Impact of immunosuppression on incidence, aetiology and outcome of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections.

The aim of this planned analysis of the prospective multinational TAVeM database was to determine the incidence, aetiology and impact on outcome of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI) in immunocompromised patients.All patients receiving mechanical ventilation for >48 h were included. Immunocompromised patients (n=663) were compared with non-immunocompromised patients (n=2297).The incidence of VA-LRTI was significantly lower among immunocompromised than among non-immunocompromised patients (16.6% versus 24.2%; sub-hazard ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.53-0.80; p<0.0001). Similar results were found regarding ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (7.3% versus 11.6%; sub-hazard ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.45-0.84; p=0.002) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (9.3% versus 12.7%; sub-hazard ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.54-0.95; p=0.019). Among patients with VA-LRTI, the rates of multidrug-resistant bacteria (72% versus 59%; p=0.011) and intensive care unit mortality were significantly higher among immunocompromised than among non-immunocompromised patients (54% versus 30%; OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.78-4.02; p<0.0001). In patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, mortality rates were higher among immunocompromised than among non-immunocompromised patients (64% versus 34%; p<0.001).Incidence of VA-LRTI was significantly lower among immunocompromised patients, but it was associated with a significantly higher mortality rate. Multidrug-resistant pathogens were more frequently found in immunocompromised patients with VA-LRTI.

Impacto de perdigón sobre el corazón: dos casos consecutivos tratados en forma conservadora / Conservative Management of Projectile Impact on the Heart: Two Consecutive Cases / Conservative Management of Projectile Impact on the Heart: Two Consecutive Cases

Esporádicamente se presentan en la práctica clínica casos de heridas por arma de fuego que afectan el corazón, el pericardio y los grandes vasos. En el caso concreto de España, la afición a la caza hace que se atiendan pacientes con impacto de perdigones por accidente. El tratamiento de este tipo de traumatismo no está estandarizado, debido fundamentalmente a los pocos afectados tratados en cada centro particular. En esta presentación se describen dos casos consecutivos atendidos en nuestra institución por impacto de perdigón sobre estructuras cardíacas y cuya evolución fue satisfactoria con tratamiento conservador.

Cardiac shotgun injuries affecting the heart, pericardium and great vessels are occasionally encountered in clinical practice. Specifically in Spain, pellet wounds from hunting accidents have increased. The treatment of these injuries is not standardized due to the small number of cases attended in each particular center. We present two consecutive cases of cardiac pellet-gun related injuries treated in our institution with a conservative approach, with favorable outcomes.