Early risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with severe blunt thoracic trauma: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of patients with severe chest trauma require mechanical ventilation (MV). Early prediction of the duration of MV may influence clinical decisions. We aimed to determine early risk factors for prolonged MV among adults suffering from severe blunt thoracic trauma. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center, cohort study included all patients admitted between January 2014 and December 2020 due to severe blunt chest trauma. The primary outcome was prolonged MV, defined as invasive MV lasting more than 14 days. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors for prolonged MV. RESULTS: The final analysis included 378 patients. The median duration of MV was 9.7 (IQR 3.0-18.0) days. 221 (58.5 %) patients required MV for more than 7 days and 143 (37.8 %) for more than 14 days. Male gender (aOR 3.01, 95 % CI 1.63-5.58, p < 0.001), age (aOR 1.40, 95 % CI 1.21-1.63, p < 0.001, for each category above 30 years), presence of severe head trauma (aOR 3.77, 95 % CI 2.23-6.38, p < 0.001), and transfusion of >5 blood units on admission (aOR 2.85, 95 % CI 1.62-5.02, p < 0.001) were independently associated with prolonged MV. The number of fractured ribs and the extent of lung contusions were associated with MV for more than 7 days, but not for 14 days. In the subgroup of 134 patients without concomitant head trauma, age (aOR 1.63, 95 % CI 1.18-2.27, p = 0.004, for each category above 30 years), respiratory comorbidities (aOR 9.70, 95 % CI 1.49-63.01, p = 0.017), worse p/f ratio during the first 24 h (aOR 1.55, 95 % CI 1.15-2.09, p = 0.004), and transfusion of >5 blood units on admission (aOR 5.71 95 % CI 1.84-17.68, p = 0.003) were independently associated with MV for more than 14 days. CONCLUSIONS: Several predictors have been identified as independently associated with prolonged MV. Patients who meet these criteria are at high risk for prolonged MV and should be considered for interventions that could potentially shorten MV duration and reduce associated complications. Hemodynamically stable, healthy young patients suffering from severe thoracic trauma but no head injury, including those with extensive lung contusions and rib fractures, have a low risk of prolonged MV.

Association Between Admission Ionized Calcium Level and Neurological Outcome of Patients with Isolated Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Pathophysiological processes following initial insult are complex and not fully understood. Ionized calcium (Ca++) is an essential cofactor in the coagulation cascade and platelet aggregation, and hypocalcemia may contribute to the progression of intracranial bleeding. On the other hand, Ca++ is an important mediator of cell damage after TBI and cellular hypocalcemia may have a neuroprotective effect after brain injury. We hypothesized that early hypocalcemia might have an adverse effect on the neurological outcome of patients suffering from isolated severe TBI. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between admission Ca++ level and the neurological outcome of these patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center, cohort study of all patients admitted between January 2014 and December 2020 due to isolated severe TBI, which was defined as head abbreviated injury score ≥ 4 and an absence of severe (abbreviated injury score > 2) extracranial injuries. The primary outcome was a favorable neurological status at discharge, defined by a modified Rankin Scale of 0-2. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine whether admission hypocalcemia (Ca++ < 1.16 mmol L-1) is an independent predictor of neurological status at discharge. RESULTS: The final analysis included 201 patients. Hypocalcemia was common among patients with isolated severe TBI (73.1%). Most of the patients had mild hypocalcemia (1 < Ca++ < 1.16 mmol L-1), and only 13 (6.5%) patients had Ca++ ≤ 1.00 mmol L-1. In the entire cohort, hypocalcemia was independently associated with higher rates of good neurological status at discharge (adjusted odds ratio of 3.03, 95% confidence interval 1.11-8.33, p = 0.03). In the subgroup of 81 patients with an admission Glasgow Coma Scale > 8, 52 (64.2%) had hypocalcemia. Good neurological status at discharge was recorded in 28 (53.8%) of hypocalcemic patients compared with 14 (17.2%) of those with normal Ca++ (p = 0.002). In multivariate analyses, hypocalcemia was independently associated with good neurological status at discharge (adjusted odds ratio of 6.67, 95% confidence interval 1.39-33.33, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that among patients with isolated severe TBI, mild admission hypocalcemia is associated with better neurological status at hospital discharge. The prognostic value of Ca++ may be greater among patients with admission Glasgow Coma Scale > 8. Trials are needed to investigate the role of hypocalcemia in brain injury.

Risk factors for mortality among carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae carriers with focus on immunosuppression.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for mortality in a cohort of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) carriers, focusing on immunosuppression and other risk factors known at the time of CRE carriage detection. METHODS: We prospectively followed all new and known CRE carriers admitted between June 2016 and June 2017 to a single tertiary center in Israel. Patients were included in the study after confirmation of the carrier state. Demographic and clinical data were documented on admission or CRE acquisition and patients were followed prospectively post-discharge until January 2018 or death. Risk factors for mortality known at the time of the first encounter with a CRE carrier were sought. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for mortality at end of follow-up with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were assessed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were included in the analysis. During the study period, 66 (57.4%) patients died. Immunosuppression was associated with mortality (HR 1.95, CI 95% 1.12-3.44), adjusted to the Charlson co-morbidity score, functional status, chronic renal disease and Klebsiella pneumonia CRE, the latter three also significantly associated with mortality. CRE bacteremia occurred among 24 (20.9%) carriers during follow up, more frequently among immunosuppressed patients and was significantly associated with mortality at end of follow-up (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Immunosuppression is independently associated with mortality among CRE carriers, possibly related to CRE bacteremia that is frequent among these patients. Further research is needed on interventions to prevent deaths among CRE carriers.

A Young Patient with Leg Weakness and Hypokalemia-Case Report.

A 20-year-old female patient was admitted to hospital because of bilateral leg weakness. Laboratory investigation showed metabolic alkalosis and severe hypokalemia. Differential diagnosis included mineralocorticoid or apparent mineralocorticoid excess diseases, with a high aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) after correcting hypokalemia. After confirmatory tests, imaging studies revealed a unilateral adrenocortical adenoma consistent with Conn's disease. Surgery was curative.

Unexpected bleeding after Exenatide treatment: a causative relationship or a coincidence?

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is an endemic disease of the current era. It is important to treat it properly. All antidiabetic medications have side effects and various safety profiles. CASE REPORT: Fifty-two years old patient with type II diabetes mellitus, who had spontaneous cutaneous and intra muscular bleeding after starting treatment with Exenatide. The patient's history did not include any kind of spontaneous bleeding. Investigations did not reveal abnormal platelets count and function or coagulation profile. The use of the Exenatide was discontinued and during one year of follow-up, the patient did not experience an additional occurrence of spontaneous bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous bleeding probably caused by Exenatide. The exact pathophysiology, by which the drug can cause spontaneous bleeding, is still not clear and has to be revealed.

Light Modulates Ocular Complications in an Albino Rat Model of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to assess potential interactions of light exposure and hyperglycemia upon ocular complications in diabetic rats. METHODS: Streptozotocin-induced (STZ-induced) diabetic rats (N = 39) and non-diabetic rats (N = 9) were distributed into eight groups according to the irradiance and color of the light phase during the 12/12-hour light/dark regime. Follow-up lasted 90 days and included assessment of cataract development and electroretinogram (ERG) recordings. Stress to the retina was also assessed by glial fibrillary acidic protein immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Cataract development was fast in diabetic rats that were exposed to unattenuated white light or to bright colored lights during the light phase. Diabetic rats that were kept under attenuated brown or yellow light during the light phase exhibited slower rate of cataract development. Electroretinogram responses indicated very severe retinal damage in diabetic rats kept under bright colored lights in the blue-yellow range or bright white light during the light phase. Electroretinogram damage was milder in rats kept under bright red light or attenuated yellow or brown light during the light phase. Glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in retinal Müller cells was consistent with ERG assessment of retinal damage. CONCLUSIONS: Attenuating white light and filtering out short wavelengths have a protective effect on the eyes of diabetic rats as evident by slower rate of cataract formation and a smaller degree of retinal damage. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: Our findings suggest that special glasses attenuating light exposure and filtering out short wavelengths (400-530 nm) may be beneficial for diabetic patients.