Successful management of the first reported case in Austria of COVID-19 with ARDS.

We report the successful management of a patient with severe respiratory failure due to COVID-19 admitted to an intensive care unit complicated by secondary catheter-related infection of Candida glabrata. We are discussing some of the clinical challenges and the pitfalls in molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, including the fact that a positive PCR result may not always reflect infectiousness.

[Rheumatology training for medical students. Comparison of learning success and acceptance with virtual vs. real patient demonstrations]. / Rheumatologische Ausbildung für Studierende der Medizin. Vergleich von Lernerfolg und Akzeptanz bei virtueller und realer Patientendemonstration.

BACKGROUND: Recently, new teaching methods, such as internet-based e-learning, have gained importance at German universities. At the same time, however, students see fewer patients with rheumatic diseases during their medical education. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the gain of knowledge and the acceptance of the teaching methodology between educational films and patient-related teaching. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both teaching methods communicated identical facts concerning representative rheumatic diseases. Afterwards, participants had to pass a knowledge test and had to evaluate both teaching methods. RESULTS: Patient-related teaching achieved a better increase of knowledge and better results in evaluations than the educational films. The combination of both teaching methods produced better results than any form on its own. CONCLUSIONS: Educational films are suited to improve the practical teaching. However, the results stress the importance of practical lessons with real-life cases and argue against the reduction of the educational capacity at German universities.

[Recommendations for the use of faecal microbiota transplantation "stool transplantation": consensus of the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ÖGGH) in cooperation with the Austrian Society of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine]. / Empfehlungen zur Anwendung der fäkalen Mikrobiotatransplantation "Stuhltransplantation": Konsensus der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie (ÖGGH) in Zusammenarbeit mit der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Infektiologie und Tropenmedizin (OEGIT).

The intestinal microbiota has a pivotal role in the maintenance of health of the human organism, especially in the defense against pathogenic microorganisms. Alterations in the microbiota, also termed dysbiosis, seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), also known as stool transplantation, is a therapeutic procedure aiming at restoring an altered intestinal microbiota by administration of stool microorganisms from a healthy donor into the intestinal tract of a patient. FMT is most commonly used for recurrent forms of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI). There are currently many cohort studies in a large number of patients and a randomized controlled trial showing a dramatic effect of FMT for this indication. Therefore FMT is recommended by international medical societies for the treatment of recurrent CDI with high scientific evidence. Other potential indications are the treatment of fulminant CDI or the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. In the practical utilization of FMT there are currently several open questions regarding the screening of stool donors, the processing of stool and the mode of FMT application. Different modes of FMT application have been described, the application into the colon has to be preferred due to less reported side effects than the application into the upper gastrointestinal tract. So far only very few side effects due to FMT have been reported, nevertheless the use and risks of FMT are currently intensely debated in the medical community. This consensus report of the Austrian society of gastroenterology and hepatology (ÖGGH) in cooperation with the Austrian society of infectious diseases and tropical medicine provides instructions for physicians who want to use FMT which are based on the current medical literature.

[Gastrointestinal motility in critically ill patients]. / Darmmotilitätsstörungen beim Intensivpatienten.

Up to 80% of all critically ill patients develop gastrointestinal dysfunction, predominantly gastrointestinal motility disorder. In critically ill patients, gastrointestinal dysfunction or gastrointestinal failure is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Correct diagnosis and early start of treatment are essential and can influence the outcome. Therapeutic options are normal potassium and magnesium levels, restrictive fluid balance, improved gastrointestinal microcirculation, individual sedoanalgetic concepts and early enteral nutrition. In addition, numerous target-oriented medical therapeutic options are available.

Betablockers do not increase efficacy of band ligation in primary prophylaxis but they improve survival in secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is used for primary (PP) and secondary prophylaxis (SP) of variceal bleeding. Current guidelines recommend combined use of non-selective beta-blockers (NSBBs) and EBL for SP, while in PP either NSBB or EBL should be used. AIM: To assess (re-)bleeding rates and mortality in cirrhotic patients receiving EBL for PP or SP for variceal bleeding. METHODS: (Re-)bleeding rates and mortality were retrospectively assessed with and without concomitant NSBB therapy after first EBL in PP and SP. RESULTS: Seven hundred and sixty-six patients with oesophageal varices underwent EBL from 01/2005 to 06/2015. Among the 284 patients undergoing EBL for PP, n = 101 (35.6%) received EBL only, while n = 180 (63.4%) received EBL + NSBBs. In 482 patients on SP, n = 163 (33.8%) received EBL only, while n = 299 (62%) received EBL + NSBBs. In PP, concomitant NSBB therapy neither decreased bleeding rates (log-rank: P = 0.353) nor mortality (log-rank: P = 0.497) as compared to EBL alone. In SP, similar re-bleeding rates were documented in EBL + NSBB vs EBL alone (log-rank: P = 0.247). However, EBL + NSBB resulted in a significantly lower mortality rate (log-rank: P<0.001). A decreased risk of death with EBL + NSBB in SP (hazard ratio, HR: 0.50; P<0.001) but not of rebleeding, transplantation or further decompensation was confirmed by competing risk analysis. Overall NSBB intake reduced 6-months mortality (HR: 0.53, P = 0.008) in SP, which was most pronounced in patients without severe/refractory ascites (HR: 0.37; P = 0.001) but not observed in patients with severe/refractory ascites (HR: 0.80; P = 0.567). CONCLUSIONS: EBL alone seems sufficient for PP of variceal bleeding. In SP, the addition of NSBB to EBL was associated with an improved survival within the first 6 months after EBL.

Previous episodes of hypoglycemic coma are not associated with permanent cognitive brain dysfunction in IDDM patients on intensive insulin treatment.

Intensive insulin treatment of IDDM is associated with increased frequency of hypoglycemic coma. The extent of possible cerebral sequelae after recovery is still unknown. We studied the impact of previous hypoglycemic coma on neurophysiological measures of cognitive brain function in 108 patients with adult-onset IDDM receiving intensive insulin treatment. In the study, 55 IDDM patients (age 38 +/- 14 years, mean +/- SD) who had a history of > or =1 (median 3, range 1-35) comatose hypoglycemic event were compared with 53 IDDM patients (age 34 +/- 12 years) with no history of hypoglycemic events using P300 event-related potentials and psychometric tests (the Mini-Mental State Exam and trailmaking test, part A). Findings on these patients were compared with those from 108 matched healthy control subjects. No difference was observed in P300 latencies and psychometric tests between patients with and without a history of hypoglycemic coma (P300 latency, 346 vs. 342 ms; trailmaking test, 31 vs. 30 s; Mini-Mental State Exam, 29.5 vs. 29.6; NS). In diabetic patients, however, P300 latencies were delayed compared with those of healthy control subjects (344 vs. 332 ms; P < 0.001) and were correlated to diabetes duration but not to total hypoglycemic episodes. Scores on the Mini-Mental State Exam (29.5 vs. 29.6; P = 0.59) and trailmaking test (31 vs. 28 s; P = 0.10) were not different between patients and control subjects. In conclusion, previous episodes of hypoglycemic coma are not associated with permanent impairment of cognitive brain function in patients with adult-onset IDDM receiving intensive insulin treatment compared with patients without such episodes. Cognitive brain function, however, is subclinically impaired in relation to duration of diabetes.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism: survival and neurological outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The apolipoprotein E 3/3 (apoE 3/3) genotype is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and with a favorable neurological outcome after traumatic head injury. In vitro studies suggest that the most common genotype, apoE 3/3, may be involved in neuroprotective and neuroregenerative mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine whether the apoE 3/3 genotype has an impact on survival and neurological outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. METHODS: Eighty patients with cardiac arrest were investigated prospectively for their apoE genotype. Epidemiological data were assessed according to recommended guidelines. Patients were divided into 2 groups, ie, with the apoE 3/3 genotype present or absent, and tested for differences in survival and neurological outcome. Further statistical analysis with respect to survival and neurological outcome was performed by using a stepwise logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients with the apoE 3/3 genotype had a significantly higher survival rate (64% versus 33%, P:=0.007) and more often a favorable neurological outcome (55% versus 27%, P:=0. 013) compared with patients with other apoE genotypes. The apoE 3/3 genotype was shown to be a substantial predictive factor for a favorable neurological outcome (odds ratio 3.2) and was, apart from other essential factors, predictive for survival (odds ratio 4.4) after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: These data give evidence that patients with the apoE 3/3 genotype have a better chance of recovery after cardiopulmonary resuscitation than do patients with apoE genotypes other than 3/3.

Resting energy expenditure in short-term starvation is increased as a result of an increase in serum norepinephrine.

BACKGROUND: The effects of food restriction on energy metabolism have been under investigation for more than a century. Data obtained are conflicting and research has failed to provide conclusive results. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that in lean subjects under normal living conditions, short-term starvation leads to an increase in serum concentrations of catecholamines and thus to an increase in resting energy expenditure. DESIGN: Resting energy expenditure, measured by indirect calorimetry, and hormone and substrate concentrations were measured in 11 healthy, lean subjects on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 of an 84-h starvation period. RESULTS: Resting energy expenditure increased significantly from 3.97 +/- 0.9 kJ/min on day 1 to 4.53 +/- 0.9 kJ/min on day 3 (P < 0.05). The increase in resting energy expenditure was associated with an increase in the norepinephrine concentration from 1716. +/- 574 pmol/L on day 1 to 3728 +/- 1636 pmol/L on day 4 (P < 0.05). Serum glucose decreased from 4.9 +/- 0.5 to 3.5 +/- 0.5 mmol/L (P < 0.05), whereas insulin did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Resting energy expenditure increases in early starvation, accompanied by an increase in plasma norepinephrine. This increase in norepinephrine seems to be due to a decline in serum glucose and may be the initial signal for metabolic changes in early starvation.

Detection of nontraumatic comatose patients with no benefit of intensive care treatment by recording of sensory evoked potentials.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the predictive ability of sensory evoked potential recordings in nontraumatic comatose patients. To evaluate the hypothesis that patients with bilateral absent cortical responses ultimately die despite long-term intensive care treatment. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Four hundred forty-one adult nontraumatic comatose patients (unarousable unresponsiveness to external stimulation, Glasgow Coma Score < or = 7) from various causes. Six hundred seventy-six sensory evoked potential measurements were performed within 7 days after onset of coma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Death or survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients (20%) had a bilateral loss of the cortical evoked potential N20 peak. Despite long-term intensive care treatment, all died without awakening from coma (mortality rate, 100%; 95% confidence interval, 96-100). The mean stay at the ICU after evoked potential measurement until death was 8.1 days (697 patient days). The overall cost of ICU management for these 86 patients accounted for approximately $1,324,300. In the remaining 355 comatose patients with preserved cortical N20 peak, 148 (42%) survived and 207 (58%) died. In this latter group of patients, cervicomedullary N13 to cortical N20 conduction time was prolonged in nonsurvivors (mean +/- SD, 6.7 +/- 1.3 milliseconds) compared with that in survivors (mean +/- SD, 6.4 +/- 1.2 milliseconds, P < .05) and healthy controls (mean +/- SD, 5.5 +/- 0.4 milliseconds, P < .05). Although this difference is statistically significant, a preserved N20 peak is not useful to discriminate whether the individual patient will survive (N13-N20 conduction time of > 7 milliseconds had a positive predictive value of correct prediction of death of 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: Recording of sensory evoked potentials identifies a subgroup of adult nontraumatic comatose patients with a mortality rate of 100% in our sample. In these patients, advanced intensive care treatment should be withdrawn to provide limited ICU resources for patients with higher probability of favorable outcome. We emphasize that these results are not applicable to comatose patients following closed head trauma and particularly not to children.

Comparison of functional and structural brain disturbances in Wilson's disease.

We assessed the functional and structural brain disturbances in Wilson's disease (WD) by evoked potentials (EPs) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All the 25 neurologically symptomatic and 44% of the 16 asymptomatic patients, assessed by both EPs (n = 48) and imaging (n = 41), had at least 1 abnormality of either prolonged EP conduction times, imaging-outlined presence of cerebral lesions, or brain atrophy. Our findings indicate that EPs and MRI are sensitive techniques for the evaluation of brain involvement in WD.

Biocompatibility of a cuprophane charcoal-based detoxification device in cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

Extracorporeal detoxification has been proposed to treat patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) not responding to standard therapy. To investigate the biocompatibility of a cuprophane charcoal-based detoxification device, a prospective, randomized, controlled study was performed. Of 41 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and HE grade II or III who did not improve with conventional treatment, 20 patients (median age, 56 years; range, 33 to 71 years; 13 men) were randomly assigned to either ongoing conventional treatment or one additional 6-hour treatment with a sorbent suspension dialysis system. Main outcome parameters were physiological function and blood parameters of biocompatibility. In the 10 patients undergoing combined conventional and sorbent suspension dialysis treatment, blood pressure remained unchanged and body temperature and heart rate increased (P: < 0.01). Platelet count decreased (medians, from 75 to 26 g/L; P: < 0.001) and international normalized ratio increased after combined treatment (2.0 to 2.2; P: < 0.001). Three patients developed bleeding complications during treatment or shortly after. Treated patients showed increases in levels of plasma elastase (104 to 586 microg/L; P: = 0.001), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (5.4 to 7.5 pg/mL; P: = 0.04), and interleukin-6 (118 to 139 pg/mL; P: = 0.04), but not interferon-gamma and E-selectin. No changes were observed in the 10 patients treated conventionally. In conclusion, despite technical refinements compared with charcoal hemoperfusion, biocompatibility of sorbent suspension dialysis is still very limited. Clinical complications were apparently caused by blood-membrane interactions and disseminated intravascular coagulation. We suggest further developments in design and appropriate strategies of anticoagulation to improve the biocompatibility of artificial liver support.

Aerosolized iloprost therapy could not replace long-term IV epoprostenol (prostacyclin) administration in severe pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: To switch patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and previous life-threatening catheter-related complications from long-term IV epoprostenol therapy to aerosolized iloprost therapy. DESIGN: Open, uncontrolled trial. SETTING: Medical ICU of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Two patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and one patient with pulmonary hypertension after surgical closure of atrial septal defect (mean pulmonary artery pressure > or =50 mm Hg). All were classified as New York Heart Association class II under treatment with continuous IV epoprostenol for 4 years. INTERVENTIONS: Stepwise reduction of IV epoprostenol (1 ng/kg/min steps every 3 to 10 h) during repeated inhalations of aerosolized iloprost (150 to 300 microg/d with 6 to 18 inhalations/d). Continuous pulmonary and systemic arterial monitoring were performed. RESULTS: Aerosolized iloprost reduced pulmonary artery pressure by 49%, 49%, and 45%, respectively, and increased cardiac output by 70%, 75%, and 41% in the three patients. The effect lasted for 20 min and was similar at different doses of IV epoprostenol. Persistent treatment change to inhaled iloprost could not be achieved because all patients developed signs of right heart failure. After termination of iloprost inhalations, return to standard epoprostenol therapy led to clinical and hemodynamic restoration. CONCLUSIONS: Although aerosolized iloprost demonstrated short-term hemodynamic effects, it could not be utilized as alternative chronic vasodilator in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Detection of subclinical brain dysfunction by sensory evoked potentials in patients with severe diabetic ketoacidosis.

OBJECTIVE: Subclinical brain dysfunction is a potentially deleterious complication of diabetic ketoacidosis but is rarely recognized. Thus, we investigated the diagnostic value of sensory evoked potentials for detecting subclinical brain dysfunction in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. DESIGN: Prospective trial. SETTING: Intensive care unit in a university hospital. PATIENTS: 5 neurologically asymptomatic patients (Glasgow Coma Scale score 15, slight drowsiness; aged 20 to 66 years) with an established diagnosis of severe diabetic ketoacidosis were studied. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Short- and long-latency sensory evoked potentials were recorded within 2 h of initiation of therapy for ketoacidosis and 7 days after normalization of ketoacidosis, respectively. Two hours after starting therapy, sensory evoked potential peak latencies were prolonged in all five patients compared to age-matched healthy subjects [cervical N 13 to cortical N 20 interpeak latency of short-latency evoked potentials (mean) 5.8 vs 5.3 ms, p < 0.05; N 35 peak latency 40 vs 34 ms, p < 0.05; N 70 peak latency of long-latency evoked potentials 102 vs 76 ms, p < 0.01]. In all five patients, cervical N 13 to cortical N 20 interpeak latency and N 35 and N 70 peak latency reverted to normal 7 days after recovery from diabetic ketoacidosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the recording of sensory evoked potentials is a sensitive method of detecting subclinical brain dysfunction in patients with severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Since sensory evoked potentials were significantly prolonged in all five patients, this strongly suggests that subclinical brain dysfunction occurs more frequently than is generally recognized.

Diagnosis of gallbladder perforation in acute acalculous cholecystitis in critically ill patients.

In the presence of ascites ultrasound is not appropriate to distinguish between gallbladder perforation and acute acalculous cholecystitis. However, the correct and early diagnosis of gallbladder perforation is important for the treatment and prognosis. We report 4 critically ill patients with ascites. All patients had evidence of gallbladder perforation by ultrasound and underwent cholecystectomy: 2 patients had gallbladder perforation, but 2 had acalculous cholecystitis without perforation. Markedly elevated serum alkaline phosphatase was the only discriminating finding indicating gallbladder perforation.

Evoked potentials in severe herpes simplex encephalitis.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of evoked potentials (EP) were studied in 5 patients with severe herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). Latency of the third negative cortical N70 peak, elicited by median nerve stimulation, was prolonged in 3 survivors with Glasgow coma score of less than or equal to 6 (115 vs 71 ms in controls, p less than 0.05), but normal after improvement of the acute disease. N70 right to left interhemisphere difference was increased initially in the 4 survivors (26 vs 3 ms in controls, p less than 0.05) indicating focal brain involvement, a crucial finding in HSE. The first cortical N20 peak was preserved in all survivors even during deep coma where evaluation of brain function is difficult. Auditory brainstem EP were normal in all patients and useful to exclude brainstem death. In severe HSE, somatosensory long-latency EP are an effective monitor of the level of impaired consciousness and can detect brain focal signs. Short-latency N20 components may be predictive of the outcome.

Outcome prediction for patients with cirrhosis of the liver in a medical ICU: a comparison of the APACHE scores and liver-specific scoringsystems.

OBJECTIVE: To find the most adequate prognostic scoring system for predicting ICU-outcome in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis in a medical intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients' records over a 10-year period. SETTING: A medical ICU at the university medical center of Vienna. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: 94% (n = 198) of all patients with cirrhosis admitted to our medical ICU throughout the 10-year study period. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: From data obtained at admission and at 48 h after admission, scores were calculated using the following scoring systems: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and III, Scale for Composite Clinical and Laboratory Index Scoring (CCLI), Mayo Risk Score, and Child's Classification. Statistical analysis for the prognostic variables was performed using the chi-square test, t-test, Youden index, and area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. APACHE III was found to be the most reliable outcome predictor at admission and after 48 h for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (AUC = 0.75 and 0.8, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: To predict the outcome for patients with decompensated cirrhosis of the liver admitted to a medical ICU liver failure alone is not decisive. Liver-specific scoring systems (Mayo Risk Score, CCLI) are adequate, but the APACHE II and III proved to be more powerful, because they include additional physiologic parameters and therefore also take into account additional complications associated with this liver disorder.

Time-dependency of sensory evoked potentials in comatose cardiac arrest survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of early sensory evoked potential (SEP) recording for reliable outcome prediction in comatose cardiac arrest survivors within 48 h after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study in a medical intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-five comatose, mechanically ventilated patients following cardiopulmonary resuscitation MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Median nerve short- and long-latency SEP were recorded 4, 12, 24, and 48 h after ROSC. Cortical N20 peak latency and cervicomedullary conduction time decreased (improved) significantly between 4, 12, and 24 h after resuscitation in 22 of the enrolled patients. There was no further change in short-latency SEP at 48 h. The cortical N70 peak was initially detectable in seven patients. The number of patients with increased N70 peak increased to 11 at 12 h and 14 at 24 h; there was no further change at 48 h. Specificity of the N70 peak latency (critical cutoff 130 ms) increased from 0.43 at 4 h to 1.0 at 24 h after ROSC. Sensitivity decreased from 1.0 at 4 h to 0.83 at 24 h after ROSC. CONCLUSION: Within 24 h after ROSC there was a significant improvement in SEP. Therefore we recommend allowing a period of at least 24 h after cardiopulmonary resuscitation for obtaining a reliable prognosis based on SEP.

Lactic acidosis in thiamine deficiency.

Two chronically ill patients with limited nutritional intake during several weeks developed prolonged lactic acidosis. As no other causes of hyperlactaemia could be identified, thiamine deficiency was suspected. Supplementation of 600 mg thiamine resulted in a rapid normalisation of serum lactate levels (in patient 1 from 10.9-2.4 mmol/l; in patient 2 from 11.8-2.0 mmol/l) and acid base status (patient 1: pH from 7.11-7.30, bicarbonate from 8.6-21.2 mmol/l; patient 2: pH from 7.24-7.46, bicarbonate from 16-28 mmol/l; before and after treatment, respectively). Thiamine deficiency was confirmed by the degree of stimulation of erythrocyte transketolase activation by adding thiamine pyrophosphate, evaluated before and after thiamine replacement therapy. Stimulation decreased in patient 1 from 170% to 17% and in patient 2 from 20% to 0%, respectively. In addition to the metabolic derangement right ventricular heart failure was confirmed by echocardiography in both patients and again this was rapidly reversible by thiamine supplementation. We conclude that in malnourished patients unexplained prolonged lactic acidosis may result from thiamine deficiency, which is rapidly reversible by thiamine replacement therapy.

Short-term prognosis in critically ill patients with liver cirrhosis: an evaluation of a new scoring system.

OBJECTIVE: The mortality of patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) has been found to be high. This study was performed to assess the physiological and laboratory parameters which are able to identify on ICU admission the cirrhotic patients who are most likely to die. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. METHODS: Two groups of patients were analysed. Group A consisted of 196 consecutive cirrhotic patients admitted to our medical ICU for various reasons. For the detection of independent outcome predictors, we used a multiple logistic regression model. Based on these variables, the 'intensive care cirrhosis outcome (ICCO) score' was calculated. The ability to discriminate between survivors and non-survivors was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves, and the area under the curve was calculated. Group B consisted of 70 consecutive cirrhotic patients for prospective validation of the ICCO score. RESULTS: Applying multiple logistic regression analysis, bilirubin, cholesterol, creatinine clearance and lactate were found to be independently associated with the hospital mortality. The ICCO score was 0.3707 + (0.0773 x bilirubin (mg/dl)) - (0.00849 x cholesterol (mg/dl)) -(0.0155 x creatinine clearance (ml/min)) + (0.1351 x lactate (mmol/l)), giving an area under a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9. Increasing score values were associated with an increase in mortality. All patients with an ICCO score > +2.6 died. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the ICCO score is rapid and available at the patient's bedside, and its application is simple and reproducible. In cirrhotic patients, the ICCO score has a high ability to discriminate between survivors and non-survivors. The ICCO score may facilitate estimation on ICU admission of the prognosis of critically ill cirrhotic patients.