Anticardiolipin Autoantibodies as Useful Biomarkers for the Prediction of Mortality in Septic Patients.

Background: The detection of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) is of interest because of their importance in the pathogenesis of arterial or venous thrombosis. They could be a "second hit" of an inflammatory event such as infection. The aim of our study was to assess the performance of antiphospholipid antibody biomarker to predict in-hospital mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) septic patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective single-center observational study including consecutive critically ill septic adults admitted to the intensive care unit. Clinical and laboratory data including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin (aCL), antiphosphatidylserine (aPS)) were obtained. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10 of hospitalization. The primary study endpoint was ICU mortality defined as death before ICU discharge. Secondary end points included correlation between SOFA score and biological parameters. Results: A total of 53 patients were enrolled. 18.8% of patients were aPL positive. In-hospital mortality rate was 60%. Multivariate analysis showed that age and aCL at days 3 and 5 along with SOFA at day 3 were independent outcome predictors. A significant positive correlation existed between SOFA at days 3, 5, and 8 and antiphospholipid antibody concentrations. Conclusions: Our data showed that antiphospholipid was useful biomarkers for the prediction of mortality in critically ill septic patients. We found a positive correlation between SOFA score and antiphospholipid antibodies.

Decongestive effects of levosimendan in cardiogenic shock induced by postpartum cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Catecholamines and/or levosimendan have been proposed for haemodynamic restoration during cardiogenic shock (CS). In CS induced by post-partum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), levosimendan might be particularly favourable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the haemodynamic and echocardiographic effects of levosimendan in patients with CS, in particular in patients with PPCM-induced CS. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with refractory CS were retrospectively included in the study. Among them, a cohort of 8 women with PPCM-induced CS was included. All patients were treated with levosimendan (loading dose followed by a continuous infusion for 24 h) and were invasively monitored, including a pulmonary artery catheter, for 48hours. Echocardiographic measurements were performed at baseline and during follow-up. RESULTS: Significant improvements in haemodynamic parameters were observed 48 h after starting levosimendan. The cardiac index increased (+1.2±0.6L/min, P<0.001) and filling pressures decreased (pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, PAOP: -11.2±4.3mmHg, P<0.001; right-atrial pressure, RAP: -6.1±4.9mmHg, P<0.001). The left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher at 48 h compared to baseline (38% [34-46%] versus 27% [22-30%], P<0.001). Despite similar characteristics at baseline, in the subgroup of patients with PPCM, more profound decongestive effects at 48hours were observed: PAOP (13±2 versus 17±4mmHg, P=0.007) and RAP (12±4 versus 17±4mmHg, P=0.006) were significantly lower in the PPCM subgroup compared to the non-PPCM subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Haemodynamics and left-ventricular ejection fraction rapidly improved after treatment with levosimendan. In patients with PPCM-induced CS, a more profound reduction of congestion was observed.

Effect of warming bupivacaine 0.5% on ultrasound-guided axillary plexus block. Randomized prospective double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of warming bupivacaine 0.5% on ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery beyond the distal third of the upper limb were divided into two groups of 40 patients: the warm group received 15mL bupivacaine 0.5% heated to 37°C; the cold group received 15mL 0.5% bupivacaine stored for at least 24hours in the lower compartment of a refrigerator at 13-15°C. Onset and duration of sensory and motor blocks were evaluated every 5minutes for 40minutes. Postoperative pain was evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24hours. Effective analgesia time was recorded as the interval between anesthetic injection and the first analgesia requirement (VAS>30mm). RESULTS: Time to onset of sensory and motor block was significantly shorter in the warm group, and mean duration of sensory and motor block and of postoperative analgesia significantly longer. CONCLUSION: Warming bupivacaine 0.5% to 37°C accelerated onset of sensory and motor block and extended action duration.

Suprascapular block associated with supraclavicular block: An alternative to isolated interscalene block for analgesia in shoulder instability surgery?

BACKGROUND: Interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is the gold standard for postoperative pain management in shoulder surgery. However, this technique has side effects and potentially serious complications. The aim of this study was to compare the combinations of ultrasound-guided suprascapular (SSB) associated with supraclavicular nerve block (SCB) and ultrasound-guided ISB for postoperative analgesia after shoulder instability surgery. METHODS: Sixty ASA physical status I-II patients scheduled to undergo shoulder instability surgery were included. Two groups: (i) the SSB+SCB group (n=30) in which the patients received a combination of US-guided SSB (15mL of bupivacaine 0.25%) and US-guided SCB (15mL of bupivacaine 0.25%) and (ii) the ISB group (n=30) in which the patients received US-guided ISB with 30mL of bupivacaine 0.25%. General anesthesia was administered to all patients. During the first 24h, the variables assessed were time to administer the anesthesia, duration of the analgesia, onset and duration of motor and sensory blockade, opioid consumption, cardiovascular stability, complications, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Anesthesia induction took more time for the SSB+SCB group than for the ISB group. However, the onset time of motor and sensory blockade was similar in the two groups. Statistical analysis of the visual analog postoperative pain scoring at H0, H6, H12, and H24 showed nonsignificant differences between the groups. Analgesia, the first request for morphine, and total morphine consumption during the first 24h was similar in both groups. No complication was recorded in the SSB+SCB group. However, phrenic nerve block occurred in all patients in the ISB group. CONCLUSION: US-guided SCB combined with US-guided SSB was as effective as ISB for postoperative analgesia after shoulder instability surgery without decreasing potential side effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT identifier: NCT02397330.

Papillary haemangioma: a case report of multiple facial location.

Papillary haemangiomas were recently defined as morphologically distinct and benign cutaneous haemangiomas showing a predominantly intravascular capillary proliferation within dilated thin-walled dermal blood vessels. We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with multiple eruptive red-bluish raised papules and nodules distributed over the skin of the chin that were related to a papillary haemangioma.

[Daily interruption of sedation in intensive care unit patients with renal impairment: remifentanil-midazolam compared to fentanyl-midazolam]. / Arrêt journalier de la sédation en réanimation chez l'insuffisant rénal: rémifentanil-midazolam versus fentanyl-midazolam.

OBJECTIVE: We compared extubation time following daily interruption of sedation in intensive care unit patients with renal impairment with two sedation regimes remifentanil-midazolam and fentanyl-midazolam. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized double-blind trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with renal impairment needing mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. Two groups: remifentanil (R) and fentanyl (F), Infusion rates were titrated to achieve the desired Ramsay score. The two groups received midazolam (2.5 mg then 0.1 mg/kg/h). RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included. Patient's characteristics, mean sedation time and sedation quality were comparable. Extubation time was significantly shorter in R group (1480+/-980 versus 2880+/-1280 min, P=0.04). Weaning time was also shorter in R group (220+/-164 versus 720+/-480 min). Agitation on weaning was comparable in the two groups. Group R received significantly more morphine than group F after interruption of sedation. CONCLUSION: Daily interruption of sedation with remifentanil is associated with shorter weaning and extubation time in patients with renal impairment. However further studies are necessary to determine if this issue is associated with lower rate of ventilation induced complications.

[Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunctive treatment for acute mediastinitis due to oesophageal perforation: a case report]. / L'oxygénothérapie hyperbare comme adjuvant pour le traitement d'une médiastinite aiguë par perforation oesophagienne: à propos d'un cas.

In spite of antibiotic treatment, of progress of resuscitation and surgery, acute posterior mediastinitis remains associated to a high mortality. We report a case of man with posterior mediastinitis by performing of the cervical oesophagus. While his state remained still with the classic treatment, the contribution of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy quickly improved his state. This therapeutics in addition in the usual treatment could improve the survival in this affection.

Distribution of the probability of survival is a strategic issue for randomized trials in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Many randomized clinical trials in trauma have failed to demonstrate a significant improvement in survival rate. Using a trauma patient database, we simulated what could happen in a trial designed to improve survival rate in this setting. METHODS: The predicted probability of survival was assessed using the TRISS methodology in 350 severely injured trauma patients. Using this probability of survival, the authors simulated the effects of a drug that may increase the probability of survival by 10-50% and calculated the number of patients to be included in a triad, assuming alpha = 0.05 and beta = 0.10 by using the percentage of survivors or the individual probability of survival. Other distributions (Gaussian, J shape, uniform) of the probability of survival were also simulated and tested. RESULTS: The distribution of the probability of survival was bimodal with two peaks (< 0.10 and > 0.90). There were major discrepancies between the number of patients to be included when considering the percentage of survivors or the individual value of the probability of survival: 63,202 versus 2,848 if the drug increases the probability of survival by 20%. This discrepancy also occurred in other types of distribution (uniform, J shape) but to a lesser degree, whereas it was very limited in a Gaussian distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The bimodal distribution of the probability of survival in trauma patients has major consequences on hypothesis testing, leading to overestimation of the power. This statistical pitfall may also occur in other critically ill patients.

[Beware of yeast septicemia in intensive care medicine]. / Alerte aux septicémies à levures en réanimation polyvalente.

A retrospective study of 24 cases of systemic candidosis observed in a polyvalent intensive care unit over a 6.5 yr period (1987-1993) led to some constatations: an increasingly high incidence of this type of septicaemia (up to 27.5% of all septicaemias), large responsibility of skin saprophytes Candida ( > 62% vs 21% from intestinal Candida albicans), frequent diagnostic difficulties, and a fatal outcome in 7/24 patients (mainly from severe causal illness). In order to improve the prognosis, a more systematic and often empirical resort to fungicidal agents could be justified whenever patients with very severe surgical or medical conditions develop a protracted fever of unclear origin.