2/ Normally, LV pressures during the entire cardiac cycle are higher than RV pressures so the curvature of septum is towards the RV.
Now let's consider what happens in acute massive PE:
(i) Acute pressure overload results in prolongation of RV systole, compared to LV systole.
3/ This has been shown in multiple clinical studies (e.g. PMID: 19561027), but I have not been able to track down the precise mechanism (?altered calcium cycling with increased afterload).
In any case, this leads to a brief *early-diastolic* septal flattening: first sign of ACP.
4/ (ii) Next, RV function falls due to sudden increase in afterload --> RV stroke volume is decreased --> RVEDV gradually increases over the next few beats.
This is initially helpful as the RV is able to utilize the Frank-Starling mechanism to augment its function.
5/ However, if the increase in RV afterload is severe enough, RVEDV/RVEDP increases drastically. This is why we see a "blown RV" on ECHO in ACP.
This is nothing but "RV volume overload"!
Eventually, RVDP may exceed LVDP --> leading to *pan-diastolic* septal flattening.
6/ However, if the RV is normal at baseline, RV systolic pressure can almost never exceed LV systolic pressure (irrespective of afterload). This is because normal RV architecture is drastically different from LV (thin).
With chronic pressure overload, RV remodeling occurs.
7/ Due to RV eccentric hypertrophy, the thick RV is now able to generate high enough pressures to cause *systolic* septal flattening (RVSP > LVSP) if the afterload is high enough
This is also the rationale behind the 60/60 sign.
(Here's a classic paper on this - PMID: 12421740)
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This generated some great discussion. Now let's do a deep dive
The first odd thing here is the Paw waveform. Traditional teaching is that in VC with continuous flow, the initial ⬆️in Paw corresponds to the pressure required to overcome resistance (as lung filling is minimal)
Since flow is constant, this 'resistive pressure' remains constant throughout the breath as revealed by the post-inspiratory pause (image 1)
Hence, the height of the initial Paw spike should equal the height of PIP - Pplat. This is not the case in our patient!
2/
In our patient, the initial ⬆️ in Paw is >> PIP - Pplat (let's call this pattern X). This implies that in the beginning of the breath, pressure is being spent not just to overcome the resistive load, but also on something else. But what?
Paging ENTtwitter & AirwayTwitter. Had a patient with moderate subglottic stenosis s/p recent dilation Intubated twice post-dilation for episodic stridor. During the second episode, scope showed laryngospasm. How common is this in non-OR (ICU) setting? Any tips on prevention/Rx?
Further clarification -
Patient was fine immediate post op. First episode occurred the next day. Extubated after 2 days - did fantastic for 10 minutes and then raging stridor. ?Precipitated by deep oral suctioning.
Scope showed laryngospasm. Improved some with PPV but needed RSI
**Volumetric capnography: data points & equipment**
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There are three major reasons for limited utilization of volumetric capnography (VCap): (1) Lack of education/training (2) Lack of understanding of the data (3) (Perceived) lack of equipment
Lets try to address 2 & 3
Let's start with a TL;DR of what VCap is:
Conventional capnography is 'time-based': Time on the X-axis and pCO2 on the Y-axis.
VCap has volume on the Y-axis.
VCap requires simultanoues measurement of exhaled pCO2 and expiratory flow.
*VCap data points*
VCap provides several data points: some more useful than others.
(i) PECO2: Mixed expired CO2 pressure (mmHg):
This is simply the “volume-averaged” CO2 of the pCO2-volume curve: the mean pCO2 of expired gas.
(ii) VTCO2: Volume of CO2 expired in a breath (cc):
..In this case, the 'gauge' refers to the luminal diameter (image 1),
B. By convention, the size label of a percutaneous sheath introducer (PSI) (e.g. Cordis) refers to its inner diameter. This is because the whole purpose of a PSI is to allow introduction of another catheter...
...Hence, the size label of a PSI serves as a guide for the size of the catheter that should be introduced through it
Take the example of a MAC introducer. Although the label reads 9Fr, this is in fact the inner diameter of the bigger lumen. The outer diameter is actually ~14Fr!