Triiodothyronine hormone supplementation therapy in septic shock patients with euthyroid sick syndrome: two pilot, placebo-controlled, randomized trials.

BACKGROUND: To assess 28-day survival in two pilot groups of septic shock patients with euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) supplemented with triiodothyronine (T3). METHODS: A total of 95 septic shock patients with ESS were divided according to values of the thyroid hormones into low T3 and low T3T4 groups. Among 48 patients with low T3, 24 (50%) were randomized to T3 for 4 days and 24 (50%) to placebo. Among 47 patients with low T3T4, 24 (51%) were randomized to T3 for 4 days and 23 (49%) to placebo. The analysis included 28-day survival as the primary outcome and laboratory with hemodynamics as the secondary outcomes. Laboratory data were analyzed on the day of admission (T0), on the first (T1), third (T2) and seventh day (T3) with hemodynamics analyzed for the first four days. RESULTS: In the low T3 population, 18 (75%) patients receiving T3 died at day 28 compared with 8 (33.3%) patients receiving placebo (p = 0.004). In the low T3T4 population, 6 (25%) patients receiving T3 died in ICU compared with 12 (52.1%) patients receiving placebo (p = 0.039). Oral T3 treatment increased mean arterial pressure values at day 1, day 3 and day 7 in the low T3T4 population, (p = 0.015, =0.005 and =0.042 respectively), and had no significant effect on these values in the low T3 population. CONCLUSION: T3 supplementation was associated with a low 28-day mortality rate in patients with low T3T4 but with increased mortality in patients with low T3 ESS. These results suggest caution before initiating thyroid supplementation in septic patients. REGISTRATION: ClinTrials.gov (NCT05270798).

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Patients with a Suspected COVID-19 Infection in Emergency Departments: A European Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Background: Our aim is to describe and compare the profile and outcome of patients attending the ED with a confirmed COVID-19 infection with patients with a suspected COVID-19 infection. Methods: We conducted a multicentric retrospective study including adults who were seen in 21 European emergency departments (ED) with suspected COVID-19 between 9 March and 8 April 2020. Patients with either a clinical suspicion of COVID-19 or confirmed COVID-19, detected using either a RT-PCR or a chest CT scan, formed the C+ group. Patients with non-confirmed COVID-19 (C− group) were defined as patients with a clinical presentation in the ED suggestive of COVID-19, but if tests were performed, they showed a negative RT-PCR and/or a negative chest CT scan. Results: A total of 7432 patients were included in the analysis: 1764 (23.7%) in the C+ group and 5668 (76.3%) in the C− group. The population was older (63.8 y.o. ±17.5 vs. 51.8 y.o. +/− 21.1, p < 0.01), with more males (54.6% vs. 46.1%, p < 0.01) in the C+ group. Patients in the C+ group had more chronic diseases. Half of the patients (n = 998, 56.6%) in the C+ group needed oxygen, compared to only 15% in the C− group (n = 877). Two-thirds of patients from the C+ group were hospitalized in ward (n = 1128, 63.9%), whereas two-thirds of patients in the C− group were discharged after their ED visit (n = 3883, 68.5%). Conclusion: Our study was the first in Europe to examine the emergency department's perspective on the management of patients with a suspected COVID-19 infection. We showed an overall more critical clinical situation group of patients with a confirmed COVID-19 infection.

BILATERAL PNEUMOTHORAX AS A COMPLICATION OF PERCUTANEOUS TRACHEOSTOMY: CASE REPORT.

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is a common surgical procedure that is becoming the method of choice in critically ill patients whenever prolonged airway secure and/or ventilation support is needed. Although adverse events are relatively uncommon, serious life threatening complications can arise from this bedside procedure. We report a case of a 70-year-old female who developed extensive subcutaneous emphysema and bilateral pneumothorax immediately after a percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy procedure. Different mechanisms, such as damage to posterior or anterior tracheal wall, false passage or paratracheal placement or dislocation of the cannula are considered to be responsible for the development of pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema. Although bronchoscopic control after the tracheostomy procedure did not reveal any tracheal injury, we believe that subcutaneous emphysema and bilateral pneumothorax are most likely caused by procedure induced injuries of the trachea in addition to the applied high airway pressure induced by excessive or inappropriate ventilation. In our case report, we would like to emphasize that continuous bronchoscopic guidance during percutaneous tracheostomy is invaluable in decreasing the incidence of its overall complications, especially during enhancing the team experience.

Atmospheric pressure changes are associated with type A acute aortic dissections and spontaneous abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture in Tuzla Canton.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate a relationship between seasonal variation and incidence of type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) and spontaneous abdominal aneurysm rupture (rAAA) in Canton Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 81 cases, 41 AAD and 40 of ruptured AAA were identified from one center over a 6-year, from 2008 till 2013. In 2012 were admitted (45.6% or 36 patients). RESULTS: Seasonal analysis showed that 19(23.4%) patients were admitted in spring, 15(18.5) in summer, 26(32%) in autumn and 21 (25.9) in winter. The most frequent period was autumn/winter with 47 or 58% patients. A causal link between atmospheric pressure (AP) and incidence of rAAA and AAD on seasonal and monthly basis was found.

Atmospheric pressure changes are associated with type a acute aortic dissections and spontaneous abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture in tuzla canton.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate a relationship between seasonal variation and incidence of type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) and spontaneous abdominal aneurysm rupture (rAAA) in Canton Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 81 cases, 41 AAD and 40 of ruptured AAA were identified from one center over a 6-year, from 2008 till 2013. In 2012 were admitted (45.6% or 36 patients). RESULTS: Seasonal analysis showed that 19(23.4%) patients were admitted in spring, 15(18.5) in summer, 26(32%) in autumn and 21(25.9) in winter. The most frequent period was autumn/winter with 47 or 58% patients. A causal link between atmospheric pressure (AP) and incidence of rAAA and AAD on seasonal and monthly basis was found.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the colon: a case report.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is a rare clinical entity characterized by the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with malignancies. A case of a woman who presented to the Emergency Department with abdominal pain, hyperglycemia, and altered mental status is presented. After initial stabilization and correction of hyperglycemia the patient underwent emergency surgery. Laparotomy showed marked dilatation and gangrenous changes of the colon and tumor in the sigmoid colon. She was mechanically ventilated and remained ventilator-dependent for 42 days. Most of the time she was febrile; fever persisted with peaks up to 40° C despite various antibiotic treatments. On neurological examination, the patient was somnolent with left-sided hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintensities in both hippocampal areas, and electroencephalography (EEG) showed sharp-wave activity in the temporal lobes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed slightly elevated protein levels, and laboratory assessments showed an elevated titer of anti-Yo antibodies. Although we do not have pathological confirmation of limbic encephalitis, the diagnosis of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis was presumed on the basis of MRI findings, EEG abnormality, elevated CSF protein, positive anti YO antibodies, and neurological findings.

[Altered mental status in intensive care unit patients]. / Promjene mentalnog stanja bolesnika u jedinici intenzivnog lijecenja.

Altered mental status is one of the most common disorders encountered by doctors in intensive care units and one of the most recognizable signs of serious illness. It can be caused by an organic, functional (psychiatric), or mixed disorder. There are two components of altered mental status, i.e. the level of consciousness and the contents of consciousness. The level of consciousness can be easily assessed by simple observation of the patient during routine history and physical examination, while the contents of consciousness can be measured by multiple assessment tools usable by non-psychiatrists. Because it is a complex condition with multiple symptoms, the main task of intensive care unit physicians is to identify patients at risk and to introduce appropriate treatments immediately. Early recognition and timely treatment can result in recovery, while late treatment may be associated with irreversible disorder. In this article, we give a brief overview of the issues related to altered mental status of intensive care unit patients.

[Wernicke's encephalopathy as a complication of bariatric surgery]. / Wernickova encefalopatija kao komplikacija u kirurgiji debljine.

Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute, serious brain disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency, which is important as a cofactor in several enzymes associated with carbohydrate metabolism. The encephalopathy is most often associated with severe alcohol abuse, but thiamine deficiency can be caused by many other medical conditions. Bariatric surgery is listed among the causes of Wernicke's encephalopathy. This review provides a brief overview of the risk factors that cause thiamine deficiency, along with clinical features, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures important for timely recognition, therapy and prophylaxis of Wernicke's encephalopathy that occurs as a complication of bariatric surgery.

[Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis]. / Paraneoplasticki limbicki encefalitis.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a condition characterized by nervous system damage or dysfunction without indication that the nervous system is directly affected by tumor cells. Since it is clinically presented with an array of neuropsychiatric symptoms that usually precede the occurrence of malignant disease, and because of mimicking a psychiatric disease, it can sometimes make the diagnosis difficult and can be overlooked. Typical presentations consist of progressive confusion and deficits in short-term memory, which worsen over days to weeks. The current hypothesis on the pathogenesis of PLE implicates an autoimmune process involving antigens shared by tumor cells and neuronal cells in limbic structures. It has been considered that the autoantibodies cross-react with antigens on normal cells such as the neurons, resulting in cytotoxicity, or they can form complexes with a circulating antigen to induce organ damage through immune complex deposition. The treatment of PLE involves underlying cancer removal by surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormonal treatment, and immunosuppressive therapy. Unfortunately, this therapy combination is still generally unsatisfactory. Although PLE is a relatively rare neurologic disorder, because of its association with malignancies and difficulty in diagnosing, this article gives a brief review of the literature and summarizes current knowledge of this syndrome.

[Delirium assessment scoring scales]. / Bodovne ljestvice za procjenu delirija.

Delirium is a significant psychiatric disorder in intensive care units that has negative impact on morbidity and mortality of intensive care patients. Subjective clinical assessment of patients by non-psychiatric health professionals in intensive care units is not sufficient for detection and measurement of delirium. Therefore, different scoring scales for delirium assessment have been developed. This paper reviews the characteristics of commonly used scoring scales for assessment of delirium in intensive care units: the Confusion Assessment Method-Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICD-SC), the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC) and the Detecting Delirium Scale (DDS). Routine implementation of objective scoring scales is not widespread. Evidence suggests that objective assessment of delirium contributes to its early detection in intensive care and initiation of appropriate treatment. It is therefore advisable to make additional educational effort to provide an objective scoring scale for the assessment of delirium, such as CAM-ICU, to be routinely used in intensive care units.

[Perioperative disorders of mental functions]. / Perioperacijski poremecaji mentalnih funkcija.

Mental disorders are characterized by disturbances of thought, perception, affect and behavior, which occur as a result of brain damage. Recognizing and treating these conditions is necessary not only for psychiatrists but for all physicians. Disorder of mental function is one of the most common associated conditions in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, disturbances of mental function often remain unrecognized. In ICU patients, different types of mental function disorders may develop. They range from sleep disorders, severe depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to cognitive disorders including delirium. The causes of mental dysfunction in ICU patients can be divided into environmental and medical. Cognitive disorders are related to mental processes such as learning ability, memory, perception and problem solving. Cognitive disorders are usually not prominent in the early postoperative period and in many cases are discovered after hospital discharge because of difficulties in performing everyday activities at home or at work. The etiology of postoperative cognitive impairment is unclear. Older age, previous presence of cognitive dysfunction, severity of disease, and polypharmacy with more than four drugs are some of the risk factors identified. Delirium is a multifactorial disorder. It is an acute confusional state characterized by alteration of consciousness with reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention. It is considered as the most common form of mental distress in ICU patients. Nearly 30% of all hospitalized patients pass through deliriant phase during their hospital stay. Delirium can last for several days to several weeks. Almost always it ends with complete withdrawal of psychopathological symptoms. Sometimes it can evolve into a chronic brain syndrome (dementia). The causes are often multifactorial and require a number of measures to ease the symptoms. Delirious patient is at risk of complications of immobility and confusion, leading to a high prevalence of irreversible functional decline. An interdisciplinary approach to delirium should also include family or other caregivers. In the diagnosis of delirium, several tests are used to complement clinical assessment. Among the most commonly used are the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM-ICU) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) test. Depression is a common disorder among patients treated at ICU and occurs due to the impact of the disease on the body and the quality of life, independence, employment and other aspects of life. Depression can interfere with the speed of recovery, affects the postoperative quality of life, and in a certain number of patients may lead to suicidal thoughts and intentions. Phobias and generalized anxiety are the most common anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by strong, excessive anxiety and worry about everyday life events. PTSD is delayed and/or protracted response to a stressful event or situation, extremely threatening or catastrophic nature, which is outside the common experience of people and would hit or traumatize almost all people. Treatment of delirium and other disorders is causal. The causes of psychosis are often multifactorial and require a number of measures to ease symptoms. The primary objective of prevention is appropriate therapy and correction of potential imbalances possibly underlying disturbances, stabilization of vital functions as well as early return to daily activities. Doctors and other medical staff must be aware of the importance and consequences of behavioral and emotional disorders in critically ill patients. Additional research is needed to discover the ways to prevent and/ or reduce the frequency and severity of the consequences and treatment of cognitive and emotional disorders.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt]. / Laparoskopsko odstranjenje zucnog mjehura u bolesnika s ventrikuloperitonealnim kateterom.

Because of development of laparoscopic surgery and by knowing of its pathophysiological effects on organism, indications for laparoscopic surgery have become more extensive, so this method is today used for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Although ventriculoperitoneal shunt is not normally considered a contraindication for laparoscopic surgery, pneumoperitoneum is described as a cause of raised intracranial pressure. Since 1992 when the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done at the University Department of Surgery of Sveti Duh Clinical Hospital in Zagreb, three patients with implanted ventriculoperitoneal shunt were managed successfully laparoscopically. In all three patients, there were no complications during and after the surgery. In this paper we present our experience of three cases and short review of the literature.

Efficacy of antimicrobial triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 (Vicryl* Plus) suture for closure of the abdominal wall after colorectal surgery.

This study compared Triclosan coated polyglactin 910 (Vicryl* Plus) with polyglactin 910 (Vicryl*) on abdominal wall healing in colorectal surgery patients. 184 patients with colorectal cancer were included in the study. In 91, the abdominal wall was closed with the Vicryl* Plus, and in 93 patients with Vicryl*. Demographic characteristics, biochemical inflammatory parameters, wound appearance, length of hospital stay, postoperative wound complications and post-incisional hernia were recorded. In the Vicryl* Plus group there was a shorter hospital stay (13.2 +/- 1.3 days; 21.4 +/- 2.8 respectively). In the Vicryl* Plus group inflammatory parameters decreased to normal within the first week whereas in the Vicryl* group remained increased. In the Vicryl* Plus group four patients had a wound discharge, seven had inflammatory reactions to the skin sutures. One dehiscence was noticed. In the Vicryl* group 12 patients had an SSI, 14 patients had inflammatory reactions to the skin sutures and 7 patients had a wound dehiscence. Closure of the abdominal wall using Vicryl* Plus decreases postoperative wound complications, length of hospital stay and is associated with a more rapid return of inflammatory markers to normal.

[Acute compartment syndrome of the muscle in intensive care patients]. / Akutni sindrom tijesnog misicnog odjeljka u bolesnika u jedinici intenzivnog lijecenja.

Acute compartment syndrome of the muscle occurs when elevation of tissue pressure in closed fascial compartments results in muscle and nerve ischemia. Prompt diagnosis and decompression is essential to avoid the devastating local complications with permanent disabilities and systemic even lethal complications. Despite its drawbacks, clinical assessment is still the diagnostic cornerstone of acute compartment syndrome. In critically multisystem injured patients, it often presents silently and clinical examination alone may be insufficient. Intracompartmental pressure measurement is a useful adjunct and can confirm the diagnosis when clinical assessment is difficult. In this article, the etiology, clinical signs, diagnosis and therapy is discussed and underscores the importance of routine surveillance for acute compartment syndrome of muscle.

[Acute compartment syndrome as a complication of prolonged surgery in the Lloyd Davies position]. / Akutni sindrom tijesnog fascijalnog odjeljka donjih ekstremiteta kao komplikacija dugotrajnih kirurskih zahvata u Lloyd Davies polozaju.

Acute compartment syndrome of the muscle is condition in which prolonged increase of tissue pressure in closed unyelding fascial compartments reduces capillary perfusion below a level necessary for tissue viability leading to muscle and nerve ischaemia for few hours. There are wide variety different clinical settings associated with compartment syndrome. Acute lower limb compartment syndrome that occur during and after prolonged surgical procedures in Lloyd Davies position is rare but potentially devastating complication that can lead serious local complications and life threatening situations as, rabdomyolysis, kidney failure and death. In this article we summarize pathophysiology, clinical staging and diagnostic procedures of acute compartment syndrome in Lloyd Davies position. We present female patient developed limb compartment sindrome after surgical procedure which lasted 6,5 hours in the Lloyd Davies position for extensive rectovaginal endometriosis. In this article we rewiev different contributing factors that may predispose to compartment syndrome during Lloyd Davies position and undescore importance of recognise the risk factor and prevent the esthablishment of acute compartment syndrome during and after surgery in the Lloyd Davies position.

[Effects of pneumoperitoneumon liver function]. / Ucinci pneumoperitoneuma na jetrenu funkciju.

Effects of pneumoperitoneum on liver function during laparoscopic procedures in most patients have no clinical relevance. However, with increasing number and types of surgical procedures the laparoscopic operation is now performed in high-risk patients, including patients with pre-existing liver disease. In these patients laparoscopic procedures may lead to serious complication, including acute liver failure. Because postoperative liver damage induced by pneumoperitoneum has been underestimated, the aim of this article is to review the numerous factors influencing liver damage during laparoscopy and review of therapeutic options for their reduction.

A rare case of multiple aneurysms in a young patient.

Multiple aneurysms are clinically common in population aged over sixty and are caused mainly by atherosclerosis. When occurring in young population other etiologies such as trauma, infections, Bechet's disease, Marfan syndrome, neurofibromatosis or inflammatory disease are responsible for the development of arterial aneurysms. A rare case of multiple aneurysms in a 40-year-old man, affecting the infrarenal part of abdominal aorta, both iliac arteries, common femoral arteries, left femoral superficial and popliteal arteries on, both legs, is reported. The underlying pathology was progressive atherosclerosis, favored by familial hyperlipidemia and excessive cigarette smoking.

[Iatrogenic injury of the brachiocephalic arterial trunk and its branches--case report]. / Jatrogena ozljeda brahiocefalicnog arterijskog stabla i njegovih ogranaka: prikaz slucaja.

Iatrogenic vascular traumas are increasing and their proportion exceeds 40% of all vascular injuries. We report on a rare case of iatrogenic injury of the brachiocephalic arterial trunk during surgical intervention due to postirradiation arteriopathy, which was successfully treated with a silver prosthesis graft. A 58-year-old male underwent surgery for metastases of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland, located in lymph nodes adjacent to the right common carotid artery and right subclavian artery. During the surgery, there was an intraoperative injury of the brachiocephalic arterial trunk that included spontaneous rupture and tear of the subclavian and common carotid artery, as the result of extreme fragility of the arterial wall, probably due to the previous irradiation therapy. Emergency sternotomy and clavicle resection were followed by blood flow reconstruction by use of an Y prosthesis that was applied for terminoterminal anastomosis between the brachiocephalic trunk to common carotid artery and subclavian artery. The authors concluded that irradiation therapy may lead to progressive arteriopathy in affected arteries.

[Laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy]. / Laparoskopski kirurski zahvati u trudnoci.

UNLABELLED: With the development oflaparoscopic surgery, number of contraindications has become less and less. At the beginning of laparoscopic surgery pregnancy was considered an absolute contraindication to laparoscopic surgery, because of unknown influence of CO2-pneumoperitoneum on fetus. Over the past few years, in literature there have been several case reports of successful laparoscopic surgery in pregnancy. Since 1992 when the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done at the University Department of Surgery of Sveti Duh General Hospital in Zagreb, three pregnant women were managed successfully laparoscopically. Two laparoscopic cholecystectomies, and one laparoscopic appendectomy during pregnancy, were performed. RESULTS: In all three patients, there were no complications during and after surgery. Pregnancies were completed at term spontaneously, delivering healthy children.