Abstract Objectives: The hypoglossal nerve (HN) represents an important stimulation target for treating obstructive sleep apnea. Here, we demonstrate use of diagnostic ultrasound to identify and track the HN, including its distal branches. Methods: Standard ultrasound imaging, supplemented with Doppler ultrasound, was used on five participants to identify the HN from its proximal aspect adjacent to the carotid artery to its branching in the submandibular space. Participants were between the ages of 21-25 and were imaged at the University of Washington. Results: We successfully imaged and tracked the HN, including the main distal branches, and identified relevant landmarks in all five participants. We observed the greatest variance in HN structure near the mandibular branch point, as well as variable manifestation of the first cervical spinal nerve. Conclusion: Diagnostic ultrasound, with Doppler, can identify and track the HN, including to its distal branches. This technique may improve surgical planning for head and neck procedures including the placement of stimulation devices for the HN.

Introduction Children with Down Syndrome (DS) are at high risk of sleep disordered breathing (SDB). We aimed to examine the burden of SDB in infants with DS referred to tertiary sleep center. Methods Infants (≤12 months old) with DS who underwent consecutive polysomnography (PSG) at a single academic sleep center over a 6-year period were included. OSA (obstructive apnea hypopnea index [oAHI]>1/hr), central sleep apnea (central apnea index>5/hr) and the presence of hypoventilation (% time spent with CO2 > 50 mmHg either by end-tidal or transcutaneous> 25% of total sleep time) and hypoxemia (time spent with O2 saturation <88% >5 min) were ascertained. For infants who underwent adenotonsillectomy (AT), we compared the SDB metrics before and after the AT. Results A total of 40 infants were included (Mean age 6.6 months, male 66%). PSGs consisted of diagnostic (n=13) and split night (n=27, 68%) studies. All met criteria for OSA with mean oAHI 34.6 (32.3). Central sleep apnea was present in 11 (27.5%) of infants. A total of 11 (27.5%) had hypoxemia. Hypoventilation was present in 10 (25%) infants. There was a trend of association between hypothyroidism and hypoventilation (OR: 5.5 [0.96-34.4], p=0.056). Among 13 infants who underwent AT and had a follow up PSG, severity of OSA markedly reduced after AT (oAHI difference: 34/hr [29], p=0.0002). Conclusion This study highlights the high prevalence of SDB in infants with DS and supports early PSG assessment in this patient population.

Introduction: Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (c-POCUS) is an increasingly implemented diagnostic tool with the potential to guide clinical management. We sought to characterize and analyze the existing c-POCUS literature with a focus on the temporal trends and differences across specialties. Methods: A literature search for c-POCUS and related terms was conducted using Ovid (MEDLINE and Embase) and Web of Science databases through 2020. Eligible publications were classified by publication type and topic, author specialty, geographical region of senior author, and journal specialty. Results: The initial search produced 1761 potential publications. A strict definition of c-POCUS yielded a final total of 574 cardiac POCUS manuscripts. A yearly increase in c-POCUS publications was observed. Nearly half of publications were original research (48.8%) followed by case report or series (22.8%). Most publications had an emergency medicine senior author (37.5%), followed by cardiology (20.2%), anesthesiology (12.2%), and critical care (12.2%). The proportion authored by emergency medicine and cardiologists has decreased over time while those by anesthesiology and critical care has generally increased, particularly over the last decade. First authorship demonstrated a similar trend. Articles were published at similar numbers in emergency medicine journals (23.0%) and cardiology journals (19.9%). Conclusion: The annual number of c-POCUS publications has steadily increased over time reflecting the increased recognition and utilization of c-POCUS. This study can help inform clinicians of the current state of c-POCUS and augment the discussion surrounding barriers to continued adoption across all specialties.

Background: Structural remodeling in chronic systolic heart failure (HF) is associated with neurohormonal and hemodynamic perturbations among HF patients presenting with cardiogenic shock (CS) and HF. Objectives: To test the hypothesis was that atrial remodeling marked by an increased right atrial volume index (RAVI) to left atrial volume index (LAVI) ratio is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in CS. Methods: Patients included were admitted to the intensive care unit with evidence of congestion (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >15) and cardiogenic shock (cardiac index <2.2, systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, and clinical evidence supporting CS) and had an admission echocardiogram. LAVI and RAVI were measured using the biplane disc summation method by two independent observers. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the association of RAVI-LAVI with the combined outcome of death or left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Results: Among 113 patients (mean age 59 ± 14.9 years, 29.2% female), median RAVI/LAVI was 0.84. During a median follow-up of 12 months, 43 patients died, and 65 patients had the combined outcomes of death or LVAD.Patients with RAVI/LAVI ratio above the median had a greater incidence of death or LVAD (Log-rank p=<0.001), and increasing RAVI/LAVI was significantly associated with the outcomes of death or LVAD (HR 1.71 95% CI 1.11-2.64, chi square 5.91, p=0.010) even after adjustment for patient characteristics and hemodynamic variables. Conclusion: RAVI/LAVI is an easily assessed novel echocardiographic parameter with strong associations with the survival or the need for mechanical circulatory support in patients with CS.