A novel risk score for severe ARDS patients undergoing ECMO after retrieval from peripheral hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in severe ARDS unresponsive to conventional protective ventilation is associated with elevated costs, resource and complications, and appropriate risk stratification of candidate patients could be useful to recognize those more likely to benefit from ECMO. We aimed to derive a new outcome prediction score for patients retrieved by our ECMO team from peripheral centers, including systematic echocardiographic evaluation before ECMO start. METHODS: Sixty-nine consecutive patients with refractory ARDS requiring ECMO transferred from peripheral centers to our ICU (a tertiary ECMO referral center), from 1 October 2009 to 31 December 2015, were assessed. RESULTS: All patients were transported on ECMO (distance, median 77, range 4-456 km) The mortality rate was 41% (28/69). Our new risk score included age ≥ 42 years, BMI < 31 kg/m2 , RV dilatation, and pH < 7.35. The proposed cut off (Youden's index method) of nine had a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 30% (AUC-ROC: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76-0.94, P < 0.001). When assessing the discriminatory ability of our risk score in the population of local patients, survivors had a mean value of 15.4 ± 8.6, whereas non-survivors showed a mean value of 20.1 ± 7.4 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our new risk score shows good discriminatory ability both in patients retrieved from peripheral centers and in those implanted at our center. This score includes variables easily available at bedside, and, for the first time, a pathophysiologic element, RV dilatation.

Pulmonary vascular dysfunction in refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome before veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vascular dysfunction has been described in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is a well-established treatment for these patients. We hypothesized that severe pulmonary vascular dysfunction and cor pulmonale identified by echocardiography before cannulation in these patients were associated with worse survival. METHODS: Echocardiography was used to identify pulmonary hypertension in 21 patients with refractory ARDS just before ECMO implantation. Survival was compared for those with and without cor pulmonale. RESULTS: In our series, the overall mortality rate was 57.1% (12/21). Echocardiographic exams were transthoracic in 5 patients (23.8%), transesophageal in 4 patients (19%), and both (transthoracic and transesophageal) in the remaining 12 patients (57.1%). In our series, six patients (28.5%) showed LV dysfunction. Acute cor pulmonale was detectable in 2 patients (9.5%), while the remaining 19 patients showed moderate pulmonary dysfunction. Survivors had a higher pre-cannulation LV ejection fraction (EF) (P = 0.02) and tricuspid annular plane excursion (P = 0.04), and lower peak systolic pulmonary artery pressures (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with refractory ARDS immediately before ECMO implantation, the prevalence of acute cor pulmonale is low (9.5%). Survival is associated with higher LVEF and lower systolic pulmonary arterial pressure. These findings support the idea that echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary artery pressure in patients with refractory ARDS before VV-ECMO implantation may have value for risk-stratification.

Comparison between single-step and balloon dilatational tracheostomy in intensive care unit: a single-centre, randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Balloon dilatational tracheostomy using the Ciaglia Blue Dolphin device has recently been introduced as a modification of the Ciaglia technique. The aim of this study was to compare the new Dolphin system with the single-step dilatational tracheostomy (Ciaglia Blue Rhino) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted to the ICU of the Emergency Department (Careggi Teaching Hospital, Florence, Italy) from January 2009 to October 2009, aged >18 years and with an indication for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT), were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were infection/injury/malignancy of the neck, thyroid gland hypertrophy, severe head injury with uncontrolled intracranial hypertension, and coagulopathy. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo PDT using either the Ciaglia Blue Rhino (n=35) or the Ciaglia Blue Dolphin technique (n=35). Groups were compared according to tracheal puncture, tracheal tube placement time, procedure-related complications, and bleeding. RESULTS: Baseline clinical data were comparable between the two groups. Median procedure time was significantly shorter in the Rhino group compared with the Dolphin group (1.5 vs 4 min, P = 0.035). The presence of limited intra-tracheal bleeding at bronchoscopy examination after 6 h from PDT was more frequent in the Dolphin group than in the Rhino group patients (68.6% vs 34.3%, respectively, P = 0.008). No major bleeding occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: PDT using the Ciaglia Blue Dolphin technique is a feasible and viable option in ICU patients, but the Rhino technique had a shorter execution time and seemed to be associated with fewer tracheal injuries.

The value of lung ultrasound monitoring in H1N1 acute respiratory distress syndrome.

We present the case of a healthy young male who developed acute respiratory failure as a result of infection with influenza A/H1N1 of swine-origin and in whom ventilatory support was optimised and recovery of lung function was monitored by the use of sequential chest ultrasound examinations. The potential pivotal role of bedside lung ultrasonography in H1N1-induced respiratory failure is discussed.

The use of Modified Early Warning Score may help anesthesists in postoperative level of care selection in emergency abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) was proposed for early identification of patients deterioration. The purpose of this study was to determine if MEWS calculation can help the anaesthesist select the correct level of care to avoid inappropriate admission to the ICU and to enhance the use of the High Dependency Unit (HDU) after emergency surgical procedures. METHODS: Emergency surgical patients admitted before MEWS application (Jan 2008-Mar 2009) were included in the control group, whereas emergency surgical patients after MEWS introduction constituted the intervention group (Apr 2009-Jan 2010). Admission diagnosis was included into three groups for data analysis: acute abdomen (intestinal occlusion, bowel perforation, intestinal ischemia), non-complicated surgery (hernia recurrence, cholecystitis, appendicitis), and blunt abdominal trauma. In intervention group, MEWS was calculated by the anaesthesists on duty before and after surgical procedure. Patients with a MEWS of 3 or 4 were transferred to the HDU, whereas a MEWS score of 5 or more was considered criteria for ICU admission. RESULTS: A total of 1082 patients were enrolled in this study. The control group was made up of 604 patients, whereas the MEWS group included 478 patients. Baseline and clinical status were comparable between groups. After MEWS introduction, HDU admissions significantly increased from 14% to 21% (P=0.0008), with a significant decrease of ICU admissions (from 11% to 5%; P=0.0010). Mortality rate analysis did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the use of a simple and reproducible score system may help in reducing ICU admissions after emergency surgery.

Reduction in deep vein thrombosis incidence in intensive care after a clinician education program.

BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a major complication in intensive care units (ICU) but dedicated guidelines on its management are still lacking. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: This study investigated the effect of a 1-year educational program for the implementation of DVT prophylaxis on the incidence of inferior limb DVT in a mixed-bed ICU that admits high-risk surgical and trauma patients, investigated during a first retrospective phase [126 patients, SAPS II score 42 (28-54)] and a following prospective phase [264 patients, SAPS II score II 41 (27-55)]. The role of baseline and time-dependent DVT risk factors in DVT occurrence was also investigated during the prospective phase. RESULTS: The educational program on implementation of DVT prophylaxis was associated with a significant decrease in DVT incidence from 11.9% to 4.5% (P < 0.01) and in the mean length of ICU stay (P < 0.01). Combined with pharmacological prophylaxis, the use of elastic compressive stockings significantly also increased in the prospective phase (P < 0.01). The duration of mechanical ventilation, vasopressor administration and neuromuscular block were significantly different between DVT-positive and DVT-negative patients (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified neuromuscular block as the strongest independent predictor for DVT incidence. CONCLUSION: One-year ICU-based educational programs on implementation of DVT prophylaxis were associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of DVT and also in the length of stay in ICU.

Anaesthesia for urological endoscopic procedures in adult outpatients.

The aim of this study was to establish whether propofol in combination with fentanyl or ketamine provides a good quality of anaesthesia and recovery time in urological endoscopic outpatient surgery. Sixty patients (ASA I-II) were assigned randomly to receive either 2.5 micrograms kg-1 fentanyl or 1 mg kg-1 ketamine. In both groups anaesthesia was induced with propofol 1.5 mg kg-1 and maintained with 7 mg kg-1 h-1. Patients breathed nitrous oxide and oxygen 3:2 spontaneously. Cardiovascular parameters were more stable after ketamine. The most important side effect was the presence of apnoea lasting longer than 60 s in 14 patients receiving fentanyl. The time to establish alertness was shorter in the ketamine group, who also had a better (P < 0.05) as well as post-anaesthetic recovery room score.

Haemodynamic and haemoximetric aspects of experimental orthotopic liver transplantation: comparison between two different doses of propofol.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of haemodynamic and gas exchange modifications using propofolnitrous oxide anaesthesia after ketamine induction during experimental orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). DESIGN: Measurements of haemodynamic and haemoximetric effects of two anaesthesiological conditions, differing each other for the different dose of propofol, performed in an experimental model characterized by temporary anhepatism followed by revascularization. SETTING: Surgical experimental laboratory of the University Hospital of Florence. ANIMALS: Thirty experimental OLT on female pigs (weight 30 +/- 2 kg) were performed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The following haemodynamic: HR, MAP, MPAP, PCWP, CI, SI, RVSWI, LVSWI, SVR, PVR, RPP and gas-exchange parameters: PaCO2, etCO2, D(aA)CO2, PaO2/PAO2, VD/VTphys, HB, PaO2, SaO2, DO2, O2ER, VO2, SvO2, VO2/DO2 relationship were evaluated. Anaesthesia was induced by ketamine and maintained by N2O and propofol infusion using 0.28 mg x kg(-1)x min(-1) (Group 1) and 0.19mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) (Group 2). During the anhepatic phase we used cavalportal-jugular by-pass (CPJ). Haemodynamic preoperative data confirmed the absence of any myocardial depressant effect at the lower dose of propofol. During the most critical stages of surgery a progressive decrease of CI associated with low values of PCWP was observed. The decrease of etCO2 during the anhepatic phase is due to the VD/VT increase following CI reduction and CO2 production decrease. VO2 decreased significantly during the anhepatic phase and successively increased during the reperfusion phase whereas CI remained low, during both surgical phases. These results demonstrated that VO2 was largely independent from DO2 because cellular O2ER gradually increased as DO2 remained constantly low, thus indicating a good cellular metabolism reuptake. The decrease of SVO2 is related to the decrease of CI and to the increase of VO2 and O2ER. CONCLUSION: The VO2/DO2 relationship showed a complete O2 supply-non-dependency suggesting an adequate cellular metabolism maintenance during the anhepatic and postanhepatic phases. According to these results, the authors suggest that propofol, within the two different anaesthesiological protocols at two different doses, surely favoured a good cellular perfusion also under low cardiac output conditions, undoubtedly contributing to the realization of stress-resistant conditions and influencing a good recovery and postoperative outcome.