International point prevalence study of Intensive Care Unit transfusion practices-Pilot study in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia and coagulopathy are common issues in critically ill patients. Transfusion can be lifesaving, however, is associated with potential life threatening adverse events. As an international transfusion guideline for this specific patient population is lacking, we hypothesize that a high heterogeneity in transfusion practices exists. In this pilot-study we assessed transfusion practice in a university hospital in the Netherlands and tested the feasibility of this protocol for an international multi-centre study. METHODS: A prospective single centre cohort study was conducted. For seven days all consecutive non-readmitted patients to the adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were included and followed for 28 days. Patients were prospectively followed until ICU discharge or up to day 28. Patient outcome data was collected at day 28. Workload for this study protocol was scored in hours and missing data. RESULTS: In total, 48 patients were included, needed in total three hours patient to include and collect all data, with 1.6% missing data showing the feasibility of the data acquisition. Six (12.5%) patients received red blood cells (RBCs), three patients (6.3%) received platelet concentrates, and two (4.2%) patients received plasma units. In total eight (16.7%) patients were transfused with one or more blood products. Median pre- and post-transfusion haemoglobin (Hb) levels were 7.6 (6.7-7.7) g/dL and 8.1 (7.6-8.7) g/dL, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this pilot-study we proved the feasibility of our protocol and observed in this small population a restrictive transfusion practice for all blood products.

Compliance with the European trauma guidelines: An observational single centre study.

OBJECTIVES: The European trauma guidelines were developed to assist clinicians in the early phase of trauma management to diagnose and treat coagulopathy and bleeding. This study aimed to determine compliance with these European trauma guidelines in a French referral trauma centre. METHODS: Medical charts of trauma patients with an injury severity score≥16 admitted between January 2013 and December 2014 were reviewed. Compliance with 21 recommendations in the first 24-hours of patient management was assessed. RESULTS: There were 145 patients with median ISS of 34 [IQR 25-41]. A good level of compliance (i.e. applied in≥80% of patients) was identified for nine recommendations, inconsistent compliance (i.e. applied in 50 to 79% of patients) for six recommendations, including fibrinogen levels at hospital admission and achievement of a target mean arterial blood pressure (MAP)>80mmHg in patients with major bleeding and TBI (55.5%), and poor compliance (i.e. applied in<50% of patients) for another six recommendations. Poorly applied recommendations included early measurement of lactate or base deficit (32%), early administration of tranexamic acid (18%), and achievement of normocapnia in patients with TBI undergoing invasive ventilation (3%). CONCLUSIONS: In a referral trauma centre, nine of the 21 evaluable recommendations in the European trauma guidelines were applied in≥80% of patients. Early diagnosis and treatment of trauma-related coagulopathy was identified as an area for significant practice improvement. In patients with TBI, efforts should be made to achieve the targeted MAP and to maintain normocapnia.

How clinicians can minimize transfusion-related adverse events?

OBJECTIVES: Transfusion-related adverse events (TRAE) can contribute to patient morbidity and mortality. In this brief narrative review, the strategies that clinicians can apply at the bedside to avoid TRAE are discussed. METHODS: Strategies to avoid the following five types of TRAE were reviewed: transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion-associated hypothermia (TAH), transfusion-related allergic reactions (TRAR) and acute haemolytic transfusion reactions (AHTR). RESULTS: Minimizing exposure to blood components is fundamental to TRAE avoidance. Pre-transfusion assessment can identify patients at risk of TACO, TRAR and TAH, and avoidance steps implemented. Preventive strategies for TACO include lower transfusion rate, 'one unit at a time' transfusion policy and possibly diuretic medication. Patients with past history of TRAR should preferably be given plasma-free blood components; anti-histamine medication prior to transfusion could be considered. TAH is common in the massive transfusion setting, particularly trauma patients. Warming of patients are key strategies to avoid TAH. Identification of patients at risk of TRALI is more opaque; however, any measures that limit pulmonary inflammation prior to transfusion may decrease the risk of TRALI. Causes of AHTR are commonly due to human error and failure to apply rigorous cross-checks of patient and issued RBC component blood groups. CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial strategies to avoid TRAE include judicious use of blood components, identification of high-risk patients, adherence to recommended clinical processes and awareness of TRAE pathophysiology. More evidence is warranted to better guide clinicians in the prevention of TRAE.

Plasma for direct therapeutic use, for today and tomorrow: A short critical overview.

Plasma for direct therapeutic use is a fast-evolving blood component in terms of its production and presentation. More than a dozen forms are available worldwide, which is often overlooked since most countries apply policies making only one or very few forms available for treating patients in need. It is most often reserved for the same three clinical indications, i.e. overall clotting-factor deficiency, reversal of vitamin K antagonists in the context of active bleeding or prior to urgent surgery, and therapeutic plasma exchange. The level of evidence is often less robust than generally acknowledged for such major indications while novel indications are tending to emerge in medical and trauma settings. This short review explores classical views and new prospects opened up by novel presentations and statuses for therapeutic plasma.

Transfusion-associated hazards: A revisit of their presentation.

As a therapy or a support to other therapies, despite being largely beneficial to patients in general, transfusion it is not devoid of some risks. In a moderate number of cases, patients may manifest adverse reactions, otherwise referred to as transfusion-associated hazards (TAHs). The latest French 2016 haemovigilance report indicates that 93% of TAHs are minor (grade 1), 5.5% are moderate (grade 2) and 1.6% are severe (grade 3), with only five deaths (grade 4) being attributed to transfusion with relative certainty (imputability of level [or grade] 1 to 3). Health-care providers need to be well aware of the benefits and potential risks (to best evaluate and discuss the benefit-risk ratio), how to prevent TAHs, the overall costs and the availability of alternative therapeutic options. In high-income countries, most blood establishments (BEs) and hospital blood banks (HBBs) have developed tools for reporting and analysing at least severe transfusion reactions. With nearly two decades of haemovigilance, transfusion reaction databases should be quite informative, though there are four main caveats that prevent it from being fully efficient: (ai) reporting is mainly declarative and is thus barely exhaustive even in countries where it is mandatory by law; (aii) it is often difficult to differentiate between the different complications related to transfusion, diseases, comorbidities and other types of therapies in patients suffering from debilitating conditions; (aiii) there is a lack of consistency in the definitions used to describe and report some transfusion reactions, their severity and their likelihood of being related to transfusion; and (aiv) it is difficult to assess the imputability of a particular BC given to a patient who has previously received many BCs over a relatively short period of time. When compiling all available information published so far, it appears that TAHs can be analysed using different approaches: (bi) their pathophysiological nature; (bii) their severity; (biii) the onset scheme; (biv) a quality assessment (preventable or non-preventable); (bv) their impact on ongoing therapy. Moreover, TAHs can be reported either in a non-integrative or in an integrative way; in the latter case, presentation may also differ when issued by a blood establishment or a treating ward. At some point, a recapitulative document would be useful to gain a better understanding of TAHs in order to decrease their occurrence and severity and allow decision makers to determine action plans: this is what this review attempts to make. This review attempts to merge the different aspects, with a focus on the hospital side, i.e., how the most frequent TAHs can be avoided or mitigated.

Day or overnight transfusion in critically ill patients: does it matter?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The timing of blood administration in critically ill patients is first driven by patients' needs. This study aimed to define the epidemiology and significance of overnight transfusion in critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of a prospective multicentre observational study including 874 critically ill patients receiving red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or cryoprecipitate. Characteristics of patients receiving blood only during the day (8 am up until 8 pm) were compared to those receiving blood only overnight (8 pm up until 8 am). Characteristics of transfusion were compared, and factors independently associated with major bleeding were analysed. RESULTS: The 287 patients transfused during the day only had similar severity and mortality to the 258 receiving blood products overnight only. Although bleeding-related admission diagnoses were similar, major bleeding was the indication for transfusion in 12% of patients transfused in daytime only versus 30% of patients transfused at night only (P < 0·001). Similar total amount of blood products were transfused at day and night (2856 versus 2927); however, patients were more likely to receive FFP and cryoprecipitate at night compared with daytime. Overnight transfusion was independently associated with increased odds of major bleeding (odds ratio, 3·16, 95% confidence interval, 2·00-5·01). CONCLUSION: Transfusion occurs evenly across day and night in ICU; nonetheless, there are differences in type of blood products administered that reflect differences in indication. Critically ill patients were more likely to receive blood for major bleeding at night irrespective of admission diagnosis.

[Hospital-acquired anemia: Facts, consequences and prevention]. / Anémies nosocomiales : réalité, conséquences et prévention.

Hospital-acquired anemia is common, especially in the most critically ill patients. It may be associated with poor patient outcomes. It may result from increased blood loss, impaired red cell production or reduced red cell life span. Multiple associated factors may contribute simultaneously or sequentially to the decrease in hemoglobin level. Some of them are related to the underlying disease and others are iatrogenic. Clinicians should be aware of the importance and consequences of iatrogenic anemia caused by diagnostic blood sampling. Strategies and measures to minimize iatrogenic blood loss should be prioritized. They may reduce the risk of developing anemia and then red blood cells transfusion requirement.

Intravenous immunoglobulin in critically ill adults: When and what is the evidence?

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) use is growing dramatically internationally due to the increasing numbers of acute and chronic conditions that may benefit from IVIg. Patients with conditions that may benefit from IVIg might require intensive care unit (ICU) admission, supporting the need to review IVIg use in the critical care setting. The most common clinical indications for IVIg in adults that may require ICU admission and are commonly supported under clinical practice guidelines are Guillain-Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, inflammatory myopathies, and primary or secondary immunodeficiency diseases complicated by severe bacterial sepsis. Other emerging indications include necrotizing fasciitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis/Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic shock syndrome. The evidence for IVIg use in sepsis and septic shock remains controversial and insufficient to recommend its routine use. Intravenous immunoglobulin is expensive and also carries risks of adverse effects, including common and benign infusion-related reactions, as well as relatively rare and more serious problems, such as thromboembolic events, renal failure, and aseptic meningitis. In this article, we review the literature on conditions requiring ICU admission and IVIg, and we classify them as supported, emerging, or unsupported indications based on the available evidence and guidelines for clinical use of IVIg.

The epidemiology of bacteriuria and candiduria in critically ill patients.

An observational study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of bacteriuria and candiduria in the intensive care unit (ICU), and the occurrence of blood stream infection (BSI) associated with ICU-acquired positive urine culture. Between 2006 and 2011, 444 episodes of either bacteriuria or candiduria defined by positive urine culture (microorganisms ⩾105 c.f.u./ml) occurred in 406 patients. Three hundred and seventy-seven (85%) were hospital-acquired including 221 which were ICU-acquired (6·4 ± 0·8 episodes/1000 ICU days). Escherichia coli was the most common bacteria of both community- and ICU-acquired bacteriuria/candiduria (49·2% and 29%, respectively). Candida spp. represented 55% (129/236) of pathogens responsible for ICU-acquired positive urine cultures. Patients with ICU-acquired candiduria had greater illness severity at ICU admission than those with ICU-acquired bacteriuria (APACHE III score 79 ± 25 vs. 66 ± 31, P = 0·0015). BSI associated with ICU-acquired positive urine culture occurred in 0·15/1000 ICU days and was more often due to Candida. In this study, Candida was the most common pathogen responsible for ICU-acquired positive urine cultures and illness severity was a risk factor for candiduria in the study population.

Efficacy and safety of fibrinogen concentrate in trauma patients--a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Uncontrolled bleeding is the main preventable cause of death in severe trauma patients. Fibrinogen is the first coagulation factor to decrease during trauma-induced coagulopathy, suggesting that pharmacological replacement might assist early hemorrhage control. Several sources of fibrinogen are available; however, fibrinogen concentrate (FC) is not routinely used in trauma settings in most countries. The aim of this review is to summarize the available literature evaluating the use of FC in the management of severe trauma. METHODS: Studies reporting the administration of FC in trauma patients published between January 2000 and April 2013 were identified from MEDLINE and from the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: The systematic review identified 12 articles reporting FC usage in trauma patients: 4 case reports, 7 retrospective studies, and 1 prospective observational study. Three of these were not restricted to trauma patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite methodological flaws, some of the available studies suggested that FC administration may be associated with a reduced blood product requirement. Randomized trials are warranted to determine whether FC improves outcomes in prehospital management of trauma patients or whether FC is superior to another source of fibrinogen in early hospital management of trauma patients.

Infusion of hydroxyethyl starch-containing fluids.

The infusion of hydroxyethylstarch (HES) containing fluids has been extremely common worldwide over the last decade. Until recently, HES was probably the most commonly prescribed colloidal preparation in the world. Such prescription continued despite concerns that starch molecules might accumulate in vital organs and that starch preparations might decrease the coagulability of blood. These concerns have led to two pivotal multicenter double-blind controlled trials in critically ill patients, one conducted in Scandinavia in septic Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, and the other conducted in Australia and New Zealand in a heterogeneous group of ICU patients. Both studies found that the infusion of HES increased the risk of needing renal replacement therapy. In addition, the Scandinavian study found that HES increased mortality. Subsequent meta-analyses have confirmed these findings. In response to such strong evidence, over the last few weeks, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a major warning and, in Europe, the EMA suspended the marketing authorization for HES. At least in Europe, the clinical story of HES seems to have come to an end.

High level cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae ventilator-associated pneumonia: prognostic factors based on a cohort study.

The impact of high level cephalosporin resistance due to Enterobacteriaceae harbouring a type I-inducible chromosomal ß-lactamase on the outcome of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains unknown. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in two intensive care units (ICUs) over a four-year period to identify factors prognostic of VAP caused by high level AmpC (HL-AmpC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The study included 75 patients, who developed VAP due to Enterobacteriaceae harbouring a type I-inducible chromosomal ß-lactamase. One-third of these VAP episodes were due to HL-AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Demographic and clinical characteristics at ICU admission were similar for patients, regardless of Enterobacteriaceae susceptibility, but those who developed VAP due to HL-AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae received antibiotics more frequently before its onset and had higher disease severity and organ dysfunction scores. Enterobacter spp. were the major HL-AmpC-producing micro-organisms responsible for VAP. VAP due to HL-AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae is rare. High level cephalosporin resistance was not associated with higher day 28 mortality, despite its association with more severe disease at VAP onset.

[Pancreatic pseudocyst: unusual presentation of polyarteritis nodosa]. / Faux kyste pancreatique: un mode inhabituel de revelation d'une periarterite noueuse.

Even though pancreatic involvement in case of polyarteritis nodosa is uncommon, it reveals infrequently the disease. Furthermore, the occurrence of pancreatic pseudocyst in case of polyarteritis nodosa is rare. One case of intrapancreatic pseudocyst complicating chronic pancreatic during polyarteritis nodosa is reported. CT scan showed non specific intrapancreatic cystic lesion for which the diagnosis of mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas was considered. After surgical resection, histopathologic analysis led to the diagnosis of intrapancreatic pseudocyst secondary to polyarteritis nodosa.

[Cerebromeningeal listeriosis associated with a cytolytic hepatitis. First case report in Senegal]. / Listériose cérébro-méningée associée à une hépatite cytolytique. A propos de la première observation sénégalaise.

Hepatitis due to Listeria monocytogenes is uncommon in adults. This report describes the first case observed in Senegal. The patient was a 73-year old man presenting listeria-related hepatitis presumably secondary to low-grade meningeal encephalitis. Treatment using ampicillin was unsuccessful and the patient died four days after hospitalization. The authors note that the incidence of adult listeriosis has risen constantly for the past twenty years in relation with alcohol abuse, cirrhosis, diabetes, kidney insufficiency, cancer, AIDS, and organ transplantation. However no predisposing factors were observed in the present case.