Acute Kidney Injury in the Critically Ill Patient: A Current Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: A comprehensive review of the literature to provide a focused and thorough update on the issue of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the surgical patient. METHODS: A PubMed and Medline search was performed and keywords included AKI, renal failure, critically ill, and renal replacement therapy (RRT). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A common clinical problem encountered in critically ill patients is AKI. The recent consensus definitions for the diagnosis and classification of AKI (ie, Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, and End-stage kidney disease/Acute Kidney Injury Network) have enabled us to standardize the severity of AKI and facilitate strategies for prevention. These strategies as well as treatment modalities of AKI are discussed. We provide a concise overview of the issue of renal failure. We describe strategies for prevention including types of fluids used for resuscitation, timing of initiation of RRT, and different treatment modalities currently available for clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Acute kidney injury is a common problem in the critically ill patient and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. A standardized definition and staging system has led to improved diagnosis and understanding of the pathophysiology of AKI. There are many trials leading to improved prevention and management of the disease.

A 3-year experience with necrotizing fasciitis: favorable outcomes despite operative delays in a busy acute care hospital.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare severe soft tissue infection that has historically been associated with high mortality. We sought to evaluate our experience with necrotizing fasciitis focusing on outcomes based on timing of operative intervention. Our study hypothesis was that delays in surgical management would negatively impact outcomes. Fifty-four patients were identified for a retrospective chart review from January 2008 to January 2011. Data analysis included demographics, admission laboratory values, imaging results, examination findings, timing and nature of operations, length of stay (LOS), and outcomes. Surgical intervention in 12 hours or more was considered a delay in care. Our study cohort was high risk based on a high prevalence of intravenous drug abuse, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and end-stage liver disease. The average time to surgical intervention was 18±25 hours and the overall mortality rate was 16 per cent. A delay to surgery did not impact mortality or the number of débridements and LOS. Mortality was high, 45 per cent, in patients requiring amputation. We observed a high-risk population managed with aggressive surgical care for necrotizing fasciitis. Our mortality was low compared with historical data and surgical delays did not impact outcomes. Those patients requiring amputation had worse outcomes.

A case of a traumatic chyle leak following an acute thoracic spine injury: successful resolution with strict dietary manipulation.

BACKGROUND: Chylothorax is a rare form of pleural effusion that can be associated with both traumatic and non-traumatic causes. Thoracic duct ligation is often the treatment of choice in postsurgical patients; however the optimal treatment of this disease process after traumatic injury remains unclear 1. We present a rare case of a thoracic duct injury secondary to a blunt thoracic spine fracture and subluxation which was successfully treated non-operatively. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51 year old male presented as a tier one trauma code due to an automobile versus bicycle collision. His examination and radiographic work-up revealed fractures and a subluxation at the third and fourth thoracic spine levels resulting in paraplegia. He also sustained bilateral hemothoraces secondary to multiple rib fractures. Drainage of the left hemothorax led to the diagnosis of a traumatic chylothorax. The thoracic spine fractures were addressed with surgical stabilization and the chylothorax was successfully treated with drainage and dietary manipulation. CONCLUSIONS: This unusual and complex blunt thoracic duct injury required a multidisciplinary approach. Although the spine injury required surgical fixation, successful resolution of the chyle leak was achieved without surgical intervention.

Postinjury serum secretory phospholipase A2 correlates with hypoxemia and clinical status at 72 hours.

BACKGROUND: Although trauma patients often suffer direct lung damage, an equally destructive mechanism of lung injury involves postinjury systemic inflammation. We postulate that secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) release induced by trauma relates to systemic inflammation that compromises both lung function and clinical status after injury. The objectives of this study were: to relate Injury Severity Score to postinjury sPLA(2); to determine whether circulating sPLA(2) relates to pulmonary oxygenation and compliance; and to determine whether early or persistent increases in sPLA(2) are associated with abnormal chest x-ray at 72 hours after injury. STUDY DESIGN: The prospective cohort study comprised 54 consecutive intensive care admissions in patients with traumatic injury admitted over a 6-month period from November 1, 1996, to May 1, 1997. RESULTS: Postinjury peak sPLA(2) values were associated with increased ISS (r = 0.49, r(2) = 0.24, p < 0.001). Patients with elevated sPLA(2) had poor oxygenation compared with those with normal sPLA(2) levels (Pa0(2)/Fi0(2) ratio 164 +/- 16 versus 260 +/- 26 mmHg [mean +/- SEM], p < 0.01) and also required additional PEEP (5.5 +/- 0.9 versus 2.5 +/- 0.4 cm H(2)O, p = 0.01). Secretory PLA(2) levels in patients with abnormal chest x-ray 72 hours after injury were higher (1.08 +/- 0.2 versus 0.34 +/- 0.1 activity units, p < 0.001) than levels seen in patients with normal x-rays. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing injury magnitude is associated with elevated sPLA(2) levels, and increased sPLA(2) is related to postinjury hypoxemia and clinical status.