Staphylococcus aureus carriage at admission predicts early-onset pneumonia after burn trauma.

Early-onset pneumonia (EOP) is frequent after burn trauma, increasing morbidity in the critical resuscitation phase, which may preclude early aggressive management of burn wounds. Currently, however, preemptive treatment is not recommended. The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors for EOP that may justify early empirical antibiotic treatment. Data for all burn patients requiring ≥4 h mechanical ventilation (MV) who were admitted between January 2001 and October 2012 were extracted from the hospital's computerized information system. We reviewed EOP episodes (≤7 days) among patients who underwent endotracheal aspiration (ETA) within 5 days after admission. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent factors associated with EOP. Logistic regression was used to identify factors predicting EOP development. During the study period, 396 burn patients were admitted. ETA was performed within 5 days in 204/290 patients receiving ≥4 h MV. One hundred and eight patients developed EOP; 47 cases were caused by Staphylococcus aureus, 37 by Haemophilus influenzae, and 23 by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Among the 33 patients showing S. aureus positivity on ETA samples, 16 (48.5 %) developed S. aureus EOP. Among the 156 S. aureus non-carriers, 16 (10.2 %) developed EOP. Staphylococcus aureus carriage independently predicted EOP (p < 0.0001). We identified S. aureus carriage as an independent and strong predictor of EOP. As rapid point-of-care testing for S. aureus is readily available, we recommend testing of all patients at admission for burn trauma and the consideration of early preemptive treatment in all positive patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate this new strategy.

Assessment of panobacumab as adjunctive immunotherapy for the treatment of nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.

The fully human anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal antibody panobacumab was developed as an adjunctive immunotherapy for the treatment of O11 serotype Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. We evaluated the potential clinical efficacy of panobacumab in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia. We performed a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter phase IIa trial (NCT00851435) designed to prospectively evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of panobacumab. Patients treated with panobacumab (n = 17), including 13 patients receiving the full treatment (three doses of 1.2 mg/kg), were compared to 14 patients who did not receive the antibody. Overall, the 17 patients receiving panobacumab were more ill. They were an average of 72 years old [interquartile range (IQR): 64-79] versus an average of 50 years old (IQR: 30-73) (p = 0.024) and had Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores of 17 (IQR: 16-22) versus 15 (IQR: 10-19) (p = 0.043). Adjunctive immunotherapy resulted in an improved clinical outcome in the group receiving the full three-course panobacumab treatment, with a resolution rate of 85 % (11/13) versus 64 % (9/14) (p = 0.048). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed a statistically significantly shorter time to clinical resolution in this group of patients (8.0 [IQR: 7.0-11.5] versus 18.5 [IQR: 8-30] days in those who did not receive the antibody; p = 0.004). Panobacumab adjunctive immunotherapy may improve clinical outcome in a shorter time if patients receive the full treatment (three doses). These preliminary results suggest that passive immunotherapy targeting LPS may be a complementary strategy for the treatment of nosocomial O11 P. aeruginosa pneumonia.

[Latin organ donation programme (LODP): an effective initiative to increase organ donation in Switzerland]. / Programme latin de don d'organes (PLDO): une initiative efficace pour augmenter les dons d'organes en Suisse.

The 1st federal transplant law was enforced in July 2007 with the obligation to promote quality and efficiency in the procedures for organ and tissue donation for transplantation. The Latin organ donation programme (LODP) created in 2008 aims to develop organ donation in 17 public hospitals in 7 Latin cantons, covering 2.2 million people; 29% of the Swiss population. The implementation of various effective measures by the LODP enabled the increase in the number of donors by 70% between 2008 and 2010, with four organs procured per donor; greatly exceeding the European average of three. The results show that LODP has successfully professionalised the system and we can only hope that similar organisations will be put into place throughout Switzerland.

[Adrenal function after induction of cardiac surgery patients with an etomidate bolus: a retrospective study]. / Fonction surrénalienne après bolus d'étomidate en chirurgie cardiaque: une étude rétrospective.

OBJECTIVE: A single bolus dose of etomidate decreases cortisol synthesis by inhibiting the 11-beta hydroxylase, a mitochondrial enzyme in the final step of cortisol synthesis. In our institution, all the patients undergoing cardiac surgery receive etomidate at anesthesia induction. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of adrenocortical dysfunction after a single dose of etomidate in selected patients undergoing major cardiac surgery and requiring high-dose norepinephrine postoperatively. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study in the surgical ICU of a university hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients presented acute circulatory failure requiring norepinephrine (>0,2 microg/kg/min) during the 48 hours following cardiac surgery. Absolute adrenal insufficiency was defined as a basal cortisol below 414 nmo/l (15 microg/dl) and relative adrenal insufficiency as a basal plasma cortisol between 414 nmo/l (15 microg/dl) and 938 nmo/l (34 microg/dl) with an incremental response after 250 microg of synthetic corticotropin (measured at 60 minutes) below 250 nmol/l (9 microg/dl). RESULTS: Fourteen patients (22%) had normal corticotropin test results, 10 (16%) had absolute and 39 (62%) relative adrenal insufficiency. All patients received a low-dose steroid substitution after the corticotropin test. Substituted patients had similar clinical outcomes compared to patients with normal adrenal function. CONCLUSION: A high incidence of relative adrenal failure was observed in selected cardiac surgery patients with acute postoperative circulatory failure.

Fish oil after abdominal aorta aneurysm surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Fish oil (FO) may attenuate the inflammatory response after major surgery such as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. We aimed at evaluating the clinical impact and safety aspects of a FO containing parenteral nutrition (PN) after AAA surgery. METHODS: Intervention consisted in 4 days of either standard (STD: Lipofundin medium-chain triglyceride (MCT): long-chain triglyceride (LCT)50%-MCT50%) or FO containing PN (FO: Lipoplus: LCT40%-MCT50%-FO10%). Energy target were set at 1.3 times the preoperative resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry. Blood sampling on days 0, 2, 3 and 4. Glucose turnover by the (2)H(2)-glucose method. Muscle microdialysis. CLINICAL DATA: maximal daily T degrees, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay. RESULTS: Both solutions were clinically well tolerated, without any differences in laboratory safety parameters, inflammatory, metabolic data, or in organ failures. Plasma tocopherol increased similarly; with FO, docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid increased significantly by day 4 versus baseline or STD. To increased postoperatively, with a trend to lower values in FO group (P=0.09). After FO, a trend toward shorter ICU stay (1.6+/-0.4 versus 2.3+/-0.4), and hospital stay (9.9+/-2.4 versus 11.3+/-2.7 days: P=0.19) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Both lipid emulsions were well tolerated. FO-PN enhanced the plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content, and was associated with trends to lower body temperature and shorter length of stay.

[Intensive care medicine in Switzerland]. / Evolution des soins intensifs en Suisse: historique, situation actuelle et perspectives.

The authors express their views on the past, present and future of intensive care medicine in Switzerland. They point some past and present concerns in critical care medicine, but they insist on the future needs of this medical specialty: the critical patients necessitate, and have the right to obtain, a highly trained and specialized personnel, working in strong connection with the whole hospital, in a systemic way of treating patients. The authors insist on the very high complexity of the ICU-patients treated today.

[Latin program for organ donation: the intensivists are networking]. / Programme latin de don d'organes: les intensivistes se mettent en réseau.

The new Swiss federal law on organ and transplantation strengthens the responsibilities of the intensive care units. In Italian and French speaking parts of Switzerland, the Programme Latin pour le Don d'Organe (PLDO) has been launched to foster a wider collaboration between intensivists and donation coordinators. The PLDO aims at optimising knowledge and expertise in organ donation through improvements in identification, notification and management of organ donors and their next of kin. The PLDO dispenses education to all professionals involved. Such organisation should allow increasing the number of organs available, while improving healthcare professionals experience and next of kin emotion throughout the donation process.

Cerebral vascular autoregulation assessed by perfusion-CT in severe head trauma patients.

PURPOSE: To use perfusion-CT technique in order to characterize cerebral vascular autoregulation in a population of severe head trauma patients with features of cerebral edema either on the admission or on the follow-up conventional noncontrast cerebral CT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 80 perfusion-CT examinations were obtained in 42 severe head trauma patients with features of cerebral edema on conventional noncontrast cerebral CT, either on admission or during follow-up. Perfusion-CT results, i.e. the regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and flow (rCBF), were correlated with the mean arterial pressure (MAP) measured during each perfusion-CT examination. Ratios were defined to integrate the concept of cerebral vascular autoregulation, and cluster analysis performed, which allowed identification of different subgroups of patients. MAP values and perfusion-CT results in these groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney) tests. Moreover, the functional outcome of the 42 patients was evaluated 3 months after trauma on the basis of the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score and similarly compared between groups. RESULTS: Three main groups of patients were identified: 1) 22 perfusion-CT examinations were collected in 13 patients, characterized by high rCBV and rCBF values and by significant dependence of perfusion-CT rCBV and rCBF results on MAP values (p<0.001), 2) 23 perfusion-CT examinations collected in 19 patients showing perfusion-CT results similar to control trauma subjects, and 3) 33 perfusion-CT collected in 16 patients, with low rCBV and rCBF values and near-independence of perfusion-CT results with respect to MAP values. The first group was interpreted as showing impaired cerebral vascular autoregulation, which was preserved in the third group. The second group was associated with the best functional outcome; it was linked to the first group, because eight patients went from one group to the other from admission to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Perfusion-CT in severe head trauma patients was able to provide direct and quantitative assessment of cerebral vascular autoregulation with a single measurement. It could hence be used as a guide for brain edema therapy, as well as to monitor the treatment efficiency.

[Merging of two intensive care units: preliminary observations]. / Fusion de deux services de médecine intensive: quelques observations préliminaires.

The merging of two intensive care units is a time of profound change, and constitutes a risk of mishaps. We report some aspects of such a project in our institution. The evaluation of various indicators reflecting the activity, patient's hospital pathways, mortality, as well as the use of specific techniques, has shown that no particular problem was observed during the first 9 months. Improvements in performance or productivity have not been demonstrated so far. The follow-up will permit to demonstrate long-term benefits. We believe that these observations may be of interest for other departmental or hospital reorganisations.

Ex vivo evaluation of a new extracorporeal lung assist device: NovaLung membrane oxygenator.

When lung function is compromised,alternative devices need to be deployed in order to maintain blood oxygenation. A new device, NovaLung, has been designed for acute lung failure. We went about evaluating its gas exchange capability. Three calves (79.5 +/- 7.8 kg) were connected to the NovaLung System with a priming volume of 240 mL, gas exchange surface area of 1.3 m2 and exhibiting a biologically coated surface. A standard battery of blood samples were taken before implantation and over a six hour period. Hematocrit remained stable ranging from 27 +/- 4% (baseline) to 29 +/- 5% (6 hrs). Platelets were preserved ranging from 882 +/- 27.4 U/L (baseline) to 734 +/- 147 (6 hrs). LDH remained stable at 719 +/- 85 U/L (baseline) vs 686 +/- 190 U/L (6 hrs) and the pressure drop was maintained below 20 mmHg. Minimal hemolysis was observed. Oxygen transfer peaked at two hours acute extracorporeal lung support (ECLS)with a mean value of 130 +/- 50 ml/min. In conclusion, the device is easy to use,provides adequate O2 and CO2 transfer for partial lung support in an acute setting. Shows minimal signs of hemolysis and platelets levels are maintained throughout the six hour ECLS period.

[The heart transplant in Lausanne from 1987 to 2003]. / La greffe cardiaque à Lausanne de 1987 à 2003.

Since the availability of ciclosporine, the survival after heart transplantation has dramatically improved. We present our results since the beginning of our experience in 1987. We treated in the Lausanne University hospital, 150 patients for end-stage cardiac disease. Hundred and fifty-two transplantations were performed. The survival rate is comparable to the literature with 81% at one year, 70% at five year and 63 at ten year included the hospital mortality. We review the incidence of complications during the follow-up and report the modification in the management of these patients especially concerning the immunosuppression.

Fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis in healthy subjects during near-continuous oral nutrition and bed rest: a comparison with published data in artificially fed, critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In critically ill patients, fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis increases in proportion to carbohydrate administration during isoenergetic nutrition. In this study, we sought to determine whether this increase may be the consequence of continuous enteral nutrition and bed rest. We, therefore, measured fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis in a group of 12 healthy subjects during near-continuous oral feeding (hourly isoenergetic meals with a liquid formula containing 55% carbohydrate). In eight subjects, near-continuous enteral nutrition and bed rest were applied over a 10 h period. In the other four subjects, it was extended to 34 h. Fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis was measured by infusing(13) C-labeled acetate and monitoring VLDL-(13)C palmitate enrichment with mass isotopomer distribution analysis. Fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis was 3.2% (range 1.5-7.5%) in the eight subjects after 10 h of near continuous nutrition and 1.6% (range 1.3-2.0%) in the four subjects after 34 h of near-continuous nutrition and bed rest. This indicates that continuous nutrition and physical inactivity do not increase hepatic de novo lipogenesis. Fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis previously reported in critically ill patients under similar nutritional conditions (9.3%) (range 5.3-15.8%) was markedly higher than in healthy subjects (P<0.001). These data from healthy subjects indicate that fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis is increased in critically ill patients.

Adaptive support ventilation for fast tracheal extubation after cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Adaptive support ventilation (ASV) is a microprocessor-controlled mode of mechanical ventilation that maintains a predefined minute ventilation with an optimal breathing pattern (tidal volume and rate) by automatically adapting inspiratory pressure and ventilator rate to changes in the patient's condition. The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that a protocol of respiratory weaning based on ASV could reduce the duration of tracheal intubation after uncomplicated cardiac surgery ("fast-track" surgery). METHODS: A group of patients being given ASV (group ASV) was compared with a control group (group control) in a randomized controlled study. After coronary artery bypass grafting during general anesthesia with midazolam and fentanyl, patients were randomly assigned to group ASV or group control. Both protocols were divided into three predefined phases, and weaning progressed according to arterial blood gas and clinical criteria. In phase 1, ASV mode was set at 100% of the theoretical value of volume/minute in group ASV, and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation mode was used in group control. When spontaneous breathing occurred, ASV setting was reduced by 50% of minute ventilation (phase 2) and again by 50% (phase 3), and the trachea was extubated. In group control, the ventilator was switched to 10 cm H2O inspiratory pressure support (phase 2), then to 5 cm H2O (phase 3) until extubation. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were enrolled. Sixteen patients completed the ASV protocol, and 20 the standard protocol; 7 patients were excluded in group ASV and 6 in group control according to explicit, predefined criteria. There were no differences between groups in perioperative characteristics or in the doses of sedation. The primary outcome of the study, that is, the duration of tracheal intubation, was shorter in group ASV than in group control (median [quartiles]: 3.2 [2.5-4.6] vs. 4.1 [3.1-8.6] h; P < 0.02). Fewer arterial blood analyses were performed in group ASV (median number [quartiles]: 3 [3-4] vs. 4 [3-6]), suggesting that fewer changes in the settings of the ventilator were required in this group. CONCLUSIONS: A respiratory weaning protocol based on ASV is practicable; it may accelerate tracheal extubation and simplify ventilatory management in fast-track patients after cardiac surgery. The evaluation of potential advantages of the use of such technology on patient outcome and resource utilization deserves further studies.

Early metabolic and splanchnic responses to enteral nutrition in postoperative cardiac surgery patients with circulatory compromise.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the hemodynamic and metabolic adaptations to enteral nutrition (EN) in patients with hemodynamic compromise. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study in a university hospital surgical ICU, comparing baseline (fasted) with continuous EN condition. PATIENTS: Nine patients requiring hemodynamic support by catecholamines (dobutamine and/or norepinephrine) 1 day after cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTION: Isoenergetic EN via a postpyloric tube while catecholamine treatment remained constant. Baseline (fasted) condition was compared to continuous EN condition. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Cardiac index (CI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulmonary and wedge pressures, indocyanine green (ICG) clearance, gastric tonometry, plasma glucose and insulin, and glucose turnover (6,62H2-glucose infusion) were determined repetitively every 60 min during 2 h of baseline fasting condition and 3 h of EN. During EN CI increased (from 2.9 +/- 0.5 to 3.3 +/- 0.5 l min-1 m-2), MAP decreased transiently (from 78 +/- 7 to 70 +/- 11 mmHg), ICG clearance increased (from 527 +/- 396 to 690 +/- 548 ml/min), and gastric tonometry remained unchanged, while there were increases in glucose (158 +/- 23 to 216 +/- 62 mg/dl), insulin (29 +/- 23 to 181 +/- 200 mU/l), and glucose rate of appearance (2.4 +/- 0.2 to 3.3 +/- 0.2 mg min-1 kg-1). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of EN in these postoperative patients increased CI and splanchnic blood flow, while the metabolic response indicated that nutrients were utilized. These preliminary results suggest that the hemodynamic response to early EN may be adequate after cardiac surgery even in patients requiring inotropes.

Human errors in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit: a 1-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and identify risk factors of critical incidents in an ICU. DESIGN: Prospective observational study of consecutive patients admitted over 1 year to an ICU. Critical incidents were recorded using predefined criteria. Their causes and consequences were analysed. The causes were classified as technical failure, patient's underlying disease, or human errors (subclassified as planning, execution, or surveillance). The consequences were classified as lethal, leading to sequelae, prolonging the ICU stay, minor, or without consequences. The correlation between critical incidents and specific factors including patient's diagnosis and severity score, use of monitoring and therapeutic modalities was analysed by uni- and multivariate analysis. SETTING: An 11-bed multidisciplinary ICU in a non-university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 1,024 consecutive patients admitted to the ICU. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median length of ICU stay by the 1,024 patients was 1.9 days. Of the 777 critical incidents reported 2% were due to technical failure and 67 % to secondary to underlying disease. There were 241 human errors (31%) in 161 patients, evenly distributed among planning (n = 75), execution (n = 88), and surveillance (n = 78). One error was lethal, two led to sequelae, 26 % prolonged ICU stay, and 57 % were minor and 16 % without consequence. Errors with significant consequences were related mainly to planning. Human errors prolonged ICU stay by 425 patient-days, amounting to 15 % of ICU time. Readmitted patients had more frequent and more severe critical incidents than primarily admitted patients. CONCLUSIONS: Critical incidents add morbidity, workload, and financial burden. A substantial proportion of them are related to human factors with dire consequences. Efforts must focus on timely, appropriate care to avoid planning and execution mishaps at the beginning of the ICU stay; surveillance intensity must be maintained, specially after the fourth day.

Impact of a bicarbonated saline solution on early resuscitation after major burns.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed at assessing the impact of the introduction of a bicarbonated saline solution on total fluid load, weight gain and acid base status during acute burn resuscitation. DESIGN: Based on a retrospective patient record review. SETTING: Burn care centre of a surgical ICU in a tertiary university hospital. PATIENTS: Two groups of adult patients (20/20), with thermal burns of 25% or more body surface area were studied. INTERVENTION: Modification of the resuscitation fluid composition from lactated Ringer's solution (LR: Na 132 mmol/l, Cl 112 mmol/l, 263 mosm/l), to bicarbonated 0.9% saline (BS: Na 180 mmol/l, Cl 154 mmol/l, 340 mosm/l) METHODS: Age, weight, burn size and depth, inhalation injury, fluid intakes over 48 h post-injury, plasma sodium, chloride, creatinine, albumin levels, blood gases and ventilation support were recorded. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of the patients (41 +/- 16 years) in the two groups were not different, with severe burns involving 44 +/- 17% body surface area. While the total fluid volumes administered did not differ, BS was associated with lower plasma pH, base excess and bicarbonate levels for 24 h and with hyperchloraemia. Clinical evolution did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: Using bicarbonated saline solution for resuscitation causes a transient hyperchloraemic dilutional acidosis compared with LR, and has no other detectable clinical impact over the first 10 days after severe burn injury.

Effects of enteral carbohydrates on de novo lipogenesis in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Conversion of glucose into lipid (de novo lipogenesis; DNL) is a possible fate of carbohydrate administered during nutritional support. It cannot be detected by conventional methods such as indirect calorimetry if it does not exceed lipid oxidation. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the effects of carbohydrate administered as part of continuous enteral nutrition in critically ill patients. DESIGN: This was a prospective, open study including 25 patients nonconsecutively admitted to a medicosurgical intensive care unit. Glucose metabolism and hepatic DNL were measured in the fasting state or after 3 d of continuous isoenergetic enteral feeding providing 28%, 53%, or 75% carbohydrate. RESULTS: DNL increased with increasing carbohydrate intake (f1.gif" BORDER="0"> +/- SEM: 7.5 +/- 1.2% with 28% carbohydrate, 9.2 +/- 1.5% with 53% carbohydrate, and 19.4 +/- 3.8% with 75% carbohydrate) and was nearly zero in a group of patients who had fasted for an average of 28 h (1.0 +/- 0.2%). In multiple regression analysis, DNL was correlated with carbohydrate intake, but not with body weight or plasma insulin concentrations. Endogenous glucose production, assessed with a dual-isotope technique, was not significantly different between the 3 groups of patients (13.7-15.3 micromol * kg(-1) * min(-1)), indicating impaired suppression by carbohydrate feeding. Gluconeogenesis was measured with [(13)C]bicarbonate, and increased as the carbohydrate intake increased (from 2.1 +/- 0.5 micromol * kg(-1) * min(-1) with 28% carbohydrate intake to 3.7 +/- 0.3 micromol * kg(-1) * min(-1) with 75% carbohydrate intake, P: < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Carbohydrate feeding fails to suppress endogenous glucose production and gluconeogenesis, but stimulates DNL in critically ill patients.

Pain location, distribution, and intensity after cardiac surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To study the location, distribution, and intensity of pain in a sample of adult cardiac surgery patients during their postoperative hospital stay. DESIGN: In a prospective study, pain location, distribution (number of pain areas per patient), and intensity (0 to 10 numerical rating scale) were documented on the first, second, third, and seventh postoperative day (POD). Patient characteristics (age, sex, size, and body mass index) were analyzed for their impact on pain intensity. SETTING: A university hospital. PATIENTS: Two hundred consecutive adult patients who underwent median sternotomy for open heart surgery. There were 121 male and 79 female patients, with a mean (+/- SD) age of 60.9 +/- 19.2 years. MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS: The maximal pain intensity was significantly higher on POD 1 and 2 (3.7 +/- 2 and 3.9 +/- 1.9, respectively) and lower on POD 3 and 7 (3.2 +/- 1.5 and 2.6 +/- 1.8, respectively). The pain distribution did not vary significantly throughout the hospital stay, but the location did, with more shoulder pain on POD 7. Only age was found to have an impact on pain intensity, with patients < 60 years having a higher pain intensity than older patients on POD 2 (4.3 +/- 2.2 vs 3.6 +/- 2.4; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this patient population, the pain intensity diminished from POD 3 onward, although its distribution did not vary significantly during the first postoperative week. Moreover, pain location changed with time, with more osteoarticular type pain at the end of the first postoperative week. Among the patients' characteristics, only younger age had an impact on pain intensity, with a higher value on POD 2.

Intestinal absorption in patients after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: We designed this study to assess intestinal absorption in patients with adequate or altered hemodynamic status after cardiac surgery and to test clinical tolerance to early enteral nutrition. DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive study. SETTING: Surgical intensive unit in a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Cardiac surgery patients, age 64+/-10 yrs (mean +/-SD) were subdivided into two groups according to hemodynamic status: group I, 16 patients with adequate hemodynamic status; group II, 23 patients with hemodynamic failure. These groups were compared with healthy controls (group III, n = 6). INTERVENTIONS: Paracetamol pharmacokinetic study on days 1 and 3 with nasogastric or postpyloric paracetamol administration. Early postpyloric or conventional gastric nutrition in group II. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Plasma concentrations were measured on days 1 and 3, and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Absorption was strongly reduced on day 1 in all patients after gastric administration (lower peak paracetamol and AUC), but normal after postpyloric delivery. Duration of anesthesia and of circulatory bypass did not affect paracetamol absorption. On day 3, AUC was close to normal in case of hemodynamic failure. Peak absorption on day 1 was negatively correlated with opiate dose (r2 = 0.176, p = .008). Hypocaloric enteral nutrition was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The close-to-normal AUC, during low cardiac output, despite lower peak paracetamol, shows absorption was not suppressed, only delayed, because of decreased pyloric motility. The decrease on day 1 can be attributed to opiates, known to alter pyloric function and to slow down the intestinal transit.

Segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis to assess perioperative fluid changes.

OBJECTIVES: Perioperative fluid accumulation determination is a challenge for the clinician. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a noninvasive method based on the electrical properties of tissues, which can assess body fluid compartments. The study aimed at assessing their changes in three types of surgery (thoracic, abdominal, and intracranial) requiring various regimens of fluid administration. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive trial. PATIENTS: A total of 26 patients scheduled for elective surgery were separated into three groups according to site of surgery: thoracic (n = 8), abdominal aortic (n = 8), and brain surgery (n = 10). SETTING: University teaching hospital. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS: Whole body, segmental (arm, trunk, and legs) BIA at multiple frequency (0.5, 50, 100 kHz) was used to assess perioperative fluid accumulation after surgery. The fluid balances were calculated from the charts. RESULTS: The patients were aged 62+/-4 yrs. Fluid balances were 4.8+/-1.0 L, 4.1+/-0.5 L, and 1.9+/-0.3 L, respectively, in the three groups. In trunk surgery patients, fluid accumulation was detected as a drop in impedance in the operated area at all frequencies. In the operated area, there was an expansion of both intra- and extracellular compartments. A reduction in high frequencies' impedance in the legs was only detected after aortic surgery. Fluid accumulation and trunk impedance changes were strongly correlated. Neurosurgery only induced minor body fluid changes. CONCLUSIONS: Segmental BIA is able to detect and localize perioperative fluid accumulation. It may become a bedside tool to quantify and to localize fluid accumulation.