Physiologic effects of stress dose corticosteroids in in-hospital cardiac arrest (CORTICA): A randomized clinical trial.

Aim: Postresuscitation hemodynamics are associated with hospital mortality/functional outcome. We sought to determine whether low-dose steroids started during and continued after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) affect postresuscitation hemodynamics and other physiological variables in vasopressor-requiring, in-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: We conducted a two-center, randomized, double-blind trial of patients with adrenaline (epinephrine)-requiring cardiac arrest. Patients were randomized to receive either methylprednisolone 40 mg (steroids group) or normal saline-placebo (control group) during the first CPR cycle post-enrollment. Postresuscitation shock was treated with hydrocortisone 240 mg daily for 7 days maximum and gradual taper (steroids group), or saline-placebo (control group). Primary outcomes were arterial pressure and central-venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) within 72 hours post-ROSC. Results: Eighty nine of 98 controls and 80 of 86 steroids group patients with ROSC were treated as randomized. Primary outcome data were collected from 100 patients with ROSC (control, n = 54; steroids, n = 46). In intention-to-treat mixed-model analyses, there was no significant effect of group on arterial pressure, marginal mean (95% confidence interval) for mean arterial pressure, steroids vs. control: 74 (68-80) vs. 72 (66-79) mmHg] and ScvO2 [71 (68-75)% vs. 69 (65-73)%], cardiac index [2.8 (2.5-3.1) vs. 2.9 (2.5-3.2) L/min/m2], and serum cytokine concentrations [e.g. interleukin-6, 89.1 (42.8-133.9) vs. 75.7 (52.1-152.3) pg/mL] determined within 72 hours post-ROSC (P = 0.12-0.86). There was no between-group difference in body temperature, echocardiographic variables, prefrontal blood flow index/cerebral autoregulation, organ failure-free days, and hazard for poor in-hospital/functional outcome, and adverse events (P = 0.08->0.99). Conclusions: Our results do not support the use of low-dose corticosteroids in in-hospital cardiac arrest.Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02790788 ( https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ).

Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring as a predictive tool for all-cause 6-month mortality after acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) frequently remains undiagnosed. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), a surrogate of dead-space ventilation, is useful in the evaluation of the degree of pulmonary artery occlusion. At present, there is no knowledge about the prognostic role of PaCΟ2 variations during the first hours of an acute PE. Transcutaneous measurement of CO2 (PtcCO2) is a simple, non-invasive method that correlates well with PaCO2 levels, evaluated in this study for the first time in patients with PE. PURPOSE: To assess the correlation between PtcCO2 and PaCO2 levels in the acute phase of PE and the role of PtcCO2 in predicting 6-months mortality. METHODS: This was a pilot study including 53 patients with acute PE who hospitalized in Respiratory Medicine Department at University Hospital of Larissa in central Greece during 15 months. PtcCO2 was constantly monitored for four hours after PE diagnosis with the TCM40 monitoring system (SmartCal). Simultaneous arterial blood gas measurements were performed. Each patient was prospectively recorded for six months via standard telephone calls. RESULTS: PaCO2 and PtcCO2 values were well-correlated in the acute phase of PE. Decreased PtcCO2 levels in the first monitoring hour were associated with a higher risk of mortality. In the PE subgroup who died, the lower PtcCO2 level in the first hour of PE was a predictor of shorter survival time independently of gender, age, comorbidities, and smoking status. CONCLUSION: PtcCO2 measurement, especially in the first hour after PE, seemed to be a valid tool in predicting all-cause 6-month mortality.

Pre-intensive care unit intubation and subsequent delayed intensive care unit admission is independently associated with increased occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: Critically ill intubated patients are at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, intubation may not occur in intensive care unit (ICU) and subsequent ICU admission may be delayed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether intubation >24 h prior ICU admission and delay in ICU admission is associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in non-trauma critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted in a medical-surgical ICU of a tertiary hospital. Consecutive patients with >48 h of invasive mechanical ventilation and >72 h hospitalization, were recruited in the study. Pre-ICU intubation and delay in ICU admission, demographical, clinical, microbiological data and ICU interventions were assessed as risk factors for VAP and ICU mortality. RESULTS: 100 patients were included in the study. Pre-ICU intubation and delayed (>24 h) ICU admission (PDA patients) (P = 0.014, OR = 3.294, confidence interval 1.268-8.557) and SOFA score on ICU admission (P = 0.045, OR = 1.154, confidence interval 1.003-1.328) were independent risk factors for VAP in ICU care setting. Yet, PDA patients, presented significantly increased incidence of VAP due to MDR bacteria, mainly from Acinetobacter baumannii. Acinetobacter baumannii infection was the only independent risk factor for ICU mortality (P = 0.049, OR = 3.253, confidence interval 1.006-10.521). SOFA score on ICU admission, presented a fair prognostic accuracy of overall ICU mortality (SOFA ≥ 8.5, AUC = 0.850, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-ICU intubation and delayed ICU admission was independent risk factor for VAP Acinetobacter baumannii infection and a high SOFA score on ICU admission were predictors of increased ICU mortality.

Diabetes and hemoglobin a1c as risk factors for nosocomial infections in critically ill patients.

UNLABELLED: Objective. To evaluate whether diabetes mellitus (DM) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and bloodstream infections (BSI) in critically ill patients. Methods. Prospective observational study; patients were recruited from the intensive care unit (ICU) of a general district hospital between 2010 and 2012. INCLUSION CRITERIA: ICU hospitalization >72 hours and mechanical ventilation >48 hours. HbA1c was calculated for all participants. DM, HbA1c, and other clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed as risk factors for VAP or BSI in ICU. Results. The overall ICU incidence of VAP and BSI was 26% and 30%, respectively. Enteral feeding OR (95%CI) 6.20 (1.91-20.17; P = 0.002) and blood transfusion 3.33 (1.23-9.02; P = 0.018) were independent risk factors for VAP. BSI in ICU (P = 0.044) and ICU mortality (P = 0.038) were significantly increased in diabetics. Independent risk factors for BSI in ICU included BSI on admission 2.45 (1.14-5.29; P = 0.022) and stroke on admission2.77 (1.12-6.88; P = 0.029). Sepsis 3.34 (1.47-7.58; P = 0.004) and parenteral feeding 6.29 (1.59-24.83; P = 0.009) were independently associated with ICU mortality. HbA1c ≥ 8.1% presented a significant diagnostic performance in diagnosing repeated BSI in ICU. Conclusion. DM and HbA1c were not associated with increased VAP or BSI frequency. HbA1c was associated with repeated BSI episodes in the ICU.

Intensive care unit dissemination of multiple clones of linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium.

OBJECTIVES: Outbreaks caused by linezolid-resistant (LR) enterococci remain rare. We report the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of the multiclonal dissemination of LR enterococci in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Greek hospital. METHODS: All LR enterococcal isolates recovered from patients hospitalized in the ICU of the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece, between January 2007 and October 2008 were included. Isolates were tested by PFGE and PCR followed by sequence analysis of the entire 23S rRNA gene. Patient records were retrieved to access patterns of acquisition and outcome. RESULTS: Sixteen separate patients were infected and/or colonized by 22 LR enterococcal isolates (17 Enterococcus faecium and 5 Enterococcus faecalis). Linezolid MICs varied from 8 to 16 mg/L; 12 isolates showed cross-resistance to vancomycin. Genotyping revealed as many as seven and three PFGE types among E. faecium and E. faecalis isolates, respectively, indicating multiclonal spread of LR enterococci. Nine patients had received linezolid prior to the recovery of LR enterococci, while the remaining seven patients were not exposed to the drug. All isolates carried the mutation G2576T; the mutated position was heterogeneous in 12 isolates and homogeneous in 10. CONCLUSIONS: The multiclonal composition of LR enterococci indicates that linezolid resistance possibly occurred on several independent occasions. Its acquisition was often not related to linezolid administration; patients might have acquired their LR isolate from another patient that had received linezolid or, alternatively, resistance may have arisen by mutation that occurred independently.

Sepsis-associated takotsubo cardiomyopathy can be reversed with levosimendan.

Sepsis is a stressful physical condition, and at the acute phase, overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system may occur; these events have the potential to induce cardiomyopathy. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a form of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, which occurs very rarely in sepsis. However, TTC management in critically ill patients with sepsis may be challenging because the use of exogenous catecholamines for circulatory support might augment further TTC. Herein, we report a rare case of TTC after urosepsis; and we point out that cardiac function may improve after catecholamine withdrawal and the application of calcium channel sensitizer levosimendan.

Ocular disease awareness and pattern of ocular manifestation in patients with biopsy-proven lung sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this research is to study the patterns of ocular involvement in patients with biopsy-proven lung sarcoidosis and estimate the level of patients' awareness of possible ocular complications of sarcoidosis. METHODS: Fifty patients with biopsy-proven lung sarcoidosis were referred from the Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, Greece. RESULTS: The most prominent ocular symptom was foreign body sensation in 15/50 patients (30%); only 6/50 of our patients (12%) were completely asymptomatic with respect to ocular symptoms. Anterior segment findings were: episcleritis in 8/50 patients (16%), iris nodules in 9/50 patients (18%), and cataract in 19/50 patients (38%). Periphlebitis was observed in 8/50 patients (16%), periarteritis in 8/50 patients (16%), epiretinal membrane in 6/50 patients (12%), and branch retinal vein occlusion in 7/50 of our patients (14%). Ten out of 50 patients (20%) had never visited an ophthalmologist before, whereas eight out of 50 patients (16%) had undergone an ophthalmic exam more than 2 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: Eye involvement is common in patient with biopsy-proven lung sarcoidosis and may occur even without prominent ocular symptoms.

Effects of obstructive sleep apnea severity on serum lipid levels in Greek children with snoring.

BACKGROUND: Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to dyslipidemia in adults, limited data are available regarding its effects on serum lipids during childhood. Aim of this study was to assess the potential relationships between severity of OSA and cholesterol or triglyceride levels in a cohort of Greek children. METHODS: Data from children with snoring who underwent polysomnography and complete serum lipids measurements during a specified study period were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Overall, obese children (n = 261) had lower HDL cholesterol levels than non-obese subjects (n = 113) (49.6 ± 10.5 vs. 53.9 ± 11.4 mg/dL; p = 0.001) and higher triglyceride concentrations (69.8 ± 32.2 vs. 63.2 ± 27 mg/dL; p = 0.041). Non-obese subjects with moderate-to-severe OSA did not differ in triglycerides, total, and LDL cholesterol concentrations but had lower HDL cholesterol, when compared to non-obese children with primary snoring/mild OSA (50.4 ± 13.1 vs. 54.9 ± 10.7 mg/dL; p = 0.008). The risk for having low HDL cholesterol (≤40 mg/dL) was threefold higher in non-obese subjects with moderate-to-severe OSA than in those with primary snoring/mild OSA, even after adjustment for age and gender [OR = 3.44 (95% CI 1.44 to 8.24; p = 0.006)]. Concentrations of serum lipids in obese children were not associated with severity of OSA. HDL cholesterol was 48.5 ± 8.7 mg/dL in subjects with moderate-to-severe OSA and 50.0 ± 11.1 mg/dL in children with primary snoring/mild OSA (p = 0.519). CONCLUSIONS: HDL cholesterol levels are inversely related to severity of OSA in non-obese children with snoring.

Correlation of urinary excretion of sodium with severity of sleep-disordered breathing in children: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Nocturnal urinary sodium excretion is related to blood pressure (BP) levels. Elevated BP and increased nocturnal natriuresis have been demonstrated in adults with sleep apnea. Although evidence indicates increased BP in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), it is unknown whether these children have also enhanced urinary sodium excretion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of SDB and morning BP on urinary sodium excretion. METHODS: Consecutive children with snoring (n = 95) underwent polysomnography and morning BP measurement. Fractional excretion of sodium (FE(Na)) was the primary outcome measure and was calculated using sodium and creatinine concentrations in early morning serum and urine specimens. RESULTS: Subjects with moderate-to-severe SDB had similar log-transformed FE(Na) to that of children with mild SDB and higher than children with primary snoring: -0.13 ± 0.53 versus -0.28 ± 0.41 versus -0.61 ± 0.65 (P = 0.657 and P = 0.003). Obstructive apnea-hypopnea index was significantly related to FE(Na) after adjustment for age, gender and body mass index z-score (P = 0.002). Children with moderate-to-severe SDB had similar systolic BP z-scores to those of subjects with mild SDB and higher than participants with primary snoring: 0.7 ± 1.2 versus 0.1 ± 1.0 versus -0.02 ± 1.0 (P = 0.074 and P = 0.046). In addition, participants with diastolic BP z-scores in the upper quartile of measured values had higher FE(Na) than subjects with z-scores in the lower quartiles: -0.08 ± 0.39 versus -0.41 ± 0.57 (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Morning natriuresis is related to severity of SDB in children and this association may be mediated in part by elevated BP.

Cardiac systolic function in Greek children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children has been associated with increased ventricular strain and decreased left ventricle (LV) diastolic function. The aim of this study was to assess systolic myocardial function in children with SDB of variable severity. METHODS: Children who were referred for polysomnography during the study period underwent echocardiography (two-dimensional, Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging). RESULTS: A total of 46 subjects (age 6.4+/-2.6years) were recruited. Fourteen of them had moderate-to-severe SDB (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI): 16.6+/-11.6 episodes/h), 13 children had mild SDB (OAHI: 3.1+/-0.7 episodes/h) and 19 subjects had primary snoring (OAHI: 1.2+/-0.6 episodes/h). Children with moderate-to-severe SDB had significantly lower LV shortening fraction (SF) and ejection fraction (EF) than subjects with primary snoring (p<0.05). SF in moderate-to-severe SDB, mild SDB and primary snoring groups was: 34.3+/-5.5%, 36.9+/-3.2% and 37.7+/-4.4%, respectively, and EF: 66.9+/-7.9%, 71.7+/-6.4% and 72.3+/-5.9%, respectively. OAHI, age, and systolic blood pressure were significant predictors of SF and EF (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In children with obstructive SDB, LV systolic function is inversely associated with severity of intermittent upper airway obstruction during sleep.

Systemic and airway inflammation and the presence of emphysema in patients with COPD.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of HRCT-confirmed emphysema on biomarkers evaluating airway and systemic inflammation in COPD patients. Forty-nine consecutive male COPD outpatients with stable COPD were divided in two groups according to the presence or absence of emphysema on HRCT. Patients underwent pulmonary function tests, plus assessment of exercise capacity, body composition and quality of life. Biomarkers were measured in serum (CRP, interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, leptin, adiponectin, osteocalcin, insulin growth factor-1, and systemic oxidative stress), in plasma (fibrinogen and VEGF) and in whole blood (B-type natriuretic peptide). TNF-alpha, 8-isoprostane and pH were additionally measured in exhaled breath condensate. Patients with emphysema had more severe lung function impairment, lower body-mass index and fat-free mass index, and poorer quality of life. Additionally, they presented increased systemic oxidative stress and plasma fibrinogen and lower BNP compared to patients without emphysema. After proper adjustment for disease severity, all differences remained with the exceptions of body-mass index, fat-free mass index and BNP. COPD patients with HRCT-confirmed emphysema present increased systemic oxidative stress and fibrinogen, suggesting that they may be more prone to the systemic consequences of COPD compared to patients without emphysema.

Overnight change in brain natriuretic peptide levels in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing is accompanied by episodic increases in left ventricle afterload due to large negative swings in intrathoracic pressure and repetitive surges in arterial pressure. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is released by ventricular myocytes in response to pressure and volume overload. It was hypothesized that in children with snoring, overnight change in BNP levels is correlated with severity of disturbance in respiration. DESIGN: Evening and morning plasma levels of BNP were measured in children with snoring referred for polysomnography. SETTING: A sleep disorders laboratory in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two children with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > or = 5/h (mean +/- SD age, 6.4 +/- 2.5 years), 60 children with AHI < 5/h (mean age, 7 +/- 2.9 years), and 27 control subjects without snoring (mean age, 7.8 +/- 3.7 years) were recruited. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Overnight change in BNP (log-transformed ratio of morning-to-evening levels) was larger in children with AHI > or = 5/h, compared to those with AHI < 5/h or to control subjects (0.1 +/- 0.19 vs 0.01 +/- 0.14 vs - 0.06 +/- 0.18; p < 0.05). Children with AHI > or = 5/h had an odds ratio of 4.33 (95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 14) for change in peptide levels > 0.15 relatively to subjects with AHI < 5/h. AHI and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin nadir were significant predictors of overnight change in peptide levels. CONCLUSIONS: In children with snoring, overnight increase in BNP levels is correlated with severity of disturbance in respiration during sleep, which may indicate presence of nocturnal cardiac strain.