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Cyril Charron

Publications and source records attributed to Cyril Charron.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Bedside echocardiographic evaluation of hemodynamics in sepsis: is a qualitative evaluation sufficient?

OBJECTIVE: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has proven its efficiency in assessing hemodynamics in patients by its ability to evaluate cardiac function and fluid responsiveness. Classically, it requires quantitative measurements, whereas in routine practice TEE is used in our unit especially as a qualitative procedure. We assessed the accuracy of this qualitative central hemodynamic evaluation obtained by TEE at the bedside. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study conducted in a medical ICU between September 2004 and April 2005. All TEE examinations performed in consecutive patients hospitalized for septic shock and mechanically ventilated for an associated acute lung injury were eligible for evaluation. Intensivists trained in echocardiography were asked to classify (a) respiratory changes in the superior vena cava (SVC), (b) left ventricular (LV) systolic function, (c) right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic size, and (d) shape and kinetics of the interventricular septum (IVS). A post-hoc quantitative evaluation was then performed by a trained investigator unaware of the patients' status. RESULTS: We evaluated 83 examinations in 30 patients. Qualitative evaluation was easily able to distinguish patients with significant or nonsignificant SVC respiratory changes, normal, moderately or markedly depressed LV systolic function, and nondilated or dilated right ventricle. Acute cor pulmonale was also well recognized. CONCLUSION: By its ability accurately to evaluate hemodynamic status qualitative TEE could be useful for intensivists in managing circulatory failure in septic shock, rendering the more time-consuming quantitative evaluation useless.

Aged↗

[Circulatory failures].

To treat circulatory failures and recognize their mechanisms, we need to understand circulatory physiology. What determines systemic venous return? How does the right ventricle feed the pulmonary circulation? Where is the left ventricular preload reserve located? Four types of circulatory failure are conventionally recognized: hypovolemic, obstructive, vasoplegic and cardiogenic. One or more of these mechanisms may account for circulatory failure in septic shock. Treatment of circulatory failure requires admission to a specialized unit and continuous or discontinuous hemodynamic monitoring. Prognosis is highly dependent on rapid treatment and correction of circulatory impairment.

Algorithms↗

Echocardiographic measurement of fluid responsiveness.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fluid responsiveness is a relatively new concept. It enables the efficacy of volume expansion to be predicted before use, rather than assessed afterwards, thus avoiding inappropriate fluid infusion. Echocardiography is a fantastic noninvasive tool which can directly visualize the heart and assess cardiac function. Its use was long limited by the absence of accurate indices to diagnose hypovolemia and predict the effect of volume expansion. In the last few years, several French teams have used echocardiography to develop new parameters of fluid responsiveness, taking advantage of its ability to monitor cardiac function beat by beat during the respiratory cycle. RECENT FINDINGS: In mechanically ventilated patients perfectly adapted to the respirator, respiratory variations in superior and inferior vena cava diameters and in left ventricular stroke volume have been validated as parameters of fluid responsiveness. In our opinion, the collapsibility index of the superior vena cava is the most reliable of these parameters, but does require transesophageal echocardiography. SUMMARY: Echocardiography has been widely demonstrated to predict fluid responsiveness accurately. This is now a complete and noninvasive tool able to accurately determine hemodynamic status in circulatory failure.

Cardiac Output↗

The influence of tidal volume on the dynamic variables of fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients.

Respiratory-related variabilities in stroke volume and arterial pulse pressure (Delta%Pp) are proposed to predict fluid responsiveness. We investigated the influence of tidal volume (Vt) and adrenergic tone on these variables in mechanically ventilated patients. Cyclic changes in aortic velocity-time integrals (Delta%VTI(Ao), echocardiography) and Delta%Pp (catheter) were measured simultaneously before and after intravascular volume expansion, and Vt was randomly varied below and above its basal value. Intravascular volume expansion was performed by hydroxyethyl starch (100 mL, 60 s). Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for Delta%VTI(Ao), Delta%Pp and left ventricle cross-sectional end-diastolic area (echocardiography), considering the change in stroke volume after intravascular volume expansion (> or =15%) as the response criterion. Covariance analysis was used to test the influence of Vt on Delta%VTI(Ao) and Delta%Pp. Twenty-one patients were prospectively included; 9 patients (43%) were responders to intravascular volume expansion. Delta%VTI(Ao) and Delta%Pp were higher in responders compared with nonresponders. Predictive values of Delta%VTI(Ao) and Delta%Pp were similar (threshold: 20.4% and 10.0%, respectively) and higher than that of left ventricle cross-sectional end-diastolic area at the appropriate level of Vt. Delta%Pp was slightly correlated with norepinephrine dosage. Delta%Pp increased with the increase in the level of Vt both before and after intravascular volume expansion, contrasting with an unexpected stability of Delta%VTI(Ao). In conclusion, Delta%VTI(Ao) and Delta%Pp are good predictors of intravascular fluid responsiveness but the divergent evolution of these two variables when Vt was increased needs further explanation.

Adult↗

Incidence, causes and prognosis of hypotension related to meprobamate poisoning.

OBJECTIVE: Meprobamate self-poisoning has been reported as potentially inducing hypotension. We examined the incidence and causes of hypotension induced by this poisoning and its prognosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective observational study conducted in a medical ICU between June 1997 and October 2003. Seventy-four patients admitted for meprobamate poisoning and needing mechanical ventilation were included. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were compared between patients with and without hypotension. All echocardiograms recorded in patients with hypotension were reviewed, and left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) functions were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (40%) patients exhibited hypotension without any significant difference in age, gender, cardiac history, or meprobamate concentration in blood when compared to patients without hypotension. Base excess was significantly lower in patients with hypotension. Echocardiography demonstrated a hypokinetic state, associating decreased LV ejection fraction (45+/-15%) and cardiac index (2+/-0.7 l min(-1) m(-2)), and increased inferior vena cava diameter. Most patients with hypotension received inotropic drugs by infusion, and were ventilated for significantly longer. CONCLUSIONS: Meprobamate self-poisoning induces hypotension, notably related to cardiac failure, in about 40% of cases. This has important therapeutic consequences, as frequent inotropic drug infusion. The mechanisms of cardiac toxicity remain largely unknown, and no predictive factor could be isolated.

Adult↗