Vancomycin Sequestration in ST Filters: An In Vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: Sequestration of vancomycin in ST® filters used in continuous renal therapy is a pending question. Direct vancomycin-ST® interaction was assessed using the in vitro NeckEpur® technology. METHOD: ST150® filter and Prismaflex dialyzer, Baxter-Gambro, were used. Two modes were assessed in duplicate: (i) continuous diafiltration (CDF): 4 L/h, (ii) continuous dialysis (CD): 2.5 L/h post-filtration. RESULTS: The mean initial vancomycin concentration in the central compartment (CC) was 51.4 +/- 5.0 mg/L. The mean percentage eliminated from the CC over 6 h was 91 +/- 4%. The mean clearances from the CC by CDF and CD were 2.8 and 1.9 L/h, respectively. The mean clearances assessed using cumulative effluents were 4.4 and 2.2 L/h, respectively. The mean percentages of the initial dose eliminated in the effluents from the CC by CDF and CD were 114 and 108% with no detectable sequestration of vancomycin in both modes of elimination. DISCUSSION: Significant sequestration adds a clearance to that provided by CDF and CD. The study provides multiple evidence from the CC, the filter, and the effluents of the lack of an increase in total clearance in comparison with the flow rates without significant sequestration in the ST® filter comparing cumulative effluents to the initial dose in the CC. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence ST® filters directly sequestrate vancomycin.

Prehospital Shock Precautions on Triage (PSPoT) score to assess in-hospital mortality for septic shock.

CONTEXT: In the prehospital setting, early identification of septic shock (SS) with high risk of poor outcome is a daily issue. There is a need for a simple tool aiming to early assess outcome in order to decide delivery unit (emergency department (ED) or intensive care unit (ICU)). In France, prehospital emergencies are managed by the Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence (SAMU). The SAMU physician decides the destination ward either to the ICU or to the ED after on scene severity assessment. We report the association between The Prehospital Shock Precautions on Triage (PSPoT) score, and in-hospital mortality of SS patients initially cared for in the prehospital setting by a mobile ICU (MICU). METHODS: SS patients cared for by MICU were prospectively included between February 2017 and July 2019. The PSPoT score was established by adding shock index>1 and criterion based on past medical history: age >65 years and at least 1 previous comorbidity (chronic cardiac failure, chronic renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, previous or actual history of cancer, institutionalization, hospitalisation within previous 3 months. A threshold of ≥2, was arbitrarily chosen for clinical relevance and usefulness in clinical practice. RESULTS: One-hundred and sixty-nine with a median age of 72 [20-93] years were analysed. SS origin was mainly pulmonary (54%), abdominal (19%) and urinary (15%). The median PSPoT score was 2 [1-2]. PSPoT score and PSPoT score ≥ 2 were associated with in-hospital mortality: OR = 1.24 [0.77-2.05] and OR = 2.19 [1.09-4.59] respectively. CONCLUSION: We report an association between PSPoT score, and in-hospital mortality of SS patients cared for by a MICU. A PSPoT score ≥ 2 early identifies poorer outcome.

Pupil Reactivity in Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Treated by Extra-Corporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the association of early pupil evaluation with death occurrence on Day 28 in patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (ROHCA) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and treated by extra-corporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR). METHODS: The pupil size (miosis, intermediary or mydriasis) and bilateral pupillary light reactivity (present or absent) were monitored in sedated and paralysed patients treated by eCPR. Mortality was assessed on Day 28. RESULTS: A total of 46 consecutive patients with ROHCA were included in the study. Thirty (65%) patients died on Day 28. Twenty-seven (90%) patients had pupils non-reactive to light, and 18 (60%) had mydriasis at the ICU admission. Using logistic regression, including age, gender, no flow, low-flow, size and pupil reactivity to light, only the pupillary reactivity to light remained associated with death on Day 28 (Odds ratio=0.12, 95%CI=[0.01-0.96]). CONCLUSION: Pupils not reacting to light at the ICU admission were associated with mortality on Day 28 in patients with ROHCA. Pupillary light reactivity is a simple and easy tool that can be used to early detect a poor outcome in patients with ROHCA treated by eCPR.

Association between Blood Pressure after Haemodynamic Resuscitation in the Prehospital Setting and 28-Day Mortality in Septic Shock.

OBJECTIVE: Septic shock results in a decreased blood pressure (BP) leading to organ failure. The haemodynamic resuscitation aims at restoring the BP to allow efficient tissue perfusion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the mean BP (MBP) reached after haemodynamic resuscitation in patients with septic shock cared for in the prehospital setting by a mobile intensive care unit (MICU) and mortality at 28 days after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS: Patients with septic shock managed by a mobile intensive care unit (MICU) and admitted in the ICU were retrospectively analysed. The association between mortality and MBP after prehospital resuscitation was studied. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients with septic shock were included in the study. The origin of sepsis was mainly pulmonary (64%). Mortality reached 35%. Haemodynamic resuscitation was performed using crystalloids (98%) with a mean infused volume indexed on a body weight of 16±11 mL kg-1 in the prehospital setting. No patient received catecholamine or antibiotic prior to hospital admission. Final prehospital MBP was 64±8 mm Hg in the overall population and 66±8 mm Hg versus 62±8 mm Hg in alive and deceased patients, respectively (p=0.02). After adjustment, final prehospital MBP [odds ratio adjusted (ORa) (95% confidence interval (CI)]=0.89 (0.80-0.99), MBP <65 mmHg [ORa (95% CI)=14.3 (3.35-77.7)] and MBP >65 mmHg [ORa (95% CI)=0.06 (0.01-0.25)] were associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Persistent low MBP after prehospital initial resuscitation measures in patients with septic shock managed in the prehospital setting is associated with increased mortality. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of prehospital haemodynamic management in septic shock to further optimise prehospital care and improve outcome.

Diafiltration flowrate is a determinant of the extent of adsorption of amikacin in renal replacement therapy using the ST150®-AN69 filter: An in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: In continuous renal replacement therapy, conduction and convection are controlled allowing prescribing dosage regimen improving survival. In contrast, adsorption is an uncontrolled property altering drug disposition. Whether adsorption depends on flowrates is unknown. We hypothesized an in vitro model may provide information in conditions mimicking continuous renal replacement therapy in humans. METHODS: ST150®-AN69 filter and Prismaflex dialyzer, Baxter-Gambro were used. Simulated blood flowrate was set at 200 mL/min. The flowrates in the filtration (continuous filtration), dialysis (continuous dialysis), and diafiltration (continuous diafiltration) were 1500, 2500, and 4000 mL/h, respectively. Routes of elimination were assessed using NeckEpur® analysis. RESULTS: The percentages of the total amount eliminated by continuous filtration, continuous dialysis, and continuous diafiltration were 82%, 86%, and 94%, respectively. Elimination by effluents and adsorption accounted for 42% ± 7% and 58% ± 5%, 57% ± 7% and 43% ± 6%, and 84% ± 6% and 16% ± 6% of amikacin elimination, respectively. There was a linear regression between flowrates and amikacin clearance: Y = 0.6 X ± 1.7 (R2 = 0.9782). Conversely, there was a linear inverse correlation between the magnitude of amikacin adsorption and flowrate: Y = -16.9 X ± 84.1 (R2 = 0.9976). CONCLUSION: Low flowrates resulted in predominant elimination by adsorption, accounting for 58% of the elimination of amikacin from the central compartment in the continuous filtration mode at 1500 mL/h of flowrate. Thereafter, the greater the flowrate, the lower the adsorption of amikacin in a linear manner. Flowrate is a major determinant of adsorption of amikacin. There was an about 17% decrease in the rate of adsorption per increase in the flowrate of 1 L/min.

Prognostic Value of Blood Lactate and Base Deficit in Refractory Cardiac Arrest Cases Undergoing Extracorporeal Life Support.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac arrest (CA) resuscitation is associated with an 'ischaemia-reperfusion' syndrome characterised by lactic acidosis as assessed by lactate and base deficit (BD). Both biomarkers are usually measured in patients suffering from refractory CA (RCA) subjected to extracorporeal life support (ECLS) to evaluate tissue reperfusion. However, their prognostic value has never been compared. The aim of the present study was to compare the prognostic value of both biomarkers measured at 0 and 3 h after the initiation of ECLS in patients with RCA on mortality. METHODS: Patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit with RCA were consecutively included in the study. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were included. Lactate correlated with BD (R2=0.44, p<0.001). An area under the curve of 0.72 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59-0.84) was found for lactate and of 0.60 (95% CI 0.46-0.73) for BD. Using multivariable logistic regression, lactate (odds ratio (OR) 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.48) remained associated with mortality on day 28, but not BD (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.86-1.14). CONCLUSION: We report a difference in the prognostic value of lactate and BD on mortality. Three hours from the initiation of ECLS in patients with RCA, lactate should be preferred to BD to predict the efficiency of ECLS.

Impact of Prehospital Mobile Intensive Care Unit Intervention on Mortality of Patients with Sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: The outcome of sepsis relies on the early diagnosis and implementation of appropriate treatments. For management of out-of-hospital patients with sepsis, prehospital emergency services, named Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence (SAMU) in France, dispatch to the scene an emergency mobile team (EMT) or a mobile intensive care unit (MICU) based on the patient's severity. Therefore, patients are admitted to the emergency department (ED) or to the intensive care unit (ICU). The impact of MICU intervention on patient's prognosis remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to describe the impact of MICU intervention on mortality on day 28 (D28) of patients with sepsis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on patients with sepsis managed by prehospital teams, MICU or EMT, before admission to the ED or ICU. The primary outcome was mortality on D28. RESULTS: The SAMU received 30,642 calls during the study period with 140 patients with suspected sepsis. The suspected origin of sepsis was mainly pulmonary for 78 (55%) patients. Thirteen (9%) patients died on D28, 12 in the ED and 1 in the ICU. Two patients were admitted to the hospital by a MICU. After adjusting for confounding factors, the relative risk of mortality on D28 for patients admitted to the hospital by a MICU was 0.40. CONCLUSION: We describe an association between MICU intervention and mortality on D28. MICU intervention for out-of-hospital patients with sepsis is associated with 60% reduced mortality on D28. Larger studies are needed to confirm the impact of the intervention of MICU on mortality of patients with sepsis.

Prognostic Value of Blood Lactate and Lactate Clearance in Refractory Cardiac Arrest Treated by Extracorporeal Life Support.

OBJECTIVE: During cardiac arrest (CA) resuscitation, an 'ischaemia-reperfusion' syndrome occurs leading to multiorgan failure reflected by an increase in blood lactate. Blood lactate is a diagnosis and prognosis biomarker in extracorporeal life support (ECLS), but its kinetic appears more informative to assess a patient's outcome. The aim of the present study was to describe the prognostic value of blood lactate and lactate clearance (LC) 3 (H3) and 6 h (H6) after the initiation of ECLS in the treatment of refractory CA. METHODS: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit for refractory CA were included. Lactate measurements were performed at the initiation of ECLS (H0) and at H3 and H6 upon the initiation of ECLS. LC was measured from 0 to 3 h (LC03), 0 to 6 h (LC06) and 3 to 6 h (LC36). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality within 28 days. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were enrolled in the study. Lactate levels were higher in deceased patients. Increased mortality was observed with increasing levels of lactate at H3 and H6 and with decreasing LC03. Using logistic regression, an association was observed between mortality and lactate at H3 with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.21 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.42); LC03, OR of 0.93 (95% CI 0.87-0.99) and LC06, OR of 0.96 (95% CI 0.92-0.99). CONCLUSION: Blood lactate and LC within the first 3 h of ECLS in refractory CA are associated with mortality. LC is a more relevant parameter than blood lactate, taking into account both the production and elimination of lactate. We suggest to preferentially use LC to assess the patient's outcome.

Effect of Mean Blood Pressure During Extracorporeal Life Support on Outcome After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) can help to improve the outcome of refractory cardiac arrest (CA). ECLS allows to maintain blood pressure and tissue perfusion until the cause of CA is treated. The aim of the present study was to describe the mean blood pressure (MBP) during the first 24 h of ECLS for out-of-hospital CA (OHCA). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive refractory OHCA requiring ECLS admitted to the intensive care unit. MBP was examined after starting ECLS (H0) and every 6 h during the first 24 h (H6, H12, H18 and H24). RESULTS: Forty patients were analysed. MBP significantly differs between survivors and non-survivors since 6 h: 77 vs 44 mm Hg (p=0.002), 51 vs 87 mm Hg at H12 (p=0.008), 57 vs 75 mm Hg at H18 (p=0.015) and 79 vs 53 mm Hg at H24 (p=0.004), whereas no difference was observed at H0: 69 vs 55 mm Hg (p=0.06). An MBP lower than 65 mm Hg since 6 h is associated with a poor outcome (sensitivity and specificity of death of 87% and 66% at H6, 80% and 75% at H12, 100% and 75% at H18 and 70% and 80% at H24, respectively). CONCLUSION: Despite high levels of catecholamine, the inability to maintain MBP higher than 60 mm Hg after starting ECLS for OHCA is associated with a poor outcome.

Pre-hospital mechanical ventilation in septic shock patients.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation can cause deleterious effects on the lung and thus alter patient's prognosis. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of prehospital mechanical ventilation in patients with septic shock requiring mechanical ventilation in the prehospital setting. METHODS: Patients with septic shock subjected to pre-hospital intubation and mechanical ventilation by a mobile intensive care unit were consecutively included and retrospectively analysed. Septic shock was defined according to the international sepsis-3 consensus conference. Patient's characteristics, interventions, prehospital ventilatory parameters and outcome were retrieved from medical records. The association between the tidal volume indexed on ideal body weight (VTIBW) and mortality at day 28 was evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were included. Septic shock was mainly associated with pulmonary (64%) infection. Mean pre-hospital VTIBW was 7 ±â€¯1 ml.kg-1 in the overall population. Mortality reached 42%. The AUC of VTIBW was 0.83 [0.72-0.94]. Using logistic regression model including: age, prehospital mean blood pressure, volume infused in the prehospital setting, FiO2 and length of stay in the intensive care unit, the association with mortality remained significant for VTIBW (OR adjusted [CI95] = 4.11 [1.89-10.98]), VTIBW >8 ml·kg-1 (OR adjusted [CI95] = 8.29 [2.35-34.98]) and VTIBW <8 ml·kg-1 (OR adjusted [CI95] = 0.12 [0.03-0.43]). CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, we observed an association between mortality at day 28 and prehospital VTIBW in pre-hospital mechanically ventilated patients with septic shock. A VTIBW <8 ml·kg-1 was associated with a decrease and a VTIBW >8 ml·kg-1 with an increase in mortality.

Prognosis value of partial arterial oxygen pressure in patients with septic shock subjected to pre-hospital invasive ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: Mechanical ventilation can help improve the prognosis of septic shock. While adequate delivery of oxygen to the tissue is crucial, hyperoxemia may be deleterious. Invasive out-of-hospital ventilation is often promptly performed in life-threatening emergencies. We propose to determine whether the arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) at the intensive care unit (ICU) admission is associated with mortality in patients with septic shock subjected to pre-hospital mechanical ventilation. METHODS: We performed a monocentric retrospective observational study on 77 patients. PaO2 was measured at ICU admission. The primary outcome was mortality at day 28 (D28). RESULTS: Forty-nine (64%) patients were included. The mean PaO2 at ICU admission was 153 ±â€¯77 and 202 ±â€¯82 mm Hg for alive and deceased patients respectively. Mortality concerned 18% of patients for PaO2 < 100, 25% for 100 < PaO2 < 150 and 57% for a PaO2 > 150 mm Hg. PaO2 was significantly associated with mortality at D28 (p = 0.04). Using propensity score analysis including SOFA score, pre-hospital duration, lactate, and prehospital fluid volume expansion, association with mortality at D28 only remained for PaO2 > 150 mm Hg (p = 0.02, OR [CI95] = 1.59 [1.20-2.10]). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we report a significant association between hyperoxemia at ICU admission and mortality in patients with septic shock subjected to pre-hospital invasive mechanical ventilation. The early adjustment of the PaO2 should be considered for these patients to avoid the toxic effects of hyperoxemia. However, blood gas analysis is hard to get in a prehospital setting. Consequently, alternative and feasible measures are needed, such as pulse oximetry, to improve the management of pre-hospital invasive ventilation.

Early detection of brain death using the Bispectral Index (BIS) in patients treated by extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) for refractory cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing use of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) for treatment of refractory cardiac arrest patients, prognosis remains dismal, often resulting in brain-death. However, clinical assessment of brain-death occurence is difficult in post-cardiac arrest patients, sedated, paralyzed, under mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH). Our objective was to assess the usefulness of Bispectral-Index (BIS) monitoring at bedside for an early detection of brain-death occurrence in refractory cardiac arrest patients treated by E-CPR. METHODS: This prospective study was performed in an intensive care unit of an university hospital. Forty-six patients suffering from refractory cardiac arrest treated by E-CPR were included. BIS was continuously recorded during ICU hospitalization. Clinical brain-death was confirmed when appropriate by EEG and/or cerebral CT angiography. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients evolved into brain-death and had average BIS values under MTH and after rewarming (temperature ≥35°C) of 4 (0-47) and 0 (0-82), respectively. Among these, 11 (38%) entered into a procedure of organs donation. Among the 17 non-brain-dead patients, the average BIS values at admission and after rewarming were 39 (0-65) and 59 (22-82), respectively. Two patients had on admission a BIS value equal to zero and evolved to a poor prognostic (CPC 4) and died after care limitations. BIS values were significantly different between patients who developed brain death and those who did not. In both groups, no differences were observed between the AUCs of ROC curves for BIS values under MTH and after rewarming (respectively 0.86 vs 0.83, NS). CONCLUSIONS: Initial values of BIS could be used as an assessment tool for early detection of brain-death in refractory cardiac arrest patients treated by mild therapeutic hypothermia and E-CPR.

Number of Prehospital Defibrillation Shocks and the Return of Spontaneous Circulation in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

OBJECTIVE: It has not been determined yet whether the number of defibrillation shocks delivered over the first 30 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) impacts the rate of successful return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study in non-traumatic OHCA. Patients who were administered defibrillation shocks using a public automated external defibrillator (AED) were consecutively enrolled in the study. We assessed the relationship between ROSC and the number of prehospital defibrillation shocks and constructed an receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to illustrate the ability of repeated defibrillation shocks to predict ROSC over the first 30 min of CPR. RESULTS: Increasing the number of defibrillation shocks progressively decreased the probability to achieve ROSC. The highest rate of ROSC (33%) was observed when four shocks were delivered. The ROC curve illustrated that the fourth shock maximised sensitivity and specificity (area under the curve [AUC]=0.72). The positive and negative predictive values for ROSC reached 82% and 48%, respectively, when <4 shocks were delivered. CONCLUSION: The delivery of four defibrillation shocks in OHCA most related to ROSC. The evaluation of the number of delivered shock during the first 30 min of CPR is a simple tool that can be used for an early decision in OHCA patient.

Transient neurological deficit due to a misplacement of central venous catheter despite ultrasound guidance and ultrasound assistance.

Central venous catheters (CVC) are frequently used in intensive care units (ICU), with a low incidence of complications, most of them being of mechanical origin and occurring during the insertion of the catheter. To avoid such complications, "ultrasound guidance" and "ultrasound assistance" are recommended. Nevertheless, even with trained and experienced physicians, mechanical complications of IJV access such as carotid punctures are still reported. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman, admitted into the ICU for CVC insertion due to impossibility of peripheral venous access. About 12 hours after the procedure, the patient presented a neurological deficit. The cervical and thoracic CT scan showed a transfixing path of the catheter from the left IJV into the left common carotid artery, with distal extremity of the catheter localized in the ascending aorta. The catheter was removed, and thereafter the neurological deficit immediately and definitely disappeared. Onset of a neurological deficit after CVC insertion into the IJV, regardless the time of occurrence after the procedure, should suggest complication due to the CVC insertion, even if procedure was uneventful and chest radiography confirmed the apparent accurate position of CVC.