO2),central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2),arterial blood lactate (Lac),C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of two groups were compared before treatment and 48 hours after treatment,and 21-day mortality rate was finally compared.Results In moderate or severe ARDS group,there were no statistically significant difference in APACHE Ⅱ score,SOFA score,PaO2/FiO2,ScvO2,Lac and CRP before treatment between two groups.APACHE Ⅱ score,SOFA score,PaO2/FiO2,ScvO2,and Lac 48 hours after treatment were significantly improved in severe ARDS group compared with control group [APACHE Ⅱ score:16.58 ± 2.41 vs.19.79 ± 3.52,t=3.679,P=0.010; SOFA score:12.04 ± 2.17 vs.14.75 ±3.26,t=3.385,P=0.010; PaO2/FiO2 (mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa):159.31 ±22.57 vs.131.81 ± 34.93,t=3.239,P=0.020; ScyO2:0.673 ± 0.068 vs.0.572 ± 0.142,t=3.137,P=0.030; Lac (mmol/L):3.10 ± 1.01 vs.4.39 ± 1.72,t=3.161,P=0.030],while the value of CRP (mg/L) showed no significant difference (180.91 ±37.14 vs.174.66 ± 38.46,t=0.572,P=0.570).21-day mortality in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group [20.8％ (5/24) vs.50.0％ (12/24),x2=4.463,P=0.035].In moderate ARDS group,each of the above clinical parameters were improved in both groups expect for CRP at 48 hours after treatment,but the indexes showed no statistically significant difference between two groups (all P＞0.05).21-day mortality rate in the treatment group was slightly lower than that in the control group which showed no statistically significant difference [16.7％ (4/24) vs.25.0％(6/24),x2=0.505,P=0.477].Conclusion The early use of NMBA treatment of patients with severe sepsis and severe ARDS cannot only improve the severity but also reduce 21-day mortality.

Objective:To observe the effects of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO)combined with prone position ventilation (PPV) on oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2), respiratory compliance (Crs) and vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. Methods:Eighteen patients with severe ARDS requiring VV-ECMO support in Liuzhou People's Hospital from June 2018 to April 2020 were selected for retrospective analysis, and 8 patients among of these cases received PPV after VV-ECMO. The differences in PaO 2/FiO 2, VIS and Crs before and 1, 2 or 3 days after treatment were compared between VV-ECMO group and VV-ECMO combined with PPV group, as well as the differences in these indices before PPV and 2 hours after PPV daily in VV-ECMO combined with PPV group. The incidence of adverse events in two groups were also observed. Results:Before treatment, there was no significant difference in PaO 2/FiO 2, Crs between two groups. Over time, PaO 2/FiO 2 and Crs increased and VIS decreased in both groups. Compared with before treatment, there were statistically significant differences in PaO 2/FiO 2 and VIS from 1 day after treatment [PaO 2/FiO 2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): VV-ECMO group was 197.75±39.80 vs. 75.57±7.44, VV-ECMO combined with PPV group was 255.20±31.92 vs. 68.24±11.64; VIS: VV-ECMO group was 5.51±3.72 vs. 10.20±7.10, VV-ECMO combined with PPV group was 6.73±3.32 vs. 14.50±2.48, all P < 0.05], up to 3 days after treatment [PaO 2/FiO 2 (mmHg): VV-ECMO group was 231.96±32.76 vs. 75.57±7.44, VV-ECMO combined with PPV group was 285.61±19.40 vs. 68.24±11.64; VIS: VV-ECMO group was 2.26±1.90 vs. 10.20±7.10, VV-ECMO combined with PPV group was 2.13±1.55 vs. 14.50±2.48, all P < 0.05], and the PaO 2/FiO 2 1 day and 3 days after treatment in VV-ECMO combined with PPV group were significantly higher than those in VV-ECMO group (mmHg: after 1 day of treatment was 255.20±31.92 vs. 197.75±39.80, after 3 days of treatment was 285.61±19.40 vs. 231.96±32.76, both P < 0.05). Before treatment, Crs of VV-ECMO combined with PPV group was significantly lower than that of VV-ECMO group (mL/cmH 2O: 17.91±0.82 vs. 20.54±1.26, P < 0.05). From 1 day after treatment, the Crs in VV-ECMO combined with PPV group was significantly higher than that before treatment (mL/cmH 2O: 21.20±1.50 vs. 17.91±0.82), the peak value was (24.93±2.18) mL/cmH 2O on 3 days after treatment, however, there was no significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). In VV-ECMO combined with PPV group, compared with before PPV treatment, the PaO 2/FiO 2 and Crs of 2 hours after PPV treatment in 1, 2 and 3 days were significantly rose, and it reached the highest level in 3 days [PaO 2/FiO 2(mmHg): 285.61±19.40 vs. 189.91±28.34, Crs (mL/cmH 2O): 24.93±2.18 vs. 23.35±1.45, both P < 0.05]; the VIS was only increased in 2 hours after PPV treatment on the first day than before (6.73±3.32 vs. 6.38±3.22, P < 0.05). There were no related serious adverse events happened after PPV treatment. Conclusions:The combination of PPV during VV-ECMO could further increase PaO 2/FiO 2, improve hypoxemia and implement further protective lung ventilation to reduce the potential hazards during mechanical ventilation. In addition, no serious adverse events were observed in this study, suggesting PPV is safe during VV-ECMO.

Objective:To investigate the effect of fluid resuscitation and circulatory support, directed by different target mean arterial pressure (MAP), on abdominal blood flow, gastrointestinal function and inflammatory response in septic shock patients with hypertension.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. Hypertensive patients with septic shock admitted to the department of intensive care unit (ICU) of Liuzhou People's Hospital from January 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into the low MAP groups (low standard group, LS group) or high MAP group (high standard group, HS group). According to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines in 2016 and the updated guideline in 2018, all patients were given treatment of primary disease, fluid resuscitation, supportive management. The target MAP was 65-70 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in LS group, and was 75-80 mmHg in HS group. Acute gastrointestinal function injury (AGI) classification was performed on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day. The mean flow rate (Vm) and resistance index (RI) of superior mesenteric artery were evaluated using ultrasound, and the gastrointestinal function was dynamically evaluated using the modified single section ultrasonic gastric antrum method. The gastric antrum movement index (MI) and gastric empaging time (GET) were recorded. The levels of inflammatory markers in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The target MAP, the days of use of vasopressors and the amount of fluid resuscitation were recorded.Results:A total of 208 hypertensive patients with septic shock were enrolled, including 109 in the LS group and 99 in the HS group. There were no significant differences in gender, age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHEⅡ) score and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score between the two groups when diagnosed. After treatment, there was no significant difference in AGI classification between the LS group and HS group on the 1st day. On the 3rd and 7th day, there were statistical differences between the two groups (3rd day: proportion of Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ grades were 25.69%, 56.88%, 11.93%, 5.50% in LS group, 15.15%, 54.55%, 25.25%, 5.05% in HS group, respectively, χ 2 = 7.900, P = 0.048; 7rd day: proportion of Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ grades were 44.96%, 49.54%, 3.67%, 1.83% in LS group, 31.31%, 52.53%, 11.11%, 5.05% in HS group, respectively, χ 2 = 8.178, P = 0.042). The Vm of superior mesenteric artery was higher and the RI was lower in the LS group than those in the HS group on day 1, 3 and 7 [Vm (cm/s): 21.72±3.02 vs. 19.50±2.83, 20.42±2.62 vs. 17.02±1.99, 26.52±2.70 vs. 22.47±4.03; RI: 0.86±0.05 vs. 0.92±0.04, 0.87±0.05 vs. 0.95±0.05, 0.81±0.03 vs. 0.85±0.03, all P < 0.01]. The MI was higher and the GET was shorter in the LS group than those in the HS group on day 3 and day 7 [MI: 3.00±0.33 vs. 2.60±0.29, 4.50±0.51 vs. 3.90±0.33; GET (minutes): 86.01±19.78 vs. 100.99±25.01, 71.00±16.37 vs. 84.98±20.18, all P < 0.01]. In addition, the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6, PCT, VEGF were lower in the LS group than those in the HS group after 3 days of treatment [TNF-α (ng/L): 147.05±28.32 vs. 256.99±27.04, IL-6 (ng/L): 762.99±57.83 vs. 1 112.30±118.32, PCT (μg/L): 37.00±5.58 vs. 56.00±12.36, VEGF (ng/L): 123.00±19.78 vs. 167.01±21.55, all P < 0.05]. The target MAP was maintained at (68.02±4.71) mmHg in LS group, and (79.04±3.04) mmHg in HS group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P < 0.01). Compared with the HS group, the days of using vasopressors was shorter in LS group (days: 3.50±1.27 vs. 4.55±1.47), and the amountof fluid was reduced significantly (mL: 1 602.29±275.49 vs. 2 000.30±272.59, both P < 0.01). Conclusion:Maintaining a low target mean arterial pressure (65-70 mmHg) in hypertensive patients with septic shock can improve blood supply of superior mesenteric artery, protect the gastrointestinal function, reduce the level of inflammatory factors, and diminish the duration of using vasopressors and the amount of fluid.