Neonatal Chylothorax and Early Fluid Overload After Cardiac Surgery: Retrospective Analysis of the Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network Registry (2015-2018).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between postoperative cumulative fluid balance (FB) and development of chylothorax in neonates after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective cohort identified within the Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network (NEPHRON) Registry. SETTING: Twenty-two hospitals were involved with NEPHRON, from September 2015 to January 2018. PATIENTS: Neonates (< 30 d old) undergoing index cardiac operation with or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) entered into the NEPHRON Registry. Postoperative chylothorax was defined in the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium as lymphatic fluid in the pleural space secondary to a leak from the thoracic duct or its branches. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 2240 NEPHRON patients, 4% ( n = 89) were treated for chylothorax during postoperative day (POD) 2-21. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) time to diagnosis was 8 (IQR 6, 12) days. Of patients treated for chylothorax, 81 of 89 (91%) had CPB and 68 of 89 (76%) had Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery Congenital Heart Surgery 4-5 operations. On bivariate analysis, chylothorax patients had higher POD 1 FB (3.2 vs. 1.1%, p = 0.014), higher cumulative POD 2 FB (1.5 vs. -1.5%, p < 0.001), achieved negative daily FB by POD 1 less often (69% vs. 79%, p = 0.039), and had lower POD 1 urine output (1.9 vs. 3. 2 mL/kg/day, p ≤ 0.001) than those without chylothorax. We failed to identify an association between presence or absence of chylothorax and peak FB (5.2 vs. 4.9%, p = 0.9). Multivariable analysis shows that higher cumulative FB on POD 2 was associated with greater odds (odds ratio [OR], 95% CI) of chylothorax development (OR 1.5 [95% CI, 1.1-2.2]). Further multivariable analysis shows that chylothorax was independently associated with greater odds of longer durations of mechanical ventilation (OR 5.5 [95% CI, 3.7-8.0]), respiratory support (OR 4.3 [95% CI, 2.9-6.2]), use of inotropic support (OR 2.9 [95% CI, 2.0-4.3]), and longer hospital length of stay (OR 3.7 [95% CI, 2.5-5.4]). CONCLUSIONS: Chylothorax after neonatal cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) is independently associated with greater odds of longer duration of cardiorespiratory support and hospitalization. Higher early (POD 2) cumulative FB is associated with greater odds of chylothorax. Contemporary, prospective studies are needed to assess whether early fluid mitigation strategies decrease postoperative chylothorax development.

Fluid overload in newborns undergoing abdominal surgery: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Fluid management in newborns undergoing surgery can be challenging due to difficulties in accurately assessing volume status in context of high fluid needs perioperatively and postoperative third-space fluid loss. Fluid overload can be associated with an increase in neonatal morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the burden of fluid overload and to evaluate their associations with adverse effects among infants undergoing abdominal surgery at a tertiary perinatal center. METHODS: Patients from our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit who underwent abdominal surgery from January 2017 to June 2019 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Fluid balance was assessed based on the maximum percentage change in body weight at 3- and 7-postoperative days. RESULTS: Sixty infants were included, with a median [interquartile range] gestational age (GA) of 29 [25-36] weeks and birth weight of 1240 [721-2871] grams. The median daily actual fluid intake was significantly higher than the prescribed fluid intake in the first 7 postoperative days (163 vs. 145 mL/kg, p < .01). The median maximum change of body weight by postoperative days 3 and 7 were 6% [3-13] and 11% [5-17], respectively. A 1% increase in weight within the first 3 postoperative days was associated with a 0.6-day increase for invasive ventilatory support (p = .012). The correlation was still significant after adjusting for GA (p = .033). CONCLUSION: Fluid overload within the first 3 postoperative days was associated with an increase in ventilator support among infants. Careful attention to fluid management may affect the optimization of outcomes for newborns undergoing abdominal surgery.

McKittrick-Wheelock Syndrome: A Case Report.

An adenoma is the most typical large bowel tumor found in 30% of all screening colonoscopies. However, it is often asymptomatic but sometimes might lead to abdominal pain or bleeding of the rectum. Critical electrolyte disbalance and acute kidney injury caused by secretory diarrhea is an untypical clinical manifestation of adenoma. It has rarely been reported in the literature and is defined as McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome. A 61-year-old patient was hospitalized for heavy dyselectrolytemia, diarrhea, acute kidney injury, sepsis, and fever. After the renal function was corrected and electrolyte imbalance persisted, visual instrumental diagnostics tests revealed a large tumor in the sigmoid colon. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical resection, which exhibited evidence of tubulovillous adenoma on pathology. The atypical signs of McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome and comorbidities can make the diagnostics challenging. When severe hyponatremia and hypokalemia are followed by persistent mucous diarrhea, the clinicians should suspect MWS as a possible reason for it.

Perioperative Gelatin Use Is Associated With Increased Complication Rates and Does Not Prevent Postoperative Fluid Overload in Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The benefit of using gelatin solution in cardiac surgery is still controversial. Previous data suggested adverse interactions of gelatin infusion with acute kidney injury (AKI) or coagulopathy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between perioperative gelatin use and fluid overload (FO), hemodynamic stability, and outcomes compared to crystalloid-based fluid management. DESIGN: A retrospective study design. SETTING: At a single-center tertiary university setting. PARTICIPANTS: Propensity score-matched cohort study of 191 pairs of patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received either gelatin + crystalloid or pure crystalloid-based perioperative fluid management. The primary outcomes were the frequency of FO and hemodynamic stability defined by the vasoactive-inotropic score. Postoperative complications and 3-year survival were analyzed also. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients who received gelatin experienced more frequent postoperative FO than controls (11.0% v 3.1%, p = 0.006) despite comparable hemodynamic stability in both groups. Gelatin administration was linked with a higher rate of postoperative complications, including blood loss, AKI, and new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation. Use of gelatin infusion resulted in an adjusted odds ratio of 1.982 (95% CI 1.051-3.736, p = 0.035) for developing early postoperative AKI. This study confirmed a dose-dependent relationship between gelatin infusion and AKI. Thirty-day mortality and 3-year survival were similar in the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Gelatin administration versus crystalloid fluid management showed a significant association with a higher rate of FO and an increased risk for early postoperative AKI in a dose-dependent manner.

Fluid overload as a predictor of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients following congenital heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing congenital heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass frequently require the administration of intravenous fluids and blood products due to hemodynamic instability. Correctly performed fluid resuscitation can revert the state of tissue hypoperfusion in the different organs. However, excessive fluid administration and acute kidney injury may promote fluid overload (FO) and increase the risk of complications, hospital stay, and mortality. METHODS: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of pediatric patients with congenital heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU), Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, from July 2018 to December 2019. Fluid overload was quantified every 24 hours during the first 3 days of stay at the PCICU and expressed as a percentage. We recorded PCICU stay, days of mechanical ventilation, and mortality as outcome variables. RESULTS: We included 130 patients. The main factors associated with fluid overload were age < 1 year (p < 0.001), weight < 5 kg (p < 0.001), and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.003). Patients with fluid overload ≥ 5% had higher inotropic score (p < 0.001), higher oxygenation index (p < 0.001), and longer mechanical ventilation time (p < 0.001). Fluid overload ≥ 5% was associated with higher postoperative mortality (odds ratio 89, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Fluid overload can be used as a prognostic factor in the evolution of pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery since it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los pacientes con cirugía cardiaca congénita en la que se emplea una bomba de circulación extracorpórea frecuentemente requieren la administración de líquidos intravenosos y hemoderivados por inestabilidad hemodinámica. La resucitación con volumen realizada adecuadamente puede revertir el estado de hipoperfusión tisular en los diferentes órganos. Sin embargo, el ingreso excesivo de líquidos y la falla renal aguda pueden favorecer la sobrecarga hídrica (SH) e incrementar el riesgo de complicaciones, la estancia hospitalaria y la mortalidad. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio prospectivo longitudinal de pacientes pediátricos con cirugía del corazón y empleo de bomba de circulación extracorpórea en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Cardiovasculares (UCICV), Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, de julio 2018 a diciembre 2019. La SH, registrada como porcentaje, fue cuantificada cada 24 horas durante los primeros 3 días de estancia en UCICV. Como variables de desenlace se registraron la estancia en UCICV, el tiempo de ventilación mecánica y la mortalidad. ­. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 130 pacientes. Los principales factores asociados con la SH fueron la edad < 1 año (p < 0.001), peso < 5 kg (p < 0.001) y mayor tiempo de circulación extracorpórea (p = 0.003). Los pacientes con SH ≥ 5% presentaron mayor puntaje inotrópico (p < 0.001), mayor índice de oxigenación (p < 0.001) y mayor tiempo de ventilación mecánica (p < 0.001). La SH ≥ 5% se asoció con una mayor probabilidad de muerte en el periodo posoperatorio (razón de momios: 89, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONES: La SH puede utilizarse como factor pronóstico en la evolución de los pacientes pediátricos operados de corazón, ya que se asocia con una mayor morbimortalidad.

[Extreme electrolyte depletion associated with septic shock as a form of presentation of cystic fibrosis]. / Depleción electrolítica extrema asociada con shock séptico como forma de presentación de fibrosis quística.

In the pediatric emergency department, dehydrated children are one of the most frequent causes for consultation, however, the coexistence of hyponatremia with hypochloremia and metabolic alkalosis is rare. The presence of metabolic alkalosis due to chloride depletion has been reported as a form of presentation of Cystic Fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVE: to describe a case of cystic fibrosis of unusual presen tation in a pediatric patient. CLINICAL CASE: we report a 3-month-old previously healthy male infant who presented with internal environment abnormalities consisting of metabolic alkalosis, hypona tremia, hypokalemia, and extreme hypochloremia associated with septic shock due to mixed viral- bacterial pneumonia (Rhino/enterovirus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus). Cys tic fibrosis (CF) was suspected, thus the diagnosis was corroborated by sweat test and genetic study which showed the pathogenic variants c.2834C>T (p.Ser945Leu) and c.3484C>T (p.Arg1162X), both heterozygous. CONCLUSION: special attention should be paid to the existence of hypochloremia with metabolic alkalosis and hyponatremia associated or not with pulmonary disease, suspecting CF as the first option. This consideration becomes more relevant in those countries where the neonatal screening test is not widely available.

Risk Factors for Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in the PICU: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly of greater severity and longer duration, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. AKI frequently occurs during sepsis, yet the knowledge of risk factors for sepsis-associated AKI in the PICU is limited. We aimed to identify risk factors for AKI that develops or persists after 72 hours from sepsis recognition in pediatric patients with severe sepsis. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: PICU at an academic, tertiary-care center. PATIENTS: Children greater than 1 month and less than or equal to 18 years with severe sepsis in the combined cardiac and medical/surgical PICU between December 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020, at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The cohort included 124 patients with severe sepsis with 33 patients (27%) who were postcardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. AKI was defined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. The primary outcome was severe AKI, defined as KDIGO stage 2 or 3 AKI present at any point between days 3 and 7 after sepsis recognition. Severe AKI was present in 25 patients (20%). Factors independently associated with severe AKI were maximum vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) within 48 hours after sepsis recognition and fluid overload. The presence of severe AKI was associated with increased inhospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In children with severe sepsis, the degree of hemodynamic support as measured by the VIS and the presence of fluid overload may identify patients at increased risk of developing severe AKI.

The Extracellular Mass to Body Cell Mass Ratio as a Predictor of Mortality Risk in Hemodialysis Patients.

The extracellular mass/body cell mass ratio (ECM/BCM ratio) is a novel indicator of nutritional and hydration status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aimed to explore the ECM/BCM ratio as a predictor of mortality risk with nutritional-inflammatory markers in HD patients. A prospective observational study was conducted in 90 HD patients (male: 52.2%; DM: 25.60%). Clinical and biochemical parameters [serum albumin, serum C-reactive protein (s-CRP), interleukine-6 (IL-6)] were analysed and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was performed. Protein-energy wasting syndrome (PEW) was diagnosed using malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS). Based on BIA-derived measurements, the ECM/BCM ratio with a cut-off point of 1.20 was used as a PEW-fluid overload indicator. Comorbidity by Charlson index and hospital admissions were measured. Out of 90 HD patients followed up for 36 months, 20 patients (22.22%) died. PEW was observed in 24 survivors (34.28%) and all non-survivors. The ECM/BCM ratio was directly correlated with MIS, s-CRP, Charlson index and hospital admissions but was negatively correlated with phase angle and s-albumin (all, p < 0.001). Values of the ECM/BCM ratio ≥ 1.20 were associated with higher probability of all-cause mortality (p = 0.002). The ECM/BCM ratio ≥ 1.20, IL-6 ≥ 3.1 pg/mL, s-CRP and s-albumin ≥ 3.8 g/dL and Charlson index were significantly associated with all-cause mortality risk in multivariate adjusted analysis. This study demonstrates that the ECM/BCM ratio ≥ 1.20 as a nutritional marker and/or fluid overload indicator had a significant prognostic value of death risk in HD patients.

Fluid Accumulation After Neonatal Congenital Cardiac Operation: Clinical Implications and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the association between fluid balance metrics and mortality and other postoperative outcomes after neonatal cardiac operation in a contemporary multicenter cohort. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study across 22 hospitals in neonates (≤30 days) undergoing cardiac operation. We explored overall percentage fluid overload, postoperative day 1 percentage fluid overload, peak percentage fluid overload, and time to first negative daily fluid balance. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay. Multivariable logistic or negative binomial regression was used to determine independent associations between fluid overload variables and each outcome. RESULTS: The cohort included 2223 patients. In-hospital mortality was 3.9% (n = 87). Overall median peak percentage fluid overload was 4.9% (interquartile range, 0.4%-10.5%). Peak percentage fluid overload and postoperative day 1 percentage fluid overload were not associated with primary or secondary outcomes. Hospital resource utilization increased on each successive day of not achieving a first negative daily fluid balance and was characterized by longer duration of mechanical ventilation (incidence rate ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.08-1.14), ICU length of stay (incidence rate ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.12), and hospital length of stay (incidence rate ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.05-1.13). CONCLUSIONS: Time to first negative daily fluid balance, but not percentage fluid overload, is associated with improved postoperative outcomes in neonates after cardiac operation. Specific treatments to achieve an early negative fluid balance may decrease postoperative care durations.

Hyperchloremia is associated with poor renal outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Hyperchloremia is associated with the risks of several morbidities and mortality. However, its relationship with acute kidney injury (AKI) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains unresolved. METHODS: A total of 2977 patients undergoing CABG between 2003 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed from two tertiary hospitals. Patients were categorized by serum chloride levels into normochloremia (95-105 mmol/L), mild hyperchloremia (106-110 mmol/L), and severe hyperchloremia (> 110 mmol/L). The odds ratios (ORs) for AKI and hazard ratios (HRs) for ESRD were calculated after adjustment for multiple covariates. The death-adjusted risk of ESRD was additionally evaluated. RESULTS: Postoperative AKI occurred in 798 patients (26.5%). The hyperchloremia group had a higher risk of AKI than the normochloremia group, wherein the risk was incremental depending on the severity of hyperchloremia, as follows: ORs were 1.26 (1.06-1.51) and 1.95 (1.52-2.51) in the mild and severe hyperchloremia groups, respectively. During a median period of 7 years (maximum 15 years), 70 patients (2.3%) had ESRD. The severe hyperchloremia group was at an elevated risk of ESRD compared with the normochloremia group, with an HR of 2.43 (1.28-4.63). Even after adjusting for the competing risk of death, hyperchloremia was associated with the risk of ESRD. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative hyperchloremia is associated with poor renal outcomes such as AKI and ESRD after CABG. Accordingly, serum chloride should be monitored in patients undergoing CABG.

Fluid overload and acute kidney injury in children with tumor lysis syndrome.

AIM: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a common oncologic emergency among patients with pediatric hematologic malignancies. The mainstay of TLS management is aggressive intravenous hydration. However, the epidemiology of fluid overload (FO) and acute kidney injury (AKI) in this population is understudied. In this study, we aimed to describe the incidence, severity, and complications of FO and AKI among pediatric patients with TLS. METHODS: We completed a single-center retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with a new diagnosis of hematologic malignancy over a 10-year period. Patients with TLS were analyzed in two groups based on the severity of AKI and FO. Charts were reviewed for complications associated with AKI and FO including hypoxemia, mechanical ventilation, hyponatremia, pulmonary edema, pediatric intensive care (PICU) admission, and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT). RESULTS: We analyzed 56 patients with TLS for FO and AKI. We found severe FO (≥10%) occurred in 35.7% (n = 20). PICU admission occurred in 35% of patients with severe FO compared to 8.3% in those with mild/moderate FO <10% (p = .013). Complications of hypoxemia (30% vs. 5.6%, p = .012) and pulmonary edema (25% vs. 2.8%, p = .010) were more common among those with severe FO. AKI occurred in 37.5% (n = 21) patients and resulted in a significant increase in PICU admission and requirement for RRT (p = .001 and <.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results show FO and AKI are common, and often unrecognized complications of TLS associated with increased morbidity. Prospective, multicenter studies are needed to further dissect the burden of FO and AKI within this vulnerable population.

Alterações hidroeletrolíticas em pessoas com cirrose / Hydroelectrolytic alterations in cirrhotic patients

O objetivo deste estudo foi evidenciar e discutir as principais alterações hidroeletrolíticas em pessoas com cirrose. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, de natureza qualitativa. Os artigos foram selecionados por meio da plataforma Medical Literature Analysis and Retrievel System Online. Os principais achados identificados a partir dos artigos selecionados foram a ocorrência de hiponatremia, o mau prognóstico diante da presença de distúrbios hidroeletrolíticos em relação à sobrevida em pessoas com cirrose e a importância da albumina. Indivíduos com cirrose são suscetíveis ao desenvolvimento de distúrbios hidroeletrolíticos devido às mudanças fisiopatológicas da doença e às condições clínicas apresentadas. A hiponatremia e a hipocalemia são os mais recorrentes, destacando, porém, a necessidade de atenção aos demais distúrbios. (AU)

The objective of this study was to show and discuss the main hydroelectrolytic alterations in cirrhotic patients. This is an integrative review, a qualitative study, in which articles were selected at the Medical literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online. The main findings identified in the articles selected were the occurrence of hyponatremia, the poor prognostic, due to the presence of hydroelectrolytic disorders, regarding cirrhotic individuals survival and the importance of albumin. Individuals with cirrhosis are susceptible to the development of hydroelectrolytic disorders due to the pathophysiological alterations of the disease and because of the clinical status presented. Hyponatremia and hypokalemia are the most recurrent, but attention shall be given to the other disorders too. (AU)

Prognostic factors, symptoms and consequences of dehydration and dyselectrolytemia in patients with terminal stomach cancer.

BACKGROUND: Dyselectrolytaemia and dehydration are common symptoms in people with terminal stomach cancer. AIMS: To determine factors related to dyselectrolytemia and dehydration in patients with terminal stomach cancer. METHODS: An analysis of 134 patients with terminal stomach cancer admitted to the palliative care unit was conducted, through an audit of the patients' medical records. The average age of women was 63.1 years and that of men was 64.9 years. FINDINGS: Dehydrated patients were more likely to: have dyselectrolytaemia; have a higher PS scale score; be taking opioids as an analgesic; have a high sodium concentration; experience dyspnoea, constipation, nausea and vomiting during hospitalisation; and require glucocorticoids administration both during and before hospitalisation. Patients with dyselectrolytaemia were more likely to: be admitted to the palliative care unit from the emergency department; experience cachexia and dehydration during hospitalisation and constipation at discharge; have a lower albumin level; and have a higher glucose level. Patients with dyselectrolytaemia also had a shorter duration of treatment and a 2.48 greater chance for death compared with those who did not have it. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the adverse factors connected with dehydration and dyselectrolytaemia will allow health professionals to avoid dangerous clinical symptoms and prolong the life of those with terminal stomach cancer, as they might be able to foresee the occurrence of these conditions based on the medication the patient has been taking and symptoms they have been experiencing. Nurses will have a greater understanding of the importance of fluid therapy to resolve ionic disturbances and the need to address dehydration and dyselectrolytemia as a means to prolong and improve quality of life.

11C-Metomidate PET/CT Detected Multiple Ectopic Adrenal Rest Tumors in a Woman With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

CONTEXT: Women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) may present with androgen excess that is difficult to control with conventional suppressive doses of glucocorticoids. Clinical management is challenging, and the woman is at great risk of developing steroid-induced complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 32-year-old woman with salt-wasting CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency underwent right-sided adrenalectomy because of a large myelolipoma. Over the years, androgens became increasingly difficult to suppress on prednisolone 5 + 0 + 2.5 mg daily, and at age 39 years the left adrenal with an enlarging myelolipoma was removed. A month later serum testosterone levels had increased from 4.1 preoperatively to 18.3 nmol/L (reference 0.2-1.8 nmol/L), and adrenocorticotropin levels from 32 to 283 pmol/L (reference < 14 pmol/L). No adrenal parenchyma was visualized on computed tomography (CT). In the further search for the source of the markedly elevated testosterone, positron emission tomography (PET) was performed with 2 different tracers, 18fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) reflecting glucose metabolism and 11C-metomidate, an inhibitor of 11-ß-hydroxylase targeting adrenocortical tissue. RESULTS: 18FDG-PET/CT with cosyntropin stimulation showed ovarian/paraovarian hypermetabolism, suggestive of adrenal rest tumors. Further characterization with 11C-metomidate PET/CT showed uptakes localized to the ovaries/adnexa, behind the spleen, and between the right crus diaphragmaticus and inferior vena cava. CONCLUSION: Adrenal rest tumors can give rise to high androgen levels in spite of suppressive supraphysiological glucocorticoid doses. This case illustrates, for the first time, the value of 11C-metomidate PET as a sensitive method in documenting adrenal rest tumors, currently considered rare in women with CAH.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Childhood Hematological/Oncological Diseases: Multicenter Results.

The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) cases treated at 10 different institutions in our country. Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with PRES were included in this study. The data of PRES cases from 10 departments of pediatric hematology/oncology were analyzed. The mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis of PRES was 8.95±3.66 years. Most patients (80.4%) had a primary diagnosis of acute leukemia. Patients received chemotherapy (71.4%) and/or used steroids within 14 days before the diagnosis of PRES (85.7%). Hypertension was found in 83.9% of the patients. Twenty-six patients had infections and 22 of them had febrile neutropenia. The most common electrolyte disorders were hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypopotassemia. Six patients had tumor lysis syndrome and 4 had inappropriate antidiuretic hormone syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging was used for diagnosis in all patients. The most commonly involved regions by magnetic resonance imaging were occipital (58%), parietal (51%), and frontal lobes (45%), respectively. Twenty-five patients required intensive care and 7 patients were intubated. In conclusion, PRES may develop during the follow-up and treatment of hematological diseases. In addition to steroid and intense combined chemotherapies, immunosuppressive agents and hypertension are also factors that may be responsible for PRES.

Incidental COVID-19 in a heart-kidney transplant recipient with malnutrition and recurrent infections: Implications for the SARS-CoV-2 immune response.

The clinical course and outcomes of immunocompromised patients, such as transplant recipients, with COVID-19 remain unclear. It has been postulated that a substantial portion of the disease burden seems to be mediated by the host immune activation to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Herein, we present a simultaneous heart-kidney transplant (SHKT) recipient who was hospitalized for the management of respiratory failure from volume overload complicated by failure to thrive, multiple opportunistic infections, and open non-healing wounds in the setting of worsening renal dysfunction weeks prior to the first case of SARS-CoV-2 being detected in the state of Connecticut. After his third endotracheal intubation, routine nucleic acid testing (NAT) for SARS-CoV-2, in anticipation of a planned tracheostomy, was positive. His hemodynamics, respiratory status, and ventilator requirements remained stable without any worsening for 4 weeks until he had a negative NAT test. It is possible that the immunocompromised status of our patient may have prevented significant immune activation leading up to clinically significant cytokine storm that could have resulted in acute respiratory distress syndrome and multisystem organ failure.

Dialysis patients who smoke are more hypertensive, more fluid overloaded and take more antihypertensive medications than nonsmokers.

Background: Smoking remains a powerful risk factor for death in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and so is the presence of fluid overload. The relationship between smoking, blood pressure (BP) control and volume overload is insufficiently explored in patients on maintenance dialysis.Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study, utilizing existing patients' data generated during routine ESRD care, including bimonthly protocol bioimpedance fluid assessment of the volume status.Results: We analyzed the data of 63 prevalent patients receiving thrice weekly maintenance hemodiafiltration treatments at one rural dialysis unit in Hungary. The cohort's mean ± SD age was 61.5 ± 15.3 years; 65% male, 38% diabetic, with a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) 99.5 ± 16.8 mmHg and Charlson score 3.79 ± 2.04. Of these, 38 patients were nonsmokers and 25 smokers. The nonsmokers' MAP was 94.3 ± 14.0 versus smokers' 105.9 ± 18.9 mmHg (p: .002); nonsmokers took an average 0.73 ± 0.92 antihypertensive medications vs. 1.73 ± 1.21 for smokers (p: .0001). The distribution of taking more antihypertensive medications is skewed toward a higher number among the smokers (2x5 chi square p: .004). By bioimpedance spectroscopy, nonsmokers had an average 10.93 ± 7.65 percent overhydration (OH) over the extracellular space compared to 17.63 ± 8.98 in smokers (p: .005).Conclusions: Smoking may be a significant mediator of not only BP but also of chronic fluid overload in ESRD patents. Additional, larger studies are needed to explore the mechanistic link between smoking and volume overload.

Anesthetic Considerations for Patients on Renal Replacement Therapy.

The number of patients presenting for surgery with renal dysfunction requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) is expected to increase as the population ages and improvements in therapy continue to be made. Every aspect of the perioperative period is affected by renal dysfunction, its associated comorbidities, and altered physiology secondary to RRT. Most alarming is the increased risk for perioperative cardiac morbidity and mortality seen in this population. Perioperative optimization and management aims to minimize these risks; however, few definite guidelines on how to do so exist.

Collapse of Fluid Balance and Association with Survival in Patients with Advanced Cancer Admitted to a Palliative Care Unit: Preliminary Findings.

Background: Few studies have investigated water balance as a predictor of survival in cancer patients in the last days of life. Objective: To examine the association between extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), ratio of ECW to ICW (ECW/ICW), and survival in nonedematous and edematous patients with advanced cancer admitted to a palliative care unit. Design: A prospective observational study. Setting/Subjects: Patients with advanced cancer admitted to a palliative care unit. Measurements: Upon enrollment, bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess ECW, ICW, and body composition. We conducted time-to-event analyses using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results: A total of 190 of 204 patients who participated in this study had ICW and ECW measures available for analysis. The median survival was 10 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 9-12) days. The median ECW, ICW, and ECW/ICW were 18.9 L, 19.1 L, and 1.0 for 72 nonedematous patients, and 21.9 L, 20.1 L, and 1.1 for 118 edematous patients, respectively. In univariate Cox regression analysis, ICW ≤20 L was associated with a shorter survival in the nonedematous patients (hazard ratio [HR] 1.92, 95% CI 1.10-3.34, p = 0.02) and a longer survival in the edematous patients (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41-0.90, p = 0.01). In multivariable analysis, ICW (≤20 L vs. >20 L) remained an independent prognostic factor in edematous patients (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43-0.95, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Greater ICW was an independent predictor of poorer survival in cancer patients with edema in the last days of life.

Hypervolemia does not cause degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx layer during open hysterectomy performed under sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Fluid-induced hypervolemia may stimulate the release of natriuretic peptides and cause degradation (shedding) of the endothelial glycocalyx layer. Sevoflurane is believed to protect the glycocalyx, but the importance of using sevoflurane to prevent shedding during routine surgery is unclear. METHODS: The plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide and two biomarkers of glycocalyx shedding, syndecan-1, and heparan sulfate, were measured in 26 patients randomized to receive general anesthesia with sevoflurane or propofol during open abdominal hysterectomy. The fluid therapy consisted of 25 mL/kg (approximately 2 L) of Ringer´s lactate over 30 minutes. Blood hemoglobin and plasma albumin were used to indicate plasma volume expansion and capillary leakage. RESULTS: The plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide and shedding products showed low levels throughout the surgery (median brain natriuretic peptide, 21 ng/L; syndecan-1, 12.9 ng/mL; and heparan sulfate, 6.5 µg/mL), but the heparan sulfate concentration increased 2 hours post-operatively (to 17.3 µg/mL, P < .005). No differences were noted between the propofol and sevoflurane groups in any of the measured parameters. Albumin was apparently recruited to the bloodstream during the first 20 minutes, when the intravascular retention of infused fluid was almost 100%. The urine flow was <1 mL/min, despite the vigorous volume loading. CONCLUSIONS: No relevant elevations of brain natriuretic peptide or degradation products of the glycocalyx layer were observed when hypervolemia was induced during open abdominal hysterectomy performed with sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia. Plasma volume expansion from Ringer´s lactate was pronounced.