Outcomes in Critically Ill Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Recipients.

RATIONALE: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) recipients are still believed to be poor candidates for intensive care unit (ICU) management. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We investigated outcomes and determinants of mortality in a large multicenter retrospective cohort of Allo-HSCT patients admitted between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2020 to 14 French ICUs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One thousand one hundred and sixty-four patients were admitted throughout the study period. At the time of ICU admission, 765 (66%) patients presented multiple organ dysfunction, including acute respiratory failure in 40% (n=461). Median SOFA was 6 (4-8). Invasive mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy and vasopressors were required in 438 (38%), 221 (19%) and 468 (41%) patients respectively. ICU mortality was 26% (302 deaths). Day-90, 1-year and 3-year mortality rates were 48%, 63%, and 70%, respectively. By multivariable analysis, age >56 years (OR 2·0 [1·53-2·60], p<0·001), time from Allo-HSCT to ICU admission between 30 and 90 days (OR 1·68 [1·17-2·40], p=0·005), corticosteroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (OR 1·63 [1·38-1·93], p<0·001), need for vasopressors (OR 1·9 [1·42-2·55], p<0·001), and mechanical ventilation (OR 3·1 [2·29-4·18], p<0·001) were independently associated with day-90 mortality. In patients requiring mechanical ventilation, mortality rates ranged from 39% (no other risk factors for mortality) to 100% (4 associated risk factors for mortality). CONCLUSIONS: Most critically ill Allo-HSCT recipients survive their ICU stay, including those requiring mechanical ventilation, with an overall day-90 survival rate reaching 51.8%. A careful assessment of goals of care is required in patients with ≥ 2 risk factors for mortality.

Systemic corticosteroids for the treatment of acute episodes of rhabdomyolysis in lipin-1-deficient patients.

Mutations in the LPIN1 gene constitute a major cause of severe rhabdomyolysis (RM). The TLR9 activation prompted us to treat patients with corticosteroids in acute conditions. In patients with LPIN1 mutations, RM and at-risk situations that can trigger RM have been treated in a uniform manner. Since 2015, these patients have also received intravenous corticosteroids. We retrospectively compared data on hospital stays by corticosteroid-treated patients vs. patients not treated with corticosteroids. Nineteen patients were hospitalized. The median number of admissions per patient was 21 overall and did not differ when comparing the 10 corticosteroid-treated patients with the 9 patients not treated with corticosteroids. Four patients in the non-corticosteroid group died during a RM (mean age at death: 5.6 years). There were no deaths in the corticosteroid group. The two groups did not differ significantly in the number of RM episodes. However, for the six patients who had RM and occasionally been treated with corticosteroids, the median number of RM episodes was significantly lower when intravenous steroids had been administered. The peak plasma creatine kinase level and the area under the curve were or tended to be higher in patients treated with corticosteroids-even after the exclusion of deceased patients or focusing on the period after 2015. The median length of stay (10 days overall) was significantly longer for corticosteroid-treated patients but was similar after the exclusion of deceased patients. The absence of deaths and the higher severity of RM observed among corticosteroid-treated patients could suggest that corticotherapy is associated with greater survival.

Prevalence, characteristics and outcome of cardiac manifestations in critically-ill antiphospholipid syndrome patients.

AIMS: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare autoimmune disease defined by thrombotic events occurring in patients with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies. Cardiac manifestations in critically-ill APS patients are poorly investigated. We conducted a study to assess the prevalence, the characteristics and the prognosis of cardiac manifestations in thrombotic APS patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS AND RESULTS: A French, national, multicentre, retrospective study, conducted, from January 2000 to September 2018, including all APS patients admitted to 24 participating centres' ICUs with any new thrombotic (arterial, venous or microvascular) manifestation. Cardiac manifestations were defined as any new cardiac abnormalities relying on clinical examination, cardiac biomarkers, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and coronarography. One hundred and thirty-six patients (female 72%) were included. Mean age at ICU admission was 46 ± 15years. Cardiac manifestations were present in 71 patients (53%). In patients with cardiac involvement, median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 40% [28-55], troponin was elevated in 93% patients, coronary angiogram (n = 19, 27%) disclosing a coronary obstruction in 21%. CMR (n = 21) was abnormal in all cases, with late gadolinium enhancement in 62% of cases. Cardiac manifestations were associated with a non-significant increase of mortality (32% vs. 19%, p = 0.08). After 1-year follow-up, median LVEF was 57% [44-60] in patients with cardiac involvement. CONCLUSION: Cardiac involvement is frequent in critically-ill thrombotic APS patients and may be associated to more severe outcome. Increased awareness on this rare cause of myocardial infarction with or without obstructive coronary artery is urgently needed.

Poor outcome and high prevalence of invasive fungal infections in patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma exposed to zidovudine and interferon alfa.

Patients treated for adult T-Cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) have a poor prognosis and are prone to infectious complications which are poorly described. As the French reference center for ATL, we retrospectively analyzed 47 consecutive ATL (acute, n = 23; lymphoma, n = 14; chronic, n = 8; smoldering, n = 2) patients between 2006 and 2016 (median age 51 years, 96% Afro-Caribbean origin). The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 15.8%, 11.3%, and 85.7% for acute, lymphoma, and indolent (chronic and smoldering) forms respectively. Among aggressive subtypes, 20 patients received, as frontline therapy, high dose of zidovudine and interferon alfa (AZT-IFN⍺) resulting in an overall response rate (ORR) of 39% (complete response [CR] 33%) and 17 chemotherapy resulting of an ORR of 59% (CR 50%). Ninety-five infections occurred in 38 patients, most of whom had an acute subtype (n = 73/95; 77%). During their follow-up, patients receiving frontline chemotherapy or frontline AZT-IFNα developed infections in 74% (n = 14/19) and 89% (n = 24/27) of the cases respectively. Sixty-four (67%) of infections were microbiologically documented. Among them, invasive fungal infections (IFI, n = 11) included 2 Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, 5 invasive aspergillosis, and 4 yeast fungemia. IFI exclusively occurred in patients with acute subtype mostly exposed to AZT-IFNα (n = 10/11) and experiencing prolonged (> 10 days) grade 4 neutropenia. Patients with aggressive subtype experiencing IFI had a lower OS than those who did not (median OS 5.4 months versus 18.4 months, p = 0.0048). ATL patients have a poor prognosis even in the modern era. Moreover, the high rate of infections impacts their management especially those exposed to AZT-IFNα.

Vascular access for optimal hematopoietic stem cell collection.

BACKGROUND: Autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) is increasingly used to treat patients with hematologic disorders. Different types of vascular access have been exploited for the apheresis procedure, including peripheral veins (PV) and central venous catheter (CVC). In some cases, PV access is unavailable. There are few published data on the efficiency and quality of harvesting with different types of vascular access. This study brings out complications and morbidity of this procedure linked to these different access. METHODS: We performed a comparative, retrospective, single-center study of hematopoietic stem cell collection using these two types of vascular access. We compared the efficiency and complication rate for 617 adults apheresis sessions in 401 patients and healthy donors, for PBSC collection via PV or CVC between 2010 and 2016. The quality of the HSC product was evaluated in terms of the total CD34 + count and neutrophil contamination. RESULTS: The PV and CVC groups did not differ significantly in terms of the quality of the apheresis product, mean ± SD CD34 + cells collected in PV group was 383.1 ± 402.7 × 10e6 and 298.8 ± 372.7 × 10e6 and the level of neutrophil contamination was 21.0 ± 17.8% in the PV group and 20.6 ± 18.4% in the CVC group. The complication rate did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The type of vascular access for apheresis hematopoietic stem cell harvesting must be determined by trained staff. Successful harvesting can be performed via PV then CVC is not needed or not available.

CAPS criteria fail to identify most severely-ill thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome patients requiring intensive care unit admission.

PURPOSE: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), the most severe manifestation of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), is characterised by simultaneous thromboses in multiple organs. Diagnosing CAPS can be challenging but its early recognition and management is crucial for a favourable outcome. This study was undertaken to evaluate the frequencies, distributions and ability to predict mortality of "definite/probable" or "no-CAPS" categories of thrombotic APS patients requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: This French national multicentre retrospective study, conducted from January 2000 to September 2018, included all APS patients with any new thrombotic manifestation(s) admitted to 24 ICUs. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-four patients (male/female ratio: 0.4; mean age at admission: 45.4 ±â€¯15.0 years), who experienced 152 CAPS episodes, required ICU admission. The numbers of definite, probable or no-CAPS episodes, respectively, were: 11 (7.2%), 60 (39.5%) and 81 (53.3%). No histopathological proof of microvascular thrombosis was the most frequent reason for not being classified as definite CAPS. Overall, 35/152 (23.0%) episodes were fatal, with comparable rates for definite/probable CAPS and no CAPS (23% vs. 28.8% respectively, p = 0.4). The Kaplan-Meier curve of estimated probability of survival showed no between-group survival difference (log-rank test p = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, CAPS criteria were not associated with mortality of thrombotic APS patients requiring ICU admission. Further studies are need evaluate the adequacy of CAPS criteria for critically-ill APS patients.

Center effect in intubation risk in critically ill immunocompromised patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory failure is the leading reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission in immunocompromised patients, and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation has become a major clinical endpoint in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, data are lacking on whether intubation is an objective criteria that is used unbiasedly across centers. This study explores how this outcome varies across ICUs. METHODS: Hierarchical models and permutation procedures for testing multiple random effects were applied on both data from an observational cohort (the TRIAL-OH study: 703 patients, 17 ICUs) and a randomized controlled trial (the HIGH trial: 776 patients, 31 ICUs) to characterize ICU variation in intubation risk across centers. RESULTS: The crude intubation rate varied across ICUs from 29 to 80% in the observational cohort and from 0 to 86% in the RCT. This center effect on the mean ICU intubation rate was statistically significant, even after adjustment on individual patient characteristics (observational cohort: p value = 0.013, median OR 1.48 [1.30-1.72]; RCT: p value 0.004, median OR 1.51 [1.36-1.68]). Two ICU-level characteristics were associated with intubation risk (the annual rate of intubation procedure per center and the time from respiratory symptoms to ICU admission) and could partly explain this center effect. In the RCT that controlled for the use of high-flow oxygen therapy, we did not find significant variation in the effect of oxygenation strategy on intubation risk across centers, despite a significant variation in the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: Intubation rates varied considerably among ICUs, even after adjustment on individual characteristics.

Determinants of Lactic Acidosis in Acute Cyanide Poisonings.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the magnitude of lactic acidosis in response to cyanide poisoning compared with the secondary response caused by cardiovascular shock. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control observational study. SETTING: University Hospital of Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris. SUBJECTS: Patients admitted for suspicion of cyanide poisoning or drug overdose. Medical charts provided by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris of patients between January 1988 and December 2015. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twelve cyanide poisoned patients were matched to 48 controls by age, sex, systolic blood pressure, catecholamine administration, and outcome at discharge from ICU. Extracted data included age, sex, vital signs, symptoms, biochemical parameters, toxicological analysis, treatment, and outcome. Non-parametric tests were used. Multivariable analysis was used to adjust for confounders causing hyperlactacidemia. The median blood lactate concentration was significantly greater in the cyanide group (15.6 mmol/L) compared to the control group (4.1 mmol/L; p = 0.0003). Similarly, blood lactate concentration greater than or equal to 8 mmol/l was observed in 83% of the cyanide cases versus 27% of the matched controls. Multivariate analysis conferred hyperlactacidemia as the lone factor which significantly predicted cyanide poisoning at an odds of 73.0 (5.7-936.1). Moreover, blood cyanide level significantly correlated with the increase of blood lactate (p = 0.0033). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the hypothesis lactic acidosis primarily results from the direct toxicity of cyanide.

Effect of High-Flow Nasal Oxygen vs Standard Oxygen on 28-Day Mortality in Immunocompromised Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure: The HIGH Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: High-flow nasal oxygen therapy is increasingly used for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). Objective: To determine whether high-flow oxygen therapy decreases mortality among immunocompromised patients with AHRF compared with standard oxygen therapy. Design, Setting, and Participants: The HIGH randomized clinical trial enrolled 776 adult immunocompromised patients with AHRF (Pao2 <60 mm Hg or Spo2 <90% on room air, or tachypnea >30/min or labored breathing or respiratory distress, and need for oxygen ≥6 L/min) at 32 intensive care units (ICUs) in France between May 19, 2016, and December 31, 2017. Interventions: Patients were randomized 1:1 to continuous high-flow oxygen therapy (n = 388) or to standard oxygen therapy (n = 388). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was day-28 mortality. Secondary outcomes included intubation and mechanical ventilation by day 28, Pao2:Fio2 ratio over the 3 days after intubation, respiratory rate, ICU and hospital lengths of stay, ICU-acquired infections, and patient comfort and dyspnea. Results: Of 778 randomized patients (median age, 64 [IQR, 54-71] years; 259 [33.3%] women), 776 (99.7%) completed the trial. At randomization, median respiratory rate was 33/min (IQR, 28-39) vs 32 (IQR, 27-38) and Pao2:Fio2 was 136 (IQR, 96-187) vs 128 (IQR, 92-164) in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Median SOFA score was 6 (IQR, 4-8) in both groups. Mortality on day 28 was not significantly different between groups (35.6% vs 36.1%; difference, -0.5% [95% CI, -7.3% to +6.3%]; hazard ratio, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.24]; P = .94). Intubation rate was not significantly different between groups (38.7% vs 43.8%; difference, -5.1% [95% CI, -12.3% to +2.0%]). Compared with controls, patients randomized to high-flow oxygen therapy had a higher Pao2:Fio2 (150 vs 119; difference, 19.5 [95% CI, 4.4 to 34.6]) and lower respiratory rate after 6 hours (25/min vs 26/min; difference, -1.8/min [95% CI, -3.2 to -0.2]). No significant difference was observed in ICU length of stay (8 vs 6 days; difference, 0.6 [95% CI, -1.0 to +2.2]), ICU-acquired infections (10.0% vs 10.6%; difference, -0.6% [95% CI, -4.6 to +4.1]), hospital length of stay (24 vs 27 days; difference, -2 days [95% CI, -7.3 to +3.3]), or patient comfort and dyspnea scores. Conclusions and Relevance: Among critically ill immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure, high-flow oxygen therapy did not significantly decrease day-28 mortality compared with standard oxygen therapy. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02739451.

The Clinical Picture of Severe Systemic Capillary-Leak Syndrome Episodes Requiring ICU Admission.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic capillary-leak syndrome is a very rare cause of recurrent hypovolemic shock. Few data are available on its clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and outcomes of those patients requiring ICU admission. This study was undertaken to describe the clinical pictures and ICU management of severe systemic capillary-leak syndrome episodes. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS: This multicenter retrospective analysis concerned patients entered in the European Clarkson's disease (EurêClark) Registry and admitted to ICUs between May 1992 and February 2016. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-nine attacks occurring in 37 patients (male-to-female sex ratio, 1.05; mean ± SD age, 51 ± 11.4 yr) were included. Among 34 patients (91.9%) with monoclonal immunoglobulin G gammopathy, 20 (58.8%) had kappa light chains. ICU-admission hemoglobin and proteinemia were respectively median (interquartile range) 20.2 g/dL (17.9-22 g/dL) and 50 g/L (36.5-58.5 g/L). IV immunoglobulins were infused (IV immunoglobulin) during 15 episodes (25.4%). A compartment syndrome developed during 12 episodes (20.3%). Eleven (18.6%) in-ICU deaths occurred. Bivariable analyses (the 37 patients' last episodes) retained Sequential Organ-Failure Assessment score greater than 10 (odds ratio, 12.9 [95% CI, 1.2-140]; p = 0.04) and cumulated fluid-therapy volume greater than 10.7 L (odds ratio, 16.8 [1.6-180]; p = 0.02) as independent predictors of hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: We described the largest cohort of severe systemic capillary-leak syndrome flares requiring ICU admission. High-volume fluid therapy was independently associated with poorer outcomes. IV immunoglobulin use was not associated with improved survival; hence, their use should be considered prudently and needs further evaluation in future studies.

Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) in the Prehospital Setting: An Illustrative Case of ECPR Performed in the Louvre Museum.

INTRODUCTION: Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) is now considered for the treatment of refractory cardiac arrest. CASE REPORT: In an urban city like Paris, extraction times of in-hospital ECPR can be long for patients presenting with refractory cardiac arrest. Using the medicalized prehospital system, we developed a possible early prehospital ECPR implementation. This case report is an example of ECPR prehospital implementation in the Louvre Museum. CONCLUSION: Patients eligible for ECPR must be selected according to strict criteria. Further research is necessary to compare prehospital and in-hospital implementation.

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.

Long-term heart function in cardiac-arrest survivors.

Purpose: To assess outcomes and predictors of long-term myocardial dysfunction after cardiac arrest (CA) of cardiac origin. Methods: We retrospectively included consecutive, single-center, prospective-registry patients who survived to hospital discharge for adult out-of-hospital and in-hospital CA of cardiac origin in 2005-2019. The primary objective was to collect the 1-year New York Heart Association Functional Class (NYHA-FC) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: Of 135 patients, 94 (72%) had their NYHA-FC determined after 1 year, including 75 (75/94, 80%) who were I, 17 (17/94, 18%) II, 2 (2/94, 2%) III, and none IV. The echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction was abnormal in 87/130 (67%) patients on day 1, 52/123 (42%) at hospital discharge, and 17/52 (33%) at 6 months. During the median follow-up of 796 [283-1975] days, 38/119 (32%) patients experienced a MACE. These events were predominantly related to acute heart failure (13/38) or ischemic cardiovascular events (16/38), with acute coronary syndrome being the most prevalent among them (8/16). Pre-CA cardiovascular disease was a risk factor for 1-year NYHA-FC > I (P = 0.01), absence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation was significantly associated with NYHA-FC > I at 1 year. Conclusion: Most patients had no heart-failure symptoms a year after adult out-of hospital or in-hospital CA of cardiac origin, and absence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation was the only treatment component significantly associated with NYHA-FC > I at 1 year. Nearly a third experienced MACE and the most common types of MACE were ischemic cardiovascular events and acute heart failure. Early left ventricular dysfunction recovered within 6 months in half the patients with available values.

Kidneys recovered from brain dead cardiac arrest patients resuscitated with ECPR show similar one-year graft survival compared to other donors.

INTRODUCTION: Among patients treated with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) as a second line of treatment for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), some may develop brain death and become eligible for organ donation. The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes of kidney grafts recovered from these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective monocentric observational study between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2017. We exclusively included patients eligible for planned donation after brainstem death and from whom at least one organ graft was retrieved and transplanted. We compared two groups of brain dead patients: those treated with ECPR for refractory OHCA (ECPR group) and a diverse group of patients who did not receive ECPR, from which only 5/23 (22%) had OHCA (control group). The primary outcome was one-year kidney graft survival. RESULTS: We included 45 patients, 23 in the control group and 22 in the ECPR group. Although patients in the ECPR group were younger and had a lower prevalence of chronic renal disease (p = 0.01), their kidney function was more severely impaired upon admission in the ICU. A total of 68 kidney grafts were retrieved, transplanted, and studied, 34 in each study group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of one-year kidney graft survival (p = 0.52). CONCLUSION: Organ transplantation from patients treated with ECPR after refractory OHCA showed one-year kidney graft survival rates comparable to those of patients not treated with ECPR.

Prognosis of critically ill immunocompromised patients with virus-detected acute respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is the leading cause of ICU admission. Viruses are increasingly recognized as a cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, but epidemiologic data are scarce. We used the Groupe de Recherche en Réanimation Respiratoire en Onco-Hématologie's database (2003-2017, 72 intensive care units) to describe the spectrum of critically ill immunocompromised patients with virus-detected ARF and to report their outcomes. Then, patients with virus-detected ARF were matched based on clinical characteristics and severity (1:3 ratio) with patients with ARF from other origins. RESULTS: Of the 4038 immunocompromised patients in the whole cohort, 370 (9.2%) had a diagnosis of virus-detected ARF and were included in the study. Influenza was the most common virus (59%), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (14%), with significant seasonal variation. An associated bacterial infection was identified in 79 patients (21%) and an invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in 23 patients (6%). The crude in-hospital mortality rate was 37.8%. Factors associated with mortality were: neutropenia (OR = 1.74, 95% confidence interval, CI [1.05-2.89]), poor performance status (OR = 1.84, CI [1.12-3.03]), and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation on the day of admission (OR = 1.97, CI [1.14-3.40]). The type of virus was not associated with mortality. After matching, patients with virus-detected ARF had lower mortality (OR = 0.77, CI [0.60-0.98]) than patients with ARF from other causes. This result was mostly driven by influenza-like viruses, namely, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and human metapneumovirus (OR = 0.54, CI [0.33-0.88]). CONCLUSIONS: In immunocompromised patients with virus-detected ARF, mortality is high, whatever the species, mainly influenced by clinical severity and poor general status. However, compared to non-viral ARF, in-hospital mortality was lower, especially for patients with detected viruses other than influenza.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for hypothermic refractory cardiac arrests in urban areas with temperate climates.

BACKGROUND: Accidental hypothermia designates an unintentional drop in body temperature below 35 °C. There is a major risk of ventricular fibrillation below 28 °C and cardiac arrest is almost inevitable below 24 °C. In such cases, conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation is often inefficient. In urban areas with temperate climates, characterized by mild year-round temperatures, the outcome of patients with refractory hypothermic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) treated with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) remains uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective monocentric observational study involving patients admitted to a university hospital in Paris, France. We reviewed patients admitted between January 1, 2011 and April 30, 2022. The primary outcome was survival at 28 days with good neurological outcomes, defined as Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2. We performed a subgroup analysis distinguishing hypothermic refractory OHCA as either asphyxic or non-asphyxic. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were analysed, 15 of whom (42%) survived at 28 days, including 13 (36%) with good neurological outcomes. Within the asphyxic subgroup, only 1 (10%) patient survived at 28 days, with poor neurological outcomes. A low-flow time of less than 60 min was not significantly associated with good neurological outcomes (P = 0.25). Prehospital ECPR demonstrated no statistically significant difference in terms of survival with good neurological outcomes compared with inhospital ECPR (P = 0.55). Among patients treated with inhospital ECPR, the HOPE score predicted a 30% survival rate and the observed survival was 6/19 (32%). CONCLUSION: Hypothermic refractory OHCA occurred even in urban areas with temperate climates, and survival with good neurological outcomes at 28 days stood at 36% for all patients treated with ECPR. We found no survivors with good neurological outcomes at 28 days in submersed patients.

Prospective comparison of prognostic scores for prediction of outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: results of the AfterROSC1 multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a heterogeneous entity with multiple origins and prognoses. An early, reliable assessment of the prognosis is useful to adapt therapeutic strategy, tailor intensity of care, and inform relatives. We aimed primarily to undertake a prospective multicentric study to evaluate predictive performance of the Cardiac Arrest Prognosis (CAHP) Score as compare to historical dataset systematically collected after OHCA (Utstein style criteria). Our secondary aim was to evaluate other dedicated scores for predicting outcome after OHCA and to compare them to Utstein style criteria. METHODS: We prospectively collected data from 24 French and Belgium Intensive Care Units (ICUs) between August 2020 and June 2022. All cases of non-traumatic OHCA (cardiac and non-cardiac causes) patients with stable return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and comatose at ICU admission (defined by Glasgow coma score ≤ 8) on ICU admission were included. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at day 90 after cardiac arrest, assessed by phone interviews. A wide range of developed scores (CAHP, OHCA, CREST, C-Graph, TTM, CAST, NULL-PLEASE, and MIRACLE2) were included, and their accuracies in predicting poor outcome at 90 days after OHCA (defined as mRS ≥ 4) were determined using the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and the calibration belt. RESULTS: During the study period, 907 patients were screened, and 658 were included in the study. Patients were predominantly male (72%), with a mean age of 61 ± 15, most having collapsed from a supposed cardiac cause (64%). The mortality rate at day 90 was 63% and unfavorable neurological outcomes were observed in 66%. The performance (AUROC) of Utstein criteria for poor outcome prediction was moderate at 0.79 [0.76-0.83], whereas AUROCs from other scores varied from 0.79 [0.75-0.83] to 0.88 [0.86-0.91]. For each score, the proportion of patients for whom individual values could not be calculated varied from 1.4% to 17.4%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted to ICUs after a successfully resuscitated OHCA, most of the scores available for the evaluation of the subsequent prognosis are more efficient than the usual Utstein criteria but calibration is unacceptable for some of them. Our results show that some scores (CAHP, sCAHP, mCAHP, OHCA, rCAST) have superior performance, and that their ease and speed of determination should encourage their use. Trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04167891.

Disposition of gentamicin and amikacin in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation using a heparin-coated filter: An in vitro assessment.

Disposition of gentamicin and amikacin during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has not been addressed in in vitro models. The HLS Advanced 7.0® circuit with the Cardio Help® monitor, Getinge, was used. The 5-L central compartment (CC) was loaded with gentamicin and amikacin at a targeted concentration of 40 and 80 mg/L in the same bag prior connection to the circuit. Samples were collected in the CC, the inlet and outlet ports from 15 min to 6 h post-connection. Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed using the NeckEpur® method. Analysis of results of gentamicin and amikacin showed in the filter-pump block (i) the extremely low value of the extraction coefficients, (ii) similar values of the areas under the curve (AUCs) at the inlet and outlet ports, (iii) using the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test no significant differences of the inlet-outlet concentrations in the filter-pump. In the whole system (i) the amounts recovered in the CC at the end of the 6-h session were not significantly different from the initial values, (ii) the extremely low values of the total clearance of gentamicin and amikacin from the CC in comparison with the measured simulated blood flowrate, (iii) the lack of significant time-concentration interactions in the CC and the inlet and outlet ports. These findings allow concluding no detectable adsorption of gentamicin and amikacin occurred in the HLS Advanced 7.0 circuit.