Survival, cumulative hospital days and infectious complications in urgent-start PD compared with urgent-start HD.

BACKGROUND: Urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) carries a similar efficacy and safety profile compared to urgent-start haemodialysis (HD) but is only sparsely applied due to resource issues and concerns of complication risks. Furthermore, few data exist on adverse outcomes associated with central venous catheter (CVC) insertions in urgent-start HD patients. Thus, we sought to compare patient and dialysis-related outcomes in patients undergoing urgent-start PD or HD. METHODS: All patients initiating urgent-start PD in a tertiary research hospital in 2005-2018 were included in this retrospective, single-centre, comparative study and matched with urgent-start HD patients of similar age and chronic kidney disease aetiology. All urgent-start PDs were initiated within 72 h after catheter insertion, and urgent-start HDs were performed via a CVC. All analyses were performed at 3 months and at 1 year of follow-up, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients who commenced urgent-start PD and 58 matched urgent-start HD control patients were included. Altogether, 26 patients (29%; PD: 36%, HD 24%) died within the 1-year follow-up, and patient survival was similar at 3 months (hazard ratio (HR): 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35-3.81, p = 0.82) and at 1 year of follow-up (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.30-1.39, p = 0.26) between the study groups. There were no differences in the total kidney replacement therapy (KRT)-related infection rate (p = 0.66) or cumulative first-year hospital care days (p = 0.43) between the treatment groups. Altogether, 139 CVCs were inserted during the 1-year follow-up. The number of CVCs per patient was associated with the emergence of blood culture-positive bacteraemia and increased cumulative first-year hospital care days. CONCLUSIONS: Patient survival, cumulative first-year hospital care days and total KRT-related infection rate at 3 months and 1-year follow-up are similar between urgent-start PD and urgent-start HD patients. Furthermore, CVC insertion rate is associated with incident blood culture-positive bacteraemia and increased cumulative first-year hospital care days.

Furosemide versus placebo for fluid overload in intensive care patients-The randomised GODIF trial second version: Statistical analysis plan.

BACKGROUND: Fluid overload is associated with increased mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The GODIF trial aims to assess the benefits and harms of fluid removal with furosemide versus placebo in stable adult patients with moderate to severe fluid overload in the ICU. This article describes the detailed statistical analysis plan for the primary results of the second version of the GODIF trial. METHODS: The GODIF trial is an international, multi-centre, randomised, stratified, blinded, parallel-group, pragmatic clinical trial, allocating 1000 adult ICU patients with moderate to severe fluid overload 1:1 to furosemide versus placebo. The primary outcome is days alive and out of hospital within 90 days post-randomisation. With a power of 90% and an alpha level of 5%, we may reject or detect an improvement of 8%. The primary analyses of all outcomes will be performed in the intention-to-treat population. For the primary outcome, the Kryger Jensen and Lange method will be used to compare the two treatment groups adjusted for stratification variables supplemented with sensitivity analyses in the per-protocol population and with further adjustments for prognostic variables. Secondary outcomes will be analysed with multiple linear regressions, logistic regressions or the Kryger Jensen and Lange method as suitable with adjustment for stratification variables. CONCLUSION: The GODIF trial data will increase the certainty about the effects of fluid removal using furosemide in adult ICU patients with fluid overload. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: EudraCT identifier: 2019-004292-40 and ClinicalTrials.org: NCT04180397.

Chloride, Sodium and Calcium Intake Are Associated with Mortality and Follow-Up Kidney Function in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Continuous Veno-Venous Hemodialysis-A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between solute, nutrition and fluid intakes and mortality and later kidney function in critically ill acute kidney injury (AKI) patients receiving continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD) are scarce. METHODS: Altogether, 471 consecutive critically ill AKI patients receiving CVVHD in the research intensive care unit (ICU) were recruited in this single-center, retrospective study. RESULTS: The median age was 66 (58-74) years, and 138 (29.3%) were female. The 90-day and one-year mortalities were 221 (46.9%) and 251 (53.3%), respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE) score, coronary artery disease, immunosuppression, ICU care duration, mechanical ventilation requirement, vasopressor requirement and study time period, the cumulative daily intake of potassium, chloride, sodium, phosphate, calcium, glucose, lipids and water was associated with one-year mortality in separate multivariable cox proportional hazards models. In a sensitivity analysis excluding patients who died within the first three days of ICU care, the daily intake of chloride (hazard ratio (HR) 1.001, confidence interval (CI) 95% 1.000-1.003, p = 0.032), sodium (HR 1.001, CI 95% 1.000-1.002, p = 0.031) and calcium (HR 1.129, CI 95% 1.025-1.243, p = 0.014) remained independently associated with mortality within one-year in the respective, similarly adjusted multivariable cox analyses. The cumulative daily intake of chloride, sodium, calcium and water was independently associated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 90 days follow-up in separate substantially adjusted multivariable cox proportional hazards models. CONCLUSION: The cumulative daily intake of chloride, sodium and calcium is associated with mortality and daily chloride, sodium, calcium and water intake is associated with follow-up eGFR in critically ill patients with CVVHD-treated AKI.

Pre-emptive vs. classic criteria for initiation of dialysis in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) - A retrospective real-world study.

INTRODUCTION: Guidelines recommend starting renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill acute kidney injury (AKI) patients according to classic criteria for the initiation of dialysis (CCID). However, comparative data on the presence or absence of CCID in patients receiving continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD) or intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) as the initial modality are scarce. METHODS: Altogether 733 critically ill AKI patients receiving CVVHD or IHD at the research hospital between 2010 and 2019 were screened for this real-world study. All patients on maintenance dialysis were excluded. Patient survival was studied in 662 patients and adverse renal outcomes in 375 surviving patients at 90 days follow-up. The adverse renal outcome was defined as RRT requirement and the secondary outcome was estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 90 days follow-up. FINDINGS: Altogether 472 (71.3%) patients received CVVHD and 190 (28.7%) IHD, and CCID was present at the time of RRT initiation in 250 (37.8%). The CCID was independently associated with mortality in a multivariable logistic regression analysis (odds ratio [OR] 2.226, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.455-3.407, p < 0.001) adjusted for age, sex, baseline eGFR, disease severity, RRT modality, hypertension, and diabetes. The presence of CCID at the start of RRT was not associated with adverse renal outcome (OR 0.548, 95% CI 0.230-1.305, p = 1.74) nor eGFR (ß = 0.155, p = 0.066) at 90 days follow-up. However, starting RRT in the presence of CCID was independently associated with eGFR at 90 days follow-up in a multivariable ordinal regression analysis (ß = 0.930, p = 0.018) after adjusting for age, sex, baseline eGFR, disease severity markers, hypertension, and diabetes in patients receiving CVVHD but not IHD as the initial modality. DISCUSSION: The presence of CCID at the initiation of RRT was associated with mortality but not adverse renal outcomes in this large real-world study on critically ill AKI patients requiring RRT. Initiating RRT in the presence of CCID was associated with improved eGFR at 90 days follow-up in patients receiving CVVHD as the initial modality.

Nordic survey on assessment and treatment of fluid overload in intensive care.

Introduction: Fluid overload in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with higher mortality. There are few randomized controlled trials to guide physicians in treating patients with fluid overload in the ICU, and no guidelines exist. We aimed to elucidate how ICU physicians from Nordic countries define, assess, and treat fluid overload in the ICU. Materials and methods: We developed an online questionnaire with 18 questions. The questions were pre-tested and revised by specialists in intensive care medicine. Through a network of national coordinators. The survey was distributed to a wide range of Nordic ICU physicians. The distribution started on January 5th, 2022 and ended on May 6th, 2022. Results: We received a total of 1,066 responses from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland. When assessing fluid status, respondents applied clinical parameters such as clinical examination findings, cumulative fluid balance, body weight, and urine output more frequently than cardiac/lung ultrasound, radiological appearances, and cardiac output monitoring. A large proportion of the respondents agreed that a 5% increase or more in body weight from baseline supported the diagnosis of fluid overload. The preferred de-resuscitation strategy was diuretics (91%), followed by minimization of maintenance (76%) and resuscitation fluids (71%). The majority declared that despite mild hypotension, mild hypernatremia, and ongoing vasopressor, they would not withhold treatment of fluid overload and would continue diuretics. The respondents were divided when it came to treating fluid overload with loop diuretics in patients receiving noradrenaline. Around 1% would not administer noradrenaline and diuretics simultaneously and 35% did not have a fixed upper limit for the dosage. The remaining respondents 63% reported different upper limits of noradrenaline infusion (0.05-0.50 mcg/kg/min) when administering loop diuretics. Conclusion: Self-reported practices among Nordic ICU physicians when assessing, diagnosing, and treating fluid overload reveals variability in the practice. A 5% increase in body weight was considered a minimum to support the diagnosis of fluid overload. Clinical examination findings were preferred for assessing, diagnosing and treating fluid overload, and diuretics were the preferred treatment modality.

Goal directed fluid removal with furosemide versus placebo in intensive care patients with fluid overload: A trial protocol for a randomised, blinded trial (GODIF trial).

BACKGROUND: Fluid overload is a risk factor for mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Administration of loop diuretics is the predominant treatment of fluid overload, but evidence for its benefit is very uncertain when assessed in a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. The GODIF trial will assess the benefits and harms of goal directed fluid removal with furosemide versus placebo in ICU patients with fluid overload. METHODS: An investigator-initiated, international, randomised, stratified, blinded, parallel-group trial allocating 1000 adult ICU patients with fluid overload to infusion of furosemide versus placebo. The goal is to achieve a neutral fluid balance. The primary outcome is days alive and out of hospital 90 days after randomisation. Secondary outcomes are all-cause mortality at day 90 and 1-year after randomisation; days alive at day 90 without life support; number of participants with one or more serious adverse events or reactions; health-related quality of life and cognitive function at 1-year follow-up. A sample size of 1000 participants is required to detect an improvement of 8% in days alive and out of hospital 90 days after randomisation with a power of 90% and a risk of type 1 error of 5%. The conclusion of the trial will be based on the point estimate and 95% confidence interval; dichotomisation will not be used. CLINICALTRIALS: gov identifier: NCT04180397. PERSPECTIVE: The GODIF trial will provide important evidence of possible benefits and harms of fluid removal with furosemide in adult ICU patients with fluid overload.

Predicting mortality in critically ill patients requiring renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury in a retrospective single-center study of two cohorts.

Half of the critically ill patients with renal replacement therapy (RRT) dependent acute kidney injury (AKI) die within one year despite RRT. General intensive care prediction models perform inadequately in AKI. Predictive models for mortality would be an invaluable complementary tool to aid clinical decision making. We aimed to develop and validate new prediction models for intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality customized for patients with RRT dependent AKI in a retrospective single-center study. The models were first developed in a cohort of 471 critically ill patients with continuous RRT (CRRT) and then validated in a cohort of 193 critically ill patients with intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) as the primary modality for RRT. Forty-two risk factors for mortality were examined at ICU admission and CRRT initiation, respectively, in the first univariate models followed by multivariable model development. Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses were conducted to estimate the area under the curve (AUC), to measure discriminative capacity of the models for mortality. AUCs of the respective models ranged between 0.76 and 0.83 in the CRRT model development cohort, thereby showing acceptable to excellent predictive power for the mortality events (ICU mortality and hospital mortality). The models showed acceptable external validity in a validation cohort of IHD patients. In the IHD validation cohort the AUCs of the MALEDICT RRT initiation model were 0.74 and 0.77 for ICU and hospital mortality, respectively. The MALEDICT model shows promise for mortality prediction in critically ill patients with RRT dependent AKI. After further validation, the model might serve as an additional clinical tool for estimating individual mortality risk at the time of RRT initiation.

Atrial Fibrillation and Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: There are no published data on atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients receiving simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT). We explored the epidemiology and adverse outcomes of AF in SPKT recipients in this retrospective observational cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All 200 SPKT recipients in Finland to date between March 2010 and April 2021 were included in the present study. Demographics, comorbidities, medications, and transplantation data were collected from the electronic patient records. Outcome measures included new-onset AF (NOAF), ischemic stroke, and death. RESULTS: Median age was 42 years (interquartile range [IQR] 35-49), 69 (35%) were female, and median dialysis vintage was 13 months (IQR 9-19). Altogether 7 patients (4%) had a previous diagnosis of AF at baseline, and heart failure was independently associated with prior AF in the age-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis. After a median follow-up of 3 years (IQR 1-5), 2 patients (1%) were observed with incident NOAF, 4 (2%) with ischemic stroke, and 7 patients (4%) died. Prior AF or NOAF were not associated with cardiovascular adverse outcomes, mortality or graft outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a low prevalence and incidence of AF for the first time in this large observational study comprising all SPKT recipients in Finland to date.

Evolution of Quality of Life in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4-5 Patients Transitioning to Dialysis and Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a profound effect on patients' health-related quality of life (QoL). Longitudinal studies on QoL in CKD are scarce and have explored selected patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT). We studied the evolution of QoL in patients with advanced CKD transitioning to dialysis and transplantation in a prospective follow-up study. METHODS: A total of 100 participants of the Chronic Arterial Disease, Quality of Life, and Mortality in Chronic Kidney Injury (CADKID) study were enrolled in the study. Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form, biochemistry, and echocardiography were obtained at baseline and after a median interval of 33 (range 12-85) months. RESULTS: At the time of the follow-up QoL assessment, 32 patients were not receiving RRT, 30 were on hemodialysis (HD), 19 on peritoneal dialysis (PD), and 19 had received a kidney transplant. Among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), "Burden of Kidney Disease" and "General Health" domains improved compared to patients who initiated HD (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.007, respectively), PD (p = 0.0005 and p = 0.03, respectively), or remained in predialysis care (p = 0.009 and p = 0.003, respectively) while "Effects of Kidney Disease" improved compared to those who started HD (p = 0.004) or PD (p = 0.002). The change in Short Form-36 (SF-36) Physical Component Summary was not different between patients on different treatment modalities. Higher plasma albumin and cholesterol levels were associated with improved QoL in "Symptoms/Problems" (r = 0.28, p = 0.005, and r = 0.30, p = 0.004, respectively) and "Effects of Kidney Disease" (r = 0.27, p = 0.008, and r = 0.24, p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: QoL improved in KTRs in kidney disease-specific domains compared to patients initiating dialysis or those without RRT. Plasma albumin and lipids were associated with QoL over time.

Mortality and associated risk factors in patients with severe methanol or ethylene glycol poisoning treated with dialysis: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the initial clinical course and data on 90-day mortality in adults with methanol (MET) or ethylene glycol (EG) poisoning treated with dialysis. METHODS: Data on patient demographics and clinical parameters at intensive care unit (ICU) admission and for the first 24 hours after dialysis initiation were collected, and 90-day outcome data were collected for patients with MET (n = 15) or EG (n = 13) poisoning treated with dialysis in this retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, patients with EG poisoning were older and they had lower hourly urine output during the first 24 hours after the initiation of dialysis. Six (46%) patients with MET poisoning and three (20%) patients with EG poisoning died within 90 days of ICU admission. A larger anion gap and lower pH, bicarbonate levels, base excess, and Glasgow Coma Scale scores on admission, as well as the need for mechanical ventilation, were associated with 90-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic acidosis, a large anion gap, and an altered mental status on admission appear to be associated with mortality in MET or EG poisoning, and EG poisoning may be linked to lower urine output.

New-onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill acute kidney injury patients on renal replacement therapy.

AIMS: The effect of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) on mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) requiring continuous veno-venous haemodialysis (CVVHD) or intermittent haemodialysis (IHD) is unknown. Thus, we examined the incidence of NOAF in critically ill AKI patients undergoing CVVHD or IHD and the association between the timing of NOAF incidence in relation to renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation and 1-year mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: Out of the 733 consecutively recruited ICU patients requiring RRT within the study period of 2010-2019, 516 patients without prior atrial fibrillation history were included in this retrospective study. Clinical comorbidities, medications and biochemistry as well as outcome data for 1-year all-cause mortality were recorded. Episodes of NOAF were collected from the pooled rhythm data covering the entire ICU stay of every patient. The median age was 64 (inter-quartile range 19) years, 165 (32%) were female, and 356 and 160 patients received CVVHD and IHD, respectively. NOAF was observed in 190 (37%) patients during ICU care and 217 (42%) patients died within the 1-year follow-up. Incident NOAF was independently associated with 1-year mortality in the multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting for dialysis modality, need for mechanical ventilation or vasopressor support and Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II score. However, NOAF diagnosed after RRT initiation was not associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: NOAF emerging before RRT initiation is associated with increased mortality in critically ill AKI patients requiring RRT. However, NOAF during RRT does not seem to be associated with mortality.

Maximal Exercise Capacity in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4-5 Patients Transitioning to Renal Replacement Therapy or Continuing Conservative Care: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with impaired maximal exercise capacity (MEC). However, data are scarce on the development of MEC in CKD stage 4-5 patients transitioning to renal replacement therapy (RRT). METHODS: We explored the change in MEC measured in watts (Wlast4) with 2 consecutive maximal bicycle stress ergometry tests in 122 CKD stage 4-5 patients transitioning to dialysis and transplantation in an observational follow-up study. RESULTS: Mean age was 58.9 ± 13.9 years and 43 (35.2%) were female. Mean time between the baseline and follow-up ergometry tests was 1,012 ± 327 days and 29 (23.8%) patients had not initiated RRT, 50 (41.0%) were undergoing dialysis, and 43 (35.2%) had received a kidney transplant at the time of the follow-up ergometry test. The mean Wlast4 was 91 ± 37 W and 84 ± 37 W for the baseline and follow-up ergometry tests, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean Wlast4 declined between the baseline and follow-up ergometry tests in patients not requiring RRT (p = 0.001) and transplant recipients (p = 0.005), but not in dialysis patients (p = 0.478). There were no differences in the ratio of Wlast4 of the follow-up to the baseline ergometry tests (∆Wlast4) between patients on different treatment modalities at the time of the follow-up test (p = 0.097). Mean capillary blood bicarbonate was significantly associated with ∆Wlast4 after adjusting for age and treatment modality in the multivariate linear regression analysis (ß = 0.226, p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: MEC declined or remained poor in advanced CKD patients transitioning to RRT or continuing conservative care in this observational study. Mean capillary blood bicarbonate was independently associated with the development of MEC.

Progression of Aortic Calcification in Stage 4-5 Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Transitioning to Dialysis and Transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and associated with increased mortality. Comparative data on the AAC score progression in CKD patients transitioning from conservative treatment to different modalities of renal replacement therapy (RRT) are lacking and were examined. METHODS: 150 study patients underwent lateral lumbar radiograph to study AAC in the beginning of the study before commencing RRT (AAC1) and at 3 years of follow-up (AAC2). We examined the associations between repeated laboratory tests taken every 3 months, echocardiographic and clinical variables and AAC increment per year (ΔAAC), and the association between ΔAAC and outcomes during follow-up. RESULTS: At the time of AAC2 measurement, 39 patients were on hemodialysis, 39 on peritoneal dialysis, 39 had a transplant, and 33 were on conservative treatment. Median AAC1 was 4.8 (0.5-9.0) and median AAC2 8.0 (1.5-12.0) (p < 0.0001). ΔAAC was similar across the treatment groups (p = 0.19). ΔAAC was independently associated with mean left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (log LVMI: ß = 0.97, p = 0.02) and mean phosphorus through follow-up (log phosphorus: ß = 1.19, p = 0.02) in the multivariable model. Time to transplantation was associated with ΔAAC in transplant recipients (per month on the waiting list: ß = 0.04, p = 0.001). ΔAAC was associated with mortality (HR 1.427, 95% confidence interval 1.044-1.950, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: AAC progresses rapidly in patients with CKD, and ΔAAC is similar across the CKD treatment groups including transplant recipients. The increment rate is associated with mortality and in transplant recipients with the time on the transplant waiting list.

Mortality and associated risk factors in perioperative acute kidney injury treated with continuous renal replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with multiple postoperative complications leading to prolonged hospital stay and higher costs. AKI requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) after surgery has an incidence of 2-6% and mortality approximates 40-60%. Previous studies examining mortality in perioperative AKI patients managed with CRRT have concentrated on cardiac surgery patients and there are very limited data on broad surgical patient populations requiring CRRT. We examined long-term mortality and factors associated with poor outcome in a broad surgical population requiring CRRT for perioperative AKI during a 10-year period. METHODS: Surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of academic tertiary hospital requiring CRRT between years 2010-2019 were included. CRRT was performed using regional citrate-calcium-anticoagulation. Extracted data included patient demographics, comorbidities, and clinical parameters at ICU admission and at the initiation of CRRT. Creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured at 1 year after ICU admission. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were included in the study. ICU mortality was 42.7%, 90-day mortality 58.0% and 1-year mortality 62.4%. Blood lactate at ICU admission and CRRT initiation were independently associated with mortality in the multivariate models. Patients with lactate > 4 mmol/l had higher mortality than patients with normal lactate (77% vs. 21%) (p < 0.001). Creatinine (p = 0.004) and eGFR (p < 0.001) remained significantly altered at 1 year of follow-up compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing surgery and requiring perioperative CRRT in the ICU have a high risk of mortality. Mortality appears to be independently associated with lactate levels.

Renal Replacement Techniques in Septic Shock.

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection; it carries a risk for mortality, considerably exceeding that of a mere infection. Sepsis is the leading cause for acute kidney injury (AKI) and the requirement for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Almost every second critically ill patient with sepsis will develop AKI. In septic shock, the dysregulated host response to infectious pathogens leads to a cytokine storm with uncontrolled production and release of humoral proinflammatory mediators that evoke cellular toxicity and promote the development of organ dysfunction and increased mortality. In addition to treating AKI, RRT techniques can be employed for extracorporeal adsorption of inflammatory mediators using specifically developed adsorption membranes, hemoperfusion sorbent cartridges or columns; these techniques are intended to decrease the level and early deleterious effects of circulating proinflammatory cytokines and endotoxins during the first hours and days of septic shock treatment, in order to improve patient outcomes. Several methods and devices, such as high cut-off membranes, the Oxiris®-AN69 membrane, CytoSorb® and HA380 cytokine hemoadsorption, polymyxin B endotoxin adsorption, and plasmapheresis have been examined in small study series or are under evaluation as ways of improving patient outcomes in septic shock. However, to date, the data on actual outcome benefits have remained controversial, as discussed in this review.

Early restrictive fluid balance is associated with lower hospital mortality independent of acute disease severity in critically ill patients on CRRT.

Fluid overload (FO) with coincident acute kidney injury has been associated with increased mortality. However, it is unclear whether FO is an independent determinant of mortality for disease severity. We aimed to explore whether the development of fluid balance (FB) during the first 72 h of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is independently associated with hospital mortality. All patients admitted to a single centre ICU requiring CRRT for at least 24 h between years 2010-2019 were included. Extracted data included patient demographics and clinical parameters including daily cumulative fluid balance (FBcum), lactate, SOFA score and vasoactive requirement at the initiation and during the first 72 h of CRRT. 399 patients were included in the analysis. Hospital survivors had a significantly lower FBcum at CRRT initiation compared to non-survivors (median 1382 versus 3265 ml; p = 0.003). Hourly fluid balance per bodyweight (FBnet) was lower in survivors at 0-24, 24-48 and 48-72 h after initiation of CRRT (p < 0.008 for all comparisons). In the survival analysis (analyzed with counting process model) significant time-dependent explanatory variables for hospital mortality were FBnet (per ml/kg/h: HR: 1.319, 95% CI 1.038-1.677, p = 0.02), lactate (HR: 1.086, 95% CI 1.030-1.145, p = 0.002) and SOFA score (per ml/kg/h: HR: 1.084, 95% CI 1.025-1.146, p = 0.005) during the first 72 h of CRRT. Even after careful adjustment for repeated measures of disease severity, FBnet during the first 72 h of CRRT remains independently associated with hospital mortality, in critically ill patients with AKI.

Dental health assessed using panoramic radiograph and adverse events in chronic kidney disease stage 4-5 patients transitioning to dialysis and transplantation-A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oral health could potentially be a modifiable risk factor for adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients transitioning from predialysis treatment to maintenance dialysis and transplantation. We aimed to study the association between an index of radiographically assessed oral health, Panoramic Tomographic Index (PTI), and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and episodes of bacteremia and laboratory measurements during a three-year prospective follow-up in CKD stage 4-5 patients not on maintenance dialysis at baseline. METHODS: Altogether 190 CKD stage 4-5 patients without maintenance dialysis attended panoramic dental radiographs in the beginning of the study. The patients were followed up for three years or until death. MACEs and episodes of bacteremia were recorded during follow-up. Laboratory sampling for C-reactive protein and leukocytes was repeated tri-monthly. RESULTS: PTI was not associated with baseline laboratory parameters or C-reactive protein or leukocytes examined as repeated measures through the 3-year follow-up. During follow-up, 22 patients had at least one episode of bacteremia, but only 2 of the bacteremias were considered to be of oral origin. PTI was not associated with incident bacteremia during follow-up. Thirty-six patients died during follow-up including 17 patients due to cardiovascular causes. During follow-up 42 patients were observed with a MACE. PTI was independently associated with all-cause (HR 1.074 95% CI 1.029-1.122, p = 0.001) and cardiovascular (HR 1.105, 95% CI 1.057-1.157, p<0.0001) mortality, as well as, incident MACEs (HR 1.071 95% CI 1.031-1.113, p = 0.0004) in the multivariable Cox models adjusted for age and kidney transplantation or CKD treatment modality during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographically assessed dental health is independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and MACEs but not with the incidence of bacteremia in CKD stage 4-5 patients transitioning to maintenance dialysis and renal transplantation during follow-up.

Hemodynamic and respiratory effects of dexmedetomidine sedation in critically ill Covid-19 patients: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Dexmedetomidine has been suggested to be a promising sedative for patients with Covid-19 infection (CV19). However, use of dexmedetomidine is limited by its heart rate (HR) and arterial blood pressure lowering effects. Moreover, CV19 is associated with cardiac manifestations including bradyarrythmias. The hemodynamic effects of dexmedetomidine have not been previously studied in CV19 patients. We evaluated the effects of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamic and respiratory parameters of CV19 patients. METHODS: In this single center study, all CV19 patients receiving dexmedetomidine for sedation during a one year period were included. Our primary outcomes included changes in HR, mean arterial pressure (MAP), respiratory rate (RR), partial oxygen pressure of arterial blood/fraction of inspired oxygen-ratio (PF-ratio), and Richmond Agitation and Sedation Score (RASS) during dexmedetomidine administration. RESULTS: We identified 39 patients with a mean (SD) age of 58.3 (12.7) years. After initiation of dexmedetomidine, HR decreased by 16.9 (3.3) beats/min (95% CI 9.5-22.4; p < 0.001). During the 12-hour follow-up period, HR decrease was significant at 2 to 12 h. Incident bradycardia (<45/min) was reported in 12 (30.8%) patients and it was associated with lower plasma C-reactive protein, Pro-calcitonin, and troponin T levels. There was no change in MAP compared to baseline. Dexmedetomidine administration was associated with improvement of PF-ratio (p < 0.001) and with decrease of RASS (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine is an effective sedative for CV19 patients and may improve their oxygenation. However, dexmedetomidine administration is associated with marked decline in HR and with a high incidence of bradycardia in patients with CV19.

Mortality and associated risk factors in patients with blood culture positive sepsis and acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy-A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Septic acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) carries a mortality risk nearing 50%. Risk factors associated with mortality in AKI patients undergoing CRRT with blood culture positive sepsis remain unclear as sepsis has been defined according to consensus criteria in previous studies. METHODS: Risk factors associated with intensive care unit (ICU), 90-day and overall mortality were studied in a retrospective cohort of 126 patients with blood culture positive sepsis and coincident severe AKI requiring CRRT. Comprehensive laboratory and clinical data were gathered at ICU admission and CRRT initiation. RESULTS: 38 different causative pathogens for sepsis and associated AKI were identified. ICU mortality was 30%, 90-day mortality 45% and one-year mortality 50%. Immunosuppression, history of heart failure, APACHE II and SAPS II scores, C-reactive protein and lactate at CRRT initiation were independently associated with mortality in multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Blood lactate showed good predictive power for ICU mortality in receiver operating characteristic curve analyses with AUCs of 0.76 (95%CI 0.66-0.85) for lactate at ICU admission and 0.84 (95%CI 0.72-0.95) at CRRT initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows for the first time that lactate measured at CRRT initiation is predictive of ICU mortality and independently associated with overall mortality in patients with blood culture positive sepsis and AKI requiring CRRT. Microbial etiology for septic AKI requiring CRRT is diverse.