Prevalence and risk factors of significant persistent pain symptoms after critical care illness: a prospective multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence, risk factors and medical management of persistent pain symptoms after critical care illness have not been thoroughly investigated. METHODS: We performed a prospective multicentric study in patients with an intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay ≥ 48 h. The primary outcome was the prevalence of significant persistent pain, defined as a numeric rating scale (NRS) ≥ 3, 3 months after admission. Secondary outcomes were the prevalence of symptoms compatible with neuropathic pain (ID-pain score > 3) and the risk factors of persistent pain. RESULTS: Eight hundred fourteen patients were included over a 10-month period in 26 centers. Patients had a mean age of 57 (± 17) years with a SAPS 2 score of 32 (± 16) (mean ± SD). The median ICU length of stay was 6 [4-12] days (median [interquartile]). At 3 months, the median intensity of pain symptoms was 2 [1-5] in the entire population, and 388 (47.7%) patients had significant pain. In this group, 34 (8.7%) patients had symptoms compatible with neuropathic pain. Female (Odds Ratio 1.5 95% CI [1.1-2.1]), prior use of anti-depressive agents (OR 2.2 95% CI [1.3-4]), prone positioning (OR 3 95% CI [1.4-6.4]) and the presence of pain symptoms on ICU discharge (NRS ≥ 3) (OR 2.4 95% CI [1.7-3.4]) were risk factors of persistent pain. Compared with sepsis, patients admitted for trauma (non neuro) (OR 3.5 95% CI [2.1-6]) were particularly at risk of persistent pain. Only 35 (11.3%) patients had specialist pain management by 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent pain symptoms were frequent in critical illness survivors and specialized management remained infrequent. Innovative approaches must be developed in the ICU to minimize the consequences of pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04817696. Registered March 26, 2021.

Severe Aortic Thrombosis and Profound Hypothermia: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Blood clot formation is a multifactorial process and has been related many times in intensive care units. Here is presented a multiple thrombosis formation in a rewarming patient. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 68-year-old patient was admitted to our intensive care unit after lying on the floor for an unknown time. She presented a severe hypothermia at 26° and a severe cardiogenic shock. Because she was confused and was hypoxemic, she had been intubated at her admission. After intravascular warming, we could stop sedative medications. She presented a right hemiparesis and acute left leg ischemia. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a constituted left Sylvian stroke and a massive clot along the aorta. She required a surgical embolectomy and fasciotomy. She died after she presented a severe bowel ischemia on the third day after her admission. CONCLUSION: Relevant hypothesis for blood clot formation in this patient may include prolonged lying position or blood temperature variation. Hypothermia and rewarming responsibilities may explain multiple thrombosis development. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Schmitt J, Esnault P, Sartre M, Cungi PJ, Meaudre E. Severe Aortic Thrombosis and Profound Hypothermia: A Case Report. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(5):588-589.

Advances in trauma care to save lives from traumatic injury: A narrative review.

ABSTRACT: Recent advances on trauma management from the prehospital setting to in hospital care led to a better surviving severe trauma rate. Mortality from exsanguination remains the first preventable mortality. Damage-control resuscitation and surgery are evolving and thus some promising concepts are developing. Transfusion toolkit is brought on the prehospital scene while temporary bridge to hemostasis may be helpful. Panel transfusion products allow an individualized ratio assumed by fresh frozen or lyophilized plasma, fresh or cold-stored whole blood, fibrinogen, four-factor prothrombin complex concentrates. Growing interest is raising in whole blood transfusion, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta use, hybrid emergency room, viscoelastic hemostatic assays to improve patient outcomes. Microcirculation, traumatic endotheliopathy, organ failures and secondary immunosuppression are point out since late deaths are increasing and may deserve specific treatment.As each trauma patient follows his own course over the following days after trauma, trauma management may be seen through successive, temporal, and individualized aims.

SARS Cov2 outbreak management on a landing helicopter dock: An observational retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Even though SARS Cov2 outbreak management has been well-described, scant information is available in military settings. We aimed to describe a SARS Cov2 outbreak and its management on the Dixmude, a French landing helicopter dock. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed an observational retrospective and monocentric study in a ship. Role 1 was reinforced by additional roles 1 and 2. Our analysis included all infected crew personnel. We described demographic data, outbreak course, and biological samples including Covid-19 diagnosis. All infected patients were monitored for 10 days. RESULTS: Between February 16th 2021 and March 12th 2021, 54 patients (10% of the entire crew) were included. No patient had previously been vaccinated against SARS Cov2. The global mission was maintained. The crew members were healthy, male, and young (median age 28 years) with no medical history. Ranks of every status were concerned. Covid-19 disease was mainly diagnosed by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Thirty-two patients (59%) were symptomatic, four (8%) were presymptomatic and 18 (33%) remained asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: The present work describes specific SARS Cov2 outbreak management in an austere military environment. Early individual and global measures were set and implemented on board.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome in the forward environment. Retrospective analysis of acute respiratory distress syndrome cases among French Army war casualties.

BACKGROUND: According to the Joint Theater Trauma Registry, 26% to 33% of war casualties develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with high mortality. Here, we aimed to describe ARDS incidence and severity among patients evacuated from war zones and admitted to French intensive care units (ICUs). METHODS: We performed an observational retrospective multicentric review of all patients evacuated from war zones and admitted to French ICUs between 2003 and 2018. Our analysis included all medical and trauma patients developing ARDS according to the Berlin definition. We evaluated ARDS incidence, and determined ARDS severity from arterial blood gas analysis. Analyzed parameters included invasive ventilation duration, ARDS treatments, ICU stay length, and 30-day and 90-day mortalities. RESULTS: Among 141 included patients (84% military; median age, 30 years), 57 (42%) developed ARDS. Acute respiratory distress syndrome was mild in 13 (22%) patients, moderate in 24 (42%) patients, and severe in 20 (36%) patients. Evacuation occurred in less than 26 hours for 32 war casualties, 17 non-war-related trauma patients, and 8 medical patients. Among severe trauma patients, median Injury Severity Score was 34, and Abbreviated Injury Scale thorax was 3. Upon French ICU admission, median partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood/inspirated fraction of oxygen ratio was 241 [144-296]. Administered ARDS treatments included intubation (98%, n = 56), protective ventilation (87%, n = 49), neuromuscular blockade (76%, n = 43), prone position (16%, n = 9), inhaled nitric oxide (10%, n = 6), almitrine (7%, n = 7), and extracorporeal life support (4%, n = 2). Median duration of invasive ventilation was 13 days, ICU stay was 18 days, 30-day mortality was 14%, and 90-day mortality was 21%. CONCLUSION: Acute respiratory distress syndrome was frequent and severe among French patients evacuated from war theaters. Improved treatment capacities are needed in the forward environment-for example, a specialized US team can provide extracorporeal life support for highly hypoxemic war casualties. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and epidemiological study, level III.

Transient Left Ventricular Acute Failure after Cocaine Use.

BACKGROUND: Cocaine is one of the most widely used illicit drugs, and it is the most common cause of drug-related death. The association of cocaine use with acute heart failure is a rare occurrence. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 31 years-old woman who presented Takotsubo cardiomyopathy with severe cardiogenic shock after cocaine abuse. That required the use of high doses of positive inotropic amines and mechanical ventilation. The evolution was quickly favorable after the cessation of cocaine. DISCUSSION: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is often related to a stressful trigger, and several cases have been described with the use of several psychostimulants. As such, it is not surprising that cocaine use can be associated with the development of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy when it results in excess release of catecholamines and excitation of adrenergic receptors. CONCLUSION: In critical care unit, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare complication of cocaine abuse. This etiological diagnosis can be difficult especially in the absence of the concept of toxic intake as it was initially the case for our patient, but the treatment does not differ from other causes of cardiomyopathy and Cessation of cocaine use has been associated with improvement in cardiac function.