Fluid balance, biomarkers of renal function and mortality in critically ill patients with AKI diagnosed before, or within 24 h of intensive care unit admission: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate fluid balance, biomarkers of renal function and its relation to mortality in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) diagnosed before, or within 24 h of intensive care unit admission. METHODS: A prospective cohort study considered 773 critically ill patients observed over six years. Pre-intensive care unit-onset AKI was defined as AKI diagnosed before, or within 24 h of intensive care unit admission. Body weight-adjusted fluid balance and fluid balance-adjusted biomarkers of renal function were measured daily for the first three days of intensive care unit admission. Primary outcome was mortality in the intensive care unit. RESULTS: Prevalence of pre-intensive care unit-onset AKI was 55.1%, of which 55.6% of cases were hospital-acquired and 44.4% were community-acquired. Fluid balance was higher in AKI patients than in non-AKI patients (p < 0.001) and had a negative correlation with urine output (p < 0.01). Positive fluid balance and biomarkers of renal function were independently related to mortality. Multivariate analysis identified the following AKI-related variables associated with increased mortality: (1) In AKI patients: type 1 cardiorenal syndrome (OR 2.00), intra-abdominal hypertension (OR 1.71), AKI stage 3 (OR 2.15) and increase in AKI stage (OR 4.99); 2) In patients with community-acquired AKI: type 1 cardiorenal syndrome (OR 5.16), AKI stage 2 (OR 2.72), AKI stage 3 (OR 4.95) and renal replacement therapy (OR 3.05); and 3) In patients with hospital-acquired AKI: intra-abdominal hypertension (OR 2.31) and increase in AKI stage (OR 4.51). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with pre-intensive care unit-onset AKI, positive fluid balance is associated with worse renal outcomes. Positive fluid balance and decline in biomarkers of renal function are related to increased mortality, thus in this subpopulation of critically ill patients, positive fluid balance is not recommended and renal function must be closely monitored.

Bloqueadores neuromusculares en infusión continua en anestesia general endovenosa total / Neuromuscular blocking drugs in continuous infusion in total intravenous general anesthesia

Introducción: La administración de agentes anestésicos de forma endovenosa dio inicio a una nueva modalidad que implicó la administración de anestésicos en forma de infusiones continuas. Objetivo: Actualizar la información sobre la función de los bloqueadores neuromusculares cuando se administran en infusión continua en anestesia general endovenosa total. Desarrollo: Los bloqueadores neuromusculares se pueden administrar en infusión continua para mantener una concentración plasmática estable y lograr una adecuada relajación del paciente durante el procedimiento quirúrgico, así como una recuperación más rápida y segura de forma espontánea, basándose en el inicio de acción del fármaco utilizado, pero fundamentalmente del alcance de su efecto máximo. A pesar de ello es importante administrar una dosis de carga inicial que deben oscilar entre 2 y 3 DE 95 (dosis efectiva para disminuir la respuesta al estímulo en 95 por ciento de su valor inicial) y continuar con la administración en infusión continúa como parte del mantenimiento de la anestesia. Conclusiones: Independientemente de los diferentes criterios entre autores, la mayoría coinciden que las infusiones continuas logran mantener mayor estabilidad en sangre y por ende, menor dosis de bloqueadores neuromuscular, menores tiempos reales de reversión y menos efectos adversos(AU)

Introduction: The administration of anesthetic agents intravenously started a new modality that involved the administration of anesthetics in the form of continuous infusions. Objective: To update the information on the function of neuromuscular blocking drugs when administered in continuous infusion in total intravenous general anesthesia. Development: Neuromuscular blocking drugs can be administered in continuous infusion to maintain a stable plasma concentration and achieve adequate relaxation of the patient during the surgical procedure, as well as a faster and safer spontaneous recovery, based on the action onset of the drug used, but fundamentally on its maximum effect. Despite this, it is important to administer an initial loading dose that must range from 2 to 3 DE 95 (effective dose to decrease the response to the stimulus in 95 percent of its initial value) and continue with the administration in continuous infusion as part of the maintenance of anesthesia. Conclusions: Regardless the different criteria among authors, most agree that continuous infusions are effective in maintaining greater blood stability and, therefore, lower doses of neuromuscular blocking drugs, shorter real reversal times and fewer adverse effects(AU)