Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in obstetric patients: An Israeli nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: The leading causes of maternal mortality include respiratory failure, cardiovascular events, infections, and hemorrhages. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as rescue therapy in the peripartum period for cardiopulmonary failure is expanding in critical care medicine. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted on a nationwide cohort in Israel. During the 3-year period, between September 1, 2019, and August 31, 2022, all women in the peripartum period who had been supported by ECMO for respiratory or circulatory failure at 10 large Israeli hospitals were identified. Indications for ECMO, maternal and neonatal outcomes, details of ECMO support, and complications were collected. RESULTS: During the 3-year study period, in Israel, there were 540 234 live births, and 28 obstetric patients were supported by ECMO, with an incidence of 5.2 cases per 100 000 or 1 case per 19 000 births (when excluding patients with COVID-19, the incidence will be 2.5 cases per 100 000 births). Of these, 25 were during the postpartum period, of which 16 (64%) were connected in the PPD1, and 3 were during pregnancy. Eighteen patients (64.3%) were supported by V-V ECMO, 9 (32.1%) by V-A ECMO, and one (3.6%) by a VV-A configuration. Hypoxic respiratory failure (ARDS) was the most common indication for ECMO, observed in 21 patients (75%). COVID-19 was the cause of ARDS in 15 (53.7%) patients. The indications for the V-A configuration were cardiomyopathy (3 patients), amniotic fluid embolism (2 patients), sepsis, and pulmonary hypertension. The maternal and fetal survival rates were 89.3% (n = 25) and 100% (n = 28). The average ECMO duration was 17.6 ± 18.6 days and the ICU stay was 29.8 ± 23.8 days. Major bleeding complications requiring surgical intervention were observed in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of using ECMO in the peripartum period is low. The maternal and neonatal survival rates in patients treated with ECMO are high. These results show that ECMO remains an important treatment option for obstetric patients with respiratory and/or cardiopulmonary failure.

[ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN TREATING CRITICAL CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS: EXPERIENCE FROM THE SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER ON THE FIRST COVID-19 PANDEMIC OUTBREAK].

INTRODUCTION: As the coronavirus pandemic emerged in late 2019, a task force was founded in the Sheba Medical Center and began preparing for the arrival of the pandemic to Israel. Several wards were put in charge of isolated COVID-19 patients. A new intensive care unit was formed for the most critical COVID-19 patients, requiring mechanical ventilation and multi-organ treatment. The Corona ICU began operating in March 2020, with a multi-disciplinary team, gathered from ICU units, an internal medicine ward, an anesthesiology department, social workers and psychologists. Simultaneously, the routine medical center functions in non-corona sections were maintained, as much as possible. The coronavirus pandemic entails challenges of many aspects: an unfamiliar pathogen causing an unknown illness, a necessity for social distancing, ambiguity regarding the risk factors for contamination and illness severity, and medical crews put at risk. Consequently, the pandemic involves ethical, social, economic and moral aspects, affecting the medical crew members and system, the patients and their families, and our society as a whole. In this article we review our joint experience in the Sheba Medical Center Corona ICU, of the medical, ethical and moral dilemmas that emerged from the first COVID-19 wave.

[HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME DIAGNOSED IN A RETURNED TRAVELER FROM THE USA].

INTRODUCTION: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare and sometimes fatal respiratory disease in humans. The infection is acquired mainly through inhalation of aerosolized rodent secretions which serves as the reservoir for the virus. HPS cases are mostly reported from the American continent. In this article we describe a case of fulminant HPS in a 47 years old man who had traveled with his family on vacation to the southwestern region of the United States. The patient was hospitalized one month after his return to Israel and the diagnosis of hantavirus infection (species Sin Nombre Virus), was performed on samples sent to the CDC's Viral Special Pathogens Branch. Clinicians should be aware of this special entity and consider HPS in the differential diagnosis of patients with respiratory failure and fever, when there is a history of travel to the endemic area.

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis following major burn.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Secondary sclerosing cholangitis in critically ill patients (SSC-CIP) is a relatively new previously unrecognized entity which may lead to severe biliary disease with rapid progression to cirrhosis. We present for the first time a case series of patients with rapidly progressive SSC-CIP requiring aggressive intensive care treatment following major burn injury. RESULTS: SSC-CIP was diagnosed in 4 consecutive patients hospitalized due to major burn injuries at our Intensive Care Unit (ICU). SSC-CIP was diagnosed when ERCP (n = 1) or MRCP (n = 3) demonstrated irregular intrahepatic bile ducts with multiple strictures and dilatations and, when a liver biopsy (n = 3) demonstrated severe cholestasis and bile duct damage. All patients were males; none of whom had pre-existing liver disease. Ages: 18-56 y. All patients suffered from severe (grade 2-3) burn injuries with total burn surface area ranging from 35 to 95%. Mean length of ICU hospitalization was 129.2 ± 53.0 days. All patients required mechanical ventilation (with a mean PEEP of 8.4 ± 2.1 cm H2O) and the administration of catecholamines for hemodynamic stabilization. All patients demonstrated severe cholestasis. Blood cultures and cultures from drained liver abscesses grew hospital acquired multiple resistant bacteria. Liver cirrhosis developed within 12 months. One patient underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Two patients (50%) died. In conclusion, SSC-CIP following major burn injury is a rapidly progressive disease with a poor outcome. Liver cirrhosis developed rapidly. Awareness of this grave complication is needed for prompt diagnosis and considerations of a liver transplantation.

[Simulation-based intervention to improve anesthesiology residents communication with families of critically ill patients--preliminary prospective evaluation].

BACKGROUND: Although effective communication with families of critically ill patients is a vital component of quality care, training in this field is neglected. AIMS: The article aims to validate communication skills training program for anesthesiology residents in the intensive care set up. METHODS: Ten anesthesia residents, following 3 months of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rotation, had 4 hours of lectures and one day simulation-based communication skills training with families of critically ill patients. Participants completed an attitude questionnaire over 3 time periods--before training [t1], immediately following training (t2) and three months following training (t3). The participants' communication skills were assessed by two blinded independent observers using the SEGUE framework while performing a simulation-based scenario at t1 and t3. RESULTS: Seven participants finished the study protocol. Participants ndicated communication importance as 3.68 +/- 0.58 (t1), 4.05 +/- 0.59 (t2), 4.13 +/- 0.64 (t3); their communication ability as 3.09 +/- 0.90 (t1), 3.70 +/- 0.80 (t2), 3.57 +/- 0.64 (t3); the contribution of lecture to communication 3.04 +/- 0.43 (t1), 3.83 +/- 0.39 (t2), 3.87 +/- 0.51 (t3), and contribution of simulation training to communication 3.00 +/- 0.71 (t1), 4.04 +/- 0.52 (t2), 3.84 +/- 0.31 (t3). The differences did not reach statistical significance. Objective assessment of the communication skills using the SEGUE framework indicated that 6/7 participants improved their communication skills, with communication ability before training at 2.66 +/- 0.83 and 1 month following training it was 3.38 +/- 0.78 (p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study demonstrates the value of communication skills training in the intensive care environment.

Mortality of patients with rheumatoid arthritis requiring intensive care: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at a high risk for life-threatening conditions requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), but the data regarding the outcomes of these patients is limited. The present study investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of RA patients admitted to an ICU. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included RA patients admitted to the general ICU of the Sheba Medical Center during 2002-2018. The main outcome was 30-day mortality. Using Student's t test, χ2, and multivariable analyses, we compared the demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters of the survivors and the non-survivors. Figures with p value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Forty-three RA patients were admitted to the ICU during the study period (mean age, 64.0 ± 13.1 years; 74.4% female). The leading causes of ICU admission were infection (72.1%), respiratory failure (72.1%), renal failure (60.5%), and septic shock (55.8%). The 30-day mortality rate was 34.9%, with infection (9/15, 60%) as the most frequent cause. The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were 19.7 ± 12.5 and 7.0 ± 4.5, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that heart failure (p = 0.023), liver failure (p = 0.012), SOFA score (p = 0.007), and vasopressor treatment in ICU (p = 0.039) were significantly associated with overall mortality. SOFA score was linked with overall mortality (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.781 ± 0.085, p = 0.003) and mortality from respiratory failure (AUC = 0.861 ± 0.075, p = 0.002), while APACHE II score was only correlated with mortality from infection (AUC = 0.735 ± 0.082, p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated a relatively high mortality rate among RA patients who were admitted to the general ICU. RA patients with risk factors such as heart failure, liver failure, elevated SOFA score, and vasopressor treatment in ICU should be promptly identified and treated accordingly. Key Points • The 30-day mortality rate of patients with RA that were admitted to the general ICU of a tertiary hospital was 34.9%. • The most common causes of ICU admission among patients with RA were infections and respiratory failure. Infections were the most common cause of death among these patients. • Patients with RA that present to the ICU with heart failure, liver failure, elevated SOFA score, and/or require vasopressor treatment in ICU should be promptly identified and treated accordingly.

Mortality of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus admitted to the intensive care unit - A retrospective single-center study.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease that results in increased morbidity and mortality. Under certain conditions, patients with SLE may be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) secondary to infectious disease flare-ups or other non-SLE disease conditions that are aggravated by SLE. The aim of our study was to investigate the causes and outcomes of ICU-admitted patients with SLE. This is a retrospective cohort study involving paitents with SLE that were admitted to the general ICU at Sheba Medical Center between 2002 and 2015. Outcome was measured by the 30-day mortality and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score. Demographic, diagnostic, physiological, and laboratory variables of survivors and nonsurvivors were compared using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted for significant variables to illustrate their diagnostic capabilities. Twenty-seven patients were admitted to the ICU (female: 21 [77%], mean age ± SD: 51.1 ± 15.4 years). The mean ± SD APACHE II score and 30-day mortality rate were 23.4 ± 8.3 and 29.6%, respectively. Infections, especially lower respiratory tract infections, were the cause of 66.7% of admissions and accounted for 87.5% of deaths. APACHE II scores, bacteremia, and gram-negative infections were significantly associated with mortality (p = 0.033, p = 0.022, and p = 0.01, respectively). An APACHE II score of 27 and above was the strongest predictor of mortality with a sensitivity and specificity of 83.3% and 84.2%, respectively (AUC = 0.82, p = 0.022). Patients with SLE that were admitted to the ICU with gram-negative infections, sepsis, or an APACHE II score of 27 and above have a higher mortality rate and thus should be promptly identified and treated accordingly.

[Nutrition in the critically ill patient].

Nutritional support has become an integral part of the treatment in the critically ill patient. Appropriate nutrition will prevent the development of malnutrition and diminish the appearance of syndromes related to the lack of vitamins and minerals. This will reduce the length of hospital stay and is associated with lower incidence of complications and pressure ulcers. This review provides a practical approach to the critically ill patients' nutritional support, based on primary literature in this field.

Late onset fulminant Wilson's disease: a case report and review of the literature.

Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder of hepatic copper metabolism. WD can be present in different clinical conditions, with the most common ones being liver disease and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Most cases present symptoms at < 40 years of age. However, few reports exist in the literature on patients in whom the disease presented beyond this age. In this report, we present a case of late onset fulminant WD in a 58-year-old patient in whom the diagnosis was established clinically, by genetic analysis of the ATP7B gene disclosing rare mutations (G1099S and c.1707+3insT) as well as by high hepatic copper content. We also reviewed the relevant literature. The diagnosis of WD with late onset presentation is easily overlooked. The diagnostic features and the genetic background in patients with late onset WD are not different from those in patients with early onset WD, except for the age. Effective treatments for this disorder that can be fatal are available and will prevent or reverse many manifestations if the disease is discovered early.