Blood urea nitrogen - independent marker of mortality in sepsis.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study examines the relationship between admission Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels and clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis from two separate cohorts in the Czech Republic and the United States. METHODS: The study included 9126 patients with sepsis between January 2014 and December 2018. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression were used to analyse the data. An optimal cut-off was calculated by means of the Youden-Index. RESULTS: BUN at ICU admission was categorized as 10-20, 20-40 and >40 mg/dL. Comparing the group with the highest BUN levels to the one with lowest levels, we found HR for 28 days mortality 2.764 (CI 95% 2.37-3.20; P<0.001). We derived an optimal cut-off for prediction of 28 days mortality of 23 mg/dL. The association between BUN and 28 days mortality remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders - for APACHE IV (HR 1.374; 95%CI 1.20-1.58; P<0.001), SAPS2 (HR 1.545; 95%CI 1.35-1.77; P<0.001), eGFR (HR 1.851; 95%CI 1.59-2.16; P<0.001) and several other variables in an integrative model. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the BUN level as an independent and easily available predictor of 28 days mortality in septic critically ill patients admitted to an ICU.

Association Between Premorbid Beta-Blocker Exposure and Sepsis Outcomes-The Beta-Blockers in European and Australian/American Septic Patients (BEAST) Study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of premorbid ß-blocker exposure on mortality and organ dysfunction in sepsis. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: ICUs in Australia, the Czech Republic, and the United States. PATIENTS: Total of 4,086 critical care patients above 18 years old with sepsis between January 2014 and December 2018. INTERVENTION: Premorbid beta-blocker exposure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One thousand five hundred fifty-six patients (38%) with premorbid ß-blocker exposure were identified. Overall ICU mortality rate was 15.1%. In adjusted models, premorbid ß-blocker exposure was associated with decreased ICU (adjusted odds ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.97; p = 0.025) and hospital (adjusted odds ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-0.99; p = 0.033) mortality. The risk reduction in ICU mortality of 16% was significant (hazard ratio, 0.84, 95% CI, 0.71-0.99; p = 0.037). In particular, exposure to noncardioselective ß-blocker before septic episode was associated with decreased mortality. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score analysis showed that premorbid ß-blocker exposure had potential benefits in reducing respiratory and neurologic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ß-blocker exposure prior to sepsis, especially to noncardioselective ß blockers, may be associated with better outcome. The findings suggest prospective evaluation of ß-blocker use in the management of sepsis.

Correction to: The association between premorbid beta blocker exposure and mortality in sepsis-a systematic review.

In the publication of this article [1], there was an error in the cited reference 23 [2] within the Family Name. This has now been updated in the original article.

The association between premorbid beta blocker exposure and mortality in sepsis-a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The effect of premorbid ß-blocker exposure on clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis is not well characterized. We aimed to examine the association between premorbid ß-blocker exposure and mortality in sepsis. METHODS: EMBase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases were searched for all studies of premorbid ß-blocker and sepsis. The search was last updated on 22 June 2019. Two reviewers independently assessed, selected, and abstracted data from studies reporting chronic ß-blocker use prior to sepsis and mortality. Main data extracted were premorbid ß-blocker exposure, mortality, study design, and patient data. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias and quality of evidence. RESULTS: In total, nine studies comprising 56,414 patients with sepsis including 6576 patients with premorbid exposure to ß-blockers were eligible. For the primary outcome of mortality, two retrospective studies reported adjusted odds ratios showing a reduction in mortality with premorbid ß-blocker exposure. One study showed that premorbid ß-blocker exposure decreases mortality in patients with septic shock. Another study showed that continued ß-blockade during sepsis is associated with decreased mortality. CONCLUSION: This systematic review suggests that ß-blocker exposure prior to sepsis is associated with reduced mortality. There was insufficient data to conduct a bona fide meta-analysis. Whether the apparent reduction in mortality may be attributed to the mitigation of catecholamine excess is unclear. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42019130558 registered June 12, 2019.

Extracorporeal removal techniques in toxicology: part 1.

Supporting clearance of a toxic substance by an extracorporeal removal technique is one of the advanced treatment methods applied in poisoned patient management. General indications stem from toxicokinetics of the poison while individual indications are determined by poisoning severity. The first part of this review deals in detail with particular options of extracorporeal treatment in toxicology and also with its specific application when treating lithium and salicylates poisoning or dabigatran overdose. The aim of this review is to facilitate the clinicians and nephrologists decision making whether to indicate this invasive procedure, to communicate and summarize the existing recommendations and to highlight the most important ways of how to treat poisoning by specific toxic substances.

Extracorporeal removal techniques in toxicology: part 2.

The second part of the review deals in detail with the diagnostics and treatment of toxic alcohols poisoning and management and indication of extracorporeal removal techniques in intoxication with other drugs, theophylline, valproic acid, metformin and metformin associated lactic acidosis, respectively. The extracorporeal treatment enhances the clearance of the toxin and corrects patients metabolic disturbances as well. It is necessary to use this treatment in severe intoxications. Indication of this invasive procedure falls within clinicians and nephrologists competence being advised by a toxicologist. This review could help make fast decisions.

Intravenous fluid therapy in acutely ill patients for non-intensivists.

Intravenous fluid therapy is the most frequent therapeutic intervention in acutely hospitalized patients. They are administered in order to resuscitate the circulation in hypovolemia-associated shock states, to compensate for an impending or existing fluid extracellular deficit, or as a maintenance infusion if the patient is incapable of taking fluid by other means. Any fluid should be prescribed with the same caution as with any other drug. Errors in fluid therapy adversely affect patient - centered outcome. This may be the result of an incorrectly selected amount or inappropriate fluid composition for a given clinical situation. Prescribing intravenous fluids is a complex process involving a decision on the type, composition, dose, rate and possible toxicity of the particular solution. Balanced crystalloid solutions are the first choice for most acute conditions. The need for fluids dynamically changes over time in acutely ill patients. Uncontrolled cumulative positive balance is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality.

[Hemophagocytic lymfohistiocytosis in adults: review and case report]. / Hemofagocytární lymfohistiocytóza u dospelých: review a kazuistika.

Hemophagocytic lymfohistiocytosis (HLH) is rare, life-threatening condition, characterized by excessive activation of immune system with subsequent proinflammatory state resulting in multiorgan failure. Most frequently, it appears in infancy as a primary disorder caused by mutation of immune-regulatory genes. Increasingly, HLH is being diagnosed as a secondary - adult - form, which occurs as a result of aberrant immune response. Viral or bacterial systemic infections, malignancy with a predominance of lymphoproliferative disorders and autoimmune diseases are the most common triggers. Early diagnosis and initiation of therapy is crucial and increase the chance for recovery. HLH is usually presented as multisystem febrile illness, where an extensive differential diagnosis is needed. Diagnosis of HLH is defined by a combination of clinical and laboratory findings, eventually by a proof of specific mutation. The basic mechanism of therapy is an interruption of aberrant immune response by destruction and suppression of T-lymphocytes function. This is mostly achieved by corticosteroid and etoposide therapy. This review summarizes pathophysiology, diagnostics and therapy of HLH. Furthermore, a case-report of 22-years old patient with secondary HLH being manifested predominantly with acute respiratory failure is presented.Key words: acute respiratory failure - hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis - HLH-94 - macrophage activation syndrome - MODS.

[Sepsis - how to recognize and what to focus on - back to basics in the light of the new definition]. / Sepse - jak ji poznat, na co se zamerit aneb zpet k základum ve svetle nové definice.

UNLABELLED: Sepsis is the primary cause of death from infection. However, its early recognition remains a fundamental challenge in clinical practice. In February 2016, a newly revised sepsis definition has been published (SEPSIS-3). Sepsis has been redefined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. In this article, we introduce the updated definition of sepsis, discuss its pros and cons and suggest practical implications. The emphasis is put on basic and comprehensive clinical assessment. KEY WORDS: definition - early recognition of sepsis - infection - sepsis - septic shock.