Mortality, Functional Status, and Quality of Life after 5 Years of Patients Admitted to Critical Care for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess long-term outcome in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to the intensive care unit. METHODS: Mortality and Glasgow Outcome Scale, Barthel Index, and 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L) scores were analyzed in a multicenter cohort study of three Spanish hospitals (336 patients). Mortality was also analyzed in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. RESULTS: The median (25th percentile-75th percentile) age was 62 (50-70) years, the median Glasgow Coma Score was 7 (4-11) points, and the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health disease Classification System II (APACHE-II) score was 21 (15-26) points. Hospital mortality was 54.17%, mortality at 90 days was 56%, mortality at 1 year was 59.2%, and mortality at 5 years was 66.4%. In the Glasgow Outcome Scale, a normal or disabled self-sufficient situation was recorded in 21.5% of patients at 6 months, in 25.5% of patients after 1 year, and in 22.1% of patients after 5 years of follow-up (4.5% missing). The Barthel Index score of survivors improved over time: 50 (25-80) points at 6 months, 70 (35-95) points at 1 year, and 90 (40-100) points at 5 years (p < 0.001). Quality of life evaluated with the EQ-5D-5L at 1 year and 5 years indicated that greater than 50% of patients had no problems or slight problems in all items (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression). In the MIMIC-III study (N = 1354), hospital mortality was 31.83% and was 40.5% at 90 days and 56.2% after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, hospital mortality up to 90 days after admission is very high. Between 90 days and 5 years after admission, mortality is not high. A large percentage of survivors presented a significant deficit in quality of life and functional status, although with progressive improvement over time. Five years after the hemorrhagic stroke, a survival of 30% was observed, with a good functional status seen in 20% of patients who had been admitted to the hospital.

Neurofibromatosis Type I Presenting with Incomplete Ileal Volvulus in a Pediatric Patient.

BACKGROUND Neurofibromatosis 1 is a neurocutaneous disorder with multisystemic manifestations. When patients are lacking overt cutaneous manifestations, diagnosis may be delayed and may complicate diagnosis and management of atypical presentations of this disease. It is thus important to strive to obtain relevant and/or complete history to arrive at the appropriate diagnosis. Furthermore, maintaining an index of suspicion in cases of vague abdominal pain may guide the clinician in establishing the correct diagnosis of mesenteric plexiform neurofibroma in the setting of known/presumed neurofibromatosis 1 patients presenting with acute and/or chronic vague abdominal symptoms. CASE REPORT This is a case of a teenage boy who presented with acute, vague abdominal pain over a period of 2 weeks. Laboratory tests and physical exam findings in primary and secondary care settings were unremarkable, and thus the patient was discharged home only to continue with abdominal pain, thus seeking additional medical care. After admission to our facility and exhaustive history taking, physical examination, and imaging, a prospective diagnosis of neurofibromatosis with mesenteric neurofibroma was made. Upon surgical exploration, a mesenteric mass with corresponding volvulized, ischemic small bowel was removed. Histopathology confirmed a plexiform neurofibroma. The patient recovered adequately and was discharged home without complications. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the importance of exhaustive history taking to obtain an accurate diagnosis as well as the importance of a high index of clinical suspicion for mesenteric neurofibromatosis in patients with presumed or known neurofibromatosis and presenting with vague abdominal symptoms.

Evaluation of procalcitonin elevation during ICU stay and its relationship with mortality in ICU patients for COVID-19 with respiratory involvement. A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Introduction: A multicenter prospective cohort study studied patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) by coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) with respiratory involvement. We observed the number of occasions in which the value of procalcitonin (PCT) was higher than 0.5 ng/ml. Objective: Evaluation of PCT elevation and influence on mortality in patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 with respiratory involvement. Measurements and main results: We studied 201 patients. On the day of admission, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE)-II was 13 (10-16) points. In-hospital mortality was 36.8%. During ICU stay, 104 patients presented 1 or more episodes of PCT elevation and 60 (57.7%) died and 97 patients did not present any episodes of PCT elevation and only 14 (14.4%) died (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that mortality was associated with APACHE-II: [odds ratio (OR): 1.13 (1.04-1.23)], acute kidney injury [OR: 2.21 (1.1-4.42)] and with the presentation of one or more episodes of escalating PCT: [OR: 5.07 (2.44-10.53)]. Of 71 patients who died, 59.2% had an elevated PCT value on the last day, and of the 124 patients who survived, only 3.2% had an elevated PCT value on the last day (p < 0.001). On the last day of the ICU stay, the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score of those who died was 9 (6-11) and 1 (0-2) points in survivors (p < 0.001). Of the 42 patients who died and in whom PCT was elevated on the last day, 71.4% were considered to have a mainly non-respiratory cause of death. Conclusion: In patients admitted to the ICU by COVID-19 with respiratory involvement, numerous episodes of PCT elevation are observed, related to mortality. PCT was elevated on the last day in more than half of the patients who died. Serial assessment of procalcitonin in these patients is useful because it alerts to situations of high risk of death. This may be useful in the future to improve the treatment and prognosis of these patients.

High Incidence of Cataracts in the Follow-Up of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Coronary Total Occlusion.

Development of cataracts is a well-known adverse effect of ionizing radiation, but little information is available on their incidence in patients after other medical procedures, such as cardiac catheterizations. The study objective was to determine the incidence of cataracts in a cohort of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) and its association with radiation dose. The study analyzed the incidence of cataracts during the follow-up of 126 patients who underwent chronic total coronary PCI, using Cox regression to identify predictive factors of cataract development. The study included 126 patients, 86.9% male, with a mean age of 60.5 years (range, 55.0-68.0 years). Twenty-three (18.2% n = 23) developed cataracts during a mean follow-up of 49.5 months (range 37.3-64.5 months). A higher incidence was observed in patients who received more than 5 Gy (29.0% vs. 14.7%, Hazard ratio (HR = 2.84 [1.19-6.77]). Multivariate analysis revealed a relationship between cataract development during the follow-up and a receipt of radiation dose >5 Gy (HR = 2.60, 95% confidence interval [CI 1.03-6.61]; p = 0.03), presence or history of predisposing eye disease (HR = 4.42, CI:1.57-12.40), diabetes (HR = 3.33 [1.22-9.24]), and older age, as in >57 (HR, 6.40 [1.81-22.61]). An elevated incidence of cataracts was observed in patients after PCI for CTO. The onset of cataracts is related to the radiation dose during catheterization, which is a potentially avoidable effect of which operators should be aware.

Prognostic Value of Variations in Serum Biomarkers and Prognostic Scores Values Between Admission and Second Day in Intensive Care Unit Septic Patients.

Objective To determinate the prognostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) changes during the first two days of admission to the ICU with sepsis and/or septic shock, and to compare it with changes in Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE-II) and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) prognostic scores. Methods A single-center prospective observational study was performed. Fifty consecutive patients admitted to the ICU, diagnosed of severe sepsis/septic shock were included. We considered risk factors for infection: diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), previous antibiotic treatment, central intravascular catheter, bladder catheter, active neoplasia. Results Median aged 67(52-75) years with median APACHE-II 19(14-25) points and SOFA scores 7(5-11) points on admission, and 28-day mortality of 42%. When we studied the relationship between mortality and the changes between the day of admission and the second day of the variables studied, we found that APACHE-II (p = 0.001) and SOFA (p = 0.002) between admission and second day raised significantly in no survivors, with no significant changes in CRP and PCT. Multivariate analysis showed that mortality was significantly associated to changes in SOFA score (odds ratio [OR], 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-3.86) and to the presence of one or more risk factors for infection (OR, 6.01; 95% CI, 1.01-35.78) but not with PCT changes. Mortality was also related to the variations between the day of admission and the fifth day on APACHE-II (p = 0.002), SOFA (p < 0.001) and PCT (p = 0.012). Conclusions Changes in SOFA and APACHE-II scores between admission and second day in ICU septic patients are more sensitive mortality predictors than the observed changes in CRP and PCT values. Changes in PCT levels between the day of ICU admission and the fifth day are significantly related to mortality and may be useful as an additional marker in patient outcome.

Syncope and bifascicular block in the absence of structural heart disease.

The treatment of patients with bifascicular block (BFB) and syncope in the absence of structural heart disease (SHD) is not well defined. The objective of our study is to compare pacemaker empirical implantation with the use of electrophysiological studies (EPS). This is a prospective cohort study that included 77 patients with unexplained cardiogenic syncope and BFB without structural heart disease between 1997 and 2012. Two groups: 36 patients received empirical pacemakers (Group A) and 41 underwent EPS (Group B) to guide their treatment. The incidence of syncope recurrence and atrioventricular block was lower in group A. Mortality and complication rates were similar between both groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a higher number of events (combined endpoint) in group B. Our study shows that treatment according to EPS does not improve the results of a treatment strategy based on empirical pacemaker.

Improvement of quality of life (QOL) between 1 and 3-4 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in ICU patients.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of changes in quality of life (QOL) in ICU patients several years after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not well documented. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in all patients with TBI admitted between 2004 and 2008 to the ICU of Regional Hospital of Malaga (Spain). Functional status was evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and QOL by PAECC (Project for the Epidemiologic Analysis of Critical Care patients) questionnaire between 0 (normal QOL) to 29 points (worst QOL). RESULTS: A total of 531 patients. Median(Quartile1,Quartile 3) age: 35 (22, 56) years. After 3-4 years, 175 died (33%). Survivor QOL was deteriorated (median total PAECC score: 5 (0, 11) points) although 75.76% of patients who survived showed good functional situation (GOS normal or mild dysfunction). An improvement in QOL scores between 1 and 3-4 years was observed (median PAECC score differences between 3-4 years and 1 year: - 1(- 4, 0) points). QOL score improved during this interval of time: 62.6% of patients. Change in QOL was related by multivariate analysis to admission cranial-computed tomography scan (Marshall's classification), age, and Injury Severity Score (ISS), with the biggest improvement seen in younger patients and with more severe ISS. Basic physiological activities were maintained in the majority of patients. Subjective aspects and working activities improved between 1 and 3-4 years but with a high proportion still impaired in these items after 3-4 years. CONCLUSIONS: ICU patients with TBI after 1 year show improvement in QOL between 1 and 3-4 years, with the biggest improvement in QOL seen in younger patients and in those with more severe ISS.

Atrioventricular block in patients undergoing treatment with bradycardic drugs. Predictors of pacemaker requirement.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Atrioventricular block (AVB) in the presence of bradycardic drugs (BD) can be reversible, and pacemaker implantation is controversial. Our objective was to analyze the pacemaker implantation rate in the mid-term, after BD suspension, and to identify predictive factors. METHODS: We performed a cohort study that included patients attending the emergency department with high-grade AVB in the context of BD. We studied the persistence of AVB after BD discontinuation, recurrence in patients with AVB resolution, and the predictive variables associated with pacemaker requirement at 3 years. RESULTS: Of 127 patients included (age, 79 [71-83] years), BAV resolved in 60 (47.2%); among these patients, recurrence occurred during the 24-month median follow-up in 40 (66.6%). Pacemaker implantation was required in 107 patients (84.3%), despite BD discontinuation. On multivariable analysis, the variables associated with pacemaker need at 3 years were heart rate <35 bpm (OR, 8.12; 95%CI, 1.82-36.17), symptoms other than syncope (OR, 4.09; 95%CI, 1.18-14.13), and wide QRS (OR, 5.65; 95%CI, 1.77-18.04). Concomitant antiarrhythmic treatment was associated with AVB resolution (OR, 0.12; 95%CI, 0.02-0.66). CONCLUSIONS: More than 80% of patients with AVB secondary to BD require pacemaker implantation despite drug discontinuation. Predictive variables were wide QRS, heart rate <35 bpm, and clinical presentation other than syncope.

Validation of the ICH score in patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage admitted to the intensive care unit in Southern Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Validation of the intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) score in patients with a diagnosis of spontaneous ICH admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A multicentre cohort study was conducted in all consecutive patients with ICH admitted to the ICUs of three hospitals with a neurosurgery department between 2009 and 2012 in Andalusia, Spain. Data collected included ICH, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE-II) scores. Demographic data, location and volume of haematoma and 30-day mortality rate were also collated. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients were included. 105 of whom underwent surgery. Median (IQR) age: 62 (50-70) years. APACHE-II: 21(15-26) points, GCS: 7 (4-11) points, ICH score: 2 (2-3) points. 11.1% presented with bilateral mydriasis on admission (mortality rate=100%). Intraventricular haemorrhage was observed in 58.9% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 54.17% while the APACHE-II predicted mortality was 57.22% with a standardised mortality ratio (SMR) of 0.95 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.09) and a Hosmer-Lemenshow test value (H) of 3.62 (no significant statistical difference, n.s.). 30-day mortality was 52.38% compared with the ICH score predicted mortality of 48.79%, SMR: 1.07 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.23), n.s. Mortality was higher than predicted at the lowest scores and lower than predicted in the more severe patients, (H=55.89, p<0.001), Gruppo Italiano per la Valutazione degli Interventi in Terapia Intensiva calibration belt (p<0.001). The area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.74 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: ICH score shows an acceptable discrimination as a tool to predict mortality rates in patients with spontaneous ICH admitted to the ICU, but its calibration is suboptimal.

Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation as a Predictor of Mortality After Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Mortality among the small percentage of cardiac surgery patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation is high, but this issue appears to be inadequately addressed in guidelines. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospective, multi-center, and observational study in Spain including all adults undergoing cardiac surgery in 3 Andalusian hospitals between June 2008 and December 2012. RESULTS: The study included 3,588 adults with mean ± SD age of 63.5 ± 12.8 y and with median (interquartile range) EuroSCORE of 5 (3-7) points. Prolonged mechanical ventilation (> 24 h) was required by 415 subjects (11.6%), with ICU mortality of 44.3% (184 subjects), and was not required by 3,173 subjects (88.4%), with ICU mortality of 3.1% (99 subjects, P < .001). Prolonged mechanical ventilation was associated with more complications and was required by 4.5% of subjects with a EuroSCORE <5, 11.2% with a score of 5-7, 27.2% with a score of 8-10, and 32.2% with a score > 10. In the multivariable analysis, ICU mortality was associated with illness severity, duration of bypass surgery, surgery type, and prolonged mechanical ventilation (odds ratio 15.19, 95% CI 11.56-22.09). The main cause of death was multiple organ failure and sepsis in subjects who required prolonged mechanical ventilation (50.3%) and cardiogenic shock in those who did not (59.2%). CONCLUSION: Prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation was required by 10-20% of cardiac surgery subjects, who constitute a specific group that represents most of the postoperative mortality, which is associated with multiple organ failure and sepsis.

Prognostic value of nocturnal pulse oximetry in patients with heart failure. / Valor pronóstico de la pulsioximetría nocturna en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prognostic value of nocturnal hypoxemia measured with portable nocturnal pulse-oximetry in patients hospitalized due to heart failure and its relation to mortality and hospital readmission. METHODS: We included 38 patients who were admitted consecutively to our unit with the diagnosis of decompensated heart failure. Pulse-oximetry was considered positive for hypoxemia when more than 10 desaturations per hour were recorded during sleep. Follow-up was performed for 30.3 (standard deviation [SD] 14.2) months, the main objective being a combined endpoint of all-cause mortality and hospital readmission due to heart failure. RESULTS: The average age was 70.7 (SD 10.7) years, 63.3% were males. Pulse-oximetry was considered positive for hypoxemia in 27 (71%) patients. Patients with positive pulse-oximetry had the most frequent endpoint (9.1% [1] vs. 61.5% [16], P = 0.003). After multivariate analysis, continuous nocturnal hypoxemia was related to the combined endpoint (HR = 8.37, 1.19-68.4, P = 0.03). DISCUSSION: Patients hospitalized for heart failure and nocturnal hypoxemia measured with portable pulse-oximeter have an increased risk of hospital readmission and death.

Patients Admitted to Three Spanish Intensive Care Units for Poisoning: Type of Poisoning, Mortality, and Functioning of Prognostic Scores Commonly Used.

Objectives. To evaluate the gravity and mortality of those patients admitted to the intensive care unit for poisoning. Also, the applicability and predicted capacity of prognostic scales most frequently used in ICU must be evaluated. Methods. Multicentre study between 2008 and 2013 on all patients admitted for poisoning. Results. The results are from 119 patients. The causes of poisoning were medication, 92 patients (77.3%), caustics, 11 (9.2%), and alcohol, 20 (16,8%). 78.3% attempted suicides. Mean age was 44.42 ± 13.85 years. 72.5% had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤8 points. The ICU mortality was 5.9% and the hospital mortality was 6.7%. The mortality from caustic poisoning was 54.5%, and it was 1.9% for noncaustic poisoning (p < 0.001). After adjusting for SAPS-3 (OR: 1.19 (1.02-1.39)) the mortality of patients who had ingested caustics was far higher than the rest (OR: 560.34 (11.64-26973.83)). There was considerable discrepancy between mortality predicted by SAPS-3 (26.8%) and observed (6.7%) (Hosmer-Lemeshow test: H = 35.10; p < 0.001). The APACHE-II (7,57%) and APACHE-III (8,15%) were no discrepancies. Conclusions. Admission to ICU for poisoning is rare in our country. Medication is the most frequent cause, but mortality of caustic poisoning is higher. APACHE-II and APACHE-III provide adequate predictions about mortality, while SAPS-3 tends to overestimate.

Soluble membrane receptors, interleukin 6, procalcitonin and C reactive protein as prognostic markers in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 1 (sTREM-1), soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14), soluble cluster of differentiation 163 (sCD163), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Fifty patients admitted at the ICU with the diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock were studied. SOFA and APACHE II scores as well as serum biomarkers were measured at days 0, 2 and 5. The influence of these variables on 28-day mortality was analyzed. Twenty healthy individuals served as controls. RESULTS: Baseline serum concentrations of sTREM-1, sCD163, IL-6 and PCT correlated with SOFA score. Only sTREM-1 levels correlated with APACHE II score. The 28-day mortality rate for all patients was 42%. The absence of risk factors for infection, presence of septic shock, baseline values of sCD14 and decrease of PCT and IL-6 from baseline to day 5 were variables associated to mortality in the univariate analysis. The unique independent factor associated to mortality in the multivariate analysis was a decrease of PCT higher than 50% from days 0 to 5. CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of sTREM-1 are correlated with the severity of sepsis. A 50% decrease of PCT was the unique variable associated with survival in the multivariate analysis.

Survival analysis of surgically evacuated supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with intraventricular extension.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a survival study and evaluation of surgical treatment in a cohort of patients with diagnosis of supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included all consecutive patients with supratentorial ICH admitted to the Intensive Care Units of three Spanish hospitals with Neurosurgery Department between 2009 and 2012. DATA COLLECTED: age, APACHE-II, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), and pupillary anomalies on admission, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) score, location/volume of hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), surgical evacuation alone or with additional external ventricular drain, and 30-days survival and at hospital discharge RESULTS: A total of 263 patients were included. Mean age: 59.74±14.14 years. GCS: 8±4 points, APACHE II: 20.7±7.68 points. ICH Score: 2.32+1.04 points. Pupillary anomalies were observed in 30%. The 30-day mortality: 51.3% (45.3% predicted by ICH-score), and 53.2% at hospital discharge. A significant difference (p=0.004) was observed in hospital mortality rates between surgically treated patients (39.7%, n=78) versus those conservatively managed (58.9%, n=185); specifically in those with IVH surgically treated (34.2%, n=38) versus non-operated IVH (67.2%, n=125), p<0.001. No significant difference was found between mortality rates in patients without IVH. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed an OR for surgery of 1.04 (95% CI; 0.33-3.22) in patients without IVH versus 0.19 (95% CI; 0.07-0.53) in patients with IVH (decreased mortality with surgical treatment). The propensity score analysis for IVH patients showed improved survival of operated group (OR 0.23, 95% CI; 0.07-0.75), p=0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital mortality was lower in patients who underwent surgery compared to patients conservatively managed, specifically for the subgroup of patients with intraventricular hemorrhage.

Relationship between quality-of-life after 1-year follow-up and severity of traumatic brain injury assessed by computerized tomography.

PURPOSE: This paper studies the relationship between computed tomography (CT) scan on admission, according to Marshall's tomographic classification, and quality-of-life (QoL) after 1 year in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: This study used validated scales including the Glasgow Outcome Scale and the PAECC (Project for the Epidemiologic Analysis of Critical Care Patients) QoL questionnaire. RESULTS: We enrolled 531 patients. After 1 year, 171 patients (32.2%) had died (missing data = 6.6%). Good recovery was seen in 22.7% of the patients, while 20% presented moderate disability. The PAECC score after 1 year was 9.43 ± 8.72 points (high deterioration). Patients with diffuse injury I had a mean of 5.08 points vs 7.82 in those with diffuse injury II, 11.76 in those with diffuse injury III and 19.29 in those with diffuse injury IV (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis found that QoL after 1 year was associated with CT Marshall classification, depth of coma, age, length of stay, spinal injury and tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TBI had a high mortality rate 1 year after admission, deterioration in QoL and significant impairment of functional status, although more than 40% were normal or self-sufficient. QoL after 1 year was strongly related to cranial CT findings on admission.

Prolonged QT interval in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and mortality: new prognostic scale with QT, Killip and age.

AIMS: To analyze the relation between prolonged QT interval and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and complementarity with Killip, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II (APACHE-II) scales. METHODS: A nested cohort case-control study was conducted in a Spanish hospital. The cohort consisted of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction admitted between 2008 and 2010 (n = 524). The cases were the patients who died (n = 38) and the controls (n = 81) were a random sample of those who survived (one of every six). RESULTS: The corrected QT (QTc) interval of first ECG (prehospital-or-hospital admission) was prolonged in 18 of the 35 patients who died (51.4%) and in 12 of the controls (16.7%; P < 0.001). APACHE-II, TIMI and Killip scores were higher in the patients who had died (P < 0.001). Mortality with prolonged QTc (19.3%) was 20%, and 4.5% were with normal QTc (80.7%; P < 0.001).Logistic regression showed a relation between mortality with prolonged QTc and TIMI [odds ratio (OR) 3.57(1.16-10.97)]. A second model was constructed with APACHE-II and prolonged QTc [OR 6.47(1.77-23.59)]; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area [0.92(0.87-0.97)], and individually, for APACHE-II was 0.88 (0.81-0.95). A new score was constructed: QTc (not prolonged: 0 points, prolonged: 7 points), age (<65 years: 0 points, 65-74 years: 6 points, ≥75 years: 9 points), Killip (I: 0 points, II-III: 4 points, IV: 17 points). ROC area: 0.88. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital mortality was higher with prolonged QTc at prehospital-or-hospital admission, given equal Killip, TIMI and APACHE values. Discrimination of Killip, TIMI and APACHE values can be improved with prolonged QTc. Discrimination of a model including Killip, age and prolonged QTc is quite good. We have made a new simple prognostic scale with these variables.

Evaluation of prognostic scale Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction and Killip. An ST-elevation myocardial infarction new scale.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic systems are complex. So it is necessary to find tools, which are easy to use and have good calibration and discrimination. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Killip, Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI), and age to develop a new prognostic scale for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: The study population included all patients with STEMI consecutively admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Carlos Haya Hospital, Malaga, Spain. Top variables included are Killip and TIMI, hospital mortality, intensive care unit stay, treatment received, and care times intervals. RESULTS: The results are 806 patients; 75.6% men; age 63.11 ± 12.83 years old; TIMI, 3.57 ± 2.38; Killip I, 81.4%; and hospital mortality, 11.3%. Mortality increased in relation to age, TIMI, and Killip (P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area for TIMI is 0.832 (0.786-0.878) and Killip, 0.757 (0.698-0.822). Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction classification was associated with Killip and age by multiple linear regression. Patients were stratified into 5 groups according to Killip and age: Killip I and younger than 65 years (n = 369; mortality, 1.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1), Killip I and 65 to 75 years old (n = 173; mortality, 6.9%; OR, 5.43 [1.88-15.66]), Killip I and older than 75 years (n = 112; mortality, 18.9%; OR, 13.03 [4.69-36.21]), Killip II to III (n = 129; mortality, 31%; OR, 22.72 [12.55-85.29]), Killip IV (n = 20; mortality, 80%; OR, 291.2 [71.32-1189]). ROC area is 0.84 (0.798-0.883). We created a scale with scores based on the ß coefficient of logistical regression. CONCLUSIONS: The TIMI scale discriminated hospital mortality correctly for STEMI. It performed better than Killip alone and similar to a simple model that included age and Killip. The 2-variable model consists of a simple scale with 5 categories.

Mortality and complications in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to analyze postoperative complications, mortality, and related factors of elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: An observational, retrospective, and multicenter study of cardiac surgery patients, obtained from the ARIAM registry, was performed between 2008 and 2011. Clinical-surgical data, postoperative complications, and mortality were analyzed in a group of patients older than 75 years and in a younger group. RESULTS: A total of 4548 patients were analyzed, with 882 (19.4%) patients at least 75 years old. Elderly patients had worse functional status (New York heart Association class) and comorbidities. The complication rate was higher in the elderly group (40.4% and 33.5%, respectively; P = .0001). Mortality in the elderly was 1.1%, 12%, and 15.1% (during surgery, intensive care unit [ICU], and 30-day mortality, respectively). Thirty-day mortality in elderly patients was higher when adjusted for EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) and cardiopulmonary bypass time. The interaction between multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and age more than 75 years was assessed by logistic regression, obtaining an odds ratio of 9.27 (5.88-14.60) for younger patients and 29.44 (12.22-70.94) for elderly patients who died during the ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: Age more than 75 years is an independent risk factor for ICU mortality when adjusted for EuroSCORE and cardiopulmonary bypass time. Elderly patients also have a higher rate of complications during ICU stay. Elderly patients develop MODS more frequently and present a higher mortality rate than younger patients with MODS.

[Consequences of obesity in outcomes after cardiac surgery. Analysis of ARIAM registry]. / Consecuencias de la obesidad en los resultados de la cirugía cardiaca. Análisis del registro ARIAM.

BACKGROUND AND OBJETIVE: Obesity is a disease that affects a large part of the population and has been associated with worse outcomes after cardiac surgery. The aim of our study is to evaluate the consequences of obesity related to postoperative complications, hospital length of stay and mortality. METHODS: Observational, prospective, multicenter study of patients included in ARIAM registry of adult cardiac surgery between March 2008 to March 2011. We analyzed clinical variables, the surgical procedure, postoperative complications and mortality, comparing the group of patients with body mass index (BMI) greater or less than 30 kg/m(2). RESULTS: The study included 4,172 patients with a mean age of 64.03 (SD 12.08) years, BMI 28.53 (4.7) and EuroSCORE 5.58 (2.91). In 1,490 patients (35.7%) BMI was greater than 30. There were no differences in the development of overall postoperative complications (33% in obese and non-obese 35.8%, P=.07), although there were less appreciated reoperation rate or stroke (P<.05), as well as further development postoperative renal failure (P=.009). After adjusting for severity and length of cardio by pass time, obese patients had lower mortality without being statistically significant. OR 0.94 (0.79-1.04). There were no differences in ICU length of stay, but obese patients had greater Ward length of stay 9.04 (10.43) vs. 8.18 (9.2) days, P=.01. CONCLUSIONS: Obese patients undergoing cardiac surgery have a mortality, rate of complications and length of stay similar to non-obese. Obese patients required less reoperations but developed more frequently postoperative renal failure.