Dynamic prediction of the need for renal replacement therapy in intensive care unit patients using a simple and robust model.

We aimed at identifying a model that dynamically predicts future need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and can easily be implemented for online monitoring at the bedside. 7290 interdisciplinary ICU admissions were investigated. Patients with <3 days of stay or RRT in the first 2 days were excluded. 1624 of the remaining 2625 patients had a normal serum creatinine at admission. Every second of these 1624 patients was used for model calibration whereas the other half and, in addition, the 1001 patients with elevated serum creatinine were exclusively used for validation. Discriminant analysis was used to determine and validate a combination of clinical parameters that predicts the need for RRT 72 h ahead. Based on the calibration sample, stepwise discriminant analysis selected the serum values of (1) current urea, (2) current lactate, (3) the ratio of current and admission serum creatinine, and (4) the mean urine output of the previous 24 h. In the validation datasets, the model reached areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.866 and 0.833 in patients with normal and elevated serum creatinine at admission, respectively. Moreover, the model's predictive value extended to at least 5 days prior to initiation of RRT and exceeded that of the RIFLE classification at all investigated prediction intervals. We identified a robust model that dynamically predicts the future need for RRT successfully. This tool may help improve timing of therapy and prognosis in ICU patients.

Clinical aspects of ballistic peripheral nerve injury: shrapnel versus gunshot.

OBJECTIVES: Ballistic injuries to peripheral nerves pose special challenges in terms of indications, timing and type of surgical intervention. The aim of the present work was to analyze our experience in the surgical treatment of peripheral nerve ballistic injuries with respect to the mechanism of injury (gunshot versus shrapnel), and identify common and dissimilar prognostic factors in both types of injury. METHODS: This study was conducted on 42 patients totaling 58 nerves. Twenty-two patients (32 nerves) were injured by gunshot and 20 patients (26 nerves) by shrapnel. Median postoperative follow-up was 33 months (range 12 months to 14 years). RESULTS: Overall postoperative outcome appears to be more favorable for gunshot-wound (GSW) patients than shrapnel-injured patients, especially in terms of neuropathic pain relief (75 % vs. 58 % respectively, p < 0.05). Presence of foreign particles in shrapnel injured patients has a negative impact on the surgical outcome in terms of rate of pain improvement (28 % compared to 67 % in patients with and without foreign particles, respectively). Nerve graft reconstruction, rather than neurolysis, seems to be the more beneficial treatment for shrapnel-induced neuropathic pain (100 % vs. 47 % in improvement rate, respectively). Early surgical intervention (median 2 months after injury) significantly relieved neuropathic pain in 83 % of shrapnel-injured patients compared to 58 % in patients operated later. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that shrapnel injury is more destructive for nerve tissue than gunshot injury. Our impression is that early surgical intervention in shrapnel injuries and split nerve grafting (especially when small fragments are recognized in the nerve) significantly improve the patient's functional activity and quality of life.

Predicting the need for blood transfusion in patients with hip fractures.

PURPOSE: The need for perioperative blood management measures aimed at improving patient outcomes and reducing allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) is increasingly recognised. Our study aim is to create an algorithm to predict and manage the need for blood transfusion in patients with hip fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 1,484 patients with hip fractures and analysed the probability of receiving an ABT within 72 hours of admission. Univariate, multiple logistic regression analysis and a probability algorithm for predicting the need for blood transfusion on the basis of independent multivariate predictors were used. RESULTS: Significant predictors for ABT were: older age; lower haemoglobin on admission; female gender; type of surgical implant (cephalomedullary nail and dynamic hip screw more than hemiarthroplasty); and a shorter wait time from admission to surgery. A regression model algorithm correctly predicted the need for an ABT in 73 % of the cases. CONCLUSION: An algorithm and a simple clinical tool were devised to predict and manage the need for a blood transfusion within 72 hours of admission in patients with hip fractures.

Preemptive analgesia in hip arthroscopy: intra-articular bupivacaine does not improve pain control after preoperative peri-acetabular blockade.

INTRODUCTION: Literature addressing postoperative pain management after hip arthroscopy is relatively scarce. This study aimed to assess if there was added analgesic benefit associated with postoperative intra-articular bupivacaine blockade for patients who received preoperative peri-acetabular blockade for hip arthroscopy procedures. METHODS: 52 patients were included in this comparative cohort study. Group 1 consisted of 20 patients who received preoperative peri-acetabular blockade and postoperative intra-articular blockade. The control group (Group 2), consisted of 32 patients who received only preoperative peri-acetabular blockade. Postoperative pain was recorded via visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, analgesic consumption, and pain diaries for 2 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Postoperative VAS pain scores were significantly lower in the experimental group at the 30-minute recovery room assessment (VAS scores Group 1: 1.1; Group 2: 3.00, p = 0.034). Other than the 30-minute recovery room assessment, VAS pain scores, narcotic medication consumption, and non-narcotic analgesic consumption did not differ between the 2 groups at any time point in the study period. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not demonstrate significant clinical benefit for patients who receive postoperative intra-articular blockade in addition to preoperative peri-acetabular blockade with bupivacaine 0.5%. We recommend the use of preoperative peri-acetabular bupivacaine blockade without intra-articular blockade postoperatively for pain control in the setting of hip arthroscopy surgery.

Survival with intact cerebral function after gunshot injury to both internal carotid arteries.

A 24-year-old man was admitted after sustaining a single gunshot wound to the neck with an expanding hematoma on the left. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated bilateral internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysms, with disruption of flow on the left and a carotid-jugular fistula on the right. At operation, transection of the left internal carotid artery necessitated ligation of the artery. No injuries to the trachea or larynx were found, but the pharynx was lacerated and was repaired. The patient was transferred to the angiography suite where a stent graft was placed in the right internal carotid artery. This served to close the pseudoaneurysm and the arteriovenous fistula while preserving distal flow. The patient recovered with intact cerebral function and with mild paresis of the tongue related to hypoglossal nerve injury. He was discharged home after 7 days.