Tracheal amylase dosage as a marker for microaspiration: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Devices that limit microaspiration through the cuffs of endotracheal tubes could help prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The amount of tracheal microaspirations could be a relevant study endpoint. The aim of our study was to assess whether amylase measured in tracheal secretions constituted a relevant marker for microaspiration. METHODS: Twenty-six patients, intubated for at least 48 h and supplied with a subglottic secretion-suctioning device, constituted a group with a high risk of microaspiration. Twelve non-ventilated patients that required a bronchoscopy procedure constituted a group with a low risk of microaspiration (the control group). Tracheal (T) amylase was compared between the groups. In the intubated group, a series of oral (O), subglottic (Sg) and tracheal (T) suction samples were collected and T/O, T/Sg, Sg/O amylase ratios were determined. RESULTS: Amylase was measured in 277 (89 Sg, 96 B, 92 T) samples from the intubated group and in 12 T samples from the control group. Tracheal amylase was lower in the control group than the intubated group (191 [10-917] vs. 6661 [2774-19,358] IU/L, P<0.001). Amylase gradually increased from tracheal (6661 [2774-19,358] IU/L), to subglottic (130,750 [55,257-157,717] IU/L), to oral samples (307,606 [200,725-461,300] IU/L), resulting in a median 5.5% T/O ratio. In a subset of intubated patients, T amylase samples were assessed in two different laboratories, and gave reproducible results. CONCLUSION: Tracheal amylase was easy to collect, transport, and measure. The T/O amylase ratio is a first step towards quantifying oropharyngeal to tracheal microaspiration in mechanically-ventilated patients.

[Extensive bone marrow necrosis with sepsis in primary thrombocytemia: a case report and literature review]. / Nécrose médullaire avec sepsis compliquant une thrombocytémie essentielle: à propos d'une observation et revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Bone marrow necrosis is a very rare condition which is characterized by a necrosis of hematopoietic progenitors, adipocytes and reticulin network. CASE REPORT: We report a 62-year-old woman admitted to an intensive care unit for an essential thrombocytemia associated with bone marrow necrosis complicated by septic shock and progressive multi-organ failure. To our knowledge, this is the second case reported in the literature. The clinical presentation of bone marrow necrosis includes non-specific symptoms such as fever, bone pain and sometimes a clinically significant medullar insufficiency syndrome. Biology can reveal cytopenias, elevated LDH and alkaline phosphatase serum levels. The diagnosis is confirmed by bone marrow trephine biopsy. Bone marrow necrosis is classified as extensive if more than 50% of the bone marrow biopsy show necrosis. Haematological malignancies (particularly leukaemia), and solid malignant tumours (particularly gastro-intestinal or lung cancers) represent up to 90% of aetiologies and must be actively researched. Also, sickle cell disease and catastrophic anti-phospholipid syndrome must also be investigated. Essential thrombocytemia remains an exceptional cause of bone marrow necrosis. CONCLUSION: Overall the prognosis of bone marrow necrosis is poor unless appropriate and intensive treatment, especially for sickle cell disease in which complete medullar regeneration has been observed.

[Gelatinous transformation of the bone marrow and acute hepatitis in a woman suffering from anorexia nervosa]. / Thrombopénie par transformation gélatineuse de la moelle et hépatite aiguë de dénutrition chez une patiente anorexique mentale.

Anorexia nervosa can be a life-threatening eating disorder when complicated with electrolyte disturbance, gelatinous transformation of the bone marrow or starvation induced acute hepatitis. We report a 43-year-old woman suffering from anorexia nervosa for more than 25 years, who was admitted in intensive care unit for a fluctuating level of consciousness related to starvation-induced acute hepatitis. Gelatinous transformation of the bone marrow was also diagnosed. Those two entities are rare and, to our knowledge, have not been previously reported jointly in anorexia nervosa.