Base-excess chloride; the best approach to evaluate the effect of chloride on the acid-base status: A retrospective study.

To practically determine the effect of chloride (Cl) on the acid-base status, four approaches are currently used: accepted ranges of serum Cl values; Cl corrections; the serum Cl/Na ratio; and the serum Na-Cl difference. However, these approaches are governed by different concepts. Our aim is to investigate which approach to the evaluation of the effect of Cl is the best. In this retrospective cohort study, 2529 critically ill patients who were admitted to the tertiary care unit between 2011 and 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. The effects of Cl on the acid-base status according to each evaluative approach were validated by the standard base excess (SBE) and apparent strong ion difference (SIDa). To clearly demonstrate only the effects of Cl on the acid-base status, a subgroup that included patients with normal lactate, albumin and SIG values was created. To compare approaches, kappa and a linear regression model for all patients and Bland-Altman test for a subgroup were used. In both the entire cohort and the subgroup, correlations among BECl, SIDa and SBE were stronger than those for other approaches (r = 0.94 r = 0.98 and r = 0.96 respectively). Only BECl had acceptable limits of agreement with SBE in the subgroup (bias: 0.5 mmol L-1) In the linear regression model, only BECl in all the Cl evaluation approaches was significantly related to the SBE. For the evaluation of the effect of chloride on the acid-base status, BECl is a better approach than accepted ranges of serum Cl values, Cl corrections and the Cl/Na ratio.

Serum Vitamin D Level at ICU Admission and Mortality.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a major role in the regulation of bone and calcium metabolism and has effects on the immune and cardiovascular systems. Vitamin D deficiency is commonly seen in the general population as well as in critically ill patients and is reported to be associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Our aim was to determine the relationship between vitamin D level at ICU admission and mortality. METHODS: A total of 491 patients admitted to the ICU between January 2014 and January 2015 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients who were under 18 years old, had elective surgery, or whose serum vitamin D levels and outcomes were unknown were excluded. The patient's age, gender, APACHE II score, number of organ dysfunction, serum vitamin D level at ICU admission and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Vitamin D level was low (<25 ng dL-1) in 166 (77.1%) of the patients. In non-survivor patients, APACHE II score and the number of organ dysfunction were significantly higher than the survivor patients (p<0.001 and p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between vitamin D level and APACHE II score (r2=0.04, p=0.006). In multivariate analyses, the likelihood of mortality was increased 9.8-fold (range 4.2-17.6) and 8.9-fold (range 3.9-14.1) with an APACHE II score ≥24 and the number of organ dysfunction ≥2, respectively (p<0.001 and p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is commonly seen in intensive care patients. Although it is not an independently decisive factor for mortality, it might be related with poor clinical status at ICU admission. The APACHE II score and number of organ dysfunction are still important parameters for increased mortality.

The effects of the chloride:sodium ratio on acid-base statusand mortality in septic patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Calculation of the chloride:sodium (Cl-:Na+) ratio is proposed to enable a quick evaluation of the effect of Cl- and Na+ on the acid-base balance in critically ill patients. In the present study, the relationship of the Cl-:Na+ ratio of septic patients with acid-base status and ICU mortality were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our two-center study, 434 patients who were diagnosed with sepsis were included. The patients were divided into three groups: low (<0.75), normal (≥0.75, <0.80), and high (≥0.80) Cl-:Na+ ratio groups. Patients' demographic data, blood gas values, length of ICU stay, and ICU mortality were recorded. RESULTS: In the low and high groups, ICU mortality was significantly higher than in the normal group (29.3%, 37.1%) (P = 0.005). There was a negative correlation between the Cl:Na+ ratio and each of HCO3-, standard base excess, and PaCO2 (r2 = 0.21, r2 = 0.19, and r2 = 0.17) (P < 0.001 for each). In the multivariate analysis, the ICU mortality was increased 2.6-fold (1.2-5.8) by low Cl-:Na+ ratio (P = 0.019). CONCLUSION: The Cl-:Na+ ratio is a useful parameter for showing the relationship between Cl- and Na+ and their impact on acid-base status. Low Cl-:Na+ ratio at ICU admission can be used as a prognostic indicator for increased ICU mortality in septic patients.

Elective Tracheotomy Practices in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: Elective tracheotomy (ET) procedures in intensive care units (ICU) might be different in accordance with countries and ICUs' features. The aim of the present study was to search the epidemiology of ET procedures in Turkey. METHODS: A questionnaire which consists of 43 questions was sent by e-mail to 238 ICUs which were officially recognized by The Turkish Ministry of Health. All answers were obtained between August 1, 2015 and August 31, 2015. RESULTS: Two hundred and three ICUs (85.3%) participated in this study. 177 (87.2%) and 169 (83.4%) of ICU's were level III and mixed ICUs respectively. Anesthesiologists were the director of 189 (93.0%) ICUs. Estimated total count of admitted, mechanically ventilated and tracheotomized patients in 2014 were 126282, 80569 (63.8%) and 8989 (7.1%) respectively. Most common indication for ET was prolonged mechanical ventilation (76.9%). The first choice for ET procedure was percutaneous in 162 (79.8%) ICUs. Griggs guide wire dilatational forceps (GWDF) technique was used as the first choice for elective percutaneous tracheotomy (EPT) by 143 (70.4%) ICUs. Most common early EPT complication was bleeding (68.0%) and late EPT complication was stenosis (35.0%). While facilitation of weaning was most important advantage (26.1%), bleeding and tracheal complications were most important disadvantages for EPT (29.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Most common indications for ET are prolonged MV and coma in Turkish ICUs. EPT is the preferred procedure for ET and GWDF is the most common technique. Bronchoscopy and USG are rarely used as a guide.

Non-lactate strong ion difference: a clearer picture.

PURPOSE: The recommended method for elucidating the effects of strong ions other than lactate on acid-base balance is to calculate the non-lactate strong ion difference (SIDnl). A relationship between HCO3 (-) and SIDnl in hyperchloremic patients has already been demonstrated; in the present study, the relationships between SIDnl, the apparent strong ion difference (SIDa), and mortality at intensive care unit (ICU) admission were investigated. METHODS: In our two-center study, 2691 patients admitted to the ICU were retrospectively evaluated, including 1069 critically ill patients. These patients were divided into three subgroups according to their SIDnl levels at admission to the ICU: low (<38 mmol L(-1)), normal (38-40 mmol L(-1)), and high (>40 mmol L(-1)). Patient age, gender, diagnosis, blood gas values, length of ICU stay, and mortality were recorded. RESULTS: The low-SIDnl group included 768 patients (71.8 %), the normal-SIDnl group consisted of 127 patients (11.9 %), and the high-SIDnl group contained 174 patients (16.3 %). There was no significant difference in lactate levels among the SIDnl groups (p = 0.635). In a multivariate logistic regression model, likelihood of mortality was increased 1.24-fold (1.20-1.28), 2.56-fold (1.61-4.08) and 2.55-fold (1.003-6.47) by APACHE II, lactate level ≥2mmol L(-) and low SIDnl (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.049, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: SIDnl can be used to determine the effects of strong ions other than lactate on SIDa values and acid-base balance. Furthermore, a low SIDnl at ICU admission can be a prognostic indicator of mortality.

Nocturnal hypoxia and the success rate of standard atrial fibrillation treatment: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is one of the extracardiac reasons of atrial fibrillation (AF), and the prevalence of AF is high in SAHS-diagnosed patients. Nocturnal hypoxemia is associated with AF, pulmonary hypertension, and nocturnal death. The rate of AF recurrence is high in untreated SAHS-diagnosed patients after cardioversion (CV). In this study, we present a patient whose SAHS was diagnosed with an apnea test performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) and who did not develop recurrent AF after the administration of standard AF treatment and bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP). CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old male hypertensive Caucasian patient who was on medical treatment for 1.5 months for non-organic AF was admitted to the ICU because of high-ventricular response AF (170 per minute), and sinus rhythm was maintained during the CV that was performed two times every second day. The results of the apnea test performed in the ICU on the same night after the second CV were as follows: apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 71 per hour, minimum peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 67%, and desaturation period (SpO2 of less than 90%) of 28 minutes. The patient was discharged with medical treatment and nocturnal BiPAP treatment. The results of the apnea test performed under BiPAP on the sixth month were as follows: AHI of 1 per hour, desaturation period of 1 minute, and minimum SpO2 of 87%. No recurrent AF developed in the patient, and his medical treatment was reduced within 6 months. After gastric bypass surgery on the 12th month, nocturnal hypoxia and AF did not re-occur. Thus, BiPAP and medical treatments were ended. CONCLUSIONS: SAHS can be diagnosed by performing an apnea test in the ICU. SAHS should be investigated in patients developing recurrent AF after CV. Recovery of nocturnal hypoxia may increase the success rate of standard AF treatment.

Apnea-hypopnea index use among intensive care patients: a case series.

INTRODUCTION: ApneaLink™ (RESMED-Munich, Germany) is a simple and inexpensive device that determines the apnea-hypopnea index. The sensitivity and specificity of the apnea-hypopnea index are 100 and 87.5%, respectively. Our hypothesis can be used to create a treatment plan using the apnea-hypopnea index for intensive care unit patients. CASE PRESENTATION: This treatment plan has been created by determining the apnea-hypopnea index of eight Caucasian patients with a variety of diagnoses. Case 1 is that of a 70-year-old man diagnosed with rectum cancer and scheduled for elective surgery. Case 2 is that of a 65-year-old man diagnosed with rectum cancer and scheduled for elective surgery. Case 3 is that of a 78-year-old woman diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-pneumonia. Case 4 is that of a 26-year-old man diagnosed with head trauma. Case 5 is that of an 80-year-old man diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease. Case 6 is that of a 79-year-old man diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease. Case 7 is that of an 8-year-old girl diagnosed with ventricular septal defect-epidural hemorragia. Case 8 is that of a 42-year-old man diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrage. CONCLUSIONS: The apnea-hypopnea index can be informative regarding prognosis and outcomes, and helps to take precautions and develop new treatment strategies among critical patients in intensive care. The integration of developments in sleep medicine to intensive care unit practices means that we can be more informed about critical patients.

Epidemiology of severe sepsis in the intensive care unit.

Severe sepsis affects large numbers of intensive care unit patients and is associated with high mortality rates. Understanding the epidemiology of sepsis is important to effectively allocate adequate resources. However, differences in definitions and in studied populations must be taken into consideration when interpreting and comparing the available epidemiological data.