Hemoadsorption in the critically ill-Final results of the International CytoSorb Registry.

The aim of the current paper is to summarize the results of the International CytoSorb Registry. Data were collected on patients of the intensive care unit. The primary endpoint was actual in-hospital mortality compared to the mortality predicted by APACHE II score. The main secondary endpoints were SOFA scores, inflammatory biomarkers and overall evaluation of the general condition. 1434 patients were enrolled. Indications for hemoadsorption were sepsis/septic shock (N = 936); cardiac surgery perioperatively (N = 172); cardiac surgery postoperatively (N = 67) and "other" reasons (N = 259). APACHE-II-predicted mortality was 62.0±24.8%, whereas observed hospital mortality was 50.1%. Overall SOFA scores did not change but cardiovascular and pulmonary SOFA scores decreased by 0.4 [-0.5;-0.3] and -0.2 [-0.3;-0.2] points, respectively. Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels showed significant reduction: -15.4 [-19.6;-11.17] ng/mL; -17,52 [-70;44] mg/L, respectively. In the septic cohort PCT and IL-6 also showed significant reduction: -18.2 [-23.6;-12.8] ng/mL; -2.6 [-3.0;-2.2] pg/mL, respectively. Evaluation of the overall effect: minimal improvement (22%), much improvement (22%) and very much improvement (10%), no change observed (30%) and deterioration (4%). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of mortality, but there were improvements in cardiovascular and pulmonary SOFA scores and a reduction in PCT, CRP and IL-6 levels. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02312024 (retrospectively registered).

Combined Disruption of the Thoracic Spine and Costal Arch Fracture: An Indicator of a Severe Chest Trauma.

Blunt high-energy chest trauma is often associated with thoracic and abdominal organ injuries. Literature for a hyperextension-distraction mechanism resulting in a costal arch fracture combined with a thoracic spine fracture is sparse. A 65-year-old male suffered a fall from a height of six meters. Initial X-ray of the chest shows left-sided high-riding diaphragm and CT scan proves anterior cartilage fracture, posterolateral serial rib fractures, traumatic intercostal pulmonary hernia, avulsion of the diaphragm, and 7th thoracic vertebral fracture. An exploratory thoracotomy was performed and the rupture of the diaphragm, creating a two-cavity injury, had been re-fixed, the pulmonary hernia was closed, and locking plate osteosyntheses of the fractured ribs including the costal arch were performed. We generally recommend surgical therapy of the thorax to restore stability in this severe injury entity. The spine was fixed dorsally using a screw-rod system. In conclusion, this thoracovertebral injury entity is associated with high overall injury severity and life-threatening thoracoabdominal injuries. Since two-cavity traumata and particularly diaphragmatic injuries are often diagnosed delayed, injuries to the costal arch can act as an indicator of severe trauma. They should be detected through clinical examination and assessment of the trauma CT in the soft tissue window.

Sepsis Management with a Blood Purification Membrane: European Experience.

BACKGROUND: Septic shock is a leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Endotoxins and cytokine levels are associated with the occurrence and severity of AKI, and different blood purification devices are available to remove them from circulation. One such device, oXiris, is a hollow-fibre purification filter that clears both endotoxins and cytokines. Due to limited evidence, clinical use of this device is not currently advocated in guidelines. However, clinics do regularly use this device, and there is a critical need for guidance on the application of it in sepsis with and without AKI. METHOD: A modified Delphi-based method was used to collate -European experts' views on the indication(s), initiation and discontinuation criteria and success measures for oXiris. RESULTS: A panel of 14 participants was selected based on known clinical expertise in the areas of critical care and sepsis management, as well as their experience of using the oXiris blood purification device. The participants used different criteria to initiate treatment with oXiris in sepsis patients with and without AKI. Septic shock with AKI was the priority patient population, with oXiris used to rapidly improve haemodynamic parameters. Achieving haemodynamic stability within 72 h was a key factor for determining treatment success. CONCLUSION: In the absence of established guidelines, users of hollow-fibre purification devices such as oXiris may benefit from standardised approaches to selecting patients and initiating and terminating treatment, as well as measuring success. Further evidence in the form of randomised clinical trials is urgently required.